Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

She couldn't quite put her finger on what she was afraid of, but she felt a deep sense of fear.

It was like stepping into an abyss.

She should trust the young herbalist.

But three years, four years—no one can guarantee anything in the face of time.

In the storybooks she had read before, down-on-his-luck scholars and wealthy young ladies went through hardships and obstacles, but ultimately achieved a happy ending.

But she never read the story after the happy ending.

What would happen if they really followed Chen Jie to hide in the next town?

Xiao Mo began to mentally deduce the scenario.

Chen Jie collected medicinal herbs while studying medicine at the clinic.

What about her?

Could she bear to watch Chen Jie toil alone?

They certainly couldn't bear to do it.

She might learn to do laundry and cook, sweep the floor and chop firewood, carry water and feed pigs, trying every possible way to supplement the family income.

At first, it might be okay; he might feel sorry for her efforts and changes. But as time goes by, he might get used to it and become indifferent.

Over the years, she would gradually become disheveled and preoccupied with every penny.

Poor and humble couples are sad.

In a life of hardship, they might argue, blame each other, and eventually wear down all their love...

Xiao Mo became more and more frightened as she thought about it; she couldn't accept herself like that.

But does she really have to go to the palace to please a man she's never even met?

They have no worries about food and clothing, and are surrounded by wealth and luxury, yet they have no freedom.

"I...I don't know..."

"I don't want my father to send me to the palace, but now I dare not just go with him."

"I'm scared, I don't know what to do..."

Xiao Mo's eyes flashed with endless confusion. She felt as if she were walking alone in a pitch-black place, unable to tell which way to go, and that if she wasn't careful, she would fall into an abyss.

Two paths, it seems like either way leads to a dead end.

Chen Jie opened his mouth as if to say something—about promises, guarantees, and the future.

But in the end, he didn't say anything, and the inferiority complex that he had just suppressed with courage surged up again.

He grew up in poverty and knew what poverty was like. He dared not spend money, dared not get sick, and dared not look forward to the future or happiness.

Making promises is easy, but keeping them is extremely difficult; otherwise, so many poor people wouldn't be struggling.

"Miss Xiao, if you don't go with him, do you have to go to the palace? Are these the only two paths you can choose?" At this moment, Shen Qing spoke up.

Xiao Mo looked up, her eyes brimming with tears: "Does this mean I have a third option?"

"Of course there are. You don't just have a third path, but also a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and countless others. Before you lies an endless wilderness, and you can go whichever way you want."

"An endless wilderness??" Xiao Mo didn't understand.

If she didn't go with Chen Jie, she could only go home, which meant she would be sent to the palace.

Forget about the endless wilderness, she couldn't even think of a third way.

Shen Qing smiled gently: "If you are proficient in poetry and literature, you can become a girls' school teacher; if you can embroider, you can become an embroiderer; if you are skillful, you can make lanterns; if you have a craft, you can set up a stall on the street; you are even welcome to work at my restaurant."

Even if you don't know anything, you can learn slowly.

"What I mean is, you need to have something to live on yourself, and not rely on anyone else, so that you can achieve complete freedom."

Freedom is something Xiao Mo has always wanted.

But leaving the Xiao family mansion does not mean freedom. Poverty will leave her with nowhere to go and ultimately trap her in another invisible cage.

"Complete freedom..." Xiao Mo murmured, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Yes, complete freedom. Only when you are able to completely control your own life without relying on anyone should you choose love. That way, even if the other person changes, you will be able to extricate yourself and will not fall into a desperate situation from which you cannot save yourself."

Shen Qing affirmed.

The reason she was willing to tell Xiao Mo these things was because Xiao Mo was too young and mostly had beautiful fantasies about love.

Poverty was a very real problem between Xiao Mo and Chen Jie.

Moreover, women in ancient times faced difficult circumstances. If she were to follow Chen Jie so blindly, who knows what might happen in the future?

"I don't want to be manipulated, nor do I want to place all my hopes on others. Madam Shen, you're right, I really can't just leave with the young medicine man like this."

Xiao Mo's gaze gradually hardened.

After a long pause, she looked up at Shen Qing and said, "Madam Shen, can I work at your restaurant? I don't need wages, just a place to stay."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Of course, but I still have to pay you."

"Thank you, Madam Shen!" Xiao Mo smiled, feeling very reassured.

She decided to save some money first, and then start a small business.

As for her relationship with the young herbalist...

Time will tell.

"Little medicine doctor, I'm sorry..."

"Miss Xiao, you don't need to apologize." Chen Jie lowered his head, looking dejected. "It's my fault for being useless."

"Don't say that. I just want to find myself first. If one day I'm no longer afraid, you can go to Jiangnan too. Then we can buy a small courtyard together and raise a puppy."

The girl's tone still carried anticipation, a beautiful expectation for the future.

She still loved her little medicine man.

This choice is undoubtedly the best for them now.

Chen Jie's eyes lit up: "Then, it's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

Xiao Mo extended her little finger and made a promise with Chen Jie.

Shen Qing smiled with relief, "In that case, you two must work hard. I hope your trip to Jiangnan won't be too far away!"

"Yes, I will definitely work hard!!" Chen Jie's eyes lit up with fighting spirit.

The two parted ways at the Zhiwei Restaurant. Chen Jie went to do his business, while Xiao Mo followed Shen Qing back to the Shen family mansion.

Shen Qing found a courtyard for Xiao Mo to stay in since his house was large and had many yards.

Xiao Mo has a new place to live; this is the first time she has lived outside the Xiao family mansion.

Novelty, joy, happiness, and a feeling called freedom.

She found a pair of scissors, cut her waist-length hair short in front of the mirror, thickened her eyebrows, and slightly darkened her porcelain-like skin.

In a few quick movements, the pretty girls in the mirror changed their appearance.

Xiao Mo was very satisfied.

Therefore, she was not afraid of being found by the Xiao family at the Zhiwei Restaurant.

After all, Zhiwei Restaurant is packed with people.

Moreover, her parents were stubborn and old-fashioned, with rigid rules and regulations for a scholarly family in mind. They only wanted to go to the capital, and even though Zhiwei Restaurant was famous, they had no interest in coming.

Instead of going anywhere else, they stayed in the capital, which can be considered a kind of blind spot under the lamp.

Once the beauty pageant is over, even if the Xiao family finds her, they won't be able to do anything about it.

Xiao Mo was full of anticipation for her new life in the future.