“Yes,” said Qin Yunuan with a sweet smile. The dimples on her cheeks made her look more innocent and artless. “They were sent by Concubine Tang to share responsibility for me. As they looked very pleasing to the eyes, I kept them at my disposal.”
The two servant girls with pretty faces were sent by Concubine Tang to share responsibility. Everyone here knew what the so-called “responsibility” really meant. It turned out that Concubine Tang wanted to plant her people into Qin Yunuan’s courtyard and win the favor of Leng Changxi.
Qin Yunuan kept a close eye on everybody’s facial expressions while speaking. As was expected, Xie Ruying became black in her face all of a sudden. Princess Ning frowned a little, and then her calm was restored. Leng Suxin was as emotionless as usual. The expression on her face was still cool and indifferent as if those things were none of her business.
This time, the Old Madam cast a murderous glance at those servant girls. There was malice and sternness in her eyes. It was quite easy for Qin Yunuan to read her mind. Just like Queen Mother, what Old Madam valued most was the pureness and dignity of the blood of their family. Or else, she would not keep a distance with Qin Yunuan as she was born by a concubine.
At least, Qin Yunuan had the title as Infanta Ping, but what about these two maids? In Qi, the strict household registration system created a world of difference between the noble people, the common people, and the humble people. And the social status of servants and maids was even lower than that of the humble people. Distant relatives like Xie Ruying were not noble enough in Old Madam’s eyes, not to mention the maids. No matter how pretty they were, they did not deserve to conceive babies for Prince Ning’s family.
When Old Madam was thinking of that, her eyes were even colder than before. She was contemplating the loyalty of Tang in her heart.
Knowing that it was the perfect timing, Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled and said to Old Madam and Princess Ning, “I take them with me as they look very pleasing. If you like, I don’t mind sending them to you.” That was right. She never thought about taking Lily and Begonia back.
Actually, she was getting rid of two time-bombs.
“They were really adorable,” answered Old Madam suddenly, who was disgusted by the ecstasy on Begonia’s face at a glance. She really thought she was going to be a mistress. “Xie, I remembered that you had complained that you were in a lack of servant girls and asked for some. Now that Yunuan is so thoughtful, you can just take the two maids as yours.”
Xie Ruying was in a daze. Then she said in a hurry, “No need, I have had enough people to command. How could I accept the personal maids of Third Young Madam?” It would be silly to keep two maids of easy virtue aside.
“That’s Okay,” Qin Yunuan seconded, “Just two maids. Though at different rooms, they are still in this mansion, aren’t they?”
Now, Xie Ruying was not as courageous as before, “But they were from Concubine Tang. Is it proper to send them away to others, Third Young Madam?”
Qin Yunuan just smiled. Now, a ripple of laughter came from the outside.
“Old Madam, look what I’ve brought!” It was exactly the one who was mentioned so many times— Concubine Tang. Seeing that everyone’s attention was on her, Tang was very confused and asked the servant girl to hand the box to her. “Well, what happened?”
Princess Ning looked down to the tea that she was stirring and said in a relaxed way, “You come at the right time.”
“Ah, why the right time?” Tang got a little excited though she still had no idea what was going on. Seeing that Lily and Begonia was standing beside Qin Yunuan, she realized that she had achieved her goal. Just as she had thought, Qin Yunuan did not want to refuse her.
“Nothing serious,” said Qin Yunuan, whose smile did not show any emotion, “We had just mentioned you,” and then she changed the subject, “What have you brought?”
Speaking of the thing in the box, Tang stood upright and opened the box happily. “That’s something great. Old Madam, I got to the Wan’an Temple very early yesterday morning to pray that for you. It is very efficacious!” said Tang.
The present had been taken out of the box and unfolded to show around.
It was a painting of children that was no longer new. On the yellow silk were many adorable kids in different motions. An old lady with white hair and a ruddy complexion was sitting in the middle, surrounded by the grandchildren, looking peaceful and satisfied. But Old Madam’s face darkened when she saw this homey and sweet painting.
However, Tang was still spouting, “Old Madam, the reason why I did not choose a new painting was that this one had been hanging in the hall for many years during which the family is brimming with sons and grandsons. So, I was thinking that since Changxi and Chang’an all got married and Changxuan was about to have a second wife, it would be a small token of my heart to bring this painting as a present for you. I hope you will like it.”
