Xiao Chengyan ultimately couldn’t bear it, gently stroking her back: “Don’t worry! Your position in the Wangye’s residence will never change.”
Zi Sangli leaned against his chest, weeping softly.
Only as long as he remained guilty would her position remain secure.
Seeing the pallor on her delicate face, Xiao Chengyan couldn’t help but recall Lin Nong’s fragile appearance. She had parents and siblings caring for her in her maternal home, but now in the Wangye’s residence, she could only endure grievances alone.
It was hard on her being so sensible.
He really should show her more respect, otherwise he feared the servants in the residence might look down on her!
…
As dusk fell.
After handling official duties, Xiao Chengyan went to Lin Nong’s Changning Hall.
Passing through the Moon Gate, he saw Lin Nong leaning lightly against the windowsill in a daze. Dressed in pale blue garments, her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulders. A faint melancholy and sorrow lingered between her brows, making her appear completely devoid of vitality.
When he reached the tearoom door, the maid Yi Ran had just brought in the medicine bowl.
“Master, it’s time for your medicine.”
As Lin Nong reached for it, the movement tugged at the injury on her wrist, causing her to frown and softly gasp.
“So painful!”
Her voice was soft and gentle.
It wasn’t a complaint, but more like coquettish whining.
The maid Yi Ran quickly supported her wrist: “Did you bump your injured wrist? Although the Imperial Physician said it’s not serious, you still need to rest it carefully. Otherwise, even a little prolonged writing or painting will cause soreness later. Wouldn’t all your effort in mastering such excellent calligraphy and painting be wasted!”
Lin Nong’s brows furrowed slightly: “I worked hard to learn Shufa Danqing before, thinking I could write a line or paint a stroke while traveling with my sisters amidst beautiful mountain scenery. Now trapped in this square courtyard, writing is wrong, painting is wrong, even taking an extra step is wrong.”
“What’s the point anymore!”
Outside the door, Xiao Chengyan’s gaze penetrated the slightly ajar door, resting on the woman’s exquisitely beautiful face.
Though her words were spoken softly, her damp eyelashes trembled slightly – clearly she was distressed.
She must actually resent him!
The marriage wasn’t something she forced, yet all the consequences were dumped on this delicate young woman, leaving her abandoned in this place without care or concern!
Yi Ran had served her master since childhood. Having accompanied her mistress through interactions with noble families over the years, she could say her mistress was the finest woman she had ever seen.
But heaven was unfair, making her mistress marry such a husband!
Seeing her mistress distressed, her heart ached terribly: “Master…”
Lin Nong took a deep breath and smiled faintly: “Enough of this. Have the kitchen serve the meal.”
Yi Ran hesitated before saying: “Should we invite Wangye to dine together? Even if you can’t be proper husband and wife, there should still be some interaction. Otherwise, over time the servants in the residence will surely bully you. Just look at today!”
“There’s no evidence for what happened. Wangye said he would investigate, yet Wangfei’s people came to cause trouble, putting medicine in our small kitchen to prevent you from eating, and even…”
“Yi Ran!” Lin Nong interrupted her, her tone turning sharp: “Swallow those words you shouldn’t say!”
Hearing this, Xiao Chengyan sighed inwardly.
A Li had always been lively and generous, yet just one concubine had made her so sharp-tongued. If this reached the palace, who knew how angry it would make the Empress Dowager!
But he ultimately couldn’t bear to blame her – her behavior was because she cared about him.
As for Lin Nong, she could only endure the injustice.
But he would do his best to give her dignity and prevent others from humiliating her.
Yi Ran felt aggrieved on her mistress’s behalf: “But Mistress…”
Lin Nong grasped her hand: “I know you mean well for me, but Wangye is deeply devoted to Wangfei. If these words accidentally reach Wangye’s ears, he’ll only think we’re trying to sow discord!”
“Wangye agreed to stay here tonight to put on a show for the palace spies. If I were to invite Wangye to dine, in his eyes it would again seem like I have ulterior motives. Who knows how many misunderstandings that would lead to later.”
Yi Ran lowered her head: “This servant understands. I just feel heartache for you, Mistress.”
Lin Nong smiled faintly with melancholy: “Without trust, everything becomes a mistake! Since I have no intention to compete, why should I seek attention? It’s enough to live quietly.”
Yi Ran knelt by her knees, shedding tears: “Heaven is truly unfair – you’re clearly so wonderful!”
Lin Nong patted her head: “Silly girl, there are many good people in this world, Wangye cannot possibly know them all. Alright, go tell the kitchen to add two more place settings. I specifically ordered sweet and sour dishes today – the kind you like. Keep me company for the meal!”
Yi Ran wiped her tears, curtsied and left.
Upon opening the door, she saw Xiao Chengyan standing outside and panicked: “Wangye!”
Lin Nong started, quickly coming forward to bow: “Greetings to Wangye. Wangye… when did you arrive?”
Xiao Chengyan watched the nervous mistress and maid but didn’t expose them.
He smiled and said: “Just arrived. I finished official business rather late and thought I’d come to your place for dinner.”
Lin Nong certainly knew he had arrived earlier.
This was all an act put on for his benefit, establishing her persona in front of him!
She breathed a slight sigh of relief, dismissed Yi Ran, then looked at the man in surprise: “Wangye wishes to dine here?”
Xiao Chengyan: “Unwelcome?”
Lin Nong: “…” This progress was faster than anticipated?
The meal was served.
The two sat facing each other.
Lin Nong kept her head down while eating, silent and not raising her eyes to look at him.
Xiao Chengyan was experiencing being ignored for the first time and felt somewhat displeased.
They finished eating quietly.
He set down his chopsticks.
After each had bathed and changed clothes, it was already quite late.
They lay down on the bed one after another.
Only a single bean-oil lamp remained lit in the room, its faint light casting shadows within the bed curtains like a wave of heat slowly warming the enclosed space.
Xiao Chengyan unconsciously felt his mouth going dry.
Listening to the man’s heated breathing, Lin Nong felt nothing except hunger.
She counted sheep to hypnotize herself.
Drifted off to sleep hazily.
Soon woke up from hunger.
Although Great Zhou wasn’t like neighboring Chu Kingdom that brainwashed women into treating their husbands as heaven, the basic principle was still male superiority. Even during meals, when the man put down his chopsticks, the woman had to immediately stop eating.
Moreover, palace dietary rules in Great Zhou were strict, fearing that princes would think of lust when well-fed and warm.
Often when only seventy percent full, the attending eunuchs would make them stop.
Habit becomes second nature.
Lin Nong actually didn’t have a large appetite, but she ate slowly. The result was that when Xiao Chengyan finished his meal, she had barely eaten anything.
Now in the middle of the night, her stomach was growling.
In the dim light, she heard Xiao Chengyan’s soft chuckle.
“Hungry?”
Lin Nong froze.
Why wasn’t he asleep yet?
She spoke in a small, pitiful voice: “Your consort didn’t eat enough.”
She was so hungry it made her nauseous.
She let out a soft dry heave.
Xiao Chengyan remembered what the maid had said – A Li had someone put medicine in her small kitchen. She had probably been hungry all day!
He sat up, conveniently helping her up as well.
With each breath, he caught her faint, elegant fragrance.
His throat felt somewhat dry, and he gave a light cough, forcing himself to refocus.