Chapter 35 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

Chapter 35:

Take a Concubine

Lin Yunwan drank her tea and said, "Zhuqing, you will come with me to pay respects to the Old Madam."

Zhuqing obediently agreed, "This servant pays respects to the Old Madam."

At the Yu Shou Tang, she knelt before the Old Madam, displaying a meek and proper demeanor, a far cry from the arrogant and defiant attitude she had displayed a few years ago when confronting the Mistress in public.

The Old Madam nodded and instructed her to stand aside, engaging in discussions with Lin Yunwan about the social interactions within the household.

"The Old Madam of the An Ding Marquis' residence is celebrating her birthday."

Lin Yunwan continued discussing the matters with the Old Madam, and when they left Yu Shou Tang, Zhuqing couldn't help but exhale in relief, "Madam, does this mean I've passed the Old Madam's inspection?"

"You've passed," Lin Yunwan affirmed.

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Zhuqing curved her lips into a smile.

She accompanied Lin Yunwan in paying respects to the Old Madam for the next few days. However, she soon sensed that something was amiss.

"Young Madam, please don't blame me for being nosy, but I've noticed something unusual about that young lady," Zhuqing spoke up.

"What's unusual about her?" Lin Yunwan set aside the account book, curious.

"Every time I accompany you in and out, she's always peeking through the windows of the side chamber, and her maidservant keeps staring at me," Zhuqing explained, biting her lip. "She either cares a lot about you or is particularly interested in the Young Master."

Lin Yunwan observed Zhuqing. She was indeed sharp.

Zhuqing seemed anxious, thinking she might have spoken out of turn. "Did I say something wrong, Young Madam?"

"No, you didn't."

"You're very clever," Lin Yunwan smiled. No wonder Lu Zhenliu brought Zhuqing back when he took concubines in his past life; she had the ability to make men unforgettable. She also had the knack for exposing Bao'er's true intentions.

"Zhuqing, I have a piece of advice for you, just listen casually."

"I'm willing to receiveYoung Madam's guidance."

"Don't give away your heart. The Young Master already has someone in his heart. No matter what, in the future, live your own life well."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Zhuqing was indeed clever; she quickly understood. "Young Madam, during the years I spent at the estate, the Young Master never brought me back. It's you who thought of me. In the future, I'll only serve you and the Eldest Young Master wholeheartedly."

Lin Yunwan smiled.

She didn't need Zhuqing to serve her like a servant, but she did need Zhuqing to be on her side, or at least not causing trouble behind her back during critical moments.

"All right, go back and freshen up. In a few days, you'll meet the Young Master."

"Yes," Zhuqing happily left.

"Young Madam!"

Ping Ye hurriedly walked in.

Lin Yunwan remained calm, "What's the matter?"

Ping Ye said, "Didn't you ask me to keep an eye on Wu'er – the servant girl for the Miss, right? I had someone watch her. Today, she's sitting alone by the pond in the garden, crying secretly."

Lin Yunwan asked, "Why is she crying?"

Tao Ye commented, "Xiliu is a simple-minded girl, and there haven't been any known troubles at her home. I can't think of any reason for her to cry. Could it be because of the Miss?"

"You guessed it right."

Ping Ye disdainfully said, "It's that Miss who is difficult to serve. I don't know exactly how troublesome she is, as Xiliu refuses to talk about it. However, it's clear that she suffered some injustice from that Miss."

It seemed that Ge Bao'er had lost control of her temper and vented her anger on Xiliu.

Lin Yunwan sighed, feeling sympathy for the poor servant. She instructed Ping Ye, "Go and comfort her, whether it's by giving her some food or a little extra silver."

Ping Ye smiled and said, "I've already sent her a plate of candied ginger. She's quite pleased and has already recovered."

"You've done well."

Lin Yunwan rewarded the two maids with some silver peanuts. Although they lived decently by her side, they never found more silver undesirable.

A few days later, Lin Yunwan and Lu Zhengliu happened to meet at Yu Shou Tang. In front of the old Madam, Lan Yunwan brought up the matter of taking a concubine for him.

Unexpectedly, Lu Zhengliu became very angry, completely disregarding the old madam's face, and coldly questioned her, "Do you really want to take a concubine for me?"

