Chapter 36 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Chapter Thirty-Six
With many guests at the Wu family's residence, Uncle Feng had to attend to other generals and former officials, and couldn't keep an eye on Lin Rong all the time.
He instructed one of his maids to follow Lin Rong obediently before leaving.
This was Lin Rong's first time strolling through the ornately decorated mansion as a guest.
She no longer needed to bow her head to serve tea and water; she could look up and freely admire the distant green willows along the embankment and the fiery red pomegranate blossoms, feeling a sense of joy and ease in her heart.
But Lin Rong had no one to guide her, and she didn't know where she should eat as a concubine. She could only stand still and wait to see how the noble ladies would react, and follow the crowd to avoid making a mistake.
Wu Nianzhen saw Lin Rong standing alone under the corridor, lost in thought. She raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and called out with a smile, "Sister Lin!"
Lin Rong was startled by the girl's sweet, delicate cry.
Upon seeing that it was Wu Nianzhen, Pei Zan's fiancée, he felt an indescribable sense of strangeness and embarrassment.
She didn't know how wives and concubines in grand mansions usually got along, or whether the mistress could really tolerate those concubines who stole their husbands... But in ordinary households, if a wife found out that her husband was out partying with prostitutes, indulging in debauchery, keeping mistresses, and bringing concubines home, she would be furious and tear her husband's face to shreds.
Although Lin Rong was a concubine who entered the household earlier, she knew that Wu Nianzhen was Pei Zan's wife. When she met the real person, she was still somewhat unsure of herself.
She greeted him respectfully, "Greetings, Miss Wu San."
As Lin Rong bowed in greeting, Wu Nianzhen smiled and looked her over.
Hearing Lin Rong speak so timidly, without a trace of the domineering air of a favored concubine, Wu Nianzhen felt much more at ease. She figured that Grand Commander Pei must have warned her beforehand not to compete with the principal wife for favor.
Just as Wu Nianzhen was about to help Lin Rong up, she caught a glimpse of a reddish tooth mark on the back of Lin Rong's drooping neck.
Her smile froze on her face, and she almost couldn't suppress the rising fire in her heart...
Knowing full well that tonight was a matchmaking banquet, Lin Rong still dared to have sex with Pei Zan, clearly showing that she didn't take Wu Nianzhen seriously and was deliberately showing off!
The thought that her handsome husband would secretly embrace other women and show them tender affection made Wu Nianzhen feel a strange pang of sadness.
She knew that now was not the right time to torment Lin Rong, so she could only suppress her anger and continue to play her part.
Wu Nianzhen took Lin Rong's hand and patted it gently. "Come on, today the Wu family is hosting, so we naturally have to take good care of the guests. Come here, little sister, let's go play at the front together."
Wu Nianzhen was friendly and gentle. Lin Rong, holding her hand, did not try to break free and obediently followed her to the front hall to play.
Wu Nianzhen led Lin Rong to the flower hall, where many noble ladies gathered.
As soon as Lin Rong took her seat, the young girls gave her inquisitive looks, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
Lin Rong nervously twisted her fingers in private. She knew that she was not presentable in public, but she had been a maid since childhood and had never been trained by a governess. It was already a great effort for her to be able to sit here without being intimidated.
Lin Rong was tongue-tied and believed that the more she said, the more mistakes she would make, so she was always quiet and reserved.
Lin Rong didn't know how to say those witty remarks common in the mansion; she would answer questions from others.
However, she was tight-lipped and quite clever. Whenever noble ladies tried to subtly inquire about Pei Zan, Lin Rong would smile gently and remain silent.
The pretty young girl remained silent, offering a gentle smile. Even a gentle lady with a softer heart wouldn't be aggressive or force Lin Rong to speak.
Besides, they're mostly here to make a fool of Wu Nianzhen!
Everyone knew that the Governor Pei she was to marry had publicly humiliated her and even brought his concubine to the banquet.
Although they were jealous that Wu Nianzhen could get close to Pei Zan, they felt a little relieved because Lin Rong was favored... At least Wu Nianzhen's future might not be easy, every family has its own troubles!
