"Xue Ling, Auntie is sorry for you. She promised you something and then went back on her word." Madam Shen was very annoyed, her brother and sister-in-law's words echoing in her mind.
Her sister-in-law had pointed at her and accused her of being heartless, asking how much the Yang family had contributed to the Shen family.
They had provided money and effort, yet now they wanted her child to be a concubine.
What kind of world was this?
Her brother had simply asked her one question: did she forget who opened the granaries during the great drought of Zhaoping? It was their Yang family.
This year, due to the drought, the Yang family had again provided grain and money, only to receive her son, Yang Lihua's, concubine?
Madam Shen felt she had let down her maiden family, let down her brother and sister-in-law. Thinking of this, she hated the woman of pleasure, Ning An, with every fiber of her being. If not for her, all this should have been joyous.
Why did Yun Xuan have to kneel in the ancestral hall, Xue Ling become a concubine, and she be berated by her brother and sister-in-law?
"Auntie, please don't say that. I like cousin, and I am willing to marry him," Yang Xue Ling said, biting her lower lip.
Madam Shen looked at Yang Xue Ling's shy demeanor and was suddenly reminded of herself when she was young. Back then, she too was full of girlish hope, wanting only to marry Shen Congwen. In the end, she got her wish.
Alas, after a year of marriage, he brought back Feng Yiniang, a Yangzhou "skinny horse" concubine, and two years later, Sun Yiniang, a simple village girl.
He also had several confidantes outside the estate.
"Xue Ling, Auntie cannot give you the position of the main wife, but Auntie will absolutely not let Yun Xuan mistreat you." Madam Shen cheered up. She would not let Yun Xuan follow Shen Congwen's path.
A woman of pleasure actually wanted to enter the Shen family's door; it depended on whether the mistress of the household agreed.
"Auntie, I'm not afraid. I have Auntie," Yang Xue Ling said with a smile.
Looking at the innocent and naive Xue Ling, Madam Shen patted her hand and said, "Don't worry, Auntie will establish her authority for you and will not let anyone bully you."
Thinking of this, Madam Shen said to the maid beside her, "Li Xia, go and invite Miss Ning An over."
Yang Xue Ling looked at Madam Shen, confused, and asked, "Auntie, why invite her?"
Madam Shen sneered, "To establish authority."
An Ning was telling Madam Shen about the affairs of Anguo when Li Mei, Madam Shen's maid, walked in and bowed, "Greetings, Old Madam. Li Xia from Madam's side has come to invite Miss Ning An to Liyun Pavilion."
Madam Shen looked up at An Ning and said, "If you don't want to go, refuse."
An Ning shook her head, "No, I'll go."
Madam Shen smiled as she heard this, "Don't be afraid. If anything happens, Yun Xuan and I will support you."
An Ning smiled, "Yes, I'm not afraid."
After An Ning left, Madam Shen's gaze became profound. She asked Li Mei, "Li Mei, what do you think of this Miss Ning An?"
Li Mei paused for a moment and said, "Old Madam, to tell you the truth, this servant feels that this Miss Ning An doesn't seem like someone from a brothel. Instead, she seems like..."
"A lady from a good family?" Madam Shen finished her sentence.
Li Mei nodded, "And it emanates from her bones. Her every move carries a noble aura."
Madam Shen said, "You think the same as me. I hope her arrival here is a good thing."
Li Mei was startled, "Old Madam, you..."
"Forget what was said today," Madam Shen interrupted Li Mei.
Li Mei shivered. She knew she had spoken a significant secret and quickly bowed, "Yes."
An Ning followed the maid beside Madam Shen to Liyun Pavilion.
"Miss Ning An, please wait a moment. Allow me to go in and announce you."
An Ning nodded, "Okay."
The maid went inside. The time it took for an incense stick to burn had not yet passed. The midday sun was very strong.
An Ning looked up, seeing no sign of anyone coming out, and sighed. Had they already begun to torment her?
It was a bit early.
However, did they think she would be afraid of the sun? Back then, she and Sister An Ru would compete to see who could endure the sun more fiercely at noon. For three consecutive days, they were exposed to the afternoon sun. This was nothing to her.
However, that did not mean she had to be scorched.
Since they had summoned her and refused to see her, then they would see her again!
An Ning turned and left.
Having been in the Shen mansion for less than two days, without the guidance of the servants, she was indeed easily lost. And now, she was lost.
Suddenly, a melodious flute sound was heard. She followed the sound and soon saw a courtyard, Xiuyi Pavilion.
She was outside and saw a man standing under a tree in the courtyard playing the flute.
His jade-green robe fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, the flute music stopped, and the man turned around. A handsome face appeared before her.
The man was somewhat surprised, looking at her. After a long while, he asked, "Miss, who are you?"
"Ning An," An Ning replied.
For some reason, she felt this scene was very much like the storybooks that An Ru had her palace maids buy from outside the palace. There was such a scene in it.
The female protagonist unintentionally stumbled upon a scene of a man playing the flute.
"I am Shen Xiuyun. Forgive me for the awkwardness, Miss," Shen Xiuyun said, cupping his fists.
"Not at all. Your playing was quite good. However, the traces of intentionality were too heavy, making it seem a bit fake."
Shen Xiuyun, who had been smiling, now seemed unsure whether to continue smiling or to restrain himself.
In any case, he felt a sense of awkwardness from being seen through.
An Ning waved her hand and said frankly, "Next time, come up with a better plot. I'm already tired of this one."
Saying that, she left Xiuyi Pavilion.
After walking for a while, she thought she should go to the ancestral hall. After all, it was the only place she was familiar with.
There were guards at the entrance of the ancestral hall. She walked around to the back and knocked on the window twice. There was no response. She pushed the window open and saw that no one was inside.
She lowered the window, about to leave, when she heard someone speaking ahead, "I'm bringing food to my cousin. Let us pass."
An Ning walked forward a few steps and saw Yang Xue Ling, carrying a food box.
The guards apologetically said, "Miss Cousin, there is an order from the master that no one is allowed to enter. Please return, Miss Cousin!"
"How dare you! My lady has the Madam's permission. What? Even the Madam doesn't matter?" the maid beside Yang Xue Ling asked sternly.
The guards exchanged glances, and the maid continued, "What? Do you think it's good to offend the Madam?"
"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare," the guards said quickly.
"Then move aside," the maid said coldly.
The guards quickly moved aside, "Miss Cousin, please enter!"
An Ning's gaze turned cold, and she jumped in through the window.
The door was pushed open, and Yang Xue Ling called out, "Cousin."
There was no reply.
Yang Xue Ling saw a figure inside. Just as she was about to step forward, someone walked out. Seeing her, he looked surprised, "Miss Cousin, why are you here?"
"Why are you here?" Yang Xue Ling bit her lower lip and looked at An Ning.
An Ning smiled, "Miss Cousin, if you can be here, why can't I?"
"You... you have no shame! Cousin is reflecting on his mistakes, and you are seducing him." Yang Xue Ling said, exasperated.
"Miss Cousin, if your eyes are not good, you should get them treated. When did I seduce the Third Young Master?"
Yang Xue Ling pointed at her, so angry she couldn't speak. An Ning followed her gaze and saw that in her haste to jump through the window earlier, something had scratched her, tearing a piece of her clothes.