lcionline Chapter 17 Meals, May I Stay Overnight?
Chapter 17 Meals, May I Stay Overnight?
In the end, Granny Wang was sent to a manor in the suburbs of Beijing, while Gu's mother remained confined to Tingxue Pavilion.
The person who sent Granny Wang was arranged by Chu Ruohan. He pulled the head of the estate aside and said, "Aunt Bao instructed that we should not give her a kind look, but just let her do the heavy work."
The servant emphasized the words "Bao Yiniang instructed" very heavily.
“She used to be arrogant and domineering in the mansion because of her power. Now it’s time for her to taste the bitterness of being down on her luck.”
The head steward understood immediately and nodded in agreement, knowing that his master must have harbored a long-standing grudge against Granny Wang.
As soon as Wang Mama got off the carriage, she habitually tilted her head back, trying to put on the same high and mighty air she had when she was in the Marquis's mansion.
Seeing this, the village head shouted, "Old Wang, from now on, you go fetch water! No one in this village will serve you, you big shot!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Wang's face turned pale and then red. She stared at the head of the estate in disbelief and shrieked, "You dog of a servant, how dare you speak to me like that?"
The head of the estate completely ignored her threats and directed several burly female servants to stuff buckets and carrying poles into Granny Wang's hands.
"Pah, she thinks she's some kind of head maidservant to the Lady of the Marquis, but she's been sent to a place like this."
"It's because the Lady of the Marquis has fallen out of favor. Perhaps from now on, Aunt Bao will be in charge of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion."
Someone muttered quietly, "They're still being stubborn even now!"
Granny Wang had never been treated like this before. She was so angry that she trembled all over and pounced on that gossipy bitch to teach her a lesson.
But she was no match for these strong and healthy people who worked in the fields every day.
The old woman deftly dodged Wang Mama's attack, then pushed her away, sending Wang Mama sprawling to the ground.
Seeing this, the people around her gathered around and started criticizing her. Some even took advantage of the chaos to kick her a few times.
"You bunch of fools who don't know what's good for you! Once Madam lifts her confinement, she'll definitely take me back. You'll be sorry then!"
However, all she received in response was laughter from the crowd.
Baoling had been wronged, and the Marquis of Anyang was really intrigued by her, so he arranged for her to stay in the Zizhu Pavilion, which was the closest to the front courtyard and the only way to enter the inner courtyard.
It was once the residence of Consort Hu, the most favored concubine of the Marquis of Anyang. The walls were finely plastered with precious pepper paste, which was warm to the touch and emitted a unique and elegant fragrance.
At that time, the Marquis of Anyang wished he could put all the good things into the Purple Bamboo Pavilion.
Later, Aunt Hu suffered a difficult childbirth and died along with her unborn child. The place was then sealed off and no one has lived there since.
It was Aunt Zhao who impressed Chu Ruohan. She broke Gu's mother's arm with a single move. With Gu's mother confined to her home and without Granny Wang by her side, she was like a toothless tiger, unable to cause any trouble.
"Aunt Bao is quite something."
"She's just a concubine!"
Two maids hurried along, carrying trays filled with fresh fruit. The fruit was brightly colored, clearly freshly picked from the garden.
The older maid clicked her tongue, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, and then whispered, "You don't understand. The Marquis is currently showering her with favor. Everyone in the Marquis's mansion has to be mindful of her feelings."
“I heard that a few days ago, a little maidservant spilled a little tea when she was serving it to her, but Aunt Bao was furious and immediately ordered the maidservant to be dragged away and beaten with twenty strokes of the cane. The maidservant was beaten until her skin was torn and her cries could be heard throughout the whole courtyard.”
The young maid looked alarmed and subconsciously slowed her pace: "This... is too cruel."
The older maidservant hurriedly tugged at her sleeve, "You, keep your voice down. Aunt Bao is the Marquis's darling now, we mustn't offend her. Hurry up and go, if we miss the time to deliver the fruit to Aunt Bao, we'll all be in trouble too."
After saying that, the two stopped talking and quickened their pace.
Baoling did not disappoint Chu Ruohan. As soon as she recovered, she ran rampant in the mansion, beating and scolding the servants at will, and even secretly withholding food from Gu's mother.
However, since Gu's mother was the Marquis's wife and had been in charge of the Marquis's mansion for many years, even though she was confined to her quarters, the servants did not dare to be too presumptuous.
"Thanks to Miss's keen eye, she noticed that Baoling was not a well-behaved girl." The wet nurse bent slightly, her hands steadily grinding the ink block.
