Chapter 52: Xie Yun’s Invitation
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
There were more and more noble ladies gathering to watch.
Some kind-hearted girls said, “Miss Qiao, you’re also a woman. This maid looks so pitiful. Why don’t you just let her stay?”
Qiao Jinniang glanced coldly at the woman who said this. “I am not from the Li Family, so how can I decide whether she can stay or not?”
Li Lingling covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, “Oh, this maid’s head is bleeding. What a poor girl! Come on, please help her up!”
“Miss Qiao, this maid is not forcing you to accept her as a concubine, but just asking you to allow her to stay in the Li Family. Why are you so jealous and ruthless? You’re literally murdering her!”
“Miss Qiao, weren’t you in the same situation as her? A few months ago, you couldn’t even compare to her. Just because you’ve gained power now doesn’t mean that you can hurt others. This is contemptible!”
Fulu said angrily, “Humph, do you think I won’t hit you? How dare you slander my friend?”
“Bajiao, Huixiang, are you dead? This maid is harassing your master. Come and drive her out!”
Bajiao and Huixiang had never seen such a scene.
It was only after they heard Fulu’s words that they realized what they should do, and they hurriedly dragged out the woman who was kneeling on the ground.
When the crowd dispersed, Qiao Jinniang fanned her fan, trying to calm down, and said, “Thank you, Princess.”
Fulu said, “I don’t think Li Yun is a good choice for you. Do you know why those women dare to laugh at you just now? It’s because your fiancé is Li Yun…”
Qiao Jinniang said, “The Li Family has the tradition that no men in the family shall take concubines unless their wives don’t have a son at the age of forty, which is really rare in Chang’an.
“Besides, apart from having the bloodline of a noble, I’m never a noble no matter in manners or bearing, so I don’t want to marry into a powerful family. It will do me no good.”
Fulu shook her head and said, “The family tradition is set by Old Madam Li. After Old Madam Li dies, maybe not many people in the Li Family will abide by this tradition.
“A man who really doesn’t want to take a concubine will not take a concubine even if they are allowed to.
“Like my father, even if a peerless beauty is placed in front of him, he will not take a glance at her.
“If a man really wants to take a concubine, even if the family tradition forbids him from doing so, so what?”
Qiao Jinniang pursed her lips and said nothing.
Fulu said, “If you want your future husband not to take a concubine, you’d better find a man who truly loves you.”
Qiao Jinniang nodded and said, “You’re right, Princess.”
…
After Qiao Jinniang returned to the Duke Mansion, she was called to her courtyard by the Duchess.
The Duchess looked at Qiao Jinniang worriedly and said, “Are you alright? It’s my fault. How dare a lowly maid go and harass you?”
Second Madam said in a small voice from the side, “Jinniang, don’t take it to heart. That Ruyu is nothing but a toy.
“In Chang’an, when a man becomes an adult, his family will arrange for a woman to teach him about sex.
“This is to avoid him from being too curious about sex and going astray. Ruyu is just a maid, not even a concubine maid…”
“The Li Family has already said that when you and Yun’er get married, they will give Ruyu a lot of money and send her away, and she will definitely not bother you again.”
Qiao Jinniang shook the fan. She didn’t mind that Li Yun had a concubine maid previously.
She herself was once married, and it would be harsh to demand Li Yun to be a virgin.
But Ruyu grew up with Li Yun. If Ruyu was driven away, how could Li Yun not feel guilty towards her?
Hongling hurried in and saluted the Duchess and Second Madam. “The daughter of the Xie Family sent an invitation to invite our miss to visit her.”
The Duchess asked, “Is it Xie Yun?”
Hongling nodded.
Qiao Jinniang glanced at the invitation and said to the Duchess, “I haven’t seen Miss Xie for a long time…”
“Go ahead. Don’t forget to pick some gifts for Miss Xie from the warehouse.”
Qiao Jinniang nodded.
After Qiao Jinniang left, the Duchess asked Second Madam, “Why did Ruyu do this? And why was she fed contraceptives? If she is just a maid who taught Li Yun about sex, why would she be unwilling to leave the Li Family? She should know that the men in the Li Family are not allowed to take concubines!”
