Chapter 65: Bewitching Wine
Gong Xu resumed his post, and his colleagues naturally wanted to welcome him, but he politely declined.
Yu Fengchen’s case had not yet concluded, and only a few people were released. He did not want to speak carelessly after drinking and have it used against him. （ I must say, this old fox is quite cautious.）
As soon as he returned home that day, he saw Granny Yang waiting inside the gate. She eagerly stepped forward and said, “Master is back. Little Madam has already had the servants prepare dinner and warm the wine, waiting for you to dine together!”
“How is Xiu Lian today? Is she a little more settled?” Gong Xu asked.
“She’s still not feeling well,” Granny Yang said deliberately, “She has restless sleep and feels listless when awake.”
“This child is being too difficult,” Gong Xu frowned. “Let’s change doctors tomorrow! She’s already taken so much medicine from Doctor Zhao, but it hasn’t seemed to help at all.”
“Actually, Little Madam is mostly suffering from a hidden worry,” Granny Yang said. “She was really worried about Master these past few days, otherwise, it wouldn’t have come to this.”
Gong Xu sighed upon hearing this, “Indeed! She has been truly worried.”
“So, I thought, Master spending more time with Little Madam would be better than any medicine. Little Madam’s heart is entirely with you; she can only feel at ease with you by her side!” Granny Yang seized the opportunity.
“Master!” Just as she thought she had succeeded, Zhang Ma’s voice came from behind.
Granny Yang was startled by her and clutched her chest, saying, “Heavens above! Elder Sister, you nearly scared my soul away with that shout!”
“You haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you flustered?” Even in front of Gong Xu, Zhang Ma was not polite to her. “I am here on Madam’s orders to invite Master over.”
“But shouldn’t Master eat first?” Granny Yang said with a forced smile. “Don’t you think so?”
“Madam has already prepared Master’s dinner, and Old Madam also specially sent over some Hui Quan Wine,” Zhang Ma said, then moved Granny Yang aside. “Go back and tell Little Madam to eat by herself first!”
“This…” Granny Yang was naturally unwilling, but she dared not confront Zhang Ma directly, and moreover, the other party had mentioned Old Madam.
“Granny Yang, go back and tell Little Madam to eat with Bao’er first! I’ll go accompany her later.” After all, Gong Xu had promised his mother to get along well with Wen Mingqian.
At this moment, both sides were inviting him. If he refused Wen Mingqian, Old Madam would surely be displeased if she found out.
This would then also fall upon Consort Song, which would not benefit her.
Granny Yang heard Gong Xu speak and had nothing more to say, only meekly acknowledging that she understood.
When Gong Xu arrived at Lingyue Pavilion, he saw a maid holding a large bouquet of pomegranate flowers. The branches were dense, obscuring her face, and only her slender figure was visible.
Gong Xu couldn’t help but wonder, as he didn’t recall any such maid in the mansion.
“Is it Master?” a soft, sweet voice with a Wu dialect accent asked. “Your servant pays her respects to you.”
The flower branches moved aside, revealing a face as beautiful as a ripe peach, which even made the bright pomegranate flowers seem to lose their color.
“Who are you?” Gong Xu asked her.
“Your servant is new, my name is Yun Ying,” Yun Ying smiled gently and sweetly. “I don’t yet understand the mansion’s rules, so please forgive me, Master.”
“Sister Yun, how come you…” Sang Er ran over like a little fox from the lotus pond, her bright eyes appraising Gong Xu from head to toe. “This is…”
“Hurry and pay your respects to Master, you truly have no manners,” Yun Ying pinched her discreetly.
“Ouch!” Sang Er cried out in pain, her eyes reddening with grievance. “I’ve never met Master before… and no one told me Master would be so refined and young…”
But immediately, she performed a proper curtsy to Gong Xu, “Your servant Sang Er pays her respects to Master.”
Looking at the two stunning beauties before him, no man could remain displeased, and Gong Xu was no exception.
Such pure and charming young girls were most capable of disarming men of Gong Xu’s age, making him feel they were innocent little rabbits who needed protection, lest they be swallowed by the world.
“Who brought you in?” Gong Xu asked.
“Madam bought us,” Sang Er seemed to be bolder and more lively. “She also said she would ask an older Granny to teach us the rules later!”
“You really need to learn the rules; you’re still so presumptuous in front of Master,” Yun Ying reached out and gently tapped her forehead.
Her sleeve stirred up a fragrant breeze that wafted into Gong Xu’s nostrils, soft and rich, just like her.
“Master, please, Madam is waiting for you inside!” Sang Er suddenly adopted a solemn expression and respectfully moved aside.
Gong Xu smiled slightly. He noticed the glance Sang Er secretly cast at him: five parts curiosity, four parts admiration, and one part subtle seduction.
“Master is back. I was planning to tell you about these two maids later, but I didn’t expect them to meet you first,” Wen Mingqian was wearing a light blue gauze shirt, her black hair flowing like a waterfall. Her face, unadorned, was not dull at all. Compared to the two maids, she possessed a natural beauty that seemed to say, “Only when the plainness is extreme can one truly appreciate the flower’s vibrancy.”
“The mansion is indeed a bit short-handed,” Gong Xu sat down. “It’s reasonable to buy a couple of good ones.”
At this, the two maids, one holding a copper basin and the other a towel, served Gong Xu to wash his hands and face.
“They are both very smart and capable, but they still lack in serving people and need to learn well,” Wen Mingqian said. “I asked Master to come over to discuss Chang An’s studies. Eldest Sister-in-law spoke with me today…”
Wen Mingqian then recounted what Wei Shi had said to Gong Xu: “I was thinking of sending Chang An here first. When Bao An is old enough in a couple of years, he can naturally come here to study as well. Otherwise, if they both go to the Wang family and then have to leave, it might look bad.”
“Since it’s Eldest Sister-in-law’s idea, let’s do it that way!” Gong Xu didn’t object. “These two doctors both previously served in the Imperial Academy, so they are certainly more knowledgeable than others.”
Wen Mingqian was very pleased to hear this. While ordering the meal to be served, she said to Yun Ying and Sang Er, “Quickly pour wine for Master.”
Gong Xu ate this meal with immense pleasure. Perhaps it was Zhang Ma’s excellent cooking, or perhaps the Hui Quan Wine was truly mellow.
He felt that this meal was the most delicious and satisfying he had eaten in many years.
One of the maids poured wine, and the other offered a cup, causing him to become somewhat drunk without realizing it.
“I need to go in and tell Master, Little Madam is not feeling well right now!” Granny Yang appeared at the door again to cause trouble. “If you stop me, and something goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?”
“Let her in,” Zhang Ma said with a dark expression. “Little Madam is very precious right now, we must be careful.”
As soon as Granny Yang entered, she said in a feigned humble tone, “Master, Little Madam has a stomachache right now! Please come and see her.”
Gong Xu frowned slightly upon hearing this, “Haven’t you called for a doctor?”
“I’ve sent for one, but they haven’t arrived yet,” Granny Yang said shamelessly. “Little Madam is beside herself right now; she needs you by her side.”
