Chapter 506: Chapter 506: The Delicate Beauty Persona

Xu Zaohua glanced at Widow Tong, thinking to herself, "Let you show off, let you show off, today is the day you and your daughter make fools of yourselves."

Want to join the circle of noblewomen in Pingchuan County? What are you thinking? After today, just roll back to Qinghe Bay.

However, Tong Huaqiong was not Xu Zaohua’s main concern; she kept her eyes on Lian Hengruo’s movements.

When a maid by Mrs. Hua’s side accidentally spilled wine on Lian Hengruo, the maid, who had some standing in the manor despite her mistake, wasn’t flustered as she apologized with a smile.

Lian Hengruo’s expression changed slightly, and she told Mrs. Hua that she needed to go back and change clothes.

Turning around, the maid Ru Hua was not by her side. Maids from the manor were bustling around the banquet, attending to the ladies, and none seemed to be free.

At that moment, Ruyun, a maid by her mother’s side, regretfully offered to assist Lian Hengruo in changing clothes.

Mrs. Hua thought for a moment and, following her second son’s instructions, said, "Ruyun, take the Second Miss to my room to change. Also, tell the maids and the old women left watching the house to eat; today they’re exceptionally allowed to drink and be merry."

Mrs. Hua didn’t know what her second son intended, only that he wanted the concubine-born daughter to marry into the Zheng Family smoothly.

The concubine-born daughter had become increasingly competent over the past two years, even faintly capable of competing with the eldest son, which Mrs. Hua absolutely could not allow.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t agree to marry into the Zheng Family.

If the second son could make her marry into the Zheng Family, it would stop her from causing trouble in the Lian Family. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

When Gu Taohua saw Lian Hengruo going to change clothes, she called out loudly, "Sister Hengruo, you go change, and I’ll go with you. I’ve heard the wealthy families in Pingchuan have beautifully arranged master bedrooms, and I want to see for myself so that I can decorate my room like yours when I return."

Mrs. Hua didn’t stop Gu Taohua, thinking she was just a country girl without deep intentions. But she cast a glance at Ruyun, knowing that once in her courtyard, this country girl wouldn’t be able to roam about indiscriminately.

Lian Hengruo discreetly looked at Tong Huaqiong, who gave a slight nod.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Sister Taohua," Lian Hengruo said.

Gu Taohua stood up with a cheerful smile but suddenly swayed.

"Sister, what’s wrong?" Xu Zaohua, with an expression of genuine concern, supported Gu Taohua, calling her "sister" with true affection.

"Maybe it’s the wine, combined with standing up too quickly. My head feels a bit dizzy and my body weak. This wine is as sweet as honey; I didn’t expect it to be so potent," Gu Taohua said with a playful smile.

Xu Zaohua saw Gu Taohua’s cheeks glowing ever more red, her eyes like spring water, her whole being exuding an indescribable charm.

This little girl, compared to when she was younger, had truly transformed.

She wasn’t jealous today; after all, what’s there to be jealous of when the charm is about to be ruined?

What will happen when this charming beauty, drunk from wine, stumbles in front of the Second Young Master Lian can be easily imagined.

It’s said that the Second Young Master’s root is broken, but being rootless doesn’t affect his lust. She had heard that eunuchs in the palace are even more skilled at tormenting people.

Let Second Young Master Lian rigorously torment Gu Taohua.

"Taohua, take a good look and tell me when you come back, so I can arrange my bedroom too," Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Taohua.

Gu Taohua agreed and followed Lian Hengruo to Mrs. Hua’s courtyard.

In Xu Zaohua’s perspective, due to the effect of the drugged wine, Gu Taohua was completely limp, clinging onto Lian Hengruo.

Who can resist this drugged wine?

Back then, she even used this drugged wine to knock men down for breeding.

A good show awaited, as Xu Zaohua wore a faint smile.

Gu Ruinian, Second Young Master Lian, don’t let me down.

After today, Qinghe Bay will witness two matrimonial events; she would make sure to announce the story of Second Young Master Lian’s rootlessness to everyone.

Such a good show wouldn’t be as satisfying without witnessing it firsthand.

Capitalizing on people’s inattentiveness, Xu Zaohua stood up and headed towards Mrs. Hua’s courtyard.

