Ch28 - Chastity Crisis?

Calmly greeting the maidservants who walks across her, Zhi Qi assisted Qiao Yingze all the way to a secluded room as the laughter from the other side of the room could no longer be heard, then she looked around left and right, making sure there are no people around, before she closed the door behind her and locked it…..

After Qiao Yingze entered the room, as he saw a bed he immediately collapsed into it without noticing Zhi Qi’s smaller movements behind him. 

As Qiao Yingze had drank so much, he’s feeling overall lazy. He didn’t speak nor make any movements, but he neither had any plans to sleep yet. He just wanted to be alone now and start thinking about some things. That’s why he went off on his own without taking Gong Zhuoliang with him.

As he laid down with his face cushioned on the mattress, Qiao Yingze sensed the candles being lit, however, he did not hear any movements from Zhi Qi who should have retreated by now. Suddenly feeling a little curious, he slowly turned to see what was happening, only to be met with an exposed fair-skinned body, only wearing a red undergarment.

………..

Gong Zhuoliang was laughing and hugged Old Madam Qiao’s arms, but his worried eyes were still glued towards the direction where Qiao Yingze just left. Slightly turning around to his side where Ruo Lan and Wen Shu were standing behind him, he looked at them with hinting eyes before Wen Shu, who was familiar with the old lady’s courtyard, instantly followed the two people who just left quietly. 

“Just where did Sister-in-law learn so many funny jokes? It can’t be even compared to mine, and I literally spent all day inside the tea houses and restaurants”

Qiao Yingxuan couldn’t help but gaze a little more at this beautiful little sister-in-law of his, thinking just how fortunate his Gege is for marrying such an outstanding young lady.

Suddenly recalling his precious and delicate Zhuoliang-didi, for a moment, Qiao Yingxuan is not even sure whether he’s feeling happy or unfortunate for himself. It’s indeed a fortunate thing for him to be able to know such a lovable boy, but it’s also a pity that he wasn’t a girl so that it’ll be more possible to court him and make him his wife right away. But then when thinking about it, there’s no way his Mom would agree on this.

Thereupon, the ardent Qiao Yingxuan who just tasted ‘like’ for the first time, became very worried.

“Some of these jokes were from our maidservants back home, while some of them were from the books I had read before after finding them quite interesting. This is probably why Brother-in-law was amused”

Gong Zhuoliang feigned bashfulness as he interacted with Qiao Yingxuan, then he told him another joke which attracted the attention of others and then everyone just began to laugh. No one asked him why he knew so many things at such a young age.

Soon, Wen Shu was already outside the old lady’s courtyard. Naturally, she’s already familiar with the paths and buildings in this yard, and also knew about Zhi Qi’s thoughts towards their Young Master, so after she trailed behind them, she went to watch them over even further. She then saw Zhi Qi leading Qiao Yingze to a secluded place, and immediately, Wen Shu started having a bad feeling about this situation.

Wen Shu immediately walked to the door where the two had just entered and carefully opened the door, only to discover that the door was actually locked and her expression instantly shifted. 

Although she knew that no servants frequently walked across this place, Wen Shu still had to be careful and must not attract any attention. Otherwise if she accidentally stirred any noises, not only the Young Master but even the old lady would lose face.

If the Old Madam’s maid was the one who seduced the Young Master, or the Young Master was actually the one who intimated it with the Old Madam’s maid, Wen Shu knew that this would definitely turn into a huge scandal. However, Wen Shu still had trust in their Young Master and believed that he would never do this kind of action. But if Zhi Qi was the one who forced the Young Master……

Wen Shu forced herself to be stable and calm and attempted to keep her expression indifferent as she turned around again. However, it was obvious from her frantic steps that she was extremely anxious. After making it in the old lady’s room, Wen Shu managed to secretly sneak in without anyone noticing, wearing a casual smile, as she approached the old lady and Gong Zhuoliang and greeted them.

“Old Madam, Young Madam, the Young Master seems to be quite drunk. He may have pretended to be fine a while ago, but then this slave heard Young Master whispering and calling for the Young Madam’s name. Why don’t we have Young Madam go take care of him first?” 

Wen Shu was chuckling as if to tease the young couple, but she’s still sending Gong Zhuoliang constant looks that hints for something.

“My dear Grandma, can you please allow this granddaughter-in-law to take a look at her husband? She can’t help but worry for him so she might not be able to think of any other jokes to tell….”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Gong Zhuoliang immediately understood the meaning and turned around to Old Madam Qiao, acting like a spoiled child and hugging her arms. But in secret, his eyes showed hints of surprise― Just what is Wen Shu so anxious about?

