After the replacement marriage, I was forced to fight at home

Zhou Yu paused for a moment and continued, "In our courtyard, Madam Fan is my wet nurse. I have already told you about Lvliu's situation. Chuntao was sent here by Mrs. Hu, and was assigned to Hewen and Wanxia together. It seems that the year Xie Fen married in, Mrs. Hu assigned two second-class people to each courtyard. They all worked elsewhere before. You can ask Madam Fan for the specific situation. As for the rest, they were all stuffed in from various courtyards. I dare not say that they are all Mrs. Hu's people. You also know the situation in my courtyard. Everyone wants to arrange for someone to come in and share a piece of the pie."

Meng Wan was puzzled at first, but after a moment's thought, he said softly, "Could it be that the Li and Yu families have also intervened?"

"Not only that, even Zhou Yingning and Zhou Zheng have arranged people separately." Zhou Yu said contemptuously.

Meng Wan sighed silently, isn't this Qinghe Garden a big sieve? How can we block it? It's a bit difficult to deal with.

Feeling that the person in his arms didn't respond for a long time, Zhou Yu gently stroked Meng Wan's hair and asked, "Are you scared?"

"No, I'm thinking of a way. We have to expose these evil spirits and make our fences stronger."

When Zhou Yu heard Meng Wan's words, she could imagine her serious and lovely expression without even looking at her face. She smiled gently, "Don't worry, take your time. Don't be too thorough, because there will always be people spreading the word. Just like what Fan's mother did these past two days, they really like to hear it."

When Meng Wan heard Zhou Yu talking about Fan's mother, she put down her hands that were drawing circles on his chest, sat up straight and looked at him seriously.

"Speaking of Mother Fan, let's make it clear that no matter what I do, you can't protect her. I know she is devoted to you and loyal to you. But she is really... You also know that if I can't stand in our courtyard, how can I open up the situation? So, do you understand what I mean?"

Zhou Yu looked at Meng Wan's beautiful big eyes blinking at him and nodded, "I know, this is why I haven't told the truth to Mother Fan. I think with her standing in front of others, it's always more convincing for you to do something than to others. Don't worry, I won't stand in your way. When you need me to step forward, I will play both the good cop and the bad cop. But Mother Fan has been in Qinghe Garden for so many years, and I'm afraid you won't be able to get rid of her for a while. You have to be careful and don't let her be too sad."

Meng Wan nodded. She understood this. As for the few people in the palace who were absolutely loyal to Zhou Yu, she could not disappoint them no matter what.

"I have to use her as a raft. There's nothing I can do about it. Don't worry, I will pay attention to the way and method."

Meng Wan stretched out her arms and hugged Zhou Yu's neck. "Then I will start tomorrow. As for the princess, you have to help me settle it. It's best not to pay respects to her for a month. Otherwise, I'm afraid that it will take the whole morning to pay respects. How can I have time to take care of the affairs in our courtyard?"

Zhou Yu looked at the quilt that had slipped off her shoulders because of Meng Wan's actions, her jade-white shoulders, her charming collarbone, and her peaches that were faintly visible under her long hair. His eyes darkened, and he leaned forward and opened his mouth to take it in.

"Ah, what's wrong with you? Wait, let's talk business, don't..."

"That's not what they call business. This is business..."

"Be gentle, it still hurts."

"I know. I won't torture you for so long this time. I'll be quick, good Qing'er..."

——————

Early the next morning, Meng Wan let Cai'er comb her hair. Chuntao came in to answer her. Zhou Yu came out of the bathroom and only heard that the time had been changed.

"What? The time has changed?" Zhou Yu walked to the table, picked up the tea and took a sip.

"Last night, Mother Hong sent someone to pass on a message, saying that the princess felt sorry for the second wife who had just married, and asked for the time of paying respects to be moved back half an hour. She also said that in the future, when the second wife goes to pay respects, Junyueju will personally send a sedan chair to pick her up!" Chuntao watched Zhou Yu walk out with her hair loose, her face flushed.

Seeing Zhou Yu sitting down, she quickly stepped forward and picked up the wooden comb that Cai'er had just used to comb Meng Wan's hair, and said in a pinched voice, "Shall I comb your hair for you, Second Master?"

