The woman was the daughter of a seventh-rank official. She was pretty and came with a very substantial dowry…
The woman’s family intended to arrange the betrothal first, with the marriage to take place after Liang Mingcheng completed the imperial examinations.
At first, Madam Liang was all smiles and very agreeable.
But later, she suddenly changed her mind, becoming quite cold and dismissive towards the matchmaker, adopting a superior attitude.
“Liang Mingcheng is handsome and talented. Perhaps he’s caught the eye of some high official’s daughter—”
One of the women joked.
The others burst into laughter…
When Huaishan returned and reported this, Sheng Mingshu’s heart sank with dread.
The Liang family was crammed into a small house, living in hardship with no support from their clan…
Even if Liang Mingcheng were to pass the provincial exam and become a juren, or even pass the palace exam to become a tongjinshi, marrying the daughter of a seventh-rank official here in the capital would already be an excellent match.
Could it be that Liang Mingcheng was confident he could achieve a rank higher than tongjinshi?
Although Sheng Mingshu felt his own literary talent was limited, he believed that based on Liang Mingcheng’s current essays, tongjinshi was likely the best result Liang could hope for.
So, why would Liang Mingcheng reject the seventh-rank official’s daughter?
Did he have a better marriage prospect in mind?
Sheng Mingshu had sensed it for years now—his family was not united, and the atmosphere was far from harmonious.
Their mother seemed deeply disappointed in her own sons and no longer doted on them unconditionally as she had when they were children.
The relationship between Seventh Sister and her full brothers was even worse; they treated each other like enemies.
Ironically, Seventh Sister got along better with him and Second Brother.
Now, with Sheng Mingzhu’s return, the friction between the various factions within the household had intensified.
He truly worried that those three brothers, for Sheng Mingzhu’s sake, might do something harmful to their mother or Seventh Sister.
Therefore, even without concrete evidence, Sheng Mingshu wanted to tell their mother about Eldest Brother’s recent contact with Liang Mingcheng.
“Don’t you go. I’ll tell her—”
Concubine Ruan thought for a moment and said.
Over the years, without the Madam’s protection, she and her son would never have lived such stable lives.
Their food, clothing, and living standards would have been much worse, and her son certainly wouldn’t have been able to attend such a prestigious academy.
Now, seeing her son becoming more and more promising, Concubine Ruan was immensely gratified and forever grateful to the Madam.
Hearing her son’s report just now, Concubine Ruan immediately thought of the recent “accident” involving the Eldest Young Master and the maid, Qingxin…
It was said the Eldest Young Master was furious. Since Qingxin was a gift from the Madam to him, he might very well hold a grudge against the Madam—
Later, when the Madam took the young ladies out to buy clothes and jewelry, Seventh Young Lady publicly embarrassed Sixth Young Lady—
The Eldest Young Master doted on Sixth Young Lady the most. Concubine Ruan felt his patience might be nearing its limit. A cornered dog might jump over the wall; it wasn’t impossible…
This matter must be reported to the Madam, but she didn’t want to involve her son. It was safest for her to tell the Madam herself.
Now, Concubine Ruan only hoped her son would succeed, gaining the ability to protect himself in the future.
If that day came, Concubine Ruan felt she could close her eyes in peace, even in death.
On the other side, Sheng Minmin soon received the message passed along by Concubine Ruan.
Actually, Sheng Minmin already knew because Xiong San had informed her much earlier that Sheng Mingjian was in contact with a scholar who came from a poor family, was handsome, somewhat talented, and very ambitious.
She instantly thought of Huang Yaning.
Sheng Mingjian had used Gao Shan to seduce Qingxiang. Having found the “honey trap” tactic so effective, he would naturally think of using another man to entrap Huang Yaning.
But Huang Yaning was no ordinary twelve-year-old girl. Sheng Mingjian was bound to hit a wall.
She just wondered what Huang Yaning would feel upon learning her own eldest son was scheming against her like this?
Sheng Minmin looked forward to finding out.
——
“Sister Qingxin, these are the pastries freshly fetched from the main kitchen—”
Looking at the bowl of chilled mung bean soup, its surface still misty with cold, Qingxin felt a spark of anger flare within her.
Why?
Why hadn’t she conceived? That night had been so wild, and the Eldest Young Master had even forgotten to make her drink the contraceptive potion…
During this time, Qingxin had secretly consulted the estate physician several times to check her pulse. Each time, the physician shook his head.
She thought the physician might be wrong, so she secretly went outside to see another doctor, only to receive the same diagnosis—
Qingxin returned, cried her eyes out in frustration several times, her eyelids swollen.
Given the Eldest Young Master’s disgust towards her, he probably wouldn’t call her to serve him ever again…
If she didn’t conceive this time, what chance would she have in the future?
And if the Madam saw she could neither bear the Young Master’s child nor win his favor, Qingxin feared that over time, she might be demoted back to being a regular maid.
And then, she wouldn’t be lucky enough to become a first-class attendant again.
Thinking of that bleak future, Qingxin felt the sky had turned gray. She raised her hand, wanting to smash the bowl of mung bean soup on the table.
But halfway up, she forced herself to stop.
She had no private savings, no other valuables to bribe people into helping her.
For now, she could only treat the servants around her well, hoping they might help her climb higher.
The two older maids in this courtyard were cunning, and the little maid was too naive. Only Xiao Que, standing before her, might be of some use.
Qingxin forced a smile. “I have no appetite. Xiao Que, you take it and eat it—”
Xiao Que looked up, slightly puzzled.
Xiao Que was about fifteen or sixteen, with a few freckles on her face. She used to do odd jobs in the kitchen, was quiet and reserved, and had only recently been assigned to serve Qingxin.
Qingxin took Xiao Que’s hand. “Xiao Que, now that you’re by my side, we’re grasshoppers tied to the same string.
“As long as I do well, in the future you can be like Li Gu, who serves Concubine Hong—wearing gold and silver, silks and satins, dining on delicacies every day—”
Xiao Que lowered her head, seeming to think for a moment, then asked softly.
“What does Sister Qingxin want me to do?”
Qingxin breathed a sigh of relief. “After you finish eating, the Eldest Young Master should be back. Go and see for me where the Young Master goes, what he does…”
Xiao Que nodded and took the food, leaving.
Little did Qingxin know that while she was thinking of Sheng Mingjian, Sheng Mingjian was also “thinking” of her.
He had been furious about that night, and his desire to kill Qingxin was utterly genuine!
But as time passed, his feelings towards Qingxin had become complicated.
Sheng Mingjian knew he liked Mingzhu, and he still liked Mingzhu now. He detested Qingxin.
Yet his body was acting contrary to his heart…
Since that incident, Sheng Mingjian often dreamt of what happened with Qingxin in bed…
Waking up, he actually found himself… “relishing the memory”…
It was terrifying!
Sheng Mingjian suspected Qingxin might have bewitched him. When Lin Zhijing last visited, he had secretly asked Lin to examine him.
Lin Zhijing said there was nothing wrong with his body.
Unconvinced, he consulted other physicians, who also pronounced him perfectly healthy.
But Sheng Mingjian’s reason told him this wasn’t normal…
It was only later that Gao Shan told him that in this world, there existed a very few women whose bodies were different from others, perhaps innately more alluring… which could explain his obsession…
Sheng Mingjian reluctantly accepted this explanation, but it didn’t change his predicament.
He felt he was already struggling to restrain himself from summoning Qingxin to serve him again…
