"I won't say anymore." Wen Tang looked at his gradually getting stern face, got off him, and lay on his side.
Qin Gong frowned, "What did you just say?"
After the love affair, the warmth on Qin Gong's face faded like the tide, and turned into his usual coldness and indifference. Even his words were spoken with the calmness of a business matter.
Wen Tang thought about what she had just said. Besides wanting to continue talking about Zhang Yao's various bad points, she also wanted to repeat the words that the old lady had said to her truthfully.
Wen Tang, "The old lady said you're missing someone who's considerate and caring."
After hearing this, Qin Gong glanced at her meaningfully. He was very familiar with this. She had mentioned it to him before, but at that time she was not pregnant with his child. Even though he came to her room frequently, she still had not gotten pregnant.
Every night when she saw him coming, she would diligently get up and undress him, looking at him with her watery eyes. Then one day, she suddenly mentioned that the old lady asked whether she should take in a few concubines with good figures, good childbearing ability and good looks for him.
She had been so honest in delivering the message at that time, but the look in her eyes when she looked at him was so aggrieved that she seemed to be about to cry. It was not that she really wanted to give him a concubine, but that she was trying to find ways to attract his affection.
Is it the old lady who said this again?
"Did the old lady say that?" Qin Gong half-lay down, turned sideways, and his eyes fell on Wen Tang's cheeks that were still flushed with emotion.
She had fair skin, and a few strands of black hair were scattered on her cheeks due to the intense action just now. He raised his hand, his fingertips were lightly calloused, and gently tucked the strands of hair behind her ears. There was a hint of tenderness in his movements that he himself was not aware of, almost instinctive.
Wen Tang responded softly, "Yes, Master, it's what the old lady meant."
Qin Gong suddenly raised his hand, with a hint of punishment, and gently scratched the tip of her nose with his fingertips, then lay down flat on his back. The old woman came in and extinguished the candle.
In the darkness,
Qin Gong didn't respond for a long time, and Wen Tang was a little confused about his attitude. Just as Zhao said, Qin Gong was a young man with a lot of vigor and energy. If he wanted more people to serve him, the old lady would just put people in, just like this afternoon when the cousin went to Qin Gong's study.
The first concubine in the Second Master Qin Changkun's room was inserted by the old lady. At that time, Su Yi and the Second Master had only been married for two years. They were a young couple in love, and their affection for each other was extraordinary. However, the old lady suddenly asked the Second Master to take a concubine and even invited a doctor to come. The doctor said with certainty that Su Yi would have difficulty giving birth.
At that time, Su Yi and the Second Master were in a good relationship. How could a young couple like to suddenly have another woman come in? But the old lady had made the decision, and Su Yi had no choice. If the old lady said she had to stay, then she had to stay. What's more, the concubine became pregnant not long after she followed the Second Master.
Qin Gong looks cold and serious on the surface, but at night, he also has the desires of an ordinary man.
Wen Tang was just thinking about it when Qin Gong said slowly, "Go to sleep quickly. You have to get up early tomorrow."
Then, he added calmly, "Don't pay attention to what the old lady said."
He could feel that the person beside him was not at peace. He didn't know what was going on in that little head. She was so clingy and annoying. Qin Gong felt that dealing with her had already consumed a lot of his energy, which was more tiring than handling official business.
He had a subordinate who was henpecked like a tiger. Even before going to a restaurant for a drink, he had to send someone home to report, otherwise his face would be covered with "cat and dog scratches" the next day.
His wife was no exception and also liked to eat delicious food.
--
"It's time to get up, Madam." In the morning, Mrs. Zhou came to the bedside with clothes in her hands. She saw Wen Tang still curled up in the quilt, with only half of her face exposed. Then Mrs. Zhou glanced at the man next to her. The master had already put on his clothes, his face stern.
Wen Tang moved out slowly, with very small movements. Mrs. Zhou soon discovered something was wrong. As soon as one of Wen Tang's legs touched the ground, she began to tremble. Her face was still flushed and she looked charming and beautiful. There was still a lingering gleam in her eyes, and there were even teeth marks on her plump lips.
