Li Rou ran off after speaking, leaving Li Nuan stunned.
Qi Zhenzhen gave Qi Xuanxuan a look, and Qi Xuanxuan followed Li Rou out.
"I never knew she harbored such grievances. I thought she understood the ways of survival for a concubine's daughter," Li Nuan murmured. "Who wouldn't want to live freely and unrestrained? I do too, but it's merely a pipe dream. The distinction between legitimate and concubine-born is an unignorable reality. Living under the main wife's roof, one's life can be somewhat easier if the main wife is benevolent. But what main wife is willing to be pleasant to the children of her husband's concubines? To her, they are people who will steal her children's affection and compete for her children's inheritance. To grow up safely is already considered fortunate."
Qi Zhenzhen could deeply relate to this point.
She also had Yun Shi and Qi Yi, who were also from a concubine and legitimate children?
Their experiences were likely even more severe than what Li Nuan described. After all, if she hadn't intervened and protected Yun Shi and Qi Yi, they would probably still be wandering outside, possibly even without their lives. While Qi Tianming was not entirely blameless for this, the person most directly related to this matter was Qin Shi, the matriarch of the Marquis's mansion.
"Rou'er seems sensible; she'll figure things out," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Sometimes, constant forbearance isn't enough; they'll only become more aggressive."
"Sister Zhenzhen, I... I resisted, but the final outcome... I was punished. My姨娘 pleaded for me, and I knelt for four hours in the main wife's courtyard. In the biting cold, my姨娘 suffered a miscarriage. It was my unborn brother who caused my姨娘 to become despondent. I don't dare anymore, I truly don't dare," Li Nuan's voice trembled.
It was that tragic. Qi Zhenzhen tightly gripped Li Nuan's hand. "It will get better, it will get better."
After a while, Li Nuan's trembling body calmed down, and some color gradually returned to her pale face. "Sister Zhenzhen, you have your grand aunt as your backing in the Marquis's mansion, which is excellent. You must treat your grand aunt well and ensure she cares about you. Only then can you protect yourself and your姨娘."
Qi Zhenzhen nodded emphatically. "I will."
At lunchtime, Qi Xuanxuan, holding Li Rou's hand, arrived with food boxes.
Li Rou's eyes were still a little red. As soon as she entered, she apologized to Li Nuan. "Sister, I was wilful just now. I've remembered everything you and my姨娘 said, and I will continue to remember it. When I don't have the ability to protect you, I will definitely hide my talents and endure."
Li Nuan's worried gaze finally subsided. "You must remember what you said."
The four sisters ate lunch together. Qi Zhenzhen and Li Nuan, having stayed up late the previous night, felt sleepy after lunch and bid each other farewell to return to their rooms for a nap.
Qi Zhenzhen slept for quite a long time. When she woke up, the sky was already dim.
Stretching, Qi Zhenzhen felt as if she had come back to life.
"Miss, you're awake?" Er Xi brought Qi Zhenzhen a cup of warm water. "Feixu and Lian Bei have gone to get dinner."
"It's already time for dinner? I slept for such a long time," Qi Zhenzhen said after drinking the water and getting out of bed.
"Who would say otherwise? The cousin was here in the afternoon. She heard Miss was still sleeping, so she went back to her room," Er Xi said. "The Young Master also came."
Qi Zhenzhen's eyes widened, her face a picture of bewilderment. "What did you say?"
"I said, the Young Master also came," Er Xi repeated.
"In broad daylight, he came to my courtyard?" Qi Zhenzhen couldn't help but shiver. "Isn't he afraid of being seen?"
"With the Young Master's excellent skills, how could he possibly be discovered?" Er Xi chuckled. "The Young Master just sent this."
Er Xi pointed to the flowerpot on the table by the window.
A thriving tomato plant, adorned with delicate yellow flowers.
Qi Zhenzhen immediately recalled the tomato seedling she had tried to keep warm with various methods indoors during winter, only for it to wither in the end.
It seemed that this plant also needed to be grown in the appropriate season.
"Please take good care of it for me," Qi Zhenzhen instructed.
Er Xi nodded in agreement. For something sent by the Young Master, she would take good care of it even without the Miss's instructions.
"Did he leave any message?" Qi Zhenzhen asked after a moment's thought. It couldn't be that he came all this way just to send a seedling, could it?
Er Xi shook her head. "Knowing you were asleep, the Young Master left directly."
Fine, the two of them had only reached a contract, a mutual utilization.
"Go invite the cousin over. Judging by the time, Feixu and Lian Bei should be back soon," Qi Zhenzhen said indifferently.
Soon, Li Nuan arrived, her complexion looking much better than it had in the morning.
"I heard from Er Xi that Sister Nuan came in the afternoon. Why didn't you sleep a little longer?" Qi Zhenzhen pulled her to sit on the chaise lounge by the window.
"Normally, when I nap at home, it's only for about half an hour. By this time, I naturally wake up," Li Nuan said with a smile.
As they spoke, Feixu and Lian Bei returned, each carrying two food boxes.
Er Xi helped them take the boxes and brought out all the dishes.
The meal was a balanced combination of meat and vegetables, quite abundant.
Like Qi Zhenzhen, Li Nuan preferred vegetarian dishes. The four meat dishes were largely untouched and were eventually taken away by Lian Bei and the others to eat.
After eating, the two of them went to Fangfei Garden and pulled the two younger ones to walk in the courtyard to aid digestion, so they wouldn't feel uncomfortable while sleeping.
Duke's Mansion.
Gu Sinian went back to his own courtyard after having dinner with Qin Shi. He was in a good mood today. He had visited the Changping Marquis's mansion and seen the person he longed for. Although he couldn't speak to her, he was content just gazing at her peaceful sleeping face.
Earlier, during dinner, his mother mentioned that there had been no news from the Marquis's mansion and asked if he wanted to urge them. He refused.
Although the Lu family had shown some flexibility regarding the engagement, it was only from Madam Lu and Old Madam Lu. As for the head of the Lu family, who had arranged the engagement years ago, he had not expressed a clear attitude.
To be safe, he couldn't rush.
Otherwise, if the Lu family didn't object to Zhenzhen entering the household, where would he find a wife?
"Young Master, the cousin has sent soup over," Gu Qing said.
"The usual," Gu Sinian said without looking up.
Gu Qing brought out the soup bowl. It was at a suitable temperature, and he drank it down in a few gulps.
This cousin's cooking was truly excellent, and her thoughtfulness was also remarkable. The soup she sent was always at the perfect temperature. It was a pity that the Young Master had never drunk it, and it all went to him. Gu Qing knew the cousin's feelings, but matters of the heart couldn't be forced. It was truly a pity for the cousin's deep affection. Gu Qing couldn't understand what was so good about that Qi girl, or how she could be better than the cousin. Her medical skills were good, the Old Madam liked her, and she had also improved the Madam's health considerably.
"What are you still standing there for? Take the soup bowl out. The person is still waiting outside," Gu Sinian urged Gu Qing, who was staring blankly at the soup bowl.