The lanterns hanging from the eaves cast a dim warm light. Wen Tang was talking to Su Yi.
After the banquet, a little maid came in with a young girl. The girl had a slender figure and a pretty face. She looked a bit like Concubine Yun who was nestled in the Second Master's arms at the banquet just now. They were of similar age and were a bit timid and inexperienced.
The maid came forward and reported that it was the old lady's instructions, asking the grandmother to arrange accommodation for the cousin.
The girl knew the rules, and without waiting for Wen Tang to speak, she leaned forward and said in a sweet voice, "Greetings to the eldest and second madams."
Su Yi spoke first, "She must be Yun's cousin."
Concubine Yun is now pregnant. As soon as she reported it, her aunt from her mother's side found out and specially asked this cousin to come to Beijing to take care of her. She is only sixteen or seventeen years old. The family's idea is nothing more than to take advantage of the power of the Duke's Mansion and ask the old ladies, wives, and grandmothers to help find a good marriage for her.
Wen Tang smiled and said that she could stay in the mansion with peace of mind and he would not treat her badly. Then he turned around and told the maid to move her to Qinfang Residence, which was quiet and bright, not far from Aunt Yun's residence, and convenient for travel.
The maid responded and led the girl out.
After the maid took the people away, Su Yi turned around and said to Wen Tang, "Look, we really have a big family here. If the Second Master takes in a few more girls, I'm afraid that within two years, all the girls walking around this garden will be girls from your cousins."
Although this was a bit of a joke, there were indeed several cousins living in the mansion, most of whom were of marriageable age. Living in the mansion, their food, clothing and other expenses were no worse than those of regular young ladies.
Wen Tang chatted with Su Yi for a while before slowly walking back, supported by Mrs. Zhou. She had just drunk a few glasses of iced fruit wine at the banquet. It was sweet and refreshing with a fruity aroma. Her cheeks were as if covered in a thin layer of rouge, and her body was lazily warm.
Mrs. Zhou raised the curtain and entered the room.
Mrs. Zhou helped Wen Tang sit down on the chaise longue covered with a fine bamboo mat and muttered about what had just happened at the banquet. "Just now at the banquet, the one from the third house kept talking, picking out things that the old lady wanted to hear, and every sentence was about her two brothers."
The old lady also followed up the conversation, saying that it was a blessing for the Duke's family to have many descendants, and that only a prosperous male family could ensure the stability of the family business. Her words were full of threats.
"Grandma, we need to have a few more brothers to be serious."
Although Huai'er is good, he is still a little weak. In the future, it will be good for the brothers to have a helping hand. In this deep and large courtyard, sons are the backbone of the mistress. One more son will make the position more stable, and Huai'er's future will be more reliable.
At this time, the maid Baochun came in with the red wooden box that the Second Mistress had just stuffed in.
Mrs. Zhou walked over and was about to open it, but Wen Tang raised his hand and said, "Mother Zhou, please go down first."
Seeing that she was tired, Mrs. Zhou and Baochun left.
Wen Tang rubbed his brows and looked at the box with hesitation.
Since it was said to be left for Qin Gong to see, it should be something legitimate.
She stretched out her hand, ready to open it and check.
As soon as his hand touched it, he hesitated. Wen Tang moved his head closer and closer, his nose almost touching the box.
Then she opened it,
Wen Tang looked calm. It was a normal thing, a piece of clothing.
She took the clothes out of the box with confidence,
Then,
Wen Tang stared at this clothing-like thing for a long time.
Can you... call it clothes?
It's so light and soft that it's almost weightless.
The upper half was a palm-sized bellyband, tied with a thin, bright red ribbon, with an inexplicably round hole in the middle.
The lower half was connected to an astonishingly short tulle skirt, which was split high on the side from the base of the legs. The tulle was as thin as a cicada's wing, and the texture of the fingers could almost be seen through it.