Wen Tang moved out of bed uncomfortably. She wanted to get up first early in the morning, but as soon as she crossed her legs over Qin Gong, he turned over and pressed her down.
After she washed and changed her clothes, Mrs. Zhou helped Wen Tang up and tied her hair into a bun for her. However, she was in trouble when it came to putting on makeup. Wen Tang had a rosy face and if she put on more makeup, she was afraid that it would be too bright and lose her dignity.
Mrs. Zhou asked the maid to come in and take out the dirty mattress, and then she couldn't help but blame the master, saying that he had to go out to meet guests early in the morning, but he was still teasing the mistress.
"No more makeup." Wen Tang touched his face.
Mrs. Zhou thought it was okay, and then she quickly changed her into the indigo formal dress and put a plain jade hairpin in her hair.
Many people have gathered in the main hall.
The whole family gathered there. Wen Tang walked there slowly, and his legs were still shaking and uncomfortable.
Qin Gong did not come with her. He always put official business first and would not come here until he had dealt with his official business first.
There was a familiar figure in the main hall. The old lady was holding the man's hand and chatting about family matters. When the servant said that the grandmother was here, the person in front of the old lady immediately turned around and looked at Wen Tang. It was Wen Zhiyi.
The old lady said, "Okay, let's all go to the pavilion now. It's open and has a great view by the water. Lunch is served there."
In the garden in October, the fragrance of osmanthus lingers.
Qin Ruoyue was particularly quiet today, listening to everyone talking the whole time. It was not until she heard outside that the Zhang family had arrived that Qin Ruoyue smiled, then stood up and hid behind the old lady.
The maids and servants brought up snacks and tea, including pine moss tea, osmanthus cake, and several plates of seasonal fresh fruits.
In the huge garden, a tall figure in royal blue clothes appeared from the cave gate.
Wen Tang asked the maid next to her to invite the person in, then stepped forward with a smile. "Madam Zhang, hello, Madam Jiang."
When Mrs. Jiang first saw Wen Tang's familiar face, her eyes were dazed for a moment. After she got closer and confirmed it was Wen Tang, she lowered her head until Wen Tang spoke first and greeted her with a smile. Mrs. Jiang raised her head and smiled at Wen Tang. The smile seemed a little forced. In Mrs. Zhang's eyes, this forced smile showed that Mrs. Jiang's behavior was not up to standard.
Wen Tang noticed Madam Zhang's dissatisfaction with Madam Jiang. She stepped forward with a smile and said, "Madam Zhang, come here. Please come this way first."
Wen Tang didn't even glance at Zhang Yao, and walked forward to greet the two ladies. She walked in front, trying her best to adjust her steps to be more natural. She thought she had adjusted her steps to be dignified and steady. However, the subtle gait that was slightly sluggish due to discomfort, and the delicate swing of her waist that she unconsciously revealed, fell clearly into the eyes behind her.
--
Qin Ruoyue retreated behind the screen. From behind the screen, she could clearly see the people coming in from outside. Naturally, her eyes only fell on the figure in royal blue clothes.
Madam Song, standing beside Qin Ruoyue, wasn't as focused on her daughter as she was on the Zhang family's legitimate mother and the seemingly unremarkable Madam Jiang. She might seem honest and timid, but how could a woman who could be a concubine, no matter how timid, truly be truly innocent? The only thorn in this marriage was the mother's unsavory background.
The old lady outside the screen had the same idea as Mrs. Song, so after someone came in, the old lady just pulled Zhang Yao and Mrs. Zhang aside to chat warmly.
Mrs. Jiang's unclean background became the reason for everyone to ignore her. Even the servants of the Qin family knew that Mrs. Jiang was a prostitute. The only reason she could enter the gate of the Zhang Mansion was because of her son's status as a mother.
