It was just past noon, and it was sunny and rainy. The seemingly fleeting rain stirred up a strong wind, disrupting the budding hibiscus that Liu Xintong had just planted.
Although the seventeen-year-old Liu Xintong was born in a shabby alley, she had the appearance of a cloud, water, powder, and crispy.
Liu Xintong, who had been busy for the whole morning, had no time to save her hibiscus because she still had a basket of clothes to wash. The voice that spurred her on came from inside the house. It was her Second Mother's sharp voice,"Xintong, come in."
Without any hesitation, Liu Xintong rushed in. Facing Second Mother, she was used to being careful. If there was a trace of her feelings that were not as good as Second Mother's, it was difficult to guarantee that she would not be beaten up.
Liu Xintong's younger sister, Liu Yichai, was sitting next to her Second Mother and eating the chicken leg of the hen that she had killed this morning. In this family, her Second Mother had been the one giving orders since her father was alive. Moreover, her father had passed away, so her life could only be more difficult.
"Second Mother?" she asked softly.
"It's raining outside. You help Yi Chai go to the Chinese medicine shop on the street and get three pieces of medicine that the doctor prescribed for Yi Chai yesterday. After Yi Chai took Doctor Wang's medicine, her breathing became much smoother.”
Liu Yichai had been suffering from asthma since she was a child. She could not be lightly promoted or heavily selected. Her family was poor and could not afford to hire servants to serve her. Liu Xintong became a cheap and attentive servant who did odd jobs. She was used to doing everything on her own.
Liu Xintong stammered.
"Why aren't you going? Are you going to take root here?”Second Mother Yu Shi glared at Liu Xintong.
"Second Mother hasn't given me the money to buy medicine.”Liu Xintong lowered her head and whispered.
"Aren't you rich? You still dare to ask for it from me? Do you have a conscience?" Madam Yu's tone was very bad.
Liu Xintong didn't say anything else. Just like every time she tried to refute or explain, she ended up with Second Mother taking the lead.
In the past three years, she had earned some silver by relying on needlework and embroidery. She was usually reluctant to spend a single cent, so she used it all to supplement her family expenses.
After her family declined seven years ago, she had been living a life of eating her own private savings. This so-called private savings were all owned by Second Mother Yu alone. Liu Xintong's wish to share the dew was simply a delusion. She often wondered how she had grown up, as if she could survive on just drinking dew.
However, the hardships of the past were all in the past, weren't they? At least now, she could rely on the skills she had learned from Wet Nurse Chen to support herself.
Just as she was going out to buy medicine for Liu Yichai, she saw a group of people surrounding the straw hut where Granny Chen lived. She was puzzled and walked over.
"Uncle, what happened to Wet Nurse Chen?”She asked the white-bearded uncle who was mending boots at the end of the street. "Granny Chen is dead." the uncle replied.
Liu Xintong was shocked.”
"She probably caught a cold and is old. A small illness will kill her. He couldn't even afford a coffin, so he could only roll it up with a straw mat and burn it.”The white-bearded uncle walked to his shoe repair shop while swaying.
"No, Granny Chen is afraid of the fire.”
She rushed past the surrounding villagers and knelt beside Granny Chen's stiff and cold body. Granny Chen was the kindest person in the world to her. No matter what, she had to give Granny Chen a good beating.
Two kind-hearted residents tugged at her." Miss Liu, you know that the people here can at most have enough food and clothing to make a living. No one has extra money to buy a burial for Granny Chen. Don't waste your time. By the time you raise the money, I'm afraid that Granny Chen's body will also stink.”
"No, I can't! Wet Nurse Chen was afraid of pain. It would hurt if the fire burned.”Liu Xintong cried out, hating her own incompetence? Strength.
"He's already dead. What's there to be afraid of?”
"No, I can't! I can't let Wet Nurse Chen experience the pain of being burned after her death.”she said firmly.
"Miss Liu, don't be silly. Even if you can raise the money to buy the coffin, you can't raise the money to buy the land. All the land in our village belongs to the Shang family. Even the Emperor treats Lord Shang with courtesy. If you insist on burying him, you will only suffer.”
