Taking a concubine
Moonlight streamed through the window into the darkened room. Gillian, dressed in plain clothes and with her long hair draped over her shoulders, gazed at her husband, who slept beside her. Changqing was beautiful, not the effeminate kind, but rather a clean, gentle beauty, with the mellow aroma of sake. Even in sleep, he lay quietly, his hands folded, breathing softly.
Ah Jiao was very satisfied with Chang Qing as her husband. Chang Qing was gentle, considerate and well-educated. But what kept her awake tonight was that Chang Qing was planning to take a concubine.
They had only been married for a month, and Gillian didn't understand why Changqing wanted to take a concubine so soon since he had never shown any signs of being annoyed with her.
She thought she had fulfilled her duties as a good wife, taking care of the household and speaking sweetly to him in private... Most importantly, it was said that the concubine was a skinny horse bought from Yangzhou by Changqing's aunt, Princess Pingyang, and later given to him.
Chang Qing opened his eyes drowsily and saw Gillian's thin face staring at him with a frown on her face. He woke up and asked, "Why can't you sleep?"
Gillian pulled the quilt and lay down after hearing this, "I had a dream."
Chang Qing closed his eyes and smiled slightly, "What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed about your skinny horse."
Chang Qing said, "Why? Are you jealous before you even enter the door? If you really don't like it, then forget it."
Gillian smiled, took his arm and leaned towards him obediently, "No. I just think her background is really poor. Bringing someone like her home would probably ruin your reputation. Otherwise, why don't you find someone from a decent family? At least not one of your colleagues."
Zhang Qing's smile faded a lot after hearing this, and he pulled his hand out of her arms, "It's not like you can be picky, so let's just pick her."
Gillian looked at Changqing's back as he turned sideways, and she also lay down straight. The moon-white curtain above her head gradually became blurrier and smaller, and finally turned into an endless black river.
Although a concubine, Ah Jiao, under Chang Qing's orders, still fulfilled her duties as mistress. She spruced up the house, hosted a banquet for Chang Qing's close friends, and gave the servants a separate table, distributing the wedding candy, wine, and money among them. A cloud of red silk draped the entire courtyard, and firecrackers exploded around the bride's red embroidered shoes, startling her into timid steps.
Today, Ah Jiao, dressed in a lotus green dress, sat at the head of the table with Chang Qing, who was dressed in a bright red. Chang Qing had a faint smile on his face, just like on their wedding day.
No wonder, their marriage was planned by Gillian. She married up to the emperor's brother-in-law and the nephew of the General Zhengxi. Now she has nothing to resent.
The bride brought the tea to her and said in a sweet voice, "Madam, please have some tea."
Gillian carefully examined the skinny horse. Even with her eyebrows lowered, she could still see a pretty face, but it was too pale and didn't look very healthy. However, this was not her concern.
Drinking tea requires a gift first. Gillian just followed the procedure and didn't take it seriously. She took off a golden hairpin from her head and handed it to the skinny horse.
"Wang Ling thanks the Mistress."
It turned out to be Wang Ling, a name Linghua actually liked, but it didn't seem to suit this woman. Wang Ling's attitude seemed neither humble nor arrogant, and her eyes were full of vigor and spirit, unlike Linghua's cautiousness.
"Cheng Jiao?"
When Chang Qing's slightly cold voice came, Ah Jiao realized that Wang Ling was still holding the tea bowl, but she had been in a daze for a long time and had not taken it. Ah Jiao hurried to get the tea, but it was empty. The bowl of not too hot tea spilled on her and Wang Ling's skirts, making a crisp sound in the huge hall.
This trick is too old, but also classic.
Gillian looked at Wang Ling calmly, her eyes misted over, her red eyes as pitiful as a rabbit's. But no one in the hall spoke, only whispering.
"I said it was going so smoothly, but something went wrong after all."
"What Chang Qing did was indeed a bit unkind. He took a concubine after only a few months. It's a blessing that Cheng Jiao could endure it until now."
"Well, we've already agreed and taken care of it. Now that it's come to this, making a scene in front of everyone, won't that embarrass Chang Qing?"
After saying this, Chang Qing stood up and pulled Wang Ling back. After the maid cleaned up the broken porcelain pieces and tea leaves on the ground, he took out a handkerchief and wiped Wang Ling's dress.
Chang Qing stood up and looked at Gillian. She was still sitting upright, with a hint of disgust in her eyes. When she turned to him, she became a little softer.
