Chapter 10 She didn't want to mess with any of them!
Chapter Ten
Lin Rong didn't know how to explain, or perhaps she didn't need to say anything more.
She knew all too well that servants were of lowly status. There were countless servants who were beaten to death in the courtyard for simply breaking a bottle, soiling a blanket, or breaking a precious herb, let alone offending the all-powerful Grand Commander Pei.
Lin Rong dared not gamble on the slightest bit of kindness Pei Zan might have shown; she was a lowly clay figure, at the mercy of others' mold and shaping.
It was just a sarcastic remark, a mocking glance—nothing special—she could tolerate it.
So, Lin Rong took off her dirty cotton shoes, leaving only the white socks covering her ankles.
She didn't take off her plain cloth socks today because they weren't soaked in mud.
Lin Rong knelt down beside the wooden shelf with the washbasin, washed her hands carefully, and then took the food out of the chicken wing wood food box and placed it steadily on the table.
Everything was done smoothly and efficiently.
After serving the meal, Lin Rong withdrew her hand, lowered her eyes and retreated, kneeling on the velvet carpet to the side, waiting for Pei Zan to finish his meal and dismiss her.
Lin Rong didn't flirt or pose; she dutifully finished her work and obediently awaited instructions like a wooden doll.
Such a sensible maid is not at all annoying.
After finishing his meal, Pei Zan washed his mouth and drank a cup of tea.
Pei Zan respected the rules of aristocratic young masters, refraining from speaking while eating or sleeping. However, after the meal, he did not immediately call Lin Rong out.
Fortunately, the peony-patterned blanket under Lin Rong's knees was very soft, and the room was warm with smokeless silver charcoal burning, so she felt no discomfort whatsoever.
Therefore, even though Lin Rong was in the same room as Pei Zan, a fierce and evil god, she did not find it particularly unbearable.
Lin Rong was soaked in sweat, and the sudden heat made her feel drowsy after being in the warm room for so long.
Before Lin Rong could even react, a tall, imposing black figure silently appeared.
The man's shadow, cast by the candlelight, surged forth, completely enveloping the petite Lin Rong.
Pei Zan's gaze was cold and sharp, like dark clouds pressing down overhead, or a mountain torrent collapsing, its intimidating power overwhelming.
Such close proximity inexplicably reminded Lin Rong of the painful and terrifying sexual encounter that night.
Her hesitation dissipated, her spirits lifted again, and she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, with a chill seeping into her very bones.
But Lin Rong thought that since the two of them were now in the dining room with the door wide open, even if Pei Zan was unscrupulous, he probably wouldn't lay a hand on her in public.
After all, Pei Zan had made sure the doors and windows were tightly shut before he did it that night.
He was merely drugged and lost his mind; he is a powerful and influential person who values his reputation above all else, and would never do such a despicable thing.
After calming herself down, Lin Rong forced herself to remain composed and asked him, "Does the young master have any instructions?"
Despite what Lin Rong said, her hands and feet were already stiff, and she was even choking on her breath.
Pei Zan lowered his eyes and stared at the nape of Lin Rong's neck, where her hair was tied in a dark braid.
The narrow finger marks beneath the girl's collar had faded, leaving only a thin, moist bone bead twisting and bulging beneath the skin, struggling in her death throes, just like her.
Pei Zan's long, drawn-out breath brushed against her hair, and the gentle sandalwood scent drew near. Lin Rong couldn't help but shrank back, when suddenly she heard him speak abruptly.
"On the night of the third day of the Lunar New Year, did you deliver tea to Yuchen Courtyard?"
"I...I have so many chores to do that I can't remember them all right now..." Lin Rong's almond-shaped eyes trembled slightly, her face as white as a blank sheet of paper. Her shoulders stiffened instantly, and she didn't dare to look up, silently enduring the hot sweat that kept seeping from her palms.
She suspected that Pei Zan had discovered something.
After all, she had begged for mercy from the person behind her that night because of the pain, and she had let out a few sounds during that time.
However, girls' voices are gentle and delicate, and most of them are soft and frail. In the Pei family alone, there are countless maids with similar voices.