Second Madam said helplessly, “Ruyu is a poor girl. Her parents died when she was a child and she has no family left, not even a clansman.
“Four years ago, after serving Yun’er, she drank too much contraceptive, and it hurt her body, causing her to not be able to get pregnant in the future.
“The Li Family had planned to keep her, but Jinniang doesn’t allow Yun’er to take any concubines. My sister was afraid that Ruyu would become a thorn in the eyes of Jinniang, so she asked her to leave the Li Family.
“But Ruyu worried that she might not be able to survive after leaving the Li Family, so she went to Jinniang…”
The Duchess frowned. “If there weren’t such an incident, it would have been fine to let this poor woman stay.
“But with what happened today, if Ruyu still stays in the Li Family, I would be afraid that Jinniang would be bullied!”
Second Madam said, “My sister said that she will definitely drive Ruyu out of the Li Family, and she will not let her get in the way of Jinniang! It’s better to let Jinniang and Yun’er get married earlier…”
Suddenly, Old Madam Qiao came in with a maid’s help and said crossly, “This marriage is inappropriate. Just cancel it!
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“If a poor woman like Ruyu is driven out of the Li Family, Jinniang will be seen as ruthless, and she will definitely be criticized by everyone.
“Since that maid has nowhere to go, if she commits suicide…
“Wouldn’t Jinniang be blamed for her death all her life?
“Even if Jinniang was once married, she is still the daughter of a duke. She is not begging Li Yun to marry her. The Li Family really should have handled this matter better!”
Second Madam didn’t dare to refute her mother-in-law, but she couldn’t help thinking that Qiao Jinniang was not only once married, but she was also a businesswoman.
Although the Li Family is not that powerful, Li Yun’s father is an official, and Li Yun has a bright future ahead…
Second Madam paused and said, “Mother, but the news of Jinniang’s engagement has already been spread. If we cancel the marriage now, it will harm Jinniang’s reputation.”
Mrs. Qiao said, “So what? This is called stopping losses in time. How can we let Jinniang bear the reputation of being a venomous and ruthless woman?”
Second Madam lowered her head and dared not say anything more.
…
When Qiao Jinniang arrived at the Xie Family’s house in Chang’an, the scenery she saw along the way was no different from that of the Xie Family’s mansion in Lin’an.
The southern style garden was full of greenery, and there were many orchids on both sides of the path.
Entering the courtyard, Qiao Jinniang caught sight of a man wearing a jade crown and a python robe.
If this was not Lu Chen, who else could he be?
This jerk! As soon as Xie Yun entered Chang’an, he couldn’t wait to come over to please Xie Yun?
Even in Lin’an, Lu Chen and Xie Yun had already known each other. Now she couldn’t help but wonder, did this jerk fall for Xie Yun in Lin’an back then?
“Jinniang, long time no see.”
Xie Yun walked slowly to Qiao Jinniang. She was slender and beautiful and wore a turquoise long dress today.
Jinniang was tall among women, but she was still a head shorter than Xie Yun.
Xie Yun held Jinniang’s hand affectionately and said, “Why didn’t you come to me when your relatives were causing trouble for you?
“You didn’t even say goodbye to me when you left Lin’an. I was so worried about you.
“Fortunately, I learned later that you were picked up by the Duke. This time, I came to Chang’an just to see if you’re doing well in Chang’an…”
Lu Chen came over, took Qiao Jinniang’s hand, and glared at Xie Yun fiercely!
Xie Yun didn’t mind it. She just looked at Lu Chen playfully and said, “I heard that Jinniang is going to marry the Prime Minister’s disciple, Li Yun, right?”
Qiao Jinniang shook off Lu Chen’s hand and said to Xie Yun, “Yes, the betrothal tokens have been exchanged, and Miss Xie, I hope you don’t tell anyone that Lu Chen used to be my husband for the sake of our friendship.”
Lu Chen sneered. “Your betrothal token was embroidered by Ruyu. She spent three days and three nights making it and almost went blind. Don’t you feel disgusted?”
Qiao Jinniang glared at Lu Chen. “Was Ruyu arranged by you?”