Wu Nianzhen knew exactly what they were thinking; she was both angry and helpless.
Lin Rong might be able to tolerate this, but Wu Nianzhen, no matter what, was a girl raised in a wealthy family. The fact that she managed to hold back and not turn against them was already a testament to her mother's advice.
Wu Nianzhen: "Alright, alright, stop circling around Lin Daiyu. She's timid; you might scare her. How about this, I'll have the nanny bring over some lychee wine and plum wine, and add some pearls, jade, and gold as prizes. How about we play a game of 'flying flowers'?"
The ladies, who were strictly disciplined at home and only allowed to enjoy sweet wine at banquets, readily agreed upon hearing this, saying, "Yes, yes!"
Only Lin Rong asked softly, "Miss Wu, what is the Flying Flower Order?"
Wu Nianzhen looked at her in surprise and laughed, "It's a poetry drinking game. Contestants must recite a line of poetry with a flower in it, or they will be punished by drinking."
Lin Rong didn't try to impress others by pretending to be knowledgeable. She honestly said, "Although I've spoiled the mood for all the ladies, I'm not good at poetry and literature, so I won't participate in the drinking game."
Lin Rong tried her best to refuse, which displeased everyone. They felt that Lin Rong was ungrateful and had even offended Wu Nianzhen.
Even Wu Nianzhen almost couldn't maintain her smile. She forced herself to sit down, then pretended to be considerate and had someone bring over a book of poems and put it in Lin Rong's hands.
The drinking game began, and it was Lin Rong's turn to recite a poem, but she sat there blankly, her lips moving twice, but she didn't say anything.
Lin Rong sighed softly, picked up her cup, and prepared to punish herself by drinking.
Wu Nianzhen's heart skipped a beat, fearing that Lin Rong had been made drunk and would go back to complain to Pei Zan, saying that her fiancée was intolerant and deliberately tormenting the concubine.
So, Wu Nianzhen pressed down on Lin Rong's wine glass and smiled to help her out of the predicament: "Oh dear, don't panic, I'll help you."
Wu Nianzhen opened the poetry book, pointed to a line of flower-themed poetry, and urged Lin Rong, "Little sister, memorize it quickly!"
She intended to tease and smooth things over, but Lin Rong glanced at the poem, read it haltingly, and even mispronounced an uncommon character.
"Huh? What's wrong with her...?"
"Could it be Miss Lin..."
At this moment, all the noble ladies present realized... it turned out that Lin Rong was illiterate; she was completely blind!
A soft chuckle came from somewhere, and soon everyone burst into laughter.
A sense of pleasure welled up in Wu Nianzhen's heart. She exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Lin, you can't read? I'm sorry, it was my oversight that I didn't think of that..."
No one could have imagined that the brilliant and capable Commander Pei would raise such a stupid and ignorant girl! How ridiculous!
The resentment in the hearts of the noble ladies dissipated completely. They felt superior to Lin Rong and covered their mouths with their sleeves, looking at her with disdain.
Lin Rong was used to such disdainful looks. She didn't feel ashamed and just said helplessly, "I've only learned a few hundred characters. I'm still learning the rest... I spoiled the drinking game today, so I'll punish myself with a drink."
Lin Rong had developed a high alcohol tolerance when she used to drink and eat melon seeds with Granny Zhao. She could drink a cup of sweet wine without her face turning red or getting drunk.
She left the table, sat down to drink tea and eat cakes, and did not participate in the group's games anymore.
-
After the banquet, I returned to my room at night.
Exhausted after a long day, Lin Rong returned to the Governor's Mansion.
She had assumed Pei Zan would stay at the government office as usual, but to her surprise, he came to the courtyard and ordered the servants to prepare water in the room, leaving behind several sets of snow-white undergarments for her to change into at night.
While the maid was changing the water, she lit the warm fragrance of peach blossoms in the silver-inlaid bronze incense burner in the room, and prepared a lotus-petal red blouse for Lin Rong to wear after her bath.
