Chapter 236 Opportunities Come to Those Who Wait

For the next few days, the gatekeeper of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion would see bedding under the eaves every morning.

The gatekeeper would collect bedding every day and then pawn it for a few coins, which he found troublesome.

One day, instead of throwing away the bedding, he urinated on it and left it by the door after nightfall.

Zhan Xingzhuo, having drunk some alcohol, came over again, swaying unsteadily.

Minglu was already used to it. He dragged the bedding from the inn, but saw that the bedding from last night was still on the steps. Just as he was wondering about it, he suddenly smelled a strong odor of urine.

He picked it up and, upon seeing it, angrily cursed, "Hey, is this Marquis Zhongyong blind? He not only threw away my quilt, but he actually peed on it!"

Minglu was so angry that he banged on the door, while Zhan Xingzhuo seemed to feel nothing and sat down on the steps.

The gatekeeper, who was peeking from behind the door, was terrified.

He always thought he was a beggar. Who would have thought that the second master of the Duke's mansion would be sitting at someone else's doorstep in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?

The doorman opened the door and hurriedly invited Zhan Xingzhuo inside: "Second Master, are you cold? Here, warm your hands—"

He was holding a sweet potato that had just been roasted on a charcoal stove.

These sweet potatoes and charcoal were what he bought by pawning those quilts.

"Go to hell!" Minglu was furious and kicked the sweet potato the gatekeeper was handing him. "You dare to bully even our Second Master? Don't you have eyes?"

Minglu beat the gatekeeper, who cried out in pain. The commotion was so loud that it woke up the Marquis of Zhongyong.

Mulan Courtyard.

Just as Qingling was about to rest, Xia Chan rushed over to report that the gatekeeper had been beaten by Zhan Xingzhuo.

The news was passed down layer by layer, and as it was passed, it changed its meaning. But given Zhan Xingzhuo's personality, it wasn't unusual for him, as a nobleman, to beat and scold his servants.

"...I don't know the specifics either. They're in the main courtyard right now. Miss, shall we go take a look?"

Qingling yawned from under the covers: "It has nothing to do with us, don't touch me."

"Eh." Xia Chan nodded. If her mistress didn't care, then she didn't need to either.

The lights in Mulan Courtyard were quickly turned off, as if they knew nothing at all.

Main courtyard.

Zhan Xingzhuo sat in a mahogany chair, his long fingers supporting his head, his narrow eyelids closed as he dozed off.

Even so, she still exudes an air of nobility.

Marquis Zhongyong looked at him, puzzled, yet dared not wake him.

According to the gatekeeper, Master Zhan has been waiting outside the Marquis's residence for several nights.

Is this for Yao Qingling?

But if it were for Yao Qingling, why would he sit at the door? With his pride, he wouldn't put on such a melodramatic show, would he?

Minglu glanced at Marquis Zhongyong indifferently and said, "Second Master was just drunk and didn't recognize his own doorstep. He was observing the people's conditions in Luozhou, and when he was tired, he would just sleep on the ground and continue the next day. Second Master is diligent and hardworking, which is why he was able to achieve such great things in such a short time."

"This habit has simply been retained, so please don't take offense, my lord."

Marquis Zhongyong: "You're right. Minister Zhan has worked hard. It was my blind gatekeeper who caused the trouble. I've already had him beaten to death, and not a single word will be spread."

Minglu nodded seriously.

But what do we do next?

I can't just sit here and sleep until dawn, can I?

This Marquis Zhongyong is such a blockhead, couldn't he just say something like, "Go sleep in the side room"?

Minglu was afraid that the man beside her was still drunk and would go sit by the door again.

Zhao Qie glanced at Zhan Xingzhuo and smiled.

She said sweetly, "Your Excellency has worked hard. If you don't mind, there are empty rooms in the Marquis's residence. Please stay here tonight."

She instructed the maidservant beside her to tidy up the room.

Minglu glanced at her; this concubine, compared to Madam Ma, was at least somewhat perceptive.

He cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you, Aunt Zhao."

Marquis Zhongyong watched as Minglu helped Zhan Xingzhuo to the side room.

