Chapter 60: The Helper Becomes the Rival in Love
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
In the tranquil expanse of the courtyard, under the quiet of the night sky, Madam Xu remained standing, engulfed in her own thoughts. The night had stretched long and sleepless for her, while the snow, indifferent to her plight, had begun to gather upon her shoulders. Its cold touch seemed to go unnoticed by her as if she were lost in a world far removed from the physical discomfort it caused.
“Madam, I beseech you, please consider returning inside,” Deng Zhi, with a mix of respect and concern, implored as she knelt before her in the snow. Her plea was a silent testament to the worry that filled the air, a gesture of desperation aimed at protecting her from the cold’s cruel embrace.
The cold had already taken its toll on Madam Xu, leaving her feeling a numbness that seemed to permeate through her being. Despite this, a sense of duty, or perhaps a burden far greater, anchored her to that spot. She couldn’t bring herself to move, to leave the courtyard’s silent watch.
The maid, her voice trembling either from the cold or the weight of the message she bore, broke the silence. “Last night… the lord required water to be brought to him thrice,” she divulged, her words hanging heavily in the air. The impact of her statement was palpable; Madam Xu’s complexion turned a ghastly shade, blurring the lines between the cold’s touch and the deep sting of heartache.
The mansion lay shrouded in a silence so profound it felt almost tangible.
When Lu Yuan Ze awoke, he found himself in the company of a woman whose beauty was undiminished by the morning’s light. Her presence by his side seemed to snap him back to reality, a sharp contrast to the confusion that had momentarily clouded his face, catching Su Zhi Qing off guard.
The realization hit her hard – the events of the previous night were not figments of her imagination.
She caught sight of the bruises that marred her skin, each one a stark reminder of the night’s mistakes. Shock took hold, manifesting in a tremble that she couldn’t control, and her lip found itself caught between her teeth in a silent expression of disbelief.
It was a mistake. A grievous, unfathomable mistake.
Everything felt wrong, a chaotic whirlwind of emotions that seemed to suffocate her, trapping her in a relentless grip of fear.
Lu Yuan Ze, initially burdened by a sense of resentment, found himself moved by her evident fear. His words sought to offer solace, “I will explain to my wife. Do not fear, for she is a woman of great kindness and compassion. The fault lies with me; I acted inappropriately last night.”
Su Zhi Qing was on the verge of tears, a sense of dread consuming her. Her mind raced back to the lessons from Pei Jiao Jiao, who had meticulously prepared her to curry favor with the Lu family. But her intentions had never been to lead her into such a dire situation.
Despite the circumstances, she couldn’t help but be somewhat captivated by Lord Lu’s mature and masculine allure, recognizing that he was a man of a different calibre compared to the younger Lu Zheng Yue or Lu Jing Huai.
The interruption came in the form of a knock on the door. The maid’s voice, thick with emotion, carried a message that struck with the force of a hammer blow. “Lord, Madam has been in the courtyard all through the night. I implore you to see her. She has been out in the snow without relief…”
Lord Lu’s response was immediate and decisive. He stood, dressed hurriedly, and with a promise of an explanation to Qing Qing, he left, his actions marked by an urgency that underscored the gravity of the situation.
Su Zhi Qing, under the maid’s scornful gaze, felt an acute sense of humiliation, a sensation that was as piercing as needles. Yet, overshadowing even this was a fear that gnawed at her heart – her heart belonged to Lu Jing Huai. She was overtaken by a profound sense of trepidation, the knowledge of her true feelings for Lu Jing Huai casting a shadow over her future prospects with Lu Yuan Ze. She was harboring a secret that, if disclosed, would lead to her social ruin, an ignominy from which there would be no recovery.
In that moment, Lu Yuan Ze, driven by a sense of urgency, raced back to the main courtyard, his feet bare against the cold ground.
There, amidst the snow, stood a figure – a woman whose presence seemed almost ethereal. Covered in snow, she swayed slightly, her gaze fixed on him with an expression that seemed void of emotion as if awaiting the inevitable confrontation that would unfold.
In a moment of acute distress, Lu Yuan Ze confessed with a panicked tone, “My dear wife… I must admit to a grave mistake I made last night. By some misfortune, I entered the wrong room, mistaking another for you.”
Madam Xu, rendered nearly immobile by the supposed shock, spoke with a voice roughened by emotion, her eyes brimming with tears, “My lord… You have been my constant companion for nearly two decades. It would be selfish of me to keep you only to myself. Please, allow me a moment to gather my thoughts.”
As Deng Zhi offered her support, a gentle movement caused a cascade of snow to fall from Madam Xu’s attire, symbolizing the coldness of the situation.
Turning around to depart, Madam Xu’s strength seemed to leave her, and she collapsed into Deng Zhi’s arms, prompting a panicked exclamation, “Madam!”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Lu Yuan Ze, on the verge of entering the courtyard, halted as Deng Zhi’s angry voice reached him, admonishing, “My lord, please refrain from further upsetting the madam! Ever since you mistakenly entered Miss Su’s room, the madam has been in a state of vigil all night.” After delivering this reproof, she carried Madam Xu into the privacy of the inner room.
