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In the Xiao Residence of Southern Qi, the candles flickered, illuminating this luxurious mansion.
Xiao Yan, as a royal relative of Southern Qi, lived in this magnificent mansion. He was a cultured and thoughtful gentleman, with good personal virtues. However, he already had three concubines by his side.
Xiao Yan sat on his bed, deep in thought. He himself did not like women, but as a member of the Southern Qi royal family, he had to consider his status and reputation. Therefore, under the arrangement of his mother Zhang Shangrou, he had taken three concubines at a young age.
These three girls were originally his maidservants, and their names were Tsui Xiang, Lian Yi, and Xio Mei. They had all served as his maidservants since his childhood. This arrangement was made out of consideration for Xiao Yan's status, but it also left him feeling somewhat helpless.
But Xiao Yan is often not at home, frequently going out to help the court with tasks. If he is called to the front lines of war, it's normal for him to not return home for one or two years. They have a low sense of Xiao Yan's presence, and sometimes he even forgets that he has concubines.
The morning sunlight shone through the curtains, illuminating Chao Qinglan's face. She sat on the edge of the bed, complex emotions surging in her heart.
She felt a kind of complex guilt about Xiao Yan's choice. She had originally thought that the relationship between men and women would be even more complicated in this situation, but Xiao Yan's understanding and tolerance surprised her.
After getting married last night, she and Xiao Yan only shared a bed. Xiao Yan just held her as they fell asleep, without making any further advances. Perhaps, for him, this was already a significant compromise.
But for Chao Qinglan, this situation still makes her feel extremely uncomfortable in her soul.
The next morning, Chao Qinglan sat on the edge of the bed, her expression showing a tangled unease. She looked at Xiao Yan on the bed, with a hint of anxiety on her face, and said, "Husband, I understand that you have been very tolerant of me, but I still can't adapt to sharing the same bed. Can we sleep in separate rooms for now?"
Xiao Yan was initially surprised, but quickly regained his composure and nodded in agreement, "Okay, if you feel more comfortable this way, let's sleep in separate rooms."
He knew that this arrangement would be more comfortable for Chao Qinglan, who was the mistress of the household. So, they decided to sleep in separate rooms, with Xiao Yan staying in the study and Chao Qinglan in her own bedroom.
However, this arrangement did not escape the notice of the people in the Xiao Residence. The news quickly spread, causing a stir. The thoughts and attention of the three concubines gradually turned to Chao Qinglan, filled with jealousy and dissatisfaction, mocking Chao Qinglan for not receiving Xiao Yan's favor.
In a secluded garden at the Xiao Residence, Tsui Xiang, Lian Yi, and Xio Mei gathered together in a splendid little room, their faces all showing a hint of dissatisfaction in the flickering candlelight.
Tsui Xiang was the first to speak, her voice filled with bitterness and helplessness, saying, "Have you heard? Not long after getting married, our husband actually lives separately from Chao Qinglan. It's unheard of for the rightful wife to be so unloved!"
Looking at Lian Yi and Tsui Xiang, Xio Mei spoke with jealousy and resentment, saying, "As for that Chao Qinglan, I heard that she once turned down even the emperor and the prince's marriage proposals, and now, even after marrying our husband, she still can't win his favor."
Lian Yi Nodding, the three of them were once Xiao Yan's former maids, but their status has diminished greatly now, and their hearts are filled with dissatisfaction and unwillingness.
Xio Mei continued indignantly, "But the master still often goes to see her, sits at the same table to eat with her. We were once Lord Xiao's maids, how could he so easily forget about us?"
Lian Yi nodded, her brow furrowed, and said, "Perhaps she used some kind of spell or scheme to bring about such a great change in Lord Xiao. We cannot sit idly by; we must find an opportunity to make Lord Xiao love us again."
Xio Mei sighed softly, fully aware of the difficulty and risk of this struggle, but showing no sign of weakness. She said, "Regardless, we cannot be defeated by her. We must strive to attract Lord Xiao's attention and make him remember our existence."
These three concubines have decided to join forces. They want to find an opportunity to regain Xiao Yan's attention and not let Chao Qinglan occupy his heart.
On the other hand, in Chao Qinglan's bedroom, she sat by the window, while Beyue (her female attendant) stood beside her, speaking to her about the idle gossip of others.
Beyue said, "Miss, these rumors are all baseless. You don't need to pay too much attention to them. These women always like to be jealous and envious. It's just because you married Lord Xiao that they have this kind of reaction."
