Chapter 28 Birthday Gift
A large hand wiped away her tears. Lin Qiao opened her eyes. Lin Shiyuan's expression was still serious, but his tone was calmer: "What mistake did you make?"
Lin Qiao then recounted what had happened at the Spring Festival banquet at the Duke's mansion.
She also talked about what she did for the young mistress.
"...I didn't know she was the second young mistress of the Duke's mansion." Lin Qiao said dejectedly, "I thought she had gone to the capital with her husband."
She assumed that the young mistress's husband had found a new lover after coming to the capital, so he beat and scolded her and no longer liked her.
Who knew that the Duke's son and wife actually lived outside? The powerful and wealthy in the capital really have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves.
Lin Qiao was too young to understand, and when her master caught her in the act, she could only accept her fate.
Lin Shiyuan remained seated against the wall, his eyes flickering slightly.
I thought that lady was weak, silently enduring being beaten by men, but she was someone who would fight back... then she was not a weak woman.
Such a person...is kind-hearted?
Lin Shiyuan's gaze fell on his younger sister.
That day, the young mistress took in Lin Qiao without asking about her background. Later, when Lin Qiao made a mistake, she was still willing to give her money to leave, without asking why.
Was this "good karma" intentionally cultivated?
Lin Shiyuan said, "You are young and this is your first mistake. It's not unforgivable. Just go and beg her to let you go back to that courtyard and promise not to make the same mistake again."
Lin Qiao shook her head: "No, the young mistress hasn't gone out for a long time."
She had followed that young mistress before and knew she lived in Hulu Lane, but she hadn't seen her come out of there since the Spring Banquet.
Only her maidservant went out to do things for her.
"She's probably been punished by her husband again," Lin Qiao said.
Lin Shiyuan frowned. Punishment?
"Brother, I want to help the young mistress. How can I help her?"
Lin Shiyuan looked at his younger sister, his eyes flickered slightly, and said, "You're like this..."
After hearing this, Lin Qiao's dejected face brightened up: "Okay, I'll listen to my brother."
Lin Shiyuan gently patted her head: "If you perform meritorious service, and the young mistress is willing to take you in again, you must not make any more mistakes."
"Okay!" Lin Qiao nodded vigorously, packed her things, and went out.
...
The courtyard house that Zhan Xingzhuo bought for Zhou Zhining, although it only had one courtyard, was renovated, clean and tidy, with new furniture, and the flowers and trees in the yard were well-maintained. There were not even rat or ant nests in the house.
It was so much better than the dilapidated house that Yao Qingling and he had hastily bought when they moved out of the Duke's mansion.
Zhou Zhining could move in and use it immediately, but she still tidied it up a bit.
Seeing her working, Zhan Xingzhuo quickly stepped forward and pressed her hand down: "Zhining, these things can be left to the servants. Your hands are for writing poems and painting. It wouldn't be good if you hurt them."
Zhou Zhining looked at their clasped hands, her face flushed with shyness, but she didn't pull away.
"It's just a small matter, no need to hurt your hand."
Zhan Xingzhu shook his head. He had brought her out of the Wang family. If her life here was worse than in the Wang family, then what was the point of bringing her out?
"Your injury hasn't fully healed yet; be careful not to let dust get into your lungs."
The man's gaze fell on Zhou Zhining's neck, where faint purple bruises were visible between her collar.
Zhou Zhining gently touched her neck, as if recalling the most painful thing, and stopped smiling and speaking.
Zhan Xingzhuo knew he was bringing up her sad story, so he changed the subject: "By the way, what about my birthday present? Is it ready yet?"
“It was already finished, but…” Zhou Zhining lowered her eyelashes, looking sad, “It was left at the Wang family’s house and I didn’t bring it with me. I don’t want it anymore.”
"It's okay. You can stay here from now on and draw for me slowly. You can draw anything."
Zhou Zhining smiled again: "Brother Xingzhuo, you are so good to me."