Pei Zan shouldn't be able to confirm that she was the disrespectful maid based on just a few words... Moreover, Pei Zan knew that Lin Rong often came to Yu Chen Courtyard to deliver meals, so perhaps he had doubts and was just asking casually.
Thinking of this, Lin Rong, clinging to a sliver of hope, forced herself to answer, "It seems not."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zan's lips curled slightly, the curve extremely faint: "Perhaps I've misjudged... You may leave."
"Yes." Lin Rong felt relieved. After clearing away the dishes, she turned her back to Pei Zan and quietly put on her shoes and left.
Lin Rong held the food box, walking as if on a tightrope, each step extremely steady.
She dared not show the slightest panic, for fear that even the slightest flaw would arouse Pei Zan's suspicion, and then he would imprison her and her soul here, never to be reincarnated.
-
By the time of Xu (7-9 PM), the masters of the villa had all gone to sleep.
Granny Zhao brought over a basket of crabs caught from the ice cave, and heated several pots of ginger and yellow wine in a pot, then called the servants in the outer courtyard to eat and drink together.
Winter crabs are not as plump as autumn crabs, but they are superior in that their meat is tender and smooth. With a pinch and a suck, the juices flow out of your mouth, making them a perfect accompaniment to alcohol.
Although the servants in the outer courtyard received less pay, they had more freedom. The old women managed the communal kitchen, and as long as they didn't make too much noise at night or steal expensive ingredients, no one would care if they threw edamame or taro into the stove.
While the maids and servants in the inner courtyard served their masters respectably, the private kitchen in the courtyard could only be used to cook soup for the young masters and ladies; they had no chance of eating any late-night snacks.
Granny Zhao took a plump crab from the steamer and placed it in Lin Rong's bowl. "You've had a long day, eat something quickly."
Lin Rong was both punished and frightened today, and she was truly terrified.
She was grateful for the old woman's thoughtfulness and drank a cup of warming rice wine before eating the crab.
As the wine flowed down her throat and warmed her lungs, Lin Rong finally came to her senses and exclaimed happily, "It's so much more relaxing here with Grandma; I don't have to worry about anything."
Fu Gui laughed when he heard this: "Of course! Granny Zhao dotes on Sister Rong the most. This afternoon, the gatekeeper caught some big crabs, and everyone in the other courtyard ate them while they were still fresh. Granny insisted on saving them for Sister Rong to finish her work before eating them. I was so hungry that I was thinking about the crabs in the pot all night while I was running errands."
Lin Rong opened a bowl of crab meat for Granny Zhao to have with her wine, and then handed a crab to Fugui, saying, "When have I ever let you go hungry? You make such a pitiful face. Hurry up and eat a couple of bites to shut your mouth."
"Hey, thank you for the treat, Sister!" Fugui sang like a monkey, making everyone laugh heartily, and they enjoyed a pleasant late-night snack together.
To ward off the cold, Lin Rong drank more wine.
But she forgot that she had caught a chill that day, and the alcohol had clouded her judgment. After only three drinks, she was drunk and dizzy.
Lin Rong couldn't drink with anyone anymore, so she said goodbye and went back to her room to rest.
The masters will all be out hunting tomorrow, and the kitchen work will only be done at night. The servants can sleep an extra hour. No one wants the banquet to end so early, so they told Lin Rong to go to sleep first, and they would drink another cup of yellow wine.
When Lin Rong walked out of the kitchen, it was still snowing, and the plum grove in the distance was bathed in the bright moonlight, shining brightly for miles.
Lin Rong stood there for a while, feeling a mix of emotions.
She knew the flowers and snow were beautiful, but she didn't have the leisure to appreciate them.
Every day she was busy sweeping the yard or serving tea and water... She was busy trying to survive and had no time for herself at all.
Even admiring flowers has become an extremely luxurious affair.
Lin Rong thought that if she ever left the Pei family, she would definitely make some pancakes or steam some red date rice cakes in a snowy winter, and then take a big bundle filled with rabbit fur blankets and go up halfway up the mountain to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms.
She doesn't need to rush to work; she's very free, and she can stay out as late as she wants.
Lin Rong grinned, as if a happy and fulfilling life was just around the corner.
Before she could take two steps forward, a hand as big as a fan suddenly covered her mouth and nose.
