Chapter 24: Taking Her as a Concubine Is an Honor for Her

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Taking Her as a Concubine Is an Honor for Her

Ouyang Zhenzhu finally noticed her strange posture. "How could you have been so careless?" she asked, concerned. "Does it hurt badly?"

Zhi Wan shook her head. "It doesn’t hurt much anymore. I was focused on chasing you and didn’t watch my step. I tripped on a rock."

Ouyang Zhenzhu was filled with self-blame. "It’s all my fault. I was just having fun and didn’t even think to wait for you."

Zhi Wan was exasperated. "How could this be your fault? It was just an accident, and not a serious one. If anyone’s to blame, it’s my own clumsiness."

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

「Fu Family’s Villa.」

When Lady Lin heard that Zhi Wan had left the villa, her brow furrowed. "Didn’t I tell you to have someone keep an eye on her? Why did she suddenly leave?"

Nanny Chen said, "Our people were following them, but then Miss Zhi Wan and Miss Ouyang went deep into the Peach Blossom Forest. Fearing they’d be discovered, and assuming the young ladies would be out after a short while, our people stopped following.

Miss Zhi Wan left with Prince Lu. Apparently, she had a fall and needed to return to the city for treatment."

"Prince Lu? Lu Zhan?" Lady Lin asked in surprise.

"The very same," Nanny Chen confirmed with a nod. "And it wasn’t just Prince Lu. Prince Duan was here as well."

Lady Lin frowned. "I sent no invitation to either of them."

"They didn’t really come for the flower-viewing party," Nanny Chen explained. "They heard the peach blossoms at our villa were in full bloom and came specifically to admire them. Prince Duan had already spoken to the Princely Heir."

Lady Lin sighed. "It’s a good thing they’ve left. Otherwise, wouldn’t all the young ladies here today have been completely captivated by the two of them?"

Nanny Chen didn’t respond. ’What the madam says is true,’ she thought, ’but doesn’t she favor Miss Wang to be the Heir’s wife? So what does it matter if the other young ladies are drawn to Lu Zhan and Duan Ling?’

"It’s a pity Zhi Wan left," Lady Lin said with a hint of regret. "I was hoping to have a word with her."

Nanny Chen hesitated before asking, "Madam, are you still thinking of having Miss Zhi Wan become the Princely Heir’s concubine?"

"I wasn’t considering it at first," Lady Lin said dismissively. "But you’ve seen how taken Hongyi is with her. With her status, how could he possibly marry her? Only Yanran is worthy of him. Still, since Hongyi fancies her, we’ll wait until Yanran has married into the family, and then we can bring Zhi Wan in as well. She can simply serve Hongyi."

"By doing so, won’t we risk offending Duchess Dingguo? This old servant has heard that the Duchess is extremely fond of Miss Zhi Wan..."

Lady Lin laughed. "Zhi Wan is merely an orphan. No matter how much Lady Wei dotes on her, she’s not her daughter. The families she could possibly marry into won’t be of high status. For our family to be willing to take her as a concubine is to elevate her. Lady Fu has no reason to disagree."

Hearing this, Nanny Chen knew better than to say anything more.

Lady Lin thought for a moment, then added, "Nanny Chen, go prepare some health supplements. Since Zhi Wan is injured, I can use the opportunity to visit her tomorrow to also sound out Madam Lu."

"Yes, Madam."

...

「Duke Dingguo Mansion.」

Ouyang Zhenzhu personally escorted Zhi Wan and her maid through the mansion gates before taking her leave.

Back at Yaoguang Pavilion, Shuang’er examined Zhi Wan’s injury. Finding only some bruising that wasn’t too severe, she finally relaxed. Still, she fetched a medicinal balm for bruises and carefully applied it.

"Miss, does it still hurt?" Shuang’er asked caringly.

Lying on her side, Zhi Wan shook her head. "It only hurts when it’s touched."

"Miss, the Duchess is here," Dongxiang announced from outside the door.

Zhi Wan heard this and hurriedly tried to get up, but Lady Wei was already walking in.

