Zhao Hui was feeling restless in his heart. "I didn't see anything, let's go back."
The servant boy followed closely behind his master, looking back several times, and said in a hurried manner, "Master, could it be that you have raised another lover outside again?"
Zhao Hui sternly scolded him, "Nonsense."
That servant boy was not someone who often followed Zhao Hui out, so he naturally did not understand his master. He only knew that this master had raised a concubine outside in previous years, and for that concubine he had married the daughter of the Lin medical family, Miss Lin. But after that Miss Lin married into the family, she hadn't been there for a few years before she jumped off a cliff and committed suicide after giving birth.
This matter was not much of a secret in Bianjing.
Most people just sighed about Miss Lin's unfortunate destiny, and talked about Master Zhao's romantic passions.
But very few people would know that there was once a time when Master Zhao and Mrs. Lin were affectionate as husband and wife...
The servant boy quickly made a zipping motion over his mouth, carefully shrinking his neck, "This lowly one has said too much."
Zhao Hui glared at him before getting on the carriage.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Mrs. Lin's face, which had long since faded from his memory, gradually became clear in his mind.
So many years had passed, and he had new bedmates, but he had to admit that he still remembered Mrs. Lin's gentle smile and shy charm, and even more clearly remembered her tidying up the medicine garden in the yard, and the delighted and mischievous smile on her face when she turned his study into an apothecary.
He also remembered when he was sick, she stayed by his side, took his pulse, and fed him medicine.
Then she would carefully lay down next to his hand and sleep, for fear of disturbing him.
Zhao Hui had always felt that Mrs. Lin's family background was too lowly, and that she was not a suitable match for him. If not for his father's arrangements, how could he have married such a weak woman who only knew how to prescribe medicine?
Therefore, they did not consummate their marriage in the first year.
However, during that one time he had a high fever, she stayed by his side tirelessly for three days and nights. When he woke up, she laughed and said she hadn't bathed for three days, and then she went out. When she came back, she was only wearing a pink nightgown. His fever had just gone down and his mind was not clear. In a confused state, he somehow pulled her into his arms.
That was the first time she had gotten angry at him. She was like an angry cat, pushing him away and shouting, "Zhao Hui, you promised you wouldn't touch me!"
But he couldn't stand her rejection of him. In a fit of anger he pressed her under him, and inexplicably covered her red lips, "You're my wife, if I don't touch you, who else should I touch?"
She cried until her eyes were red, struggling with all her might, "But you don't love me... Let me go! Let me go!"
The girl's tender voice aroused his desires.
He didn't speak, his physical instincts overtook his reason. Amidst her resistance and cries, he forcefully took her.
After that time, they did not speak for three months.
Three months later, she fainted in front of her senior apprentice brother and was sent back.
For the first time, he had fought over a woman. After the fight, he only then found out that she was pregnant with his child.
At that time he just stood there dumbly by her bedside, listening to the doctor say she was three months pregnant. For a moment he didn't know what to feel, but looking back now, it was mostly joy.
He had never thought there would be a woman who could bear his offspring, but if it was Mrs. Lin, he quickly accepted it.
After the child, their relationship improved a lot.
They had also passionately professed their love, admired the moon together, and imagined what life would be like after the child was born.
But good times didn't last long. Not long after...
"Master, we've arrived!"
The servant boy's clear voice pulled Zhao Hui's thoughts back. He opened his eyes, only to feel they were slightly sore. It took him a good while for the bitter feeling in his throat to fade.
The servant boy looked inside for a while. Seeing his master still hadn't gotten off the carriage, he was somewhat puzzled.
Just as he was about to lift the carriage curtain, there was movement inside.
Zhao Hui walked out with his hands behind his back and expressionless face. Without a word he headed towards the manor gate.
The servant boy embarrassingly lowered his head. Although the master was just an idle noble now, back in the day he had dominated Bianjing. It was only after the old Duke led the other two sons off to battle that he hid his aggressive side and took on the image of a prodigal useless heir. But that aura about him still made people look on in awe, no less inferior compared to the Crown Prince.
...
Changfeng Pavilion.
After hearing Yanzhi's report, Gu Ying held the finished baby clothes in her hand and carefully inspected them.
"I've already had someone pass on the message. My lady, when should we have Granny Sun speak up?"
"No rush," said Gu Ying, reluctant to part with the little clothes in her hands. "Let's wait for Cheng to prepare a bit more. Catching her red-handed later won't be too late."
Yanzhi laughed. "Cheng must have been scared witless today. This afternoon she had the Zhao steward find some people to sell off. This shows she certainly has a guilty conscience. I'm just worried Granny Sun's mouth might not be tight enough and she'd let something slip out."
Gu Ying's eyes dimmed and she neatly folded the baby clothes on her lap, lost in thought. "Since she's already afraid, we should give her a chance to get close to Granny Sun."
