Qiu Niang returned to Kouxiangyuan with red eyes. Rong Jie'er was sleeping in the inner room. She burst into tears when she saw Hong Xiao. After all, the two had been together for many years and could be considered sisters in need. So they held each other's hands and went to the side room to talk.
"I've made a fool of myself for my sister." Qiu Niang wiped her tears, feeling rather sad. "It's all my fault. I've made the master tired and let people gossip about me."
Hong Xiao secretly scoffed in her heart, "You're the only one being laughed at," but she said warmly, "How can you blame me, sister? Master and I have been friends since childhood! Master treats me differently than others, and Madam doesn't understand at first. Don't take it to heart, Madam, didn't you say that Master never stopped praising you in front of Madam? It's such a great honor."
Qiu Niang sighed with tears in her eyes. After a long while, she said, "I am already old and ugly. Why would I still compete with Madam? I just want to see if Master is doing well. Madam is still young after all. I am afraid that if she fails to take good care of him, Master will suffer..."
"Who said it wasn't true? We've been waiting for so many years, how could we have any second thoughts? Madam is just being too suspicious." Hong Xiao sighed and talked with Qiu Niang in tears for a long time before they went back to their rooms.
"She's gone?" A maid with a double-combed hairdo stood up and went to meet her. She was pretty and charming, with delicate features. After Hong Xiao entered the room, she lay half-reclining on the beauty couch. "She went back to copy the scriptures. Where's Wu'er?"
Jin Xi smiled and made tea for Hong Xiao: "Where else can he go? He must be looking for someone to hang out with."
"... Speaking of this Miss Qiu, she's quite interesting." Hong Xiao narrowed her eyes slightly, holding the teacup, a hint of amusement on her face. "If you say she's stupid, then she's extremely stupid. She can't even see that the current master is no longer the Second Young Master. As soon as she enters the mansion, she goes to ask Lai Mama for directions. But if you say she's smart, she's also good at playing dumb. She acts honest and foolish, and she's managed to stay here peacefully for all these years."
Jin Xi whispered: "Yes, otherwise our girl would not have tolerated her."
Hong Xiao's face was full of sarcasm. "Even in the past, it's not clear that the master liked her that much. She just relied on the fact that she was his close friend since childhood and acted like a loyal servant who cared about her master. The master was just thinking about the old relationship. But all these years have passed, and things have changed! She's smart, she should have gone to curry favor with the lady now; don't think it's the old days."
After all, Qiu Niang was not a writer, and she didn't dare to write randomly, so her progress was a bit slow. Even though she wrote furiously, it took her two days to finish copying. On the third day, she went to pay her respects to Minglan with her homework. Minglan reminded her to "be careful with your behavior." In the end, even she found it boring, so she let the matter go.
The next day, Minglan realized why she was so upset. It turned out that her relatives came to visit.
As usual, Danju set up a small sand stove and boiled some herbal tea with brown sugar for Minglan to drink. Xiaotao went to Mother Ge to fry a bag of boiling hot salt, wrapped it carefully with several layers of oil paper and a cloth bag, and finally wrapped it in thick velvet and let Minglan hold it on her belly.
For two whole days, Minglan leaned listlessly on the couch, gazing out the picturesque window from afar with a melancholy look in her eyes, like a reed by the lake, her posture graceful and delicate... Well, it would have been even better if she had a collection of poems in her hand instead of an account book.
Not feeling well and with nothing new in the account books, Minglan thought of another important matter. Because of the rumors that had caused a stir a while ago, Liao Yong's wife had subtly reminded Minglan that there were too many lonely men and resentful women in the mansion, which was not conducive to unity and stability.
According to the abominable feudal indenture system, all servants in Chengyuan, regardless of whether they had parents or siblings, required their master's consent to marry. Minglan issued instructions that anyone with a relative could apply for marriage. There were still a few servants left unattended, so Minglan asked Danju to bring the files. With Liao Yongjia's explanation, they compared their duties and personalities, and based on the principle of allocating resources to the best advantage, they paired them up.
After just a few words about marriage, Danju blushed and dodged away. Xiaotao wanted to continue listening with great interest, but was sent away by Cuiwei with two rolls of the eyes.