"Yes," another person continued,"Miss Liu, it's better to let Wet Nurse Chen cremate it. It saves you trouble!”
Liu Xintong's tearful eyes were pitiful." No! I'll go beg Lord Shang."
"Lord Qiu Shang? Young lady, stop joking. Lord Shang's fief is so big, where can you go to beg Lord Shang? It's even more difficult to see him.”
"There must be a way. For Wet Nurse Chen, I'm willing to do anything.”Liu Xintong said sincerely.
"Oh right, Lord Shang has sent someone to the village to recruit maidservants and servants. Today is the last day. Miss Liu, if you don't mind serving in Lord Shang's manor, you can go and give it a try.”
Liu Xintong bid farewell to Second Mother and left with her simple luggage and the butler of the Shang Residence who had come to recruit maidservants. Madam Yu was too lazy to even pretend to be sad to keep her around. She knew that there would be one less mouth to eat at home and that she would have silver to take every month. She was so happy!
The carriage took a long time to reach the rumored Lord Shang's residence. Liu Xintong only remembered that she had spent two nights in the carriage, except that she had stopped midway to relieve them.
Unlike the other girls who had brought food and water, Liu Xintong had left in a hurry. She had only brought two or three pieces of clothes in the cloth bag, so her stomach was already growling from hunger. She pursed her dry lips. On the way, a kind girl gave her some water to drink. Otherwise, she believed that she would be in a worse state now.
There were about ten girls around her age, sitting around a large round table. There were plates of exquisite desserts on the table. To Liu Xintong, who was so hungry that she was dizzy, it was undoubtedly the greatest temptation.
"Mistress has ordered that you fill your stomachs, take a bath, and change into clean clothes.”Aunt Xi, who was in charge of the servant girls and maids in the Shang residence, solemnly ordered.
Liu Xintong, who was so hungry that her head was dizzy, reached out and took the walnut pastry closest to her on the table and started eating.
It seemed that the mistress here was not bad to the servants. Liu Xintong's heart finally relaxed a little.
No matter if the future was full of flowers or thorns, no matter how bad it was, it would not be worse than Second Mother.
Liang Yanyue, the wife of the Defender General Shang Yang in the Yanyue Brothel, was worrying about who to keep as her husband's concubine.
She swept away the ten beautiful women in front of her back and forth. She only wanted to keep one. The rest were arranged by Aunt Xi. It was fine if she wanted to return to her hometown or stay in General Shang's residence as a servant girl.
She only intended to take a side room for her husband to make up for the regret of marrying into the Defender General's manor for three years without having a child. She would choose her own wife over Shang Yang's.
She stared at Liu Xintong. "You then. Aunt Xi, take the others away and see if there are any maids in the residence.”
She looked at the bamboo slip that the housekeeper handed over-Liu Xintong, seventeen years old.
Shang Yang wouldn't be moved by such a woman! She was beautiful, but her body was thin, unlike Shang Yang's favorite Yanhua, who had a fair and plump body and a coquettish voice.
She glanced at Liu Xintong. The most important thing right now was to get Shang Yang to agree to take in this skinny and shapeless Liu Xintong. Concubine, leave an empress for the Shang family, and before Yanhua gives birth to a son.
"Xintong, come here." Liang Yanyue called out.
" Yes, Mistress." Liu Xintong guessed that she had been left behind to serve the General's wife.
"From now on, do whatever I tell you to do. Liang Yanyue had a plan in her mind. Why not let Shang Yang consummate his marriage with Liu Xintong when he returns to the General Manor tonight? Once the rice is cooked, there would be nothing to be proud of. This was her last hope. She couldn't let the fireworks shake her position.
Liu Xintong wanted to take the opportunity to ask the matriarch to fulfill her wish of giving Nanny Chen a grand burial, but she saw the butler rushing over to inform her.
"Lord General is back, Lord General is back.”
Liang Yanyue was overjoyed. She tidied her hair. The husband she had been longing for day and night was finally back.