Old Madam sneered, “Like it? Of course, I like it.” She then turned back to Leng Suxin and ordered calmly, “Suxin, cut it into pieces with scissors for me. What you do represents my attitude.”
“Yes.” Leng Suxin nodded obediently. Though Tang was the biological mother of Leng Suxin, in Qin Yunuan’s eyes, they were not intimate. They had never really talked during the whole process as if they were people from different worlds.
“No, Old Madam! Why would you do that to me? I was just trying to be nice. Is that wrong, Old Madam?” Tang stretched her arms subconsciously to protect the painting like a mother hen. She had prayed a long time for that. “Suxin, I’m your mother. Do not do that to me! You have to listen to me!”
“I’m sorry.” Leng Suxin winked at the servant girls, and someone drugged Tang away at once without any hesitation. In a minute, this painting that represented hope for future generations was cut into pieces.
Tang froze. Old Madam was reproaching her seriously, “I’m not old. I can wait patiently for my grandchildren. But what you did was unbearable. You exercised your wits for your personal gain to instigate a maid to carry the child of our family. And I tell you, even if they succeed, I will not let the child be born. Do not do such things anymore. A concubine’s child will always be a concubine’s child, and those who are low will always be low.”
Those words also startled Qin Yunuan a little bit. Why would Old Madam mention the concubine’s child? Did she mean that she could not bear children to Leng Changxi? Qin Yunuan cast a glance at her and found that she was not looking at her. Instead, it was Tang whom she was staring at. And it suddenly occurred to Qin Yunuan that Tang, who looked dumb right now, was a concubine.
“Priority in ranks and blood relations is what really matters.” Old Madam held her head high and continued, “Every one of you should remember that. Do not do those useless things anymore.”
She closed her eyes after finishing the sentence, “Suxin, I’m tired. Let them all back.”
Before anyone said anything, Old Madam went back directly to the inner room. Having recovered from astonishment, Tang saw the mess on the ground and realized that the one who cut her present was actually her own daughter. Filled with rage, she stood up and pulled Leng Suxin’s hair, “You betrayed your own mother? Who gave birth to you? Who supported you? You are really ungrateful!”
Leng Suxin reeled back for a few steps for being pulled. Getting Qin Yunuan’s eye hint, Leng Shuang walked forth and drew Tang back. However, Leng Suxin, who had been saved from the difficult position, only cast a glance at Qin Yunuan. In her eyes, there was only coldness instead of gratefulness.
“Have you finished, mother? If you are done, I’ll come back to the inner room.” Leng Suxin showed a strange alienation to her natural mother Tang.
Tang sank down onto the ground after Leng Suxin lifted the curtain without looking back. With a cold glance at this troublemaker, Qin Yunuan made a curtsy to Princess Ning and decided to leave. But she realized that Lily and Begonia followed behind her after a few steps.
“Why are you still following me? Didn’t you hear that Old Madam had sent you to Miss Xie? She’s your owner from now on, and you should listen to her, got it?” Qin Yunuan threw a glance at Xie Ruying while speaking and found that she was also dissatisfied with them.
Lily was scared by what she said and drew a few steps back. But Begonia actually had the strength to come forth, “Third Young Madam, I’m Peony. I knew that I made you feel unpleasant in your courtyard. But please don’t send me to Miss Xie’s place. The East House is known as a mess. I’m afraid I may never get out if I come there.”
“What did you address yourself?” Qin Yunuan made no response to what Begonia said. Her calmness was in sharp contrast with Begonia’s anxiety. “I’ve changed your name into Begonia, but you still addressed yourself as Peony. You’ve shown no respect to me, and my courtyard is too small for you. I know the situation in the East House, and that’s why I sent you there. If you hook up with someone, you will have a good life henceforth. So, I was just helping you.”
Begonia was embarrassed after those words. She was not well-behaved in that courtyard indeed. At first, she hooked up with the cook in the wood-shed and the servant sending woods, and she also had some wicked ideas towards the strong and handsome boy around Maner.
She was prettier and more charming than Maner, but he did not even notice her. She dreamed of being a concubine, but the reality was so harsh. Or the East House might be her chance?
Qin Yunuan threw a cold glance at Begonia and knew what she was thinking about. With a sneer, she lifted the curtain and got out, only to find someone had been waiting for her in resentment.
