"But the master has returned home?"
The summer nights were sweltering.
Mrs. Zhou was holding a sheep-horn lantern and peeking out of the courtyard gate. Suddenly, a figure rushed into the dim light, with heavy and hurried footsteps.
She was about to smile and greet him, but when the lantern flickered and she saw who was coming, the corners of her mouth immediately drooped.
It's the little ancestor in the west courtyard.
But today was strange. This little girl actually followed the rules for the first time. After entering the room, she did not speak without restraint as usual. She just sat down obediently on the chair in the hall. Judging from her expression and small movements, it was obvious that she was suppressing her anger.
The eldest daughter of the Duke, the younger sister of the eldest master, a precious and noble person.
Half an hour passed, and the chair felt like it had thorns, pricking Qin Ruoyue uncomfortably. She was the Duke's eldest daughter. Though her birth mother was a concubine, she came from a prominent Qinghe family. How could her talent, beauty, and family background be inferior to that of her legitimate mother, who now held the title of principal wife? If her legitimate mother hadn't married her father first, thus holding the title of first wife, the position of principal wife might not have been hers.
Today, her mother forced her to come and pay for this crime. It was because she had said a few words about Wen Tang in private with a few of her close friends at the princess banquet a few days ago.
That illegitimate daughter, whose father had been granted a title through nepotism through his wife's connections, and whose mother's background was even more remarkable, wasn't she simply inferior to her elder sister, whose maternal family was prominent and whose own fame was known throughout the capital? She had been married to her eldest brother, Qin Gong, for four years before she gave birth. Wasn't she naturally infertile?
It was just a few private gossips, but this time even her own mother sided with her stepmother, forcing her to bow to this woman and even threatened her, "If you don't admit your mistake today, you will have to kneel in the ancestral hall."
The hall was wide open, and half an incense stick had passed before a few ignorant mosquitoes buzzed around her, leaving annoying red marks on her delicate wrists and neck.
Qin Ruoyue could no longer suppress the evil fire in her heart. She glared at Mrs. Zhou, who stood beside her like a clay statue, and said, "She... how long will my "good sister-in-law" last?"
After Mrs. Zhou reported to the inner room once, she stood by with her hands down, not even raising her eyelids: "Fourth Miss, are you getting impatient? Sister Xia and Brother Huai are crying so hard, and the eldest lady is trying to comfort them, so she really can't get away."
Xia Jie'er and Huai Ge'er are Wen Tang's newly born twins , a boy and a girl, who are still in their infancy.
Before she could get angry, Mrs. Zhou added slowly, "If the fourth young lady is tired of waiting, why don't you go back first? It would be better to go early tomorrow. I'm afraid the master should be back home by now."
The word "Master" instantly shattered Qin Ruoyue's forced pride, and her palms broke into sweat. Her father, the Duke, doted on her, and her mother spoiled her. Only her eldest brother, Qin Gong, who held the power of life and death and served as the commander of the Imperial Guard, was known for his stern and awe-inspiring demeanor. As a close minister to the emperor, he had handled countless cases, confiscated the property of wealthy families, and brought down political enemies. Even the arrogant officials in the court trembled at the sight of him, let alone a girl like her.
Staying here, I felt like a prisoner awaiting trial in the imperial prison. Qin Ruoyue began to regret why she had to wait until such a critical hour to apologize. She really wanted to run away, but her stepmother's order was before her. Today, she had to make amends.
After enduring for more than an hour, my whole body was itchy from mosquito bites, and finally there was movement in the room in front.
The scarlet felt curtain was lifted slightly, and first a pretty maid came out, followed by a fair-skinned beauty, as if bringing cool moonlight into the stuffy hall.
Wen Tang is here.
She was wearing an extremely thin, translucent pink summer shirt, which showed off her slender waist. She didn't look like a woman who had just come out of confinement.
Perhaps she had just coaxed a crying baby to sleep. Her hair was slightly wet on her temples, and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye was rosy red. Her gauze dress was casually draped, revealing a piece of snow-white and delicate neck. Her black hair was half tied up, and the loose collar of her dress revealed the plump curves faintly, emitting a warm scent mixed with frankincense.
Mrs. Zhou, who seemed to be in a trance just now, came back to life immediately. She whispered in an unquestionable way and ordered people to close the door of the hall tightly. She was careful that the lady would catch a cold, and ordered people to bring incense burners to repel mosquitoes. White smoke swirled in the hot and humid air.
