Chapter 221 Wan Wanning Wants to Enter the Qi Family Mansion Again
Just as he finished speaking, Marquis Anguo returned to his residence and passed by the courtyard.
As if seeing a savior, Zhanfu burst into tears, pleading, "Father! Father, save us!"
Marquis Anguo paused, his gaze sweeping over his kneeling illegitimate children, then turning to his displeased wife. He frowned slightly, finally sighing, and said to Lady Zhan, "Zhang'er is, after all, a boy, and still young. Let's skip the punishment."
After saying this, he didn't even glance at Zhanfujun again, and turned and left.
The taste of the shiitake mushroom was sour and bitter.
Why would her father care about her, a daughter born out of wedlock?
Fortunately, the younger brother was spared punishment.
Lady Zhan's anger intensified when she saw Marquis Anguo publicly protecting his illegitimate son.
After Tinghou had walked away, she slammed her teacup down and stared at Zhanfujun: "Since your father has spoken, Zhang'er's punishment will be waived. But as the eldest sister, you have failed to discipline your younger brother and encouraged him to offend the legitimate son. Your crime is compounded! Guards, give him twenty more strokes of the cane!"
Knowing that she could not escape her fate, in despair, she steeled her heart and, as the servants stepped forward to seize her, suddenly looked up. Her voice trembled but was clear: "Mother, wait! Mother, have you forgotten that the Xiao family will soon hold a banquet to celebrate General Xiao's triumphant return? General Xiao personally said that he wanted his daughter to perform."
"If my daughter is seriously injured at this moment, I'm afraid... I'm afraid she won't be able to represent the Marquis's mansion, which would be a disgrace to her father..."
Upon hearing this, the entire courtyard fell silent.
Lady Zhan's eyes suddenly turned cold as she scrutinized this usually timid concubine's daughter, who dared to threaten her with this?
Indeed, after she returned to the manor, he had originally intended to give her a severe beating, but because she was about to attend the Xiao family's banquet, he refrained from doing anything to her.
This unexpectedly became her protective charm.
At this moment, Granny Cao whispered a few words in her ear.
After hearing this, Lady Zhan glanced coldly at Zhan Fujun kneeling on the ground and said, "Since you are so eager to perform a dance at the Xiao residence and bring glory to the Marquis's family, I, as your legal mother, naturally cannot ruin your future."
She changed the subject abruptly, her eyes sharp: "But a mistake is a mistake. Lax discipline and disrespect towards your younger brother are unacceptable! From today onwards, you are to be confined to the Buddhist hall and copy the 'Admonitions for Women' fifty times to calm your mind and cultivate your character! You will be released when the Xiao family sends you an invitation."
Zanfu cried, "But my younger brother still needs my care. If I'm punished by being confined to my quarters..."
At that very moment.
A gatekeeper hurried over, presenting a gold-painted invitation with both hands, and bowed to report: "Madam, the Xiao family has sent an invitation, inviting Lady Fujun to General Xiao's victory celebration banquet tomorrow, where she will also be performing a dance."
Zhanfu stared in astonishment at the unexpected invitation, forgetting even to sob.
Lady Zhan's fingers tightened slightly as she held the teacup, a fleeting look of displeasure crossing her face.
The invitation arrived at such a perfect time, as if it had been timed precisely, that it abruptly interrupted her from establishing her authority and administering punishment.
Her gaze swept over the kneeling concubine's daughter, and she saw that besides astonishment, a fleeting, barely concealed sense of relief, as if she had survived a calamity, flashed quickly in Zhanfu's eyes.
Although she disliked this illegitimate daughter.
However, she had ultimately climbed into the Xiao family's hands.
Her mind raced, and she put on a dignified and proper smile, as if her thunderous rage had never happened.
She slowly put down her teacup and said gently to the servant, "I understand. Go and treat the people from the Xiao family well."
After the servants left, Madam Zhan's tone softened, no longer as sharp as before: "Since the Xiao family thinks highly of you and invites you to perform, it is your good fortune and also a matter of honor for our Anguoting Marquis's mansion. Let's remember what happened today. I hope you will perform well tomorrow and not disgrace the Marquis's mansion."
