Sang Yunong woke up at the fourth watch. After Zhangsun Yu had treated her like that, she could not sleep well. She kept having nightmares. In her dreams, she was being chased by bad people but had no one to turn to for help.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, and she looked like she had a lot on her mind. She was filled with sorrow that she could not resolve.
Her body was touched like a white jade covered in a layer of dust. Although she had not been robbed of her chastity by him, the shame in her heart was still deeply lashing at her.
She perked herself up and got out of bed. After dressing up, she pushed the door open and entered Zhangsun Yu's bedroom.
Is he still sleeping? She tiptoed.
"Where are you going?" A cold voice came from behind.
Sang Yunong's entire body trembled as she stopped in her tracks. "No…I wanted to go to the kitchen to see if there was anything I could help with.”
"You just have to serve me well. You don't have to do anything else that I don't ask you to do.”
She nodded.
"Bring me some water to wash my face. Remember, you only listen to me." Zhangsun Yu reminded her forcefully. For some reason, he did not intend to spare Sangkunshan's daughter. He just wanted to torture her.
"I understand." she whispered.
Just as she was about to walk to the door, Zhangsun Yu's frightening order rang out again."Last night was just the beginning. I want you to serve me, and that naturally includes that kind of service, understand?”
Suddenly, she turned around and retorted hurriedly,""It's not like that. I didn't sell myself to you for that kind of relationship. You have no right to treat me like that.”Sang Yunong knew that she had to put up a strong resistance. If she did not express her feelings now, when would she do it? Was she going to wait until he forced himself on her before she resisted?
Zhangsun Yu looked as if a storm was about to come and walked towards her. With a cold face, he said,""I don't have the right?"
"Last night…what happened last night was not in line with etiquette.”She tried to reason with him.
"How is it against etiquette? A woman who sold herself is talking about etiquette with me? It was as ridiculous as a whore talking about the Analects of Confucius with her benefactor.”A cold smile appeared on his handsome face.
She lowered her eyes." I'm not a whore, and you're not my benefactor.”she said solemnly.
He raised his eyebrows." You're too naive. If I didn't buy you to relieve my body's desires, why would I want you?" He deliberately ruined her.
She hated his explicit words.'I can be your servant girl. Please don't humiliate me like last night.'”
He pursed his lips and pulled her into his arms with his strong arms. "Humiliate? Your description is very exaggerated. Don't tell me you don't understand the meaning of selling yourself? If I only wanted a servant girl to do odd jobs, I wouldn't need to spend so much money. A servant girl isn't worth the money of a coffin. Moreover, every servant girl of mine is more obedient than you.”
"You can choose not to buy me. That day, you weren't the only buyer.”she said arrogantly.
He sneered." It's a pity that I bought you. It's too late for you to regret it. You'd better accept your fate.”
"What if I don't?" She mustered up her courage and asked.
He smiled, and a strange cold light appeared in his eyes." You'd better not challenge me. I'm not a merciful person. Those who disobey me will most likely end up very miserable.”
She raised her eyes to meet his cruel gaze. "Why me?"
"I also hope it wasn't you." he replied faintly.
"You…you can…find other women. There are many willing women.”With his conditions and outstanding looks, most women would be interested in him.
"Stop asking questions," he said impatiently."I hate women who talk too much.”He was unwilling to bring up the past, which was undoubtedly rubbing salt into his wound. It would be better if she was unwilling to be a woman who was willing and submissive. At least he could have more fun in the process of conquering and punishing her.
The other servant girls in Anlan Villa were not very clear about Sang Yunong's status. They only thought that she was just like them. It was just that she was a little luckier than them and the person she served was her master. There was nothing special about it.
Therefore, they were not very friendly to her. In addition, women generally did not welcome women who were more beautiful than them. Therefore, it was very difficult for Sang Yunong to enter their group. Especially since they were the servants left behind by the previous owner of the Anlan Villa, they could not wait for Sang Yunong to disappear.
The few maids relied on their experience and skills, naturally feeling that they were different from ordinary maids, and many high-profile actions could not help but appear. However, they were afraid of losing their jobs, so they only dared to play tricks in private and did not openly suppress Sang Yunong.
On this day, Sang Yunong finished cleaning the bedroom and study room and had a simple lunch.
