Chapter 115: Tell Her to Get Lost

When the carriage returned to the entrance of the Duke of Chen’s mansion, it encountered Mu Jiang and Huan Qingtang.

Mu Jiang was heading out to buy some things. She could have ordered the steward to purchase them, but because she was truly bored and wanted to go out for a stroll, no one dared stop her.

Huan Qingtang was going to check on her dowry silk estates. On the street, she had run into Mu Jiang. At the time, she had addressed her as “Secondary Wife,” but Mu Jiang ignored her.

Now, as the two returned and stepped down from their separate carriages, they happened to meet again at the gate.

Mu Jiang was fuming, feeling that today was extremely unlucky—like running into a ghost in broad daylight.

Huan Qingtang’s expression was gentle, impossible to read as happy or angry. However, the senior maidservant beside her kept staring at Mu Jiang.

Mu Jiang interpreted this as the maidservant thinking that it might lower the Eldest Madam’s status to be seen leaving and returning with the Lord Duke’s concubine.

Mu Jiang was dressed in a bright red gown, vivid as fire, and her temper was just as explosive. She immediately snapped at the maidservant, “What are you staring at?”

Huan Qingtang stepped in front of her. “Secondary Wife, please don’t argue with a servant. She wasn’t looking at you—it was just a misunderstanding.”

“Do you think I’m blind?”

Just as the two were about to quarrel, a carriage pulled up.

It was an unfamiliar carriage, not as luxurious as those of the Duke of Chen’s mansion, but the driver was a young man with a round, dark face.

Both Huan Qingtang and Mu Jiang recognized this driver—he was one of Zhou Yuanshen’s deputy generals.

One of his trusted men, always by his side.

Without a doubt, this was Zhou Yuanshen’s carriage.

“Someone, lower the threshold! The Lord Duke has returned to the mansion,” the deputy general announced loudly.

Before the gateman’s servants could respond, Mu Jiang stepped forward. “Third Brother.”

As she spoke, she tried to lift the carriage curtain.

She vaguely sensed someone moving inside the carriage, thinking Zhou Yuanshen was about to push the curtain aside and emerge. But instead, the deputy general stepped forward to block her. “Secondary Wife, the Lord Duke is resting.”

Mu Jiang frowned. “I’m not going to disturb him.”

Then she raised her voice. “Third Brother, my feet are sore and my legs are weak—I want to ride into the mansion, too.”

There was some kind of rustling noise from inside the carriage, but no one answered her.

Mu Jiang reached again to lift the curtain, but suddenly something struck the back of her hand.

It was a hidden weapon, though it seemed to be an earring made of gold inlaid with pearls. It hit her hand so hard that it almost drew blood.

She cried out sharply in shock, utterly incredulous.

Without meaning to, she stumbled back and fell to the ground. Her maidservant hurried over to help her up.

Then Zhou Yuanshen’s voice came, carrying a unique depth and cruelty: “Get lost!”

By then, the servants had already laid down the threshold and set up the wooden ramp. The deputy general drove the carriage through the gates of the mansion.

As the carriage passed, something shifted by the window, lifting the curtain slightly.

Huan Qingtang happened to look over and caught a glimpse of skin as pale as snow.

For a moment, she thought it might be her imagination.

Her maidservant, seeing Mu Jiang sitting dazed on the ground, couldn’t hide her glee. She whispered to Huan Qingtang, “Some ‘Secondary Wife’ she is. In the Lord Duke’s eyes, even if she’s pregnant, she’s nothing but a concubine.”

If he didn’t hold her in contempt, why would he refuse to let her into the carriage?

This was a direct defiance of the Dowager.

Under normal circumstances, even the head of the family would hardly have the threshold lowered—they would walk in themselves. Since the Lord Duke was making an exception, taking Mu Jiang into the mansion with him wouldn’t have been an inconvenience.

Yet he absolutely refused to let her aboard, even using a hidden weapon to strike her.

Mu Jiang was so furious that tears filled her eyes.

She looked utterly humiliated.

And with Huan Qingtang there to witness the scene, Mu Jiang was even more beside herself with anger. She strode quickly through the gates of the Duke’s mansion.

Her maidservant supported her, cautioning, “Secondary Wife, please slow down. You are carrying twins—you absolutely must take care.”

Mu Jiang wished she could throw a tantrum: He had humiliated her like this, why should she bear his child? If something happened to this child, would he feel any remorse?

