CHAPTER 576: CHAPTER 565: THE MARCHIONESS’S MAID

"Brother-in-law..." Seeing Duan Rongjing about to follow Zhong Lan, Zhong Yin weakly blocked his path with a frail expression.

Zhong Lan’s expression grew colder, but at this moment she was gently held back by Ye Qiuqing: "Lady, let us watch a bit longer."

"Ye Qiu, I don’t want to..."

"Lady, do you really want to create a rift with the Duke? Trust me, the second young lady will not succeed, let’s wait a little longer." Nowadays, Zhong Lan trusted Ye Qiu very much, and even though the current scene made her uncomfortable, she stayed as advised.

Duan Rongjing immediately breathed a sigh of relief, while Zhong Yin was like a duck being strangled by the neck, her gaze fiercely fixed on Ye Qiu.

"Tell me, what do you want? As long as it’s within my capabilities, I’ll agree to it." Duan Rongjing wanted to end this all quickly, hence his tone carried a hint of impatience.

But Zhong Yin seemed oblivious to it, full of anticipation she asked, "Really?"

Duan Rongjing looked at Zhong Lan’s increasingly cold demeanor and stiffly nodded.

At this moment, Zhong Yin awkwardly came forward, as if mustering her courage, she looked up at Duan Rongjing. Her face grew redder, and her timid eyes were full of love: "Brother-in-law, Yin’er asks for nothing more but to always stay by your side."

Hearing her words, both Zhong Lan and Zhong Jue incredulously widened their eyes, even Zhong Huaiwen felt that his younger daughter’s mind might really be broken.

Zhong Yin seemed unaware of everyone’s gaze, continuing to speak in a voice mixed with grievances and caution: "I know a concubine daughter like me does not match up to brother-in-law. I won’t covet what doesn’t belong to me, I just hope to see you every day. Even serving my sister as a servant, I am willing."

"This request is unacceptable." Duan Rongjing decisively refused her.

Zhong Yin’s eyes brimmed with tears, and her tone grew timid: "Why not? Didn’t you promise that as long as it is within your capabilities, you’d agree? I’m not asking to be treated equals with my sister, I just wish to be one of your concubines and serve you and my sister every day."

With that, she knelt before Zhong Lan, tears streaming down: "Sister, please rest assured, I will definitely not become a stumbling block in you and your husband’s relationship. I just like brother-in-law too much, please sister, grant me this favor."

"Father, doesn’t this scene seem familiar?" At this moment, Zhong Jue’s cold voice resounded in Zhong Huaiwen’s ears, his eyes icy as if he wanted to tear Zhong Yin apart.

Zhong Huaiwen’s heart skipped a beat, and he remembered the past, as if Aunt Wei had knelt like that in front of his wife, also claiming she wouldn’t interfere in their relationship.

What happened afterwards? Under his indulgence, Aunt Wei overstepped her bounds time and again... Could it be that now his daughter and son-in-law would also go through the same ordeal? And the meddler was another of his daughters.

Zhong Lan pursed her lips and said nothing, while Zhong Yin cried louder, seemingly about to faint at any moment.

"Sister, I know I was thoughtless before and offended you, but I really didn’t mean it. I know I was wrong now, can’t you find it within yourself to forgive me once? You are the legitimate daughter, a superior Duke’s Lady, and I’m just an ignorant concubine daughter, I pose no threat to you. Just speak to brother-in-law and let him take me in, I just want to see you and brother-in-law every day."

"Let go." Zhong Lan shifted her feet slightly, disdainfully pulling her skirt away from Zhong Yin’s grasp.

Zhong Yin suddenly fell to the ground, as if Zhong Lan had kicked her. She chose her angle well, from Duan Rongjing’s direction it only seemed like Zhong Lan had moved her foot but it was unclear what exactly transpired.

Ye Qiu suddenly burst out laughing, her laughter catching everyone’s attention.

Seeing everyone’s puzzled looks, Ye Qiu kindly explained, "Sorry, Lady, I just laughed because the second young lady is being too melodramatic. You just took a step back but it looked as if you kicked her."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Jue also laughed out, his gaze toward Zhong Yin looking as if he was staring at a fool.

Zhong Yin’s face stiffened, followed by a sobbing complaint: "Sister, even if you don’t like me, you didn’t have to let your servant mock me, right? How am I supposed to live like this?"

"Lady, Lord, may this servant speak a few words? I have endured this for a long time and I’m afraid it might affect your and Lord’s emotions," Ye Qiu bowed and said.

Duan Rongjing knew about the series of things Ye Qiu had done for Zhong Lan, and also knew her high status in Zhong Lan’s and grandmother’s heart, which made her different from ordinary maids, so he nodded: "Go ahead."

"Marquis, you said you would agree to the second young lady’s reasonable request, but may I ask what’s the premise for this agreement?" Ye Qiu asked him.

Duan Rongjing honestly replied, "Because she once saved my life."

"Is that all?"

"That is all."

"Well then, I understand now, Lord you don’t really like the second young lady, right?"

"How could I like her?" Duan Rongjing frowned, feeling that the maid, Ye Qiu, was being imprudent, asking such clueless questions.

But after he finished these few sentences, both Zhong Lan and Zhong Jue breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, Marquis, are you really sure that the second young lady is the one who saved you at Ci Yun Temple? Could you please describe the whole situation at that time?" Ye Qiu asked again.

Seeing the expectant gazes of everyone, Duan Rongjing did not hide anything and told the truth, without noticing Zhong Yin’s trembling body.

"Two years ago, I returned to the capital from the border due to some matters, and I was seriously injured at that time, even falling unconscious at one point. To avoid certain people, I had to hide in Ci Yun Temple. Later, sister Lan’er found me. She not only didn’t report me to the officials revealing my whereabouts but also asked a young monk and a doctor to treat me."

As he finished this statement, it seemed as if Zhong Lan recalled something, and her heart shook.

"Then how are you so sure it was the second young lady who saved you? Weren’t you unconscious?"

"She did save me when I didn’t see clearly, but two days later, she actually appeared and spied on my whereabouts repeatedly."

"So that’s how you remembered the second young lady? You decided it was her who saved you?"

"Yes."

Ye Qiuqing chuckled lightly: "Now I have finished asking, my Lady, did you remember something?"

"What do you mean?" Duan Rongjing blankly looked at Zhong Lan.

The heavy stone in Zhong Lan’s heart finally dropped as she smiled at her husband: "You got it wrong, the person who saved you was me."

"It was you?" Duan Rongjing opened his mouth wide, and gestured towards Zhong Yin, who dared not lift her head from the ground, "Then what about her?"

Zhong Lan’s gaze turned icy: "She probably figured out your intentions early on, so she acted to repay her perceived debt of gratitude!"