Chapter 30 Chapter 30 "Don't let me hear you say that again..."

The Duke was naturally not asleep. His concubine was grinding her teeth and kicking her legs beside him, and there were two wind chimes on her head. It would be strange if he could fall asleep.

Suddenly, the aunt threw herself into his arms.

The Duke looked at the rapidly vibrating wind chimes above his head, his Adam's apple rolling. He patted his aunt's back and said, "Jasmine, sleep well."

Who would have thought that the next moment, the Duke's pajamas, which were neatly worn, were torn off by his concubine.

Her hands were busy, her legs still wrapped around his. The Duke felt like his aunt was going to tear him apart and eat him whole.

My aunt is so proactive...

The Duke knew that he could not let her down.

"Jasmine."

Fearing he might injure her hand again, the Duke gently grasped her waist and separated the concubine's evil hand. However, the concubine ignored him and insisted on using it to commit evil, so the Duke had no choice but to hold it still.

"Be careful with this hand. If the court doctor comes again, you'll probably cry again. I'll do it myself."

"...Don't worry. Let's take our time."

The concubine was anxious, and the Duke was naturally even more anxious than the concubine. The Duke, sweating profusely, felt that something was very wrong with the concubine today.

...

The old lady knew that she had offended him, but she still wanted to give him a sweet treat.

So on the third day, she ordered Nanny Qian to go to the Luo family in person and tell Mrs. Luo that her old lady was thinking about the overall situation and was not targeting her and her daughter.

Then Aunt Qian spoke again:

"...The old lady means that Madam Luo can choose four other obedient and intelligent maids, and have this old servant take them back to the Duke's Mansion to teach them in preparation for the wedding."

Mrs. Luo couldn't sleep for the past three days, and was trembling with fear, fearing that she would suddenly receive news that the Duke's Mansion had canceled the engagement.

Although Minister Luo comforted the mother and daughter, saying that since the Duke's Mansion had already arranged the marriage, it would be impossible for them to go back on their word without reason, the mother and daughter still spent the three days in fear.

It was not until now, when Nanny Qian explained her purpose, that the mother and daughter finally felt relieved.

When selecting a maid, Madam Luo quietly stuffed a plump purse into Madam Qian's sleeve. Madam Qian refused with a fierce face: "Madam, please don't overestimate me. I don't have the ability to help you with your work."

Mrs. Luo smiled and explained, "Mammy, you're mistaken. These maids are all good, you can pick whatever you want. I just want to ask you two questions."

Mrs. Luo added, "Please rest assured, Madam. I will never ask any questions that are not necessary. I will only ask questions that you can answer."

Nanny Qian accepted it and asked with a warm smile, "What does Madam want to know?"

After Madam Luo pulled Madam Qian to a secluded place, she asked, "Madam, how much do you know about the Duke and his concubine?"

Madam Qian touched the bulging purse in her sleeve and said carefully, "I know a little. Madam, where do you want me to start?"

Mrs. Luo: "I just want to ask you one thing. You think the Duke treats my concubine like..." Mrs. Luo pointed upwards.

Madam Qian glanced at the large pillar above her head, her face full of understanding as she said with a smile, "Of course not."

Mrs. Luo looked suspicious. "But twice. Once, when the Duke brought his concubine with him on an outing. And once, my four maids were driven out by the concubine. How could a mere concubine be so valued by the Duke? What did Madam say?"

Aunt Qian complained in her heart, didn’t I just say I was just asking a question?

Nanny Qian touched her sleeve again and continued with a smile, "Madam, you misunderstood. The Duke brought my concubine along on the outing because he was afraid of offending my wife, so he brought my concubine along to serve. As for sending the four maids away, it was indeed my concubine who asked for it, but it had nothing to do with the Duke."

Mrs. Luo looked at Madam Qian with even greater suspicion. But she knew that Madam Qian would never lie to her. Could it be that they were really overthinking it?

Madam Qian said, "Madam, you can be assured. The Duke has always been a man of measure. When you come into the family, he will definitely respect you more than anyone else."

Nanny Qian stood up as she spoke. Madam Luo wanted to ask more questions, so she couldn't stop her. She had no choice but to escort her out.

After seeing off Nanny Qian and returning to the backyard, Mrs. Luo told her daughter the purpose of Nanny Qian's visit and what she said.