"Fu Wang, take Miss Liu to Shangyang Building and inform Aunt Xi. She knows what to do.”Liang Yanyue thought that she could get Shang Yang back from Yanhua's side with Liu Xintong. At least Liu Xintong was younger than that cheap prostitute Yanhua! As long as he left the fireworks, she believed that he would return to the Yanyue Brothel very soon. It had been a long time since he visited the Yanyue Brothel.
She walked into the parlor and waited for a while but Shang Yang was nowhere to be seen. She asked her personal servant anxiously,""Hong Hong, help me see where I am.”
After a while, Honghong returned.”
"I'll go over and take a look." Liang Yanyue would always be the one taking the initiative in this marriage. To her, the taste of love was just wishful thinking.
However, she had to protect her position as the matriarch. She could no longer win her husband's heart, and at least her status could not be taken away. This was her heavy responsibility as the only daughter of Prime Minister Liang.
When she walked into Shangyang Building, Shang Yang had his back to her after taking a bath. His stalwart body turned around as if he knew she was approaching. His handsome face did not match his masculine figure.
" Shangyang." Her heart beat faster as she called out to him. She had no choice. Every time she saw him, she was at a loss.
" What the hell are you doing again?!" The reprimand became even more intense.
"You, you know?" Liang Yanyue looked at him boldly. She was the mistress of the General Manor, the General's wife whom the Emperor had arranged for her to marry. She did not need to be afraid of him.
"This is my territory. Do you think I don't know any secrets? Shang Yang didn't like women making their own decisions, especially in his territory. He looked at Liang Yanyue and smiled strangely.
"I want to leave behind a son for you, but I can't do it myself. I can only ask another woman to do it for me. Liang Yanyue wasn't sure if Shang Yang would accept her suggestion. There was no relationship between them as husband and wife, and her words only worked in front of the servants. He had always turned a deaf ear to her.
Shang Yang looked at her coldly."You want to place spies by my side again?" You're overthinking it. I'm just being nice. Liu Xintong is many times prettier than fireworks." Liang Yanyue gulped. She wasn't speaking against her conscience. She was referring to her face, not her figure. Of course, her figure wasn't as hot as his fireworks.
Shang Yang raised his eyebrows." Liang Yanyue, you have to remember that I'm not someone you can manipulate."”
"I'm not trying to manipulate you. If you want to blame someone, blame the emperor. It was the Emperor who agreed to the marriage, not me, Liang Yanyue.”She knew very well why the Emperor did this. Although Shang Yang had made many contributions to the Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu's conquest of the world and had recruited many forces in the north, the Emperor had bestowed Shang Yang with the title? On the other hand, the Defender General was also afraid that he would occupy an area alone? King, so she was promised to marry Prime Minister Liang's beloved daughter to restrict Shang Yang's every move.
Seeing through Liang Yanyue's thoughts, Shang Yang sneered. "Aren't you afraid that the woman you found will be tortured to death by me and won't be able to hatch an egg?”
Liang Yanyue trembled. "Yanhua has been following you for so long. Is there any good news?”
"If I want her to have good news, she will have good news.”
"Mother will not allow a woman like Yan Hua to enter the house.”She had no choice but to? Bring out your mother-in-law.
"In my eyes, a woman of romance is at least a pleasing painting." After saying that, he walked past her and left Shangyang Building's reception hall.
Liang Yanyue stood rooted to the ground. She was Prime Minister Liang's daughter and a brave fighter. How could she be defeated so easily? She had an unshakable position in the General's Estate.
I don't believe that a seventeen-year-old girl can't defeat a dirty flower like you.
Shang Yang was filled with anger as he thought of the Verdant Villa.
"Master, do you want to eat something?" Butler Fu Wang followed.
"Ask the kitchen to get some osmanthus jelly to the study room of Verdant Villa.”
The Verdant Villa was the most leisurely and quiet place in the General's manor, and it was the perfect place to calm his restless heart.
He didn't love Liang Yanyue, and he didn't have any feelings for her. He hated himself for marrying a woman who made his heart as still as a pool of stagnant water because of the emperor's and mother's orders. Wife, just because she was Liang Xi's only daughter?