"You kid, you have made remarkable political achievements at such a young age. You are a colleague of my Gong'er. You young people should get closer to each other." The old lady looked at Zhang Yao's demeanor and appearance. The most important thing was his future. The only regret was probably his mother.
The old lady's gaze was now directed to Madam Jiang, but she saw Wen Tang sitting next to Madam Jiang.
She frowned. How could she, the eldest grandmother of the Qin family, sit with a prostitute who had risen from concubine to power? Gong Ge'er was good in every way, but marrying such a grandson's wife gave her a headache. Wouldn't it have been better if he had married Wen Tang's sister?
The old lady couldn't help but glance at Wen Zhiyi, who was standing beside her, gentle and quiet, and then looked at Wen Tang, who had a charming look when she came to pay her respects just now. She acted like that early in the morning, with her eyes full of spring water and her waist swaying. No wonder Gong'er didn't take a few sensible and obedient women into the room in all these years.
"The master is here!" At this time, a voice came from outside.
Wen Tang, who was sitting next to Madam Jiang, raised his head. Mrs. Zhou immediately helped Wen Tang to stand up, and then walked to the door. Qin Gong strode in from outside.
"Master, you are here." Wen Tang knelt down and saluted.
Qin Gong's gaze paused on her for a moment, and he nodded slightly. He walked straight in, and Wen Tang followed behind him.
Mrs. Jiang silently looked at Wen Tang's cautious appearance and lowered her eyes. After all, she was a girl who grew up under her care... She was so lively in the past. Other families avoided her because of her dirty family. Only she came every now and then, bringing fish caught from the water and fresh mushrooms picked from the ground, running to her with a smile, saying that she could nourish Yao Ge'er's body so that he could study better.
Yao Ge'er had suffered so much with her, being mocked for having no father and a mother of shady origin, and being told that he looked like a girl. His personality became withdrawn and lonely over time.
Later, Yao Ge'er often held a book and listened to the girl chattering about interesting things outside the wall through the courtyard wall, and listened to the cheerful barking of her big yellow dog.
Later, Yao Ge'er came back from school, looked up at her, and asked her earnestly, "What does 'wife' mean?" Then he patted his chest and said with childlike innocence and confidence, "Can I marry the girl who raises the big yellow dog?"
"You are so lucky, old lady. Your grandmother has brought great joy to the Qin family this year. She has the blessing of a dragon and a phoenix. It is really a great blessing from heaven, which others can't even ask for." Mrs. Zhang greeted the old lady with a smile, and they talked about each other's happy events.
"Grandma, congratulations." Mrs. Zhang turned her head and said to Wen Tang with a smile.
"Grandma is so beautiful, like a lotus blooming in clear water, no wonder master likes her so much. Master loves you so much, grandma must give birth to more children for him, and have more young masters and young ladies." Mrs. Zhang joked with the couple.
For a moment, everyone's eyes turned to Wen Tang.
She sat side by side with Qin Gong. One was tall and stern, the other was beautiful and charming. They were indeed a perfect match and a pleasure to watch.
Wen Tang did not respond to the question of "having another baby", but smiled with pursed lips. In the eyes of everyone, she looked shy, and her cheeks were dyed pink.
"Where is Ruoyue? Still hiding behind the screen? Don't be so shy. Come out and meet people." The old lady turned her head to look at the screen.
Wen Tang raised her head, looking past the person opposite her and looking behind the screen. Qin Gong beside her turned his head slightly and glanced at Wen Tang.
Sitting opposite Wen Tang was Zhang Yao.
Qin Gong followed Wen Tang's gaze and saw a figure moving slightly behind the screen. It was Qin Ruoyue who walked out shyly.
Qin Gong's fingertips slowly stroked the teacup a few times, then raised his hand to brush across Wen Tang's pretty face. Wen Tang subconsciously tilted her head slightly to avoid it, raised her watery eyes, and whispered, "Master?"
He did not retract his big hand, but instead took the opportunity to tidy up the broken hair on her temples, and said in a low voice, "Your hair is a little messy."