The Heir returned from the morning court early today. Upon his return, he heard from the servants that she had already gone back, and he felt a stifling sensation in his chest. When lunchtime came, he looked at the table full of dishes and instantly lost his appetite.
Liuyun, noticing his master had no appetite, assumed the meals prepared by the kitchen were not to the Heir’s liking. "Heir, shall I have Master Gong in the kitchen prepare two more dishes you enjoy?"
Lu Hanting put down his chopsticks and asked, "Has Mistress Wu eaten?"
"Ah! At this hour, Miss Wu likely hasn't eaten yet," Liuyun guessed at the Heir’s thoughts.
"Go, call her over. Tell her to come and serve my meal."
"Very well, Heir."
At Biyun Pavilion, the new maid, Linghe, was just preparing to head to the kitchen for food when she saw Liuyun rushing over. "Are you off to get lunch? No need. The Heir wants your mistress to come and wait upon him."
Seeing this, Linghe, having walked halfway, had to turn back.
Hearing that the Heir wanted her to come over and serve dishes, Wu Weiwei only wanted to sing a song of "onward, onward, onward" in her heart. The Heir’s demands of her seemed to be growing higher and higher. However, this was a good thing; high demands proved that her weight in his heart was increasing.
When Wu Weiwei arrived at Qingsong Courtyard, she saw the Heir staring at the teacup in his hand, lost in thought.
"This concubine greets the Heir," Wu Weiwei said, bowing to him with a graceful posture.
Lu Hanting waved his hand at those behind her, and Liuyun and the other servants filed out, one after another. She had been told to serve the meal—why was he chasing everyone away?
"Come here," he said to her in a muffled voice.
Although puzzled, Wu Weiwei obediently walked toward him. As she drew near, the Heir’s large hands reached out, swept her up by the waist, and sat her onto his lap. Feeling his desire, Wu Weiwei felt her face flush completely red, like a steamed shrimp. Though surprised, thinking of how hard he had served her last night, she still felt a sense of shyness. She had to admit, the Heir was someone to be looked at with new eyes after even a few days apart. Thinking that he was the one who ended up putting in the work during this adult game, she felt no loss at all, only an uncontrollable joy.
Wu Weiwei obediently loosened the ties of her dress, smiling with an enchanting look as she pressed against him. In the broad daylight, Cuiyun, standing guard outside the door, naturally heard the commotion within. She never expected Miss Wu to have such means; even the Heir, with his noble and cold nature, had been conquered by her. Compared to the late cousin, Cuiyun actually liked Wu Weiwei more. After all, she had no airs and was considerate of them, the servants.
The two were at it until the hour of the sheep (1 p.m.). Had Lu Hanting not heard the hungry growl of Wu Weiwei’s stomach, he likely would not have let her go.
"Biyun, have the kitchen prepare a fresh meal and send it up."
Lu Hanting stepped out first. Wu Weiwei, busy tidying her clothes, followed a step behind. Seeing Wu Weiwei’s flushed, rosy face, Cuiyun understood everything; she smiled and went off to the kitchen.
This was the first time Wu Weiwei had eaten a meal at Qingsong Courtyard.
"Grrr..."
Looking at the various exquisite delicacies laid out on the Eight Immortals table, her stomach uncooperatively growled again. Lu Hanting watched her with a smile. What was he looking at? It was all his fault anyway. She had woken up late today and hadn't even had breakfast. Then, she had been called over by him and tossed about for the entire morning; even a stomach of iron wouldn't be able to handle that.
Wu Weiwei turned her face away, feigning coyness. A woman shouldn't just be gentle as water; she also needs to act a little spoiled at the right time.
Lu Hanting sat on his own, not asking her to sit down with him. Seeing her charming look as she glanced at the table from time to time, he knew she was starving. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of cherry-glazed meat. "Open your mouth."