Luo Ming'er and Madam Luo had the same idea: "Madame Qian accepted our benefits, and she is the old lady's person, so there is no need for her to lie to us."

Luo Ming'er handed the letter to Mrs. Luo: "Mother, please read it."

Mrs. Luo took it doubtfully.

"The letter is written to you by that concubine!" Mrs. Luo was extremely surprised when she saw the contents of the letter.

The handwriting, though hardly neat, was sincere. The concubine devoted a full page to apologizing to the mother and daughter, explaining why she had driven the four maids away. The reasoning matched the old lady's. She then declared that she would never argue with Luo Ming'er. If the Luo family sent another reliable maid, she would definitely help them.

"Why am I so unconvinced? If you said it once, it would be fine, but how many times has this happened?"

Previously, it was Luo Ming'er who questioned the concubine, but now it was Mrs. Luo who was suspicious.

The main reason was that Mrs. Luo felt that it was impossible for such a coincidence. They had gone on an outing, the concubine was there, the waiter in the teahouse had harassed them, the concubine had escaped, and now the four maids had been driven away by the concubine.

Everything is related to the concubine, how can Mrs. Luo not be suspicious.

Luo Ming'er had previously suspected Jasmine, but now, she felt that she might have misunderstood.

Nanny Qian was not lying. The Duke was not as deeply in love with the concubine as the one mentioned above. How could the concubine have the confidence to compete with her, the soon-to-be-married mistress?

Especially since every word in the letter was filled with flattery towards her.

Of course, the concubines might be pretending to please her but actually wanting to harm her. But Luo Ming'er was sure that the concubines had never harmed her so far.

After hearing her daughter's words, Mrs. Luo retorted, "She drove Zhili and the others away. That's harming you!"

When Luo Ming'er heard this, she couldn't help but complain to her mother: "Mother, you're still talking about it. I told you long ago that we couldn't send Zhili and the others, but you insisted. You even blamed the old lady for blaming us. If I were the old lady, I would have canceled this marriage long ago."

"How can you help outsiders talk about your own mother?"

Luo Ming'er glanced at her mother and said, "The old lady is right. We are short-sighted. When you sent the maid, you must have only thought of using her to please the Duke, but you didn't consider the consequences if the Duke really took Zhili and the others in. If the Duke's reputation is damaged, it will also be ours."

Mrs. Luo opened her mouth, speechless.

After a long while, he managed to utter, "H-Have you not cancelled the engagement, Madam Bu Lao?"

Luo Ming'er sighed deeply: "If I don't step out of this backyard, I'm afraid my whole life will be like this. Fortunately, the old lady didn't cancel the engagement. So, speaking of this matter, we should also thank Auntie."

Mrs. Luo looked at her daughter suspiciously: "Ming'er, you're not serious, are you?"

Luo Ming'er just smiled and said nothing.

Being looked down upon by her daughter, Madam Luo was embarrassed and said stubbornly, "Have you forgotten what Zhili and the others said when they came back? That concubine told them with her own mouth that not only would she bully Zhili and the others now, but she would also kill you the moment you entered the mansion. She even pretended to fall and went to the old lady to complain. Not only was the Duke deceived, but the old lady and us were deceived too. And you still believe her?"

Luo Ming'er: "Didn't mother say before that she was just a country girl? It's impossible for her to have such thoughts. Now that I think about it, I feel that what mother said is absolutely right."

Luo Ming'er said seriously to Madam Luo, "Mother, didn't you ever consider that Zhili and the others were frustrated at the Duke's Mansion and made up this nonsense when they came back?"

Mrs. Luo thought about it and realized that it was indeed possible. She could no longer sit still and no longer cared about anything else. She wanted to go find Zhili and the others to question them.

The four maids flatly denied it. Mrs. Luo was suspicious and could not easily believe them. No matter how much they pleaded, Mrs. Luo refused to listen.

Luo Ming'er looked at the scenery outside the window and listened to Zhili and the others begging for mercy after being beaten, with a faint smile on her face.

In fact, she wasn't entirely sure about this matter, and it was possible that her aunt had been so angry with them that she had really said that. But they deserved to be beaten.

It was because the matter was not done properly that she was blamed by the old lady.