"Daughter...Daughter will heed Mother's teachings!"
Zhanfu immediately kowtowed.
She returned to her secluded and cramped courtyard, her heart still pounding.
She gripped her sleeves tightly, Lu Zhaoruo's words echoing in her mind: "When Lady Zhan returns to the manor, tell her that General Xiao personally rescued her, and that the new clothes she is wearing were a gift from the General's manor. Also, inform the Marquis's manor that after the General meets the Emperor, when the manor holds a banquet to celebrate the victory, he will specially invite Lady Zhan to the manor for a chat, because Lady Zhan is outstanding in appearance and has graceful dance moves, and he wishes to ask her to perform a dance at the banquet."
A warm feeling and gratitude welled up in Zhanfu's heart.
In this cold and oppressive mansion, this was the first time she had felt kindness and help from the outside world without any ulterior motives.
Inside a side room of a villa in the southern part of the city.
The curtains hung low, and a hint of ambiguity lingered in the air.
After a tender moment, Wan Wanning lay on Qi Liang's sweat-dampened chest.
She raised her watery eyes and brought up the old matter again: "Liang Lang, when will you finally take me into your household? What kind of nonsense is it to leave me here in this secluded courtyard, waiting without any status or recognition..."
She has been feeling unsettled lately.
I thought that Lu Zhaoruo, a merchant's daughter, would become a laughing stock when the scandal broke out.
But the wind direction was completely wrong!
The emperor not only did not blame her, but also bestowed a mansion upon her. Madam Xiao even personally visited her home, making a big show of supporting her!
The thought of Lu Zhaoruo's current success while she was confined to this villa in the south of the city, not even daring to step out of the door, made Wan Wanning feel as if she were being gnawed by a venomous snake, with jealousy and resentment surging within her.
She instinctively curled her right hand, but then remembered that she only had four missing fingers.
Upon hearing this, Qi Liang frowned, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face.
He raised his hand to rub his temples and said, "Miao Niang, didn't I tell you? Now is really not the time."
Then, he sighed and feigned distress: "Do you know, my cousin Li Nian'er, a few days ago... alas, she had such a disgraceful affair in the palace, and was... now she's been sent to the Imperial Uncle's mansion as a concubine. My mother is furious about this every day at home, and she can't stand anyone. If I were to bring up the matter of bringing you into the mansion at this critical juncture, wouldn't I be walking into a trap?"
Hearing him repeat himself, Wan Wanning felt resentful, but she also felt that with the Qi family in such chaos, it was indeed not a good time to bring up this matter.
But... Li Nian'er was actually defiled by the Emperor's brother-in-law?
She was indeed surprised when she first heard it, but upon closer examination, she realized that becoming the concubine of the emperor's brother-in-law, even if it meant losing her chastity, was, in many people's eyes, a high-status position, an opportunity that no one could ask for.
Compared to my current situation, hiding in a secluded courtyard with an uncertain status, it is infinitely better.
She stopped speaking and silently buried her face back into Qi Liang's neck.
The thought of Lu Zhaoruo, who, with her meager merits, gained the emperor's favor and had the Xiao family's backing, rose step by step through the ranks...
She was so angry she gritted her teeth.
Since she was born into a family less privileged than Li Nian'er, she could only cling tightly to Qi Liang at this moment!
The next day.
It was evening.
The carriages and horses were all prepared in front of the gate of the Marquis of Anguo's mansion.
Lady Zhanfu was wearing a brand-new dance costume that, while not luxurious, was well-tailored. It was made by Lady Zhanfu at the last minute to save face for the Marquis's mansion.
With her makeup exquisite and her head bowed, she followed behind the elegantly dressed Lady Zhan, preparing to board the carriage to the Xiao residence.
Before getting into the carriage, Lady Zhan gave her one last look and said indifferently, "Remember your identity, be careful with your words and actions, and put the reputation of the Marquis's mansion first."
The carriage rumbled towards the Xiao residence.
Sitting in the car, Zhanfujun's palms were slightly sweaty from nervousness.
But the thought of seeing Lu Langjun brought her a slight joy.
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