Cheng Chun suddenly realized that although she knew she was a Liangqie, she was not clear about these intricacies. She only felt that as a concubine, her status was lowly and she had to live under others’ control, so she was extremely cautious in everything, afraid that with one careless mistake, she might be sold off.
Su Xubai turned around intending to take Cheng Chun’s hand but found her lost in thought. He walked up to her, gently brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead, and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Did Nanny Zhang give you a hard time?”
Cheng Chun looked up. “Why does the master say that?”
“Ever since she found out I was taking a concubine, Nanny Zhang hasn’t been very happy!” Su Xubai bent slightly, took Cheng Chun’s hand, and slowly walked forward. “Since my elder brother got married, Nanny Zhang’s daughter hasn’t been doing well. She was about to be promoted to concubine, but because she offended my sister-in-law, she was punished. Nanny Zhang holds a grudge, so it’s inevitable she’s dissatisfied with you!”
Cheng Chun looked up at Su Xubai. “Why is the master telling me this?”
“You are the mistress of this courtyard. You should know about these trivial matters!” Su Xubai gently squeezed Cheng Chun’s hand. “From now on, you must learn to manage the internal affairs of this courtyard. Don’t let the servants overpower you!”
Cheng Chun was somewhat bewildered. “Me, manage?”
“Yes, indeed. Now that I have a wife, how can I still handle everything inside and outside this courtyard myself? You must share some of the burden for me!” Su Xubai spoke very gently, and to Cheng Chun’s ears, it sounded like coaxing a child.
Just then, sunlight fell upon him, making his entire person appear very gentle. If she hadn’t seen his beast-like demeanor the previous night, at first glance, he truly seemed like a modest and refined gentleman.
“This humble concubine barely knows a few characters. Managing such a large courtyard might not be suitable!” Cheng Chun averted her gaze, looking at Su Xubai’s chin as she spoke softly.
Su Xubai stared at Cheng Chun for a long time. “They say you are sensible and well-behaved, that you helped out at the pharmacy to support your family, and that you were bright and loved to laugh. But these past few days, I haven’t seen you smile once!”
Cheng Chun was stunned for a moment, then slowly looked into Su Xubai’s eyes. “The past is the past, and the present is the present. They are different…”
“That day, I was framed and poisoned with Qingdu. I barged into the pharmacy seeking help, but I never expected that the one guarding such a pharmacy would be a young girl!” Su Xubai slowly turned around, speaking of the day they first met. “It is a fact that I ruined your reputation, and it is also a fact that you saved my life. A-chun, life is long. For the decades to come, will you live with your head bowed like this?”
Cheng Chun was stunned for a moment. Of course, she didn’t want to. She was originally a child who grew up in the countryside, cherished by her parents and supported by her brothers. In the future, she would have married a young man of equal standing. Her life might not have been one of great wealth and honor, but it would have been smooth and peaceful.
But that night, she happened to open the door, happened to meet him, and was then forced to marry into this courtyard, living under others’ control. It was true that she was bright and loved to laugh, but it was also true that she was now reduced to being a concubine.
Although she had never studied, she understood the difference between a wife and a concubine—it was like a vast chasm, as wide as the Milky Way…
“I cannot give you the status of a proper wife—that is my failing. But within this private residence, you are the mistress!” Su Xubai said, pulling Cheng Chun into his embrace. “This is the best compensation I can offer you!”
Cheng Chun breathed in the faint scent of agarwood on him and slowly lifted her head to look at him. “I understand!”
Su Xubai gazed into Cheng Chun’s tear-glazed eyes, unsure whether she truly understood or not. Yet, as he looked at the delicate, soft figure in his arms, with her damp, glistening eyes, he felt a warmth surge in his chest.
Cheng Chun grew flustered under Su Xubai’s intense gaze and struggled to pull away, but he tightly grasped her hand. “A-chun, did you eat enough at lunch just now?”
Cheng Chun found the question odd but nodded honestly. “I ate enough. The dishes in the residence are especially delicious—I always eat my fill!”
“Then it’s my turn to eat!” Su Xubai laughed.
Cheng Chun was puzzled. “Didn’t you eat enough earlier, Master?”
No sooner had she spoken than Su Xubai suddenly swept her up into his arms. “Tell me, a little rabbit like you who understands nothing—if you fell into someone else’s hands, how much would you suffer?”
“Ah, Master, put me down! Fifth Master…” Cheng Chun was startled and quickly wrapped her arms around Su Xubai’s neck.
Su Xubai glanced back at the servants standing nearby and chuckled. “How can you all still stand there watching?”
The servants were taken aback for a moment before hurriedly turning away.
By now, Cheng Chun’s face was flushed crimson.
Youthful exuberance often leads to recklessness.
Several days of such day-and-night indulgence passed, leaving Su Xubai with a thoroughly satisfied demeanor, while Cheng Chun visibly lost weight. Her small face grew sharp and angular, much to Hongdou’s distress.
While Cheng Chun was having breakfast, Nanny Zhang approached with a bowl of bitter medicinal soup and placed it directly beside her. Today, Cheng Chun had a rare appetite and had eaten more than usual. The sight and pungent, bitter smell of the medicine Nanny Zhang set before her instantly ruined her appetite.
Cheng Chun frowned slightly and set down her chopsticks. She looked up at Nanny Zhang and said softly, “Nanny Zhang, could I drink this medicine a little later?”
“This is the rule of the residence, and you must abide by it, Madam!” Nanny Zhang replied coldly, staring at Cheng Chun.
Cheng Chun lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
It was Hongdou who spoke up from the side. “Rules, rules—Nanny, you’re not the one in charge of this courtyard. The Madam has never missed a single dose of the medicine you bring. Letting her finish her meal before drinking it won’t make a difference. Why must you be so overbearing?”
Nanny Zhang hadn’t expected a young maid like Hongdou to dare talk back to her. She immediately frowned. “Rules are rules. What do you, a little girl, know? Be careful, or I’ll have you sold off…”
“Nanny Zhang!” Cheng Chun, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
Nanny Zhang’s scolding abruptly ceased.
Cheng Chun looked up at Nanny Zhang, still appearing as harmless as ever, and smiled faintly: “The master told me that you are an old servant placed in the villa by the main household, and you should be well taken care of. But an old servant is still a servant, not the master. Although I am an insignificant concubine, in this courtyard, I am the master!”
Cheng Chun’s voice was soft and gentle, yet firm and resolute. Nanny Zhang had not expected this timid young woman, who usually dared not even speak loudly, to now dare to assert her status over her. She immediately retorted, “What are you saying, Madam? Are you trying to act as if you are the one in charge here?”