Chapter 11 Zhan Xingzhuo Sends Zhou Zhining's Personal Maid

Qingling also knew that the Grand Princess had asked her to help her sister-in-law prepare for the Spring Banquet, intending to give her a chance to shine, elevate her status, and prevent her from being ridiculed and looked down upon by those noble ladies.

The Grand Princess is still thinking of her to this day.

Qingling felt somewhat guilty upon thinking about this.

The Grand Princess subtly inquired about her pregnancy.

"...Once you have your own child, no matter how good other children are, they won't taste as good. Qingling, I didn't pressure you before because you were young, but it's time to have a child this year."

"The Guanyin Bodhisattva at Guanyue Temple is very effective in granting children. Take this talisman home and put it under your pillow. Good news will come in a few days."

Yao Qingling held the fertility charm as if it were a hot potato.

She wasn't in a hurry to get pregnant; she was already pregnant.

Judging from Princess Deyang's attitude, she was already anxious about Zhan Xingzhuo's offspring. Moreover, she valued the Duke's family's lineage highly, and if she knew that Zhan Xingzhuo was pregnant, she would be even less likely to agree to a divorce.

She should hasten the divorce...

Yao Qingling felt heavy-hearted. Her mother-in-law's patience and love for her, and her desire for a divorce, were clashing in her mind.

If there was anything about the Duke's mansion that she would cherish, it was the Grand Princess.

While other mothers-in-law might not mistreat their daughters-in-law, they are still high and mighty, full of criticism, setting rules and asserting their authority as elders; but the Grand Princess only encourages, tolerates and loves her.

They put pressure on her so subtly that even when she wanted to leave, she felt a pang of guilt.

Yao Qingling was eating absentmindedly when suddenly the Duke returned from outside.

As he walked, he spoke with his staff in the mansion.

Qingling vaguely heard something say, "Lin Shiyuan has caused a great disaster... The Emperor's intentions are unclear..."

Princess Deyang spoke up: "We're already home, and you're still talking about court affairs. Didn't you say you weren't coming back for dinner?"

The Duke paused, saw Qingling, and Qingling stood up to greet him. The Duke nodded and said, "Good girl."

Then he said to the Grand Princess, "I've eaten. I'm going to the study with them."

With that, he left with his staff.

Knowing that something was amiss at the manor, Princess Deyang, having no time for further conversation, seized the opportunity to leave quickly.

But as they approached the main gate, they saw Granny Jia talking to someone.

Because Granny Jia was standing on high, she couldn't see who was below the steps.

Yao Qingling walked over and saw Granny Jia holding an exquisite box in both hands. She looked at the people below with a cold and indifferent expression, her face full of disgust: "The Grand Princess will not accept anything from Young Madam Wang. If Young Madam Wang is truly sensible, she should leave the new mansion. What do you mean by 'made by hand'? Can't the Duke's mansion afford it?"

Qingling coldly glanced at the maidservant who was delivering the items standing at the bottom of the steps.

For the past few years, Zhou Zhining has been sending gifts to the Duke's mansion. She sends gifts during festivals, on the birthdays of the Grand Princess and the Duke, as well as on the birthdays of the Heir Apparent and the Cui family. She also sends gifts on Xingxiang's birthday.

—They weren't anything valuable, but they were all handmade by her: sachets, fans, embroidery, and delicate pastries, all expressing her sincerity.

She carefully tried to please the Duke's mansion, apologizing for the strained relationship between Zhan Xingzhuo and the Duke, and thanking Zhan Xingzhuo for taking care of her. She also hoped to soften the Duke's mansion's attitude towards her with her "sincerity" and eventually win them over.

But the Grand Princess never accepted them; the maids wouldn't even touch them, and would simply return them.

However, the reason for sending the gifts this time is probably because Qingling made a big fuss, and the rumors outside have once again implicated the Duke's mansion.

Yao Qingling watched the show casually.

She didn't have time to make the pastries herself; when Zhou Zhining heard that Granny Jia had come to the mansion, she immediately made the pastries herself and had them sent over.

Whether this "ingenious" act is meant to be disgusting or has ulterior motives is unclear.

The maidservant slightly raised her chin, her expression haughty: "Granny, this is what the master ordered, to be sent as a tribute to the Grand Princess. You cannot refuse the master's filial piety towards his mother."

