Meng Huan attempted to console, "Although the lord refuses to have intimate relations with me, I still have good food and drink, which is already good enough."
"But..."
The maidservants exchanged glances. "But if the madam cannot receive the lord's affection and fulfill her duties as a wife, it would be against societal norms. It will become a subject of mockery if it spreads!"
Help! Feudal remnants are truly terrifying.
"What's there to mock?" Meng Huan said seriously. "That's just their limited understanding. Go out to the courtyard now and see the countless stars in the sky, listen to the cicadas and frogs on a summer night, feel the rustling of the wind through the treetops. Do you not sense the vastness and breadth of life? Besides work and taking care of the family, there are many other interesting things to do every day."
The maidservant remained silent.
Knowing that she couldn't change their deeply ingrained beliefs, Meng Huan sighed and walked towards the bedroom. "Sisters, go and rest. I'll sleep as well."
"Yes, madam."
The maidservants returned to their chambers, leaving only one male servant guarding the entrance.
After the surroundings fell into silence, Meng Huan patted the bed and prepared to sleep.
However, there seemed to be a faint coolness on her forehead.
She recalled the gentle touch of Lin Bozhou lightly tapping her head, his posture elegant and an expression of utmost helplessness.
...It was warm.
Meng Huan raised her hand and gently touched her forehead where he had touched her.
Still a bit warm.
Just the thought of Lin Bozhou's body temperature made her feel as if she had caught a fever, and her whole body began to uncontrollably warm up.
Meng Huan muttered as she turned over, hiding her face in the blanket.
—This "high compatibility" of their bodies is really annoying.
In the following days, Meng Huan didn't see Lin Bozhou at all.
She initially thought it was due to the excessive intensity of their lovemaking. It wasn't until she overheard the maidservants chatting that she learned the truth: Lin Bozhou's eye ailment had healed, and he had returned to the court to handle affairs, resuming his busy schedule as before.
He became a powerful figure who stood above everyone else, and the atmosphere in the mansion became exceptionally lively. Lin Bozhou's servants were delighted; the more powerful their master, the more glorious they felt. They were extremely happy.
Meng Huan thought to herself: Well then.
From another perspective, with Lin Bozhou starting work, Meng Huan's happy life as a lonely wife also began. Hehehe.
She spent the morning drawing in the courtyard. At noon, when she heard the maidservant Fengzhi calling her for a meal, Meng Huan responded, "Coming," and put down her paintbrush to enter the house. However, upon seeing the dishes, she exclaimed, "Huh? Why are there only three dishes and a soup? Initially, there were thirty dishes, then it decreased to ten, and now there are only four?"
Fengzhi's face was filled with sadness. "Madam, alas."
Hearing her sigh, Meng Huan understood what was going on. "Is it because I am not favored?"
"Yes," Fengzhi nodded. "The servants in this mansion are skilled at gauging one's worth through the dishes. After the incident of the madam not sharing the bed with the lord spread, they became less enthusiastic and started neglecting the madam."
So that's the case. Meng Huan sat down and looked
at the dishes in front of her, quite satisfied. "It's not a big problem. Four dishes are enough."
Fengzhi smiled and said, "Madam is very easy to please."
To be honest, not only were the other servants in the mansion neglecting her, even the eight maids and eight male servants in the courtyard had started neglecting her. Only Fengzhi and a few other sisters continued to take care of her.
Meng Huan invited Fengzhi to sit down and eat together. Just as Fengzhi was about to decline, a voice sounded from outside the door.
"Is the madam here?"
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, and Meng Huan, holding a chicken leg, raised her head in a daze. She first saw the figures of several maidservants and male servants.
Xu Fanggu, who had been punished by Lin Bozhou some time ago, stood at the door with a bright smile on her face. "Madam, are you having your meal?"
Meng Huan made a muffled sound, and the chicken leg fell into the bowl. Fengzhi quickly stood up and walked towards the courtyard, apparently going to find someone, but her path was blocked.
"Where do you think you're going? Fengzhi, did something go wrong in the courtyard? Go and fix it."
Fengzhi lowered her head. "It was fixed in the morning."
"Hmm? But why do I smell something unpleasant? Did you neglect your duties?" After speaking, Miss Xu grabbed her collar and said, "Kneel down."
Her voice carried a tone of authority.
The atmosphere became subtle.
Meng Huan no longer looked at the chicken leg but instead gazed at Xu Fanggu before realizing something.