She picked it up subconsciously and compared it to the clear bronze mirror on the dressing table in a daze.
The person in the mirror has fragrant cheeks and fair skin like a flower.
If you wear this, what's the difference between that and being naked?
Wearing this is like wearing nothing.
Wen Tang:...
It is even more impossible to let Qin Gong wear it, as he will directly tear the clothes.
Wen Tang, who had only read the novel once and had been reading the Thousand Character Classic obediently, had no idea what kind of clothes this was. However, she felt that it was immoral, so she decided to put it away quickly.
Wen Tang's face felt a little hot. He turned away from the mirror and wanted to put the things back into the box. Then he turned around and saw Qin Gong standing at the door and entering through the curtain.
He walked towards her.
The bronze mirror behind Wen Tang reflected a tall figure, shrouding a small figure.
When did he stand at the door?
The old woman standing outside on night watch called out, "Grandma, the master is back."
Wen Tang hurriedly crumpled the cloth in her hand into a ball and hid the bright color behind her, but the man in front of her was still looking at her motionlessly, so Wen Tang had no choice but to look up at him. When she looked up, Wen Tang breathed a sigh of relief.
His face was very red, even the tips of his ears were red.
Smells of alcohol.
Then she hesitated and glanced at his lower body, which seemed slightly unstable.
Wen Tang was familiar with his appearance, he was drunk.
fine.
Wen Tang placed the piece of cloth naturally on the small table beside her, then turned her head. Qin Gong was still standing there. She walked around in front of him, raised her face, and then greeted him gently, "Husband, you are back."
Qin Gong looked at her expressionlessly, then Wen Tang raised a finger and said in a very soft voice, as if coaxing a child, "Husband, what is this?"
This time, he didn't even bother to look at her. He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, which was swollen from the alcohol, with his brows furrowed and his expression gloomy.
As the two of them got closer, the strong smell of alcohol on him hit them in the face. Wen Tang cautiously took two steps back.
The last time he came back like this, he stood silently before her, then without warning, he came crashing down, nearly crushing her to death. Unfortunately, he had been drinking too much and completely forgot everything afterwards. She didn't even have a chance to complain or make excuses; he just said, "I forgot," and walked out with a cold face.
I drank too much again this time.
Wen Tang learned his lesson this time. He made a prompt decision and walked straight to the door, ready to call the strong woman on duty outside to come in and help support the person.
"No need," a deep and hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind her.
"I'll go in and bathe myself."
Wen Tang didn't react at first, until she turned her head and saw Qin Gong looking up at her, then she realized that these words were spoken to her.
"No need to have anyone come in to serve."
He repeated it.
Although his voice was low and raspy, his speech was coherent and clear.
Wen Tang turned around slowly. Qin Gong had already raised his head and reached out to unbutton the collar at his neck. He then took off his official robe, followed by the moon-white undershirt underneath, which he also tore open in a few seconds and placed on the small table, revealing his well-defined chest and arms.
On the small table, Qin Gong's clothes were crumpled into a ball of brightly colored gauze. The thin, bright red tie on his bellyband draped over Qin Gong's dark outer robe.
Qin Gong had taken off his undergarment and was shirtless.
Didn't he drink too much?
But speaking coherently and taking off clothes were not something a drunk person could do.
Wen Tang realized it later.
He didn't drink too much.
"Master, would you like to have some tea to wash away the smell of alcohol?" Wen Tang leaned over.
Qin Gong's hands were on his belt. He looked up and glanced at her.
"I'll undress you."
Wen Tang put down the teacup and walked forward without raising his head. As usual when he was undressing him, he reached out for Qin Gong's belt and his hand touched Qin Gong's hot big hand that was pulling at the belt.
Wen Tang raised her head quietly and said in a whisper, "Husband, are you drunk?"
Her voice was very soft.
No response, he was drunk after all.
Wen Tang continued to untie his belt, but after trying a few times, he couldn't get it to work.
"No," he said.