Chapter 95: The Way of a Concubine
Chapter 95: Chapter 95: The Way of a Concubine
For half a month straight, Lu Xiu had claimed illness and taken leave. Only today did he finally go to court.
Liang Wan had no idea how the Duke Mansion had dealt with the aftermath of that day. After all, she was confined to this small courtyard, almost completely cut off from the world.
Unless Lu Xiu spoke, she had no way of knowing anything.
Forget killing Gao Qian—if this continued, Gao Qian might not even remember she existed. Entering the palace again would be utterly impossible.
Liang Wan had reason to believe Lu Xiu was doing this on purpose, just to keep an eye on her and make her understand that assassinating the Emperor was a hopeless endeavor.
So as not to become completely isolated, Liang Wan made a point to visit the Grandmaster every day. One day she would bring a few pastries, the next she would brew a pot of fine tea, and the day after that she would stew a bowl of rich soup...
She had sworn she would never marry, yet whenever she did these things, she couldn’t help but feel like a wife, stirring distant memories from long ago.
"Liang Ji."
A maidservant placed the candied fruit into a small food box.
The Grandmaster found taking his medicine to be a bitter ordeal, so she had tried preserving fruit with medicinal herbs.
Liang Wan picked one up and tasted it, frowning and shaking her head. The flavor, she had to admit, was truly bizarre.
But now that they were made, they couldn’t go to waste. She decided to take them to the Grandmaster anyway.
Her recent, frequent visits to the Grandmaster had allowed her to grow quite familiar with the household doctor. Not only did she learn medical arts from him and borrow numerous books, but she also managed to bring back small portions of herbs to concoct poisons.
"Where is Qiuxi?"
Liang Wan led a maidservant toward the Grandmaster’s courtyard. She had been busy in the rear kitchen for a long time. Initially, Qiuxi had been helping her, but the next time she turned around, the girl had vanished.
Even now that all the work was finished, she was nowhere to be seen.
Liang Wan saw that the other maidservant was also clueless. ’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’Qiuxi has been acting this way for a few days now.’
Just as they were nearing the entrance, Qiuxi finally came rushing up to them.
She kept her head low. "Liang Ji."
Liang Wan shot her a glance and asked pointedly, "An upset stomach?"
Qiuxi looked embarrassed and mumbled a vague agreement.
Liang Wan simply smiled and turned to enter the courtyard.
The Grandmaster had already taken his medicine and was now tending to a few pots of Orchids. He didn’t even raise an eyelid at her arrival.
"And what rarity have you brought today?"
Liang Wan smiled. "Have a taste."
At her words, the Grandmaster immediately frowned and looked over. "The things you bring are only marginally better than *that*."
As he spoke, he shot a disgusted glance at the still-uncleared medicine bowl on a nearby table.
Liang Wan only smiled, not refuting him. ’No matter how delicious the food, it won’t taste good once you add those herbs.’
She placed the small box of candied fruit on the side table and had someone clear away the empty bowl.
"Still, it’s the thought that counts."
Liang Wan smiled but didn’t reply. On her second day in the Master’s Mansion, Lu Xiu had brought her to see the Grandmaster. His intention had not been merely to observe etiquette.
She understood perfectly that to live safely and peacefully in the Lu Family, nothing was more important than the Grandmaster’s approval.
The Grandmaster adored Orchids. He had all sorts of varieties, but his favorite was the spring Orchid.
"You see, is there a single pot of these flowers that I haven’t meticulously nurtured? And yet, not every one of them grows to my liking." The Grandmaster set down his shears, and a maidservant immediately came to help him wash his hands.
Liang Wan had no desire to respond to that. The Lu Family was a clan of powerful nobles, but they were not politically monolithic. Though she had little direct contact, she had heard a thing or two.
The Lu Family was not a place she intended to stay for long. All she wanted was to survive here. As for everything else, she had no desire to get involved, nor was she in any position to do so.
Within the entire Lu Family, the only person she was truly connected to was Lu Xiu. And the only person Lu Xiu could truly rely on was the Grandmaster.
The Grandmaster had the Orchids taken away before sitting down at the table. Liang Wan, in turn, began to brew him tea.