Qin Ruoyue stiffened her neck and said nothing, determined not to speak first.
She didn't move, and Wen Tang was even less anxious and sat down in the main seat.
Finally, it was Qin Ruoyue who gave way first. She waved her hand stiffly, and the maid behind her brought a brocade box. "Sister-in-law," she said in a dry, stiff voice, with a hint of reluctance. "The other day... I was ignorant and offended you with my words. Today... I've come specially to apologize."
Wen Tang's lips curved into a perfect arc, and his voice was soft, "The Qin family has rules for raising people. The fourth young lady is so polite and sensible at such a young age. How could I take it to heart?"
These light words were like a soft whip slapping Qin Ruoyue's face.
Qin Ruoyue's blood surged in her chest and her head drooped even lower.
Wen Tang's figure still looked a bit frail from giving birth, but her fox eyes were surprisingly bright. When she looked at people, her eyes were always moving and sparkling, like a crabapple tree covered in dew, both charming and intelligent.
With such an unassuming appearance and a humble background, she acted timid and innocent when she first entered the mansion, not even daring to look her eldest brother in the eye. Her eyelashes fluttered, revealing a spark of youth. Seeing her empty appearance, no one in the mansion took her seriously. But within a few years, her eyes had fully blossomed, and she smiled at everyone she met. Now, everyone in the mansion had to respectfully address her as "Grandma."
Qin Ruoyue was most annoyed by her scheming appearance.
The formalities of apology and compensation were over. Logically, Qin Ruoyue could have followed her heart and turned around and left, but the other party's smiling eyes were like a bronze mirror, making her look like a clown jumping on the stage.
Wen Tang saw that her sister-in-law was young but had a stubborn temper. He couldn't let her stay here till dawn, so he offered her a way out at the right time: "It's getting late. Your elder brother should be back soon."
She had to get up before dawn to help Qin Gong change his clothes and go to court. After seeing him out, she would walk through the dew to the old lady's courtyard to pay her respects as usual. The old lady favored the daughters-in-law from other courtyards and disliked her, so she had to arrive first and leave last every day. Then she had to serve her mother-in-law, the Duke's wife, breakfast. She mainly ate with her mother-in-law, standing by her side, serving her food. After her mother-in-law finished, she would go to the side hall to eat.
Now that she has a pair of children, she still has to coax and accompany them. Sister Xia is especially clingy. She has changed three or four wet nurses in the mansion, but she will not let them suck her milk until she buries her face in her clothes.
Wen Tang really didn't have the time to waste time with his sister-in-law and act out.
The eldest brother is going back home. This was clearly an attempt to pressure her with the eldest brother. Qin Ruoyue was already reluctant to be subservient, and this made her even more depressed.
At the princess's banquet that day, which noble lady didn't nod in agreement? She simply expressed what everyone was thinking.
It was a pity that Sister Wen Zhiyi was not there that day. Thinking of Wen Zhiyi, Wen Tang's elder sister, whose whole demeanor was like an ink painting, without any worldly airs, Qin Ruoyue felt more and more depressed.
She has always been proud to make friends with such people.
At the princess banquet a few days ago, there was no one to reminisce about the past. How could she not feel regretful?
However, Wen Zhiyi has been married in Jiangnan for four years. Her husband's family business is booming and they are expected to go to Beijing this year. When she really arrives in Beijing, Qin Ruoyue wants to see whether this woman who has usurped the throne has any shame.
Qin Ruoyue couldn't keep her words to herself, especially after holding her anger for a long time.
Wen Tang obviously saw her impatience, and with a slight movement of his eyes, he gave Mrs. Zhou a wink. Mrs. Zhou understood and brought over a cup of hot tea.
Qin Ruoyue's throat was dry and tight. She had not even tasted the tea the maid had brought her out of spite. Now that she wanted to feel proud, she naturally wanted to moisten her throat.
"Have a cup of tea first." Mrs. Zhou said softly.
Qin Ruoyue had just stretched out her hand when a maid came over from the side, bringing a sesame cake that looked dry, hard and tasteless, and placed it in front of Qin Ruoyue.
Mrs. Zhou placed the cup of fragrant hot tea in front of Wen Tang and said, "Grandma, please have some."
Wen Tang picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam before looking up at his sister-in-law. "You've been sitting here for a long time. It's not too late to talk after you've eaten something."