“Qtja j mtffxs ilaaif ulgi, bt! Mlcf, sbe ub, ub! Sirf atlr biv ijvs klii oegatfg vfijs sbeg mibslcu, jtjtjtj!” 

Yiv Zjvjw Hljb qbxfv Xbcu Itebiljcu’r cbrf, jcv ijeutfv, yfobgf rtf qertfv tlw jkjs jcv abiv tlw ab mbwf yjmx rbbc.

“Ktjcx sbe, Xgjcvwbatfg”

Xbcu Itebiljcu oflucfv yjrtoeicfrr, jcv jqqgbjmtfv Ujagljgmt Hljb jcv Zjvjw Hljb ab jrx obg obgulnfcfrr, joafg atja, tf abbx Qfc Vte jcv Eeb Ojc jcv cbk atfs’gf olcjiis bearlvf atf mbegasjgv klatbea jcsbcf’r kjamtoei fsfr. Pcrajcais, Xbcu Itebiljcu’r rwlif ribkis vlrjqqfjgfv jcv tf delfais jrxfv Qfc Vte ktja’r atf wjaafg.

“Answering to Young Madam’s question, this servant just saw Zhi Qi taking the Eldest Young Master to a distant side room, and….. the door was locked” 

While Wen Shu was talking, she took a step behind and raised her hand to show the way to Gong Zhuoliang. Looking at the other maidservants walking around, she lowered down the volume of her voice.

“Zhi Qi?”

As soon as Gong Zhuoliang heard what happened, the atmosphere instantly turned cold as he stared with wide eyes towards the said direction, his face showing a smiling expression that became even brighter and brighter.

How great! She dares to make a move on his Wife?! 

“Young Mas- Madam!”

Wen Shu wanted to lead Gong Zhuoliang to the front door and was about to ask him how to open the door when she suddenly saw Gong Zhuoliang rushing to the window and letting Ruo Lan lift him inside, before he lifted the curtains with both hands and he successfully climbed up and jumped in.

Wen Shu was stunned as she stared at Ruo Lan who was now calmly putting down the curtains and gave her a gentle smile. Wen Shu then also calmed herself down, silently standing on her spot with her lowered head. After this, whatever happens insides that room, is not something a maidservant like them shall watch nor think about.

……… 

Qiao Yingze was very startled when he suddenly saw the vague figure of someone approaching. Intuitively, he raised his knees and swung it forward to kick the person, before he then heard a muffled scream. Qiao Yingze, who is now totally wide awake and has recovered from the wine, finally has a clear view of the actual scene right in front of him and sees Zhi Qi clutching her stomach on the ground.

“Zhi Qi? What are you doing?!”

Thoroughly taken aback by an almost naked body, Qiao Yingze instantly looked away and cowered, feeling so nauseated and disgusted in his heart. The alcohol had to kick in once again, and in addition to his anger, Qiao Yingze’s head started to ache as he started to feel dizzy, leaning down on the bed with one hand to steady himself.

“Eldest Young Master…. Eldest Young Master… Zhi Qi is really sincere towards you!” 

Even if Qiao Yingze has an overall weak body condition, still, he’s a man, so the strength of his kick ―especially when he did it out of anger― was not light, hence Zhi Qi ended up slumping on the floor as she struggled to stand up again with her hands holding her stomach, and she was gritting her teeth and approached Qiao Yingze once again.

Zhi Qi is also aware that what she is doing right now is very dangerous, but how could she not risk it when she’s already really impatient. When she heard that their Madam took in a lackey who is very lecherous and an addict to gambling, Zhi Qi started feeling very anxious and feared that she might be planning to match her with him. She’d rather die than marry such a man, so she had to act quickly hence she took this situation as an opportunity.

If she managed to enter the Eldest Young Master’s bed, then she’s lucky. But if she’s unsuccessful, she could just accuse the Eldest Young Master, and lie that he’s the one who attempted to seduce the Old Madam’s favored maid in order to threaten Qiao Yingze into binding him with her. Zhi Qi knows that Qiao Yingze is a noble and virtuous man who values his reputation, so she knows that he will never allow such a scandal to affect himself and would have no choice but to agree with her.

“Don’t come close to me! You….. You have no sense of shame!” 

Seeing Zhi Qi still approaching him, Qiao Yingze immediately moved away to avoid her. Unfortunately he, who had only read sacred books, couldn’t speak any ugly words so he could only avoid her, feeling really helpless, anxious and angry.

“Young Master, if everyone found out about today’s incident, although this servant’s death won’t mean anything to you, how will you be able to face the Old Madam and the others? This one is begging you, Young Master. Please take pity on this servant. In the future, this servant will promise you that she will definitely serve you well….”

