Quick Transmigration: The Green Tea Mistress's Guide to Seduction - A Master's Handbook

Qin Shenzhi didn't linger, seemingly realizing that he had unconsciously said some things to Xie Qingyu that he shouldn't have.

He left in a somewhat flustered manner.

Once he left, Xie Qingyu was the only legitimate master left in the Marquis's mansion.

Xie Qingyu took Tingling back to her own courtyard first.

"Which concubine in this mansion arrived first?" Xie Qingyu asked as she watched Tingling and Hongdou serve her breakfast.

Hongdou thought for a moment, "It should be Aunt Zhao. She was the Marquis's concubine when he was still the heir. Later, she lost three children in a row and injured her body. She has never come out of her own courtyard."

Xie Qingyu thought about it for a while, but she didn't see this Aunt Zhao among the concubines who went to pay their respects to the Lady of the Marquis.

Perhaps sensing Xie Qingyu's confusion, Hongdou quickly added, "Aunt Zhao is not in good health. Sometimes she needs a maid to help her walk. The Lady of the Marquis finds this annoying and has told her not to pay her respects. You may not have met her yet, Madam."

"Besides her?" Xie Qingyu asked again.

Since she hadn't seen him before, Xie Qingyu didn't feel comfortable asking.

"That's Concubine Xin, who lives in the same courtyard as Concubine Zhao. Concubine Xin was taken in by the Marquis and his wife six months after their marriage." Although Hongdou was young, she knew a lot about the affairs of this household.

Xie Qingyu noted it down, "Tingling will accompany me to visit Aunt Xin later."

Although she didn't know Xie Qingyu's intentions, Hongdou wisely kept quiet.

Now that Hongdou is by her side for comparison, Tingling has also learned to speak appropriately for different occasions.

Although she wanted to ask some questions, since Hongdou hadn't spoken, she decided not to ask them now.

However, the only time I could refrain from asking questions was when Anko was by my side.

On the way to Aunt Xin's courtyard with Xie Qingyu, Tingling looked around and, seeing that no one was around, couldn't help but ask, "Miss, what are you going to see Aunt Xin for?"

"To learn some old stories about the manor."

"If you go directly to Concubine Xin like this, wouldn't it be inappropriate for the Lady of the Marquis to find out? The Lady of the Marquis doesn't like any of the concubines in the household." Tingling stuck out her tongue.

She also came from the Minister's mansion and knew about the jealousy and rivalry among the women in the inner quarters, but she had never seen a mistress as mean as the Lady of the Marquis before.

“Madam Hou has no time to pay attention to me right now,” Xie Qingyu said.

“That’s true. The son-in-law is still in prison, and the Lady of the Marquis is extremely worried.” Tingling’s tone was sullen.

After Xie Qingyu returned that day, she didn't say anything to Tingling, but Tingling knew that Xie Qingyu and Qin Lingrong had gone out, and she knew that something must have happened.

So Xie Qingyu didn't show any worry during the days Qin Lingrong was in prison, and she wasn't surprised.

She even thought that anyone who could be arrested must not be a good person.

Her daughter was very unlucky. When she was a girl at home, her stepmother was very harsh on her. After finally getting married, she was not only destined to die young, but she was also not a good person.

Tingling herself felt frustrated and even wanted to curse.

Aunt Xin, Xie Qingyu, had met quite a few times. She was a very gentle-looking woman with the temperament of someone from the Jiangnan water towns. She had no children.

Xie Qingyu had run into her a few times and greeted her.

"I didn't know the young mistress was coming back. I have nothing to offer her, only some flower tea brewed by Cunxue. I hope the young mistress won't mind." Aunt Xin pushed the cup towards Xie Qingyu somewhat embarrassedly.

The Marquis didn't have many concubines, but their living quarters weren't very spacious either.

This courtyard has no main house, only east and west wings.

Aunt Xin lived in the west wing, and Aunt Zhao lived in the east wing.

Both sides have three rooms: the main room in the middle is used to entertain guests or for daily activities, the right side is a bedroom, and the left side is used to store things.

There are two rows of small houses outside and behind, which are for the servants in this courtyard to live in.

Xie Qingyu had seen the situation clearly from the moment she entered the courtyard until she entered the house.

It's clear that Aunt Xin is a person with a refined taste and leisure. Although the room is not large, the dried flowers and plants are arranged in a unique way.

"Aunt Xin, you're too kind. Cunxue is a rare sight, and it's wonderful that you still have some here," Xie Qingyu said after taking a sip of her drink.

"I just stored some up when I had time during the winter, and now I can use it." Aunt Xin said, but a hint of doubt appeared on her face. "I wonder if the young mistress has any plans for coming today?"

Aunt Xin was told this morning that she didn't need to pay her respects, and she thought Xie Qingyu had something to say to her.

"Mother doesn't have any plans, but I do have some things I need to trouble you with," Xie Qingyu said somewhat apologetically.

"What brings you here, young mistress?" Aunt Xin asked.

"I heard that only your aunt's embroidery is the best in the manor, so lifelike. My father's birthday is coming up soon, and I want to make something for him, but my skills are really not good enough. So I was thinking if I could come to your aunt's to learn a little, so that my father can know how much I've improved." Xie Qingyu said, quite embarrassed.

"But my husband is still in prison, and I don't dare to disturb my mother, so I have no choice but to come and bother you, Auntie." Xie Qingyu's eyes held a hint of pleading.

Aunt Xin's expression softened, and a smile appeared on her face. "This is no problem."

Aunt Xin had her maid bring over her usual embroidery threads and tools so that Xie Qingyu could try it out first and see her skills.

While embroidering, Xie Qingyu said, "I heard that Aunt Xin was the first one to arrive at the manor. Was the Marquis's manor always this grand?"

“I wasn’t the first one here; it was Sister Zhao who entered the manor first,” Aunt Xin said, shaking her head.

Perhaps remembering that Xie Qingyu didn't know Aunt Zhao yet, she pointed to the room across the way with thick curtains hanging, "Sister Zhao lives across the way, but she's not well and hasn't gone to pay her respects. Young Madam probably hasn't met her yet. Look, even in autumn, she has to hang up the curtains; she can't stand the slightest breeze."

"Is that so? So Aunt Xin was the second one to enter the household," Xie Qingyu said.

“The second one isn’t me either.” Aunt Xin shook her head again. “The second one is Aunt Liu, who is very beautiful.”

Aunt Xin emphasized her words when she talked about her beauty, which showed that she was deeply impressed by her appearance.

"Aunt Liu?" Xie Qingyu's tone was a mix of doubt and curiosity, and she slowed down her movements.

Aunt Liu was Qin Shenzhi's biological mother.

"Yes, Aunt Liu was very beautiful. Almost everyone who saw her could not forget her appearance," Aunt Xin recalled.

"I've never seen it before."

“Aunt Liu has passed away. She was also the second young master’s birth mother. When the young mistress looks at the second young master, she can also see a bit of Aunt Liu’s appearance.”