launch an attack
Jingwan hesitated to speak. Through the bronze mirror, she saw Dongxia applying medicine to her with a stern face. Dongxia's aura was too strong tonight. Jingwan stammered, "It's nothing serious. It will scab over in a couple of days."
Originally intending to ease the tension between the two, these words unexpectedly caused her face, already frosty, to freeze over.
Dongxia glanced at the timid reflection in the bronze mirror, deliberately relaxing her expression, and lowered her voice, saying, "Miss is skilled in jade carving, so you should know that flawless white jade is the most precious. Miss is naturally beautiful, so it would be a pity if any marks were left on your face." After speaking, she bent down again and carefully applied the jade to Jingwan.
Jingwan felt a slight itch on her face, and her tender skin felt like calluses were gently rubbing against it, but it wasn't enough to make her feel uncomfortable.
Dongxia was dressed simply, with a braid tied behind her head. Her features were not delicate like a typical girl's, but she had a dignified air about her. However, her skin was a bit rough and slightly dark, and it didn't look like someone who had been out and about had a lot of work.
How can you advise someone who doesn't care about their appearance to value their face?
After applying the medicine to Jingwan, Dongxia still had some sticky ointment on her hands. She casually spread it on her hands, and Jingwan, with her sharp eyes, carefully examined those large hands.
Dongxia's hands were also very large, even larger than those of an average man. Both hands had calluses, with more on her right hand, on her fingers and the base of her thumb. Her fingers were slender and long, and if properly cared for, her hands would have a touch of feminine grace.
Guessing that she must have done a lot of hard work, Jingwan took out an exquisite porcelain box from the bag, scooped out a large piece of perfume, and applied it to Dongxia's hands.
"This was a gift from a good friend of mine. I apply a little to my hands every day, and my hands don't get rough so easily." She handed the balm to Dongxia and asked her to accept it.
Dongxia naturally refused, but Jingwan, unusually firm, shoved it into her arms and wouldn't let her take it back.
This perfume was a gift from Qin Ziyou. He said that her hands were rough from carving jade, so he gave her this box and told her to apply some every day.
Everyone loves beauty, and Jingwan is no exception. She readily accepted the composure she felt at their first meeting.
Holding the exquisite porcelain box, Dongxia sighed inwardly for her master, who was far away in the south.
Of course she knew who Jingwan's friend was. The two of them were so close. The porcelain box was of excellent quality, and the light reflected off it. Although it was simple and unassuming, it was not made in an ordinary kiln.
If this porcelain box is already so precious, the cosmetics inside must also be extraordinary.
Pingdu is the most prosperous place in the Great Wei Dynasty. It is not surprising that this mere box of perfume could sell for a thousand gold pieces. Only this person in front of me is ignorant and carelessly gives it away.
She knew perfectly well what this rich young master was thinking. If her master didn't return, this girl would definitely have someone else in her heart.
Now that she had calmed down, Jingwan thought about what had just happened and quickly thanked her, saying, "If you hadn't reminded me so early, I probably would have been punished today. And that dew, what a pity..."
Jingwan looked up, her eyes filled with guilt: "As soon as the weather gets cold, no matter how late it is, I will go to collect dew and return that jar of dew to you."
The dew was indeed collected by Dongxia, but not for drinking; it was merely to pass the lonely night.
Whenever I couldn't sleep, I would get up and collect dew. With each drop of dew flowing into the bottle, a little time would pass, and that's how I spent the long night.
The dew, collected for a long time but left untouched, has long lost its morning sweetness and become murky and foul-smelling; it has no value whatsoever.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh and waved her hand, "I only collected these for you, so it's worth it to shed these tears for you today."
She comforted Jingwan with a few words, which finally calmed the girl's guilt. She only left after serving Jingwan until she fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Gao Yun's side was in complete chaos.
Once back in the courtyard, Gao Yun scolded his daughter for being unreasonable, deliberately causing trouble, trying to sow discord between him and Jing Wan, and criticizing her for being at odds with her sisters, causing chaos in the house.
Gao Yun still remembers the look Jingwan gave him when he left Jingwan's courtyard—a look of hurt, disappointment, and sadness…
He was not a responsible father and had never fulfilled his parenting duties by her side. Even after bringing her over, he dared not get close to her because of the lady in his family.
Tonight's commotion finally unleashed Gao Yun's pent-up anger. In her extreme rage, she slapped Gao Yun, disfiguring his face.
Gao Yun burst into loud wails, sitting on the ground like a child with her mouth wide open, acting crazy.
Seeing her daughter like this, Madam Wang felt sorry for her. However, she hadn't shown weakness in front of her husband for a long time, and more than feeling sorry for her, she couldn't bear to see her daughter so weak. She immediately glared at her daughter and then argued with Gao Yun, "Yun'er was also fooled by those two lowly maids, why are you angry with her? What, do you only feel sorry for your cheapskate?"
Daughter, don't you feel sorry for the daughter who has always been by your side?
Hearing her mother say this, Gao Yun cried even louder.
Gao Yun knew that Wang was deliberately changing the subject and did not want to offend her too much, so he put his hands behind his back and sulked in the garden.
Recalling what Madam Wang had said during the day, he immediately replied, "Jingwan is a pure and innocent girl. There's no rush for her marriage. Besides, she's only sixteen. My Gao family can certainly afford to raise her!"
During the day, Wang said that Jingwan had reached the age to find a husband and get married, and that she should find her a good match.
It was rare for her to show such concern for this stepdaughter. Gao Yun was initially surprised, but then somewhat pleased, feeling a sense of harmony in the family bringing prosperity.
