CHAPTER 573: CHAPTER 562: THE MARCHIONESS’S MAID

Zhong Lan was spacing out in front of the dressing table until she felt a wave of heat from behind and realized that Duan Rongjing had finished his bath.

She hurriedly turned around and met his intense gaze, her face blushed even further, somewhat at a loss. Seeing his hair still wet, she quickly said, "I’ll get a dry cloth to help dry your hair."

Having said that, she left without noticing the hesitant expression on Marquis Weiyuan’s face.

After a while, Zhong Lan returned with two dry cloths and said to Duan Rongjing, "Please sit down, Marquis."

"Mhm," Duan Rongjing responded and took a seat on a stool nearby as she advised.

Zhong Lan gently wiped his hair, her fingers inevitably touching his scalp, the atmosphere between them becoming slightly delicate.

Seeing things had come to this, she remembered Ye Qiu’s words and boldly ventured, "How was it at the border, Marquis? Were you injured? Why did you suddenly come back?"

Because she spoke first, Marquis Weiyuan no longer kept silent: "The border was fine, I wasn’t really hurt. I came back because the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince were vying for power."

In fact, he had been injured, and it was a close call, but he didn’t want her to worry since it was all in the past now.

"The Eldest Prince and the Third Prince?" Although she had experienced a coup, Zhong Lan was actually quite confused and felt a bit frightened afterward, "Has it all settled down now?"

"It’s all resolved. The Eldest Prince is imprisoned for suspicion of plotting against the Holy Emperor, and the Third Prince will soon ascend to the throne."

"Is our family still in danger?" Zhong Lan’s hand stopped as she was drying his hair.

"There wouldn’t be any danger if I don’t return to the border," he said. As the saying goes, once the rabbit is caught, the hound is cooked. His temporary cooperation with the Third Prince would definitely be met with suspicion if he continued to control an army of two hundred thousand.

"Then please don’t go, alright? I’m really worried about you," Zhong Lan finally spoke her mind.

Duan Rongjing turned abruptly, and seeing the worried look in Zhong Lan’s eyes, he felt a surge in his heart and involuntarily pulled her into his embrace: "Alright, I won’t go. I’ll stay in the capital with you and the children."

Zhong Lan’s heart thumped wildly, yet a smile tugged at her lips, and she hugged him back.

Everything that followed seemed to naturally fall into place, as Ye Qiu outside the room curved his lips into a smile.

The next day, the atmosphere was different when the two of them stepped out, and all the maids in the courtyard suppressed their laughter.

"You have taken good care of the Lady this year, upon my order, give them three months’ extra monthly salary," he instructed.

"Thank you, Marquis," the maids beamed with joy. Considering the rewards they had received in this period, it amounted to two years of annual salary!

In the following few days, Marquis Weiyuan was still very busy but made it a point to return to Qingfeng Courtyard every day. The young heir and the little miss finally had their formal names, but everyone preferred to call them by their nicknames, Young Master Yan and Sister An.

Three days later, the Third Prince ascended the throne and ennobled Duan Rongjing as Duke National Guardian. He accepted the title but declined his military power under the pretext of severe injuries from the border, rendering him unable to return to the battlefield. The new Emperor, pitying his contributions to the country, accepted his request. Yet, his youngest daughter Sister An was titled as Commandery Princess, and Zhong Lan was granted the title of Duchess, a rank above First-rank Duchess National Guardian. The Duke Huoguo Mansion became instantly renowned.

The late Emperor passed away and his body lay in the Imperial City for forty-nine days. Each courtier and their wife had to enter the palace to mourn. However, due to the Old Marquis and Zhong Lan’s high status, they often only needed to kneel for one or two hours before they could rest in the side hall. This didn’t exhaust them particularly, but it was indeed hard on Second Mrs. Shen.

"Are you tired today?" Now that their relationship had progressed, Duan Rongjing had also learned to show concern for others.

"Not too bad, since the palace maids and eunuchs took care of me and grandmother."

"Having just come out of confinement to encounter such an event must have been hard for you." He felt guilty in his heart.

Zhong Lan smiled: "Not hard at all, I’m actually one of the more relaxed ones, there are others who have it much harder!"

"I’ve wronged you on the day you returned to your family’s home. Once these days pass, I will accompany you back to the Zhong Residence."

Zhong Lan did not expect him to still remember this matter, and she was deeply moved: "There were reasons for everything before, everyone understands."

"Still, you have been wronged." Duan Rongjing could hardly bear to think back on how his young wife was pregnant with his child and could not even call for an Imperial Physician or midwife, making him wish to harm himself in his oversight, always believing he had everything under control, yet nearly costing her life.

"Aunt Wei, Zhong Lan is going back to the residence tomorrow." Recently, Zhong Huaiwen had been preoccupied with matters of national mourning and had all but ignored home affairs. Zhong Jue too couldn’t care less about Zhong Lang and Zhong Yin, so Zhong Yin finally found the opportunity to see Aunt Wei.

Jealousy and resentment were evident in her tone: "Marquis Weiyuan has returned and was even named Duke National Guardian. Zhong Lan became the wife of the First-rank Duke National Guardian. I heard she gave birth to twins, and now the entire Duke Huoguo Mansion respects her. Her son was granted the title of Princely Heir, and even her daughter was named Commandery Princess. She’s not even of the Imperial Family, so why is the Emperor being so generous!"

Zhong Yin almost had her face twisted in anger, why on earth does Zhong Lan have such good fortune?

Aunt Wei closed her eyes, knowing they had completely lost. Now that Zhong Lan had a son and a daughter by her side, and the Duke Huoguo Mansion had made significant contributions, unless they were to rebel, it was impossible for them to fall from grace.

And then there was Zhong Jue. Although marriages were forbidden during the year of mourning, his marriage arrangement with Lord Wenping was secure.

Poor Yin’er, who would turn seventeen after the mourning period, an unbetrothed concubine daughter, what prospects could she possibly have? And for Lang’er to establish himself would take at least two more years; Yin’er could no longer afford to wait.

"Yin’er, listen to mom, when Zhong Lan comes back this time, you must treat her well and truly make her believe that you’ve recognized your fault," Aunt Wei instructed seriously.

"I don’t want to, why should I?" Zhong Yin said defiantly.

"Because she is now the Lady of the Duke, because she can find you a good marriage match."

"I couldn’t care less." Zhong Yin remained stubborn, the thought of having to plea to someone she once looked down upon made her extremely uncomfortable.

"You might not care, but you’ll still have to plead, unless you want to end up an old maid or marry a widower?" Aunt Wei’s tone was severe, filled with helplessness.

Eventually, Zhong Yin couldn’t hold back and shouted, "Aunt Wei, you speak as if it’s so easy. That’s Zhong Lan, the same Zhong Lan we once bullied. Do you think she would forgive us? Who knows if she would sabotage us behind the scenes."

"She won’t do that. Now she’s the Lady of the Duke, the most favored inner housewife in the capital. If she intentionally harmed you, it would disgrace herself, so she will definitely not ignore you," Aunt Wei said with absolute certainty.

"Yin’er, listen to mom, apologize to her tomorrow, and it’s best to do so in front of Lord Duke," she said, her eyes shimmering, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile, "The Zhong Family’s background can’t compare to the Duan Family’s after all. Zhong Lan, in order to secure her position in the Duke Mansion, wouldn’t let Lord Duke see her ruthless side."