Maybe the Duke was also dissatisfied with her.

Luo Ming'er angrily slammed the window, trying to avoid seeing anything. Turning around, she told Zhixia, "Prepare the car. Let's go to Concubine Liang's clothing store." Zhixia stood still, looking embarrassed and saying, "Madam, our monthly salary is overdue. The accountant won't let go unless the master speaks up."

Luo Ming'er was so angry that she was shaking all over. "How much have I used? My aunt has used how much. Why can't I be allowed to use it? I'm the future wife of the Duke!"

Zhixia: "Madam, please keep your voice down. The master doesn't like to hear this."

Luo Ming'er had no choice but to pace around the room for a long time. After a while, Mrs. Luo came in after hearing the noise.

It was Mrs. Luo who opened the dowry box. Luo Ming'er felt a little guilty, but she couldn't bring herself to apologize to her mother.

Madam Luo patted her hands and said, "You are my only daughter, so don't be so formal with me. These are originally for you. When you go out, buy whatever you want and dress up beautifully. The future Duke's wife can't be too shabby, otherwise people will look down on her!"

"Mother, I'm planning to buy it for the Duke's concubine."

Mrs. Luo immediately slapped her daughter's hand away and glared at her, asking, "Don't you know how expensive the things in Concubine Liang's clothing shop are? Why are you giving them to that concubine?"

Luo Ming'er told Mrs. Luo what she was going to do next.

Mrs. Luo's expression softened, but she still asked with great sorrow, "But can't we just send the clothes from the clothing store? Can't we send something cheaper?"

Luo Ming'er couldn't help but think her mother was stupid again. "Then this thing will never succeed."

Mrs. Luo insisted, "Didn't we send it to her before? I remember it was from Concubine Liang's clothing shop. The concubine was completely useless, and this time we send it to her, it might be the same. It's not worth spending so much."

Luo Ming'er: "Don't worry, mother. This time, I have a way to make her obey."

...

Jasmine regretted it.

She was careless. Why did she act weak and pitiful in front of the old lady? She could act like that in front of anyone, but the old lady would definitely find it offensive.

Who is the old lady? I have been in the backyard of this Duke's Mansion for decades and have seen countless hypocritical concubines.

How could the old lady not understand her little trick? Perhaps the old lady wasn't sure she was pretending, but she certainly didn't like the reaction of such a little bitch.

Therefore, Jasmine has not been around the old lady recently, so as to avoid making the old lady even more upset when she sees her.

Of course, the old lady never looked for her.

On the third day, Nanny Qian brought the maid from the Luo Mansion back home. The old lady did not let the maid go directly to the main courtyard, but told her to prepare the rules first and then put her in the main courtyard three days before the wedding.

Jasmine secretly took a look at the four maids. They looked very different from the previous four. They looked like the kind of honest and hardworking girls.

Jasmine then stopped caring.

A few days passed like this, and I thought the matter of the Luo family sending the maid was over.

Unexpectedly, that evening, Xizhi, who was beside the Third Young Master's wife, suddenly came to find her.

"Auntie, my wife asked me to tell you."

Xizhi finished speaking hurriedly in her ear and left in a hurry.

Shancha asked anxiously, "Why is she so anxious? What happened?"

"The old lady told the Duke how I threatened Zhili and the others."

Shancha wondered, "Doesn't the Duke know? Isn't the Duke..."

Shancha suddenly realized that the Duke knew why the concubine wanted to drive them away, but he didn't know that the concubine had also threatened the four maids.

Auntie said: "Auntie, I will not only target you now, but when your wife comes home, I will not let her go either."

Shancha was standing at the back at the time, and when she heard it, she was frightened by her aunt, let alone the Duke.

Which man likes a woman who is hypocritical, pretentious and insincere?

Shancha asked fearfully, "Auntie, what should I do? The Duke won't kick you out, will he? What should I do then? If you kick me out, my life in this mansion will be miserable, but if I go with you, my life will probably be even more miserable."

Jasmine was not without her anxiety. She didn't mind what the old lady and the Luo family mother and daughter thought of her. Just like when she sent snacks to the old lady and wrote letters to the Luo family's mother to seek peace, no matter how hard she tried, they would never trust her wholeheartedly. She didn't need them to trust her at all, as long as they didn't become her enemies.

