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墨書 Inktalez
After finishing her grooming, Yan Xinyao headed to the East Courtyard where Madam resided.
As soon as she entered, she saw Lian Cheng'an softly conversing with a tall and beautiful woman beside him. The woman nestled delicately in Lian Cheng'an's embrace, her posture alluring and graceful, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
"You are so naughty, teasing me like this," the beauty playfully chided, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song.
"Lowly Concubine Xinyao, pay your respects to the master and to the madam," Yan Xinyao observed, slightly furrowing her brows. A wave of sourness surged within her, akin to biting into an unripe grape, the bitterness spreading in her heart.
She quickly reminded herself that she had known what to expect before marrying into this family; there was no need to feel jealous. Lowering her gaze, she respectfully knelt on the ground, accepting the teacup handed to her by a maid. She raised it above her head and offered it to Lian Cheng'an.
After taking a sip from the cup, Lian Cheng'an casually glanced at Yan Xinyao. He intended to say something to her but noticed that she didn't even look his way; instead, she proactively picked up another cup of tea to present to Madam Fang Min'er.
"I heard that Secondary Concubine was very hands-on at her family home, managing everything from chasing after goods to counting inventory. Quite capable indeed," Fang Min'er said in a sweet and delicate tone that made Yan Xinyao feel uneasy all over. Goosebumps rose on her skin as she sensed the underlying scrutiny: this woman was probing into her background, hinting at her humble origins from a merchant family.
Yan Xinyao's teacup trembled slightly above her head as she suppressed the slight ache in her arms and replied with composed dignity, "Madam comes from a prestigious family; your virtue and wisdom are well-known. Lowly Concubine is certainly not worthy of comparison. The master marrying us is merely a fleeting whim; in my humble opinion, his heart is firmly tied to you."
Upon hearing this, a look of satisfaction appeared in Fang Miner's eyes. She leisurely accepted the teacup from Yan Xinyao, brushing off the tea foam with its lid before saying, "Secondary Concubine has indeed seen the world; your words are quite pleasing. It's no wonder the master considered marrying you. However, since you are now part of the Lian Family, you must adhere to the rules of this household. Whether you respect me or not is secondary; what matters is serving our master with utmost diligence from now on. Do you understand?"
"Madam's teachings are well-received; Lowly Concubine will keep them in mind," Yan Xinyao replied with a faint smile that resembled a gentle spring breeze—soft yet laced with hidden meanings. With just a few words, she elevated Madam's status while subtly reminding her of the reality that despite her noble background, Lian Cheng'an had continuously brought other women into their home. Unfortunately for Fang Min'er, she remained oblivious to this fact. Yan Xinyao felt relieved internally; this madam seemed quite simple-minded and not much of a threat.
As she stood up, her gaze inadvertently met Lian Cheng'an's penetrating black eyes. For a moment, she forgot her earlier displeasure and instinctively wrinkled her nose at him while sticking out her tongue playfully like a mischievous child.
This little act of cleverness caught Lian Cheng'an off guard for a moment before he burst into hearty laughter that echoed throughout the room.
Fang Min'er was taken aback, her gaze shifting between Lian Cheng'an and Yan Xinyao, filled with confusion and uncertainty, as if she were lost in a fog, unable to comprehend the subtle atmosphere between the two.
After Yan Xinyao moved in, her days became unexpectedly comfortable. Previously, she was always busy with endless tasks, but now she found herself idly lounging in the sun after meals, content like a lazy cat. However, ever since she had seen Lian Cheng'an in Fang Min'er's room that day, he had not come back, seemingly having evaporated from the world. This left Yan Xinyao feeling somewhat empty inside.
The servants of the General's residence were adept at reading the winds and adjusting their sails. They all knew that the new Concubine was not favored, so they treated her as if she were invisible, showing her little respect and neglecting her as though she were a mere shadow in the household.
One day, well past noon, no one had come to bring food to Yan Xinyao's room. Duan'er was fuming and shouted, "I just went out for a stroll and heard that it was that Jiao'er’s doing again! She’s Fang Min'er’s maid and has some standing in the household..."
"Her standing is her business. If no one is here to cook for us, we’ll just do it ourselves. I happen to want some Spring Rolls," Yan Xinyao said, adjusting her sleeves and ignoring Duan'er's complaints. Her expression was calm and unruffled, as if this minor inconvenience was hardly worth mentioning.
When they arrived at the kitchen, the servants were initially startled to see Yan Xinyao. The head cook assumed she had come to inquire about the lack of food delivery and hurried over with a flustered expression. "Third Concubine, what brings you to the kitchen? There was a problem with the stove today, so we used a small fire for cooking. We just finished preparing food for the Secondary Wife according to seniority; yours will be ready soon..."
"It’s no trouble; you all carry on with your work," Yan Xinyao replied as she rolled up her sleeves and began to prepare cucumbers and greens from the vegetable rack. She moved with the skill of an experienced chef, paying no mind to the strange looks from the servants.
The others exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment. They had only heard that Concubines could embroider or paint but had never seen one personally come into the kitchen to cook; it was simply unbelievable to them.
Before long, the aroma of garlic and scallions wafted through the kitchen. Just as Yan Xinyao was plating freshly made Spring Rolls, Lian Cheng'an rushed in like a whirlwind.
Upon seeing him, Yan Xinyao half-jokingly said, "Oh dear, our General isn’t also starving without anyone bringing him food, is he?"
The cook’s face changed slightly at her words. Noticing Lian Cheng'an looking thoughtfully at him made him shrink back nervously as he stammered, "General, it’s my fault; today there was an issue with the stove..."
"My Concubine may be of low status and can go without a meal or two without much concern," Lian Cheng'an replied calmly. "However, you all know that the General is your provider; I doubt you would dare let him go hungry. After all, there are rules of hierarchy here; I trust you understand."
She gracefully bowed to Lian Cheng'an and said, "My Lord, even though I am but a Concubine, I still hold some authority. I dare to plead on her behalf, so please do not hold her accountable."
Yan Xinyao waved her hand at the Cook, her demeanor elegant and poised, concealing her true thoughts.
The Cook was taken aback, realizing that this Secondary Concubine was not someone to be trifled with. She had subtly reported him while also offering him a significant favor.
Moreover, judging by Lian Cheng'an's expression, it seemed he did not marry this new Concubine out of revenge as rumored in the household. It appeared that he would need to be more cautious in his actions moving forward; otherwise, he might find himself unexpectedly losing his position one day.
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