"She's quite shrewd. Even after being beaten so badly, her face wasn't injured at all, and she still managed to seduce the Marquis of Anyang so he would stay with her every night."
Chu Ruohan's paintbrush moved with effortless grace, and a slight, mocking smile played on her lips.
In her past life, Bao Ling was taken as a concubine by Gu Chengyan. After she gained enlightenment, she turned her back on him and abandoned the former master-servant relationship, becoming cold and ruthless.
She fawned over Gu's mother, trying her best to please and flatter her, but when facing Chu Ruohan, her former master, she racked her brains and used all sorts of insidious methods to torment her.
It seemed as if he wanted to vent all the resentment and bitterness he had felt from his past as a servant on this body.
Because of her eagerness to protect her mistress, the wet nurse was falsely accused by Baoling of stealing valuable items from the Marquis's mansion. After being severely tortured, she died unjustly.
And then there's Yuling's death...
In this life, Chu Ruohan sent Baoling to the Marquis of Anyang's bed. What she is suffering today is only one-tenth of what Chu Ruohan suffered.
Chu Ruohan was well aware of the principle that "to destroy something, you must first drive it mad."
Baoling and Gu's mother have a grudge, and she will not let it go easily. Let them fight like dogs for now.
Chu Ruohan is determined to make them personally experience all the pain and humiliation they once suffered, to repay blood with blood and tooth with tooth.
Only then can the hatred in one's heart be dispelled and justice be served for the past.
Her mind was in turmoil, and her paintbrush began to veer out of control. The red plum blossoms in the painting seemed to tremble in pain, and the ink smudges spread out, resembling stains of blood and tears.
Chu Ruohan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. However, her trembling hands could not be restored to normal for a while, and she had to put her paintbrush aside for the time being.
For Gu's mother, her current situation is one of being besieged on all sides. Bao Ling is ambitious and cunning, and Aunt Zhao is scheming and manipulative; both of them are at odds with her.
Du Ruoling is constantly causing trouble, and she's too busy taking care of herself to have any energy left to look after Hongmeng Academy...
The wet nurse soaked a handkerchief and gently wiped Chu Ruohan's hands, which were stained with ink.
“Miss, I’m not at ease with Yuling serving me all the time. How about I bring two more maids? More people will help me take care of you.”
Chu Ruohan shook her head slightly, "The servants in the Marquis's mansion are not necessarily loyal. How can I trust someone who was promoted so casually? I have already entrusted this matter to my father."
The third thing Chu Ruohan asked her father to do was to find her a personal servant who knew kung fu.
The Marquis's mansion is fraught with danger; if she wants revenge, she must first protect herself.
The wet nurse nodded slightly upon hearing this, her hands still moving. "Miss has considered everything carefully. It's still more prudent for Master to intervene." She paused, seemingly hesitant, before lowering her voice to advise, "Miss, you and the young master have never shared a room since your marriage. If this goes on for too long, the servants will inevitably gossip."
"This old servant is afraid that these words will damage Miss's reputation and be detrimental to your future situation in the manor."
Chu Ruohan's eyes dimmed slightly. How could she not know this principle? But what about Gu Junze's health?
She sighed softly, "Please invite the young master to have dinner."
The wet nurse was overjoyed. "Yes, this old servant will go and make the arrangements right away."
She turned around quickly, walked out of the room with light steps, and had a look of anticipation on her face.
The wet nurse specifically asked the old man who served the young master, and prepared all of Gu Junze's favorite foods.
Before long, Ying Qing pushed Gu Junze slowly into the room. He was pale and thin, but still exuded an innate air of nobility.
"Your Highness." Chu Ruohan gave a slight curtsy.
Gu Junze nodded slightly and gestured for Ying Qing to step back.
Why did you suddenly decide to invite me to dinner today?
Chu Ruohan smiled gently, skillfully avoiding the probing gaze. She raised her slender hand, picked up a piece of fish with her silver chopsticks, and placed it in Gu Junze's bowl.
"This squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is the chef's specialty. Your Highness, please try it. The meat is tender and the flavor is sweet and sour."
Gu Junze's gaze lingered briefly on her face before slowly returning to the fish in the bowl. He took a small bite and said, "It's really good."
During the meal, the two chatted casually.
After dinner, Gu Junze called Ying Qing in, preparing to go back to his room to rest as usual.
Chu Ruohan hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Your Highness, it is late. Why don't you stay here for the night?"