I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 7

Wei Hanzhang walked out of the courtyard, her mind still replaying the recent scene...

No matter how she looked at it, her parents didn't seem like the emotionally detached couple described in the original book.

The way her father, Wei Heng, reacted when Madam Jiang almost fell—he was genuinely worried. That kind of emotion couldn't be faked; it flashed so quickly that even he might not have noticed.

True love between the male lead and the concubine?

No, no, Wei Hanzhang shook her head. If it were true love, what about all the concubines and illegitimate children in the rear courtyard?

...

The second branch's courtyard had four entrances, with Jingya Hall being the residence of the main wife, Madam Jiang.

Walking out of Jingya Hall, Nanny Zhou carried a lantern to lead the way, explaining the household situation to her young mistress: "Our second branch doesn't have many masters. Aside from the Sixth Young Master living in the East Linshui Pavilion, the Eighth and Tenth Young Masters live in Chunhua Pavilion in the outer courtyard. They are excused from daily greetings to the Madam and rarely come to the inner courtyard. As for the girls..."

Nanny Zhou paused, saying, "Ever since you were born, the Madam has prepared a courtyard for you. Over the years, she has arranged for it to be cleaned and maintained regularly. If there is anything you find unsatisfactory, just let this old servant know."

The original novel's female lead was highly favored, having two sons and a daughter even as a concubine. Aside from the legitimate children of Madam Jiang, all of Wei Heng's illegitimate children were born to Shen Shi.

The Eighth and Tenth Young Masters were Shen Shi's sons.

Thinking this, Wei Hanzhang nodded slightly, "Thank you, Nanny."

"Miss, please don't say that, you'll humble this old servant." In the dim light, Nanny Zhou pointed ahead to a courtyard gate. "Your Linfeng Residence is very close to Madam's Jingya Hall. See, just a few steps away."

As she spoke, they reached the end of the corridor, walking along the stone steps to the courtyard gate.

Inside, ten maids were already waiting. Seeing Wei Hanzhang, they all knelt.

It had rained earlier, and the stone steps were still damp. Wei Hanzhang told them to rise.

Lanterns were placed every few steps, brightly lighting the courtyard. Nanny Zhou led her inside, continuing to explain, "Behind your courtyard, there's a three-story Fengting Pavilion. In summer, you can invite close friends to stay there for a few days, enjoy the breeze and the moonlight, and have a drink."

Wei Hanzhang's interest was piqued. In this era, noble sons and daughters loved to find excuses to invite friends over for a drink and enjoy the scenery.

Two stout women who looked like head servants followed behind.

Nanny Zhou escorted Wei Hanzhang to the eaves and smiled, "These are Nanny Sun and Nanny Liu, who came from Xuzhou with Second Madam. If there's anything you're not accustomed to, just tell them."

Nannies Sun and Liu bowed, "Greetings, Ninth Miss."

Wei Hanzhang nodded, looking tired.

Nanny Zhou noted her fatigue and said, "It's late, and you've had a long journey. I won't disturb your rest."

Though she said this, Nanny Zhou gave more instructions to the maids, ensuring everything was ready, and then told Lu Zhu and Lu Lan to help the young mistress rest.

The marquis's household had many maids, but personal attendants knew their mistress's preferences best.

With everything ready, Lu Zhu and Lu Lan helped Wei Hanzhang bathe, change, take down her hair, and remove her makeup. Once they finished, she fell into bed and quickly fell asleep.

After half a month of traveling by boat and carriage, she was exhausted. When she woke, it was already late morning. Lu Zhu, waiting outside, came in upon hearing movement.

Wei Hanzhang asked the time and panicked. Although she was told she didn't need to pay respects, it was her first day back home. How could she not? If others found out, they might think the Jiang family hadn't taught her proper manners.

After dressing, Wei Hanzhang chose a light blue gauze dress, with a peony-embroidered half-sleeve jacket over her chest-high skirt, looking as radiant as the morning sun.

On her way to Jingya Hall, the courtyard scenery was captivating.

Though the lights were bright last night, she couldn't see clearly. Now, walking along the stone-paved corridor, she felt the grandeur of the marquis's residence. Along the way, there were rockeries and trees, with a scenic spot every few steps. Water flowed from the rockeries, winding through flower beds and trees, into a lotus pond.

This was just the second branch's backyard. Who knew what the main garden looked like?

After passing through an archway, she finally arrived at Jingya Hall.

Nanny Zhou waited outside. Seeing Wei Hanzhang, she bowed and lifted the curtain, saying, "Second Madam instructed that you should go in directly."

Wei Hanzhang nodded slightly and entered to see Madam Jiang reclining on a couch, looking more radiant than yesterday.

Though bedridden recently, Madam Jiang's face was only pale, not aged, appearing no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Seeing her delicate daughter enter, Madam Jiang's face lit up with joy, "My child is here."

Wei Hanzhang bowed and smiled, "Mother, you look better today."

She was beautiful, and today she wore a brightly colored gauze dress, making her look even more radiant. Her smile exuded a fresh and charming aura.

Two women stood beside Madam Jiang, initially stunned, then greeted Wei Hanzhang, "Greetings, Ninth Miss."

Curious, Wei Hanzhang looked at them. Those serving the main wife in the main house were likely her father's concubines.

She wondered if one of them was Shen Shi.

Madam Jiang, thinking her daughter didn't recognize them, quickly waved her over, "These are your father's concubines, not real relatives."

Wei Hanzhang approached and hugged Madam Jiang's arm, smiling, "May I know the names of the two concubines?"

The two women quickly replied, "I am Lin Shi, and I am Shen Shi. Greetings, Ninth Miss."

Shen Shi?

Wei Hanzhang studied the original book's protagonist, Shen Shi. She seemed well-maintained, appearing around twenty-five or twenty-six, with almond-shaped eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows, exuding a delicate and graceful aura.

As a favored concubine with two sons and a daughter, Shen Shi wasn't flashy. She wore a modest ruqun and had only two simple hairpins in her hair, standing there with lowered eyes, looking every bit like an obedient concubine.

Madam Jiang noticed her daughter staring at the concubine and asked, "Ranyan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Wei Hanzhang replied, resting her head on Madam Jiang's shoulder. She thought, the protagonist was indeed passable.

However, compared to Madam Jiang, the main wife, Shen Shi lacked the looks, background, and even the demeanor to pose any threat.

How could her mother be replaced by someone like this?