But the Duke is different.

Although Jasmine was afraid, she still managed to comfort Shancha: "There's nothing to be afraid of. The Duke won't do anything to me."

Jasmine was confident that she wouldn't kick her out. At most, she would just kick her out of the main courtyard and stay away from her forever.

Stay away if you want. She lied to him with more than just a few words. From the day she tricked him into taking her as a concubine, she had already prepared herself to be abandoned.

As long as she wasn't driven out of the house, at least she wouldn't be hunted down or go hungry in the backyard. That was enough.

Hearing the steady footsteps, Jasmine turned stiffly. She didn't go to meet him as she would have done before, but simply sat blankly in a chair in the courtyard, watching the Duke approach.

The Duke's face was more serious than usual, and he strode closer with a particularly imposing aura.

The Duke looked down at Jasmine and asked her, "Did you tell the four maids from the Luo family that you were going to bully them, and also bully the wife of the Luo family?"

Jasmine told the old lady that all these words were false, but the old lady did not believe it, so she told the Duke.

How could the Duke believe it?

Jasmine didn't bother to lie to him: "I said it."

Jasmine didn't look up at him, but glanced at the small pear tree on the side.

Jasmine only caught a glimpse of his figure walking past her from the corner of her eye.

He was indeed angry.

Tears welled up in Jasmine's eyes. She gritted her teeth, holding back the tears, and told herself that she couldn't be a weak person.

The weak have only one way to go, and that is death.

"Master has never thought of taking in those four maids, so Auntie, just rest assured. As for the daughter of the Luo family, if Jasmine doesn't like her marriage, she won't have to come and pay her respects."

Jasmine even thought she was hallucinating.

Jasmine turned around and saw her grandfather sitting upright in a small chair. He looked a little funny, but his aura as a Duke was not diminished at all.

Jasmine looked at him in disbelief. She was afraid of hearing something, and wanted to ask, but didn't dare.

The Duke then continued, "I was thinking of waiting to discuss this later. But since Jasmine is so unhappy today, I'm going to say it now. When the daughter of the Luo family comes home, I'll make you my concubine. I said I wanted to thank you before, so this is it. How about Jasmine waiting another two months?"

Jasmine couldn't help but shed tears.

The Duke noticed that his aunt was always easily moved. He wiped her tears and said, "Okay. It's not a big deal. Don't be too moved."

Jasmine: "I was frightened by you. I thought you were going to chase me away."

After she finished speaking, she saw her grandfather looking at her, as if waiting for her to speak next.

The reason why Jasmine blurted out this was that she felt it was a bit embarrassing to admit that she was moved, so she said it in the heat of the moment.

After she finished speaking, she realized something was wrong.

She was fine, why did she think her grandfather would kick her out? This statement is very problematic.

Jasmine couldn't think of any explanation, so she simply threw herself into her master's arms and said, "Yes, I'm very touched. I'm so touched that I want to cry. Ah."

The concubine's body was quite soft, but her head was as hard as a rock. The Duke felt as if his chest had been struck by an enemy's iron fist.

In a flash, the Duke looked up at the courtyard gate again, and a few pieces of armor were faintly visible. They had indeed seen it!

The Duke's face darkened and he tried to push his concubine away. This was in broad daylight. How could this be allowed?

But the concubine was completely on top of him, and she was holding his waist with her remaining hand. The Duke was having trouble exerting any strength.

Thinking of the two big tears that Auntie shed, the Duke decided to let it go. He would remind Auntie again next time.

The happiest person was, of course, Shan Cha. God bless her, Auntie wouldn't be kicked out! Her good days were saved!

Inadvertently, Shan Cha, with her teeth bared, made eye contact with the Duke.

Shancha pretended to be nonchalant and glanced away. Then she immediately realized something was wrong and bowed to the Duke before turning and running away.

The next morning, on the way to court, the Duke ordered Zuo He and others that they no longer had to stay outside the main courtyard and should guard the outer courtyard.

Zuo He and Chun Li glanced at each other, their minds as clear as a mirror as they said "yes".

The Duke went to court early in the morning. After the court session, he went to the garrison camp with Zuo Hechunli who was waiting at the palace gate.