But without this child, she would be trampled even deeper into the dirt, which would be even worse for her. The first one to suffer would be herself.

She raised her hand to hit a maidservant to vent her anger, but spotted a male servant standing at the door. She suppressed the impulse with great effort, the veins on her temples bulging.

Huan Qingtang took a few steps and picked up a gold-and-pearl earring.

She examined it closely.

Her maidservant said, "This must belong to the Third Young Madam, right? She loves wearing gold jewelry the most."

Cheng Zhao was naturally beautiful, her skin as fair as frost and snow. When she wore gold-and-pearl headpieces, the pearlescent sheen reflected off her face, as if adding a soft glow to her.

"Keep it for now. Return it to her tomorrow," Huan Qingtang said.

She could also inform Mu Jiang, letting her know why the Lord Duke had told her to get out today. This might serve as an opportunity to stir up conflict between the two.

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of Ronghua Courtyard, Cheng Zhao was already somewhat faint.

The sash binding her hands had long been loosened by Zhou Yuanshen.

A general's armor and lance were heavy, so Zhou Yuanshen possessed astonishing arm strength. His hands gripped Cheng Zhao's waist tightly, the jostling causing all her hair to come loose.

She broke out in a light sweat.

She clung tightly to Zhou Yuanshen, lowering her head to bite down on the fabric of his shoulder, hearing a deep, low sigh escape his throat.

He was usually so silent and unnoticed.

That moment's sensation, Cheng Zhao felt she might never taste again in her lifetime; Zhou Yuanshen seemed to feel the same, as he broke his usual restraint, letting her hear his voice.

Cheng Zhao felt very warm.

Zhou Yuanshen's sapphire-blue kesi robe was still on him. As Cheng Zhao pressed against him, she realized that his collar was already soaked with sweat, and the fabric was scorching hot from his body heat.

At the entrance, she encountered Mu Jiang, and Cheng Zhao was fiercely startled. Subconsciously, she looked for her clothes.

She sobered up a little.

By the time they reached the entrance of Ronghua Courtyard, she had barely managed to wrap herself in her garments, her skirt in disarray; her hair was also loose and scattered.

Zhou Yuanshen adjusted himself casually, his lapel already wrinkled. He jumped down from the carriage first, then carried Cheng Zhao in with broad strides.

Nanny Li was momentarily stunned.

Suyue, a senior maidservant who had never experienced such matters but often kept night watch, reacted even faster than Nanny Li, ordering everyone to step back.

Zhou Yuanshen carried Cheng Zhao back to the inner sleeping chamber.

Nanny Li had already instructed the rough maids to prepare hot water.

There was a small tea room nearby, with two stoves that could both simmer soup and boil water.

They happened to have two pots of hot water on hand; the weather wasn't cold at that moment, so it was barely sufficient.

Suyue asked at the doorway, "Third Young Madam, should we bring water in?"

Zhou Yuanshen's voice came from inside: "Bring it in."

After Cheng Zhao had tidied herself up and changed into an under robe and trousers, she lay on the bed, drowsy, and drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.

When she woke up in the latter part of the night, she found Zhou Yuanshen was not by her side.

Cheng Zhao called for the maidservant on night duty.

Qiubai came in: "Are you hungry? There's bird's nest congee on the small stove."

"Bring me a bowl," Cheng Zhao said.

Qiubai acknowledged the order.

Cheng Zhao draped a short jacket over herself, got up, and walked around the screen to sit at the table and drink the bird's nest congee.

"Where is the Lord Duke?" she asked.

"The Lord Duke saw that you were sound asleep, changed his clothes, and went out. He didn't give any instructions or say whether he would return," Qiubai said.

The spoon in Cheng Zhao's hand paused slightly.

Qiubai asked softly, "...Did he mistreat you?"

"No," Cheng Zhao said.

At the time, she was absolutely furious.

But in the moment when her soul was utterly intoxicated, she simply couldn’t stay angry.

Inside the carriage, hidden by the walls and curtains, no one could see them.

In the mortal world, pleasures were always scarce. To have a fleeting moment of exquisite rapture was exceedingly rare.

Cheng Zhao did not chase after happiness—she could endure a plain and uneventful life just as well. She was not the sort to indulge in delight. Yet, when genuine pleasure came to her, she was also willing to savor it.

Thus, she chose not to be angry.

She even asked after Zhou Yuanshen’s whereabouts.