"This girl! She's still like a child." Cuiwei looked at Xiaotao's back as she left, shook her head and sighed, then turned to Minglan and said, "Madam, the others are fine, but do you have any idea of the people in our room?"
Minglan half-pushed herself up, feeling more energetic. "I've inquired. Mr. Gongsun knows a few young men from poor families who seem promising. The master also has several capable soldiers under his command, as well as the sons of several old stewards in the mansion. None of them have come forward for marriage this time, so I'm planning to keep them for the maids in the courtyard."
Cuiwei found it amusing and chuckled, "Madam, you are indeed different now. Alas, these girls are so lucky..." At this point, she seemed to think of something and suddenly changed the subject, lowering her voice, "Madam, you have to pay more attention to Rumei."
"Oh, what's wrong with her?" Minglan asked curiously. Ruomei has always prided herself on being aloof and never likes to play with other maids. In order to avoid suspicion, she would not even show her face as long as Gu Tingye was around.
Cuiwei hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, "Speaking of which, Ruomei is the oldest in this room. I've seen her hanging out in the front yard several times, often socializing with the maids and servants in the outer study. I think... she might be thinking."
Minglan was surprised. "Are they the clerks from the outer study?"
Cuiwei said helplessly, "You know Ruomei. She's always loved to tinker with poetry and writing. She's probably not impressed by the people in the mansion." Seeing Minglan was stunned, she quickly added, "Let's not talk about whether the outsider is willing to marry a maid. It's up to you, Madam, to grant her a favor. Before that, we can't tolerate any private exchange! If anything goes wrong, it will ruin the reputation of all the girls in the house and your Madam."
Minglan was about to make a joke, but seeing Cuiwei's nervous expression, she quickly nodded and said, "Although I think they are all wonderful, they still need to meet someone who understands them. Well, there are still a few years left, so we'll see. Go talk to Ruomei later, and as for Danju, that girl has had her old problems again. They live next door, so they must have known about Ruomei's situation a long time ago, but out of sisterly love, they kept it a secret. I'll talk to her later."
Cuiwei looked a little uncomfortable and smiled bitterly: "Madam, it's good that you know it in your heart, alas..."
As he was speaking, a voice saying "The master is back" was heard in the courtyard.
With the sound of wind, the curtains were opened and Gu Tingye strode into the room with his head held high. Cuiwei bowed, said hello and left. Minglan wanted to get up, but was pushed back. Seeing Minglan's pale face, Gu Tingye whispered, "Rest, don't get up."
Minglan didn't insist and just called Xia Zhu to help change clothes. She leaned over and saw the man's eyebrows flying, obviously in a happy mood, so she smiled and asked, "Master is so happy, could it be...?"
As Gu Tingye stood upright, the dark red gems inlaid on his tall purple gold crown sparkled brightly, and his brocade robe and jade belt made him look more mature and heroic, with outstanding temperament. He turned around and saw Minglan's big eyes wide open with anticipation, flickering and bright.
He immediately glared and scolded, "It's not about getting promoted or getting rich!"
Minglan was seen through. She smiled awkwardly and leaned back on the couch listlessly. Gu Tingye changed into a stone-blue, thin, silver-patterned satin casual dress. After waving Xia Zhu to leave, he sat down next to Minglan, touched the heat pack on her belly, and asked, "Does it still hurt?"
Minglan lowered her soft ears and shook her head: "I just don't have the strength."
Gu Tingye gently stroked Minglan's cheek, slowly leaning over and leaning against her head. His skin was slightly hot from the sun, and his slightly sandy, rough, and prickly stubble pressed against Minglan's soft and cool cheek, gently caressing her. After a long time, the couple sighed at the same time and spoke at the same time, but the content was completely opposite.
"It's better to have children later."
"It's better to have a baby sooner."
As soon as the words came out, the couple looked at each other in astonishment, both of them were surprised and amused. Gu Tingye spoke first: "You silly girl, take good care of your body first. Why is there such a rush to have a baby? There is still a long way to go."
Minglan blushed, her already fair skin looking like it was stained with a layer of gorgeous rouge. "No, it's not like that. People who have experienced it say that life becomes easier after you have a child."
"Really?" Gu Tingye was quite skeptical. "Wouldn't it be harmful to your body to get pregnant too early and too hastily?"
