Wan Tang’s heart pounded like thunder. She had anticipated this very scene and naturally thought of ways to deal with it.
The best strategy was to feign compliance and stabilize Xiao Yujue first.
But when she truly found herself in the situation, she realized that even forcing a smile for him was incredibly difficult.
She didn’t dare turn around to face Xiao Yujue and whispered, “Daye, this servant is afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” Xiao Yujue, hearing her obedient and sensible tone, excitedly pressed her against the door from behind.
Wan Tang felt so disgusted that her entire body trembled, her lowered voice quivering: “This servant is afraid that Eldest Mistress might suddenly return. If she discovers Daye and this servant like this, she… she will punish this servant.”
She was genuinely afraid—afraid that she would be forcibly taken by Xiao Yujue before she could change her fate.
Hearing her choked sobs, Xiao Yujue felt a pang of pity and gently but forcibly turned her around to face him.
Tears as large as beans slid from the corners of her eyes. Her captivating, fox-like eyes were enchanting and alluring, making Xiao Yujue swallow hard.
He raised his hand to wipe her tears, but Wan Tang pretended to be shy and lowered her head to dodge: “Daye…”
The plea in her tone was both humble and helpless, completely bewitching Xiao Yujue and making his heart itch. “You’ll be Master’s woman sooner or later. It’s a good thing for Master to cherish you early. Once you follow Master, no one in Jinxiu Garden will dare bully you again.”
He whispered seductively, his hands reaching shamelessly toward her waist.
In her desperation, Wan Tang ducked under Xiao Yujue’s arm and escaped. With nowhere else to flee, she could only run toward the window. Xiao Yujue, quick as lightning, grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the daybed.
Wan Tang’s strength was no match for his, and she watched helplessly as she was pushed onto the daybed.
She pushed hard against Xiao Yujue, who was leaning over her, and cried out, “Daye, Eldest Mistress will be angry.”
“She wouldn’t dare. Master will protect you from now on, not letting her scold you even half a word…” Xiao Yujue eagerly leaned in to kiss her.
Wan Tang turned her head away, but the more she resisted, the stronger Xiao Yujue’s desire to conquer her grew.
Just then, Ziyan’s voice faintly came from outside: “Huh? Why is the door closed in broad daylight?”
Wan Tang urgently said, “Daye, Eldest Mistress is back.”
Xiao Yujue, who hadn’t managed to kiss her yet and was burning with desire, didn’t notice the sounds outside and showed no intention of stopping.
Wan Tang shed two lines of tears in despair: It’s over.
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Song Zhiyun and her maid hurriedly barged in, just in time to see Xiao Yujue leaning down to kiss Wan Tang.
“Master, what are you doing?” Song Zhiyun walked over, furious.
Xiao Yujue snapped out of his daze and hurriedly climbed off Wan Tang.
He didn’t dare look at Song Zhiyun, lowering his head as he straightened his robe and lied: “Wan Tang was going to help me massage my knees but accidentally tripped. We weren’t doing anything. Don’t misunderstand.”
Song Zhiyun trembled with anger. Such a clumsy excuse—did he think she was a fool?
Upon hearing Xiao Yujue’s words, Wan Tang got up and skillfully knelt on the floor.
Ziyan glanced at Song Zhiyun’s expression, walked over, and slapped Wan Tang across the face. “No wonder you dawdled and didn’t come back today. You took advantage of Eldest Mistress returning to Jingyang Marquisate to seduce Daye, didn’t you? You wretched girl!”
Wan Tang’s face burned with pain, immediately showing the imprint of the slap.
She didn’t dare cover it, shaking her head repeatedly. “No! Eldest Mistress, please investigate! This servant didn’t!”
Song Zhiyun sneered and gave Ziyan a meaningful look.
There must be one! How could we let the maids know that Xiao Yujue was lusting after her? If word got out, he would be reprimanded by the Marquis again!
“Still saying there isn’t! The room is so flat, how could you trip while walking? And you even dragged Daye onto the couch with you?” Ziyan raised her other hand and slapped Wan Tang again.
