From beginning to end, Xie Wanning didn’t even glance at Xie Wanrou, as if she were invisible. At this moment, she and Xiao
Chengli
went to pay their respects to Madam Xiao, but Xie Wanrou, due to her status, couldn’t go, making her earlier boasting a joke.
Xie Wanrou twisted the handkerchief in her hands tightly. They were both concubine’s daughters, so why was she the mistress?
That bitch dared to steal her thunder; one day she’d make her pay a thousandfold. After Xie Wanning and Xiao Chengli arrived at Madam Xiao’s room, Xiao Chengli was scolded and even ordered someone to slap Xie Wanrou to teach her a lesson.
Xiao Chengli pleaded several times before finally calming Madam Xiao down.
Xie Wanning was glared at by Madam Xiao, who was full of disappointment.
Xie Wanning pretended to be wronged, lowering her head obediently to the side, ignoring the cawing of crows, and not taking any responsibility for herself.
When they came out of Madam Xiao’s room, Xiao Chengli’s face was very unpleasant.
Xie Wanning followed him all the way, and only spoke softly as he prepared to go to the study, “Husband, I know that Consort Rou is aggrieved about her status and unwilli ng to be a concubine.
Actually, I don’t care what she calls me. But there are many people in the inner quarters, and it’s not a big deal if only my mother-in-law’s people heard it today.
But if others hear it, they will definitely say that our household rules are not strict. My mother-in-law is counting on you to take the imperial examination this autumn. If rumors spread that you favor your concubine over your wife and have no moral character, that would be terrible.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengli’s expression suddenly changed.
His mother had already warned him several times that he must participate in the imperial examination this autumn, and those threats were still ringing in his ears.
If anyone outside said these things about him, his mother would definitely not hold back.
Seeing Xiao Chengli’s expression soften, Xie Wanning said again, “Husband, I’ve prepared the list you took yesterday. I’ll have the maid deliver it to Consort Rou tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Xiao Chengli feigned arrogance and slowly uttered, “You’re so thoughtful.”
“Consort Rou is currently pregnant with the Xiao family’s child, and as the mistress of the house, it’s my duty to
take care of her,” Xie Wanning said, pausing before smiling and adding, “But I would appreciate it if you could do me a favor and pretend you don’t know anything about this, so that Consort Rou will understand my feelings.”
“Alright,”
Xiao Chengli nodded, then added somewhat awkwardly, “I’ll explain today’s events to her and tell her to use respectful terms from now on.”
Xie Wanning smiled sweetly, “Then I’ll trouble you to explain to Consort Rou, husband.”
This statement didn’t seem like much, but the more Xiao Chengli thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
What was there for him to explain to Xie Wanrou?
She was his concubine, and should have listened to him and treated him as her heaven.
Not long after Xie Wanning returned to her courtyard, Chunhuan went out and didn’t return until almost afternoon.
“Miss, look quickly, is this what you wanted me to buy?” Chunhuan brought out the item as soon as she entered the room.
Xie Wanning took it from her and asked again, “Did you buy it from the person I mentioned?”
Chunhuan nodded emphatically, “It was that old man. His location is very hard to find, and even when I did find him, he wouldn’t sell. I had to use my trump card, just as you told me, to get it.” The old
man had no other hobbies but loved eating chicken. Because of his eccentric behavior, no one took him seriously, but he was a genuine miracle doctor.
This autumn, there would be a plague, and the old man would perform a great service. In her previous life, when the emperor summoned him to reward him, he refused gold and silver, only asking for a royal kiln-roasted chicken.
Fortunately, Chunhuan knew how to make drunken chicken, and her skill was unparalleled.
“I’ve found out what happened in the kitchen. Just do as I say,”
Xie Wanning said. Chunhuan nodded heavily. “Okay, I’ll go right away.”
Just as Chunhuan was about to leave, Xie Wanning said again, “Call Hongye in.”
Chunhuan nodded, and soon after she left, Hongye pushed the door open and came in.
Xie Wanning looked up when she heard the noise and told her to close the door.
“Young Madam, did you call me?”
Xie Wanning looked at her and said, “Hongye, there’s something I want you to do.”
Hongye said, “Young Madam, please just tell me what you need.”
Xie Wanning beckoned to her, signaling her to come closer, and then whispered her purpose.
After speaking, seeing the surprise on Hongye’s face, Xie Wanning looked at her and asked, “Hongye, you don’t want to do it?”
Hongye quickly shook her head. “Whatever Young Madam says, I’ll do.”
It was about the Young Madam scheming against her mistress and asking her to help keep watch. If her mistress found out, she didn’t know what she would think. That
evening
, a bowl of soup laced with medicine was placed in front of Xiao Chengyan.
Xiao Chengyan glanced at it intently, then drank it all in one gulp.
Shadow stood to the side, his face slightly stiff. “Master, this soup is poisoned. What if the young mistress really intends to harm you…?”
Xiao Chengyan raised his hand, interrupting Shadow. “I know Old Jiang’s dosage. It’s alright.”
Shadow didn’t try to persuade him further and turned to leave.
That night, Xie Wanning, calculating the time when the medicine would take effect, changed her clothes and went out of the courtyard. Under the cover of Hongye, she entered Xiao Chengyan’s room.
The candles inside were already extinguished.
Shadow was standing on the roof when Xie Wanning sneaked in.
Inside, Xiao Chengyan lay on the bed, clearly sensing someone enter the room, followed by a rustling sound.
Before he could see clearly, everything suddenly went black.
At this moment, Xie Wanning gently patted his face, her voice tinged with worry, “He shouldn’t wake up, right?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Chengyan’s breath hitched.
He still didn’t know what Xie Wanning was going to do, so he tried his best to remain still, pretending to be asleep.
But then, a soft object suddenly pressed against his chest, causing all the blood in his body to rush to his head, almost causing him to lose control.
…
Half an hour later, the shadow that had been standing on the roof jumped down and walked towards Hongye at the corner.
“You only said you were going to drug the master, but you didn’t say that the young mistress came to see the master…”
In the darkness, the shadow’s face was almost blending into the night, and Hongye couldn’t see his expression at all.
She hadn’t heard any movement inside the house and didn’t know what the young mistress was doing inside. Hearing the shadow’s half-finished sentence, she felt strange and asked, “What does the young mistress want with the master?”
Shadow: “…”
“You really don’t know?”
Hongye shook her head, then her expression hardened. “Could it be that you want to harm the master?”
Saying this, she was about to go inside to check, but the shadow grabbed her arm.
“Don’t go.”
“Why?”
Hearing Hongye’s innocent tone, Shadow sighed. “What can a man and a woman do alone in a room in the dead of night?”
Hongye’s eyes widened at this.
Could it really be what she imagined?
Shadow released her hand and whispered, “Well, whatever the young mistress’s purpose, the master has gotten what she wanted tonight.”
Hongye thought for a moment, then said, “Then from now on… the young mistress is also a master, right?”
Shadow paused, then nodded. “Yes.”
From now on, there will be two masters, but she still has to keep it a secret from one of them. She has to help her while also concealing her own tracks.
This job doesn’t seem easy.