"Who said that?" Minglan laughed. "The elders all said that as long as you take good care of your body, you'll be able to have a child."
It should be said that while this man was quite aggressive in bed, he was also quite considerate in other ways. Ever since Minglan began following Madam He's instructions, she had subtly requested a break from sex for a few days each month, preferably after finishing two rounds of herbal remedies before conceiving. Minglan had been somewhat apprehensive when she made this request, considering the prevailing wisdom in this era that the sooner a child is conceived, the more fortunate it is. Unexpectedly, Gu Tingye agreed without hesitation, repeatedly instructing Minglan to take good care of herself.
"It's enough to be a widower once. We're counting on you to hold on for decades more." Gu Tingye joked at the time.
Of course, the result of the consideration was that the fighting in the remaining days was extremely fierce, with the sky dark and the earth dark, and the passion overflowing.
Hearing this, Gu Tingye relaxed his brows slightly, rubbed Minglan's small hand, and comforted her: "Be careful, when you are outside..." He paused, and said happily, "I have heard that some women from farming families can still give birth to children when they are fifty."
Minglan was extremely embarrassed and angry. She twisted the man's arm with all her strength, but unexpectedly, her fingers went numb when she bumped into his hard muscles. She feigned anger and cursed, "Don't you have any shame?"
The couple joked for a while, and then they suddenly remembered what they were talking about at the beginning. Minglan asked again, and Gu Tingye said with joy: "Madame Chang will be here tomorrow."
"My Buddha, he's finally here." Minglan smiled and clasped her hands together. "If Madam doesn't come soon, I'll come to your house."
Ever since Gu Tingye returned to Beijing, Nanny Chang moved from the outskirts of Beijing to Maoer Hutong with her widowed daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Nanny Chang had to wear mourning clothes for three years due to the death of her only son, and there was still one or two months left in the mourning period when Gu Tingye got married. For fear of disturbing the joy of the newlyweds, she avoided coming.
"Madam Chang is overthinking. There's no need to be so particular." Minglan has always admired Madam Chang.
Gu Tingye smiled and said, "Mammy grew up in the countryside and believes in this the most. She is also stubborn. Anyway, it won't take too long, so just do as she says. If I haven't returned home by the time she comes tomorrow, you can keep her for a while."
Minglan smiled and agreed. The couple chatted with each other for a while. At this time, Danju came from outside and announced: "Miss Qiu is here."
Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment, and his dark brows furrowed again.
Minglan quickly pushed the man away, straightened her clothes and hair that had been messed up during the intimacy, and then said, "Please ask her to come in." She was about to get off the couch, but was pushed back by Gu Tingye.
Qiu Niang came slowly, carrying a small bag and wearing a waist-cinching gauze jacket in the color of autumn fragrance. She saw Minglan sitting on the soft couch and Gu Tingye sitting beside the couch with his hands on his knees. She quickly lowered her head and bowed to greet him. Minglan smiled and asked her to sit down.
"What are you here for?" Gu Tingye asked patiently.
Qiu Niang's face was full of tenderness. She tilted her cheek slightly, looked up at Gu Tingye, and said softly: "Seeing that the days are getting hotter, I remembered that the master always suffers from summer heat, so I made a few cool summer shirts and robes for him; there are also a few small sachets, in which I put the agarwood that the master likes, as well as pine resin and mugwort to repel mosquitoes." As she spoke, she shook open the small bundle in her hand and gently pushed it forward; but Gu Tingye did not move, and Qiu Niang was a little embarrassed.
Minglan saw that the atmosphere was not right and quickly came to the rescue: "Go and get it. I'll take a look at the needle and thread later. Danju... go out and see if lunch is ready." It's better to have fewer people watching.
Danju took the bundle, gently placed it on the table beside him, and left respectfully.
Qiu Niang stared at Gu Tingye's calm expression in a daze, and said softly, "Master... I..."
Gu Tingye only looked at Qiu Niang. Minglan looked at his handsome profile, deep thought in her eyes. He looked at Qiu Niang and said slowly, "Have you made these things for Sister Rong?"
Qiu Niang was stunned for a moment: "I, I, I'm going to do it for Rong Jie'er after I finish yours."
