Su Lingqing wrapped herself in a fluffy cloak and listened in on the conversation from the shadows.
No wonder Tao Yong had suddenly barged into her room in her previous life, trying to force himself on her it turned out Su Yaoyao had brought him.
It seemed that whether or not she had been formally betrothed to Tao Yong, she still couldn’t escape such a disgusting scheme.
Originally, she had only come out to enjoy the cold night air and, on the way, casually “check” on Su Yaoyao. Who would have thought she would witness this scene? But even if she hadn’t seen it, Su Lingqing had already prepared a thorough countermeasure.
Footsteps sounded again from the distance behind her. With a light movement, Su Lingqing borrowed the force of a nearby structure and leapt onto the roof, changing her angle to continue eavesdropping.
Zheng Rui approached with a food basket, carefully shielding it inside her cloak.
“Yaoyao, it’s late at night. Eat something first. Then come back with Mother and get some proper sleep.”
Just as Zheng Rui stepped onto the stairs, Su Yaoyao panicked and hurriedly pushed Tao Yong out through the window.
The young man had just jumped down when Zheng Rui pushed the door open and entered, looking exhausted.
When Su Yaoyao saw her mother, tears immediately streamed down her face in grievance.
“Mother! Why did you come so late?!”
After all, she was the flesh of her own body. Zheng Rui felt heartache and quickly took out some warm pastries and sweet porridge.
“Eat this and then come back with Mother. It’s too cold here you’ll catch a chill.”
While eating, Su Yaoyao mumbled, “But Father…”
“Don’t be afraid. He doesn’t want to bother with our matters right now. Besides, Mother will protect you.”
Su Lingqing watched for a moment, then jumped down and quietly left the ancestral hall.
Tao Yong, drunk, staggered toward the back gate. Su Lingqing followed behind him, yet the young man didn’t notice her at all.
Only after watching him leave did Su Lingqing disappear into the night. She didn’t make a move.
She had only wanted to see him once more. After all, in her previous life they had shared such a humiliating “fate.”
Perhaps it would be the last time she ever saw him.
The next morning, Su Huai left the house early. It seemed he hadn’t lied he really was extremely busy.
Zheng Rui sat upright with narrowed eyes as the concubines and the children born to them came to pay their respects.
Looking at the few people in front of her, she smiled faintly.
“Lingqing is the eldest legitimate daughter of the household and is ill. It’s fine if she doesn’t come these few days. But what about that Miss Zhou from yesterday? Why hasn’t she come either?”
After she finished speaking, Qiu Yun bowed and replied, “Madam, a maid has already been sent to Fangfei Courtyard to fetch her, but there hasn’t been any response.”
Just then, a young maid suddenly knelt before Zheng Rui with a tearful face.
“Madam, this servant followed Sister Qiuyun’s instructions and went to Fangfei Courtyard. But they said Miss Zhou doesn’t need to come pay her respects to you, Madam. They also said no one should be sent again in the future or they would report it to Lord Shangshu!”
Dong Xue immediately stepped forward.
“How outrageous! A woman who ran here to become a concubine dares to show off in front of Madam!”
The First Concubine remained expressionless. Su Liao stood to the side with his head lowered. Concubine Rong held a child in each hand, her eyes flashing with ridicule and mockery.
Zheng Rui’s face twitched slightly. She stood and walked to the young maid.
“She said she wouldn’t come and you really didn’t call her again? Are you brain-dead?”
The young maid usually only did rough work in the courtyard. How could she understand such complicated matters? She immediately turned pale with fright.
“Madam… Madam, I was wrong! Please spare me!”
Zheng Rui forced herself to calm down, her voice gentle yet cold.
“Forget it. Go receive twenty slaps as punishment. And you won’t eat today. Let this be a warning.”
The maid collapsed onto the ground. She had never imagined that the usually gentle Madam would punish her so severely.
But this wasn’t even her fault!
