Chu Mingzhu was displeased upon hearing what Granny Zhu said.
"Isn't it enough that I've already received those two vixens bestowed by the Emperor? Aren't those two enough to show my magnanimity?"
"We've only been married a short time, and he's already bringing in one concubine after another. What will outsiders think of me?"
Granny Zhu was caught in a dilemma. She knew perfectly well that no woman wanted her husband to have another woman by his side, but her own daughter and the young lady she had raised were both equally precious. Besides, her own daughter was threatening to report her, a matter that could cost her her head. What could she do if she didn't give in? So, she could only go against her conscience and say...
“Miss, please don’t blame me for being suspicious. To be honest, those two were given to us by the palace. Who knows if they are spies planted by someone? In my opinion, the general had no choice but to go and pretend to be there because of what you said. He wouldn’t dare to open his heart to them!”
As for that woman surnamed Xie, she did accompany the general during his low point. If you think about it the other way around, the fact that the general can't let her go shows that he is a person who values relationships.
This proves you didn't misjudge him!
Walking together for a while will always occupy a general's thoughts. However, a person's heart is only so big; it can hold one person but not another. With many people around him, each person has a place in his heart, and over time, his feelings for that particular person will fade.
And the women in this backyard all have to make a living under your control; they have to do whatever you say.
If you didn't like something that day, just find an excuse to get rid of it.
However, you shouldn't choose just one person; it's best if two people compete, then you can reap the benefits.
Granny Zhu spent most of her life confined to the inner quarters of the house, and the men she saw all indeed had three wives and four concubines. Sending people to her own husband's room was a common way to curry favor.
So he assumed that this method would work on everyone and confidently analyzed the pros and cons for Chu Mingzhu.
Then, quite naturally, he recommended a few girls who were fairly good-looking to Chu Mingzhu.
This includes Taohong and Ping'er, as well as Ying'er and Shaoyao.
If the governess assigned to her by Consort Chu were still alive, she would definitely have noticed something amiss. However, the governess returned to the palace after Chu Mingzhu got married.
Currently, the only capable nanny around Chu Mingzhu is Granny Zhu. Chu Mingzhu is also preoccupied with Xiao Yi, so she naturally hasn't noticed Ping'er's little schemes.
Her head maid, Tao Hong, noticed something amiss, but lacking evidence and knowing that Chu Mingzhu was rather muddle-headed, she dared not say a word.
Upon hearing that Granny Zhu was trying to persuade her to become Xiao Yi's concubine, she immediately and resolutely refused, kneeling down to pledge her loyalty to Chu Mingzhu.
“Miss, I only want to serve you wholeheartedly, I don’t want to be a concubine. I’m used to taking care of all your daily needs, I can’t serve the general well.”
Just kidding. With Chu Mingzhu's petty and vicious nature, as long as she becomes Xiao Yi's concubine, no matter whether she gains Xiao Yi's favor or not, she will not have a good ending. She just wants to live peacefully for a few years, find an opportunity to cultivate a few new people, and slowly replace her.
As expected, Chu Mingzhu was in a good mood when she saw her like this, and even rewarded her with a pair of silver cloves.
Of the remaining three, the one named Ying'er was pretty, but she had a loud voice. She was alright when she didn't speak, but once she opened her mouth, it was like Zhang Fei's voice. Chu Mingzhu eliminated her immediately.
If she sent this to Xiao Yi, wouldn't he suspect that she did it on purpose out of jealousy?
But when I thought of my wet nurse's daughter, Ping'er, although she wasn't stunningly beautiful, she was fair-skinned and delicate, which was sometimes more attractive than a seductive woman.
Chu Mingzhu asked directly, as a woman.
"The wet nurse gave Ping'er to Xiao Yi as well. Could it be that she wanted your own daughter to share my favor?"
Granny Zhu dared not admit to this and immediately denied it.
"How could that be? You are the darling of the old lady, otherwise she wouldn't have used Ping'er to exchange you for her!"
I think Ping'er doesn't have any outstanding qualities, except for her looks. If she were more capable, she could help you keep your husband's heart, but she doesn't have the ability to keep him indefinitely, and she poses no threat to you. That's why I recommended Ping'er. If you don't think it's appropriate, Miss, then go outside and pick a few more girls with exceptional talents."
Upon hearing this, Chu Mingzhu agreed, and said...
"No need to go out and choose, let's just have Ping'er and Shaoyao!"
Go find them some clothes and jewelry, dress them up, and have them serve at the general's residence tonight.
After hearing Chu Mingzhu's instructions, Granny Zhu went back to her own courtyard and whispered in Ping'er's ear.
"Chu Mingzhu is petty. Before you win Xiao Yi's heart, you must never reveal to her that you have long liked Xiao Yi, otherwise she will not forgive you."
"Once you have a child, I'll find a way to get the general to protect you, and then I'll help you smooth things over. Only then will you have a place in the general's mansion."
Ping'er isn't really stupid. Her goal is to marry Xiao Yi. Now that she's achieved her goal, she'll naturally plan carefully, even though this doesn't really count as marriage.
Granny Zhu still cared for her daughter, so she specially instructed the kitchen to prepare a banquet for Xiao Yi's courtyard and chose a rose-red dress for Ping'er as a ceremony for her.
Peonies were pressed down and then sent a day later.
Although Shaoyao was somewhat dissatisfied, she dared not offend either Zhu Mama or Ping'er, who were both favored by Chu Mingzhu, and could only let Zhu Mama make arrangements.
Xiao Yi returned from the military camp when the moon was high in the sky. As soon as he entered the house, he saw a girl smiling and waiting for him in the dim light. When she saw him come in, she smiled and stepped forward.
You're back!
"Let's eat! I made two stir-fries myself today: scrambled eggs with scallions and meatball soup. Try them and see if you like them."
He didn't know if it was Ping'er's straightforward and calm tone, or the smell of scrambled eggs with scallions on the table that made him feel familiar.
Without asking who Ping'er was, he sat down and started eating scrambled eggs with scallions.
Ping'er didn't ask many questions. She chatted with Xiao Yi like a wife and husband having a casual conversation. She first introduced herself, and then asked Xiao Yi how he was doing outside. She didn't care whether Xiao Yi answered or not. Occasionally, she would talk about what she did at home, what kind of flowers she thought were good to plant in the yard, and where the fish tank would look better.
Xiao Yi didn't pay attention at first, but as he drank, he began to watch her vaguely pointing and making plans for his courtyard, and he unconsciously became engrossed in watching her.
Whether it was the wine that made her drunk or her own state of mind that made her drunk, in the end, Ping'er got her wish and stayed in Xiao Yi's room, becoming Xiao Yi's concubine.
Later, through her own planning and with the help of Granny Zhu, she successfully became pregnant with Xiao Yi's child, and at one point became Chu Mingzhu's strongest rival. Later, she gained status through her son and almost became equal to Chu Mingzhu.
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