Fortunately, Wang Huan didn't really intend to punish him. She just gave him a few words of reprimand and then, under the pretext of having Wei Qinglou stay to apologize to Miss Zhu, she left gracefully with her maid.
The maidservant followed respectfully behind her mistress out of the flower hall, finally unable to hold back her words: "Madam, do you really believe what that Miss Zhu said? Maybe she's lying to you?"
"Is that so?" Wang Huan turned her head and asked her with a faint smile, "Then, in your opinion, how should I handle this matter?"
If anyone else had been asked this question, they would have stammered and dared not speak frankly. But the maid had been serving the mistress for five or six years and was always favored by her. After a moment's thought, she answered:
"This kind of woman is always acting like a vixen. She takes advantage of your favor and schemes at every turn. I think she came here today to show off in front of you and get your praise."
"You are the mistress of the house, why give her face? She hasn't even entered the manor yet, and she already has such thoughts. If she does enter the manor in the future, I think the young master will definitely be infatuated with her, and even... it's not impossible that the household will be in turmoil."
She carefully laid out her conditions before expressing her opinion: "This servant believes that Madam should end her affair with the young master as soon as possible and find him another marriage."
Wang Huan nodded, and the two walked slowly in the light, chilly north wind. She praised, "You've been by my side for a long time and have seen a lot of people and things. You're also always intelligent and quick-witted, and you always speak and act with propriety."
The maid was about to reply with a smile when she saw the lady's expression change in an instant—"But who do you think you are, daring to interfere in your master's family affairs?"
She then realized that she had become complacent and overstepped the bounds of propriety by relying on the mistress's favor. She quickly stopped, lifted the hem of her skirt, knelt down, and said in repentance, "This servant knows her mistake. Please forgive this servant, Madam. This servant will definitely be careful in her words and deeds in the future and will never dare to do it again."
After she finished speaking, Wang Huan said, "Get up. Actually, I know what you're saying, but I've inquired about Zhu Jiayu's character and know she's not that kind of person. Even if she deceived me today, it's not a big deal. Don't you understand? It's just a little flirtation between young lovers."
"I heard that Yan He went to the Ning family earlier and came back saying he wanted to discuss proposing marriage to the Zhu family with us. We had urged him before, but he said the young lady refused. He's scheming and must have used some method to get it done, which angered the young lady. In that case, I have no choice but to stand on the young lady's side and teach this son a lesson. Don't you think so?"
“I suddenly have a daughter, so it’s only right that I stand up for her.” She said as she walked back to the courtyard with her maid.
When the maid in the courtyard saw her mistress return, she took the hot tea that was warming on the stove and was about to pour it when Wang Huan waved her away.
Wang Huan personally poured tea, took a sip, and then looked at the maid beside her. She said gently, "In ordinary noble families, the mistress of the house usually keeps several beautiful and young maids by her side. When her son grows up, she will give them to him as his concubines."
"Rongxue, you've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?"
"This servant dares not." The maid hurriedly knelt down, lowered her eyes and shook her head, saying, "This servant only wishes to serve by Madam's side for a long time, and dares not have any improper thoughts about the young master. I beg Madam to see the truth."
"It's good that you wouldn't dare." Wang Huan put down her teacup. "I thought you were advising me to find another marriage for Lou'er because you heard about the Zhu family girl's methods and were afraid that you wouldn't be able to achieve your wish."
Rongxue lowered her head even further, her slender body trembling slightly as she lay on the ground.
"Go down. You've been by my side for so many years, you should know that the most important thing for a servant is to be obedient and dutiful."
“Yes,” Rongxue carefully rose and curtsied, “This servant will follow Madam’s instructions.”
...
After the Duchess left the flower hall, Zhu Jiayu had already drunk a cup of tea.
Wei Qinglou poured her tea attentively, and then said, "Just drinking tea isn't enough. How about I have someone bring you a few more dishes of snacks?"
Zhu Jiayu remained silent and turned her head to one side.
Wei Qinglou then moved over to talk to her again: "I know you're angry, so why don't you hit me?"
"Won't it hurt if you hit my hand? Then you can scold me, or punish me however you want."
Zhu Jiayu raised her head, her watery eyes looking at him, then turned her head away the next moment.
Wei Qinglou grew anxious: "Grandma, you can't just keep ignoring me, can you?"
Zhu Jiayu couldn't help but chuckle: "Who's your great-aunt?"
She opened the food box.
Wei Qinglou said with a bitter face, "Everything else is fine, but can I not eat these pastries?" He said seriously, "You may not know, but I get dizzy whenever I eat salty pastries. As a pillar of the state of Da Ye, if I really collapse because of this box of pastries, won't you feel sorry for me?"
Zhu Jiayu glanced at him clearly.
He immediately reached out and took the snacks with a look of grim determination.
The moment her fingertips touched the food box, Zhu Jiayu slapped it away.
He looked at her in confusion, and saw her open the second layer of the food box and take out a piece of red jade.
The red jade was carved into the shape of a fish, with a blue tassel hanging from the bottom. The only flaw was that the craftsman's carving skills seemed a bit lacking; a perfectly good fish was carved into something that looked more like a loach.
It was thanks to his wisdom and keen insight that he was able to tell it was a fish.
"To make up for your birthday gift," Zhu Jiayu said casually.
This was her real purpose in coming to the Duke's mansion today.
Although she could wait until tomorrow to give it to him, since she had already finished carving it, she wanted to see Wei Qinglou's expression when he accepted the gift as soon as possible.
She had considered many possibilities, but she never expected that Wei Qinglou would look so disgusted.
Not only that, he also asked, "Since this is a belated birthday gift for me, can I request a different one?"
Zhu Jiayu grabbed Hongyu in her palm and pinched the flesh on the back of his hand with her other hand: "If you don't want it, then forget it!"
Seeing that things had escalated, Wei Qinglou couldn't help but grab her hand: "I was just kidding, I really like it."
He lowered his head, chuckled, and stroked the thin calluses on her fingertips: "It must have been hard, right? Zhu Jiayu, do you know what this kind of behavior is called?"
"What?" Zhu Jiayu asked, following his words.
“That’s called being deeply in love with me.” Wei Qinglou raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You wait for me here, I’ll be right back.”
He let go of her hand and strode out. Not long after, he returned carrying a large box.
What's inside?
Wei Qinglou gestured with his chin: "Open it and you'll see."
He handed the key to her.
Zhu Jiayu unlocked the box with the key, opened the lid, and then stood there stunned—
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