Unexpectedly, Wang continued, "The Wang family has a distant relative who lives in Tongzhou. He often comes to Pingdu to do tea business, and his family is quite well-off."
Hearing this, Gao Yun was somewhat dissatisfied. Merchants are lowly, and even if they have a lot of silver notes, they are not worthy of marriage. Although Jingwan is a concubine's daughter, his Gao family is, after all, a noble family with a long history of inheriting titles for generations in the Great Wei Dynasty. Even if he did not inherit the title, he would still be an official in the court. How could he be related to a merchant by marriage?
He glanced at Madam Wang. She had already married a merchant's daughter as her principal wife. If she were to marry her daughter into a merchant family as well, it would diminish the noble air of the Gao family...
Wang was engrossed in her own words and didn't notice the disdain in her husband's eyes. She continued, "My relative is good in every way, and he's good-looking too, but he's a bit picky, which is why he hasn't married yet. Now that Jingwan is all grown up, I think she's quite pretty, and my relative should be able to take a liking to her."
Gao Yun frowned: "How old is your relative?"
Madam Wang smiled gently and walked to Gao Yun's side: "You're still quite young, only thirty-five."
Gao Yun's eyes widened instantly. Thirty-five! That's old enough to be his brother, how dare he say he's young!
Gao Yun nearly lost his composure, but dared not offend Madam Wang, nor did he want her to refuse to arrange a marriage for Jingwan. So he said tactfully, "I think the age difference is really unsuitable. If the gap is too big, there will inevitably be misunderstandings, and how can they live together?"
Gao Yun glanced cautiously at Madam Wang and said with a forced smile, "It's just that Jingwan is not young anymore, so we'll have to trouble you to take care of her affairs in the future."
If she had only recently married Gao Yun, Wang Shi could have gone to great lengths to please him. However, now that the Yang family, which she relied on, was thriving in the palace, Wang Shi's arrogance had grown daily. She had been severely suppressed in the past, and now her retaliation was even more intense. Seeing Gao Yun trying to please her only fueled her anger. Her expression immediately changed, and she said, "If my husband is unwilling, I will not force him. But even if my husband dislikes her, he should carefully examine whether his daughter is qualified to be chosen. Do you know that your daughter often goes out at night to meet men in secret?"
Wang called her daughter in, and Gao Yun then embellished the story she had heard from Qingyu and Moyu.
Seeing that her father still didn't believe her, Gao Yun immediately said, "If Father doesn't believe me, let's go find her together tonight and see if she's home or not."
After saying that, she kicked Mo Yu, who was kneeling on the ground, to the ground and said, "Her maid said that whenever Gao Jingwan packed a small bag during the day, she would sneak out at night. Look! Her maid has confessed everything."
Gao Yun glanced at her mother, and the two exchanged a look.
As for how Jingwan was discovered, it was when a servant came to report to the mistress that he had seen the young lady outside while shopping at night. At first, he thought he was seeing things, but after following the young lady and taking a few more glances, he could see clearly that it was indeed the young lady from the household. However, when he tried to follow her again, he lost her.
The servants knew that Madam Wang disliked this stepdaughter, and their report was merely an excuse for Madam Wang to make things difficult for her.
Lady Wang ordered her men to bring Qingyu and Moyu to her residence. Under coercion and enticement, she finally got them to reveal what they had discovered. After combining the statements of the two women with those of the servants, Lady Wang was certain that Jingwan had indeed left the mansion without permission.
She utterly loathed Jingwan's existence, and now, she had finally found her chance.
Before complaining to Gao Yun, Wang made a point of bringing up that distant relative, because she genuinely wanted to marry Jingwan off to him.
That relative's family is in Tongzhou. If Jingwan marries him, she may never have the chance to return to Pingdu in this life. It would also be like getting rid of a thorn in her side.
Furthermore, if that little vixen really marries into the Wang family, she will definitely have someone teach her a lesson...
Unexpectedly, this time the little vixen managed to fool them, and even made her husband so angry with her and her daughter, and even her Yun'er was slapped by her husband.
Wang was even more furious and had a big argument with Gao Yun.
The couple's voices were louder than ever today, and the servants outside the courtyard were too frightened to make a sound. Finally, something was heard falling to the ground, the sound of shattering even clearer in the darkness. Then Gao Yun stormed off, leaving Wang and her daughter at home, weeping bitterly.
The couple's relationship has reached a breaking point, even worse than before.
The commotion that night reached the main house, and the Duchess was so happy that she ate an extra bowl of rice. Whenever Wang was a little unhappy, it was a good day for the Duchess.
The next day, Jingwan also learned that her father and stepmother had a falling out. Early in the morning, Gao Yun came to her yard with a red and swollen face and made a scene, hitting and smashing things. When she saw Gao Yun raising a chair to smash the grinding machine, Jingwan rushed over and spread her arms to protect the machine.
The chair didn't fall; a hand gripped Gao Yun tightly and snatched the chair away.
The large hand hadn't let go yet, gripping Gao Yun so tightly that tears streamed down her face. Dongxia tossed her aside, and Gao Yun was left behind.
"If you continue to be so rude, young lady, I will have no choice but to ask the Old Madam and the Duchess to uphold justice!"
She was very large, and standing in front of the petite Gao Yun, she was extremely intimidating. Even though she was not convinced, Gao Yun still wisely ran away.
As soon as she left, Dongxia quickly helped Jingwan up and comforted her. Jingwan looked around and saw that there were no valuables inside or outside the house, but now they were all smashed to pieces.
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