Her eyes were glistening with joy.
The man and woman gazed at each other, a sweet fragrance wafting in the air, like spring flowers in bloom.
After staring at each other for an unknown amount of time, Zhou Zhining blushed and looked away, saying, "I learned a dish from the cook, I'll make it for you."
She lowered her head and went to the kitchen.
Zhan Xingzhuo followed her gaze and stood at the kitchen window for a long time, feeling as if he had experienced what a gentle haven was like here.
Unlike Yao Qingling, who is so sharp, so stubborn, and so incorrigible.
Zhan Xingzhuo returned to the new residence after having dinner.
At that time, Yao Qingling had just finished dinner, and the servants were clearing the table. When they saw the master return, they greeted him.
Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at the dining table and asked, "What did the young mistress eat?"
The servant then named several dishes.
Zhan Xingzhu frowned slightly after hearing this.
She's been locked up for so many days, and she still has such a good appetite.
He called over Granny Rong and asked her what she had taught the young mistress that day.
After answering, Granny Rong added, "Second Young Master, after the Second Young Mistress married into the mansion, the Grand Princess had already trained her. The Young Mistress is very clever; it's not that she can't do it, but she has some resistance."
Zhan Xingzhuo went to see the Grand Princess of Deyang and asked her for Rong Mama to train Yao Qingling.
At the time, the Grand Princess of Deyang was angry that Zhan Xingzhuo left the Spring Banquet without permission, but she was even more puzzled by Yao Qingling's reaction. That's why she arranged for Rong Mama to come to the new residence, under the guise of training the couple to understand their situation.
After Rong Mama arrived, she quickly discovered that Zhan Xingzhuo had purchased a private residence and was secretly keeping Zhou Zhining.
Of course, it was still done in the name of sworn siblings—Zhou Zhining committed suicide by hanging herself, and the Wang family also found her troublesome, so they agreed to let Zhan Xingzhuo take her away.
Granny Rong relayed the words of the Grand Princess Deyang: "Second Young Master, the Grand Princess said that Qingling is your rightful wife. If you treat her badly, it means you think she made a mistake in choosing a wife for you. If there is anything else, you don't need to go to her again."
Princess Deyang's intention was still to hope that the young couple could live a good life and quell the rumors circulating outside.
Granny Rong also said that she had checked the storeroom and the account books, and there were no problems.
But she didn't say she was going back to the Duke's mansion; instead, she continued to manage the new mansion.
She kept some things to herself, and needed to confirm them before returning to the Duke's mansion to report to the Grand Princess.
Zhan Xingzhuo entered the bedroom, where the lights were on. Yao Qingling was leaning against the small kang (heated brick bed) by the window, reading a book.
She had just washed up; her hair was still wet and draped over her shoulders. A charcoal brazier sat beside the kang (heated brick bed), its gentle fire slowly drying her hair.
The man deliberately kicked the charcoal brazier, making a slight noise, but Yao Qingling seemed engrossed in watching it and didn't even glance at him.
Zhan Xingzhuo's expression darkened. He lifted his robe and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). He picked up her book and casually flipped through a few pages; it was another geography and strategy book.
He put the book aside and asked, "Today is my birthday, where's my birthday present?"
Yao Qingling glanced at him and said calmly, "Didn't you say that your birthday is a minor matter and there's no need to prepare? I forgot."
His tone was indifferent, as if it were just a trivial matter.
Zhan Xingzhu choked on his breath. Had he forgotten?
In the past three years, when has she ever forgotten?
Even if it's a small thing, and she doesn't make any preparations, she should at least cook him a bowl of longevity noodles, right?
Seeing him glaring at her, Yao Qingling ignored him, got up from the kang (a heated brick bed), not wanting him to spoil her mood.
But before she could get up, Zhan Xingzhuo grabbed her wrist.
Yao Qingling was startled and pulled her hand away, asking, "What are you doing?"
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