"You’ve been in the mansion for some time now. Have you grown accustomed to it?"
The Grandmaster accepted the cup, his expression kind as he looked at her.
Liang Wan nodded. "Very well."
’And why wouldn’t it be?’
’Liang Zhang was dead and Liang Cheng was in prison. The women of our family were left homeless on the streets, no different from commoners. The so-called honors of a scholarly family had nothing to do with them anymore. Without the Liang Family to support her, my Sister, now the wife of the Heir of Marquis Wen, would have to be even more cunning to survive in a noble house as vast and treacherous as the sea.’
’Among the entire Liang Family, she was probably the only one living a comfortable life.’
’But this comfort was not enough to make her forget what she had to do.’
The Grandmaster drained his cup, and Liang Wan refilled it.
"He has a certain fixation. But this fixation... it is both a good thing and a bad thing."
Liang Wan kept her gaze lowered to the tea in her cup. ’The ’he’ is undoubtedly Lu Xiu,’ she thought, ’but what does he mean by ’fixation’?’
After a sigh, he continued, "You’ve met the Lady from the Cao Family. What did you think of her?"
Liang Wan suddenly had an inkling of what he was implying. ’Does he think I don’t want Lu Xiu to marry?’ She frowned, carefully reviewing their interactions. She couldn’t recall doing anything that could be construed as jealous or domineering.
’Besides, it was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor’s imperial decree. How could he possibly refuse?’
’Not to mention, whether in her past life or this one, they were always meant to marry. If anyone was an outsider here, it was her.’
Liang Wan looked up, her expression utterly sincere. "I have met her twice. She is wonderful!"
The Grandmaster seemed a little surprised.
Fearing he wouldn’t believe her, Liang Wan added, "She is gentle, poised, well-read, and courteous—the very model of a perfect lady. One can tell at a single glance that she—"
"Then why have I heard that you and she are on bad terms?"
The Grandmaster cut her off before she could finish.
"Grandmaster, wherever did you hear such a thing? We have only met twice. How could we possibly be on bad terms?"
The Grandmaster stared at her and said simply, "I was the one who proposed the engagement to the Cao Family to the Empress Dowager."
’There was no reason for him to tell her that. By saying it, he was clearly implying she didn’t know her place.’
Liang Wan set down the teapot, her expression solemn. "The Lady from the Cao Family will be the Grand Commandant’s official wife. As for myself, I am merely a concubine, here to temporarily serve the Grand Commandant under my lord’s orders."
’A concubine can be gifted, bought, or sold—disposed of in any way her master sees fit.’
’Once Cao Luyun joins the household, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to decide to sell me off on a whim.’
Liang Wan had never once forgotten her current status and predicament.
’In the beginning, she would have rather died than become a concubine for Wang Su. Yet after all her plotting and maneuvering, she had come full circle, only to become a concubine for Lu Xiu.’
The Grandmaster mulled this over. "Chancellor Cao’s family is of good standing. A lady raised by him will not likely lack magnanimity. Since he cherishes you so, and you know your place, you will not be wronged in the future."
Liang Wan smiled faintly, bowing her head. "Yes."
The Grandmaster looked weary, and Liang Wan tactfully took her leave.
After leaving the Grandmaster’s courtyard, Liang Wan walked on in silence. ’In their eyes,’ she thought, ’I should be eternally grateful for the life I have now.’
’She had never understood why her family had rejected every suitor who came to propose. She and her sister were born of the same mother; my Sister could become the wife of the Heir of Marquis Wen, yet she was only fit to be a concubine. Now, she finally understood. It was because her birth chart was considered inauspicious. They would never dare use it to draw up a marriage contract.’
’Looking back now, what Mrs. Zhang had said wasn’t baseless. Perhaps in Mother’s eyes, becoming Wang Su’s concubine was the best future she could have hoped for...’
"Liang Ji?"
Perhaps noticing her prolonged silence, Qiuxi inquired softly.
Liang Wan turned her head to look at her. "I should find a good family for you, so you can get married."
Qiuxi shook her head. "I want to stay by your side forever, Liang Ji."
Liang Wan smiled. ’Who can truly stay with someone for a lifetime?’