Chao Qinglan smiled slightly. Although she didn't like such quarrels, she was not a timid person. She said, " Beyue, I know these are just idle gossip, and I won't be bothered by it. However, if these women want to make a scene, let them. I won't participate in such pointless fighting. We should maintain elegance and confidence; that's the best response."
Beyue nodded in agreement, knowing her master's character well and understanding that she was not easily provoked.
At Xiao Residence, the lives of Chao Qinglan and Xiao Yan are gradually settling into a routine, and their interactions are becoming more diverse and colorful. The arrangement of sleeping in separate rooms has given them more alone time while also establishing a deeper emotional foundation.
Chao Qinglan's dorm room is filled with her personal belongings, after all, this place is her sanctuary. She enjoys reading ancient texts and contemplating life and the future in this space. One day, as she was engrossed in her reading, Xiao Yan quietly walked into her dorm room.
He stood at the doorway, watching her, and said, " Qinglan, you look so focused that you seem lost in thought. What are you reading?"
Chao Qinglan looked up and replied with a smile, "Husband, I am reading books about The Art of War and strategy. This is all new knowledge for me, and I hope to better understand this era and contribute to your career."
Xiao Yan walked into the bedroom, sat beside her, and said, "You are such a diligent student. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me. I'm willing to share my knowledge with you."
Chao Qinglan gratefully looked at him and said, "Husband, you are so good to me. I will definitely cherish this opportunity and learn from you."
At the Xiao Residence in Southern Qi, Xiao Yan invited Chao Qinglan to visit the study.
The study was filled with ancient books, some dating back hundreds of years. For an archaeologist, it was like an endless treasure trove.
When Chao Qinglan entered this magnificent library, she couldn't help but exclaim, "This library is truly magnificent!"
Full of excitement, Chao Qinglan moved through the bookshelves, constantly picking up and flipping through books. One book in particular caught her attention - it was a handwritten copy of the ancient "The Art of War." It was said that this "The Art of War" had been lost to later generations, and yet she had found it here. She picked up the book and read it intently, filled with excitement and joy.
Xiao Yan smiled and guided her to browse through these precious ancient books. Chao Qinglan took a book from the shelf, opened it, and discovered that it was a long-lost classic called "The Art of War" titled "Tiger Tactic."
She carefully picked up the book in front of her, afraid of damaging it, and excitedly said, "Husband, do you know? This "Tiger Tactic" has long been lost in later generations, but now I have it in my hands. This will be extremely helpful for my research on ancient warfare tactics!"
Xiao Yan smiled and gazed at Chao Qinglan as if an excited child with a new toy. He then pointed to a row of bookshelves and said, "In addition to 'The Art of War,' we also have many other valuable books here, such as 'Wei Liaozi,' which contains ancient wisdom, and 'The Six Secret Teachings,' all of which are classics of ancient military strategy."
Chao Qinglan continued to listen with curiosity as Xiao Yan spoke. She picked up the two long-lost military books, "The Art of War" and "Wei Liaozi," as well as a precious ancient strategic document called "The Six Secret Teachings," and her excitement grew.
Xiao Yan nodded, then pointed to another book, saying, "This book, ' Tai Yuan Art of War,' is also a rare military book with unique insights into military strategy. And there are also 'The Art of War' and 'Mencius' Xun Qing Wen,' which contain the essence of ancient wisdom and philosophy."
Chao Qinglan's eyes sparkled as she continued to search in the direction pointed out by Xiao Yan, finding more treasures such as ' Tai Yuan Art of War,' 'Mencius' Xun Qing Wen,' and 'Wu Zi,' these ancient philosophical works. She was ecstatic, full of respect and curiosity, flipping through these long-lost ancient books one by one.
Chao Qinglan, no, it should be Zhang Yi, he wished he could transcribe all these books into his own mind and bring them back to the modern world. The idea of returning to the present had long been cast aside by him. Now, all he wanted was to immerse himself in this treasure trove-like library, whether it be for ten years, twenty years, or even a lifetime, he was willing to do so!
They sat together in the library, reading these ancient The Art of War and philosophical books, sharing their understandings and insights with each other. Chao Qinglan's in-depth research and interpretation of these documents left Xiao Yan in awe.
In this ocean of knowledge, they not only found long-lost wisdom, but also discovered a deeper connection with each other.
They discussed The Art of War and strategy together, sharing their insights and deepening their understanding of each other. This interaction elevated their relationship to a new level.
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