CH 14

Outside the Tang mansion in Linzhou city, a carriage adorned with tassels on the roof slowly came to a stop.

Two maids came down from the carriage first, one lifted the curtain, while the other carefully waited outside the car with a stretched-out hand to help the person inside. After a while, a delicate jade-like hand came out from inside, it seemed soft and boneless, fair and translucent, which was quite fascinating.

The doorman greeted them and hurriedly approached the carriage to invite them, making sure the guest set their feet on the ground, he bowed and greeted carefully: “The miss has come, the room in the Jade Courtyard has been cleaned up, please go ahead and rest for a while, this little one will go ask the kitchen to serve the food.”

The girl who was addressed is Tang QiaoYuan’s distant cousin who is half-family related, her name is Qin MeiWan, she lives in Liu City which is a dozen of miles away from LinZhou city, and is one of the best beauties in the local area. Qin MeiWan is over twenty years old, some earlier years, countless wealthy families almost broke the threshold of the Qin mansion to ask her in marriage, but not only this lady was unwilling to respond, and even from time to time, she would leave home and go to live in the Tang Mansion instead, – her stays would last for months -.

Gradually, people had a guest in their heart, they all thought that this flower had recognized a master, only waiting for Tang QiaoYuan to pick it home someday. There are even some people with bad intentions who spread rumors without authorization, saying that there have been some moves between the two of them, getting married was just a matter of time.

Concerning this matter, Tang QiaoYuan always chose to ignore it, only when it was really unbearable, he would drive Qin MeiWan away back home, even more, there were countless times he would keep her outside of the gate of the mansion with a cold face. But this girl was very patient, she didn’t mind once, she still tried her best to stick to him. Later, Tang QiaoYuan was too tired to deal with it, simply turning a blind eye on it, letting her do whatever, and just pretending that she doesn’t exist.

However, just a month ago, Tang QiaoYuan got married to Fang Su, only inviting close friends and old friends in the city, even the invitations were only sent out a day before the wedding.

After the news came out, everyone was surprised, people who knew about Qin MeiWan were extremely surprised, they couldn’t understand how the position of the mansion master’s wife was lost overnight, and people who didn’t know about were very curious, wondering who was the one who made Tang QiaoYuan set his mind on.

The rumor was spread further and further, not long after it was spread to Liu City, after several turns, it reached Qin MeiWan’s ears.

Qin’s father was still sick, but it wasn’t too serious, only needing to rest, therefore, Qin MeiWan, who was extremely anxious didn’t want to hear this rumor in vain anymore, burning with jealousy, she rushed to Linzhou city.

After rushing about for half a day, Qin MeiWan finally saw the two words “Tang Mansion” in front of her, hearing the doorman’s words as if he was walking on thin ice, her slender phoenix eyes glanced at him coldly, sneered at him and said: “What? I haven’t entered the mansion yet, you’re already in a hurry to the Jade courtyard, afraid that I’ll disturb cousin?”

The doorman hurriedly lowered his head even more and said to please her: “Lady cousin is a distinguished guest, this little one is only afraid that you* (respectful ‘you’) are tired after your trip, and is in a hurry to rest…”

“Distinguished guest?” Qin MeiWan couldn’t bring herself to be happy after hearing these two words, stretched her hand and pushed the doorman, she lifted her robe and walked into the mansion.

The doorman wasn’t on guard, his thin body was immediately pushed to the ground, but didn’t dare to complain out loud, he rubbed his butt and stood up, following closely behind.

Qin MeiWan crossed the threshold, and took two more steps, then saw that three persons not far away were walking toward her. The person’s silhouette walking in the front looked very familiar, making her unconsciously stop her steps to take a look at them. After a while, she recognized Bai Ping, the other two maids looked completely unfamiliar, perhaps new maids.

“Lady cousin has arrived”, Bai Ping approached and inclined her body, “I invite the lady to fo the Jade Courtyard to rest.”

“Ha…” Qin MeiWan picked up her sleeve and chuckle lightly, looking at her with interest, “all in a hurry for me to go the Jade courtyard? what, is there anything that others shouldn’t see in this mansion?”