Wu Weiwei foolishly opened her mouth, catching the food from his chopsticks. Cuiyun, serving to the side, widened her eyes in astonishment. She had never seen the Heir feed anyone. Even with the cousin, when the Heir ate, she would only stand to the side and serve the dishes; she had never once been seen sitting down to eat with him. Seeing the doting look in the Heir’s eyes toward Miss Wu, Cuiyun understood that Miss Wu’s true blessings were still to come.
Because of matters at court, Lu Hanting was called away halfway through the meal. After finishing lunch, Wu Weiwei returned to her courtyard. No sooner had she returned to Biyun Pavilion than a matron from the Marquis’s Estate brought over a bowl of contraceptive soup. Wu Weiwei took it and drank it down readily in front of the matron, not leaving a single drop. Seeing her drink it all, the matron then took her leave.
"Miss, why didn't you speak to the Heir and ask him to give you a child?" one of her maids asked. If her mistress could bear the Heir a son or daughter, she could rely on the child to be elevated to a concubine of the Marquis’s Estate.
Wu Weiwei looked at her three maids and laughed, saying, "You don't understand. Now is not the time."
She was very clear about what her status was right now. She was merely a bed-servant. If not for the fact that the Marquis’s Lady found her useful, any servant in the estate could have bullied her. Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to let others bully her. Without having gained enough of the Heir’s doting affection, she would not have a child. Otherwise, she would have long since brought Ranran, whom she had placed with the He family, into the estate. She wasn't stupid. Before the mistress of the house had crossed the threshold, if she, a bed-servant, dared to become pregnant, the outcome would likely be for the mother to be discarded while the child was kept.
Over the past few days, she had read a few volumes of the Great Wei Dynasty’s legal statutes in the Heir’s study. She naturally knew that with her current status, she was not protected by the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty. Therefore, she was unwilling to risk her life to conduct this experiment. According to the plot of the book, the heroine would return in ten days. If she could prevent it, that would be fine, but if she couldn't, it would be a tough battle.
For several days in a row, the Heir summoned her to Qingsong Courtyard, and occasionally, the Heir would stay overnight at Biyun Pavilion. In the eyes of others, the Heir pampered her like a pearl or jade, even bestowing upon her something as precious as Cloud-Pattern Brocade. One had to know, such precious fabric had not even been gifted to the late cousin in the past. Consequently, everyone in the Marquis’s Estate knew that since the passing of the cousin, the Heir had a new favorite among his bed-servants.
Madam Li’s daughter, He Yaya, worked for the Fourth Young Miss of the Marquis’s Estate. Over the past few days, she had learned from her daughter that Wu Weiwei was currently enjoying the Heir’s favor. She had wanted to wait for her to return to discuss the living expenses for her younger brother, Wu Heran, but after several days, she hadn't seen her return to visit. Madam Li couldn't help but grow anxious.
At night, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, considering discussing it with her husband. But seeing "Mule" He snoring like thunder, she knew that discussing it with him would be useless; in the end, she would have to make the decision herself. After much deliberation, Madam Li decided to go to the Marquis’s Estate the next day to try her luck.
The next day, Madam Li arrived at the side gate of the Marquis’s Estate and entrusted someone to call her daughter, Yaya, out. Standing in front of the eaves of the Marquis’s Estate, looking at the imposing architecture, Madam Li felt a bit timid.
"Mother, why have you come? Why didn't you send word beforehand?" He Yaya complained to Madam Li. The Marquis had come by today, and she had heard that he was always generous with rewards; she had only been thinking about how she might perform well to earn a tip.
"Yaya, I came to find Wu Weiwei. Do you remember what I told you that day?" Madam Li reminded her daughter in a whisper.
Hearing her mother’s words, He Yaya’s mind turned. She had heard from the Fourth Young Miss that Wu Weiwei’s monthly allowance had been raised to twenty taels. If half of that could land in their family’s hands, then...
"Mother, you walk around the area for a bit. After I report to the Young Miss, I will go find that Wu Weiwei. I will definitely have her come out to see you before lunch."