Chapter 1413
Jin Yue 14
Chapter 1413 Jin Yue 14
Tan You chuckled: "This is based on experience. If it's the same to be a concubine, whether it's for the heir apparent or for the Duke, even a fool would know which to choose."
A young maid asked curiously, "But the young master is handsome, while the Duke... looks very weathered."
Gu Yu tapped the little maid's head: "Can good looks put food on the table?"
Tan You: "Of course you can't eat it, but at least it's pleasing to the eye. Looking at such a face, you can eat two more bowls of rice. Even if you're angry, seeing such a handsome face will calm you down a bit."
"However, this girl is very clever; she chose to become the Duke's concubine."
"Being a concubine to the Duke means having no parents-in-law above you, only Madam Wei as the mistress. As long as you win the Duke's favor, no one in the entire Duke's mansion can control you."
“But becoming Cheng Qian’s concubine is a different story. There’s the Duke and Lady Wei above him, and Cheng Qian doesn’t have much power. Even if you become a concubine, you should choose someone with real power. Of course, I don’t advocate becoming a concubine, because you can’t even control your own life.”
Cheng Qian smiled bitterly. He was young and handsome, yet he was not as good as his old man father.
But it must be said that this banter did dispel a lot of Cheng Qian's gloom. He hadn't expected that everything was fine when he returned from the frontier, and now, only a month after his return, his father was already expecting a son born out of wedlock?
He had no doubt that Tan You was lying to him; what good would it do her to deceive him?
After washing up, when Lady Wei arrived at the Marquis's residence with Bai Luxuan's people, a large crowd had already gathered outside, almost all of them ordinary people coming and going.
At the entrance of the Marquis's residence, besides Cheng Kun's personal guards, there was also a blue-canopied carriage. An ominous premonition arose in Wei's heart. Cheng Kun was a military general, always traveling on horseback, while carriages were usually used by women…
Just as she was guessing, a figure lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. Upon seeing the person, Wei felt a wave of dizziness. The person before her had her hair styled in a married woman's bun and appeared to be around twenty years old. Wei recognized her immediately.
She was manipulated so badly by Tan You in the manor, and she endured all the humiliation to prevent Cheng Kun from being tormented upon his return. But Cheng Kun had a beautiful woman outside the home—how could he do this to himself?
Wei looked at the concubine with reddened eyes, wishing she could chop her up with her bare hands.
The woman bowed timidly to Madam Wei, her right hand unconsciously stroking her lower abdomen: "I am Shen Lian, greetings to Madam."
Cheng Kun's personal guard felt a chill run down his spine, but still explained, "Madam, this is Consort Lian. The Duke is away on campaign and has received a lot of care from Consort Lian."
Wei stood frozen in place, her eyes sweeping over Shen Lian's lower abdomen. She was a cunning fox; how could she not see through him? Cheng Kun not only had a concubine, but he'd also fathered a child!
She retorted stiffly, "What Aunt Lian? Can someone who hasn't served tea to the mistress be considered a concubine? Where did these random people come from, bringing just anyone into the mansion?"
Shen Lian froze, then knelt down with a thud: "Madam, I know I am of lowly status, but the child is innocent. Please, Madam, give him a way to live!"
Wei gritted his teeth, and seeing the growing crowd around him, he was quickly subdued.
Most of the onlookers were ordinary people, as well as the wives and mothers of various officials.
"The Duchess has always been jealous. Other families have illegitimate sons and daughters, but the Duke of Zhenguo's family has none."
"Isn't it because we're keeping too close a watch?"
"I heard that the Duke's former concubines all became impotent..."
Just as the atmosphere became tense, Tan You's voice came: "Why are you all standing at the door? Come inside and talk."
She was dressed in a bright red dress, holding Cheng Sui's hand with her left hand and Cheng Qian walking beside her right. Behind her followed her head maids, including Gu Yu, Shuang Jiang, and Xiao Man, and a large group of servants. It was clear that she was very influential in the household. Wei Shi used to both hate and fear Tan You, but now, seeing Tan You arrive, she felt only resentment. She subconsciously tugged at Tan You's sleeve, as if she had finally found her people.
Tan You glanced at her, then looked at Cheng Qian. Cheng Qian understood, "Disperse the crowd, we can talk inside."
Shen Lian was unwilling to go in. She wanted to force Madam Wei to acknowledge her existence in public. If she really went into the mansion and Cheng Kun wasn't around, wouldn't she be at Madam Wei's mercy?
She wanted to speak, but Shen Lian found herself unable to utter a single word. Tan You looked at her: "Miss Shen, come in and talk."
Shen Lian stared at Tan You. She didn't want to leave, but she followed the other woman's words and entered the Marquis's residence. Shen Lian's eyes were filled with terror; this person was so frightening!
Seeing Shen Lian like this, Cheng Qian couldn't help but think of the scene where he was once controlled by Tan You. Back then, Tan You manipulated him to write a letter to Cheng Sui requesting that he be granted the title of heir apparent, just like that.
He may hate it for his own misfortune, but he is overjoyed to see others suffer as well.
Cheng Kun's personal guards quickly entered the Marquis's residence and then dispersed, while Shen Lian and her maids and servants were stopped outside the main hall.
In the main hall, Madam Wei grabbed Tan You's sleeve and asked, "Miss, what should we do?"
Tan You said coolly, "What does your husband's concubine have to do with me? If I help you, I'll just become your weapon. Do I look that stupid?"
Madam Wei immediately knelt before Tan You: "Miss, she's clearly pregnant. If she enters the manor, she'll only be an eyesore to you, won't she?"
“Lord Duke, he has long since grown tired of me. I am just a title that sounds nice.”
Tan You chuckled: "Of course I know you're all talk and no action, but look, you're clearly unhappy with your own life, yet you're arranging concubines for your son. How do you explain that?"
Wei was speechless for a moment, because of the mistreatment she had given Lin Jinyue over the past three years, she had no confidence in front of Tan You.
Tan You looked at Shen Lian kneeling there with a bored expression: "Miss Shen, you are really smart. You intend to establish your status outside the Marquis's mansion. I admire smart people."
Shen Lian looked at Tan You in fear, wondering what she was going to say next.
Tan You: "I don't care how much you have in mind, but remember one thing clearly: I don't care what the Duke is willing to give you. But if you intend to take advantage of Qing Langgan, then I won't let you off so easily."
Shen Lian immediately kowtowed: "Miss, Miss, I wouldn't dare! I would never come to get in your and the Prince's way!"
Tan You snorted and looked at Cheng Qian: "Your expression was a little strange when you saw her. Do you two know each other?"
Cheng Qian quickly sat up straight: "She is the daughter of a military officer."
Tan You smiled enigmatically: "Back then, she intended to become your concubine?"
Cheng Qian waved his hands frantically, trying to distance himself completely: "No, at that time I only wanted to fight on the battlefield, I never thought about these things!"
Right now, he wanted to distance himself as much as possible. He was afraid; he was afraid that Tan You would beat him up, catching him completely off guard.