Chen Wanrou arrived at Shanchun Courtyard seething with anger.
To her surprise, she couldn’t even get through the gate.
Standing outside, Chen Wanrou spoke with unjustified confidence: “Wen Lingyi, what exactly do you mean by this? I still consider you a sister, yet you treat me like a servant, striking me as you please?”
The maid guarding the gate casually replied, “My young lady never hits or scolds servants.”
Chen Wanrou: “…”
She shot Hua’er a glance, and Hua’er immediately stepped forward to slap the gatekeeper. “You insolent wretch! How dare you speak so casually to the Second Young Lady… Ah—”
Before Hua’er’s palm could land, the gatekeeper kicked her hard.
“You… you… you…” Chen Wanrou was so furious she wished she could do it herself.
The maid, Chun Tao, cracked melon seeds and looked at her disdainfully. “Miss Chen, all the maids in our Shanchun Courtyard come from the Prime Minister’s Manor.”
The implication was clear: even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. You have no right to touch me.
Chen Wanrou breathed heavily. “I am the daughter of the Marquisate! How dare a mere servant like you defy me?”
Chun Tao spat out a seed shell and reminded her bluntly, “A concubine-born daughter of the Marquisate, you mean.”
Chen Wanrou’s eyes reddened with rage. Just as she was about to take matters into her own hands, an unfamiliar maid hurried over.
Seeing the scene before her, the maid was clearly taken aback for a moment.
Her voice trembled slightly. “Chun… Chun Tao, sister, could you let me see the Young Mistress?”
Chun Tao popped another melon seed into her mouth. “Is it about the Eighteenth Concubine?”
The unfamiliar maid was the one brought by the Eighteenth Concubine, who had just been taken into the household a few days earlier.
The maid first nodded, then quickly shook her head. Summoning her courage, she leaned close to Chun Tao’s ear and whispered something.
Chen Wanrou felt increasingly humiliated. Even a maid from some insignificant Eighteenth Concubine dared to look down on her.
Hua’er shared her indignation.
If they couldn’t defeat that gatekeeper named Chun Tao, could they not even handle someone from the Eighteenth Concubine’s entourage?
Unexpectedly, after hearing the maid’s words, Chun Tao was so shocked that the melon seeds in her mouth fell to the ground. She immediately let the maid into the courtyard.
Hua’er lunged at thin air and nearly stumbled again.
Chun Tao swiftly dodged, curling her lip in disdain. “And you call yourself a first-class senior maid? Look at what you’re wearing—it’s not even as good as mine, a mere gatekeeper. It must be hard for you to be so loyal.”
Indeed, all expenses for Shanchun Courtyard were covered by Wen Lingyi herself.
Prime Minister Wen was a notorious corrupt official, and his only daughter’s dowry was naturally lavish.
It rivaled even that of a princess from the imperial family.
This was a special favor Prime Minister Wen had personally requested from the Emperor.
It was something the declining Dingyuan Marquisate could never compare to.
“This is sheer rebellion! Guards! Are you all dead?”
Chen Wanrou, enraged, commanded the passing maids and servants in the manor: “Drag this insolent servant away and beat her to death!”
To her surprise, the lowly servants she looked down upon merely exchanged glances before going about their business as usual.
No one paid her any heed at all.
Chen Wanrou had always known her status in the Marquisate was low, but never before had she realized so clearly that, aside from the title of “Young Lady of Dingyuan Marquisate,” she was even less respected than the lowliest servant.
The evening breeze blew gently, dispelling the stifling heat of the day.
Chen Wanrou felt a chill creeping up from the soles of her feet.
She thought of her past self, who, with the backing of her close friend, the Prime Minister’s daughter, had even earned gentler treatment from her own legal mother.
Let alone the servants in the manor.
Wen Lingyi would occasionally let slip a few things from between her fingers. Living comfortably herself, she was also generous in rewarding these servants.
When did it start to change?