He turned to look at Concubine Zhao: "Why did you let him stay overnight? Didn't you say that he and Yao Qingling could no longer be together?"

Zhao's concubine was so exhausted that she felt like she had no bones left, and she plopped down.

"My lord, it's obvious that Second Master Zhan is after Qing Ling. Do you really believe that servant's nonsense?"

"Given the situation, we can't openly offend him, can we? Besides, after causing such a commotion, did Yao Qingling even come out to take a look?"

Marquis Zhongyong nodded, feeling that Zhan Xingzhuo was troublesome, and Yao Qingling was even more troublesome.

It's best to clean it up as soon as possible.

"Didn't you say..."

Concubine Zhao said, "My lord, please be patient. Opportunities are meant to be waited for."

...

Since Ma went to the manor, Ma Peizhen has been keeping a low profile for quite some time.

She served the old lady obediently, bringing her tea and medicine every day, and even helping her copy scriptures.

She also inquired about the commotion in the other courtyards.

She had naturally heard about the big event that happened tonight.

Zhao Qie arranged a side room for Zhan Xingzhuo, and Ma Peizhen felt this was an opportunity.

Her aunt lost power, and the old lady was unwilling to manage affairs in Cangbo Courtyard. Ma Peizhen relied on the old lady and kept a low profile. She could only say that she was not sent back to her hometown. But she could not live like this forever.

No one cared about her marriage anymore, and even though Ma Peizhen still wanted to marry into a wealthy family, she had no way to do so.

Zhan Xingzhuo's arrival made her feel that this was actually an opportunity.

So what if he was Yao Qingling's husband? That's all in the past.

Even if they didn't divorce, it would be good for her to become a concubine of Zhan Xingzhuo.

Ma Peizhen felt that Yao Qingling was just pretending to be aloof. If she couldn't deal with Zhou Zhining, why not let her serve the Second Master? With her intelligence and ability, she could easily help Yao Qingling secure the Second Master's favor.

Since Yao Qingling wants a divorce, then she can become the wife of the Vice Minister.

In the stillness of the night, a slender figure silently approached the room.

Minglu was sleeping on the bed when someone suddenly stepped on him. He yelled, "Who's the blind man who did this?!"

He looked closely and said, "You are..."

The woman in front of me looked familiar, but I couldn't remember who she was.

Ma Peizhen was furious with this scoundrel, but on her face she looked delicate and aggrieved: "Brother Minglu, how come you don't remember me? I am a cousin of the Marquis's family."

"Oh, it's you." Minglu remembered, the niece of Ma.

What are you doing here?

Ma Peizhen glanced down at the hangover soup in her hand and said, "I heard that Second Master got drunk and stayed at the Marquis's residence. I thought that this room was remote and the servants might not be serving him well enough, so I went and cooked a bowl of hangover soup to bring to Second Master."

"He has to attend the morning court session tomorrow, and his hangover is really giving him a headache."

Minglu glanced at what she was holding.

When Ma Peizhen stepped on him, she staggered, spilling the medicine and scalding the back of her hand, turning it bright red. The medicine was still clinging to her hand, making it wet.

Ma Peizhen bit her lip in grievance and lowered her eyes.

Minglu took the medicine and said, "Miss, you are very thoughtful. However, Second Master is not awake yet. I will leave this hangover soup here for now and tell him when he wakes up."

“Alright, then I’ll trouble you, Brother Minglu.” Ma Peizhen replied gently and sensibly. Before leaving, she quietly handed a silver coin to Minglu.

She made no attempt to conceal her purpose and ambition.

She knew that a servant like Minglu was knowledgeable and experienced; even if she didn't say anything, he could tell what was going on.

She was afraid that he knew the truth but said nothing and threw away the bowl of medicine, leaving her with no chance at all.

After Ma Peizhen left, Minglu placed the hangover soup on a side cabinet.

When Zhan Xingzhu woke up and asked for water because he was thirsty, Minglu handed him the bowl of things: "It was sent by the cousin of the Marquis's family."

Zhan Xingzhu frowned: "Which cousin?"