Lin Rong struggled desperately, but the man behind her was tall and strong, and he actually tried to kill her.
Lin Rong cried out until a strong smell of medicine filled her mouth and nose.
Her head buzzed, then her eyes burned, her legs went weak, and she fainted.
When Lin Rong opened her eyes again, she found herself in an abandoned house with cobwebs hanging from the beams and dust on the table, clearly indicating that no one had lived there for a long time.
Lin Rong's mouth was gagged with a strip of cloth, her hands were folded behind her back, and she was tightly bound with a rough hemp rope.
She felt the chill from her slightly open collar and couldn't help but shiver. Turning her head, she saw Liu Qingshan approaching, his face flushed and staggering.
Lin Rong's lips were deathly pale, and she trembled with fear.
"Rong, Rong'er, I didn't want to do this either. But my father said that as long as we get together, he can take care of everything else... It's just that our wedding night will be a little earlier. Don't worry, I'll still give you the betrothal money, and I'll treat you well!"
Liu Qingshan approached, reeking of alcohol. He apologized, but his eyes shone with an unusual gleam, clearly indicating that he had been planning this for a long time.
The man's rough hand touched Lin Rong's neck, roaming freely over her snow-white skin, almost slipping inside her clothes.
Lin Ronghua's face paled, and she was filled with hatred, her eyes almost bursting with rage.
What a fool! He has his parents protecting him; if anything happens, Steward Liu will do everything in his power to protect him.
Unlike Lin Rong, who is all alone and has no one to rely on. With a charge of defiling the inner quarters, how could she possibly fare well? She'd probably be drowned in a pig cage!
Lin Rong was free-spirited and did not value chastity. Her previous submission to Pei Zan was merely out of fear of disobeying her master's orders, as well as to repay a debt of gratitude and escape from the inner quarters.
But what about Liu Qingshan?! He's Steward Liu's son!
When they were young, Steward Liu was mean to people. He disliked Lin Rong because she was a thin and weak girl. Steward Liu took advantage of her being clumsy and tongue-tied, and often beat her with sticks under the guise of "training".
Lin Rong was covered in wounds and hated the Liu family to the bone. How could she possibly marry into such a family?
Lin Rong endured the nauseating smell of alcohol. Just as Liu Qingshan was about to lower his head for a kiss, she suddenly looked up and slammed her head into the man's forehead.
This devastating blow fueled Lin Rong's determination to fight to the death, leaving no stone unturned.
Not to mention Liu Qingshan was stunned by Lin Rong's collision, even Lin Rong herself hit her forehead and bled profusely.
Lin Rong endured the pain and, taking advantage of Liu Qingshan's fall and cry out, she sprang off the bed with a somersault.
With her hands bound, Lin Rong's movements were restricted, so she could only turn her back and slowly pull open the latch.
Liu Qingshan was dizzy for a while, but quickly realized that Lin Rong was going to run away!
Whether he succeeds tonight or not, and Lin Rong complains to the master, the consequences will be unimaginable!
Liu Qingshan was furious. He endured the pain, his face trembling, his eyes becoming increasingly ferocious, as he made a move to grab Lin Rong back.
Lin Rong's heart was pounding. She dared not hesitate for a moment. Even as Liu Qingshan approached, she forced herself to calm down and pull the latch.
At the critical moment, Lin Rong suddenly pulled out the door bolt and took a step back.
Liu Qingshan stretched out his long arm, trying to grab someone, but he lost his footing and fell into the snow.
The wooden gate was wide open, and the wind and snow swept in, making Lin Rong's tear-streaked face sting and her black hair dance wildly.
Lin Rong was drenched in sweat. She didn't dare to linger and hurriedly ran outside.
Liu Qingshan scrambled to his feet from the snowflakes, terrified. He could only chase after the woman relentlessly.
At this moment, Liu Qingshan lost all sense of pity and tenderness. He wished he could break Lin Rong's legs and pull out her tongue so that she wouldn't have the energy to cause trouble and ruin him.
Lin Rong's hands were tightly bound with hemp rope, and her mouth was stuffed with a piece of cloth, leaving her helpless and unable to call for help.
Her blood ran cold, and she trembled uncontrollably. She was truly terrified of falling into Liu Qingshan's clutches again.
