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

Gu Huaizhou couldn't sleep, but Xue Qingwan wouldn't let him leave, so he had no choice but to lie back down.

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, until almost dawn before he finally fell asleep.

Because I went to bed late, I didn't get up until almost noon.

Gu Huaizhou opened his eyes after the old woman outside called him a few times. He hurriedly got up and saw Xue Qingwan looking at him with a smile.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Gu Huaizhou's words were full of complaint.

Xue Qingwan didn't seem to mind: "Last night was our wedding night, isn't it normal to get up late?"

"Nonsense! As a marquis, how can I stay in a concubine's room and get up so late? Wouldn't that make me a laughingstock?" Gu Huaizhou got up with a livid face and hurriedly put on his clothes.

Although Xue Qingwan was unwilling, she got up as well.

Baoqing came in to help her wash up, and Xue Qingwan said to her, "Hold out your hand?"

"Auntie, what are you going to do?"

Xue Qingwan presents herself as an equal to everyone in front of outsiders, but in private she is vicious and cunning.

He would take his anger out on Baoqing at the slightest provocation.

"Stop talking nonsense, just stretch it out when I tell you to."

Baoqing tremblingly reached out her hand, and Xue Qingwan poked her finger hard with a needle, then wiped the blood off with a handkerchief.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Bao Qing exclaimed, but saw Xue Qingwan looking at her with cold eyes, which frightened her so much that she dared not make a sound.

The handkerchief was stained with blood. Xue Qingwan curled her lips into a smug smile and laid the handkerchief flat on the bed again.

Bao Qing's eyes widened in surprise. Wasn't this just fooling people?

But she dared not speak recklessly, because Xue Qingwan had said that if she dared to talk nonsense, she would be sold to a brothel.

"Congratulations to the concubine!" came an old woman's voice from outside the door.

Xue Qingwan gave Bao Qing a wink, and she went to the door to greet her.

The person who came was Granny Sun from the Zhou family's courtyard. She had just been promoted and had been working in the mansion for many years.

Seeing that she was quick-witted and had a clear mind, Zhou made her the head of the household.

Sun Mama had come to collect the wedding veil, and Baoqing quickly welcomed her in.

As soon as she entered the room, Granny Sun congratulated Xue Qingwan again: "Congratulations to you, Auntie. This old servant has come to collect the wedding veil on the orders of the doctor."

These prominent mothers offering congratulations are actually just a way of indirectly asking for money.

Xue Qingwan then gave Baoqing a wink, and Baoqing quickly stuffed the prepared money into Sun Mama's hand: "Thank you for making this trip, Mama. Please take this money to have some tea."

In his hand were a few copper coins.

Mother Sun's face immediately turned green. Was this how you treat a beggar?

She stuffed the money back into Baoqing's hand and said sarcastically, "This is the duty of a servant. How could I dare to accept money from a concubine? You should keep this money for yourselves."

After saying this, his face darkened, and he took the bridal veil and left.

Bao Qing stood there, somewhat bewildered, while Xue Qingwan snapped angrily, "What do you mean? Does she still think it's not enough?"

“Auntie, this reward is indeed a bit too little…” Baoqing’s voice grew softer and softer. This little reward probably couldn’t even buy a candied hawthorn. How could she have the nerve to give it to someone?

Perhaps Sun's mother thought that Xue Qingwan was deliberately making fun of her.

Xue Qingwan scoffed, "She's just a servant. Giving her a few copper coins is already giving her face. She still thinks it's not enough. Does she think she's more valuable than me, her master?"

Baoqing pursed her lips and remained silent, but in her heart she thought, "Although Mama Sun is not as precious as the master."

But these kinds of people tend to spread rumors and gossip.

If she goes out and spreads nonsense, what will become of Xue Qingwan's reputation?

……

Sun's mother walked back with a livid face, getting angrier and angrier as she thought about it.

Five copper coins—even giving money to a beggar wouldn't be this stingy.

Upon approaching, I saw Mama Xu in Song Wenjun's courtyard, along with several stewards chatting idly in front of her.

Her eyes darted around, and she walked over: "What are you ladies talking about?"

"Aunt Sun, where have you come from?" Everyone knew that she was a favorite of Madam Zhou, so they hurriedly asked with flattery.

Mother Sun smiled slightly and said, "Where else could they have come from? From the courtyard of the newly appointed one, of course."

Seeing that she was quite dissatisfied with Xue Qingwan in her words, a nosy mother asked, "What's wrong, little sister? Did that person give you a hard time?"

"Isn't it normal for us servants to watch our masters' expressions? When any concubine in the mansion gets the upper hand, doesn't she feel smug for a few days?"

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, it confirmed that Xue Qingwan was indeed arrogant and spoiled.

The mothers exchanged knowing glances and said, "That's true."

Someone noticed the bridal veil in Sun's hand and chuckled mockingly, "It seems this Concubine Xue has won the Marquis's favor. I'm afraid he'll be spending most of his time in her room these days. Judging by the bloodstains on it, she must have been quite affectionate last night..."

The others all chuckled, and even Mrs. Xu couldn't help but laugh.

Mother Sun deliberately sighed, "Who can guarantee whether this stuff is real or fake these days? If you don't have any blood on your finger and just cut it and put it on, no one will know."

“Oh dear, Madam Sun, why are you speaking the truth? I heard a joke the other day. It was about a concubine in the Earl’s mansion who was favored but didn’t bleed. She tried to pass off chicken blood as blood, but the mistress found out and beat her half to death and kicked her out of the mansion.”

Mrs. Xu feigned surprise and asked, "Is that so?"

"There are plenty of dirty tricks in powerful and wealthy families, so what's so surprising about this?"

Everyone chuckled.

Sun's mother smiled without saying a word, and seeing that she had almost finished chewing the tongue, she made an excuse to leave.

Don't underestimate this short chat; in less than half a day, Xue Qingwan's gossip will have spread throughout the entire Marquis's mansion.

As for how it will be circulated, that remains to be seen.

Xu's mother told Song Wenjun about the gossip in the yard, and after listening, Song Wenjun couldn't help but laugh, even laughing so hard she choked.

I coughed for a long time before I calmed down.

Mrs. Xu was completely confused and didn't know what she was laughing at.

Xiao Tao, however, knew perfectly well that Gu Huaizhou would come over from time to time to annoy Song Wenjun.

She then added an impotence drug to his usual tea. The drug was colorless and tasteless, and would become ineffective after prolonged consumption.

I wonder how he spent his wedding night with Xue Qingwan yesterday.

But one thing Song Wenjun was certain of was that it would never be like that of a normal married couple.

So Song Wenjun couldn't help but laugh after hearing what Xu's mother said.

Xue Qingwan was afraid of being gossiped about, so she used an unknown blood sample to cover it up.

She wanted children, but her hopes were likely dashed.

Xue Qingwan felt triumphant, finally turning the tables and becoming the master of the house.

The first person she wanted to take revenge on was Jiang Miaoyin.

Under the guise of visiting, she went to Yunlan Courtyard dressed in a peach-colored outfit.

"Sister-in-law, I've come to see you."