Mrs. Zhou immediately responded, her voice pinched: "Yes, Fourth Miss, this is a gift from the Grandmother, would you like to try it?"
Qin Ruoyue looked at the plate of shabby cakes, then at the steaming cup of tea in Wen Tang's hand, which was obviously good tea, and her anger rushed to her head.
But since she was under someone's roof, Qin Ruoyue had to grit her teeth and stuff the food into her mouth, which tasted like chewing wax.
Wen Tang was truly exhausted by now, not only from caring for the twins, but also from Qin Gong, who had been out of confinement for some time. During her confinement, Qin Gong had slept in the adjacent wing. After she was out of confinement, the doctor had examined her several times and confirmed she was fine, so he moved back into the main house. Qin Gong was a tall, young man, and with years of experience in prisons and battlefields, he had an incredible amount of energy. Wen Tang had been grateful to have avoided him during her ten months of pregnancy, not having to wait on him overnight. Now that the child was born, she had to sleep with him again, often feeling suffocated by his pressure.
Wen Tang wanted to kick him off the bed more than once. Unlike the noble ladies who grew up in the capital, she grew up in the countryside and was used to seeing women grabbing their husbands' ears, scolding them and kicking them out of the house.
But now, I can only think about it. After all, the old man who is silent and buries his head at night is completely different from Qin Gong who puts on clothes during the day.
During the day, he was handsome and fierce in appearance, tall in stature, and a glance from him gave off a sense of oppression. He was cold and unkind.
Wen Tang set down his teacup with a gentle clatter. Qin Ruoyue finally swallowed the dry crumbs with difficulty and spoke impatiently, "Sister-in-law, do you know? Sister Zhiyi will be returning to Beijing with her husband in the second half of the year. We used to be close friends, but unfortunately, she married far away in Jiangnan and has lost all contact. You are her biological sister, so you must know more than I do. If she does come back, please remember to send someone to let me know so I can visit and reminisce."
The words that had been held back for a long time finally came out, and Qin Ruoyue felt refreshed.
"Okay, if I get the confirmation, I'll let you know."
"Huh?" Qin Ruoyue was stunned, and the words she had prepared were stuck in her throat.
There was no surprise on Wen Tang's face, as if he had heard something ordinary.
Qin Ruoyue was disdainful in her heart, but she said, "Although Sister Zhiyi and I used to be good friends, you are now my real sister-in-law. After all, that kind of disgraceful thing happened back then." She paused deliberately and said, "I am also thinking about you, sister-in-law. When Sister Zhiyi comes back, it is better for you to meet her less often." to avoid embarrassment.
That scandal back then?
Dusty, malicious gossip.
"Wen Tang, the concubine's daughter from Wu Qinbo's family, who came from the countryside, spoke with a thick accent, and was unworthy of high status."
"Coveting my brother-in-law, my ambition is higher than the sky."
"In order to climb the ladder of power in the Duke's Mansion, he sowed discord between his elder sister and brother-in-law, spreading rumors about his elder sister, and forcing his elder sister, Wen Zhiyi, to flee her marriage in tears and marry far away in Jiangnan."
The most unbearable thing was that he threw away his integrity and went to knock on the door of the eldest son of the mansion in the middle of the night in the rain with his clothes disheveled.
Relying on such despicable means, this man actually entered the mansion on behalf of his elder sister.
Qin Ruoyue's eyes were as sharp as torches, and she was scrutinizing him with undisguised eyes, waiting to see the forced composure collapse.
Wen Tang's hand was still resting gently on the warm teacup. He had heard too many harsh words in the past few years, so Qin Ruoyue's few words were nothing.
After getting married, she chose to forget many things, including that cold and rainy night four years ago.
The door is open,
He was so tall that she could only look up desperately.
The cold rain poured down on her head, soaking her thin clothes and clinging to them, making her shiver with cold.
He looked down from above, his gaze unfathomable and devoid of any emotion in the dim light of the lanterns on the rainy night.
And she, in a state of utter disgrace, had always been well-behaved. She suppressed her overwhelming fear and shame, and made the first and only plea in her life to the man who was supposed to be her brother-in-law.
The hall was silent.
There was still no expression on Wen Tang's face, the corners of his eyes were naturally slightly raised, and his face was fair and bright, full of life.
Only the fingertips resting on the teacup curled up slightly.