Zuo Hechunli had been with the general since he was little; it could be said that they had spent more time with him than with their parents. They had been guarding the border for seven or eight years, rising from a soldier to a deputy general.

Since the two were from Kyoto, they followed back this time and naturally went to the garrison camp with the general.

The general was getting married that day, and Sumi Province had just suffered a defeat, so they had signed a non-interference agreement. Nothing serious was happening, and the general wouldn't be returning to guard the border for the next few years, at least.

Zuo Hechunli is quite old, and their families have made arrangements for them.

The Duke hadn't asked them to stay with him. It was because they didn't want to be pressured into marriage by their families that they had been living in the Duke's Mansion.

At noon that day, the Duke was having lunch with Zuo He and others when Zuo He's father and elder brother arrived.

Also coming was a matchmaker dressed in exaggerated clothes.

Zuo He asked for help, and the Duke couldn't just ignore his brother's life or death. He went out and scared the man away himself.

"Zuo He thanks the General."

The Duke said earnestly, "I was troubled at first, too, but it wasn't just for myself, it was for my family. Now I've let it go. You might as well give it a try; you might find it enjoyable."

Zuo He: "General, I think it's because of my aunt that you let it go."

The Duke frowned: "Of course it's because..."

The Duke wanted to correct him and say "Lady Luo," but that was wrong and he didn't want to lie, so he didn't continue.

Chunli came to the rescue: "By the way, the general said fun, what kind of fun?"

Zuo He and the Duke looked at him together.

Chunli chuckled: "Did I say something wrong?"

Zuo He was speechless.

The Duke was silent for a moment before saying, "For example, chatting and occasionally hearing about trivial matters is a unique experience. And having someone rub your back is also a unique experience. A woman's hands are very different from a man's. When you return home in the evening, as soon as you enter the house, you will feel like it is still daylight inside."

Some of the soldiers surrounding the general nodded in agreement, while others seemed to be lost in thought.

Zuo He asked, "General, are you talking about concubines?"

The Duke neither nodded nor denied.

Zuo He couldn't help but feel worried. After sending away the soldiers who had come to join in the fun, he righteously said to the general, "General, don't forget that you will be getting married in two months. The lady from the Luo family is your legal wife. Forgive me for being so nosy, but you dote on your concubine too much."

"How do you talk to the general like that?" Chunli, standing aside, was worried about Zuo He.

Facing the general's gloomy face, Zuo He continued, "I know that the general is not afraid of being impeached, but it is wrong to favor a concubine too much. My family is in chaos because my father favored the concubine over the wife. If the general does not want his backyard to be in turmoil, it is better to ignore the concubine as soon as possible."

"Zuo He! This is the general's private matter, it's none of your business! Besides, Aunt Jasmine isn't that kind of person."

Zuo He pushed Chun Li away angrily: "You want to be with Shancha, so you want to please her master. Don't think I don't know!"

Chunli pushed back unconvinced: "You're talking nonsense!"

The two of them came and went.

The Duke scolded, "That's enough! How can we allow you to be so presumptuous here?"

The Duke glanced at Chunli, his gaze landing on Zuo He's face. "Remember, don't let me hear you say a single word about my concubine from now on. No bad words allowed, and no good words needed either. If you heard something, just say it."

Zuo He lowered his head and replied, "I heard it!"

"Get out."

Zuo He left in disgrace.

Chunli saw that the general did not keep him, so he hurried out.

In the evening, when the Duke returned to the main courtyard, Jasmine did not see Zuo Hechunli.

A few days later, I learned from Shancha that the two of them had been transferred to the outer courtyard to guard.

Jasmine was eager to do so. Her husband didn't mind having a group of men guarding the yard, but she did. However, she couldn't bring herself to bring it up.

Jasmine had no idea why her grandfather had suddenly made such an arrangement. She didn't ask, but simply felt happy.

Shancha wasn't very happy, though. She was never good at hiding her feelings, so she sighed and said, "There's going to be one less person to talk to me from now on."

Jasmine knew she was talking about Chunli. Seeing her longing for love, Jasmine whispered to her, "When I become your concubine, you will be your first-class maid. Then you won't have to worry about not being worthy of Chunli."

Shancha pushed her away: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Are you shy?" Jasmine asked uncertainly.

