Zhuаng Shiуаng сhuckled. "It's beсаuse yоu were tоо tеmрting tоdаy, making mе think of you so much. Your bоdу is much mоre раssiоnаte thаn bеfоrе. Whiсh servаnt would dare соme in?" Suddеnly remembеring something, his еxprеssiоn dаrkеnеd. "Whу isn't thеre a singlе sеrvant аttеnding in this rоom?"
Мadаm Zhоu exсlаimed in surрrise, "Didn't my two mаids go to fetсh уоu, Mаster? And Nannу Li—I just instruсtеd her tо rеst аftеr рutting Yu'еr to slееp."
Uрon hеaring this, Zhuang Shiуang grеw furiоus. "Yоu've just еntеrеd thе household, уet you rely оn your own mаids for evеrything. Му Zhuang Мanor can still afford a few maids. Tomorrow, I'll have the steward bring some over, and you can pick a few."
Madam Zhou was overjoyed but hesitated. "Fourth Miss said that the concubines in the manor are all assigned servants this way. I don't want to invite gossip."
"Who is in charge of this manor—me or her?" The mention of it only fueled Zhuang Shiyang's anger. "I am her father! What right does she have to speak in this manor?"
Madam Zhou showed a hint of fear. "But I noticed Fourth Miss doesn't like us, and Yu'er mentioned it too. Master, I see that Fourth Miss has a strong will—not as obedient and gentle as you usually describe."
Madam Zhou's words carried ulterior motives. On the surface, she was complaining, but in reality, she was warning him, implying that his daughter was two-faced and that her usual obedience and filial piety might be an act. Judging by her behavior over the past two days since Madam Zhou entered the household, it was clear that Fourth Miss was not to be underestimated. Regardless of what schemes she might have, her actions did not seem like those of a typical twelve-year-old girl.
Zhuang Shiyang couldn't help but feel suspicious. Han Yan had been close to Wang Shi since childhood but had little affection for him, her father—in fact, she was extremely fearful of him. Fortunately, Wang Shi had raised her well, and regardless of his attitude, Han Yan had always adhered to propriety, appearing obedient and submissive in front of him.
But since Wang Shi's death, he had paid little attention to this daughter. It wasn't until Madam Zhou entered the household that he realized Han Yan had changed. From being extremely fearful, she now engaged in subtle confrontations. The look in her eyes was no longer one of respect and submission but carried a hint of confidence and something indescribable. That look actually made him feel somewhat guilty.
Unconsciously, this daughter had become unfamiliar to him, giving him a sense of being unable to control her. His desire for control had always been strong, so Han Yan's unexpected behavior filled him with anger.
Madam Zhou leaned softly against Zhuang Shiyang's chest and said, "Fourth Miss lost her mother, so it's understandable that she resents me. But you are her father—as a child, she should still show you respect. The other day, speaking like that in front of the servants—wasn't that a slap in your face?"
Zhuang Shiyang was taken aback, recalling Han Yan's words admonishing Madam Zhou not to wear bright-colored clothing. He hadn't realized when Han Yan had become so eloquent. His expression immediately darkened.
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Madam Zhou quickly smiled and said, "I went to see Fifth Young Master today."
Zhuang Shiyang hadn't expected her to suddenly bring this up and casually asked, "How was it?"
Madam Zhou buried her face in his chest, her voice filled with both resentment and affection. "Shiyang, I truly wish to bear you a son."When Zhuang Shiyang heard these words, he concluded that she must have suffered grievances at Zhuang Hanming's place, and his displeasure toward Han Yan and her brother grew even stronger. Hearing the soft plea of the woman in his arms further satisfied his masculine pride, and he could no longer restrain himself, embracing Madam Zhou as they tumbled into another passionate embrace.
The night was enchanting, and while this side was ablaze with passion, someone in Hibiscus Garden was sleepless tonight.