"Have you done any needlework for Madam since you returned home?" Gu Tingye asked again.
Qiu Niang quickly stood up and knelt down in front of Minglan, saying anxiously, "It's my fault for neglecting it. I've been busy copying scriptures these days and only had time to do it for Master."
Because there were no maids present, no one went to help Qiu Niang. Minglan could only smile and comfort her, "It's nothing. You should take care of Rong Jie'er. Hurry up and get up."
Qiu Niang didn't dare to get up. She moved her knees towards Gu Tingye and opened her mouth to speak. Gu Tingye raised his hand to interrupt her and suddenly asked, "Did you pay your respects to the lady this morning?"
Qiu Niang quickly said, "Of course. How dare I forget my duty?"
"Then why didn't you give it to the lady this morning?"
After hearing this, Qiu Niang suddenly looked up in disbelief. Seeing Gu Tingye's eyes full of reproach and even a bit of sarcasm, she was speechless and couldn't say anything. Her eyes turned red and she was about to cry.
The room was silent. Minglan was extremely embarrassed and wanted to slip away, but her skirt made Gu Tingye sit still and unable to move. She could only turn her head slightly, pick up a mountain and sea record beside the couch, and pretend to read it.
"If you don't want to stay, I can give you a lot of property and ask my wife to find a good family for you, and then you can go out and get married." This was the first thing Gu Tingye said.
"No!" Qiu Niang screamed, her face filled with terror. She kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down her face. "I have absolutely no second thoughts about you. My feelings, my feelings... how could Master not know! I... I... even if I die immediately, my body rots, turns to pus, and burns to ashes, I will never leave!"
Minglan felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to cover her ears. This was the first time in her two lifetimes that she had heard such a mournful and resolute confession. Her heart was numb and she couldn't help but glance sideways at the man beside her.
"How can everything in this world go as you wish?" Gu Tingye remained unmoved, seemingly a little melancholy. His eyes were filled with vicissitudes of life, and it was unknown what he was thinking of in the past. He slowly continued, "I know your feelings, and I thought you knew mine too. It seems I was mistaken."
Qiu Niang sobbed softly, and Minglan almost buried her head in the book.
Gu Tingye's tone was solemn but calm: "You've been jumping around these past few days, being rude and making a fool of yourself. I see that in the past, you never said a word. Could it be that you really think you are the real master and have forgotten your own status?"
Qiu Niang's lips trembled, her heart chilled. She dared not look up at the man anymore and quickly lowered her head. She had served Gu Tingye since she was a child and knew that he had a tough temper. Although he was much more stable now, he had not changed in his bones. He either didn't lose his temper, or when he did, he was extremely cruel.
This was also the first time Minglan heard Gu Tingye's outburst, so calm and so sharp in his words; it was a gentle breeze and warm sun, but it also contained a hint of danger that was about to come.
"You've been with me for so many years, always loyal and considerate. I won't let you down with the dignity and wealth you deserve. Even a hundred years from now, someone will still provide for you." Gu Tingye became more indifferent. "But you should also learn to cherish your blessings. I entrust Rong Jie'er to you. How you should treat her is not something I need to teach you. If you don't know how, there are plenty of people who can."
Qiu Niang knelt on the ground, holding back her tears, not daring to look up.
"Go down and think carefully about your duty."
After Gu Tingye said this, Qiu Niang wiped her tears and walked out with her head down. When she reached the door, Gu Tingye suddenly called her again. Qiu Niang turned around with hope on her face, but heard Gu Tingye say, "If you have anything in the future, just give it to the madam directly."
This sentence was the last straw. Qiu Niang's face turned pale in an instant and she staggered out.
The two people in the room were speechless. After a long time, Minglan sighed deeply: "Even if you want to scold her, you should ask me to leave first. This way... she will be embarrassed." How embarrassing.
Gu Tingye leaned back slightly and lay down, resting his head on Minglan's thigh, and said briefly: "She is greedy."
Minglan tacitly agreed in her heart that Qiuniang mistakenly believed that the love they had for each other over the years could develop into love between a man and a woman. As a concubine, this was not only greedy, but also annoying and pitiful.