She had already angered Liu Qingshan, and she knew that if she returned to the thieves' den, she would not have a good outcome.
Liu Qingshan was so cunning that he hid her in a secluded temple quarters, which was a quarter of an hour's walk from the villa where his masters lived!
Lin Rong ran for her life. Her legs were numb with cold, and her mouth and nose were blocked by the wind and snow, making it hard for her to breathe. Thinking about what had happened that day, she felt more and more aggrieved and resentful, and even wanted to die together with Liu Qingshan.
She didn't want to provoke either Pei Zan or Liu Qingshan!
All she wanted was to live her own life and redeem herself from the Pei family as soon as possible... Why, why couldn't she even have this simple wish granted!
Lin Rong was so angry she felt like she was going to vomit blood. She really didn't understand what sins she had committed in this life!
-
Late at night, Fugui went out to urinate.
That night, after drinking too much rice wine, he saw Liu Qingshan use dirty tricks to carry Sister Rong, who was bound hand and foot, onto an oxcart!
Fu Gui was so frightened that his face turned pale. Before he could call for help, the oxcart had already sped away.
Fu Gui missed his target. He glanced in the direction of the oxcart and remembered that Liu Qingshan had been drinking with someone yesterday and mentioned that there was a deserted temple nearby that hadn't been used for a long time, which would be perfect for doing business.
Although Fugui was young, he had spent a long time in the outer courtyard and of course understood the meaning of Liu Qingshan's lewd words. Seeing Lin Rong being kidnapped, he immediately realized that this guy was trying to play dirty tricks! He wanted to force himself on Lin Rong and make it a fait accompli!
But Liu Qingshan is the only son of Steward Liu, so who would dare to get involved in this mess to save him?
The only people who could keep Steward Liu in check were the masters of the mansion or Uncle Feng of Yuchen Courtyard.
Thinking of this, Fugui immediately thought of the young master Pei Zan, who was enjoying the snow in the plum grove tonight... Since his master was in the plum grove, Uncle Feng must be there too!
Fu Gui gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves, and spat twice into his palm.
He rubbed his hands together to encourage himself, and then, with the speed of the wind, the young man dashed into the woods.
-
The night sky was silent, and the bright moon shone for thousands of miles.
Pei Zan suddenly had a refined idea and wanted to come to the woods to admire the plum blossoms.
When the Xie family found out, they naturally decorated the plum grove with all sorts of bright lanterns, using this magnificent scene of burning trees and starry bridges to curry favor with this powerful military governor.
Pei Zan drank a pot of Dongzhou Autumn Dew White wine and leaned against a wintersweet tree with gnarled leaves and flowers, pretending to doze off.
Perhaps he was truly tired, for his white fox fur cloak had rolled up, his jade hairpin had loosened, and his long, flowing black hair had cascaded over his shoulders.
The man's long eyelashes were like snow, and he remained motionless. From a distance, he appeared less fierce and violent than a military general, and more like a scholar with the slender and graceful bearing of a pine tree.
However, this tranquil and peaceful scene was eventually disturbed by a series of hurried footsteps.
The beautiful scenery was disturbed, and Pei Zan slightly lifted his thin eyelids, glancing unhappily into the distance.
The skinny servant boy, Fugui, ran towards Pei Zan without stopping.
He slid in and knelt before Pei Zan, kowtowing vigorously: "Young Master, please have mercy and save my sister! My sister has been kidnapped by Liu Qingshan! I'm afraid something will happen to her, so I have no other choice but to beg you! Please have mercy and lend a hand to save my sister!"
Fu Gui dared not provoke Pei Zan, but since he could not find Uncle Feng, he had no choice but to try his luck, hoping that he might be lucky enough to get Pei Zan to show mercy.
But he clearly did not understand how ruthless the ruthless Grand Commander Pei was. If he hadn't been in a good mood tonight, his first move would have been to snap Fugui's neck.
Pei Zan's good dream was disturbed tonight, and he was already in a bad mood. When he heard that a lowly servant from the outer courtyard dared to bother his master, he couldn't help but sneer: "You have a lot of nerve. It's just a fight between servants. How dare you disturb the master of the house?"