"Bring another cup of tea." Chang Qing brushed his sleeves and sat back down at the head of the table, his tone a bit colder than before. Wang Ling knew he was warning Ah Jiao, so she decided to stop while she was ahead and handed the tea to Ah Jiao politely.
When she thought Gillian would have a fit, she saw her just calmly taking the tea, taking a sip, and then watching the master of ceremonies complete a long list of boring procedures. After she was sent to the bridal chamber, she stood up, put on a smile, and socialized with the guests with the groom.
Chen Wu looked at Chang Qing coming over, grabbed his hand and poured several glasses of wine into Chang Qing, as if he would not let him go until he finished the whole jar.
Gillian took the wine glass and winked at Chen Wu, "Don't bother him, the bride is still waiting."
She rescued Changqing from the crowd and held the wine glass for him to drink. Changqing looked at Ah Jiao who was looking up with a smile on her face, then turned and walked into the bridal chamber.
Wang Ling sat on the bed, fanning herself nervously. She had only met Chang Qing once at a banquet. This man was handsome and came from a noble family, and she wasn't sure why Chang Qing had taken a fancy to her. Besides, he and his wife had only been married for a month. Could it be that the mistress was ill?
Chang Qing walked in with a sullen face. Wang Ling immediately sat up straight and fanned herself, but through the gap she saw him sitting down at the table.
The sound of tea pouring into the cup could be heard. Chang Qing drank two cups of tea and showed no intention of paying attention to her. Wang Ling was a little unsteady, so she let go of the fan and stood up to take the cup. Her jade-white fingers tightly grasped the teapot and poured tea to Chang Qing, but Chang Qing did not take it.
Wang Ling looked over and saw Chang Qing staring at her coldly. She was shy and scared, so she lowered her eyes, but felt a pair of large hands reaching out to her temples. She turned her head away, but Chang Qing did not touch her.
He just took away the gold hairpin from her hair, his face gloomy.
Wang Ling didn't understand what he meant, so she said softly, "What's wrong with the golden hairpin that my mistress gave me?"
Chang Qing put it into his sleeve and said, "This thing doesn't suit you. I'll find a craftsman to make you another set of gold hairpins and head ornaments tomorrow."
Wang Ling nodded and carefully took his hand. "Will you help your husband sleep?"
Chang Qing looked out the window, not knowing what he was thinking. The attendant Wang Guan walked in and said, "Sir, the lights in the Jinyu Pavilion are still on. Lu Liu said that Madam has been drinking too much and is coughing."
Wang Ling looked at Chang Qing anxiously. Sure enough, she had remembered the time she served tea. Wang Ling took the initiative and said to Chang Qing, "I will go with my master to see the lady."
Chang Qing thought for a while, but still rejected her proposal and went to Jinyu Pavilion alone.
The cough and wheezing were real, as was the drinking, but the light wasn't on for Chang Qing. Gillian was just drunk and acting crazy.
Lvliu thought she was unhappy tonight and that was why she went to report to the king. When Changqing came in, he saw A Jiao sitting on a bamboo mat, writing with her sleeves rolled up and most of her arms exposed.
It is not "Song of the White-haired Girl" or "Something is Thinking", but "Flying light, flying light, I offer you a glass of wine..."
Chang Qing was amused in his heart, but he just put a blanket on Gillian calmly, which made her unhappy. "It's hot."
Ah Jiao frowned and muttered, then lifted her skirt and sat cross-legged. Chang Qing deliberately placed the cup of hot tea that Lvliu had given him on the words she had written, soaking the longevity character with the tea.
Gillian turned around with some anger, and was slightly stunned when she saw Changqing's face, and then her frown relaxed.
"Why are you here?"
Chang Qing picked her up and put her on the bed, took out the golden hairpin from his sleeve and threw it to her without saying anything.
Gillian was puzzled and looked at the golden hairpin, "What's wrong?"
What she gave was real gold, so it wasn't cheap.
Chang Qing's tone was a little unhappy, "I gave you something, and you're just going to give it to someone else like this?"
Gillian then remembered that Changqing seemed to have given her a gold hairpin when they got married, but she didn't quite remember it. It was Lvliu who dressed her up every day, so she gave it to Wang Ling casually.
Gillian laughed innocently, "She's unhappy? Then I'll have someone make her a new set tomorrow."