Bai Ping lifted her head, with an unchanging respectful smile on her lips, her words containing sarcasm: “To answer to this lady, this mansion originally has nothing that shouldn’t be seen by others.”

Qin MeiWan didn’t understand what she was saying at first, but when she realized the deep meaning, she was so angry that she lifted her hand and was about to hit her. Bai Ping did not hide, her brows slightly moved, seeing that slap wasn’t in a hurry to land on her and was stopped by Qin MeiWan’s maid.

In a hurry, that maid went in front of her to block her, and her thin cheek was slapped on Bai Ping’s stead, she kneeled down while holding her cheek, urgently persuaded her: “Please don’t be angry, Miss…”

Qin MeiWan glared at her, in her heart she was angry yet distressed, she remembered that time when she lifted her hand on Bai Ping before, she was safe and sound, but the next day she found out that her confidant maid’s cheek was red and swollen, the mark took three days to disappear. Qin MeiWan, full of anger, went to find Tang QiaoYuan for an explanation, but Tang QiaoYuan was extremely indifferent: “Su Yu is your people, then Bai Ping is not my people anymore?”

Qin MeiWan understood that she was at a disadvantage first, at that time, even if she was angry she couldn’t ask for a favor, so she could only suffer the loss, from then on, even if she act in a tyrannous manner in the mansion, she had to be more patient toward Bai Ping.

Qin MeiWan just recalled from her memories, she took a deep breath, and narrowed her eyes to look at Bai Ping, as if she was staring at someone else through her, she suddenly thought that if a simple maid in chief could make Tang QiaoYuan this protective of her, then won’t the person who went ahead and succeeded first be even more incredible?

She fears that they can casually suppress her arrogance.

Thankfully, she still holds a trick up her sleeve that only she knows, and in her opinion, this chip she is holding onto, can without a doubt, help her win everything back.

“Ah, miss Bai Ping” Qin MeiWan’s expression changed, and smiled at the girl before her, the anger that she just let out now disappeared completely, she calmly told her, “I am not a medicine lady with a fragile body and many sicknesses, I only traveled for half a day and am not so tired that I am not able to walk… now that I have returned to the Tang mansion, it is only natural than I go to meet my cousin first.”

Bai Ping could hear that she used “returned” on purpose and felt extremely repulsed. But even if she did not take Qin MeiWan seriously, she couldn’t go too far, there is a difference between a master and a servant, after all, so she could only also fake a smile and answer: “The cousin lady, unfortunately… the master is currently busy, without permission, no one is allowed to approach the main courtyard.” Bai Ping paused and saw her face turned ugly, then leisurely continued: “The master specifically said, no one without exception.”

The last few words were said very clearly, Qin MeiWan felt completely unable to hold her face, she let out an angry “hmph”, swang her sleeves, and left.

Bai Ping sent her away with her eyes until she couldn’t see her back silhouette, the smile on her face fell, her eyes extremely unhappy.

The two maidservants behind her relaxed their tensed bodies, the little girls just arrived at the mansion, when no one could see them they would still be lively, now seeing that there was no danger around, she immediately laughed in a clear voice and told her: “Sister Bai Ping is really incredible, you show no timidity in front of the master, and when you speak with this lady cousin, you are even more formidable!”

After one person said something like this, the other hurriedly echoed.

Bai Ping turned around, the two persons restrained themselves a bit, they shut their mouths and didn’t dare to talk nonsense anymore, but a smile could still be seen in their eyes. After a while, Bai Ping also slightly curved the corners of her lips, reminded them: “That person now is not a master that you should provoke, you two just arrived for the first time, in the future if you see her, go around and as far as possible. If you notice something strange when you see her, don’t forget to let me know anytime.”

“Yes, Sister Bai Ping” the two maidservants nodded and bowed respectfully, “We will remember.”

Bai Ping nodded.

The small dispute here has temporarily come to a stop, thinking about that person, she is afraid that she won’t settle down this easily, Bai Ping turned again and walked toward the main courtyard.