Tong Huaqiong, seeing Xu Zaohua leaving, feigned anger at Mrs. Han and used the excuse of going to the toilet to quietly follow Xu Zaohua.

Lian Hengruo and Gu Taohua arrived at Mrs. Hua’s courtyard entrance.

"You’re crushing me," Lian Hengruo said.

Gu Taohua, she suspected that Gu Taohua was getting too into character, deliberately hanging her whole body onto her.

Gu Taohua grinned, speaking in a soft, sing-song voice in front of Ruyun, "Sister Hengruo, I’m so hot, so hot. When you change clothes later, could you bring me a lighter one too? And if I could bathe, that would be even better."

Then, she softly pretended to fall, making Lian Hengruo and Ruyun support her together.

Ruyun was surprised internally.

The Second Young Master only mentioned plotting against the young lady, not Gu Taohua.

But she felt quite happy knowing Gu Taohua, drunk and limp, wouldn’t ruin the Second Young Master’s plans; this girl had the strength five robust young servants couldn’t hold down otherwise. Luckily, the wine rendered her soft.

Even the slender Second Miss could handle her.

Saved her the trouble of figuring out how to send away this country lass.

Once today’s events conclude, the Second Young Master would take her as a concubine, and even if his root was broken, so what? It wouldn’t stop her from living a life of luxury.

With the Second Young Master being rootless, no well-bred young lady would want to marry him, and she might even be promoted.

"Oh no, I can’t hold it anymore," Gu Taohua said to Lian Hengruo with a frown, holding her stomach.

"Hold on a bit longer, my mother’s courtyard is just ahead," Lian Hengruo said, shaking her head in disdain.

"No, can’t do," Gu Taohua said as she darted into the dense bushes on either side of the path, falling for dramatic effect.

She was now playing the frail beauty character.

This action was to prompt Xu Zaohua to catch up quickly.

With her countless past confrontations with Xu Zaohua, she knew Xu Zaohua wouldn’t resist coming to watch the spectacle, and when Xu Zaohua gave her wine, she knew her purpose; this had been anticipated by her mother at the banquet.

She couldn’t help but admit her mother’s foresight — Xu Zaohua’s actions unfolded just as predicted.

Gu Taohua squatted in the bushes, retrieved the wine-soaked sponge from her sleeve, threw it away, and then crouched silently for a moment.

"Are you done yet?" Lian Hengruo asked impatiently.

Ruyun thought that while the Second Miss seemed kind and gentle to servants usually, she exposed her true self when unseen by outsiders, clearly disdaining the country girl.

Gu Taohua guessed Xu Zaohua was almost there, and called out to Lian Hengruo, "Sister, I’m all weak, come help me up."

Lian Hengruo stood still, and Ruyun went into the bushes to help Gu Taohua stand.

"Ruyun, you support me. The wine at the banquet made me uncomfortable. Taohua, you walk on your own," Lian Hengruo said coldly.

Ruyun released Gu Taohua and supported Lian Hengruo instead.

Gu Taohua swayed, about to fall, muttering about the heat.

Xu Zaohua, who had approached when Gu Taohua squatted in the bushes, pretended to be passing by and stepped forward to support Gu Taohua, saying to Lian Hengruo, "Let me help. Taohua and I just drank too much wine and came out to get some air. Taohua, who looks so domineering usually, turned out to have such a low capacity for alcohol."

Lian Hengruo nodded, saying, "Then please accompany me to change clothes, Sister-in-law."

Xu Zaohua’s heart skipped a beat; she’d been called "Sister-in-law" already, so the Lian family must be determined to make Lian Hengruo marry into the Zheng Family.

If you don’t mind the heat, keep calling me "Sister-in-law," because soon you’ll be Gu Ruinian’s wife.

Thus, Ruyun supported Lian Hengruo, while Xu Zaohua supported Gu Taohua, and the four of them headed to Mrs. Hua’s Dexin Courtyard together.

Dexin Courtyard was just ahead, past a rockery.

Stepping into Dexin Courtyard, the entire place was silent, without a maid or old woman in sight.

Ruyun pretended to scold, "Where did everyone disappear to? Didn’t they see the Second Miss coming to change clothes? If I don’t see you for a moment, you’re slacking! Be careful less I flay your skin!"

Lian Hengruo maintained a calm demeanor, knowing Ruyun was signaling her second brother that she, Lian Hengruo, was in the trap.