The moment she entered, she caught the scent of medicine. Seeing Zhi Wan lying on the daybed, her brow furrowed. "I knew it! For you to return so early, something must have happened. Where are you hurt?"

"I’m sorry for worrying you, Aunt. I’m fine," Zhi Wan said guiltily.

"I can smell the ointment, yet you’re still trying to hide it from me?" Lady Wei said, sitting on the edge of the daybed and putting on a deliberately stern expression.

"It’s really nothing," Zhi Wan explained. "I just took a tumble, and my backside is a bit sore."

Lady Wei’s brow knitted. "How on earth did you manage to fall?"

Zhi Wan didn’t dare mention what happened with Wang Zeren, afraid of worrying her, so she lied. "I was chasing after Zhenzhu and wasn’t watching my feet, and I just... fell."

"Let me see." Lady Wei, fearing she was downplaying the injury, wouldn’t be at ease until she saw it with her own eyes.

Zhi Wan was embarrassed, but she complied, lowering her trousers just enough to reveal the bruised area.

Against her fair, delicate skin, the bruise looked stark and alarmingly severe.

Lady Wei gasped, her face filled with pity. "To fall so badly, and you still insist it’s nothing."

Blushing, Zhi Wan quickly pulled her trousers back up. "It only looks bad. It barely hurts now, I’m really all right."

"Are you sure? What if you’ve injured the bone? No, this won’t do. I must have a physician take a look." The more Lady Wei thought, the more worried she grew.

Zhi Wan quickly stopped her. "Aunt, it’s just a small injury! If I had broken a bone, would I be this comfortable? There’s no need for a physician. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest."

"You’re certain?" Lady Wei asked, still hesitant.

"I’m certain," Zhi Wan affirmed with a nod.

Seeing her insistent assurances, Lady Wei no longer insisted on calling for a physician. She only said, "Well, if you feel anything at all, you must tell me right away. Don’t let a small injury fester into a large one. The regret would be too great."

"I will," Zhi Wan promised meekly.

Not wanting to disturb her rest, Lady Wei stood. "You get some proper rest, then. I’ll leave you be and come see you again tomorrow."

"Take care, Aunt," Zhi Wan said softly.

After Lady Wei left, Zhi Wan was about to look for Shuang’er, but realized she was no longer in the room. Her expression changed instantly, and she quickly summoned Dongxiang. "Hurry, go to the Punishment Chamber and bring Shuang’er back."

Dongxiang didn’t understand why, but she did as she was told and hurried to the Punishment Chamber.

By the time she arrived, Shuang’er had already received ten strokes of the rod.

The executioner, taking into account that she was a young woman, had not used lethal force, but ten strokes of the rod were still a heavy punishment.

When Dongxiang got there, Shuang’er was struggling to climb off the punishment stool.

She gasped and rushed forward to help her. "Shuang’er! Why were you being punished?"

"I angered the Princely Heir," Shuang’er whispered.

"What?" Dongxiang was astonished. Only then did she notice two older serving women in the courtyard. They had also completed their punishment and were now leaning on each other for support.

"Let’s go," Shuang’er urged, gritting her teeth against the pain.

Dongxiang had no time for more questions and quickly helped her back to Yaoguang Pavilion.

「Lan Courtyard.」

Lady Wei suspected there was more to Zhi Wan’s fall than she was letting on. She had Nanny Fang summon the servants who had accompanied Zhi Wan to the party for questioning.

Nanny Fang returned a short while later.

"The maid and two serving women who accompanied her all went to the Punishment Chamber to receive their punishment upon returning. They are now bedridden and nursing their wounds, so they cannot come to report to you, Madam."

Lady Wei was taken aback. "Who punished them?"

"According to the two serving women, it was the Princely Heir," Nanny Fang replied.

"Zhan’er?" Lady Wei was even more astonished. "What happened?"

"I heard the Princely Heir was also at the Fu Family’s Villa today," Nanny Fang reported. "The serving women said Miss encountered danger in the Peach Blossom Forest, but they are unclear on the details. They failed to stay with Miss, so the Princely Heir accused them of dereliction of duty and ordered them to return to the mansion to receive punishment."