Gu Tingye seems cruel, but actually he is doing it for her good. As a grown man, he is actually being considerate of a concubine who is so harsh and servile. Compared with Baoyu who spoils the maids to the point of lawlessness and then the girls end up with a miserable end, this seems to be much better.
"Do you pity her?" Gu Tingye looked at Minglan and asked softly.
Minglan nodded, then shook her head.
Humans are social animals, and only through comparison can we achieve results.
Minglan used to feel that her reincarnation was very frustrating and her life was very tiring, but compared with those maids and servants and the poor families who could not even get enough food, her life was already pretty good; Qiu Niang was indeed pitiful, but compared with many maids who did not have a good end, she was very lucky because her master was responsible after all.
The Sheng family is considered a family of good deeds, and Sheng Changfeng is considered a sentimental man, but Ke'er is dead, and no one will accuse Changfeng of being heartless. The lives of the remaining concubines around Changfeng are also like floating duckweed, and it all depends on how the future mistress will deal with them.
Some great person once said that people in the Third World don't have love. In this society, where social status is clearly defined, those in lower positions seem unworthy of pursuing extravagant emotions; survival always comes first.
Seeing Minglan remained silent and looked a little strange, Gu Tingye asked again, "Are you angry?"
Minglan shook her head, then nodded.
Gu Tingye frowned, pulled Minglan's ear, and said in a deep voice, "Speak."
Minglan could only sigh: "It is obviously the Shangshu's job to do the emperor's work, but a small doctor is always rushing to do it and taking up all the trouble. Do you think the Shangshu will be happy?" It would be strange if he was not demoted or dismissed from his post. As a concubine, if she showed that she cared about and loved the man more than the mistress, she would be seeking death.
Gu Tingye couldn't help laughing: "That's a good analogy."
He thought about it and couldn't help but say, "Seeing that you are so kind, I thought you would be 'magnanimous' and persuade me to go to her room."
Minglan immediately shook her head like a rattle and asked, "If you were Wei Qing, would you give up your command to an old general like Li Guang who has lived a lonely life?"
Gu Tingye pondered for a moment and slowly shook his head: "No. Don't say that this is inappropriate. Besides, I earned this military achievement with my own sword and gun. Why should I give it to someone else? It's not like I said he would never be able to get a rank in his lifetime."
"Excellent, that's what I meant." Minglan clapped her hands, smiling brightly. "Firstly, I didn't ask Qiuniang to be a concubine. Secondly, I didn't ask her to wait for you. Thirdly, I will only marry one husband in my lifetime. Why should I use my own man to support her?!"
Even if you consider your husband your boss, what CEO would allow an administrative assistant with ulterior motives to compete for favor with the chairman? Please, please be more dedicated.
Even in ancient times, people had to abide by professional ethics, and even if they had to pretend, they had to act like serious men.
Gu Tingye climbed up and glared at Minglan. Minglan looked back innocently. They stared at each other for a long time, then burst out laughing together, their faces flushed red. Gu Tingye pressed heavily on Minglan, laughing, the vibration of his chest transmitting to Minglan. Their noses touched each other, and the heat of their breath wet their cheeks.
The man murmured, "Your last sentence was very well said."
Minglan blinked: "Which one?"
Seeing Gu Tingye glaring and about to hit her armpits, she quickly begged for mercy. After a while, the two of them lay on the couch panting. Minglan took a deep breath, put her face on the man's chest, and said slowly: "Except for one person, no one can ask me to give up my man."
Gu Tingye asked with a smile: "Who is so powerful?"
"You." Minglan sighed with a wry smile. If a man wanted to change his mind, she would have no way to deal with it. So she had to plan ahead and take precautions before it happened. It was important to consider countermeasures early. Life had to go on.
The girl's eyes were as clear as the sky, and she looked joking, but there was a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Gu Tingye looked at her quietly.
Extra: Smoke from the Beast Furnace, Remaining Flowers in the Green Swamp (Extra to the Taiwanese Edition)
How many three-year periods does a woman have in her life? Qiu Niang only knew that her most helpless, most beautiful, sweetest, most fearful, and most desperate years were all spent waiting.