Xi Mei, the old cook, told her," You are a new servant girl. Although you look like a golden branch and jade leaf, we have our own rules here. You have to obey them."”
" I am willing to obey."
"Usually, the cleaning of the kitchen is the responsibility of the new servant girl until the villa buys a new servant girl.”Xi Mei was deliberately bullying people. The job of cleaning the kitchen should have belonged to her and the other three chefs. When they saw Sang Yunong's good-tempered appearance, they were ready to take advantage of her.
"If this is the rule, I will cooperate.”Sang Yunong had no objections. Harmony was her goal, but whether it was reasonable or not was another matter.
Seeing that she had succeeded, Xi Mei did not forget to actively promote it. "Then I'll leave the pots and pans to you at noon. You have to be quick and don't delay your work. Otherwise, if Fifth Master blames us, everyone will feel bad.”
Seeing her nod, Xi Mei patted her butt and left.
Sang Yunong looked around at the basket of work in the kitchen. She rolled up her sleeves and buried herself in her work so that she would not be unable to complete her work before dinner.
After two hours, she finally finished the work of four people. However, her physical strength had not been very good since she was young. After tossing and turning in the kitchen for a long time, she was naturally exhausted beyond description.
When she walked out of the kitchen, she almost fainted. She took a few deep breaths and told herself to be patient. She would get used to it slowly. However, she didn't know that Xi Mei and the other three chefs were slacking off and pushing all the work to her.
"Miss Yunong, Fifth Master is throwing a tantrum because he couldn't find you!”
She was sitting on the rock behind the fake mountain to catch her breath when Miao Miao came to find her anxiously.
Miao Miao was one of the few friendly and polite maidservants. She treated her as if she was a friend or guest of her master and called her Miss, but this title made her feel a little guilty.
"I'm just a maid like you, don't call me miss.”
"Whatever! The most important thing now was to appease Fifth Lord's anger.”Miao Miao pulled Sang Yunong's hand and ran towards the study.
Sang Yunong stood outside the door for a while before she calmed herself down. Miao Miao lowered her voice and said,""I'll leave first, be careful.”
Sang Yunong could only brace herself and face Zhangsun Yu alone.
Just as she was about to knock on the door, a voice came from inside."Who's outside?"
"It's me." She replied timidly.
"Come in!"
Sang Yunong took a deep breath and pushed the door open. She was still standing by the door, hesitating whether she should walk forward or not.
"I've been looking for you for a while!" He stood up from the rosewood table and walked to the center of the room, his eyes flashing coldly.
"Is there something you need?" She stared at him carefully.
"No more questions. From now on, as long as I'm happy, I'll see you. I'm your master. How can there be a servant in the world as proud as you?”He glanced at her and walked towards where she was standing.
She wanted to take a step back, but there was no way out. If she continued to take a step back, she would reach the threshold.
"Where is my Golden Hook Jade Scroll?" he asked.
Sang Yunong was stunned for a moment. Golden hook and jade scroll? She had never seen such a thing before.
"You came in here this morning, didn't you?”He looked at Sang Yunong, who was pure and innocent, and an inexplicable desire arose in his heart. Damn it, he was not such a person in the past. Why would he be so impulsive in front of her?
He took a deep breath, suppressed the chaos of his senses, and put on a stern face.
"I don't remember seeing any golden hooks or jade scrolls when I was tidying up the study.”She frowned and tried hard to recall.
"That was a treasure I found on the street yesterday, and you're telling me you've never seen it before?”He was using this as an excuse to make a fuss. The golden hook and jade scroll were indeed very precious, and he was planning to give it to Yu Ping, his best friend in Luoyang. However, even if it disappeared, he could just buy something else. It was not irreplaceable. Then why was he angry? He also felt that it was inexplicable. In any case, he just wanted to find trouble with her.
"I really haven't seen it before." It was impossible for her to turn a blind eye to something as valuable as the golden hook and jade scroll.
"Where did you go after lunch? Why isn't he here?" This was the real reason why he was angry.
"I…I walked around and got to know the new environment.”If she hid the truth about her cleaning of the kitchen so as not to implicate Xi Mei and the others, her days would not be easy in the future. Because if she exposed them, they would only be more united and stand on the same front to deal with her.
He narrowed his eyes, not believing her words. "You're not a person who has the mood to relax. Tell me quickly, where have you been?”
