"Of course we have to be serious. If it weren't for that bitch Xiao Taohong, you wouldn't have wasted so much time. That little bitch is actually delaying your future. If she weren't pregnant, I would never have let her into the house."
As Jiang Yao spoke, a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes.
"Yulang, you learn first, I'll go check on dinner."
Jiang Yao left the study as she spoke.
As soon as she went out, her personal maid came up to her. Seeing that she looked unwell, she quickly asked, "Miss, did the young master mention Xiao Taohong again?"
"Hmph, that bitch. If Yulang hadn't refused to return to the manor, how could I have brought her in? Fortunately, I've already changed her name, so at least on the surface no one knows that our manor has taken in a courtesan. Otherwise, I would have no face to show my face in public."
Jiang Yao said angrily, her fists clenched.
Currently, three concubines in the Earl's mansion are pregnant: Xiao Taohong, Lianxiang, and Lianyu.
The two girls are now five or six months pregnant, and they are quite obedient, not daring to overstep their bounds in the slightest.
"How has Xiao Taohong been these past few days? Has she been behaving herself?"
"Don't worry, Miss. Little Peach Blossom has been very well-behaved lately. She doesn't even realize whose territory the Earl's Mansion is. Once she's here, it's Miss who calls the shots."
Hearing this, Jiang Yao felt extremely relieved.
Ever since she won the title of the most talented woman in the Great Jing Dynasty, her status in the Earl's Mansion has risen accordingly. Even the Earl's wife, who had always disliked her, now asks for her opinion on everything.
So what if Jiang Yao is in charge of the Marquis's mansion? She still has the final say on the Earl's mansion.
Now she doesn't need to do anything, after all, what could be more important than the imperial examination...
A corner of the Earl's Mansion garden.
Xiao Taohong was strolling aimlessly in the garden. Her maid, whom she had brought from Red Clothes Lane, supported her and comforted her, "Miss, don't look so gloomy. Get some sunshine. It's a rare sunny day today."
"I know, you're just being nosy."
Pregnant women should get plenty of sunshine, especially since her house is cramped and dark.
That bitch Jiang Yao, despite being from an official family, is two-faced. She said she would bring her back and settle her in properly, but she just threw her into a dilapidated courtyard.
It was narrow and small, not even as good as the houses in Hongyi Lane, and there were very few maids and servants to serve it.
But she couldn't see Pei Lingyu, and had nowhere to confide in.
Just then, Xiao Taohong turned a corner and saw several maids sitting idly chatting in a pavilion by the water amidst the flowers.
A maid working in the embroidery room said, "Do you know that little peach blossom in the east courtyard? Today, the embroidery room went to make clothes for her, and she actually complained that the material was not good enough. It's ridiculous. She's a lowly woman from a brothel. She should be grateful to have anything to wear, yet she's so picky. She's simply absurd."
"A courtesan, after all, always thinks she's superior to ordinary brothel girls." Another maid chuckled dismissively.
"Ha, you believe her just because she says she's a courtesan? In a brothel, men are like cats that have seen fish when they see a woman. She grew up in a brothel, how could she be a courtesan?"
"Only the young master is naive enough to believe her nonsense. What a lowly wretch! He doesn't know his own worth. Does he really think he's a master just because he entered the manor? He's nothing but a lowly concubine! He still acts like a master in front of us. Shameless!"
"That's right! Just because she looks a bit like a vixen, she's been trying so hard to climb the social ladder, without even taking a piss and looking at herself in the mirror."
"That's right, the young master's interest is just temporary. Does she really think she can be favored for long?"
Inside the pavilion, four or five girls sat together, laughing and chattering away, cracking melon seeds as they talked.
Seeing that they were going too far, one of the more cautious ones quickly spoke up.
"Stop talking, or she'll hear you."
"So what if you heard it? You don't know, do you? Ever since Xiao Taohong entered the manor, she hasn't seen the young master. She's stupid. She could have been a proper mistress with no worries about food or clothing and no one to control her. But she insisted on squeezing her way into the manor. Now look what's happened. She's living in a dilapidated courtyard and can't even see the young master."
"She doesn't even consider that, besides the young mistress, there are two concubines and two maids in the entire mansion. Which one of them is easy to deal with? As an outsider, how can she expect to have a good outcome? Not to mention that our young mistress is now the most talented woman in Dajing. In order to be worthy of the young mistress, the young master has vowed to study hard and strive for a good ranking in the exam."
"These days, our young master has long forgotten about her. What 'Little Peach Blossom'? I'd rather see a sunset glow, hahaha..."
The girls' mocking voices were like sharp swords, mercilessly piercing Xiao Taohong's heart.
Her face flushed red, her eyes flashing with anger, and she was about to explode when Lianxiang and Lianyu, heavily pregnant, came over.
The two women are six months pregnant, and their bellies are much bigger than Xiao Taohong's.
With her belly rubbed, the two women slowly approached, supported by the maid. Upon seeing them, the maid in the pavilion immediately came out to bow respectfully.
Actually, at first they were also dissatisfied with Lianxiang and Lianyu.
After all, they were all maids before, with the same status, serving others. Now that Lianxiang and Lianyu have become masters, who can be happy?
However, Lianxiang and Lianyu were good at interpersonal relationships and often sent them small gifts and snacks. Over time, these girls got used to it.
After all, who can blame them when they're so beautiful?
For most people, many things are predetermined in their lifetime.
"Sister Lianxiang, Sister Lianyu, you've come at the perfect time. The embroidery workshop is currently making spring clothes. Come and choose some fabrics."
Upon seeing the two women, the maid from the embroidery workshop immediately instructed her youngest maid to bring out five bolts of cloth.
She said with a big smile, "This is new fabric from the shop, perfect for making spring clothes."
Upon seeing the cloth, Lianxiang and Lianyu's eyes lit up instantly.
All five bolts of fabric are of excellent quality. One of them is a smoky pink silk, with a soft and elegant color, like a peach blossom just beginning to bloom in spring. The delicate texture is faintly visible under the light, as if it has a hazy beauty.
Lianxiang reached out and gently touched it; the silky texture was irresistible.
“I want this one,” Lianxiang said quickly.
Lianyu was not to be outdone; she immediately chose a piece of sky-blue brocade, the color of which was as pure and bright as the clear sky.
The brocade is embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns, the needlework is delicate and lifelike, as if the clouds are really floating on the fabric. With a slight sway, the brocade shimmers with a faint light, it is a luxurious and fine material.
"How come the fabric used to make these clothes is so good this time?" Lianyu exclaimed, touching the smooth fabric.
The Earl's family was not as wealthy as it appeared, especially after the ice shop business was cut off, the family had been living off their savings.
The expenses of Lady Bo, Pei Lingyu, and Jiang Yao could not be reduced, so the treatment of these concubines was not as good as before.
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