"No. I just think he's a really nice guy. He's a martial artist, but he looks like a scholar. He speaks very softly, and his skin isn't as dark as others. He's quite pleasing to the eye."

Jasmine reminded her: "This is love."

"……Yeah?"

"That's right."

Shancha didn't think for too long. She immediately bared her teeth and took Jasmine's good hand and said, "Auntie, I'll leave it to you then."

"Please what? I told you to go talk to Chun-Li yourself."

Shancha: "How can I let a young lady go and propose marriage on her own? She must find a matchmaker. I don't care. I belong to my aunt, and she must help me."

Jasmine was helpless, thinking about how she was all alone. In this mansion, they were all dependent on each other. "Alright. I'll try to find out for you."

While rubbing Grandpa's back, Jasmine asked, "Grandpa, is Zuo Hechunli married?"

Duke: "I just returned to the capital, so of course I haven't yet."

Jasmine: "That's right, but now that they're back, their families should already be making plans, right?"

The Duke then told her about how Zuo He's family came to the garrison camp two days ago and asked Zuo He to spend an hour with them.

"He refused, so I had to turn them away on the grounds that the garrison couldn't leave."

"Why doesn't Zuo He agree? Is he in love with someone?"

"Who knows him?"

Jasmine noticed that her grandfather seemed to be in a bad mood. Did Lieutenant General Zuo He provoke him?

Thinking it might be due to official business, Jasmine didn't ask any further questions and only said, "What kind of person does Zuo He like? I'll help you keep an eye out for him when I go out on the street."

The Duke felt unfair for his concubine. Look at how kind-hearted she was, even thinking about helping him find a wife, while that brat kept saying bad things about her behind her back.

The Duke said in a deep voice, "Don't worry about him. Even if he lives alone for the rest of his life, it's what he deserves."

Jasmine couldn't help herself and stretched her neck to look at her grandfather's face: "Why is Grandpa angry?"

The Duke: "He made a mistake, I can't help but be angry."

As expected, it was because of business. "Then let's not talk about him."

"Um."

"By the way, does Chunli have anyone to marry?"

The Duke felt that his aunt had been talking too much today. But strangely, he didn't find it annoying at all, and even found it quite pleasant to listen to her chatter.

"not yet."

"Why?"

"He's the eldest son of the family, so I guess we have to choose carefully for him."

The Duke suddenly remembered what Zuo He said about Chunli when they were in the camp.

Chunli and Camellia?

The Duke shook his head. Even if Chunli was interested, his family would definitely not agree. The Duke decided not to tell his concubine about this, to save her from worrying.

A legitimate son? Jasmine was confused: "If he's a legitimate son, why would his family be willing to send him to guard the border?"

The Duke: "Of course, to achieve great things and protect the family."

"Family? What family?"

"Chun Li is the eldest son of Han Chong, the Minister of War."

Jasmine was stunned.

The Duke continued, "Because Chunli insisted on joining the army, Minister Han decided to leave his second son, Han Gong, at home to marry the princess. Han Gong will marry the eleventh princess soon. Jasmine."

The Duke felt that there was no movement behind him, and when he turned around, he saw his concubine squatting with a look of extreme fear on her face.

He patted her face, and Jasmine finally came to her senses. "I'm fine. I just didn't expect Chunli to be the descendant of a high-ranking official."

The Duke praised him generously: "What's rare is that boy is both brave and resourceful, and he is both civil and military. He is a real talent."

Jasmine became even more depressed.

It was over. How was she going to explain this to Shan Cha?

Jasmine regretted that she shouldn't have agreed so quickly. She should have inquired about the situation first before saying anything.

Jasmine didn't think Shancha was unworthy of Chunli, but it was obvious that even if Chunli agreed, his family would definitely not agree.

Jasmine didn't want to keep this matter in her heart, so after struggling for two days, she finally told Shancha the matter.

Strangely enough, Shan Cha wasn't surprised at all. She didn't take it seriously and just nodded. "I knew it. He couldn't be from an ordinary family with the way he talks. He chews his snacks slowly and carefully, unlike me."

Shancha turned around and said to Jasmine, "Don't worry, Auntie. I don't blame you for this. But you were the one who said it first, and it didn't go through. You have to take good care of me from now on."