" That's because you don't understand me. I'm really a carefree person. My father said that I…"
He interrupted her in an unpleasant tone."Don't mention your father!"
She didn't dare to ask further. He was a temperamental person who didn't play by the rules at all and caught her off guard.
"I must get the jade scroll back. It is an important gift. The person who received the gift likes jade ornaments very much.”He had already anticipated the ecstasy on Yu Ping's face.
"Could it be that you left the jade scroll somewhere…and forgot?”
He glanced at her and snorted coldly." I didn't expect you to be so dirty. You want to take something that's slightly more expensive for yourself.”
Sang Yunong looked at him helplessly and said aggrievedly,""You can question my background, but you can't question my character.”
"Who taught you to have the worst personality in your blood!”He grabbed her wrist and said sternly.
Her heart palpitated in panic. "The worst personality?"
"That's right! Therefore, if you really stole the golden hook and jade scroll, I wouldn't be surprised at all. It's because it's impossible for Sangkun Mountain's daughter to become a holy maiden.”He pursed his lips.
Her eyes widened. "You…Why are you humiliating me like this? What kind of blood feud does my father have with you that you have to scold him like this?”
" I'm happy!" he said cruelly.
Her heart ached. "Because you were happy. You buried my father and bought my body. Just because you're happy, you decided to torture me and play with me?”
He smiled wickedly." It doesn't matter what you say. What's important is that you're in my hands. I can do whatever I want. No one can stop me.”
At this moment, Zhangsun Yingying pushed open the door and entered with a jade scroll in her hand." Fifth Brother, can you give me this jade scroll?"”
"When did you take the jade scroll?”Zhangsun Yu asked unhappily.
Zhangsun Yingying glanced at Sang Yunong, who was on the verge of tears." What happened?" Did I get into trouble?"
"Why did you take the jade scroll without my permission?”
Zhangsun Yingying stuck out her tongue. "I saw that this jade scroll was beautiful, so I took it and played with it. Fifth Brother, do you think that the jade scroll was taken away by Yunong?”
"How did you become so uneducated! Don't you understand that you can't take away things that aren't yours?”
"I think it's beautiful! It's not like I'm not returning it to you. I also guessed that you were going to give this jade scroll to Sister Yu Ping, right?”Zhangsun Yingying was furious.
"Since you know who this is for, why did you take it?”He thought that Yingying was really spoiled by him. If he didn't use this opportunity to teach her, she would be even more lawless.
"I'm just borrowing it for fun! It's not like I'm really taking it for myself…Fifth Brother, now that you have Sister Yu Ping, you don't even dote on me, your biological sister, anymore, right?”Zhangsun Yingying mumbled.
"These are two different things. Don't mix them up.”He did not want to soften up just like that, especially in front of Sang Yunong. He could not let her think that he had taught his sister badly and that he had accused her of something just now.
"Fifth Brother is so biased. He only dotes on Sister Yu Ping. She likes jade, so you buy jade scrolls to please her. I like jade too, why don't you give me a jade scroll too!”Zhangsun Yingying pouted and said unevenly.
"You better not make me lose my temper. I haven't punished you properly for taking the jade scroll without permission, and you still dare to ask for a gift from me.”
"Fifth brother, give me this jade scroll! Sister Yu Ping's gift can be bought again! Anyway, she didn't know that there was such a beautiful jade scroll.”Zhangsun Yingying was so stubborn that she insisted on getting the jade scroll. She would never let Yu Ping get what she wanted. Half a year ago, she had already given her a jade bracelet worn by the princess of the previous dynasty. How could she give up this jade scroll?
"Enough! Yu Ping is coming to Suzhou. That is the first gift I want to give her when she comes to Suzhou. Don't fight with her.”Zhangsun Yu waved his sleeves. "Get out. I want to read a few books quietly.”
Sang Yunong immediately left the study after hearing this.
Zhangsun Yingying reluctantly put down the jade scroll and walked out with a pout.
Zhangsun Yingying caught up. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Eh?" Sang Yunong did not know what she was talking about.
"Fifth brother wants to give the jade scroll to Yu Ping, I desperately asked him for it just now because of you! You don't understand the situation at all." Zhangsun Yingying rolled her eyes.