The sweaty fingers crumpled the paper and discreetly placed it beneath him. Meng Huan walked to the light and took a glance at it:
"#$@%!(&*+@#)..."
He frowned.
— Lu Nanxing's handwriting is too sloppy, isn't it?
Behind him, A Qing carried the dishes: "Madam, the meal is ready."
Meng Huan quickly put away the letter: "Coming!"
Sitting in the courtyard, Feng Zhi started counting: "Madam, if we don't eat the meals from the official residence and cook ourselves, we'll need to have someone buy ingredients from outside. We can keep track of the expenses every day and month, and settle them together. How does that sound?"
Meng Huan nodded: "Yes, that's a good idea."
He nervously played with his chopsticks, slowly answering. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of that letter. After a moment, he asked, "Feng Zhi, how much money do I have left?"
"Thirty taels."
Meng Huan asked cautiously, "Is that enough to hire a tutor?"
"Yes, Madam, but what is it for?"
"..."
Meng Huan took a deep breath, "I want to learn how to read and write."
That evening, Meng Huan couldn't resist and sought the male servant who had helped him read the characters last time.
When the servant entered, he seemed uneasy at the sight of Meng Huan.
Meng Huan coughed, "Help me read this letter."
The servant shifted uncomfortably, "Madam... hasn't Madam realized that I have reported your previous actions?"
He trembled, "I can't get involved in Madam's affairs... I can't read this letter either..."
Meng Huan took out a bracelet.
The servant silently accepted it and also took the letter, wondering why the Prince didn't take care of this audacious assassin.
"Read," Meng Huan urged.
Under the lamplight, the servant glanced at the letter. He thought that he wouldn't be trembling after attempting to assassinate the regent, but he couldn't help but shake when reading this letter.
"What does the letter say?" Meng Huan asked, looking at him.
The servant took a deep breath, "In the letter, it first expresses admiration and concern for Madam, then asks if there is any progress regarding the assassination of the Prince and the delivery of information. Finally, it asks if Madam can meet him outside the residence for a talk in three days at Li's Restaurant on Anhe Lane in Dongsheng Street."
Meng Huan furrowed his brows but then relaxed.
On one hand, he found Lu Nanxing's requests to be absurd, but on the other hand, he realized he had the option to leave the residence.
He put away the letter and looked at the servant, "Keep this matter confidential, don't spread it, and I may need you in the future."
"..."
The servant replied, "Thank you for trusting me, Madam."
After leaving the courtyard, the servant didn't hesitate and went straight to the chamber where Lian Bozhou resided.
Inside the bedroom, the light was bright. Lian Bozhou had just returned from the imperial city, reclining in a chair, with his feet soaking in a wooden tub filled with warm water and healing herbs. A eunuch attended to him, massaging the acupoints on his feet.
In the room, only the sound of water and the reading of "Zizhi Tongjian" by Shanxing filled the air.
After finishing reading, Shanxing closed the book, "My Lord, the Governor of Zhejiang replied to the
letter today, saying that they are currently purchasing grains from merchants and officials. Once they gather enough, they will transport them to the Huang-Huai region. You don't need to worry."
Upon hearing this letter, Lian Bozhou tapped his forehead, remembering something, "How has Madam been these past few days?"
"According to the servants, Madam has been either in the courtyard or in various pavilions painting."
Shanxing remembered something else, "Also, Madam seems to be planning to find a tutor to teach him reading and writing."
"Hmm?" Lian Bozhou raised an eyebrow.
At the door, a servant entered, "My Lord, Xisun is requesting an audience."
It was the same servant who helped Meng Huan read the letter. He entered and knelt on the ground.
Shanxing chuckled, "So that's what it's about."
Lian Bozhou tried not to laugh, "What letter is it this time?"
The servant recited the contents of the letter.
The candle flickered, and the atmosphere grew somewhat quiet. Lian Bozhou lightly tapped his fingers on the back of the chair, seemingly pondering the contents of the letter. After a while, he said, "Alright, find a master to teach him how to read. It's a good idea."
Shanxing's attention was focused on the latter half of his statement, "My Lord, will Madam really slip away to meet this person?"
In a larger sense, it was a plan to assassinate Lian Bozhou.
In a smaller sense, it was a secret rendezvous with another man.
Lian Bozhou pressed his finger lightly, making a "click" sound with a slightly cold tone.
"Secure the entrance to the mansion. Keep a close eye on it."