Xiao Yujue’s heart ached, his eyes twitching, but in the end, he did not speak up in her defense.
Wan Tang’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain as she looked up at Xiao Yujue.
Xiao Yujue averted his gaze and turned to Song Zhiyun: “Alright, it won’t look good if this escalates. Be more careful in the future and don’t trip again.”
This shifted all the blame onto her, implying that she had indeed been seducing him earlier.
There was no wind in the room, yet Wan Tang felt chilled to the bone: “This servant understands.”
Song Zhiyun forced a smile, her voice gentler than usual: “Why are you still kneeling here? If someone sees, they’ll think I’m mistreating you.”
Wan Tang trembled, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart. She stood up and bowed before retreating.
Ziyan and Cai Lian exchanged glances and, with keen awareness, withdrew together.
Song Zhiyun glanced sideways at Wan Tang’s retreating figure before leaning pitifully into Xiao Yujue’s arms: “If my husband likes her, he only needs to tell me.”
Xiao Yujue took her delicate hand and pressed it against his chest: “I already said it was an accidental trip. My heart belongs only to you. How could a mere maid compare to my Yun’er?”
As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently nibbled on her earlobe.
Song Zhiyun’s body softened, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, breathing softly: “I am not a petty person either. If you want her, I can elevate her to a concubine. But since there was an incident in the Purple Bamboo Grove recently, to avoid displeasing Father, it’s best to wait a little longer.”
“With Yun’er being so virtuous and magnanimous, how could I ever let you down? A maid is not worth even one of Yun’er’s fingers. How long will you keep misunderstanding me? Hmm?” Xiao Yujue said, slipping his hand into her clothes and pinching her waist.
Song Zhiyun’s waist tickled, and she giggled, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
Xiao Yujue took the opportunity to hold his delicate wife tightly, though there was not a trace of desire in his eyes.
Wan Tang was far more beautiful than Song Zhiyun—how could he not be attracted to her? But since Song Zhiyun’s belly had yet to show any signs of pregnancy, no matter how much he wanted Wan Tang, he had to restrain himself. What kind of gentleman would eagerly elevate a concubine before his wife had even conceived?
He could not give anyone cause to criticize him again and be reprimanded by the old folks of the Wu’an Marquisate.
Wan Tang would be his sooner or later—there was no need to rush…
Wan Tang remained on edge until nightfall, but Song Zhiyun never issued any order to punish her.
She went to bed uneasily and was jolted awake from a half-dream by a sharp pain.
A familiar stinging sensation spread across her arm. As she opened her eyes, she saw Cai Lian straddling her, pinning her hands down, while Ziyan held an embroidery needle, jabbing it viciously into her arm.
For a moment, Wan Tang couldn’t tell whether this was her past life or the present.
The pain continued to spread, and she quickly regained her senses, struggling fiercely: “What are you doing?”
Ziyan clamped a hand over her mouth: “Aren’t you the best at seducing people? Daye and Eldest Mistress have only been married for a short while, yet you couldn’t wait to lure Daye onto the couch. I’ll teach you to curb your restlessness!”
Gritting her teeth, she jabbed the needle fiercely into Wan Tang’s body, the two- to three-inch-long embroidery needle sinking nearly half an inch deep.
When one embroidery needle bent, she immediately grabbed another from the table.
Wan Tang was dizzy with pain. Seizing the moment when Ziyan was distracted, she bit down hard on the base of her thumb.
Ziyan gasped in pain, not daring to jab her with the needle, and frantically called for Cai Lian to help.
Cai Lian couldn’t pry Wan Tang’s mouth open no matter how hard she tried, until she finally remembered to pinch her nose.
The moment Wan Tang released her bite, Ziyan trembled and stumbled backward in pain, while Wan Tang seized the chance to push Cai Lian off the bed with all her might.
With a loud thud, Cai Lian fell face-first onto the ground.
Ziyan lifted her trembling left hand and saw that the skin between her thumb and forefinger was already torn, bleeding profusely.
She broke down in tears.