The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

The day after tomorrow, the master will set off for Huaizhou to take up his post.

The luggage was already prepared. Today was a rare day of free time for Zhang, so she ordered some dishes that the children and the master liked, and asked the kitchen to prepare dinner.

The sun was setting, and a cold wind howled outside the window. Inside, the kang and the brazier were lit, and the warmth made Zhang drowsy.

Hearing the sound of the door curtain, Zhang opened her eyes and looked at the person who came in. "What's the matter?"

"Madam, it's snowing outside again," Nanny Chang stepped forward. "Just now, the servant from the front yard came to report that the master has an appointment tonight and won't be back for dinner."

Zhang nodded, instructed the servants to prepare the master's cloak and hand warmer, and then ordered them to prepare the meal. Since the appointment document from the Ministry of Personnel came down, the master had been busy with official social events almost every day. Even Zhang had received several invitations, but she declined them all, citing her illness and chills.

At the beginning of the evening hour, Zhang had her maid take the young master and young lady away. After days of continuous work, she felt extremely tired once she relaxed. The overwhelming sleepiness that overwhelmed her made it difficult for Zhang to resist. She had to support her head with one hand and sit in front of the dressing mirror. Yinhe moved lightly and quickly, and in a few moments, she had taken off her bun and was combing her hair.

While drowsy, Zhang heard a chaotic sound of footsteps coming from far away. She opened her eyes and looked towards the door.

Nanny Chang led Nanny Jiang in from outside. Zhang stepped forward to help Nanny Jiang up and said, "Nanny, there is no need to be so polite." Nanny Jiang is the master's

The wet nurse was a loyal and honest person, and Zhang respected her very much.

Nanny Jiang stood up straight with the help of Madam's hand, looking embarrassed. "This old servant knows that I shouldn't disturb Madam so late. It's just that..." Nanny Jiang found it difficult to speak.

Zhang looked at Madam Jiang's expression and had a rough guess in her mind, "Madam, you can talk as you please, but it's about the master's affairs."

Nanny Jiang nodded slowly and sighed, "Ling Cong was brought back drunk by Zhu Sheng, and behind him—a young lady followed closely. Zhu Sheng said that tonight's host forced the young lady on the master. The young lady followed closely, and I didn't know what to do with her, so I had no choice but to come and disturb the madam."

Zhang's expression remained unchanged. She smiled and comforted the old woman, "Don't worry, Ma'am. I remember there's an empty house in the west wing of the front yard. Why don't you put her there tonight? We can ask the master why he woke up tomorrow and make plans later."

Nanny Jiang finally let go of the worry in her heart. Thinking of the girl's appearance, she couldn't help but say, "I know Lingcong's hobbies very well. Although the girl is good-looking, she is definitely not to his liking." The old woman was very sure.

Zhang thought of Aunt Yao who was still reflecting on her mistakes behind closed doors, and a sincere smile appeared on her face. She personally led people to send the old woman to the gate of the courtyard, and asked Nanny Chang to send her back personally. Only after the group turned a door and disappeared from view did Zhang hold Yinhe's hand and return to the house.

Nanny Chang came back after a cup of tea at 10 p.m.

"How is it?" Zhang sat on the bed without feeling sleepy at all.

Nanny Chang first spoke a few words about the master, then began to talk about the girl Nanny Jiang mentioned, with a worried look on her face. "Her surname is Yuan, her name is Caohua, she's from Yangzhou. Because her family suffered a disaster and she's quite pretty, her family sold her for a high price to a woman who specializes in teasing girls for the amusement of masters. She's said to be eighteen years old, but she's thin and petite, panting every three steps, and speaks in a soft voice, as if she's only fourteen or fifteen."

Zhang smiled and said, "Okay, I understand."

Nanny Chang was puzzled to see that her wife seemed to be indifferent. "Madam, this girl is indeed very beautiful as Nanny Jiang said." She has thin eyebrows, cherry lips, slender shoulders, a thin waist and an oval face, and a pair of watery eyes that seem to be able to speak.

Zhang yawned, Yinhe winked at Nanny Chang, and Nanny Chang had to leave with a lot of questions in her mind.

Zhang looked at the woman kneeling in the hall. She looked so weak and pitiful, and her every move was full of the elegant demeanor that was carefully cultivated.

Last night's host was none other than Zhao Fang, the Second Master of the Dingyuan Marquisate, one of Kyoto's most prestigious nobles. Second Master Zhao was the illegitimate son of the late Dingyuan Marquis, known for his straightforward personality and wide social connections. The current Dingyuan Marquis, Zhao Duan, was his full brother, and they had a harmonious relationship. It was said that Zhao Duan's first petition after inheriting the title was to request a fourth-rank Tongyi Doctor for his younger brother. Second Master Zhao also had another identity: he was the younger brother of Consort Zhao Guifei.

"This girl is eighteen years old. She is a maidservant presented to her by Zhao Tongyi's retainer. Madam Tongyi doesn't like her very much and keeps making things difficult for her. So -" Mr. Lu sighed and said, "What's the big deal?" "Let Madam deal with it." After saying that, he went out.

After having a general understanding of the situation, Zhang already had a plan in mind.

"Raise your head." Hearing the lady's words, Yuan Caohua slowly raised her head. Her small face, the size of a palm, was embedded with a pair of extremely bright eyes, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if she had infinite sorrow.

Zhang coughed lightly and said in a slow voice, "Now that you have come to our house today, you should forget the past and not mention it again."

Yuan Caohua's body trembled slightly, and a look of confusion appeared on her face. The mistress in front of her was not the same as before. Thinking of her previous life, she nodded without hesitation, with a little naivety.

Pressing the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, Zhang continued, "There's another small courtyard called Red Maple Garden near the small garden at the back. My concubine Yao lives in Yingchun Courtyard next to it. If you're free, you can go and sit with her.

After everything was arranged, Zhang had someone take her downstairs to settle down.

Master Lu had been out all day, and although no one was treating him to a meal, he didn't return home until evening. He casually asked the nurse if everything was alright at home.

Nanny Jiang, who had served him for nearly twenty years, knew exactly what he was thinking. She pushed him into the room to change his clothes and said earnestly, "Madam is very considerate and thorough. She has already arranged everything and settled you in Red Maple Garden according to the girl's share. But you, on the other hand, already have a son and daughter as many as a hand, and you brought a little one back from outside. You're just making a fool of yourself."

The second master looked at the wet nurse awkwardly and said, "Someone forced it on me. I had no choice. It won't happen again in the future." The second master Lu had been immersed in officialdom for many years and knew that some masters liked to give their concubines to each other in private. The second master Lu despised this decadent trend. But the one who was forced on him yesterday was Concubine Zhao's brother, so he couldn't refuse.

With a deep sigh, the Second Master squeezed the things in his sleeves and walked into the main courtyard. His wife was talking to a maid, while Rong Jie'er, Hui'er, and Yun Jie'er were sitting on the kang by the south window, learning to read, just like usual.

"Madam," the second master walked over and bowed deeply to his wife in front of the servants.

"Oh, what are you doing, master?" Zhang stood up in surprise and went over to help him up, then waved away the rest of the people in the room.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Madam." The second master's cheeks flushed. "It's really hard to refuse. We have enough children at home. Why don't you raise her for a few years and then find someone to marry her off." After saying that, he took out a small box the size of a palm and put it on the table.

When the box was opened, a round jade bracelet with an extremely icy and transparent color of purple was found inside. Even Zhang, who was used to seeing good things, couldn't let it go. The depression that had been lingering in her heart for the past few days was swept away.