The year she entered the palace, she was only seven years old. Because of her diligence and skill in needlework, she was soon assigned to serve in the courtyard of the second son of the Ningyuan Marquis. It wasn't until many years later that Qiu Niang learned his name, and for a long time, he was simply her "Second Young Master." However, even knowing it was useless, as she couldn't read anyway. Unlike the newly arrived Madam Sheng, she was not only literate but also knowledgeable. Her handwriting, said to be called "hairpin flower small regular script," was exquisite and beautiful.
The year she went there, the second young master was not yet ten years old, but the yard was already full of beautiful girls. Because the allowance of the Marquis's Mansion was generous, there was never a shortage of flowers and powder, so they all dressed up to vie with each other - three first-class maids, six or seven second-class maids, a dozen third-class maids, plus the little maids who did the servants, the wives who did the rough work, and the old women in the gatehouse... all the stars surrounded one master.
Unfortunately, her pretty eyes were shown to a blind man. The second young master has loved riding horses and practicing martial arts since he was a child, and doesn't like to hang out with girls.
It wasn't her business. Back then, she was just a humble servant, doing menial tasks like sweeping, cleaning, and mending. She wouldn't see her master for more than ten days or half a month. But she wasn't particularly good-looking or eloquent, which made her less ambitious. No one paid her any attention, and she had no plans. She simply waited patiently, hoping her family would come and take her away.
Three years passed in a flash, and there was still no news from home. Instead, her chest began to swell and ache. One summer noon, as if destined, she was sweeping the courtyard with a broom when the second young master came back like a gust of wind.
Even decades later, Qiu Niang still clearly remembered his appearance that day - a slender and handsome young boy, wearing a red and black pearl silk thick brocade arrow robe, a black belt embroidered with two dragons grabbing pearls and inlaid with jade, a finger-wide gold snake headband on his forehead, his thick black hair loosely tied up, and his handsome face slightly sweating.
The young man seemed a little surprised that there was still someone sweeping the floor in such a hot summer afternoon. His dark and bright eyes glanced at her, and then he strode back to the house to wash and change clothes.
Qiu Niang stood there in a daze, leaning on a broom. Her cheeks, which had not turned red even under the scorching summer sun, suddenly started to burn.
Her girlhood began just like that.
The Second Young Master was unlike any other noble son, radiant with brilliance and valor. He was full of vigor and dignified bearing, a skilled archer on horseback and wielding all manner of weapons. His bare-handed boxing was as swift as thunder and lightning, his laughter hearty and carefree, his actions swift and decisive. Throughout the capital, the Second Young Master of the Gu Family was a resounding name. The refined young men who came to visit him were nothing more than pale, feeble castrated chickens and dogs in his presence.
The girls in the yard were staring at their master like flies and hungry wolves. Qiu Niang didn't dare to reveal her true feelings. She just tried to find more opportunities to do so that she could see him more. If she saw him one day, she would blush and her heart would beat fast for a long time.
During that period, her biggest wish was to see the boy every day; she would go to bed and wait for dawn to sweep the floor, wait for the boy to go out at dawn, and wait for the next day after dark... She waited like this for another three years.
She gradually took on the appearance of a young girl, with a plump chest and a slender waist. However, when she looked at her plain appearance in the diamond-shaped mirror, she felt depressed. Not to mention the girls in the courtyard who were already in the Second Young Master's room, even the beautiful Qingyuan, the charming Zhufeng, and her roommate, Sister Huangying, were as gorgeous as peonies, making it impossible to take your eyes off them. Recognizing reality, Qiu Niang became more dutiful, talking less and listening more, ignoring other people's affairs, and working hard, observing the girls' fierce competition with indifference.
Although she was clueless, she knew this wasn't right. She just wondered why no one was trying to discipline them. Later, she heard from her sister-in-law, who was sweeping the floor, that the Madam… oh, then still the Marquis's wife, was kind and generous, and because she was the second wife, she rarely disciplined the people in the Second Young Master's courtyard. So, as the Second Young Master grew older, the pettiness and mischief among the girls evolved into sinister tactics.
Zi Yan, who served the second young master in his room the longest and was the most trusted, was found to be pregnant!
The old marquis was furious and even scolded the dowager. He immediately had the men tied up and questioned them personally. Zi Yan cried and begged for an explanation, saying that she had clearly not missed the medicine and that someone must have plotted against her. The investigation revealed many secrets, which made the old marquis so angry that he staggered. He pointed at the second young master and scolded him, saying, "You are a lustful spendthrift and unfit for any important purpose!"