It seemed everything began after that day at the Chunri Banquet, when Wen Lingyi drank the cup of wine she personally handed over…
Unwillingness, resentment, and loathing clashed within Chen Wanrou's heart.
Seeing the figure slowly emerging from the courtyard, she gritted her teeth and still put on a pitiful expression.
"Lingyi, it was my loose tongue. You're so magnanimous, won't you please stop being angry with me? Tomorrow's Gongyan is the best opportunity I can seize. Take me with you."
Wen Lingyi didn't even glance at her, walking away with a crowd of servants.
Chen Wanrou wanted to chase after her, but Qingwu stopped her: "Miss Chen, there should be an attitude when admitting mistakes. You know my young lady's temper. If you can't appease her today, there will be no chance tomorrow."
"What does she mean?" Chen Wanrou stared blankly at Qingwu's retreating figure.
Chun Tao sneered: "Kneel and admit your mistake. Kneel right here until the young lady's anger subsides."
Wen Lingyi was not one to meddle in others' affairs.
After marrying into the Dingyuan Marquisate, she grew even more indifferent.
When the little maid of the eighteenth concubine told her what had happened in the courtyard,
Wen Lingyi frowned and said, "If he's impotent, go find a doctor. Why come to me?"
But somehow, the image of Wei Zheng dragging Chen Wenli away by the leg that night suddenly flashed through her mind.
She didn't go directly to the eighteenth concubine's place. Instead, she first sought out the Old Madam and truthfully reported everything.
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam 'sprang' to her feet, but her body swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing.
She shook off Mama Sun, who was supporting her, glared fiercely at Wen Lingyi, and the accusatory words almost burst out.
Taking a deep breath, the Old Madam first ordered someone to fetch the mansion's physician, then took Wen Lingyi with her to the eighteenth concubine's courtyard.
Chen Wenli was in a frenzy. The usually refined and scholarly man had smashed the already sparse furnishings in the room to pieces.
The eighteenth concubine knelt in the courtyard, weeping, her clothes disheveled, with deep slap marks on her face.
Seeing Wen Lingyi, she seemed to have found a savior: "Madam, save me! The Marquis has gone mad!"
The eighteenth concubine hadn't seen the Old Madam before, and her attention was entirely on Wen Lingyi. She cried loudly as she recounted the events of the past few days.
Originally, she had joyfully accepted her identity as the eighteenth concubine of the Marquisate.
Even though she had only seen Chen Wenli once, she was captivated by his gentle and refined appearance. Moreover, being a courtesan herself, she was willing even if she were the eighty-eighth concubine, as long as someone was willing to redeem her.
Who would have thought that after being carried into the Dingyuan Marquisate, Chen Wenli never once stepped into her room.
It had been seven days already.
The eighteenth concubine grew anxious and used some means to lure Chen Wenli to her courtyard.
Chen Wenli did come.
But he completely changed from his gentle demeanor during their first meeting, pouncing on the eighteenth concubine like a starving wolf, urgently pushing her onto the bed.
The room was filled with incense that could ignite a man's desire.
Having gotten her wish, the eighteenth concubine allowed Chen Wenli to have his way.
Who knew that at the critical moment, something went wrong…
Chen Wenli, for some unknown reason, went mad and suddenly choked the eighteenth concubine.
Fortunately, Qu'er, who was serving at the door, was clever and immediately went to find Wen Lingyi…
"You dare to drug and bewitch my son?!"
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam could no longer restrain herself. Disregarding all decorum, she lifted her foot and kicked out.
The eighteenth concubine was kicked to the ground, only then realizing the identity of this old woman.
She was terrified, unable to understand why the madam had invited Old Madam over as well—was it to take her life?
Sure enough, Old Madam immediately demanded her execution.
Yet a cool, detached voice drifted softly: "It's merely incense. Even if it were medicine, it wouldn't be the first time the marquis has taken it. Why must Mother-in-law be so angry?"