Yanzhi was thrilled. "Leave Cheng's side to me and Yin Lan. She probably won't trust us. What about Hai Tang from the small kitchen who specially delivers meals to Granny Sun?"
"Not bad," said Gu Ying, turning to look at Yanzhi with a smile. "My clever little Yanzhi has actually become so crafty."
Yanzhi smugly pursed her lips in a smile. "It's all thanks to Big Sister Yin Lan teaching me well."
Having made up her mind, Gu Ying laughed. "Alright, these next few days we'll have Cheng's close attendant Granny Wang come over to interact with Hai Tang. Let Hai Tang occasionally bring some words over for Cheng as well. But whatever she says must go past my ears first before being passed on to Granny Sun."
Yanzhi eagerly accepted the task, feeling it was so much fun. "Great! I'll go take care of it now!"
...
When the Crown Prince returned, the sky had grown even darker. He had gone to Spring Mountain Manor and came back looking a little unhappy.
Gu Ying smiled. "I know Ah Du has no appetite at Spring Mountain Manor and can't eat anything, so I specially had the kitchen prepare your favorites."
Zhao Changdu sat down at the table. He had never been one to indulge in food and drink. But the young girl at his side was always able to keenly discover his tastes.
He liked meat and light flavors, and would occasionally have some sweets and pastries, but not much. What he liked most was mung bean cake.
Gu Ying had grasped his appetites perfectly. After having dinner prepared, she sat down to accompany him.
"Eating together with someone stimulates the appetite more than eating alone."
Zhao Changdu felt like his heart was lightly struck by a hammer. "Ah Ying is so young, yet understands more than anyone."
Gu Ying gave a faint smile. "Naturally, since I was born clever."
Zhao Changdu looked at her with a faint smile. His appetite returned and he drank the soup the girl handed over, then ate two small bowls of rice. "Cheng had Father summon me. She probably wants to hand over the stewardship of the Duke's manor."
Gu Ying looked up. "To me?"
Zhao Changdu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Right now there are only two mistresses in the household. Other than you, she has no one else to order around. But she doesn't truly want to relinquish power. She just wants you to handle the household finances for her."
A hint of disdain appeared on Gu Ying's smile. "They say a steward lasts three years before even the dogs and cats complain. Cheng is probably trying to make things difficult for me as steward."
"So I declined on your behalf."
Zhao Hui was feeling restless in his heart. "I didn't see anything, let's go back."
The servant boy followed closely behind his master, looking back several times, and said in a hurried manner, "Master, could it be that you have raised another lover outside again?"
Zhao Hui sternly scolded him, "Nonsense."
That servant boy was not someone who often followed Zhao Hui out, so he naturally did not understand his master. He only knew that this master had raised a concubine outside in previous years, and for that concubine he had married the daughter of the Lin medical family, Miss Lin. But after that Miss Lin married into the family, she hadn't been there for a few years before she jumped off a cliff and committed suicide after giving birth.
This matter was not much of a secret in Bianjing.
Most people just sighed about Miss Lin's unfortunate destiny, and talked about Master Zhao's romantic passions.
But very few people would know that there was once a time when Master Zhao and Mrs. Lin were affectionate as husband and wife...
The servant boy quickly made a zipping motion over his mouth, carefully shrinking his neck, "This lowly one has said too much."
Zhao Hui glared at him before getting on the carriage.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Mrs. Lin's face, which had long since faded from his memory, gradually became clear in his mind.
So many years had passed, and he had new bedmates, but he had to admit that he still remembered Mrs. Lin's gentle smile and shy charm, and even more clearly remembered her tidying up the medicine garden in the yard, and the delighted and mischievous smile on her face when she turned his study into an apothecary.
He also remembered when he was sick, she stayed by his side, took his pulse, and fed him medicine.
Then she would carefully lay down next to his hand and sleep, for fear of disturbing him.
Zhao Hui had always felt that Mrs. Lin's family background was too lowly, and that she was not a suitable match for him. If not for his father's arrangements, how could he have married such a weak woman who only knew how to prescribe medicine?
Therefore, they did not consummate their marriage in the first year.
However, during that one time he had a high fever, she stayed by his side tirelessly for three days and nights. When he woke up, she laughed and said she hadn't bathed for three days, and then she went out. When she came back, she was only wearing a pink nightgown. His fever had just gone down and his mind was not clear. In a confused state, he somehow pulled her into his arms.
That was the first time she had gotten angry at him. She was like an angry cat, pushing him away and shouting, "Zhao Hui, you promised you wouldn't touch me!"
But he couldn't stand her rejection of him. In a fit of anger he pressed her under him, and inexplicably covered her red lips, "You're my wife, if I don't touch you, who else should I touch?"