The boy stood there blankly, bewildered at first, then with a look of stubbornness. Qiu Niang, hiding in a corner, saw the hurt in his eyes and felt heartbroken. A hot-blooded young man of fourteen or fifteen, surrounded by flowers and attracted by bees and butterflies, he had messed around a few times without knowing why. No one had ever taught him or reminded him, so how could he know the ins and outs of it?
At that time, the old marquis was looking for a marriage for the second young master. If he had a bastard before marriage, how could he marry into a good in-law family?
The young man knew the seriousness of the matter, but he forced himself to take responsibility and protect Zi Yan, saying, "Everyone has his own consequences." The old marquis was so angry that he tied him up and beat him severely. The lady wiped her tears and sobbed as she tried to persuade him.
For some reason, Qiu Niang suddenly hated this lady who only knew how to be a good person.
After giving Ziyan a drug and sending her away, the old marquis personally dispatched the others, especially sending away many beautiful girls. For a moment, the second young master's room was mostly empty. As the old marquis left, he looked up and saw Qiu Niang quietly sweeping the floor. Seeing her honest and unassuming appearance, he pointed at her and told her to come inside and serve. And so, as if in a dream, Qiu Niang arrived beside the young man.
The Second Young Master, a man of deep loyalty, sent messengers to inquire about Zi Yan's whereabouts even before his own wounds healed. Upon learning that she had been quickly married off to a distant land, he remained silent for a long time, refusing to speak to the old Marquis for months. Qiu Niang, knowing she was not good at speaking, simply served him attentively and silently. Over time, the young man began to trust and value her.
Although the old marquis and the second young master were increasingly at odds, and the second young master's reputation was becoming increasingly bad, Qiu Niang was dizzy with happiness. Her lover was in front of her every day, and he was gentle and kind to her. He would bring her some little things when he came back from going out - although she didn't understand most of what he said.
Who were Wei Qing and Huo Qubing? They seemed quite remarkable; the Second Young Master often mentioned them. Since cavalry was so powerful, wouldn't it be better to just order all the soldiers to mount horses? What was the point of a flanking attack?
But it didn't matter. No matter how many beautiful and clever newcomers came, no matter how much pleasure the Second Young Master pursued outside and how he got into trouble, as long as she could stay by his side and serve him every day, she would be satisfied. Those were her best three years - until Man Niang appeared.
Qiu Niang knew he had a mistress outside, and because of this, the father and son had countless arguments and fights, but she never dared to express her opinion, and could only stay silent by the side. Strangely, she was not jealous of Man Niang. Although the Second Young Master had made a big fuss for her, she subconsciously felt that the Second Young Master was not as fond of this mistress as people said.
In her opinion, the Second Young Master failed to protect Zi Yan and was heartbroken. This time he must protect Man Niang. He was also very angry with the old Marquis. The more he was forbidden to do something, the more he wanted to do it... Of course, she also liked him to some extent.
Three years passed in this fear, and suddenly one day news came that the concubine had given birth to a son and a daughter?
Qiu Niang didn't want to recall those days. The once dashing and bright Second Young Master had gradually taken on a silent and sinister air. He seemed to be desperately trying to antagonize the old Marquis, and all sorts of messes had happened.
The situation was getting worse and worse. Qiu Niang prayed to the moon every night, asking the second young master to quickly marry a kind and amiable mistress, so that everything would be fine. Even if she asked the concubine to marry in, it would not matter. When the new mistress gave birth to a legitimate son, she would then have a son or daughter.
Three years of daily prayers passed before a new grandmother finally arrived. Second grandmother Yu, nicknamed Yanhong, was as beautiful as a flame, but after only three days, Qiuniang wished she had never made that wish.
In just a few months of marriage, the Second Young Master and Second Mistress seemed to have fought out every argument anyone would have in a lifetime. Yu had a bad temper, and the Second Young Master wasn't one to be trifled with, so every now and then, a scene of chaos would erupt. As for the concubines and maids, Yu was even more relentless, and those days were like a nightmare for Qiu Niang. Fortunately, she was born ordinary and was personally appointed by the old marquis, so she escaped any harm.