Before she could plead again, she was dragged away. Soon, cries of pain echoed from not far away.
Dong Xue stepped forward. “Madam, should we go to Fangfei Courtyard ourselves?”
Zheng Rui shook her head calmly.
“If you go, it will only make us lose face. She doesn’t want to come, does she? One day I’ll find a way to make her kneel before me of her own accord.”
After dismissing everyone, she returned to her room.
“Eighteen… nineteen… twenty!” The old servant counted while delivering each slap with force.
When it was over, the young maid’s face was swollen, her lips split and bleeding. She was nearly crying herself unconscious.
She had offended Zheng Rui at the wrong moment, and no one wanted to help her. Even those passing by pretended not to see her.
Until a pair of exquisitely embroidered shoes stopped in front of her.
Sniffling, the maid looked up almost instinctively.
Against the sunlight, an incomparably beautiful face appeared.
“You’re crying so sadly… Did you upset Mother?”
The soft voice flowed into her ears, making her forget to cry for a moment.
“E-Eldest Miss…”
Su Lingqing smiled and extended her hand.
“Come, tell me what happened. Perhaps I can plead on your behalf.”
…
Winter days were short, and before long it was nearly evening again.
Su Huai truly hadn’t returned all day.
In the morning, Su Lingqing had brought the young maid back with her. Not only had she applied medicine to her injuries, she also told her, “If you’re hungry, just come to Weirui Pavilion.”
The maid’s name was Chun’er. She knelt tearfully.
“Thank you, Eldest Miss!”
After that, Chun’er returned to Fusheng Courtyard and tried her best to make herself even less noticeable. It seemed everyone had already forgotten about her, and she remained safe until evening.
Jianjia couldn’t help asking, “Miss, why did you help someone from that courtyard?”
Su Lingqing replied lightly, “This Chun’er has a simple heart. She knows clearly who she likes and hates. It wasn’t her fault, yet she was punished like that. She looks timid on the outside, but inside she’s holding a lot of resentment.”
Jingzhe, usually straightforward, suddenly sounded clever.
“I know! Miss wants to win someone over there as a spy! That way, if anything happens in Fusheng Courtyard, we’ll know in advance!”
Su Lingqing smiled.
“Exactly. Why should only our courtyard be full of spies? I’m simply returning the favor.”
Jingzhe and Jianjia exchanged a glance, their eyes lighting up with delight.
Half an hour later, Su Huai finally returned.
After having a big argument with Zheng Rui the previous day, he naturally didn’t go to Fusheng Courtyard. Instead, he went straight to Fangfei Courtyard to see Zhou Jianyue.
When this news reached Fusheng Courtyard, the sound of things being smashed soon followed.
Su Yuan sat in his room reading with a frown.
His mother was already so old why was she still so unable to control her temper?
He got up to go out and tell them to quiet down. Suddenly, he noticed a sneaky figure slipping out of the small side gate.
There was no candlelight there, and the night was too dark to see clearly. Su Yuan raised an eyebrow and returned to his room.
It seemed his dear elder sister had already begun to act.
…
After a while, a figure appeared near Weirui Pavilion.
Tao Yong rubbed his hands together, shivering from the cold. Then he eagerly took out a small bottle of medicine and drank it.
It was an aphrodisiac powerful and fast-acting. If it weren’t for the plan to thoroughly enjoy the eldest young lady tonight, he wouldn’t have been willing to use it.
It was expensive!
Soon, a wave of heat and pleasure surged up from his lower abdomen like an electric current. Tao Yong became excited, his whole body burning with restless heat.
“Little beauty, your big brother is here!”
At this hour the servants were all slacking off somewhere, so he slipped inside and headed straight for Su Lingqing’s room.
When he found it, he saw the silhouette of a graceful figure reflected on the window, blowing out the candle.
Tao Yong’s eyes reddened. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and walked in.
Seeing Su Lingqing lying on the bed, he didn’t say a word he immediately lunged toward her!