“You treat me so well…” Zhao E rubbed her eyes and mumbled, “I must prepare a generous gift in return.”
Hearing this, Zhou Yu pressed his lips together and continued what he was doing without a word.
“Is it done?” Zhao E was so drowsy she could barely keep her eyes open.
“If you’re sleepy, just sleep first.” Zhou Yu swapped for a fresh long towel.
“I need to be on the bed,” Zhao E replied with her eyes closed.
Even with sedatives, she still couldn’t fall asleep like this.
This was a habit left from years of abuse—she had to burrow somewhere she felt safe, clutching the little soft blanket her mother had sewn with her own hands when she was young, before she could sleep.
Zhou Yu lifted her and placed her on the bed.
Zhao E hugged the worn, tattered little soft blanket and fell asleep with her back to him.
Zhou Yu then pulled over her left hand, carefully applied medicine, and only then wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes to sleep.
“Zhao E, get out here right now!”
Zhao E opened her eyes amid a roar. Glancing sideways, she saw Zhou Yu was no longer beside her. She pulled the thin blanket over her head.
That useless Jiang Huaifu—couldn’t he come a bit later?
So early in the morning, disturbing people’s sleep.
“Miss…”
Xiyu tentatively spoke by the bedside.
“Have Ling Feng shut him up first.” Zhao E sat up, still very drowsy.
“Yes.” Xiyu quickly waved her hand at the servant girls standing guard at the inner chamber door.
Soon, it quieted down outside.
“Shall Miss get up?” Xiyu asked cautiously.
“Mm.” Zhao E got out of bed with her hair in disarray.
“Miss is up!”
Xiyu called out toward the outside.
A line of servant girls filed in, each holding a black-lacquered gold-traced tray bearing various washing implements.
Xiyu and Xishi stepped forward to carefully attend to Zhao E’s dressing and washing.
The servant girl specializing in hair styling was already waiting with her head bowed by the dressing table.
Once washing was done, the small kitchen sent up breakfast.
Zhao E hadn’t slept enough. Her apricot eyes were half-lidded, her expression somewhat listless. She only ate half a bowl of bird’s nest and shredded chicken porridge.
Then she rose, leisurely rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, and only then left the inner chamber.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Jiang Huaifu with his mouth wide open, pointing at her and hopping mad, making “ah ah ah” sounds but unable to speak.
She looked at his comical appearance, momentarily puzzled.
Seeing her come out, Ling Feng raised her hand and with a “click,” shut Jiang Huaifu’s mouth.
Zhao E covered her lips and laughed. So Ling Feng had dislocated Jiang Huaifu’s jaw earlier—truly a convenient solution.
“Zhao E, you shameless slut!” Jiang Huaifu pointed at her and cursed furiously. “What were you doing with Jiang Cheng in the garden last night?”
“You already know, so why come ask me?” Zhao E sat down on the official’s hat chair, propped her feet on a small stool, and looked at him indifferently.
“Bitch! Shameless!” Jiang Huaifu stepped forward and with a sweep of his hand sent all the tea sets on the table crashing to the floor.
Zhao E didn’t dodge in the slightest, nor did she retort. There wasn’t another woman like her in the whole world!
Zhao E didn’t even blink.
Seeing Jiang Huaifu come close to her, Ling Feng wanted to step forward and pull him away.
Zhao E waved her hand, signaling her to retreat. She raised her apricot eyes, the corners of her lips slightly curved. “Jiang Huaifu, this isn’t my fault.”
Jiang Huaifu’s face was almost twisted, grinding his teeth. “Failing to observe wifely virtue, and it’s not your fault—should it be mine then?”
Zhao E rose, lifting her delicate, luminous face close to him, and said with a light laugh, “The land lies fallow, but there’s always someone who has his eye on it.”
“Slap!” Jiang Huaifu could no longer contain himself, casting aside all of Jiang Wang-shi’s admonitions, and raised his hand to strike her across the face.