Chang Qing thought that his words were exactly the same as Gillian's, and he laughed angrily, but at the same time, he felt a lump in his throat. He took off his shoes and socks and was about to go to bed, but Gillian immediately stood three feet away from him and asked, "Aren't you going to the bride's place?"
Chang Qing glanced at her and ignored her. Ah Jiao asked again, "Have you already been there? It would be bad to just leave like this, right?"
Changqing took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear. Seeing that he didn't answer, Ah Jiao didn't know what made him angry today. Although she didn't want to provoke him, she really couldn't stand him lying next to her without washing up.
Gillian sighed inwardly, stood up and walked barefoot to the small couch beside the table. As soon as she stood up, she was pulled back by a big hand behind her.
Gillian exclaimed, looking at Chang Qing in shock. Chang Qing's face was gloomy, "Why, do you dislike me?"
Zhang Qing's hands were restlessly placed around, while he tightly grasped Ah Jiao's small hand. Ah Jiao was touched by the soft, warm and cool fingers, and she couldn't help but soften, and felt a little irritated. She couldn't struggle free, and said with a tearful tone, "Go take a shower."
Changqing pulled her over and forced her to face him. Ah Jiao lowered her head with a stubborn look, with tears in her eyes. He sighed and had to call Lvliu to bathe her.
After drying himself, Changqing sat back on the big bed. The curtains were drawn and the lights were still on.
Gillian had fallen asleep quietly, but Changqing was still pinching her waist and abdomen in a bad way and kissing her face. Gillian opened her eyes with a hazy look and pushed away the heavy object on her body.
But Chang Qing refused to move, no matter how hard she pushed him, he wouldn't budge. Ah Jiao suspected that he had drunk too much tonight and was acting crazy. She had no choice but to coax Chang Qing, "It's too hot for two people to be so close. Go lie down and get some sleep, you have to go to court tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Chang Qing simply laid on top of Ah Jiao, his heavy body pressing down on her so hard that she couldn't breathe. Ah Jiao slapped Chang Qing twice, a little angry, "Huo Chang Qing! Stop acting crazy and go to Wang Ling's place."
Chang Qing raised his head upon hearing this and suddenly asked, "Are you jealous?"
Gillian was puzzled, then realized his actions today. Perhaps the hairpin had irritated him. A man as spoiled as He Changqing would naturally be unhappy to be ignored by his wife, which was why he kept trying to make his presence felt.
After figuring this out, Gillian put on a coquettish expression, "Yeah, you're unhappy?"
Chang Qing looked at her strangely, staring at her face carefully. Gillian felt a little scared. Chang Qing then said two words with a sullen face, "Liar."
Before Gillian could say anything, Chang Qing picked her up, turned her around and put her on top of him. Chang Qing's body was stiff and far less comfortable than the bed. She struggled to lie down to the side, but was warned by the big hand on her waist.
Gillian didn't move. She turned over and used Changqing as her bed to sleep on. Suddenly, there was a noise outside the door.
Gillian frowned and got up to call Lvliu in, while Changqing lay in the tent and watched quietly.
"What's up?"
Lvliu said, "It's okay, the girls are just arguing."
Ah Jiao clearly heard what happened in Wang Ling's courtyard. Seeing Chang Qing looking at her with an unclear expression, she knew that it would be bad for Lv Liu to deliberately lie, so she said, "My Lord has heard everything, so tell me."
Lvliu then reluctantly said, "Auntie Wang asked if you were well and when the master would be returning."
Gillian's coughing and wheezing were minor matters. It was Luliu who was angry and asked Changqing for help. She felt a little guilty at the moment, so she looked at Changqing and asked, "Master, what do you think?"
Chang Qing smiled faintly, "What do you think?"
Ah Jiao said, "I'm fine now. Since Aunt Wang is worried, it would be good if you could go back and tell her."
Chang Qingwen thought for a moment, then stood up with a smile. Ah Jiao hurried to find him some clothes to put on, and gave a few earnest instructions to the servants beside him. Then she walked him out the door and watched him leave.
Lvliu looked at the two girls' smug expressions and said angrily, "Look at how proud they are. It seems that skinny horse is not an easy person to deal with."
Gillian laughed, "She might think the same of us."
Green Willow said, "How can this be the same? We just delivered a message and the master arrived. It shows that the master values his wife."
"They delivered a message and the master went back."
Green Willow was speechless. Gillian smiled and walked back, "Let's go. As long as they don't cause trouble, we don't have to care."
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