The second young master could no longer bear to stay in the mansion and finally left home. Qiu Niang hid in her room, trembling with fear, and dared not ask anything. Not long after, the second wife and the old marquis passed away one after another. During this period, the second young master came back to attend the funeral, but unfortunately she did not see him.
When Nanny Chang came to ask the concubines whether they were going to stay or not, everyone thought that the second young master would not come back, so they all asked to leave. Only she and Hongxiao asked to stay. Nanny Chang then allocated them a small courtyard in the corner and told them to live there and raise their children.
It was as lonely as a nunnery, as deserted as deathly silence. Even little Sister Rong had a gloomy face all day long. Their daily food, clothing and expenses were inevitably cut back a lot. The three of them lived in such a depressed mood. In a blink of an eye, another three years passed.
Knowing that the second young master had returned in glory, Qiu Niang was overjoyed. The servants in the mansion also heard the news and immediately changed their attitude. They served him with delicious food and drinks and were very attentive. Hong Xiao enjoyed it very much, but Qiu Niang did not care. She just wanted to see her master as soon as possible.
But when she finally saw him, Qiu Niang suddenly hesitated to approach him. His gaze towards her was no longer intimate, but pure care and compensation. Her Second Young Master had completely changed.
This was a mature man of unwavering integrity. The sharp edge of his lips, the stubbornness in his brows, were gone, replaced by a faint sneer, a calm silence, and a calm calculation. The years had honed his character, like the fermentation of aged osmanthus wine, its rich aroma, and he had become even more perfect and outstanding.
More importantly, beside him stood a young and beautiful new wife, as graceful as a weeping willow, with a smile as gentle as the wind, very kind and gentle; the couple stood together. It was a perfect match, this was the mistress she had prayed for day and night.
But she couldn't be happy. For some reason, the moment she saw the new wife, she felt a surge of jealousy that hadn't fermented for decades.
Looking at the newlywed beauty, Qiu Niang couldn't help but touch her cheek. She was already a year or two older than the Second Young Master. Now, she felt even more ashamed of herself. In her frustration, she kept trying to encourage herself. No, no, no, she wasn't particularly beautiful to begin with, and the Second Young Master had never despised her.
Life after that was nothing like she had imagined. The Second Young Master had no intention of rekindling their relationship.
The master's eyes and heart were all focused on his new wife. When the couple started chatting, they were oblivious to the others and got along very well. Whenever Qiu Niang saw this, her heart would ache again.
The new wife understood everything. When the master lamented Li Mu, she would say, "Without clear internal affairs and a wise ruler, even good generals are powerless." The master, newly promoted, despised the officials who occupied positions without doing anything, but the new wife would reassure him, "A general who doesn't understand government affairs is not a good general," calming him down and bringing him peace of mind.
Qiu Niang felt a pang of sadness. Was there no one who understood her heart? She would never compete with the lady for favor. If the lady didn't like it, she would be willing to be a maid for the rest of her life. She didn't want anything, just to stay by the second young master's side.
But even these little wishes cannot be realized.
She was publicly scolded by her lover, humiliated by the scolding of the lady, and slapped in the face many times: sitting in front of the diamond-shaped mirror, looking at her damaged and rough face, Qiu Niang finally gave up - it was not that the new lady could not tolerate her, but that there was no room for anyone else in the second young master's heart.
She was an ordinary woman, but she had one advantage: she was willing to accept her fate.
When she first entered the marquis's mansion as a slave, her family didn't come to pick her up for a long time. She was sad for a while, but then she left. There were many beautiful women in the courtyard, but her lover never paid attention to her, so she was content to take a peek at him every day, and then she left too. When she came to her master, she knew he had someone else outside, so she felt lost for a while, and then she left again.
In fact, she had originally planned to wait for Gu Tingye for the rest of her life, but now she is provided with fine clothes and delicious food, no one in Chengyuan dares to look down on her, and she has Rong Jie'er by her side, so what else can she not be satisfied with?
Educate Rong Jie'er well. In three years, it will be time to plan a husband for her.
In three years, Rong Jie'er will be old enough to get married, and in another three years, she will probably be able to see her grandson...
That's it.
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