The garment was too short and narrow; when Lin Rong wrapped it around her body, it couldn't quite cover her, and her snow-white cleavage was pushed out. Forced to do so, she had no choice but to loosen the tie at the back of her neck a little.
Lin Rong washed herself first. Because Pei Zan disliked having servants around, there were no maids left in the room, and Lin Rong could do everything herself.
However, she was not used to being taken care of, and she did not need anyone to look after her when she was getting ready.
Lin Rong walked barefoot on the soft cashmere carpet, her fair ankles almost sinking into the soft fur of the carpet.
The old woman left Lin Rong only a thin blouse and a pair of trousers; she didn't even leave her a shawl or outer garment.
Lin Rong felt frustrated, but it was understandable. After all, Pei Zan was staying overnight in the courtyard, which meant that she had to serve him in bed. She would have to take off her clothes eventually, so why bother dressing up?
Lin Rong wasn't one to be pretentious. She wrung out her damp hair with a handkerchief as she walked toward Pei Zan, who was reading a book by the bed.
"Young Master, I'm done washing."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zan put down the book in his hand and looked up at her.
Lin Rong had indeed finished washing up, but she was only wearing a lotus-patterned blouse.
The small garment was tightly fitted, accentuating her slender and graceful waist.
His chest was slightly bulging, and his back was bare.
The translucent moisture seeped onto her snow-white skin, gradually turning her light green peach-colored dress into a deep, blood-red hue.
She didn't treat Pei Zan as an outsider. She slightly raised her slender, delicate arms, her ten fingers twisting her wet hair through a dry handkerchief, determined to absorb all the moisture.
The girl's skin was fair and delicate, and she displayed such a charming appearance in front of people without even trying to avoid them.
Her almond-shaped eyes were misty and watery, like a young deer in the mountains, and with her innocent appearance, she could entice evil thoughts in people's hearts.
Pei Zan remained silent, quietly shifting his gaze. He rose and walked to the clean room behind the screen, unbuttoning the collar of his round-necked robe with one hand before entering the water to bathe.
Lin Rong couldn't stand the cold and had already curled up in the thick brocade quilt.
She was sitting cross-legged drying her hair when she suddenly realized that her period had ended.
Pei Zan's decision to stay overnight in the courtyard suggests that he intends to engage in sexual relations.
Thinking back on the less-than-pleasant experiences they'd had in the bedroom before, Lin Rong felt completely manipulated by Pei Zan and could only submit to his control...
Lin Rong's fingers curled up, her eyes darted away, and she was still filled with terror.
After her hair was half-dry, Lin Rong crawled into bed.
The bed curtains swayed down from the golden hooks, and the room became misty, with a sweet fragrance wafting in, adding a touch of ambiguous warmth.
Lin Rong turned to her side, leaning against the pillow, her heart pounding with anxiety.
She listened to the distant sound of dripping water and the rustling of fabric, feeling uneasy.
Lin Rong couldn't understand: could a concubine share a bed with the head of the household?
Previously, the second master of the Pei family had caused quite a stir in the household just by sleeping with his concubine for a few days... It seems that such a thing is not in accordance with the rules.
Lin Rong then thought of her first time making love with Pei Zan...
After Pei Zan relieved himself, he went back to his room to sleep. Perhaps he only wanted to do that kind of thing on a whim tonight, and he should go back to his dormitory after he was done.
As for the incident of sharing a room during the march, it was simply because conditions were poor at that time, and there were no extra tents available, so Lin Rong had to sleep in Pei Zan's main tent.
Just as Lin Rong was drifting off to sleep, the bed curtains were lifted by a hand as smooth and warm as jade.
Lin Rong stared blankly at the tall, aloof man in front of her, her eyes wide and round.
Pei Zan had already bathed and washed his hair, and was dressed in his nightgown. He stood tall and elegant beside the bed, as quiet as a demon from hell.
The candlelight inside the room was so bright that it made Pei Zan's already fair skin appear even more smooth and lustrous, like mutton fat.