Jasmine nodded repeatedly: "No problem."

"I'm a little hungry. I'll go to the kitchen to get some snacks."

...

Chunli waited at the door of the kitchen on purpose. When he saw her coming from afar, his face lit up with joy.

When she got closer, Chunli handed her the snacks he had prepared: "I guessed you were coming."

Shancha waved her hand. "General Chunli, please eat. I'll ask the kitchen steward for another portion. Steward, give me a portion of glutinous rice cakes. My aunt specially requested them."

Chunli didn't wait for the kitchen manager to reply, and said first: "This is the last portion of glutinous rice balls. I was afraid you would come, so I waited here and didn't leave. I didn't expect that you would come." Chunli smiled happily.

Shancha scratched her head and didn't answer him. She asked the steward, "If we don't have glutinous rice cakes, other snacks will do. Auntie doesn't mind. Does the steward have any?"

The kitchen manager smiled at Chunli and handed Shancha a box of white cloud cakes.

Shancha turned around and left with the Baiyun cake.

Chunli thought she was acting strangely today and chased after her, asking, "Why don't you want glutinous rice cakes?"

Shancha: "General Chunli likes it, how can I take it away from him? General Chunli should eat it."

Chunli: "You never called me General before."

Shancha scratched her head and said with a wry smile, "I used to think you were the Duke's henchman, but now that I know you're not, I feel embarrassed to keep calling you that."

Chunli realized that she probably knew his identity: "Shancha, I don't mind."

Shancha said helplessly, "But I don't know what to say to the general. I'll take my leave."

Chunli watched her walk away, still unwilling to give up and called out to her, "You were the one who came to talk to me first. Now you're saying you don't want to talk anymore? What do you think I am?"

Shancha couldn't help but run.

She didn't stop until she turned a corner, but she didn't look back either, and continued walking slowly forward.

...

After Jasmine wrote the letter to Mrs. Luo, she waited anxiously for her reply.

Before the third day came, she still thought that Mrs. Luo was unwilling to forgive her.

Jasmine was so worried that she sat in the yard all day sighing.

While discussing the future with Shancha, the wife of the concierge brought a letter from Mrs. Luo and three brand new wooden boxes with peony patterns carved on them.

Shancha opened the box, and they were both shocked. The Luo family's wife had given her a flowing dress from Concubine Liang's clothing store. Neither of them knew the value of the item, but they could tell it was even more exquisite than the dress the eldest young master's wife had given her.

In the other two smaller boxes, one contained three golden headdresses, and the other contained a flawless and shiny jade bracelet.

Jasmine didn't dare touch the jade bracelet. When Shancha tried to touch it, Jasmine slapped her hand away, saying, "What if it breaks?"

Shancha realized what was happening and nodded repeatedly. "You can't touch it!"

She can't afford to pay!

Hiding her hands in her sleeves, Shan Cha asked, "Why did Madam Luo give you such an expensive gift? Is she trying to please Auntie?"

Jasmine: "Why would you try to please me? She's the elder and I'm the younger."

Shan Cha said with a smug look on her face, "I'm trying to win you over. I'm afraid you'll say something bad about her in front of the Duke."

Jasmine couldn't believe it and thought about it for a long time, but couldn't think of any other possibility.

Shancha said firmly again, "That's what happened." Jasmine thought about it again and felt that it seemed possible.

After all, her master treated her very well. Now, everyone in the Duke's Mansion, whether master or servant, treated her politely. Others who didn't know her treated her as the Duke's wife.

It would be bad to return it and let Mrs. Luo think that she was ungrateful.

Jasmine decided to accept it first and find an opportunity to return the gift another day. Of course, her gift was definitely not as good as the one given to her by the Luo family lady.

But Jasmine felt very at ease, because she was the mistress of the house.

Jasmine liked both the gift from the eldest young master's wife and the Luo family's wife twice. She would secretly try them on in her room, but she didn't dare wear them outside.

Therefore, these beautiful clothes and jewelry are just decorations for her.

Jasmine hid these precious things very well. If one day she couldn't stay there any longer, she would sell them for money and run away.

"Why is there a letter here?"

Of course it’s the letter from Mrs. Luo!

