Old Madam raised her hand as if to strike him, chiding, “You child, always so adept at reading others’ minds. Since you knew, why didn’t you take her in? If you could accept that girl, why can’t you accept Táng Lí?”
Xie Jinglan understood Old Madam’s temperament well. If he refused outright, it would only make her dislike Wen Ning. So, he simply shifted all the blame onto himself.
“To be honest with you, Grandmother, that day I allowed Táng Lí into my room, I was originally thinking of following your wishes. It’s just… Táng Lí is a house-born servant, having grown up in the manor since childhood. Knowing her background so well, she feels like a younger sister to me, and I truly… find it difficult to harbor any other thoughts. Because of this, I even… developed that deficiency ailment. Fortunately, Wen Ning knows how to prepare medicinal cuisine, and I gradually recovered.”
“So that’s how it was! I’m touched by your honesty, which makes me seem inconsiderate,” Old Madam sighed softly. “Then let it be. Táng Lí will stay by my side to serve. In the future, I’ll find her a steady and reliable match. That should be worthy of her late father.
However, I must say one more thing, Grandson. I know you like that maid, but she is, after all, a married woman. Enjoy the novelty while it lasts, but do not lose your sense of propriety because of her.”
Xie Jinglan’s words caught in his throat, but he still bowed his head slightly. “I’ve troubled you, Grandmother.”
Old Madam twirled her prayer beads and spoke helplessly, “I know that a few days ago, you ordered the steward to investigate the kitchen’s accounts, targeting Táng Zhu. Since Táng Lí has been wronged in the matter of becoming a bedchamber maid, let’s spare Táng Zhu this time.”
Xie Jinglan hadn’t expected that this matter would give Táng Zhu a loophole. He wanted to persuade Old Madam further. “Grandmother, these are two separate matters. Over the years, Táng Zhu has relied on past favors to act recklessly in the manor. Besides embezzling silver, he often harasses maids and bullies servants. The steward even caught him using procurement as an excuse to secretly lend usury loans outside. If we don’t deal with him soon, and a major disaster occurs later, won’t Hou Manor have to bear the responsibility for him?”
Old Madam slowly wrapped the prayer beads around her wrist and spoke earnestly, “Before your father passed away, he specifically instructed us to treat the Táng family well. Over the years, I haven’t been completely unaware of Táng Zhu’s actions, but I always felt we couldn’t go against your father’s dying wish. After all, it was a life-saving favor—how could a few pieces of silver ever repay it? However, this time I’ve already warned Granny Li to give Táng Zhu one last chance. If he still refuses to repent, then we’ll have no choice but to deal with him according to the estate regulations!”
Seeing that Old Madam had made up her mind, Xie Jinglan said nothing more.
…
In Tingsong Courtyard, Wen Ning was having her small hand held by a woman around fifty years old, who kept looking her up and down. She introduced herself as the Marquis’s wet nurse, surnamed Xue. Because she had some family matters to attend to a few days ago, the Marquis allowed her to stay longer in her hometown, and she had only just returned today.
“Oh my, when did the Marquis take in such a jade-like beauty descended from the celestial palace? In all my years, I’ve never seen someone so exquisite.”
Wen Ning felt a bit embarrassed under the scrutiny, her jasmine-like face flushing with a sweet, rosy hue. “Nanny, you must be starving after your journey. Let me prepare some food for you.”
“How could I let you do such rough work?” Nanny Xue said, pulling a few pieces of pine nut candy from her pocket and placing them in Wen Ning’s hand. “A fairy-like girl like you should be coaxed with sweet treats.”
The two hit it off immediately, like old friends reunited after many years apart, and soon fell into easy conversation.
Nanny Xue had just stepped through the manor gates that day when she overheard a few gossipy maidservants chattering away.
“The Marquis was so bewitched by that vixen that he even drove Miss Táng Lí out of Tingsong Courtyard. It must be because that vixen has been married before—she must be skilled at pleasing a man.”