Fu Gui's forehead was swollen from kowtowing. He was at his wit's end. Having already begged his master, he could only continue to plead: "This servant is truly helpless. It was Steward Liu's son who did it. No one dares to get involved in this vile matter. This servant can't find anyone to help him. I can only beg you, Master, to suppress them! Please! If we delay any longer, Sister Rong might be in trouble!"
Sister Rong.
Pei Zan paused slightly with his long fingers, his phoenix eyes closing gently. "You just said... what's your older sister's name?"
Although Fu Gui didn't understand why Pei Zan asked such a question, he seized a glimmer of hope and quickly replied loudly, "Lin Rong... Sister's name is Lin Rong! She is a cleaning maid in the outer courtyard!"
The wine glass broke.
The jade cup was so fragile that it shattered between Pei Zan's long fingers.
A note from the author:
Pei Zan recognized him a long time ago, otherwise he wouldn't have meddled. But don't assume he's a good person.
I'd like to recommend a book I might be writing in the future—I might start writing it later.
After Marrying Up (by Caodeng Daren)
Wife-chasing crematorium | Arranged marriage to fall in love | Both virgins
Honest and beautiful farm girl x aloof and abstinent nobleman
To repay the hunter for saving his life, King Zhao arranged a marriage between his eldest son, Wei Yan, and the hunter's daughter.
Five years later, King Zhao passed away, but the arranged marriage between children remained.
Everyone knows that Wei Yan, the heir of the Prince's Mansion, is exceptionally handsome and talented, the most outstanding among the noble young men in the capital.
He had a bright future ahead of him, but he was forced by his father to marry a country woman.
With a minor flaw, Wei Yan became the laughing stock in the circle of nobles. Even the old princess felt sorry for her son and found fault with her daughter-in-law in every way.
After their marriage, Wei Yan was quiet and aloof, but he never criticized Lin Wan, and the two treated each other with respect.
Lin Wan gradually felt relieved. Her parents had passed away early, and her only relative now was her newlywed husband.
However, aside from their monthly sexual encounters, Wei Yan never stayed overnight in the dormitory.
On the rare occasions when they were affectionate, it was always in bed, where Wei Yan would stroke the small mole behind her ear and gently kiss it.
At that time, Wei Yan was no longer arrogant and unapproachable. He would call her Wanwan, just like a family member when Lin Wan was alive.
-
One day, Wei Yan's childhood sweetheart cousin came to visit. The old princess deliberately avoided Lin Wan and entertained her cousin instead.
The old princess hugged her niece with heartache, secretly cursing Lin Wan for being shameless and stealing her niece's marriage.
When Lin Wan delivered the fruit platter, she overheard something but didn't care at all.
It wasn't until she saw her cousin off that Lin Wan noticed a familiar little mole behind her cousin's ear.
I learned that my cousin's name contained the character "晚" (wan).
Everyone calls her Wanwan.
Only then did Lin Wan realize that Wei Yan only saw her as a substitute for his cousin. A gentleman keeps his promises, and it was also his father's dying wish, which he could not disobey.
Wei Yan's affection for her was all fake.
Lin Wan was heartbroken and proposed a divorce to Wei Yan.
She hoped that Wei Yan would stop her, perhaps because he also had feelings for her.
However, Wei Yan glanced at her indifferently, signed the document decisively, and severed all ties with her.
-
Five years later, Wei Yan and Lin Wan met unexpectedly on a narrow road in the border town.
At that time, Lin Wan was looking after her godson and, without paying attention, lost the child.
The child got lost in the bustling city and cried for his mother, just in time to meet Wei Yan.
Lin Wan ran into her ex-husband by chance. Without exchanging pleasantries, she simply reached out her hand to Wei Yan and said, "Give me back the child."
Wei Yan's phoenix eyes turned icy as he asked in a cold voice, "Yours?"
Lin Wan nodded: "Mine."
For many years, Lin Wan had been out of contact. Wei Yan had not seen his ex-wife for a long time, and when they finally met again, he learned that she had remarried and had children.
Upon hearing the child's grating "Mother," Wei Yan's good temper vanished.
Beneath the man's sleeve, his knuckles curled slightly, a fierce anger rising within him.
...When did she remarry?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
