Chapter 76:
Afraid of displeasing her master, Er Xia cried in suppressed sobs, which sounded all the more pitiable.
The door was not closed, and the maidservants and old women sweeping outside in the courtyard all heard it clearly. The young maidservants were all moved, let alone Er Qing who had grown up with her. After serving tea inside, she stood to the side with an expression of reluctance, almost pleading for mercy.
Xie Wanning quietly pondered. In others’ eyes, she had indeed distanced herself from Er Xia without reason.
After all, Er Xia had always truly put her first in everything, just as she herself said.
As a maidservant, she was meticulous in her duties, dexterous with her hands and able to style many complex hairstyles. Coupled with their friendship from growing up together, not to mention others giving her face, even Xie Wanning herself had never thought that one day when she married, she would leave behind this maidservant who pleased her so much.
But the memories from the dream were vivid in her mind. Seeing Er Xia made her think of that day when she was betrayed by the maidservant and her husband together, thinking of herself outside the side room as if struck by lightning.
At this moment, Er Xia was crying with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in rain, heartbroken to the extreme, yet Xie Wanning could not bring herself to soften.
Because on that day when the affair was exposed and she caught them in the act in bed, Er Xia had also been in this humble and pained posture, kneeling and begging her forgiveness.
How could she forgive? She could not forgive…
Xie Wanning gently closed her eyes and said, “Considering you have served me for a time, I will give you a sum of dowry silver and let you leave the manor.”
“No! This servant does not want to leave Young Lady. Please do not be so heartless.”
Er Xia was weeping uncontrollably, her gaze turning to Er Qing standing to the side, choking as she said, “You know this maidservant has been clumsy-tongued since childhood, not as good as others at saying pretty words to please the master, with shallow thoughts and not even knowing when she has offended someone. Please do not listen to slander.”
These pointed words made Er Qing’s face turn deathly pale. She hurriedly stepped forward as if to kneel, but was stopped by Xie Wanning’s sharp rebuke.
“Since you know you are clumsy-tongued, you should think about what words should be said and what should not before speaking. I am tired of you, yet instead of reflecting on your own wrongs, you resent others for framing you?”
Xie Wanning moved the leg she was holding, and seeing she still would not let go, said impatiently, “Originally considering your many years of service, I was willing to give you a sum of dowry silver, but if you continue to make a scene like this, then there is no need to leave the manor.”
After she married, Madam Zheng would always arrange for the people in her courtyard.
Even close maidservants like Er Xia would not be part of the dowry, let alone those who had committed taboos against their master.
And for maidservants who had offended the daughter, Madam Zheng would not be lenient in dealing with them.
There would be no good assignments waiting.
Er Xia had been in the manor for many years; how could she not know this.
Hearing this, she hurriedly let go, carefully straightened her master’s skirt hem, and dared not say another word.
That obedient and humble posture made Xie Wanning furrow her brows and say, “All of you, withdraw.”
She had already shown mercy. After all, the current Er Xia had not betrayed her master and climbed into bed; she could not punish her with the crimes from the dream, but she could not pretend nothing had happened in the dream and keep her by her side to serve.
Giving her a sum of silver and letting her leave the manor was the last bit of affection between master and servant.
Xie Wanning lightly sighed, turning her gaze to pick up the teacup to calm her thoughts, but as she turned her head, she saw the man sitting beside her, his gaze fixed on her.
During Er Xia’s outburst, Pei Yuqing had not spoken at all; she had almost forgotten he was there.
Being seen by him dealing with the maidservant made Xie Wanning somewhat uneasy as she said, “She has served by my side since she was six, which is already twelve years. Do you think I am heartless?”
“Wanwan must have her reasons for doing this,” Pei Yuqing said with a smile. “I know your character better than anyone; how could I think you heartless.”
Even if she was heartless, he liked it.
Xie Wanning could not perceive his unspoken meaning, but it still stirred her heart slightly, and she could not help explaining, “When I was engaged to Lu Ziyan, she developed some feelings for him and even thought of becoming a concubine to my future husband. I could not tolerate it.”
……Future husband.
The expression of the genuine future husband paused slightly, then he smiled and said, “Wanwan, rest assured, I will never take a concubine.”
“I know, I know,” Xie Wanning smiled upon hearing this and said, “I just want some peace and quiet.”
He was already this age and had not yet been near women; how could he take a concubine in the future.
In these days of interaction, he had not glanced sideways at her younger sister or maidservants, not looking extra or saying extra words. Xie Wanning could not even imagine what it would be like if he took a concubine.
Thinking of this, Xie Wanning smiled and asked him, “Didn’t you just come a couple days ago? With only three days left until the wedding date, you just couldn’t hold back from seeing me?”
When the servant came to report, Madam Zheng was truly both helpless and delighted—helpless that her future son-in-law, who appeared to be a poised and self-restrained young master from a prominent family, repeatedly did somewhat reckless things that lost decorum.
And delighted at his deep affection for her daughter.
Pei Yuqing took her hand and said, “I missed you, so I came.”
Xie Wanning was stunned. How rare—he would say sweet words even without her forcing him?
Pei Yuqing lowered his head, his gaze falling on their clasped hands. “Wanwan, you won’t regret it, right?”
His facial expression was not clear, only his voice somewhat low. Xie Wanning laughed, “What nonsense are you saying? What would I regret? In three more days, it will be our wedding day. Just wait to be the groom.”
As she spoke, she said puzzledly, “I’ve long heard that young ladies get nervous before marriage, but I’ve never heard of a man getting so worried about taking a wife.”
Sunlight from outside filtered through the gauze window, filling the room with bright light. The girl in the bloom of youth had one hand held by him, the other propping her cheek, smiling as she told him to wait to be the groom.
Pei Yuqing raised his eyes, gazing quietly at her for a long time. The bewilderment and worry in his heart gradually sank, and a slight smile appeared on his face.
He placed the hand he was holding to his lip and kissed it lightly, sighing, “Wanwan is too good; I feel unworthy of you, and I fear something might go wrong with the marriage.”
Xie Wanning: “……”
Was it really that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? This man actually felt unworthy of her.
Her background was good, but among the noble ladies of the capital city, she was not top-tier.
And did this man not know that he could even match an imperial family princess?
……….
Outside the city gate of Yunzhou City, war drums sounded, the stirring drumbeats mixed with killing cries shaking the heavens, severed limbs and broken arms scattered everywhere.
On the towering city wall stood a middle-aged man in heavy armor. The man was seven feet tall with a Precious Saber at his waist and dense short beard on his face. At this moment, he looked down coldly at the person mounted on a black warhorse below the city gate.
That was Lu Ziyan, who though had not yet been to the frontier battlefield, had blood on his hands no less than the generals guarding the passes.
Fierce fighting raged below the city tower, with soldiers constantly climbing up only to be repelled by rolling stones from the wall. It seemed they were holding strong, but Lu Ping knew Yunzhou City had been besieged for two months. Not to mention exhausted troops and horses, even morale could not compare to the enemy.
This was already the second day of Lu Ziyan’s siege.
He was about to fail to hold.
Dear ones, do you still have your monthly tickets? If so, cast them to me. Author has never taken a break since starting the book—don’t I deserve your support?
And Xiaoxiang as the debut site, please give it some effort, dears~~~
The list wasn’t held steady on the last day of last month, lost a thousand bucks, my heart hurts so much~~~