“That’s right. I heard her first husband died before the first night was even over. Could it be she… pleased him to death?”
The maidservants exchanged glances at this and burst into giggles.
“She’ll only be a novelty for a few days. Once the Marquis tires of her and she falls back into Granny Li’s hands, we’ll see how miserably she ends up!”
Nanny Xue rushed forward in quick strides. “You insolent girls! How dare you gossip about the affairs of the Marquis’s courtyard? Have you grown tired of living? Believe me, I’ll have your tongues torn out first!”
Seeing it was Nanny Xue, the maidservants trembled and begged for mercy. “Spare us, Nanny, spare us! We’ll never gossip again…”
Nanny Xue had always despised Granny Li’s vile demeanor, and she found Granny Li’s two children equally repulsive. Hearing that Táng Lí had suffered a setback in Tingsong Courtyard gave her a certain satisfaction.
She had watched the Marquis grow up since he was a child. He was cold by nature and had never been seen to spare a second glance for any woman, let alone show interest in one.
Yet now, he had kept a previously married maidservant in Tingsong Courtyard.
If being married before made one deserving of scorn, Nanny Xue would be the first to disagree.
She herself had been married twice—her first husband had also passed away not long after their wedding. The gossip and the bitterness that came with it were something only those who had experienced it could truly understand.
Still, the Marquis was different after all. Even if she were just a bedchamber maid, she ought to be a house-born servant.
Nanny Xue was determined to see for herself what kind of celestial beauty could have tempted her Marquis to descend from his lofty perch.
She entered Tingsong Courtyard, set down her bundle, and headed straight for the study. By chance, her eyes fell upon a roll of painting silk on the Marquis’s desk, loosely unfurled for about half a foot.
Seeing this, Nanny Xue stepped forward to put it away for the Marquis. But before she could secure her grip, the loosely rolled silk suddenly rustled open with a whoosh.
When she saw the beauty in the painting, she gasped, “Heavens above, earth and bodhisattvas! This… this… Marquis, he… he…”
Once she regained her composure, Nanny Xue buried her face in her arm, shoulders shaking as she stifled her laughter.
Was this still the same ascetic, woman-averse Marquis?
Fearing someone else might see it, she quickly rolled up the painting silk and tucked it further back on the Marquis’s desk.
Only when she met Wen Ning did she understand—no wonder the Marquis was fond of her. Even she herself felt her heart soften at the sight.
…
Qing Feng was sitting on a stone stool at his post, a thick padded cushion beneath him and a bowl of beef noodles placed on a small stool in front of him.
Both the cushion and the beef noodles had been brought by Wen Ning. Feeling guilty for having caused Qing Feng to receive a caning, she had made him a bowl of noodles, hoping it would help him recover faster.
Steaming hot noodles were topped with thick slices of beef and garnished with green scallions, accompanied by a small side dish of pickled radish.
Qing Feng picked up a piece of beef and put it in his mouth. The rich aroma of the meat and the hearty broth seemed to ease the pain in his backside somewhat.
Just as he was about to swallow, he suddenly heard the Marquis’s low voice ask, “Did Wen Ning make this?”
Qing Feng looked up to see Xie Jinglan gazing down at him from above, and at the bowl of noodles as well.
Why had the Marquis returned so quickly!
Qing Feng froze in place, immediately feeling that he was about to be punished with the rod again.
But this bowl of noodles had cost him ten strokes of the rod to earn. His throat tightened, and now he could neither swallow nor spit it out—even the beef in his mouth lost its flavor.
"Eat! Finish it and get back to bed for two days!"
Bed for two days?
His master! His lord!
Qing Feng could hardly believe it. Not only had his master spared him, but he had also granted him an additional two days of rest. Qing Feng suddenly felt blessed once more.
After speaking, Xie Jinglan hurriedly rushed toward the study. He had forgotten to put away that painting silk before leaving—what if Wen Ning saw it…
What would she think? Would she assume he was like Tang Zhu, a lecherous and vulgar man!