So what if he was rich and powerful? The General's Estate was like a prison that trapped his heart. He had no self, he could not have himself. Mother is now a guest in Luoyang Imperial City. Is it true that she is a guest? House arrest. The current emperor was afraid that he would support the army and usurp the throne, so he used his mother's life to balance his loyalty.
The Verdant Small Building was built beside the lake. Without his permission, he would not allow anyone to enter. He only wanted to be alone in this pure land.
As for Liu Xintong, who had just arrived at the General's Estate, how would she know about these rules? Aunt Xi only told her to return to Shangyang Building after sunset.
During the summer solstice, the sun set slowly. She could look around and hope that she would be lucky enough to meet General Shangyang. She wanted to beg him for Nanny Chen's burial. Two days had passed, and the weather was hot. Granny Chen's corpse did not allow her to act slowly.
She was panicking when she suddenly heard the sound of a sword dancing. However, she was alone in the surroundings, so it was better not to disturb her swordsmanship practice.
But it was too late.
"Who is it?" The sword dance stopped abruptly and was replaced by a man's clear voice.
Liu Xintong was in a dilemma.
Just as she was about to run back to Shangyang Building, she ran into the chest of a stranger and exclaimed,"" I'm sorry." She fell backward and fell to the ground. His eyes met with a pair of deep black eyes that flashed with an unfathomable light.
He pulled her up and held her wrist tightly." Who are you?”
"I…I'm Liu Xintong, I'm sorry.”She was extremely afraid of his approach, as if he was approaching a dangerous animal.
The man narrowed his bewitching eyes and sized her up.
Liu Xintong lowered her head and struggled to break free from his grip. "Let go of me, okay?"
The corners of the man's mouth immediately curled up into a seductive smile. "Are you the woman Yan Yue found for me?”
She panicked and pulled harder, while his wrist exerted even more force.
"Let me go." she called out.
On the contrary, the man felt that this kind of teasing was very interesting."It's just a little hand touching, and you're already so excited. If I touch other parts of your body, won't you be seeking death?”
" You're despicable-" Liu Xintong's eyes welled up with tears as she felt anxious.
"Why did Young Lady come to the General's Estate?”he teased.
"Who are you? Since you know that this is the Defender General's manor, aren't you afraid that my call for help will attract the people in the manor to look at you? A lecher sent to the official for punishment, this will make you ruin your future!”Xintong reminded him.
The stranger laughed wildly. "Don't you know who I am?"
Liu Xintong frowned as she looked at him. "Do I need to know who you are?" She did not forget to struggle. This man clearly saw that she could be bullied alone and wanted to tease her in this bamboo forest." I don't want to guess. Please let me go. I'm just a little servant girl."”Her disappointing tears had already fallen.
"Who do you want to cry for?" He snorted, his breathing filled with contempt.
"I'm really just a servant girl. If you don't believe me, you can ask the General's wife.”
Liu Xintong only wanted to escape from this place, to escape from this man. Although her family was poor, she had never thought that she would one day suffer such humiliation.
"You might as well ask the General's wife what arrangements she has for you. Of course, if you insist on calling yourself a maidservant, I won't object. In a sense, you are indeed a maidservant, a maidservant who specializes in serving men's physical desires.”As he spoke, his sneer became even stronger.
Liu Xintong looked at his dark and cold face, and her body couldn't help but tremble.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Don't tell me you don't know anything. A woman like you should be well-trained.”
"I'm going back to Mistress 'side. No matter who you are, please let me go. I won't say a word about what happened today.”She pleaded with the cold-blooded man in front of her. No matter what, she could not let this arrogant man taint her pure body. She was penniless and only had this body's innocence.
He laughed out loud and grabbed Liu Xintong's chin, his lips covering hers. She was so frightened that she tried to twist her body to get rid of him, but in the end, she was no match for the innate advantage of his stalwart and tough body.
He pried open her tender lips and took the opportunity to slide it into the tip of his tongue. Then, both of them tasted blood.
She actually bit his tongue!
He raised his head and a devilish smile appeared on his face. "A bloody beginning-I like it.”
"You will get your retribution." she accused.
