Reborn as a concubine's daughter and entering a noble family: Xie Lang, don't be too seduc

Qinghuai was walking alone on the path back to the courtyard, muttering curses under her breath—

"...They're all the same kind of servants, what are they pretending to be masters for? Do they think that by currying favor with the eldest young master they'll have a powerful backer?! Are the Xie family members blind? They're all so easily fooled, they deserve to be completely deceived... ...Once we get back to the palace..."

The words stopped abruptly.

Just as I entered a narrow path lined with bushes as tall as a person on both sides, a man suddenly appeared in front of me, his face full of murderous intent.

Qinghuai realized something was wrong and immediately turned around without hesitation.

But then, two more people appeared behind them, blocking their way.

There were people in front and behind her, and she was trapped in the middle with nowhere to hide. Terrified by the three people approaching, she huddled in a corner. "Who are you? This is the Marquis of Anding's residence... Do you know who I am? I am the maidservant assigned to the Second Madam by Consort Qi. What dare you do to me... Ugh..."

Before he could finish speaking, a huge sack was put over his head, covering him completely from head to toe.

When someone picked her up, she was still yelling and struggling. The person then struck her on the back of the neck, and she immediately stopped responding.

"Walk."

They looked around, then, carrying the locust tree bundled into a sack, disappeared at one end of the path.

A pair of eyes, however, were watching their every move from the corner.

Then he turned and left.

Hawthorne led Granny Guo through the bare garden...

There's really nothing to see here.

It's been terribly cold these past two days, and the lake is frozen over. What used to be a beautiful artificial landscape now feels desolate and chilly, utterly bleak.

Granny Guo stepped forward to remind her, "Second Madam, you should go back. You've just recovered from a serious illness and need to rest slowly. Besides, the Second Young Master is also ill..."

"Didn't you say you'd be fine? It's so cold, why aren't you going back inside? What are you doing in the garden?" Xie Shu's voice suddenly appeared behind him, startling Huo Sanghua. Seeing Huo Sanghua's reaction, he frowned. "What, are you surprised to see me?"

Granny Guo was somewhat flustered when she saw Xie Shu suddenly appear. She then turned to look at Huo Sanghua and observed the astonished expression on Huo Sanghua's face.

Xie Shu showed no intention of avoiding suspicion and strode over. Granny Guo had no choice but to step aside and wait with a bow.

"How did you get here..." Hawthorne was so surprised that he couldn't speak coherently.

At this time, shouldn't he still be with Madam Xie, being scolded by her and almost ruining his relationship with the Duke of Mao's mansion?

How could it have happened to be here of all times...?

The garden is so bare that it's probably not a place people come to admire "flowers" on purpose.

If there hadn't been other arrangements, Hawthorne wouldn't have gone out of her way to come here to wait. What a coincidence that Xie Shu was here too!

Xie Shu's reaction told her that he knew she was here, which was why he followed her.

Hawthorne panicked and immediately tried to flee, "...I thought the Xie family's garden would be very beautiful, but I didn't expect that when I came here, there was nothing there. In that case...Young Master, I'll go back first."

"Why are you avoiding me?" Xie Shu asked.

In front of Granny Guo...

That's the question I asked.

Hawthorne was nearly scared out of her wits and instinctively looked towards Granny Guo.

Granny Guo was naturally clever; she lowered her head and remained silent, as if she hadn't heard anything.

"Young Master, what nonsense are you talking about?" Huo Sanghua's head was about to explode as he tried to find the most reasonable explanation. "Where have I been hiding from you... I just said that I originally thought the Marquis's garden must be very beautiful, and I wanted to pick a couple of plum blossoms to take back, maybe put them in a vase and keep them so that the fragrance could fill the house. But I didn't expect the garden to be so bare, so I had to turn back."

Hearing her words, Xie Shu also looked into the garden.

It was indeed a completely bare area... "I hadn't paid any attention to these things, so... if you want to see flowers, you can go to Mother's backyard."

The Marquis's mansion's large garden has never been properly maintained in a long time. It is only occasionally in the spring and summer that someone will do some tidying up.

By the end of autumn, it had all been spent.

However, Madam Xie's backyard was specially tended by someone, and it was full of life all year round, making it a great place to enjoy flowers.

But I'm afraid Hawthorne won't go...

"Never mind, then forget it." Sure enough, Huo Sanghua, thinking of the old Madam Xie she was trying to avoid, had no interest in admiring flowers; it was just an excuse anyway. "Since, since that's the case... I'll head back now. Granny Guo..."

They called for Granny Guo and were about to leave.

"Sang Hua," Xie Shu called out to her again, "What have you thought about what I told you last night?"

Granny Guo immediately realized what was happening and looked up at Huo Sanghua.

There really was something going on between these two people.

"What am I thinking about? I had such a high fever last night, I was having dreams and not dreams, I don't remember anything." Hawthorne's heart was pounding, and she wished she could sprout wings and fly away immediately.

Xie Shu understood. Since she said that, she must still remember what he told her last night.

"Okay, I won't pressure you. Think it over carefully and then give me your answer."

"Second Madam, I don't know where Qinghuai has gone. This old servant will go look for her, lest she wander off somewhere." Granny Guo felt increasingly uneasy and hurriedly made an excuse to leave first.

If things escalate because of what happened today, she can say that she wasn't there and didn't know what happened.

Watching Granny Guo make up an excuse and flee, Huo Sanghua knew that Granny Guo must have found out.

"What, are you scared?" Xie Shu asked. "Are you afraid she'll spread our conversation, or are you afraid she'll find out you're plotting to use your mother to get rid of Qinghuai?"

Huo Sanghua, who had been anxious just moments before, immediately darkened his expression upon hearing this. "What did you say?"

How could he have known...?

Could it be that Xie Shu, who was hiding somewhere, overheard what she said to Qinghuai in front of Li Mama just now?

He quickly looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before he felt a little relieved.

"You heard that too?"

"I was wondering, when you were in the palace, you were clearly very intelligent and could secretly do business with many palace servants and earn some money. How come you've become such a different person since you married into the Xie family, and are bullied by everyone?" Xie Shu said this without being angry, but rather found it somewhat amusing.

He was right back then.

"I... ...who said that? I'm not as powerful as the young master makes me out to be. Even in the palace, I'm often bullied. Whether in the palace or here, most of the people here are people I can't afford to offend. It's enough to keep my life. Why bother competing with each other?"

She wouldn't have made things difficult for anyone or put herself in such a flamboyant position unless she was forced to.

We were truly forced into a corner.

"So, Qinghuai threatened you several times before you finally decided to use your mother to get rid of her?" Xie Shu took a step forward. "You clearly had the ability to fight back against them, but you insisted on waiting until the last moment to become the bad guy. Why didn't you continue pretending and let me... or A-Lin, get rid of this threat for you? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"