Chapter 118 Yao Qingling, have you really left me?
Zhan Xingzhuo felt extremely distressed. He held her hand and placed it on his lap, then wrapped his other arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace.
“Hongying is just a maid, why are you arguing with her?”
"Zhi Ning, we've called each other sworn brothers and sisters all these years, but do others really see us that way? Do you see yourself that way too?"
“We were engaged before, if it weren’t for…” He paused, unwilling to mention the unavoidable situation, “the hardest thing for me these past few years has been that you became Wang Xuan’s wife.”
"Now, we're back to where we started. Don't say anything that will upset me again."
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
Zhou Zhining's eyes reddened and tears fell. She gripped the man's hand tightly, pressing her palm against his, and shook her head: "No, I've never considered you a brother... Otherwise, why would I have resisted Wang Xuan so much and wouldn't let him touch me?"
She looked up, her tearful eyes filled with affection.
Her red lips parted slightly, like an alluring flower of passion.
Zhan Xingzhuo's Adam's apple bobbed; the desire he had suppressed in the carriage was no longer concealed at this moment.
The two kissed and poured out their hearts to each other.
Hongying stood at the doorway, only able to hear some intermittent sounds.
The yard is so big that just one bedroom is comparable to, and much better than, a house in Los Angeles.
She couldn't hear what they were saying.
But what does it mean when an exceptionally beautiful woman enters a man's bedroom?
They've been inside for so long and haven't come out yet. What are they doing in there?
Hmph, acting all high and mighty in front of her.
Ah, Miss Zhou? I'm afraid she's no longer pure.
Having been through similar experiences herself, Hongying clearly guessed some things.
She curled her lip in disdain, no longer feeling inferior to the haughty Miss Zhou.
What good is proper etiquette? It's nothing special.
Hongying pressed herself tightly against the door, trying to hear what was being said inside.
Minglu brought over the gifts sent by the Duke's mansion.
—The Grand Princess of Deyang gave him so much on this trip to the Duke's mansion that he had to make several trips to unload everything from the carriage.
What he is holding now are several sets of clothes made of summer cloth, as well as fashionable clothes for autumn and winter, and about ten pairs of shoes for different seasons.
Previously, all the clothes, shoes, socks, and other items, big and small, were prepared by the young mistress. Now that she is no longer in the mansion, the Grand Princess Deyang, as his mother, has prepared them for him.
Minglu was somewhat disappointed.
Putting everything else aside, when the young mistress was in charge, she managed the affairs of the mansion in an orderly manner. If anything was missing or lacking, she would have already replaced it without anyone having to say anything.
As the Second Master's confidant, Minglu could tell that the Second Master still cared about the young mistress.
It's just that the young mistress is too petty. Sigh, why can't she be more magnanimous...
Minglu breathed a sigh of relief and entered the courtyard, where he saw Hongying pressed against the door.
He coughed and said, "Hongying, what are you doing?"
Hongying was startled, glared at him, and lowered her voice to say, "What could I do? I was just curious."
Minglu glanced at her: "The capital is not like Luozhou. To be a servant in a large mansion, you have to be careful. The master is speaking behind closed doors because he doesn't want you to know. Be careful."
Unable to enter the bedroom, he stood at the door with the clothes in his hands, just like Hongying, waiting.
Hongying was being lectured for the second time that night, and the anger she was holding in grew stronger and stronger.
Minglu is just a servant, so why is he lecturing her?
To be honest, she was the Second Master's woman, while Minglu was just a servant.
Hongying took a deep breath, her eyes flickered slightly, and she glanced at Minglu beside her.
If you want to know who that Miss Zhou is, why don't you just ask Minglu?
However, the bedroom was too quiet. Suddenly, a woman's cry rang out, sounding like she was suppressing something, or perhaps she was enjoying herself.
Hongying was very familiar with this tone of voice, but tonight, it wasn't coming from her mouth.
She clenched her fingers, constantly reminding herself that she was no match for Miss Zhou; she was the woman Second Master dreamed of.
As her fingers clenched to their limit, Hongying suddenly snatched the clothes from Minglu's hands. Minglu was startled and reached out to take them back: "What are you doing—"
Hongying didn't give him a chance to finish speaking, and raised her other hand to knock on the door: "Second Master, the clothes sent by the Grand Princess have arrived. Should I put them in your room, or send them to the storeroom?"
The bedroom remained quiet, and Hongying listened intently.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Hongying quickly stood up straight, her head slightly lowered, looking like an obedient servant.
Zhou Zhining glanced at her indifferently: "Miss Hongying, you serve the Second Master quite diligently."
His gaze fell upon Minglu; Minglu lowered its head, not daring to breathe.
Then Zhou Zhining said, "Minglu, can you see me off?"
"Yes." Minglu, carrying the lantern, bent slightly, took two steps away from Zhou Zhining, and carefully followed behind her.
Hongying stood still, glancing back out of the corner of her eye.
As Zhou Zhining passed by her, she clearly saw the hickeys on her neck.
However, judging from the distance between her speaking and Zhou Zhining interrupting, it shouldn't have been this fast; if she had taken off her clothes, it would have been even more impossible for it to happen so quickly.
What happened?
Hongying entered the room with doubt. After taking a few steps and passing through the curtain, she saw Zhan Xingzhu sitting crookedly on the kang (a heated brick bed), drinking tea.
His gaze was cold.
Hongying immediately knelt on the ground, clutching the clothes, and nervously called out to him, "Second Master—"
Zhan Xingzhuo stared coldly at the woman kneeling on the ground.
What he disliked most was being reminded of something by the words "Grand Princess".
He said coldly, "Go kneel in the yard as punishment, and don't let me see you."
Hongying opened her lips and cried out pitifully, "Second Master!"
He had never punished her so severely before!
"Hmm?" The man's icy gaze swept over her, as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on her; so heavy that she couldn't lift her head, nor dared she disobey.
She put down the clothes, and said respectfully and with great grievance, "Yes."
He got up, walked to the courtyard, and knelt down.
She didn't know what she had done to offend Zhan Xingzhuo. Was it because she had disturbed his good time with Zhou Zhining?
But even though she served him very well, he still praised her, saying he had never seen such a charming vixen.
Hongying was born out of wedlock and was trained from a young age to know how to please men. She was even taught by a brothel instructor. Her family trained her so that she would be given to powerful and wealthy men to serve them.
Before she could be sent away, the flood happened, and now she's using all those skills on Zhan Xingzhuo.
On her way to the capital, she learned that Zhan Xingzhuo was the eldest princess's son, and her biological son at that!
This was the most distinguished man she had ever met; her future rested entirely on his shoulders.
She was prepared to become a concubine... but how did it turn out like this?
Inside the room, Zhan Xingzhuo put down his teacup, his eyes still cold, but a hint of pleasure appeared on his lips.
He didn't like Hongying's interruptions, but Hongying's jealousy made him feel satisfied.
Red Cherry made up for Yao Qingling's indifference towards him.
In Hongying's eyes, he was the man she would rather offend and be punished for than not fight for.
Unlike Yao Qingling, who would only have a blank expression when she saw Zhou Zhining; when he went to Zhou Zhining's courtyard, she wouldn't even glance at him, showing no concern whatsoever.
How could he have thought that Yao Qingling loved him and couldn't live without him?
The man closed his eyes in anger at the thought of Yao Qingling's resolute decision.
Yao Qingling, have you really left me?
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