Chapter 25: Rumors

The next morning, Meinang slept in until she woke up naturally, stretching lazily as she saw the faint morning light filtering through the window. She suddenly remembered that someone had shared the couch with her, and quickly turned her head to look. Xu Jun Ying was gone. The man had woken up earlier than she had and disappeared without a trace.

A strange smile appeared on her face. As Qin Meinang, she at least got to experience what it felt like to sleep in the same bed with a husband first, patiently calming down a drunken man until he fell asleep, then lying exhausted beside him, closing her eyes, full of thoughts, and falling into a deep sleep. There was not a single trace of warmth or romantic feeling in it.

What should love and affection between a husband and wife really be like? She couldn’t say. She had never formally married anyone, but as an adult, she had experienced romantic entanglements. In college, she was deeply in love with her boyfriend. They even secretly went and got matching tattoos of each other’s names, and he pampered her so much she felt like she was the only woman in the world, that the world wouldn’t turn without her. But after graduation, they had to part ways and tried to maintain the relationship through endless calls and texts. After three months, she missed him so much that she flew to his city without notice to surprise him, only to find him hugging a young woman with the same bright smile she had once known. Her heart shattered, and she wanted to beat both of them, but instead, she ran away, crying uncontrollably on the way home.

Her ex-boyfriend later sent a message: “I truly love you, but I have to marry her. Marriage is a tool to secure a successful life.” This message stopped her tears, just as when she used to cry and he would always comfort her. She quickly replied, “Wishing you success in life! Which of your buddies advised you? Maybe selling yourself for fame is wonderful. You should try it!” He sent another message, but she deleted it without reading and turned off her phone.

She then went to a big city in the south, isolating herself, focusing on her work for three years, climbing up the corporate ladder, and becoming a middle manager. Many mature men were around her, but she never felt that excitement again. A classmate told her that her ex-boyfriend had gotten married and was steadily advancing in his career. He was even inquiring about her. Although she still had his shadow in her heart, she knew that they would never meet again.

Just as she was thinking about whether to accept a more mature relationship, she inexplicably got into a car accident and ended up in this strange place.

Qin Meinang leaned against the cushion, frowning slightly. When she mocked her ex-boyfriend back then, she never imagined that one day, her own situation would be so similar to his. He married to rise in status, and now, in order to secure her position in this household, maintain her identity as the legitimate wife, and fight for her son’s title as heir, what had she done, or what was she about to do?

No, no! It couldn’t be compared! She was now Qin Meinang, and Qin Meinang and Xu Jun Ying were originally a married couple. The things she needed to do were absolutely necessary. Otherwise, she and her son would be trampled underfoot!

Qin Meinang lazily called out:
“Is anyone there? Come in!”

Mom Wang and the three maids entered with various toiletries, standing outside the curtain and respectfully said:
“Servants are here to assist the master and madam with getting up!”

Meinang chuckled, “The master has already woken up early. It’s just me here, no need for you to trouble yourselves. I’ll go wash up in the inner room myself!”

Mom Wang was puzzled. The thin curtain couldn’t hide anything, and when they lifted the curtain to check, they saw that the bed beside the madam was empty. They hurried to ask:
“The master got up so early? We’ve been waiting outside since before dawn, but why didn’t we hear him leave?”

Meinang replied, “Maybe he went to the inner room and fell and can’t get up?”

Mom Wang jumped in fright, “Madam, don’t speak like that… Cui Xi, go check!”

Cui Xi ran back and forth and shook her head. “No, the master must have gotten up before we arrived!”

Mom Wang looked at Cui Si, and Cui Si quickly spoke up: “Last night, I was on night duty with Cheng Er. We didn’t dare close our eyes. We listened carefully in the middle of the night but didn’t hear anything unusual.”

Meinang could tell that Mom Wang was looking at Cui Si suspiciously, and the maids all looked uneasy, understanding the unspoken thoughts, The master and madam’s relationship seemed distant, and it was a rare opportunity for them to sleep together. They hadn’t done a good job serving, and now they didn’t even know when the master had left, ruining a chance to foster feelings between them.