"For me?" She really couldn't understand.
"Yu Ping is your love rival. If you let Fifth Brother spoil her so much, your days will be very difficult in the future.”
"Miss Yingying, I don't understand what you mean.”
"You are the granddaughter-in-law that Grandpa ordered Fifth Brother to marry, and Fifth Brother's sweetheart is Sister Yu Ping. Doesn't that make her your number one love rival?”
Sang Yunong did not understand what Zhangsun Yingying was trying to tell her, so she asked,""I'm your grandfather's designated granddaughter-in-law?”
Zhangsun Yingying nodded and quickly told him about how her grandfather had hired an artist to draw twelve paintings of beauties. "Do you understand now?"
"You must be joking." Sang Yunong could not accept it.
"It's true. Fifth Brother left the portrait in Luoyang, and I've seen it before. You're the beauty in the portrait, there's no mistake about it.”
Sang Yunong shook her head. "I don't want to get involved in this." Moreover, Zhangsun Yu only wanted to toy with her and torture her, and had no intention of pursuing her.
"This isn't muddy water, it's a godsend.”Zhangsun Yingying said.
"Miss Yingying, please don't say anything else about a godsend.”
"Future sister-in-law, this is absolutely true. Fifth Brother will definitely bring you back before Grandfather's 60th birthday. This is an order, Fifth Brother cannot disobey.”
Sang Yunong doubted that Zhangsun Yu would be afraid of the old minister's orders. She knew very well that a man like him could not be forced.
"Since Fifth Master already has someone in his heart, he won't take this matter to heart.”
"Yu Ping is not as beautiful as you. In time, Fifth Brother will understand that you are the most suitable partner for him.”She had no choice. Yu Ping had offended her time and time again. She just did not want the woman she hated to be her sister-in-law.
Sang Yunong smiled." Miss Yingying, thank you for your praise. I am not as good as you think I am.”
"Don't call me Miss. You're my future sister-in-law. It's weird for you to call me that."
Sang Yunong nodded. "You're a kind girl. Thank you for telling me these things, but feelings can't be forced.”
"Although feelings can't be forced, they can be cultivated slowly!”
"Fifth Master doesn't like me." This was something that Zhangsun Yingying did not know.
Zhangsun Yingying was a little surprised. "How could that be? Fifth Brother has always been greedy for talented beauties. It's impossible for Fifth Brother to hate you.”
"Some things are very subjective and cannot be explained clearly with words.”
"Sister Yunong, you must not give up. If Yu Ping becomes Fifth Brother's wife, many people will suffer.”She would probably be the first to suffer.
"If Yu Ping is the person your brother loves, you should give her your blessings.”
"No way! I just couldn't stand Yu Ping's disgustingly pretentious appearance, but I love jade ornaments and she loves jade ornaments too. She always likes to snatch them from me. It's really unreasonable. What was worse was that every time Fifth Brother had something good, he would think of her.”
"Perhaps she has many merits that you can't see.”
"Perhaps you think that I'm exaggerating and talking bad about her. It's okay, she's coming to Suzhou. From Fifth Brother's tone, I'm sure he's sent someone to Luoyang to pick her up. When she comes to Suzhou, you'll know that what I said is true. She's really annoying and difficult to get along with.”
"If she's really so difficult to get along with, why is Fifth Master so obsessed with her?”However, Sang Yunong felt that it was a good thing that the woman called Yu Ping came to Suzhou. At least Zhangsun Yu would have someone to accompany him and would not always find trouble with her.
"Sometimes, men are easily deceived by women who are obsequious, and Fifth Brother is no exception.”
Sang Yunong did not retort. Even if Zhangsun Yingying tried to persuade her, she would not budge.
Sang Yunong had gradually become familiar with the job of doing odd jobs and serving people.
When Zhangsun Yu went to Jinjiang, her body and mind naturally relaxed completely when he was not around.
"Fifth Master will be back tonight. The kitchen is very busy. Xi Mei's granny wants us to help.”Miao Miao came to call her.
Sang Yunong, who was embroidering mandarin ducks, put away her embroidery bag and followed Miao Miao into the kitchen.
When they passed by the reception hall, Zhangsun Yingying rushed out. "Sister Yunong, what kind of clothes do you think I should make with this piece of cloth?”