Jasmine was busy opening the peony wooden box and put the letter aside. She was attracted by the things inside and forgot about the letter.

At this moment, reminded by Shancha, Jasmine remembered to read the letter.

Shancha was moving the wooden box to the cabinet where her aunt hid her treasures. Molixin had only read half of it when she called out to her, "Just leave it there. You'll need it the day after tomorrow."

Shancha turned around and asked, "Didn't Auntie say these were too valuable to wear? Why are you using them again? Are you giving them away?"

Jasmine finished reading the letter before saying, "It's from the Luo family's wife. She said she wanted to see if I looked good in this dress. She'll also wear a different color dress, saying that's what all good sisters wear."

Shancha looked terrified. "Auntie, you're leaving the house? Auntie, don't forget, we've been out twice, and both times something went wrong. I don't think there's anything interesting to see outside."

Jasmine: "Mrs. Luo asked me for my opinion. Should she come to the Duke's Mansion, or should I go to the Luo Mansion to find her?"

Shancha said without hesitation: "Of course, let her come to us."

Jasmine was silent for a while before she spoke: "Forget it, I'll go find her."

The wife of the Luo family wrote in the letter: "Moli, I almost got you into trouble last time when I left the house. To avoid any more trouble, let's stay here this time. Moli, do you want me to go to the Duke's Mansion, or do you want me to come to the Luo Mansion to see me? I can do either, but my wedding is in two months. If I go to the Duke's Mansion and get seen, I'm afraid I'll be laughed at. But it doesn't matter, I don't care."

It would be bad to embarrass the mistress. Jasmine immediately replied, saying that she would go to the Luo Mansion the day after tomorrow.

Shan Cha was afraid to go out, and even more afraid to go to the Luo Mansion: "Are we really going? Aren't you afraid that the Luo family will embarrass you?"

Of course Jasmine was afraid, but since the lady from the Luo family had invited her, she couldn't refuse if she wanted to have a good relationship with her.

Besides, Jasmine couldn't imagine what the Luo family's wife would do to her. With the wedding less than two months away, the Luo family must be even more afraid of any trouble.

It doesn't make sense at this critical juncture.

On the morning of the third day, after seeing her grandfather off, Jasmine began to dress up.

Xiuhong and Shancha helped. She changed into a purple and radiant dress, with matching pearl flowers inserted diagonally into her half-high bun.

Jasmine thought she was low-key enough, but she didn't expect that just wearing this dress without any hair accessories would also be very eye-catching.

Fortunately, she was going to Luo's house, and as long as she didn't use the carriage on the road, no one would notice her.

Jasmine asked the doorman to park the carriage in the east corridor.

She was about to get on the carriage when the eldest young lady, who had heard the noise and stuck her head out, called out to her, "Auntie, you're dressed so elegantly today, where are you going?"

Jasmine: "I am going to the Luo Mansion to fulfill an appointment with the Luo family's wife."

The eldest young lady looked at her, opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it again. She smiled and waved at her, "Then go slowly, my lady."

"Yes." Jasmine bowed from a distance before entering the carriage.

The eldest young lady watched the carriage run out of the corridor.

Cuizhu asked, "I thought the lady was going to remind the aunt."

The eldest young lady's wife glanced at her and said, "Why remind her? It's okay to offend a concubine, but it would be terrible to offend the Duke's wife."

Cuizhu: "But my aunt is very popular with the Duke."

"Even if she gets another eye, she'll still be a useless concubine. With her soft personality, it's still okay now that she's the only one in the Duke's backyard. But wait until the daughter of the Luo family comes home, not to mention when there are more women in the backyard in the future. Humph."

The eldest young lady's wife sneered, "I didn't realize that the daughter of the Luo family was so scheming. I'm afraid my concubine will be in great trouble in the future. Fortunately, our eldest wife has nothing to do with her. It seems that I was right. Please send the headgear I prepared to the Luo family."

Cuizhu: "But Mrs. Luo didn't invite us."

The eldest young lady's wife said, "She must be afraid that if she informed us, Auntie would know in advance that today was the flower viewing banquet she had planned, which would ruin her plans. But she didn't invite anyone, so I took the initiative to send it off. This shows my sincerity. You go in person, and don't let Auntie see you when you send it off."

Cuizhu: "Yes. I'll go right away."