Chapter 15 Afraid that she would see the painting
The old lady raised her hand as if to hit him, scolding him, "You child, you are so good at guessing other people's thoughts. If you knew, why didn't you take her in? If you could take that girl in, why couldn't you take Tangli in?"
Xie Jinglan knew the old lady's temper well. If he refused outright, it would make the old lady dislike Wen Ning, so she simply took all the blame on herself.
"To be honest, Grandmother, I let Tangli into the house that day because I wanted to honor your wishes. But... Tangli is a child born in the family, raised in the mansion since childhood. We know her so well, like a younger sister, that it's really hard to have any other thoughts. Because of this, I also... developed that deficiency disease. Thanks to Wen Ning's ability to make medicinal food, I gradually recovered."
"That's how it is! It's hard for you to be so honest. It makes grandma seem inconsiderate," the old lady sighed softly, "Then let it be this way. Tangli will stay by my side and serve me. I will find a reliable and steady man for her in the future. This will be a way to repay her deceased father.
However, Grandmother, I have to say a few words. I know you like that servant, but she has been married before, so the novelty will wear off. You must not break the rules because of her."
Xie Jinglan's words were stuck in his throat, but he still bowed his head slightly, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Grandmother."
The old lady twirled her Buddhist beads and said helplessly, "Grandmother knows that you ordered the steward to check the kitchen accounts a few days ago, targeting Tang Zhu. Since Tang Li was wronged in the matter of the concubine, please forgive him this time."
Xie Jinglan hadn't expected that Tang Zhu would take advantage of this. He wanted to persuade the old lady again, "Grandmother, these are two different things. Tang Zhu has been relying on the old favor to act recklessly in the mansion these past years. Not only has he been embezzling money, he has also been molesting the slaves and bullying the servants. The steward even caught him secretly lending money outside under the pretext of shopping. If we don't deal with him soon, he will cause great trouble in the future. Will the mansion be held responsible for him?"
The old lady slowly wound the Buddhist beads back around her wrist and spoke earnestly, "Before his death, your father specifically instructed us to treat the Tang family well. I'm not entirely unaware of Tang Zhu's actions over the years, but I feel we can't go against your father's wishes. After all, he saved my life, and that can't be repaid with a few silver coins. However, I've already warned Madam Li to give Tang Zhu one last chance. If he still refuses to repent, he will be dealt with according to the rules of the mansion!"
Seeing that the old lady had made up her mind, Xie Jinglan said nothing more.
…
In Tingsong Courtyard, Wen Ning was being held by the hand by a woman who was about fifty years old and was being looked up and down. She claimed to be the Marquis's wet nurse, and her surname was Xue. Because something happened at home a few days ago, the Marquis allowed her to stay in her hometown for a few more days, and she just came back today.
"Oh my, when did the Marquis take in a beauty like you, a beauty sent down from the celestial palace? In all these years, I, Madam, have never seen anyone as beautiful as you."
Wen Ning felt a little embarrassed by being looked at, and a sweet blush spread across her jasmine-like face. "Mammy, you must have been starving on the journey. I'll make you something to eat."
"How can I let you do such rough work?" Madam Xue said as she took out a few pine nut candies from her pocket and put them in Wen Ning's hands. "A girl like this who looks like a fairy should be coaxed with sweet snacks."
The two hit it off right away, like old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years, and they started chatting in no time.
As soon as Nanny Xue stepped into the mansion today, she heard a few chattering maids talking nonsense.
"The Marquis was seduced by that vixen and even drove Miss Tangli out of Tingsong Courtyard. It must be because that vixen had been married before and was good at serving men."
"Yeah, I heard the one who got married earlier died before the first day. Could it be that he was served to death by her?"
When the maids heard this, they looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"She'll only be a novelty for a few days. When the Marquis gets tired of her, she'll fall back into Madam Li's hands. Let's see how miserable she'll be!"
Madam Xue rushed forward in two steps. "You ignorant girls, how dare you discuss the affairs of the Marquis's courtyard? Are you tired of living? Believe it or not, I will pull out your tongues first!"
When the maids saw that it was Madam Xue, they begged for mercy in trembling voices, "Madam, please spare us, Madam, please spare us, we will never again gossip about you..."
Nanny Xue has always disliked Nanny Li's dirty face, which has made her two children annoying. When she heard that Tangli was humiliated in Tingsongyuan, she felt a little happy.
She had watched the Marquis grow up since he was a child. He had a cold personality and she had never seen him look at any woman even once, let alone have any feelings for her.
Unexpectedly, there is now a married slave left in Tingsongyuan.
If someone said that being married would make one despised, Madam Xue would be the first one to refuse to agree.
She had been married to two men, and the first man died not long after she got married. The gossips from others and the pain in it are hard to describe, and only those who have experienced it can understand.
But the Marquis is different after all. Even if he is a concubine, he must be a son born in a family.
Nanny Xue wanted to see what kind of fairy looked like that could have seduced her master to come down to earth.
She walked into Tingsong Courtyard, put down her bag, and went straight to the study, but accidentally caught a glimpse of the painting silk on the Marquis's desk and lazily spread out half a foot of silk.
Upon seeing this, Nanny Xue stepped forward to collect it for the Marquis, but before she could hold it firmly, the loose silk suddenly unfolded with a "rustling" sound.
When she saw the beauty in the painting, she exclaimed, "Lord of Heaven, Bodhisattva of Earth, this, this, this... Lord Marquis, he, he..."
Nanny Xue calmed down a little, buried her whole face in her arms, and sobbed as she tried to hold back her laughter.
Is this still the marquis who is pure-hearted and aloof from women?
She was afraid that others would see it, so she quickly rolled up the painting silk and moved it to the desk for the Marquis.
When she saw Wen Ning, she realized that not only did the Marquis like her, but even she would feel soft-hearted when she saw her.
…
Qing Feng was sitting on a stone block at the guard post, with a thick cushion under his buttocks and a bowl of beef noodles on a small stool in front of him.
The quilt and beef noodles were both sent by Wen Ning. She felt that she was the one who caused Qingfeng to be beaten, and she felt guilty, so she made a bowl of noodles for him, hoping that eating it would help his injury heal faster.
Thick slices of beef are placed on the steaming noodles, garnished with green chopped green onions, and there is a small dish of pickled radish on the side.
Qingfeng picked up a piece of beef and put it into his mouth. The aroma of the meat filled the air, the soup was rich, and the pain in his buttocks seemed to be relieved a lot.
He was about to swallow it when he heard the Marquis's deep voice, "Wen Ning did it?"
Qing Feng looked up and saw Xie Jinglan looking down at him and the bowl of noodles.
How come the Marquis came back so soon?
Qing Feng froze in place, feeling that he was going to be beaten again.
But this bowl of noodles was earned by him after being beaten with ten boards. His throat was rolling, and he couldn't swallow it or spit it out. The beef in his mouth no longer tasted good.
"Eat! After you finish eating, go back and lie down for two days!"
Lie down for two days?
His master! His grandfather!
Qingfeng couldn't believe it. Not only did his master let him go, but he also gave him two more days off. Qingfeng suddenly felt happy again.
Xie Jinglan hurried to the study after he finished speaking. He forgot to put away the painting silk when he left. What if Wen Ning saw it...
What would she think? Would she think that he was a lustful and obscene person like Tang Zhu?
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