The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Xu's mother stood to one side, quietly watching Xue Qingwan.

She was left with only two options: either dress as a concubine and become a mistress, or pack her things and get out of there.

Xue Qingwan was unwilling to accept either of these two options.

But she also understood that if she were kicked out of the Marquis's mansion, she would be laughed at.

Even if she successfully returned to Xuzhou, her father would not pity her; in fact, he would regard her as a disgrace to the family.

After weighing the options, Xue Qingwan could only lower her head and say, "Baoqing, help me change my clothes."

Baoqing dressed Xue Qingwan in a peach-colored dress, but the gaudy clothes disgusted her.

No matter how disgusting it was, she had to endure it.

After she finished dressing, Xu's mother finally spoke: "Help Aunt Xue with her makeup."

The two old women behind her stepped forward and loosened Xue Qingwan's hair, for once she became a concubine, she could no longer wear the hairstyle of a young girl.

Instead, she tied her hair up in a traditional Chinese updo.

The two old women were rough and careless when combing her hair. Xue Qingwan gasped in pain and yelled, "You dog servants, do you have no sense of restraint? Are you trying to kill me?"

"It's good that it hurts. Pain will make people clear-headed and prevent them from losing their sense of identity. We servants live on the edge every day. You should also recognize your own status. Don't covet what isn't yours. Don't you think so?"

Although Mrs. Xu had a smile on her face, her words were like a sharp knife piercing Xue Qingwan's heart.

She's deliberately putting herself in a bad light.

After the old woman finished combing her hair, she stepped aside.

Mother Xu personally stepped forward to perform facial surgery on Xue Qingwan. Two thin threads were twisted back and forth on Xue Qingwan's face, causing her to burst into tears from the pain.

She bit her lower lip hard, but still cried out in pain, "It hurts so much!"

"You have to endure the pain." Xu's mother worked extremely fast, but Xue Qingwan felt that each day was an eternity.

Although the process was tough, the results were quite good.

Her face did look much cleaner and clearer.

Then, Xu's mother styled her hair.

She piled Xue Qingwan's long hair high on top of her head and secured it with a silver hairpin.

Then insert a pink beaded flower into the hair bun, and a standard concubine's outfit is complete.

Xue Qingwan looked at herself in the mirror, her eyebrows furrowing in anger.

This outfit is so stingy and cheap; she looks like a concubine.

She clenched her fists tightly to keep from losing control.

Little did she know that this outfit was a symbol of her status.

From then on, she had a status in the mansion and could be considered a mistress.

Baoqing's eyes were full of envy: "Congratulations, Auntie! Congratulations, Auntie!"

Who wouldn't want to be the master? She wanted to be too.

Xue Qingwan gave her a cold look, and Bao Qing quickly lowered her head, feeling very wronged.

Even though she was saying nice things, her aunt still glared at her.

Madam Xu said to Xue Qingwan, "Aunt Xue, please hurry up and set off. The young mistress is waiting for you to serve tea."

Xue Qingwan reluctantly got up and strode out, but Mama Xu called her back again: "Auntie, please slow down and don't walk too fast. Keep your back straight and your eyes looking straight ahead."

Xue Qingwan was so angry that she wanted to slap Xu's mother across the face, but she held back.

Now that things have come to this point, there's no room for her to back out.

She did as she was told, taking small steps, standing tall and following behind her mother as they left the yard.

Baoqing accompanied them, followed by two old women.

This is quite a show of force.

The servants in the mansion all stopped to watch, their eyes filled with amazement: "Is this the newly taken concubine, Consort Xue? I never expected her to look so beautiful when she's dressed up."

"She really is a beauty."

The servants' praises reached Xue Qingwan's ears, but she wasn't even slightly pleased.

On the contrary, it sounded jarring.

If she had a choice, she would have preferred to be a concubine.

Madam Xu stopped ahead and curtsied to the approaching man, saying, "Third Young Master."

Gu Huai'an and Gu Huaizhou look somewhat alike, but because Gu Huai'an is younger, he appears more youthful.

His dark blue robes, paired with his fair complexion, made him appear even more handsome and dashing.

Although he was only seventeen years old, he was a full half a head taller than Gu Huaizhou.

The boy, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, a carefree smile on his face, asked, "Aunt Xu, where are you going?"

"The Marquis has taken a new concubine, and this old servant was just about to take Concubine Xue to serve tea to the young mistress," Mama Xu replied calmly.

Gu Huai'an then looked at Xue Qingwan behind her, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

He curled his lips into a wicked smile and said to Xue Qingwan, "What a beautiful woman."

He thought Xue Qingwan would lower her head like a frightened little rabbit, but to his surprise, she met his gaze bravely and looked back at him.

There was even a hint of provocation in his eyes.

Gu Huai'an suddenly became interested; he hadn't expected her to be so prickly.

interesting.

Madam Xu gasped, "Third Young Master, you mustn't be so rude."

Gu Huai'an waved his hand dismissively and snorted, "I was just joking with the new concubine, why is Madam Xu so nervous?"

He stepped aside to let Xu's mother proceed.

Madam Xu curtsied again before leading Xue Qingwan toward Qiufeng Courtyard.

Just as Xue Qingwan was about to pass by Gu Huai'an, he pulled off the jade pendant from his waist and stuffed it into Xue Qingwan's hand.

Xue Qingwan threw his jade pendant away and glared at him coldly.

Gu Huai'an didn't stop at all; instead, he burst into laughter.

He strode forward, and the servant behind him hurriedly cleaned up the mess, picked up the jade pendant again, and handed it back to him.

If it were any other woman, she would have been mortified and furious long ago.

However, Xue Qingwan was not an ancient woman, and she acted boldly, so she was naturally not influenced by Gu Huai'an.

They just thought of him as a playboy and didn't take him seriously.

Madam Xu led Xue Qingwan into Qiufeng Courtyard, where Song Wenjun was already sitting in the main seat, waiting.

"Young Madam, Concubine Xue has arrived," said Mama Xu respectfully as she stepped forward.

Xue Qingwan stepped forward and knelt before Song Wenjun: "Xue Shi greets the young mistress."

Then, a maidservant brought tea to her.

She reached out and touched the tea; it wasn't hot at all, which surprised her.

She thought Song Wenjun would use this opportunity to punish her severely, but it turned out that Song Wenjun had no such intention at all.

Xue Qingwan picked up the teacup, raised it above her head, and said, "Please have some tea, young mistress."

Song Wenjun brought over the tea, took a sip, and gently put it down.

Then, he gestured to Xiaotao: "Bring the things over here."

Xue Qingwan looked up in surprise and saw that Xiao Tao was holding a tray with a gold hairpin lying quietly inside.

Song Wenjun picked up the hairpin and handed it to her: "This is a gift for you when we meet, and there are also ten taels of silver. From now on, you will have a monthly allowance of five taels, and your food, clothing, and lodging will all be managed by the Marquis's mansion."

Xue Qingwan belatedly took the things and stared blankly at Song Wenjun.

Seeing that she seemed to have something to say, Song Wenjun asked again, "Is there anything else?"