His thin lips, damp with water, glowed a vibrant red. His phoenix eyes, long and narrow at the corners, were etched with deep folds, giving him an indescribable air of cold, alluring beauty, making him all the more like a male Guanyin statue on a shrine…
Perhaps it was time to fall asleep, Pei Zan's long, sleek black hair was loosely tied up with a wooden hairpin carved from a plum branch.
As she bent over, her wet hair, cold as a venomous snake, slid down to Lin Rong's shoulders, soaking into her undergarments and accumulating between her jade-like cleavage.
As such a beautiful face approached, Lin Rong was momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to hide or not.
The next moment, her ankle was touched by Pei Zan's cool hand.
The man's calloused thumb scraped against her, causing a slight pain that sent shivers down her spine.
Before Lin Rong could flee, her pajama bottoms had already been ripped off.
A crumpled piece of fabric tripped over her leg, startling Lin Rong so much that she instinctively fled deeper into the bed curtains.
However, she wasn't fast enough. Just as she was about to slip into the tent, Pei Zan swiftly covered her.
Lin Rong was held tightly in the man's arms, unable to move.
Her beautiful back pressed tightly against a hot, broad chest.
She felt the surging aura emanating from Pei Zan, and his powerful physique, like a tiger poised to pounce.
Lin Rong subconsciously reached out and stroked Pei Zan's chest, where she could still feel the strong, muscular muscles that belonged only to a military officer.
Apart from a small undergarment to cover her belly, the girl was completely naked.
Lin Rong was naked, with her back to him.
She was petite, her hands and feet bound, like a female beast with her neck bitten, and she hid pathetically in Pei Zan's arms.
However, with a slight twist of her slender waist, Lin Rong suddenly bumped into the arrogant and domineering young master.
She stood frozen in place, too afraid to move.
He was afraid that the slightest movement on her snowy buttocks would make her an accomplice.
This gentle, undulating motion perfectly satisfied Pei Zan's burning desire.
Pei Zan, however, held her slender waist, his breath slightly heavy, suppressing deep gasps.
He bit her delicate earlobe and asked fiercely, "Are you afraid of me?"
Pei Zan's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a strong sense of intimidation.
He wasn't asking questions sincerely; he just wanted to see what kind of outrageous answer Lin Rong would give so he could punish her severely.
Lin Rong knew, of course, that her resistance had angered Pei Zan. If she wanted to have an easier time tonight, she would be better off obediently submitting to him.
Lin Rong's eyes drooped, and she explained cautiously, "No, why would I be afraid of the young master..."
Pei Zan didn't care about her answer. After listening, he simply bit the thin ribbon on the back of her neck, his supple lips and tongue curling around the ribbon as he slowly pulled it away.
The man's warm tongue landed on Lin Rong's slender back, scraping over the bite marks left earlier, sending a tingling, itchy sensation through her.
Lin Rong shrank back, not giving her a chance to escape.
Pei Zan's hand had already reached out and tore off the last piece of clothing she had left.
Forced into a corner, Lin Rong had no choice but to be honest with the man.
Pei Zan finally released Lin Rong, letting her quickly get up and curl up into a soft, snow-white ball.
Pei Zan climbed onto the bed and leaned against the side. He looked down at Lin Rong's disheveled state and beckoned to her with malicious intent.
"Lin Rong, come here."
Lin Rong bit her lip and remained still.
Pei Zan was exceptionally patient tonight, calmly waiting and confronting Lin Rong.
As she stubbornly refused to look at Pei Zan, the man slightly curled his lips and said, "When I catch you, it will definitely add an extra hour."
Lin Rong was startled when she thought of the scene of Pei Zan's fierce outburst.
The memory of those full lips, rubbed raw and swollen, comes flooding back.
Fear gripped her, and she conceded defeat, obediently moving closer to the man's legs.
Pei Zan had already taken off his clothes. He put his arm around Lin Rong and pulled her onto his lap.
A man can simply snap his large hand in half...
Lin Rong's two slender legs were thus spread apart.
Her knees were kneeling on the couch...