She cried until her eyes were red, struggling with all her might, "But you don't love me... Let me go! Let me go!"
The girl's tender voice aroused his desires.
He didn't speak, his physical instincts overtook his reason. Amidst her resistance and cries, he forcefully took her.
After that time, they did not speak for three months.
Three months later, she fainted in front of her senior apprentice brother and was sent back.
For the first time, he had fought over a woman. After the fight, he only then found out that she was pregnant with his child.
At that time he just stood there dumbly by her bedside, listening to the doctor say she was three months pregnant. For a moment he didn't know what to feel, but looking back now, it was mostly joy.
He had never thought there would be a woman who could bear his offspring, but if it was Mrs. Lin, he quickly accepted it.
After the child, their relationship improved a lot.
They had also passionately professed their love, admired the moon together, and imagined what life would be like after the child was born.
But good times didn't last long. Not long after...
"Master, we've arrived!"
The servant boy's clear voice pulled Zhao Hui's thoughts back. He opened his eyes, only to feel they were slightly sore. It took him a good while for the bitter feeling in his throat to fade.
The servant boy looked inside for a while. Seeing his master still hadn't gotten off the carriage, he was somewhat puzzled.
Just as he was about to lift the carriage curtain, there was movement inside.
Zhao Hui walked out with his hands behind his back and expressionless face. Without a word he headed towards the manor gate.
The servant boy embarrassingly lowered his head. Although the master was just an idle noble now, back in the day he had dominated Bianjing. It was only after the old Duke led the other two sons off to battle that he hid his aggressive side and took on the image of a prodigal useless heir. But that aura about him still made people look on in awe, no less inferior compared to the Crown Prince.
...
Changfeng Pavilion.
After hearing Yanzhi's report, Gu Ying held the finished baby clothes in her hand and carefully inspected them.
"I've already had someone pass on the message. My lady, when should we have Granny Sun speak up?"
"No rush," said Gu Ying, reluctant to part with the little clothes in her hands. "Let's wait for Cheng to prepare a bit more. Catching her red-handed later won't be too late."
Yanzhi laughed. "Cheng must have been scared witless today. This afternoon she had the Zhao steward find some people to sell off. This shows she certainly has a guilty conscience. I'm just worried Granny Sun's mouth might not be tight enough and she'd let something slip out."
Gu Ying's eyes dimmed and she neatly folded the baby clothes on her lap, lost in thought. "Since she's already afraid, we should give her a chance to get close to Granny Sun."
Yanzhi was thrilled. "Leave Cheng's side to me and Yin Lan. She probably won't trust us. What about Hai Tang from the small kitchen who specially delivers meals to Granny Sun?"
"Not bad," said Gu Ying, turning to look at Yanzhi with a smile. "My clever little Yanzhi has actually become so crafty."
Yanzhi smugly pursed her lips in a smile. "It's all thanks to Big Sister Yin Lan teaching me well."
Having made up her mind, Gu Ying laughed. "Alright, these next few days we'll have Cheng's close attendant Granny Wang come over to interact with Hai Tang. Let Hai Tang occasionally bring some words over for Cheng as well. But whatever she says must go past my ears first before being passed on to Granny Sun."
Yanzhi eagerly accepted the task, feeling it was so much fun. "Great! I'll go take care of it now!"
...
When the Crown Prince returned, the sky had grown even darker. He had gone to Spring Mountain Manor and came back looking a little unhappy.
Gu Ying smiled. "I know Ah Du has no appetite at Spring Mountain Manor and can't eat anything, so I specially had the kitchen prepare your favorites."
Zhao Changdu sat down at the table. He had never been one to indulge in food and drink. But the young girl at his side was always able to keenly discover his tastes.
He liked meat and light flavors, and would occasionally have some sweets and pastries, but not much. What he liked most was mung bean cake.
Gu Ying had grasped his appetites perfectly. After having dinner prepared, she sat down to accompany him.
"Eating together with someone stimulates the appetite more than eating alone."
Zhao Changdu felt like his heart was lightly struck by a hammer. "Ah Ying is so young, yet understands more than anyone."
Gu Ying gave a faint smile. "Naturally, since I was born clever."
Zhao Changdu looked at her with a faint smile. His appetite returned and he drank the soup the girl handed over, then ate two small bowls of rice. "Cheng had Father summon me. She probably wants to hand over the stewardship of the Duke's manor."
Gu Ying looked up. "To me?"
Zhao Changdu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Right now there are only two mistresses in the household. Other than you, she has no one else to order around. But she doesn't truly want to relinquish power. She just wants you to handle the household finances for her."
A hint of disdain appeared on Gu Ying's smile. "They say a steward lasts three years before even the dogs and cats complain. Cheng is probably trying to make things difficult for me as steward."
"So I declined on your behalf."
