While ordering the two servant girls behind her to step forward, Concubine Tang looked at Qin Yunuan with a smile. However, with that smile, she looked provocative and meddlesome.
Qin Yunuan had to admit that two servant girls Concubine Tang brought here were indeed beautiful. One of them had an oval face, big eyes, a plump figure and thin limbs. In particular, her slim waist was so eye-catching. In comparison, the other girl didn’t have a hot body, but her face was fairly pretty. She had a heart-shaped face and big watery eyes which were so seductive.
“I have picked up two girls specially for you. I know you now run three shops that stand in the eastern area, and your family, the Qin Family, has got into trouble. So, these two girls can help you and ease your burden. Besides, they are well trained, and they can surely serve Changxi well.”
In fact, Concubine Tang wanted these two girls to compete with Qin Yunuan for Leng Changxi’s love. Qin Yunuan kept calm and observed the two girls carefully. She seemed very satisfied and stepped forward to ask the oval-face girl, “What’s your name? How old are you?”
The oval-face girl lowered her head obediently and answered, “My name is Lily, and I’m 16.” Shortly, the heart-face girl got anxious and said quickly, “I’m Peony, and I’m 17.”
Qin Yunuan made an eye contact with Maner who stood near her. The latter stepped forward immediately and slapped Peony in the face with all her strength. At once, there was a mark left on Peony’s beautiful face.
“Being a servant girl, do you know manners? Our Young Madam didn’t even ask you. Don’t you know not to answer if the mistress doesn’t ask you?” Maner taught Peony a lesson on behalf of Qin Yunuan.
Concubine Tang was shocked. Although it was Maner who slapped Peony, she represented Qin Yunuan to show the attitude, because she was Qin Yunuan’s closest servant girl.
Qin Yunuan smiled at Concubine Tang and said, “Please pardon me. I have set many rules. Maner is the one who teaches servants how to follow the rules, so she can’t help correcting people who make mistakes. Concubine Tang, please forgive her for scolding the girl you send here.”
Come on. How did Concubine Tang dare to blame her? Concubine Tang put on an awkward smile. “Never mind. It’s absolutely fine to punish servants who break the rules. Now that I send them to you, you can discipline them at will.”
“Alright. As you agree, I will feel at ease.” Qin Yunuan wore a smile as bright as a spring flower. Despite that, her words were harsh. She spoke to Lily and Peony, “Although you used to serve Concubine Tang, now you work in my courtyard where I treat all servants equally. Thus, you, newcomers, have to work together with third-class servant girls. If you do a good job, you will, of course, get promoted and earn more. However, if you plan some evil tricks, I will never forgive you.”
Qin Yunuan was obviously warning Lily and Peony not to play tricks.
“Tomorrow, you directly go to the wood-shed to carry water and chop firewoods. Maner will check you from time to time.” Qin Yunuan’s emotionless sentence crushed Lily and Peony’s dream of becoming concubines.
Every ambitious servant girl must have been dreaming of becoming mistresses one day and being served by others. Lily and Peony stood out among so many servant girls and were picked up by Concubine Tang to serve Leng Changxi. They thought they would live a good and easy life soon, not working as second-class servant girls who basically did some light work anymore. However, they had to toil now.
Lily was timid, and she didn’t dare to say anything even though she was angry. But Peony directly put on an angry face with her mouth pouted to show her dissatisfaction.
“What makes you dissatisfied?” Qin Yunuan looked at Peony. The majesty and awe revealed in her eyes scared people. But for her better life, Peony tilted her head and rashly said as if she was negotiating. “Third Young Madam, Concubine Tang sends me here to serve General Leng, not to toil.”
Hearing this, Qin Yunuan merely snorted and took a glance at her. Concubine Tang took the chance to kick Peony first before Maner slapped her. Concubine Tang made a loud sound, but Qin Yunuan knew she didn’t exert all strength to hit Peony. Nevertheless, she already showed her attitude.
“Stupid and senseless. Haven’t you figured out that Third Young Madam is testing you? You both have ulterior motives. Why did I choose you two? Shameful.” Concubine Tang wore an embarrassed smile and said to Qin Yunuan, “They are really wicked. I’m not discerning enough. I didn’t bring the right people here. I will send you some other good girls tomorrow.”