Silently, he met her soulless eyes. "Retribution?" He snorted coldly." If there's really retribution, I welcome retribution to find me.”
" You will go to hell!" she said helplessly.
"That's even better. With you by my side, I'm not afraid of being lonely.”
After saying this, he let go.
Liu Xintong seemed to have found her breath again as she ran towards Shangyang Tower desperately.
Liu Xintong. He silently recited her name in his heart. Very good, this life-risking game would be even more lively if she joined in.
"Miss Liu, where are you going? Furen was looking for you anxiously." Aunt Xi said anxiously when she saw her.
Liu Xintong composed herself and took a deep breath.
"Is there something urgent, Mistress?"
"Of course it's urgent. Follow me to the Yanyue Tower immediately.”
Liu Xintong nodded and followed Aunt Xi.
"Miss Liu, is there anyone else in your family?”Aunt Xi asked as she walked.
"There's Second Mother and a girl." She gave a simple answer. Then, she thought of what happened to Wet Nurse Chen and asked Aunt Xi.
Aunt Xi frowned. "Only Master Shang can decide on this matter.”
"Lord Shang?" She had been here for half a day, but she had not seen this person.
"It's our Defender General. He just came back from Luoyang to see Old Furen. Later, when you see Master, ask him personally.”
"I wonder if Aunt Xi thinks that Great General Shang will agree?”Liu Xintong asked.
Aunt Xi looked at her hesitantly. "It's hard to say. It depends on your persuasiveness.”
" What if I ask Mistress for help?" Would the chances be higher?
Aunt Xi hurriedly waved her hand." That won't do. If Master makes an exception for this, it will definitely become the norm, so Madam can't have the right to decide."”
"Since that's the case, when can I see the General?" She asked anxiously. Granny Chen could not wait any longer.
"Later, after Madam has spoken to you.”Aunt Xi said. She didn't want to talk too much. Some things weren't within her scope of responsibility, so the tighter her mouth was, the better.
When they arrived at the Yanyue Building, Aunt Xi said,"Wait outside. I'll go in and report. I'll come out immediately."”
Liu Xintong nodded. After she was ten years old, the most she did was obey. Only by obeying could she survive.
After a while, Aunt Xi came out and said to her,"General and Madam have something to discuss. Madam wants me to bring you back to Shangyang Building first.”
"General…is also inside?" Actually, she wanted to seize the opportunity to ask about Wet Nurse Chen, but when she saw Aunt Xi give her a look, she had no choice but to keep quiet.
At this moment, Shang Yang, who was in the parlor of Yanyue Brothel, had a cold expression on his face."No matter where you got her from, I want you to understand one thing. Other than my mother, you can forget about using anyone else to threaten me because you won't be able to find a second person who can control me, influence me, and control me.”
"What about fireworks?" Liang Yanyue held a trace of hope.
He smiled calmly.
"What do you think?"
"I thought it was as I expected."
He stood up and cast a cold light.
"Don't think you're smart."
"Where's Liu Xintong? Don't you want her either?"
"Although it might not be a refreshing dish, congee and side dishes can sometimes be used to clear the stomach.”
Liang Yanyue was very satisfied with Shang Yang's explanation. She arranged for Liu Xintong? My goal is not to make Shangyang fall in love with her, but to make her pregnant after touching her a few times.
After that, she would send Liu Xintong back to her hometown. She would treat the son she left behind as her own, which would be beneficial to consolidating her position in the General's Estate.
So this woman couldn't be a typical example of Shang Yang falling for her. If he couldn't chase her away, wouldn't that be the case? Did he find a second firework?
"Have you met before?" Liang Yanyue asked.
"Yes, I saw him in the bamboo forest just now.”He did not want to elaborate.
Liang Yanyue nodded her head. That's great. Since they had met before, it seemed like Shang Yang only regarded Liu Xintong as important? Chicken ribs, tasteless to eat, a pity to throw away.
"I hope Xintong can come earlier. I'll give birth to an heir."
Shang Yang glanced at her. He knew that he couldn't show too much interest in Liu Xintong in front of Liang Yanyue.#
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。