Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 80 - 76

Fearing to displease her master, Er Xia cried in a restrained manner, sounding even more pitiful.

The door of the room was open, and the maids outside who were cleaning in the courtyard heard it clearly. The little maidservants were all moved, not to mention Erqing, who had grown up together with them. After serving tea inside, she stood aside, showing a look of compassion, almost pleading.

Xie Wanqing quietly pondered. In the eyes of others, it was indeed without reason that she had distanced herself from Er Xia.

After all, Er Xia had always, as she herself claimed, put her first in everything.

As a maid, she was meticulous in her duties, skillful enough to create many complex hairstyles, coupled with the bond from growing up together. Not to mention, others gave her face; even Xie Wanqing herself never thought that one day, when she married, she would leave behind this maid who was so dear to her heart.

Yet the memories of the dream were vivid before her eyes. Whenever she saw Er Xia, she was reminded of the day when the maid and her husband betrayed her, thinking of herself outside the chamber, as if struck by lightning.

At this moment, Er Xia was crying with tears, heartbroken, yet Xie Wanqing had no way to be soft-hearted.

Because on that day, when the affair was uncovered, Er Xia had pleaded for forgiveness in this same humble and painful posture.

How could she forgive? It was unforgivable...

Xie Wanqing gently closed her eyes and said, "Thinking of your service to me, I will give you some silver as a dowry and let you leave the manor."

"No! I don’t want to leave you, Mistress, please don’t be so heartless."

Er Xia was full of tears, looking towards Erqing who was standing aside, and sobbed, "You know I’ve been clumsy with words since childhood, unlike others who can say sweet words to please their masters; I have simple thoughts and don’t even realize where I have offended. Please don’t believe the slander."

These pointed words made Erqing’s face turn pale. She hurried to kneel but was stopped by Xie Wanqing’s shout.

"Since you know yourself to be clumsy with words, you should think about what to say and what not to say before speaking. I am tired of you; instead of reflecting on your mistakes, you blame others for setting you up?"

Xie Wanqing shifted her legs as Er Xia continued to cling, impatiently saying, "I was willing to give you some silver for a dowry after serving for so many years, but if you continue to be unreasonable, then there will be no need to leave the manor."

When she marries, Mrs. Zheng will arrange for the people in her courtyard.

A personal maid like Er Xia not accompanying as dowry; it’s not just because she offended her mistress.

A maid who offended the daughter, Mrs. Zheng won’t be lenient in handling.

There won’t be any good assignments waiting.

Er Xia had been in the manor for many years, how could she not know this.

Upon hearing this, she hastily released her grip, carefully tidied her mistress’s skirt, and dared not speak another word.

With a humble and submissive posture, Xie Wanqing frowned and said, "All of you withdraw."

She had already shown mercy; after all, the current Er Xia hadn’t betrayed her master, and she couldn’t punish based on the dream’s sins, but neither could she act as if nothing had happened in the dream and keep her by her side.

Giving some silver to let her leave the manor was the final act of kindness between master and servant.

Xie Wanqing sighed lightly, turned to pick up the tea cup to calm her spirit, but upon turning, noticed the man sitting beside her, his gaze fixed upon her.

Throughout Er Xia’s commotion, Pei Yuqing hadn’t spoken a word; she almost forgot his presence.

Being caught disciplining a maid by him, Xie Wanqing felt slightly uneasy and said, "She has served by my side since she was six, for twelve years till now. Would you think me heartless?"

"Wanwan has her reasons for doing this," Pei Yuqing said with amusement, "I understand your character very well, how could I think you heartless."

Even if she were heartless, he still liked her.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t sense his unspoken meaning, but she still felt a slight movement in her heart, unable to help but explain, "When I was betrothed to Lu Ziyuan, she developed feelings for him, had thoughts of becoming a concubine to my future husband. I can’t tolerate that."

... future husband.

The expression of the rightful future husband grew slightly serious but soon laughed, "Rest assured, Wanwan, I will never take a concubine."

"I know, I know," Xie Wanqing laughed upon hearing this, "I just want some peace."

He was of such an age and hadn’t been near women, how could he later take concubines.

During these days of interaction, he hadn’t spared a glance for her sisters and maids, not looking twice, not uttering extra words. Xie Wanqing couldn’t even imagine what it would be like for him to take concubines.

Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing smiled and asked, "Didn’t you just visit the other day, with only three days left till the wedding, you couldn’t wait to see me, huh?"

When the servant came to report, Mrs. Zheng was both helpless and delighted, helpless that the future son-in-law who seemed to be a self-restrained nobleman would repeatedly lose his composure, delighted by his deep love for her daughter.

Pei Yuqing held her hand, saying, "I missed you, so I came."

Xie Wanqing was taken aback, what a surprise, this man could speak such sweet words without being forced?

Pei Yuqing lowered his head, his eyes falling on their clasped hands, "Wanwan, you won’t regret it, will you?"

His expression was hard to read, but his voice was somewhat hushed, Xie Wanqing laughed, "What nonsense are you talking about, why would I regret? In three days, it will be our wedding day, you just wait to be the groom."

She murmured, "I’ve heard that ladies get anxious before marriage, never heard that men worry so much about marrying."

The sunlight outside the window spilled through the sheer curtains, brightening the room. The youthful girl, with one hand held by him and the other supporting her face, smiled and asked him to wait to be the groom.

Pei Yuqing raised his eyes, silently watching her for a long time. His vague worries and fears gradually settled in his heart, showing a trace of smile on his face.

He brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss and sighed, "Wanwan is too good, I feel unworthy of you and fear trouble may arise in the marriage."

Xie Wanqing: "..."

Indeed, in the eyes of a lover, she seemed perfect; did he actually feel he was unworthy of her?

Her background was decent, but not outstanding among the noble young ladies in the capital.

And didn’t he know, he was deserving even of an Imperial Princess?

......

Outside Yunzhou City’s gates, war drums were struck, the passionate drumbeats blended with the sounds of battle, echoing in the skies, severed limbs scattered everywhere.

On the tall city walls stood a middle-aged man in heavy armor, standing seven feet tall with a precious sword at his waist, a thick short beard on his face, now looking down at the man astride a black steed below the city gates with a cold expression.

That was Lu Ziyuan, who hadn’t fought on the border battlefield yet, but whose hands were not stained with less blood than those of the general guarding the frontier.

The battle below the city was fierce, soldiers constantly climbing up only to be repelled by falling stones from the walls, seemingly in a decent defensive stance, but Lü Ping knew that Yunzhou City had been besieged for two months, not to mention weary soldiers and horses, even their morale couldn’t match against their opponents.

This was the second day of Lu Ziyuan’s siege.

He was about to fail to defend it.