“Don’t bother.” Qin Yunuan rejected resolutely. This time, one of the two girls Concubine Tang sent was timid while the other was bold and insolent. She could easily deal with these two. But nobody knew what kind of scheming people Concubine Tang would send next time.
“Alright. Maner, take them to work and train them well.” Qin Yunuan put the emphasis on the word “train.” Then she added, “Peony is a name too ostentatious for a servant girl. Now, you are called Haitang.”
“But I…” Peony still had something to say but successfully held herself back after thinking of the slap and kick she got just now.
Two servant girls went away, and so did the happy Concubine Tang. Considering Qin Yunuan’s character, Concubine Tang originally thought she wouldn’t keep those two girls, so she had come up with many plans to respond to her rejection. Unexpectedly, Qin Yunuan directly kept them, although the whole process didn’t go smoothly. People with weakness would be susceptible to evil tricks. As Qin Yunuan was busier now, she would not be able to keep a close eye on servant girls. At that time, Peony and Lily could take the opportunity to seduce Leng Changxi. As long as one of them could make it, that would be so wonderful.
Seeing that Concubine Tang left with satisfaction, Qin Yunuan couldn’t help laughing at her at the thought of her stupid plan.
“Third Young Madam, why do you keep those two girls. Are you not afraid that they can win master’s favor and work together with Concubine Tang to bully you?” Ting Xue asked doubtfully while carrying Qin Yunuan back to the room. She knew that Qin Yunuan was cautious, always keeping risks at bay.
Qin Yunuan leisurely looked into the distance and said, “We’re in Prince Ning’s Mansion now, not our own home. Even if I turn down Concubine Tang’s request to send Peony and Lily here, other people will also find opportunities to send other girls to me. I can’t refuse them all, right?”
Hearing this, Ting Xue thought this was a compromise because Qin Yunuan had no other choice. However, the latter smiled suddenly. “I might as well keep those two wicked but naive girls. Use them as a warning for others. Let them know that nobody can freely do what they want to do here.”
Qin Yunuan’s true intention was to release a warning to others. Ting Xue nodded her head with admiration. Surely, her mistress never submitted easily. This was the reason why she admired Qin Yunuan and was willing to serve her wholeheartedly. Staying with her, Ting Xue could learn a lot.
Walking through the Chuihua Gate, Qin Yunuan saw Leng Changxi was practicing swordplay. He was waiting for her. Summer days were so hot that he had taken off his coat with his strong chest and perfect abdominal muscle exposed. He practiced the Songshan swordplay in such a smooth way, able to control the speed and movements at will.
Seeing this, Ting Xue discerningly went away and left Qin Yunuan standing alone to appreciate Leng Changxi’s spectacular swordplay.
Halfway, Leng Changxi suddenly hooked up a yellow flower sachet on the stone chair. With a twist, the delicately made flower sachet was minced instantly. The fabric and spices inside ended up in pieces and dropped. Putting away the sword, Leng Changxi looked sharply at the submissive woman aside and said, “I take your flower sachet. You are not allowed to come here anymore. Otherwise, I would break your hamstring and neck, rather than just tear up the flower sachet.”
Qin Yunuan turned around a little, and then she found that there was a girl in red standing near the albizzia, next to which, Leng Changxi practiced the swordplay. Her red clothes perfectly echoed with the color of albizzia flowers. Her tightly girdled waist was alluring. Plus her red lips and thin eyebrows, this woman looked a little like Li Qiqi although she was not that pretty. However, her charm and grace were really enticing, and people couldn’t move their eyes from her.
But Leng Changxi didn’t even spare a glance to her. The woman in red couldn’t figure out why. Was it because she was not pretty enough? God knew how many men in the mansion liked her. Every time she walked past the garden or the pond, countless people would flirt with her through eyes.
“Third Young Master, you used to treat me nicely.” Her soft voice sounded like a seductive erotic song from the regions south of the River.
Walking closer, Qin Yunuan saw clearly what that woman looked like and she looked familiar. Then, the answer came to her. Qin Yunuan had seen this woman in the feast that Princess Ning organized. Fang Ziying told her that this woman was called Xie Ruying, a distant niece of Princess Ning.
“Funny.” Leng Changxi teased and scorned. “I used to treat you nicely? I clearly remember this is how I always treat you.”
Xie Ruying stood in a trance, and the admiration in her eyes was held up. Then she caught a glimpse of Qin Yunuan, a woman who she was so jealous of and was walking towards her with a gentle smile.
