Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 003 Qiuyan

The maid who came was called Qiuyan. She was the head maid of the manor. Although her status was not as high as Zhang Lan's, she had some face. It had never happened in previous years to let Qiuyan deliver food on New Year's Eve. It must be that Zhang Lan wanted to shut up everyone and show that she was very concerned about the sick young lady of the Jiang family.

Qiuyan put down the food basket and quickly looked around the room. This was her first time in Jiang Ruan's room. She saw that the small room was filled with a shabby and decayed atmosphere. There were even traces of rainwater seeping into the wall from the leaky eaves. The quilt on the bed was very thin. Not to mention the furnishings, even the ordinary utensils were very broken. Living in such a damp and dark house, it would be strange if you were not weak. At first glance, it didn't look like a boudoir of a young lady. Even the lowest servant in the manor would not be so shabby.

Qiuyan had been immersed in the mansion for a long time. She knew that although Zhang Lan's family was greedy and harsh, they would never dare to treat a young lady like this unless they got the permission from the superiors. Since it was the master's intention, Qiuyan would naturally not interfere.

"Your name is Qiuyan." The person on the bed spoke, her voice was a little hoarse, but strangely with a subtle emotion.

Qiuyan raised her head and smiled, "It's me."

Zi Su and Lian Qiao, one protecting Jiang Ruan, and the other staring at Qiuyan. In their opinion, in this manor, except for the three of them, the master and servant, all the others have ulterior motives.

Jiang Ruan smiled: "Tonight is New Year's Eve, Sister Qiuyan's dress is very festive and looks really good on her."

This was a bit strange, Qiuyan was confused, but still smiled: "It was all done by Auntie. I am just a servant. If you talk about good-looking, you are joking."

Jiang Ruan sighed softly: "Auntie Lan is really thoughtful. Did everyone in the manor make new clothes?"

Her voice was soft and smiling, Qiuyan subconsciously nodded and said yes, but suddenly realized that everyone in the manor had made new clothes, but the three masters and servants in front of her were left out. 

This was something she couldn't say anyway. Just as she was about to evade the question, she heard Jiang Ruan say softly, "The two maids around me are clumsy, and they are not as festive as Sister Qiuyan in dressing. Sister Qiuyan said something wrong. I am not joking. Although Sister Qiuyan is a servant, she seems to live a more comfortable and decent life than me."

The words were too sharp, which was completely inconsistent with the gentle tone of the master. Qiuyan felt nervous for no reason. She couldn't help but look up at the person on the bed. The candlelight was dim. The girl on the bed took the hot tea handed by Zisu. The mist from the tea covered half of her face. It was unclear what her expression was. Only her long drooping eyelashes drew a graceful arc, which was a bit weird.

Jiang Ruan's smiling voice came: "Sister Qiuyan is so decent. When she reaches the age in the future, she will definitely be sent out to marry a good family. The second son of Mr. Ma's family outside the city is very good. The second son of Mr. Ma already has twelve concubines, and Sister Qiuyan should be the thirteenth concubine."

Qiuyan was startled, and a chill slowly rose from the soles of her feet. Her whole face turned pale in an instant. She bit her lips and stared at Jiang Ruan with wide eyes, unable to say a word.

Jiang Ruan was not in a hurry either. She just put the warm tea close to her mouth and took a sip.

After a long while, Qiuyan mustered up the courage and said with her chest straightened: "I don't know what the young lady is talking about." The first half of the sentence was still righteous, but in the second half, not sure why she felt guilty.

"Good birds choose trees to live in, people go to high places, and water flows to low places. What Sister Qiuyan did is just human nature. Don't be shy." She tilted her head and laughed: "This is a good thing. If one day Sister Qiuyan really becomes the Thirteenth Aunt, I will definitely give her a rouge gift. Sister Qiuyan is so decent, I think this respect is also earned by Sister Qiuyan's cleverness."

Qiuyan stood in place and slowly clenched her fists. Jiang Ruan pinched her eyebrows: "I feel sleepy after just a while. I am not well yet. I can't personally say New Year's blessings to Nanny Lan. I trouble Sister Qiuyan to apologize on my behalf." After that, she told Zi Su: "Why don't you go and see Sister Qiuyan off."

This is an order to expel guests. Qiuyan didn't have an idea for a while. Naturally, she hoped to leave this depressing house immediately, so she nodded in panic and said yes, and no longer saw the sense of superiority that was faintly revealed when she came.

When Zi Su and Qiu Yan walked to the door, Jiang Ruan spoke again: "By the way, Sister Qiu Yan, I mentioned before that the clothes of my two maids, since it is New Year, I also want to see some fun, please Qiu Yan think of a way to make them look festive."

Qiu Yan bit her lip: "Miss, you are forcing me."

"Sister Qiu Yan is a smart person," Jiang Ruan interrupted her: "Otherwise, how can she be the Thirteenth Aunt?"

Qiu Yan's face turned a little paler, and she said hatefully: "Yes."

After Zi Su sent Qiu Yan out, Lian Qiao asked: "Miss, what happened just now? How did Qiu Yan get involved with the second son of Mr. Ma's family?"

"She and the second son of Ma have been secretly dating for a long time, and now is the time to make true." Jiang Ruan said.

In the previous life, Qiuyan was caught having an affair with Ma Er Gongzi a few years later, and the affair was exposed. Ma Er Gongzi was unharmed, but Qiuyan was put into a pig cage. Before being put into the pig cage, Qiuyan had been tortured to the point of being unconscious, and she kept saying that she was the thirteenth concubine of Ma Er Gongzi's family. 

Presumably, this was what Ma Er Gongzi promised her when they were in love. But Qiuyan didn't end up being the thirteenth concubine, and Jiang Ruan naturally wouldn't tell this story.

Lian Qiao suddenly realized: "No wonder she was so scared, bah, what a mean person, so shameless!" After all, she was a teenage girl, and her face blushed again: "But Girl, how do you know these things?"

Lian Qiao was too confused, not only that, she also found that Jiang Ruan was like a different person today. She was submissive, but she actually threatened Qiu Yan so blatantly, and even when she talked about these dirty things, her expression was not strange at all, as if she was talking about a very ordinary family matter.

Jiang Ruan usually had fewer opportunities to go out than her and Zi Su. There was endless work to do in the yard all year round, so how could she have the opportunity to encounter these things. Lian Qiao was confused, but Jiang Ruan did not answer her question, only said: "Lian Qiao, do you want to stay here forever?"

"Of course not." Lian Qiao was a straightforward and hot-tempered person, and said without thinking: "Miss, don't worry, you will not stay in the farm forever, and the master will come to pick you up in a few days."

Jiang Ruan smiled, she knew better than anyone when he would come to pick her up. She didn't have the patience to wait until then, and she didn't want to wait.

"Why wait, Qiuyan will send us back to Capital soon."

Lian Qiao was stunned, and subconsciously looked at Jiang Ruan, but saw the girl yawning slowly again, under the straight nose, her lips that had sipped the tea were rosy and curved into a small arc.

(End of this chapter)

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