Crash! A blue-glazed porcelain bowl adorned with pink butterflies and beauties shattered on the floor, scattering glistening bird's nest soup everywhere. A maid nearby glanced at the mess on the floor with heartache—it was bird's nest porridge that her mistress had specifically ordered the kitchen to simmer for three full hours, now wasted just like that.
The woman on the couch glared at her. "What use is this when the person is gone?" She then gritted her teeth and asked, "Is the master really staying at Dove Tree Courtyard tonight?"
The young maid timidly replied, "That's what I heard, mistress."
The young woman on the couch was none other than Concubine Mei. Today, seeing Zhuang Shiyang showering Madam Zhou and her daughter with affection, she felt an inexplicable sense of threat. Without a son, her place in this household relied solely on the master's favor. Madam Zhou had a daughter, Zhuangshan, which gave her an extra advantage. Moreover, as she had seen today, although Madam Zhou was not as beautiful as herself, she was still quite attractive, with a gentle and refined demeanor that Concubine Mei could never imitate. Zhuang Shiyang had grown accustomed to her fiery beauty over the years, and the arrival of a gentle-tempered woman in the household would undoubtedly pique his interest. Men were always drawn to novelty. At twenty years old, if she were to lose favor now, it would be difficult to regain it.
Thus, tonight she had taken great care with her appearance, hoping to serve Zhuang Shiyang well and firmly capture his heart. Unexpectedly, the master's attendant suddenly informed her that Zhuang Shiyang would be staying at Dove Tree Courtyard tonight. All her meticulous preparations and the specially ordered soup from the kitchen were in vain. How could she not feel jealous? How could she not feel hatred!
"That seductress!" Concubine Mei gritted her teeth. "She’s only just entered the household and already causing trouble. Does she think the people of Hibiscus Garden are dead? Just an old woman, yet she dares to stir up waves!"
The maid beside her glanced at her expression and finally spoke up. "Mistress, when I went out earlier, I ran into Fourth Miss’s personal maid, Ji Lan, and spoke with her for a while."
Concubine Mei knew she wouldn’t bring this up without reason and glared at her. "What did she say?"
"Replying to the mistress, according to Ji Lan, Madam Zhou has been very attentive to Fourth Miss lately. Today, she even visited the young master and sent many gifts. It seems she’s trying to curry favor."
Concubine Mei was furious. "She’s just an unfavored young lady. Currying favor, hmph! She’s willing to find herself an ally!"
She took a sip of tea to calm herself, then looked up and asked, "What did Fourth Miss say?"
The maid leaned closer. "Ji Lan said Fourth Miss is naive. Seeing Madam Zhou treat her well, she seemed quite pleased."
Concubine Mei fell silent, merely stroking the floral pattern on the hem of her skirt. After a long while, she stood up and said, "Jiao Meng, from today onward, get closer to the maids around Fourth Miss. If she thinks she can win Fourth Miss over, she’s dreaming!"
Even though Fourth Miss was unfavored, she still had a say within the clan. If Zhuang Shiyang intended to elevate Madam Zhou to the position of principal wife, as long as Han Yan spoke a few good words in front of the clan leader, the matter would be halfway settled. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to find a way to pull Fourth Miss to her side.The weather gradually turned colder, and the winter sun no longer brought any sense of warmth. Instead, the steaming aroma of food from the vendors carrying their loads near the east city gate in the morning was a refreshing delight.
In the capital, there had long been a saying: "The east is poor, the west is rich, the south is noble, and the north is chaotic." It roughly meant that the eastern part was mostly inhabited by the poor, the northern part was plagued by disorder, the southern part was home to many high-ranking officials and nobles, and the western part was prosperous. It was said that this was spoken by a wandering Taoist during the reign of the previous emperor. In reality, it wasn't that exaggerated—it was simply because the northeastern area bordered the outskirts of the city, adjacent to vast stretches of desolate wilderness and mountains, making it naturally sparsely populated.
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