Sang Yunong looked at the pink satin fabric in Zhangsun Yingying's hand. "I'll think about it again tomorrow morning.”
"Where are you going?"
"The kitchen is busy. I'll go over and see if I can help.”
Zhangsun Yingying looked at Sang Yunong in disbelief." How can this be?!" Don't let those servants lead you by the nose. You will be their master in the future. How can a servant order their master to do things? No, Miaomiao, you can just ask any servant girl to help you. Miss Yunong doesn't do those rough things.”
Miao Miao curtsied." Yes, I'll tell Xi Mei Granny now."”
Sang Yunong stopped Miao Miao and said to Zhangsun Yingying,""Don't make things difficult for me. I'm the same as them. No one is nobler than the other.”
Zhangsun Yingying looked at her in confusion." You're Fifth Brother's future wife. You're already more noble than the servants. Why are you belittling yourself?”
Sang Yunong disagreed with Yingying's words." I did not belittle myself. I sold myself to Fifth Master and I will do my job obediently.”
"If Grandpa finds out about this, he'll be furious.”Zhangsun Yingying also had her own persistence.
"This is Suzhou, not Luoyang. Old Minister Zhangsun won't know.”Sang Yunong said stubbornly.
Zhangsun Yingying had no other choice. The person in question did not complain about the pain, but looked like he was enjoying it. What could she do? Even if she said it until her mouth was dry, it was useless. What was even more infuriating was that Fifth Brother did not have any objections to Sister Yunong's self-deprecation. It was as if this was exactly what he wanted.
Sang Yunong and Miao Miao had just entered the kitchen when they heard Xi Mei's loud voice!!
"Why did you take so long to come?”
"Miss Yingying was delayed by something. We didn't slack off on purpose.”Miao Miao retorted indignantly.
"So many reasons. Alright, peel and scale the potatoes and carp on the ground. I need them in fifteen minutes.”
Miao Miao was about to squat down when Xi Mei pointed at Sang Yunong and said,""She will be in charge of this. Miaomiao, go to the woodshed and get some wood.”
Sang Yunong picked up the knife and started peeling the potatoes without hesitation. She was very glad that she was not a pampered girl who had been raised in a boudoir. Otherwise, how could she possibly be able to do all this work?
After dealing with the potatoes and the carp, Sang Yunong started to clean them.
Xi Mei granny's voice rose again,""Leave it, leave it. Let Allie do the simple work of washing things. The chickens outside have all bled, but the feathers haven't been plucked yet.”
Sang Yunong nodded her head. The kitchen chores were not a problem for her.
At that moment, Xi Mei Granny's granddaughter, Ah Li, rushed in with a basin of hot water and shouted,"Grandma, save me! A mad dog wants to bite me. Granny, save me!”
As Allie ran, she looked behind her and did not notice that Sang Yunong was standing in front of her. Everything happened too quickly and the poor Sang Yunong was the first to be hit. She fell down and was drenched in hot water…
"Oh!" Sang Yunong groaned. It was autumn and winter, and her clothes were still thick. Otherwise, the consequences would be even worse.
Miao Miao rushed over to help Yunong up." Are you alright?" Fortunately, his face was not scalded, or it would have been ruined.”
Xi Mei pulled the stunned Ah Li aside." It's alright, it's alright. Don't look like you've lost your soul. How could you be so careless?"”
" I…I was holding a basin…I was about to kill a chicken…but the mad dog…bit me…I…" Allie was so scared that she could not speak clearly. She vaguely knew that she had caused trouble.
"You're already a grown man. Can't you dodge when you see Ali come in? Do you want to be scalded on purpose and think that you don't have to do anything just because you're injured? He wanted to slack off! It's not that easy!" Seeing that Sang Yunong was acting as if nothing had happened, Xi Mei felt that it should not be a problem. She opened her mouth and took the initiative.
"How can you say that? It's clearly Ali's fault, but you still scolded her.”Miao Miao shouted angrily.
"Forget it, it's not a problem!" Sang Yunong said as if she was trying to make a big deal out of it.
"Hurry up and get to work!" Xi Mei granny shouted.
Sang Yunong endured the pain and started working. Who could she blame? She could only blame herself for being blind and reacting slowly. She blinked her eyes and tears that were about to fall. She told herself to endure it.#
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。