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Calmly, Lin Yunwan replied, "Heir, I have been married for seven years without any offspring. If I don't take a concubine... the rumors and gossip outside would be hard to dispel."

The old lady, frowning, added, "Zhengliu, what Yunwan said makes sense."

Lu Zhengliu felt a bit aggrieved. If it weren't for the sake of bringing Qing Ge'er into the mansion, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. People outside would indeed suspect his fertility being the reason they suggested adopting an heir. The best solution, in this case, was for him to have another child with a woman from the mansion.

Staring directly at Lin Yunwan, he asked, "Why do you want to take a concubine for me? Could it be..."

Lin Yunwan didn't understand, and she said, "The concubine is not someone else; it's Zhuqing, who served the Eldest Heir before. If it weren't for some mistakes she made earlier, she should have been a concubine already."

However, Lu Zhengliu seemed indifferent to whether it was Zhuqing or not and left with a cold face.

It was truly inexplicable. In the previous life, he himself was willing to accept Zhuqing as a concubine.

Lin Yunwan looked at the old lady.

The old lady, however, smiled and said, "Just set her up as his concubine."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

After she left, Yan Mama smiled and said, "Madam hasn't realized it yet. The Eldest Heir actually wants to have a legitimate son with her first."

"Yunwan is, after all, a sheltered young lady and doesn't understand such matters. It's normal that she hasn't figured it out," replied the old Madam.

Yan Mama expressed some concern, "Shouldn't this old servant..."

"No, absolutely not! You know how stubborn Zhengliu is. I pushed him to marry Yunwan, and look at the result today. It's better not to meddle at all. Let them figure it out on their own. I don't believe that with such a beauty in front of him, he would still think about those little concubines over there."

Yan Mama also felt a lingering fear; the old Madam had truly suffered this time.

"Old Madam, what about that servant girl, Zhuqing? Is it appropriate to let her stay between Madam and Eldest Heir now?" Yan Mama inquired.

Old Madam responded cheerfully, "Why wouldn't it be? No matter who it is, if they can divert Zhengliu's attention away from that little girl, I'd be grateful!"

"Besides, Zhuqing was forced into Zhengliu's service by Yunwan. He's angry now, and even if he remembers the old affair and takes Zhuqing, it won't be immediate."

"There's nothing to worry about."

"Keep an eye on Ge Bao'er, make sure she doesn't cause any trouble," Old Madam added.

Yan Mama assured, "This old servant understands." 

They continued their conversation in the Drawing Room.

“Zhuqing, you will stay in the Yue Xing Ting[1] for now. I will give you your status today, and starting from the beginning of next month, you will receive your monthly allowance.” 

"Thank you, Madam!" 

"Ping Ye, help her up," Lin Yunwan said. Sitting on the embroidered stool, she spoke with a somewhat pessimistic tone, "I mentioned you to Eldest Heir, but he is not very willing."

Zhuqing didn't feel embarrassed or disappointed; instead, she replied, "I know. Madam mentioned that Eldest Son already has someone in his heart, probably thinking about that woman."

Lin Yunwan nodded and asked Zhuqing, "What do you think of Eldest Heir?"

Having served Lin Zhengliu since childhood, growing up together, Zhuqing did have some understanding of him.

"To deal with Eldest Heir, you have to go along with him but not be too accommodating," she answered.

"I remember when Eldest Heir was young, he really wanted a horse. Old Master thought he was too young and didn't want to spoil him. Eldest Heir tried every possible way to get it. That year, he learned a difficult set of martial arts to impress Old Master. However, after obtaining the horse, he lost interest and abandoned it," Zhuqing shared.

Lin Yunwan contemplated this information. It seemed to reflect his attitude towards Ge Bao'er. When something is out of reach, he pursues it relentlessly for seven years, but once obtained, he abandons it, like the way he pursues concubines.

She couldn't help but wonder if, without her standing in their way, could they still love each other so deeply?

"Lady?" Lin Yunwan snapped back to reality, asking Zhuqing, "Do you know what to do now?"

Zhuqing hesitated and shook her head. 

She still didn't know.

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[1] Yue Xing Ting: Rain Apricot Pavilion

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