Meinang secretly smiled to herself and comforted them, “The master must have had some urgent matter to attend to. He woke up from the alcohol and left. He’s a military leader and has to practice martial arts regularly. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Rise with the rooster to train’? That’s exactly what he does, getting up before dawn to train. Otherwise, how could he be such a constant victor in battle?”

The maids sighed in relief, and Mom Wang smiled in agreement, “That’s right! Our master indeed has this habit. There’s a training ground in the east courtyard where he practices martial arts!”

Meinang nodded and said seriously, “You don’t need to worry. He is my husband. Without him, there is no me. He gave me this position, so I naturally need to secure it. From today, I will manage the household’s internal affairs, go over the accounts, meet the managers, arrange various matters, and be very busy. To be honest, I’m taking charge of the household for two reasons one is to prove my strength, and the other is to reclaim what our Qing Hua Courtyard was supposed to have but didn’t. Whether I can do it well remains uncertain. I’ve forgotten much from the past and don’t remember the rules of the household well. I might handle some things improperly or unknowingly break some taboos. Since you’re my closest maids, you must remind me and take care of me. You will be busier than before, and you might even get scolded. Are you afraid?”

Mom Wang’s eyes were red as she said, “We followed the madam to the Qing Hua Courtyard, hoping for this moment. If the madam succeeds, we will be happy. We will do our best to serve the madam. What is there to fear?”

Cui Si said excitedly, “Now, who dares to bully us?”

Meinang smiled at her and said, “Cui Xi, Cui Si, and Cui Jian each have their own unique characteristics, and I like them all… Cui Xi is more steady, Cui Jian is attentive, and Cui Si is capable and quick-witted. But, do you know? Sometimes you get into trouble because you speak too directly without thinking. I’ve experienced it. Sometimes, I say things without thinking when I’m with other madams.”

Cui Si blushed and lowered her head, “I know, madam. I talk too much. I’ll be more careful in the future!”

Meinang said, “From now on, don’t call yourselves servants. Just use your names.”

She then asked Mom Wang, “How did the matter I asked you to handle go yesterday?”

Mom Wang glanced at Cui Si and replied, “I spoke to Granny Lin and a few others. I told them the madam is kind-hearted and won’t cause trouble for them. As long as they take those rumors and send them back from where they came, keeping everything in their mouths, they won’t dare to disobey the madam’s words.”

Meinang nodded, “Whether the rumors are true or not, we’ll treat them as just that rumors. We won’t allow them to spread. Miss Zheng is going to marry soon, and it would be bad for her reputation to be ruined. We also need to protect the master’s name. I won’t tolerate hearing such things again!”

Mom Wang nodded approvingly, “The madam is wise! The rumors are unlikely to spread further now. When the madam sits proudly in Zi Yun Hall today, those lowly servants will surely be too eager to flatter the true mistress rather than listen to rumors about someone without any standing.”

Cui Si muttered, “Those words definitely didn’t come from me. I’ve just been reprimanding little maids in the courtyard, and I’ve been taught since childhood that no family matters should be exposed to others. Who would be bold enough to go out and spread such rumors about the master?”

Mom Wang gave her a look, “We know it wasn’t you. You were just used. You’re straightforward, lively, and cheerful, and the madam assigned you to look after Heng Ge’er. Miss Zheng was the one who pinched Heng Ge’er, and if you didn’t see it, who else would? Granny Lin’s daughter has spoken to you a few times in the courtyard. They’ve been watching closely.”

Cui Si stomped her foot, “This is unbelievable! How could any girl be so scheming, calculating people like this?”

Cui Xi and Cui Jian laughed, “Let’s see if you’ll still be so reckless next time

!”

Qin Meinang picked up the freshly made tea, sighed lightly, and sipped it slowly. The morning sun slowly climbed higher, and there was no longer any discomfort in her heart. At least for now, she had successfully protected her son. As for Xu Jun Ying’s disappearance… nothing was certain yet.