Chapter Two: Regardless of Whether She's Worthy or Not

As the group walked along a path, they suddenly heard laughter and chatter. The voices were slightly lowered, but there was no attempt to hide them.

Looking back, I saw two maids whispering to each other under the banana leaves.

One of them smiled mockingly and said, "Look, another poor relative has come to our house for help."

"Just because you've come to the Marquis's mansion doesn't mean you can be a young lady. You even dare to call the eldest young master 'cousin'."

"His thoughts are written all over his face. Does he think he can just call anyone his cousin? Doesn't he even consider whether she's worthy?"

"I think the eldest young master should kick her out of the manor on the spot."

After he finished speaking, a burst of whispered laughter followed.

Ling'er bit her lip, her body trembling with anger.

Although our young lady is the daughter of a merchant, she cannot compare to the noble ladies of a centuries-old noble family like the Marquis's mansion. But if she hadn't suffered misfortune, who would want to rely on her and live under someone else's roof?

The master was blinded by greed and insisted on pushing his young lady into the Jiang family's fiery pit. Little did he know that a maid would gossip about her behind her back.

Shen Qingnian merely frowned slightly, stopped Ling'er from going forward to argue, and pulled her to turn around and continue walking forward.

Even the maids in the Jingnan Marquis's mansion are used to seeing high-ranking officials and nobles, so there's nothing for someone like her to care about.

Besides, she only entered the manor yesterday and is not familiar with the rules of the Marquis's manor. She came here to seek refuge and does not want to cause trouble or cause problems for her aunt.

Moreover, in this vast mansion, there are many insignificant people like her.

Aunt Su wanted to step forward and teach the two maids a lesson, but Shen Qingnian stopped her and said in a low voice, "Aunt, it's just a few words of gossip from the servants. I can take it."

"This is not the time to dwell on this."

"Let's hurry to the Wenxin Hall; we've already been lingering here for too long."

Aunt Su thought it made sense. She glanced at the two maids and then led Shen Qingnian to the Wenxin Hall.

Aunt Su gently took Shen Qingnian's hand: "Let's go quickly."

After saying that, he pulled the cloak up a little tighter for Shen Qingnian.

When Aunt Su led Shen Qingnian to the Wenxin Hall, it was already full of people.

Aunt Su led Shen Qingnian into the hall, where silver frost charcoal was burning, making it very warm.

After Qiuye stepped forward to remove Su Yiniang's cloak, she stepped back and stood respectfully.

Qiuye was Su Yiniang's maid who always stayed by her side. She was familiar with the rules of the Marquis's mansion. Ling'er followed Qiuye's example and went up to take off Shen Qingnian's cloak and stood behind Shen Qingnian.

Aunt Su placed her hands on her waist, bowed to the old lady with lowered eyes, and said, "This concubine greets the old lady."

The old lady glanced at Aunt Su; her waist was so slender it could be encircled by one hand, and her voice was melodious and gentle, making her seem pitiful.

No wonder the second prince used to dote on her so much, even giving up the Marquis's mansion.

Shen Qingnian also knelt down according to the rules, kowtowed to the old lady, and thanked her again for taking her in yesterday.

Her voice was clear and melodious, and her demeanor was impeccable; there was not a single flaw in her.

For someone raised in a merchant family to have such good manners is already quite remarkable.

The old lady twirled the prayer beads in her hand, a lukewarm smile on her face: "Get up."

Everyone noticed the old lady's reaction, and she became indifferent towards Shen Qingnian.

Ultimately, it's just about supporting one more person. The Marquis's mansion can afford it, but a country person is still a country person and can't compare to the young ladies in the Marquis's mansion.

Moreover, she was just a concubine's niece, so she was not presentable at all.

As Shen Qingnian sat down with her aunt, she noticed that someone was watching her.

She looked up and saw that it was Xie Min, the daughter of her aunt's mistress, the second wife, Madam Lin. When she saw her looking at her, she turned her head away again.