She glanced back at the carriage behind her.

—This is for Zhanxingzhuo's exclusive use.

She came in the master's carriage, which means she represents the master.

Yao Qingling's pupils contracted slightly.

So clever, so assertive!

After that day, Zhan Xingzhuo felt that the maids and servants arranged by Yao Qingling were not doing their jobs well, so he sent Zhou Zhining two extra maids and two servants to take care of her and her child.

At the time, Yao Qingling didn't want to care at all; since it wasn't costing her money, she let him do as he pleased.

Qingling stared intently at the maid.

Did Zhan Xingzhuo think that the maids and servants she chose were all her people, openly and secretly bullying Zhou Zhining, and that's why he found this maid to support Zhou Zhining?

It's always the servants who are arrogant and domineering because of their masters' power. Haha, making the servants back up the master is just slapping her in the face and implying that she is mean and intolerant of others.

Yao Qingling felt a chill in her heart, and her eyes grew increasingly cold.

When Granny Jia saw Qingling, she glared at the maid and walked up to Qingling, saying, "This is a new face. Didn't you run out of money? Are you adding a new servant to the household?"

Qingling said calmly, "It was added by Master for Young Madam Wang."

Granny Jia frowned slightly, glanced at the maid, and raised her voice slightly, saying, "Even if the master hired her, she is still a person of the manor and is supported by the manor, so she is still under the care of the young mistress."

"Young Madam, when you get back, you should discipline her properly. If the Eldest Princess finds out that a mere servant dared to use her master's carriage without permission, she will be given twenty strokes of the cane to teach her a lesson!"

Upon hearing this, the maid's face flushed red and then turned pale, her fingers gripping the food box tightly.

Yao Qingling smiled faintly and nodded: "Yes, I understand."

Granny Jia ignored the maid and handed the exquisite box she was holding to Qingling in front of her: "This is jewelry that the Grand Princess gave to the young mistress. She said that you were wronged and she is making it up to you on behalf of the second young master."

Qingling thanked her and told Taoye to accept the gift.

Granny Jia raised her voice and said, "The Grand Princess also said that the young mistress should take care of the Spring Banquet. It must be done well to give the second young master and the Duke's Mansion face."

The maidservant watched all this, her eyes darting around.

As Yao Qingling boarded the carriage, the maidservant headed towards Zhan Xingzhuo's carriage. Granny Jia gave her a signal, and two servants stepped forward and stopped the maidservant.

"What are you going to do?" The maid was both angry and scared, afraid that she would be beaten with a board here.

Qingling paused and turned around to look.

Granny Jia said, "Young Madam, you are the mistress, you should ride in this carriage. As for this maid, let her walk back by herself."

Qingling smiled and said, "Thank you, Granny, but this carriage is more comfortable. That one..." She paused, "...let's leave it empty on the way back."

A mere maidservant is indeed unworthy to ride in her master's carriage.

Inside the carriage, Taoye opened the box, revealing a set of ruby ​​jewelry, exquisite and luxurious, with golden leaves that seemed to illuminate the entire carriage.

Taoye exclaimed, "It's so beautiful! It would look absolutely stunning on you, Miss!"

Qingling frowned slightly, staring blankly at the headpiece.

Tao Ye thought for a moment, then hesitated and said, "The Grand Princess is so good to you, Miss. I've never seen a mother-in-law in Shengjing protect her daughter-in-law like that. Miss, perhaps..."

She wavered.

The son-in-law was completely infatuated with Zhou Zhining, but the Duke's mansion remained steadfast in protecting their young lady. No matter how capable the son-in-law was, his future was now in jeopardy.

Once the young lady gives birth to her child, her position in the Duke's mansion will be completely secure. If the son-in-law remains so stubborn, the Duke will simply replace him with the young master, and it will be irrelevant whether the son-in-law exists or not.

The young lady's status and honor are guaranteed, and she will enjoy wealth and honor for life, which is much better than returning to the Marquis's mansion. She also won't have to raise the child alone.

In this world, women who get divorced are always subject to gossip and criticism. She has a child, and her future will be very difficult.

Why go to the far and the far, or choose the difficult over the easy?