Tang QiaoYuan just fed Fang Su two small bowls of porridge, the dinner time was a bit delayed, but they still have to eat, but he did not plan to coax him to eat more. If he was to persuade him to eat another bowl, considering Fang Su’s pitiful appetite, he surely won’t be willing to eat later.

Tang QiaoYuan put down the bowl and the spoon and wanted to get the handkerchief to wipe off the porridge stain on the corners of his mouth, but before his hand could get close to it, Fang Su grabbed the handkerchief, and he heard him speak in a low voice: “I can do it myself…”

Thinking that he always coax him like a small child, he was embarrassed again.

Tang QiaoYuan lost his smile, he was thinking in his heart that they have done intimate things already, why does he suddenly feel ashamed now? Just when he was about to tease him about it, he suddenly heard a tap outside the window.

“Who?”

Outside of the window, Bai Ping answered and lightly called “Master”.

“Wait for me outside the door.” Tang QiaoYuan looked down at Fang Su’s thin attire, to avoid him being embarrassed, he didn’t call Bai Ping to come into the room.

Bai Ping’s shadow could be seen on the window, she bowed and walked to the door.

There was not a single moment when Tang QiaoYuan didn’t want to be intimate with Fang Su, these days, he had been holding him happily in his arms, now that he stood up to go out, he left him sitting on the stool by himself. Fang Su was sitting uncomfortably, thus Tang QiaoYuan moved him to the soft couch, putting it away like this is like thinking of a way to place some precious treasure, making him feel extremely happy.

Fang Su quietly laughed, his raised his head as he was leaning down for a kiss, his eyes curved as he watch him go out.

After a while, conservation could be heard from the corridor. Fang Su didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the courtyard was quiet, and the two persons did not have the intention to avoid him, all the conversation fell into his ears.

The girl outside spoke first: “The three members of the Fang family have been sent back.”

Tang QiaoYuan nodded and answered a “Good”, Fang Su, who was in the room, also had the same peace of mind.

Bai Ping then went on again to speak about an important matter, but this time, Fang Su didn’t quite understand it.

“Master, the person has come, the maidservants stopped her at the door of the mansion, they did not let her go further into the main courtyard.”

“En,” Tang QiaoYuan’s words did not contain much reassurance, he said with a headache, “you can only stop her for a while, knowing her temperament, as ever, she won’t listen.”

“If she doesn’t listen, what should be done?” Bai Ping asked, calmly looking at him.

Tang QiaoYuan chuckled: “Whatever you want to do, you’ve always been able to strike the right balance, as long as don’t disturb madam, anything is fine.” Immediately after that, he asked back, “You are asking this, is it not what you wanted to hear me say?”

Bai Ping did not evade it, bowed to him happily: “I cannot hide anything from Master, this servant was just waiting for Master to say this”.

Tang QiaoYuan chuckled again.

The two people outside talked about that person again and said a few more words, and occasionally uttered some words like “marriage” “prevention”, Fang Su listened to it inside the room and it became more and more froggy, although he didn’t think about it but vaguely felt that it was related to himself.

He thought about it but could not figure it out, he could only wait for Tang QiaoYuan to return and ask him about it.

But in this short amount of time, Fang Su felt uneasy in his heart, he did not the reason but the feeling was only growing deeper.

*’Lady cousin’ sounds very very weird, it is not a mistake, I still left it sometimes because the author only use this term to call QMW. I think it’s to highlight the fact that she is TQY’s cousin and also a Lady from another household.

*The two maids part also left me very very confused because the author use ‘the two of them’ then ‘she’ and that the other chirped in but there’s only one person talking? I kinda left it as it was because I don’t know better.

Note: I am finally back! I am sorry it took me so much time, I recovered from Covid a while ago but as I was reaching the end of my job, I was just feeling exhausted and I had some small mishaps and got some small bruises and cuts so I just decided to take a long break.

This chapter has been translated by me and pretty much just proofread by Grammarly, lol. I was waiting for Gemini to proofread but she is busy and I haven’t heard from her so I thought that we can deal without it or else you can probably wait for another week before getting a chapter.