Cai Er was so surprised when she heard this that she even stopped trying to put Meng Wan's hair up. Meng Wan looked through the bronze mirror at Zhou Yu, who slightly raised his head and smiled at him. If she was delivered to his door, he would be wasted if he didn't use her.

Chuntao stood there holding a comb with a nervous look on her face. She mustered up the courage to say those words just now. She had been chosen by Hu to serve Zhou Yu for almost four years. Her purpose at that time was very clear, which was to be a concubine, and she had been working hard towards this goal.

However, Zhou Yu was rarely at home. During the days he came back, he was mostly in the study room in the outer courtyard. Qinghe Garden was controlled by Mother Fan, so she couldn't find a chance even during those days. Not to mention that Zhou Yu always had a sullen face when he returned to the inner house, so how could she dare to approach him?

Seeing that she was getting older, if she didn't get another chance, she would be released by the princess to marry next year, how could she be willing to accept this? Now that Zhou Yu was married and came to the inner court every day, she had more opportunities.

She had originally thought that she would have to wait for some time before planning these things. Now that they were newly married, even if the Second Master disliked the Second Mistress, he would still give her some respect. But what surprised her was that Zhou Yu actually looked down on the Second Mistress so much.

They had a quarrel right after getting married, and they only asked for water once on the wedding night. There has been no news for two days. What does this mean? It means that the second master doesn't think highly of grandma.

Chuntao had no idea that yesterday, after Zhou Yu had been busy, he asked someone to carry water for washing. Meng Wan's legs were shaking from exhaustion. She waved her hands repeatedly, letting Zhou Yu wipe her and then went to sleep.

Moreover, when the second wife came in and sent the people who were serving them away, and said that they would not be allowed to enter or leave the house without being summoned, she became even more anxious. How could she talk to Zhou Yu without entering the house, and how could she make him look at her more?

Fortunately, she heard it yesterday when Mother Hong sent someone to deliver the message, and she rushed into the upper room before Dongmei. She thought that she could use this excuse to come in and reply, and Second Madam would not suspect anything.

Chuntao watched Zhou Yu staring at Meng Wan's back. Meng Wan continued to sit upright, as if he didn't hear what she said. The girl named Cai'er glared at her fiercely but didn't dare to say anything. She was secretly happy and turned to look at Zhou Yu expectantly.

Zhou Yu put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Okay, you comb your hair."

Chuntao exhaled, twisted her waist and walked behind Zhou Yu. Cai'er smelled a fragrance into her nose, put her hand on Meng Wan's shoulder and wanted to say something, but Meng Wan patted her hand and said nothing.

Zhou Yu closed his eyes and let Chuntao comb his hair. He felt the softness of her chest brushing against the back of his head, and he suppressed his disgust. When Chuntao put away the comb and took out a small mirror to let Zhou Yu see if she was satisfied, Zhou Yu waved his hand and said, "Go and tell the princess that the second wife has to pack her dowry in the next few days, and I have to take her to the Yong'an Earl's Mansion. I won't go to pay respects every day. If there is anything wrong with the princess, please let someone know."

After hearing this, Chuntao reluctantly smoothed her smoothly combed hair again with her hands and responded softly.

After he walked out of the door, he stood at the door and listened to the voices inside. He only heard Meng Wan softly say, "Second Master, Cai'er's hair-combing skills are also very good. How about letting her comb your hair from now on?"

Zhou Yu said nonchalantly, "Anything is fine, Chuntao is not bad either."

Chuntao was overjoyed when she heard this. She was right. Her bold move was correct. How could she find out the bottom line without trying?

Meng Wan watched Chuntao walk out of the yard with her back twisted, and asked with a gloomy face, "Where's Shan Ling?"

Cai Er inserted the last pearl hairpin for Meng Wan and said, "I will go find her right away."

Chuan'er had just lifted the door curtain and came in when he heard Meng Wan's question. "Shan Ling was in the main hall just now, but Wan Xia came to tell Madam Fan that she should go over."

Chuan'er looked at Cai'er with a puzzled look on his face. Cai'er shook her head, took the clothes from Chuan'er's hand and said a few words softly. Chuan'er frowned after listening and wanted to say something. She watched Zhou Yu walk to Meng Wan, bend down and say something. Meng Wan stretched out his hand towards Zhou Yu's waist, causing Zhou Yu to cry out in pain. Only then did Cai'er feel relieved.