Three generations of the Wei family had served as Loyal and Righteous Generals.
Wei Chenheng followed his father to the battlefield at fifteen. When he was seventeen, Old General Wei died in combat, and Wei Chenheng inherited every soldier his father left behind, fighting fiercely against enemies on the front lines.
By twenty-five, he had already achieved illustrious military merits.
Most men Wei Chenheng’s age already had multiple wives and concubines, with sons and daughters completing their households.
The Wei family originally intended to request an imperial marriage arrangement from the Emperor, but instead received a Courtesan Beauty. Old Madam Wei was so furious her face turned dark.
The trap set by Chancellor Ma was truly disgusting.
The maid led Ning Wanwan gracefully into the main hall, where she saw Old Madam Wei seated upright in the central position. Beside her was a young woman around her own age. The system informed her this was Wei Chenheng’s cousin, Gu Qingyi.
Judging by Gu Qingyi’s resentful glare, she looked ready to kill her.
Ning Wanwan’s heart sank: undoubtedly one of Wei Chenheng’s obsessive admirers.
She needed to be cautious.
A maid brought tea, and Ning Wanwan respectfully curtsied with humble deference, presenting the tea as greeting.
The Wei family relationships weren’t particularly complicated. Aside from cousin Gu Qingyi who had been raised in the Wei household since childhood, there was also Wei Chenheng’s second uncle’s family.
Second Uncle Wei had one wife, one concubine, one son, and one daughter – considered quite complete.
Now only Wei Chenheng remained unmarried.
Although Old Madam Wei looked down on Ning Wanwan, seeing her behave properly with good manners today, she reluctantly accepted the situation.
She was just a minor concubine after all. Low status was low status, but if she could produce an heir for the Wei family to redeem herself, that wouldn’t be bad either.
Old Madam Wei accepted the tea and said, “Our Wei family doesn’t have many rules. From now on, you only need to come pay respects at the beginning of each month.”
Ning Wanwan bowed slightly and said softly, “Proper etiquette shouldn’t be neglected.”
If one didn’t consider her background, she truly had the demeanor of a well-bred young lady.
“Very well, go pay your respects to Second Uncle and his family.”
“Yes!”
Ning Wanwan respectfully took the tea and knelt before Second Uncle Wei and his wife. “Greetings to Second Uncle and Second Aunt.”
Second Uncle Wei had already noticed Ning Wanwan’s exquisite beauty earlier, but seeing her up close like this – though she kept her head lowered – her subtle feminine fragrance stirred restless feelings within him.
“Ah, rise, rise.”
As Second Uncle Wei spoke and reached to help Ning Wanwan up, Second Aunt Wei beside him stopped him. Seeing how mesmerized Second Uncle Wei appeared, Second Aunt Wei grew angry, silently cursing: seductive brothel woman!
“You’re new to the Wei family. You mustn’t use those vulgar tricks like before to bring shame upon the Wei family, understand?”
“This humble concubine understands.”
“Furthermore, once a woman marries, she must follow the three obediences and four virtues. You must obey your husband in all matters, inside and outside the household, do you understand?”
“This humble concubine understands.”
Though Ning Wanwan appeared meek and submissive on the surface, inwardly she had already cursed Second Aunt Wei three hundred times over. This woman was deliberately humiliating her, making her kneel while holding the tea, endlessly lecturing from the Classic for Women to the three obediences and four virtues.
Who knew if Second Aunt Wei had talent for multi-level marketing – this scolding lecture went on for half an hour. Old Madam Wei also wanted to put her in her place, so she silently permitted Second Aunt Wei’s behavior.
Ning Wanwan’s hands holding the tea cup began trembling slightly, cold sweat beading on her forehead, her knees completely numb.
Although she noticed Ning Wanwan seemed uncomfortable, Second Aunt Wei had no intention of letting her off and began issuing commands: “Your tea-holding posture is incorrect. Lift it higher.”
Wanwan obediently raised her arm, lifting the teacup in her hand above her head.
Her arm grew sorer, and her legs grew number.
Just as Second Aunt Wei was about to launch into a lengthy reprimand, faint noises came from outside the hall, and Wei Chenheng strode majestically into the main room.
Wanwan’s heart fluttered, her hand trembled, and the cup fell, shattering on the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, Auntie, I didn’t mean to…”
Wei Chenheng had been about to pay his respects to his mother when he heard the noise. His gaze shifted to the main seat at the side, where he saw Wanwan kneeling on the ground, her small face pale and panicked. Her finger was cut as she tried to pick up the broken pieces of the cup.
She looked utterly pitiful.
He couldn’t help but recall how equally pitiful she had looked last night, his eyes instantly darkening.
The man quickly stepped forward. “What happened?”
Second Aunt Wei spoke first, playing the accuser: “Heng’er, you’ve come at the right time. Look at this concubine—she has no manners at all. Just serving tea, and she breaks the cup. How unlucky.”
As if he hadn’t heard Second Aunt Wei, Wei Chenheng walked up to Ning Wanwan. “Get up first.”
Wanwan looked up and saw a face of unparalleled handsomeness, his brow tightly furrowed as if displeased. Yet his long, slender fingers covered her delicate hand, trying to help her up.
The young girl bit her red lip tightly, a tear hanging precariously at the corner of her reddened eye. Her voice was as faint as a kitten’s whimper. “It hurts…”
She couldn’t stand up at all; her whole body was numb.
Wei Chenheng’s eyes darkened immediately. Although he knew it was unintentional, her small voice made him think of her adorable demeanor again.
…
He felt somewhat awkward.
Seeing her apparent pain, he scooped her up with his large hands, holding her horizontally in front of everyone. The delicate, soft girl felt as light as a feather in his arms.
Blushing, the girl lowered her head and whispered, “I can walk by myself.”
Knowing she was just making excuses, he asked directly, “Is your leg injured?”
The girl bit her lip, not daring to speak.
“Second Aunt, what exactly happened?”
His stern, handsome face took on a hint of murderous intent as he glared sharply at Second Aunt Wei.
Second Aunt Wei trembled all over, stammering and unable to speak.
He lowered his head to gaze at her, his tone instantly softening again. “How long have you been kneeling?”
The girl blinked her reddened eyes at Wei Chenheng and answered very honestly, “Auntie made me kneel holding the teacup for two hours. I don’t know what I did wrong to upset her. I wasn’t feeling well but didn’t dare tell her. Husband, please don’t blame Auntie. I know she means well.”
Upon hearing this, Second Aunt Wei’s face changed, and she gestured wildly as she scolded, “You’re lying! It was only half an hour!”
Terrified, the girl shrank into the man’s embrace, trembling as she said, “Auntie, I won’t dare again. Please don’t be angry…”
The man’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously. “Wanwan has only been in the household for a day, and she’s treated like this? Do you have no regard for me?”
Though he didn’t name anyone directly, his icy tone made Second Uncle and Second Aunt tremble with fear, too scared to utter a word.
Old Madam Wei had been watching coldly from the sidelines. Originally, tormenting Ning Wanwan was something she had tacitly approved of. Seeing her son actually defending this woman of ill repute so staunchly, she couldn’t help but stamp her walking stick in frustration.
“Heng’er, would you abandon the Wei family’s propriety for the sake of a mere concubine?”