Once inside, Madam Xu’s eyes fluttered open, revealing a spark of resilience. Without a word, several maids rushed to her aid, swiftly changing her clothing and providing warmth for her feet with heated water. The reviving effect of ginger soup was immediate.
Lu Chao Chao, visibly distressed at her mother’s condition, pressed her icy hands to her face, eliciting a shiver from the cold.
Madam Xu quickly retracted her hand, chiding gently, “Silly girl, do not hurt yourself with the cold. Mother here is fine; I was merely performing for his benefit.”
Such a performance was necessary to ensure he would feel compelled to formally take Su Zhi Qing into their household.
Noticing that Lu Yuan Ze had departed, Deng Zhi informed, “Madam, the lord has left the vicinity.”
He had lingered outside the courtyard for an extended period, only to be drawn away by news of Su Zhi Qing’s desperate act, purportedly near the brink of suicide.
“Madam, your intuition was spot-on. That Miss Su has indeed set her ambitions on the lord,” Deng Zhi remarked, acknowledging Madam Xu’s astuteness.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes gleamed with admiration, silently exclaiming over her mother’s shrewdness.
Madam Xu, unable to suppress a burst of laughter, reflected on the true source of their family’s strength – not her own cunning, but the exceptional nature of her daughter, Chao Chao.
Despite Lu Jing Huai’s potential and burgeoning reputation, he lacked the maturity and depth of experience that Lu Yuan Ze possessed, making him a less suitable partner in these complex circumstances.
Their shared moment and the subsequent scandal of spending a night exposed to the elements had effectively barred her from entering the Lu family in any official capacity. Now, her only recourse was to attach herself to Lu Yuan Ze as her sole avenue of support.
Seeing her mother, weakened yet with a spark in her eyes, Lu Chao Chao felt a surge of confidence in their resilience.
In a bold move, Su Zhi Qing visited Sheng Feng Yard clad in a striking peach-red attire, a stark contrast to her previous demure appearance. Her vibrant presence seemed designed to provoke, coming to offer an apology after the events that had unfolded.
Deng Zhi, incensed by her audacity, questioned, “Madam, can you believe she dares to show her face here?”
With a knowing smile, Madam Xu responded, “Why wouldn’t she? She has the lord’s support behind her.”
Su Zhi Qing, her lower lip caught between her teeth and her movements somewhat reluctant, nonetheless made her way into Sheng Feng Yard with a noticeable swish of her dress. As she stepped inside, she immediately knelt down in the hall, the red marks encircling her neck starkly evident against her skin.
With a voice laden with remorse, she addressed Madam Xu, “Madam, the fault lies entirely with Qing Qing. It has nothing to do with the lord… Upon awakening this morning, I was struck by the enormity of my error and sought to atone through hanging myself.” Her appearance was that of a frail, delicate flower battered by the storm, barely holding herself together. “It was the lord who intervened and stopped Qing Qing.”
Madam Xu, though her eyes welled with tears, couldn’t suppress an inner chuckle.
In her every gesture and choice of attire, Su Zhi Qing seemed tailor-made to cater to the lord’s preferences.
It must have been a considerable effort for Pei Jiao Jiao to prepare Su Zhi Qing for the Marquis’ mansion, educating her on the inclinations of each member of the Lu family. Little did she anticipate that Su Zhi Qing would end up vying with her for the affections of the same man.
Madam Xu rose, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, and extended a hand to help Su Zhi Qing to her feet.
“Miss Su, you hail from a distinguished lineage, and it’s not my desire to cause you further distress. However, concerning the issue between you and Zheng Yue…” Madam Xu’s voice trailed off, hinting at a complex web of emotions.
At this, Su Zhi Qing’s body tensed, her response coming out in shaky bursts: “Zheng Yue is but a friend to me. Our relationship has always been strictly platonic; we’ve never ventured beyond that boundary.”
The line that had been crossed involved Lu Jing Huai, not Zheng Yue…
“That’s reassuring to hear,” Madam Xu sighed, a semblance of relief washing over her. “I’ve been the lord’s wife for many years, and he has always been a man of principle, never keeping concubines or mistresses. In fact, Miss Su, you’re unprecedented in this regard. With three sons and a daughter under my care, I find myself stretched too thin to devote adequate attention to the lord. You and the lord share a certain destiny. You need not fear; the Marquis’ mansion is a place of simplicity and integrity. Once you join us, your only concern should be to look after the lord well. Should you bless us with another son or daughter, the lord would be overjoyed.”
With a gentle pat on her hand, Madam Xu offered both reassurance and a hint of a new beginning, prompting Su Zhi Qing to shyly nod in acknowledgment. “Given your act of saving Zheng Yue’s life, relegating you to the status of a concubine would be an insult.”
Su Zhi Qing’s response was a sudden, sharp look, her palms clenched tightly, yet Madam Xu chose to act as though she hadn’t noticed the tension in her gesture.