He then sat on Pei Zan's lap.
Lin Rong's legs were soft and fleshy, bumping against his narrow waist.
The intense passion of blood relatives is captivating, but too intimate can also unsettle the mind.
Pei Zan forced Lin Rong to sit cross-legged and obediently straddle his lap.
He finally lured his prey back into the spider web, and now he had plenty of time to chat with Lin Rong: "Did you have a good time tonight?"
Lin Rong heard Pei Zan ask in a low voice.
While she was pressing down on the man's vital spot, she was also distracted by the pressure.
Lin Rong replied with difficulty, "The Third Miss wants to play the 'Flying Flowers' game and recite poems, which I don't know..."
Pei Zan seemed to be listening but not really. While Lin Rong was speaking, he lowered his head and used his thin lips to taste the fragrant sweat on Lin Rong's shoulder.
The man's thick, long eyelashes brushed against the smooth skin of his neck, causing a ticklish sensation.
It was like a catastrophe for the meditating monks.
Pei Zan spared no effort in seducing her and craving her, making Lin Rong feel restless and unable to quell her inner turmoil.
She tried to concentrate and continued, "They didn't seem to have enough fun because of me... Could I please not go to the party next time?"
Pei Zan gently kissed her cherry lips, his touch tender, but his words were cold and heavy: "Lin Rong, as a concubine of the Pei family, you must learn how to get along with women of high status. Even if you don't like it, you have to endure it; this is the way to survive in the inner quarters."
No matter how affectionately Pei Zan kissed her, he would not understand Lin Rong's difficulties; this was a rule that Lin Rong, as a concubine, should learn.
Lin Rong felt as if she had chewed a sour plum, the juice bursting out and rushing straight to her brain, even making her heart feel sour.
Lin Rong felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of grievance.
She could have chosen not to follow the rules, she could have left the prestigious family... It was Pei Zan who forced her to stay, but he was ruthless and always wanted her to please him. When she was no longer useful, he would hide her away in the inner quarters to fend for herself.
"Young Master, I was born a servant, I can't learn these things..."
Lin Rong has never forgotten the feeling of being ridiculed.
She's like a mountain monkey that's wandered into a noble family's house; she's stumbled upon this place, and everyone's watching to make a fool of herself.
Lin Rong didn't want to be even more embarrassed, so she tried her best to pretend that nothing had happened. But in reality, she was also embarrassed, ashamed, and even upset and wronged.
Lin Rong didn't want to fight for this honor, nor did she want to strive to become a talented woman and slap everyone in the face.
She felt that even though she wasn't very literate, she had her own way of surviving.
She should read books to understand principles and righteousness, not to prove herself in front of others.
Tonight, Lin Rong suddenly felt a strong desire; she really wanted to leave the Pei residence.
Lin Rong knew that Pei Zan would be getting married soon. Wu Nianzhen was well-educated, gentle, and beautiful, just like Lin Rong... Pei Zan had everything, and he shouldn't force Lin Rong to stay.
So, Lin Rong mustered her courage, took a deep breath, and pleaded, "Young Master, after you get married, can you let me leave?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Zan chuckled softly.
Lin Rong still stared with her innocent almond-shaped eyes, pleading with the evil god before her.
Despite her offerings of incense and self-sacrifice, the grace, mercy, and miracles she had imagined still did not occur.
Only the man stared at her with cold, cruel eyes, as if laughing at her overestimation of her abilities.
Pei Zan forcefully turned Lin Rong's chin, his phoenix eyes cold and terrifying, his lips slightly curved, his words carrying a threat.
"Lin Rong, I advise you to be careful what you say."
"Unless you want to die on me tonight."
Author's note: This is considered an extra chapter, but the next chapter won't be until before midnight on Saturday night =3=!
Don't panic, the escape countdown is on, but don't rush me!!! Because I need to lay the groundwork for every plot point. Love you all =3=
I saw everyone's comments! Hehe, thank you so much, everyone! I'm so happy to have your words comforted!!! I'll try my best to finish writing it!!!
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