"Who is that woman?!"
"I don't know about that. It was too dark at night, and I couldn't see clearly who it was. But I saw that she shouldn't be a maid from Songhe Garden, otherwise why would she bring her from outside?"
"The eldest son has always been dignified and reserved, never interested in women, not even having a concubine. How could he suddenly favor a girl? Did he bring in some stunning maid into the mansion?"
"Maybe she's not a maid, but an outsider. Otherwise, why would she be so secretive? Maybe... she's from some brothel or other place..."
The maids covered their mouths in astonishment: "Young Master, that kind of place? No way?"
"What do you know? All men are capable of it. Besides, the women in that kind of place are very clever and are used to seducing men. Otherwise, how could they be favored by the eldest son who is so aloof from women?"
Wanruo's hand holding the handkerchief suddenly tightened, and her pearly teeth bit her lower lip, which turned slightly white.
"No wonder Miss Jiang came here suddenly. It looks like she heard some rumors and came here specially, right?"
"That's really possible. My dear, the news spread throughout the mansion early this morning. The marriage has not yet been officially finalized. Will the Jiang family give up on it?"
"For a family as powerful as the Jiang family, marrying into the Xie family is already a blessing. How could she be willing to..."
The maids were talking about the marriage of Xie Xianyu and Jiang Xuejun, but Wanruo no longer had the desire to listen and left in a hurry.
-
Qingfeng Pavilion.
"Your daughter came by chance. Xian'er happened to be on leave at home. I have already asked someone to invite her. Your marriage is almost settled, but you haven't had a chance to have a proper conversation."
The eldest lady spoke in a gentle tone, and she was very satisfied with the daughter-in-law she had personally chosen.
Jiang Xuejun smiled and said, "Yesterday at the poetry gathering, Sister Xiuzhu mentioned that she loved the tea cakes made by my cook, so I specially had someone make a box for her."
The little maid behind her came forward with an eight-treasure box. When she opened it, it was full of various pastries.
Xie Xiuzhu's eyes lit up and she happily took it: "Thank you, Sister Xuejun!"
The eldest lady said angrily, "You kid, you're so quick to react now. Are you so greedy?"
Xie Xiuzhu happily held the food box and said, "My dear, you don't know that the Jiang family's cook is very skilled and the snacks she makes are delicious."
She asked curiously, "I heard they were brought in from Jiangnan, right? My elder brother just came from Jiangnan too, he might like it too!"
Jiang Xuejun pursed her lips and smiled: "I don't know whether the eldest master likes it or not, so I brought him a box too."
The eldest lady smiled with satisfaction: "You are thoughtful."
While they were chatting, Zhu Qing hurried in and whispered a few words in the eldest lady's ear.
The eldest lady's expression changed slightly, and she turned to Xie Xiuzhu and said, "Hello, please entertain your sister Jiang."
Then he got up and left.
The eldest lady walked outside and then asked in a deep voice, "Are you telling the truth?"
"I just heard the servants gossiping about it. Someone saw it with their own eyes. I've specially ordered the maid who claimed to have seen it to be captured. Madam, you can question her."
Two maids brought a young servant over. The servant knelt on the ground and repeatedly said, "Madam, please spare my life. I know I was wrong."
The eldest lady asked sharply, "You said you saw the eldest young master last night?"
"Yes, yes, I dare not lie. The eldest master went to Songhe Garden with a woman in his arms that night."
"Who are you holding?"
"It was too dark, I couldn't see clearly."
The eldest lady frowned and asked, "Are you sure it's a woman?"
The little maid was stunned for a moment, then replied blankly, "Yes."
The eldest lady's expression eased a little. It seemed that he simply didn't like the women in his family.
"You guys are the ones who chewed on the root of the tongue. Drag him down and give him five slaps. If you do it again, I'll drag him out and sell him off."
The little maid kowtowed and cried, "I know I was wrong. Thank you, Madam, for sparing my life."
When the little maid was taken downstairs, she saw Xie Xianyu coming.
"Dearest." Xie Xianyu bowed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
