Chapter 117 Are you jealous?
She was no longer a daughter of an official.
Once the second most beautiful woman in Shengjing, a talented woman renowned throughout the capital, she has become a remnant of a criminal in hiding, and now a government slave, her status has changed drastically; from being admired and flattered, she has become despised and ostracized, avoided by everyone.
It wasn't until her time at the Sinong Temple that Zhou Zhining finally adjusted to her new identity and accepted the psychological gap.
Previously, she was well protected by Zhan Xingzhuo. Even though she was a criminal remnant in everyone's eyes, as long as she was in the mansion, she didn't have to do any work, and no one dared to say anything bad about her.
Even Yao Qingling, the so-called daughter of a general, had to serve her.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, no one served her anymore. The other servants, who had also been punished because of their families, cursed her, beat her, ostracized her, and isolated her. Zhiyun and Zhiyue were assigned to work in other departments, and no one helped her. She had to do everything herself. If she was hungry, she had to go hungry; if she was hot, she had to go hot; if she was sick, she had to endure it and continue working.
No one came to offer any comfort or concern.
“I’m no longer… a rich young lady…” Zhou Zhining was overcome with grief, her voice choked with sobs.
Zhan Xingzhuo felt extremely sorry for her and hugged her tightly to comfort her. He then said, "I will definitely help the teacher return to the capital, and you will regain your identity and become the same as before."
With the promise in hand, Zhou Zhining felt much more at ease.
She only believed that Zhan Xingzhuo was genuinely concerned for her and could truly help her.
The carriage arrived at the new residence.
Zhou Zhining helped the man into the mansion.
It's become very empty here.
Yao Qingling took some of the servants with her, and when Zhan Xingzhuo left the capital, he dismissed some of them because he didn't know when he would return.
As for things, there are even fewer.
"So Yao Qingling prepared so many things in the mansion..." Zhou Zhining thought to herself, then said, "Brother Xingzhuo, you should return to the capital soon. This house is too empty. We need to replenish everything and hire more servants..."
She wanted to say that more servants should be hired than before to show the status of Minister Zhan, but then she saw a young woman carrying a lantern come out from an arched doorway.
Zhou Zhining had lived in the new mansion before and had never seen this young woman.
Moreover, she came from the main courtyard!
Zhou Zhining's heart clenched suddenly, and the hand that was holding the man fell limply.
She stared straight at the woman in front of her.
When Hongying heard from the maid that the Second Master had returned, she came out to greet him with small, quick steps. The smile on her face froze the moment she saw Zhou Zhining.
She shared a bed with Zhan Xingzhuo and heard him talk in his sleep several times.
He mentioned two women's names, but I don't know which one it is.
Hongying knew her place and dared not think, "This man belongs to me alone." But when she saw him with her own eyes, she still felt nervous, sad, and jealous.
Someone who is cherished and held dear in one's heart must be incredibly important.
She was merely a bed warmer...
Even as a servant, for the sake of her future, she had to secure a place by a man's side; besides, she had been by Zhan Xingzhuo's side during the most difficult and challenging time in Luozhou.
Hongying's competitive spirit kicked in, and she turned her gaze to the man, displaying her most gentle and charming smile: "Second Master, you're back."
He then turned to the woman beside him with a smile: "Second Master, who is this...?"
Zhan Xingzhuo was immersed in the pleasures of love and had long forgotten the existence of Hongying; but even if he saw her, it wouldn't matter, as Hongying was just a maid.
He said, "This is Zhou Zhining, Miss Zhou. From now on, when you see her, you must greet her, understand?"
Hongying nodded, walked up to Zhou Zhining, and bowed: "Greetings, Miss Zhou. I am Hongying, who serves the Second Master."
Zhou Zhining stared coldly at the woman in front of her, her fingers clenching silently.
She knew that Luozhou was a harsh place, a veritable hell on earth, but in such a place, how could Zhan Xingzhuo have found such a beautiful maid?
Judging from her charming demeanor, she probably wasn't really just a servant.
Zhou Zhining hadn't noticed it at first, but upon closer inspection, she discovered that the woman's eyes looked remarkably like someone else's—Yao Qingling!
This discovery was like a worm crawling into her heart, taking a vicious bite out of her heart, which was filled with love and emotion!
She could tolerate other women around Zhan Xingzhuo; it was nothing for a man to have a concubine. She was absolutely confident that her position in Zhan Xingzhuo's heart was different, and she could completely control these women and treat them like servants.
However, if it were Yao Qingling… Zhou Zhining felt uneasy; she no longer had absolute confidence.
What does it mean that Zhan Xingzhuo actually found a woman who resembled Yao Qingling to keep by his side?
Zhou Zhining felt a surge of hatred towards Yao Qingling.
Yao Qingling not only made her so miserable, but she also entered Zhan Xingzhuo's heart.
In his heart, there was no longer only her!
Jealousy and hatred churned in her heart. She didn't know whether she resented Zhan Xingzhuo for changing his mind or resented Yao Qingling's overly strong presence.
She's already divorced, so why does she still want to occupy Xingzhuo's heart?
Hongying remained in a curtsy posture, looking up at Zhan Xingzhuo with a pitiful expression.
“Zhi Ning…” Zhan Xingzhuo noticed that Zhou Zhi Ning was stunned and didn’t speak, so he squeezed her hand.
Zhou Zhining snapped out of her daze and looked at the swaying woman in front of her.
She used to bow to people like that, and was secretly punished for it.
Now, it's not just Zhan Xingzhuo who treats Hongying as a substitute; Zhou Zhining does the same.
With a fake smile, she pointed at Hongying: "Your bowing posture is incorrect. Your hands should be placed here... You didn't learn proper etiquette in Luozhou, did you?"
Hongying was merely the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Luozhou was no match for the capital.
She could hear the mockery in Zhou Zhining's voice, her face flushed red, and she swallowed her humiliation, saying, "I will study hard, thank you for your guidance, Miss Zhou."
Zhou Zhining gazed at her with her chin slightly raised, feeling a surge of pleasure.
She got her revenge on Hongying for the loss she suffered at Yao Qingling's hands.
Who told her to resemble her?
Zhou Zhining said arrogantly, "Get up."
Hongying straightened up.
Zhou Zhining's indifferent gaze swept over her, then turned to Zhan Xingzhuo, smiling gently: "Brother Xingzhuo, if Miss Hongying is to stay in the capital in the future, it seems she'll need to be properly trained and taught some proper manners..."
She helped Zhan Xingzhuo continue into the main courtyard. Hongying could only carry a lantern to light their way, her face as red as charcoal, but she didn't dare to say a word.
She saw the gap between herself and Zhou Zhining, and feelings of inferiority welled up inside her.
Zhan Xingzhuo could easily see that Zhou Zhining was using the guise of "training" to intimidate Hongying.
Once inside the bedroom, he didn't let Hongying follow him in, telling her to stay at the door and watch over it.
He held Zhou Zhining's hand and walked to the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window.
He held Zhou Zhining tightly, his eyes smiling, and tilted his head to look at her expression.
"Hmph." Zhou Zhining knew she had been seen through, so she turned her head away and ignored him.
Appropriate displays of affection, like being weak and pitiful, are both ways to keep yourself in a man's heart.
Zhan Xingzhuo was overjoyed, as if he had returned to the past.
He teased her, "Are you jealous?"
Zhou Zhining glared at him, but her eyes reddened: "You've found another woman so quickly? I should congratulate you. Why are you jealous? I'm just your sworn sister."
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