He had agreed to let Jiang Cheng take his place, but only on the condition that Zhao E be drugged unconscious—not for them to collude in such a shameless affair!
The two of them acting like this—where did that leave him?
“Miss!”
Xiyu and the others rushed forward.
Ling Feng pulled Jiang Huaifu back.
A bright red handprint immediately bloomed on Zhao E’s fair, tender cheek, yet she seemed utterly oblivious, smiling nonchalantly, “He’s your brother, after all. Good fortune shouldn’t spill into another’s fields.”
Jiang Huaifu, eyes red with fury, lunged forward.
Zhao E waved a hand. “Show him out.”
Ling Feng dragged Jiang Huaifu away.
“Miss.” She returned moments later, kneeling before Zhao E to confess: “This servant failed to protect you properly. Please punish me.”
She hadn’t shielded her mistress, and had allowed her to be struck—that was a grave offense.
“Rise.” Zhao E waved it off. “It’s not your fault. I did it on purpose.”
Ling Feng looked up at her in shock.
“Miss, let this servant have the small kitchen boil some eggs to soothe the swelling…” Xishi said, already turning to leave.
“No need.” Zhao E’s slender, soft fingers brushed her stinging cheek and smiled. “If the marks fade now, wouldn’t I have been struck for nothing?”
“What does miss mean?”
Xishi exchanged a glance with Xiyu, neither understanding Zhao E’s intent.
“Spread word of Jiang Huaifu striking me to Jiang Cheng.” Zhao E stepped forward, walking out. “And say I’ve gone to the Lotus Pond.”
At the Lotus Pond, verdant lotus leaves stretched to meet the sky. The lotus blossoms had not yet fully withered, their lotus-root pink hues catching the eye, blooming here and there in graceful elegance.
In the five-cornered pavilion by the pond, a cool breeze drifted through—a fine spot to enjoy the view.
“Miss, he’s here.” Ling Feng reported in a low voice.
Zhao E raised a hand to cover the struck side of her face. “Step back a little.”
“Sister-in-law.” Jiang Cheng entered the pavilion and froze at the sight.
Zhao E leaned half against the railing, her apricot eyes dimmed, her features stunning yet fragile beyond measure. A gentle breeze stirred her skirts, as if she might at any moment ride the wind away like a celestial maiden—or shatter like a delicately crafted porcelain doll.
“Brother-in-law…” Zhao E turned her head, two clear tears rolling down at just the right moment. “Don’t come closer, lest others spread more false rumors…”
“Sister-in-law…” Jiang Cheng swallowed hard, extending both hands, his tone unconsciously softening. “Don’t do anything foolish.”
“I have no face left to live in this world…” Zhao E covered her face with her hands, sobbing. “Last night I merely exchanged a few words with you, and your brother, having heard some nonsense from who knows where, beat me like this…”
As she spoke, she slowly lowered the hand shielding her cheek.
“Damn it!” Jiang Cheng saw the five distinct finger marks on her face and slammed his fist against the pavilion pillar.
Zhao E merely continued to sob.
Jiang Cheng tried to console her: “My brother suffers from that illness, so it’s only natural he lets his mind run wild. Don’t take it to heart, sister-in-law.”
As he spoke, his eyes roamed over Zhao E’s form. This sister-in-law was truly a temptress—her waist looked slender, yet certain places were generously full.
Since Jiang Huaifu was unfit to enjoy her, he might as well take over.
“When did I ever complain about him?” Zhao E wept beautifully, her expression full of sorrow. “It’s because I’m useless. I’ve been married into this household for so long, yet I haven’t been able to win anyone’s favor. Not only does your elder brother not protect me, but he treats me like this…”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again.
Jiang Cheng raised his hand, intending to wipe her tears.
Zhao E dodged away. “Brother-in-law, you’d better keep your distance from me, lest you get dragged into this too…”
“If sister-in-law trusts me, I will protect you from now on.” Jiang Cheng’s face was full of sincerity, as if he were about to pound his chest to make a vow.
“You?” Zhao E looked at him through her tearful eyes.