Tang Chen shook her head slightly. She no longer wanted to know what Su Zhirou had been through when she was unaware. She had originally asked Wang Yanzhou for help simply to know if she was okay. Now that she saw she was doing well, at least well-fed and well-clothed, she felt relieved. As for the rest, it no longer mattered.
"No need to investigate. Just ask someone to help me look into that family's background. Anyway, judging from her appearance, she's experienced a lot of social situations that I haven't. I just hope she can meet someone who truly loves her. Even if he's not sincere, it doesn't matter; as long as he treats her well, that's all that's enough."
"Um."
Su Zhirou stood at the corner gate, watching the carriage slowly depart. She couldn't help but want to follow, but after taking a few steps, she was stopped by the servants. After returning to her own courtyard, Su Zhirou said nothing, just sat in front of the bronze mirror, staring blankly at herself in the mirror.
In the evening, the maid's timid voice finally brought her back to her senses: "Auntie, the master has returned and wants to have dinner with you in the west hall."
Su Zhirou regained consciousness, picked up her hairbrush, and began to tidy up her appearance. Once upon a time, she had looked down upon the concubines in the Su Mansion, who only knew how to apply makeup, use their beauty to please men, and were ignorant of literature. Unexpectedly, the tide had turned, and now it would be her turn. The thought of this made Su Zhirou feel as if millions of ants were crawling in her heart; although it didn't hurt, it was so uncomfortable that she wanted to dig her chest open.
Su Zhirou glanced casually and saw the tea set on the table that Wang Yanzhou and Tang Chen had just used to drink water. It was a fine piece of tea that her husband had brought from abroad, saying it was a gift for her. Now, the more she looked at it, the more she disliked it. "Please help me take out the tea set that we used to entertain the guests and throw it away."
The maidservant beside her was shocked. She had kept this tea set all along and just took it out today. Was she going to throw it away? Wouldn't that be a waste? "Throw it away?"
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
Seeing Su Zhirou was angry, the maid lowered her head and said, "Yes, I will throw it away right away!"
Although Su Zhirou was only a concubine now, she was the only concubine in the mansion. Their master hadn't yet married a wife, so Su Zhirou could be considered the de facto mistress of the mansion. However, it was unclear how long this situation could last.
After dinner, Zhao Wentao was already drunk, but fortunately he was still conscious. Looking at Su Zhirou's gentle face and kind expression, Zhao Wentao's cheeks flushed, and he couldn't help but look embarrassed: "Zhirou, I have something that is a bit difficult for me."
Su Zhirou smiled, stood up to pour him some tea to sober him up, and said softly, "Husband, please feel free to speak. Zhirou may not be able to share your worries, but she can still be a confidant."
"I, that's all. Take a look at this," Zhao Wentao said as he handed Su Zhirou a large red invitation. Su Zhirou's heart skipped a beat when she took it. This was the engagement letter, but it definitely wasn't between her and Zhao Wentao. Su Zhirou already knew what Zhao Wentao was talking about, but she still pretended to be clueless and even asked with a hint of joy, "Is one of my relatives getting married? It's a happy occasion."
Zhao Wentao didn't say anything. He waited until he saw the smile on Su Zhirou's face gradually disappear before he hesitantly explaining, "Zhirou, I..."
Su Zhirou's bright red nails tightly grasped the invitation in her hand: "I know, I am not worthy of you at all. Allowing me to enter the mansion as a concubine is already the biggest setback for the old lady. I know."
Zhao Wentao once promised her that she would be his only lover in this life; she foolishly believed it was true at the time. Look, this is what a man is like:
"After all, I am sorry for you."
Su Zhirou leaned in Zhao Wentao's arms. Although she couldn't stop her tears from flowing, she still had to keep a decent smile on her face: "No, my husband has been very good to me. When Zhirou was in trouble, my husband did not despise Zhirou's unclean body and welcomed her into the mansion. I am already very grateful."
Seeing Su Zhirou being so gentle and sensible, Zhao Wentao felt even more guilty towards her. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone bully you."
"...Yeah." Su Zhirou looked at Zhao Wentao with tears streaming down her face, her heart sinking to the bottom. What was meant to come finally came. And wasn't she the one who looked down on him back then? Now, did she have any other choice?
Meanwhile, Liang Shuyi had just returned home happily with her beloved when she was locked up in the house by Duke Liang. Despite her pleas and outbursts, the Duke remained unmoved.
After being locked in her room, Liang Shuyi immediately tried to escape through the window, but she hadn't expected that the windows had been sealed from the outside. After poking through the window paper, Liang Shuyi discovered that the outside was full of guards. Only then did she realize that her father was serious this time, and she was afraid that even her mother couldn't save her.
Liang Shuyi banged on the doors and windows vigorously, begging loudly: "Dad, please let me out, Dad!"
Duke Liang stood outside the door and shook his head. He had always thought he was young, but it wasn't until this year's series of events that he realized he had some gray hair.
He'd enjoyed enough wealth and glory in his life, but his wife and children shouldn't be dragged into this situation. Who knew if the Duke of Liang's Mansion would one day become the second General's Mansion? He'd tried so hard to stay neutral, only to find himself thrust into the spotlight.
"Just behave yourself. I've placed experts at every door and window. You won't be able to escape this time. And you, no one is allowed to open the door for the young lady, not even the lady."
"yes."
After making sure that the security around Liang Shuyi's room was watertight, Duke Liang quickly left and went to the study to meet the young man named Chen Xin who came with his daughter.
As soon as he entered the room, after seeing Shen Xin's voice, appearance and smile, the expression on Liang Guogong's face suddenly changed a little. Compared with before, his attitude seemed to be a little more relaxed: "Mr. Shen, right?"
Chen Xin bowed and said, "Your Excellency the Duke is polite."
After the Duke of Liang sat down, he casually pointed to a spot for Shen Xin to sit down, and said bluntly: "I, an old man, will not beat around the bush with Master Shen, I will speak frankly. My daughter has been spoiled by me. Not only does she have a bad temper, but she can't stand any hardship."
"Junior understands."
Duke Liang nodded slightly and continued, "I understand. Judging from Master Shen's conversation, he must not be from a small family. There are some truths that I don't need to say, but Master should know them."
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