Xie Min smiled sarcastically. Her mother had persuaded the old lady to keep Shen Qingnian, but only because she was as alluring as her vixen aunt. She was just letting her be smug for a few days, knowing she would be of great use later.

Yesterday, as soon as she returned to the courtyard, she saw two young maids gossiping under the flower trellis: "Did you just see that? This cousin from Aunt Su's hometown is really beautiful, even more beautiful than our young lady."

Xie Min went up and slapped the maid across the face before walking into the hall and standing to the side.

When I saw Shen Qingnian there, she was wearing a faded, moon-white long dress and a simple silver hairpin in her hair.

She had to admit that he was a good-looking person.

After Shen Qingnian left, Xie Min asked her mother why she didn't send Shen Qingnian away, and why keep such a vixen around!

Lin smiled and said, "You think she's beautiful too, right?"

“I remember that the second master of the Marquis of Guangde likes to collect beauties. If we send her over and have the second master of the Marquis of Guangde speak up, your marriage with the young master Lu will be settled.”

The second master of the Guangde Marquis's mansion, who holds power, has a particular fondness for beautiful women. However, he has seen too many beauties to be interested in ordinary ones, and many of those who flatter him end up flattering him in vain.

But Lin was confident that when he saw Shen Qingnian, his eyes would light up.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingnian sat properly in her seat, knowing that she was also representing her aunt's face, and her demeanor never relaxed for a moment.

Xie Yanzhi changed his clothes before arriving at Wenxin Hall.

Xie Yanzhi approached the old lady and greeted her, saying, "Grandson greets Grandmother."

The old lady's wrinkles at the corners of her mouth eased slightly with a smile: "It's good that you're back safe and sound."

Xie Yanzhi has been away from home for half a year, accompanying the governor to deal with the Lingnan uprising, and has not sent a single letter home during this time.

The old lady was so worried that she couldn't sleep for nights on end, but thankfully everything went smoothly.

The Jingnan Marquis's mansion was already in decline, and none of its younger generations had achieved much. Fortunately, Xie Yanzhi emerged, a young scholar who was both a top scholar and a warrior. Now, he is not only an important minister to the emperor but also the hope of the Jingnan Marquis's mansion, helping to revive its former glory.

She took Xie Yanzhi's hand, pulled him to sit beside her, and looked at him with a kind expression.

Perhaps due to the harsh conditions in Lingnan, Xie Yanzhi's jawline became more angular, he became a little thinner, but appeared more aloof, and his eyes became sharper and more spirited.

The old lady patted Xie Yanzhi's hand, feeling heartbroken: "My grandson has suffered."

At this moment, Madam Xue, the first wife, arrived late, supported by her maid. Behind her were Xie Yanzhi's younger sister, Xie Shu, and Gu Lingyu, the second young lady of the Marquis of Xinyang's mansion.

Xue's face was pale and her eyes were red.

Upon seeing his stepmother, Madam Xue, Xie Yanzhi stood up and helped her sit down, asking, "Mother, why do you look so haggard? Are you feeling unwell?"

Just as Xie Shu was about to answer, Gu Lingyu, who was standing next to her, said to Xie Yanzhi first: "Cousin, Auntie has to manage the Marquis's mansion every day and is also worried about you. She hasn't heard from you for a long time, and she's been living in fear and anxiety. Her health couldn't take it, and she caught a cold."

"I've been staying by my aunt's side the whole time..."

Gu Lingyu's eyes sparkled as she smiled radiantly at Xie Yanzhi, then feigned shyness by shaking her head, the hair ornaments on her head jingling softly.

Xie Yanzhi's cold gaze made people afraid to meet his eyes, and even though he didn't say a word, Gu Lingyu shut her mouth in a huff.

Shen Qingnian glanced at the scene and then looked away, just in time to miss the look Xie Yanzhi was giving her.