Zhi Qi was so desperate, as she got up and pounced towards Qiao Yingze on the bed, his body bumping on the mattress, Zhi Qi finally took this chance, trapping Qiao Yingze under her as she tremblingly and hastily began to untie her clothes. But then, unexpectedly, Qiao Yingze started kicking her stomach once again but this time, her strength had totally been worn out and she could only sit on the ground for a while.

When she finally gathered energy and was about to stand up again to continue pressing Qiao Yingze, she suddenly heard a movement from the window and subconsciously stopped moving. Turning her head to look at what’s happening, her body instantly froze in horror as she saw the Young Madam hopping from the window! 

Zhi Qi was completely stunned stupid. Etiquette and propriety are the most important aspects for a Young Lady, so how could this girl just suddenly climb out of the window? And why didn’t Zhi Qi also think of locking the windows!?

“Xianggong! Are you okay!?”

When Gong Zhuoliang finally managed to infiltrate inside, he immediately saw the half-baked Zhi Qi on the ground, while his family’s xianggong was standing by the bed with an indignant expression. Although he looked ruffled, when Gong Zhuoliang saw that his clothes was still fully intact, half of himself breathe a sigh of relief but he still rushed towards Qiao Yingze while holding his skirt and anxiously asked whether he’s okay or not while grabbing both of his shoulders

“I’m fine, Zhuo Zhuo….” 

Seeing Gong Zhuoliang again, Qiao Yingze immediately felt protected and his frenetic heart finally calmed down. He didn’t even take a look at Zhi Qi, but he only feared that Gong Zhuoliang might misunderstand the current situation, so when he called out ‘Zhuo zhuo’, he sounded wronged.

“What a relief then…”

Gong Zhuoliang embraced Qiao Yingze in his arms, feeling very sorry for him, then he turned his around to look at Zhi Qi who was now frozen stiff to the side. Gong Zhuoliang’s expression instantly turned cold as he pulled a blanket from the bed and threw it on her face.

“Y-Young Madam…..” 

Zhi Qi’s face flushed and immediately covered her body with the blanket, but then inwardly, she was surprised. The reaction of the Young Madam towards this matter was beyond her expectation and was somewhat confusing. When a Wife catches her Husband together with a naked maid, her first reaction should be to ask him if he’s fine??

“Shut up! Hurry up and put on your clothes!”

After he coldly berated Zhi Qi, Gong Zhuoliang assisted the ashen Qiao Yingze to the bed and made him lie down, then he sat sideways on the bed, fondling the other’s chest as he held his hand with the other, before he looked down on Zhi Qi with a murderous glare.

“Y-Young….. ” 

Because Qiao Yingze has a frail and gentle nature, Zhi Qi thought she would be able to control him. Now faced with the seemingly young and wimpish Young Madam, she was suddenly terrified.

Zhi Qi and the Old Madam had witnessed a lot of the Madam’s ruthless punishments and methods whenever she dealt with the concubines and maids. But no one will know whether the Young Madam would be much more ruthless than their Madam.

“Don’t you dare think about deceiving me with your excuses… I don’t care why on earth you would do this to him, but if I heard about this matter being mentioned again outside this room and anyone bad-mouthing the Young Master’s reputation, making you live in a house made out of straw mat on top of the mountain for the rest of your life will not be impossible for me! Now Scram!”

Gong Zhuoliang didn’t give Zhi Qi any chance to say a word and immediately threatened her, sharply pointing to the direction of the door. Zhi Qi, who was thoroughly suppressed by him, immediately ran outside in fright. 

If this incident was exposed outside, Qiao Yingze’s reputation would be ruined. But if the blame went to Zhi Qi, then being the favored maidservant she is, the Old Madam’s face will be at stake.

If the maid that stirred up this trouble was the Madam’s maid, then Gong Zhuoliang would naturally stand by the sideline during the aftermath and wouldn’t interrupt. But the old lady was always biased to them, so Gong Zhuoliang could only hold back his anger and maintain the Old Madam’s dignity.

But of course, as if Gong Zhuoliang would easily let the sole person who scared his family’s little xianggong! However, he can’t use this situation as a reason to attack her. He must look for another one.

As Zhi Qi approached the door, she was hastily tidying her clothes before she opened the door and was about to come out when she saw Wen Shu and Ruo Lan standing in front of the door. Zhi Qi was immediately startled. But before she could even step out of the threshold, several maidservants and held her as some fumblled to her clothes and fiddled on her hair before she was taken by Wen Shu towards the direction of the old lady’s courtyard. 

Even in this time, Zhi Qi was calm. There’s no way she could make a lie and threaten the Young Master and his wife at this point before she leaves this place. The Young Master is always known for his apathetic and abstinent nature so who would believe her lies when she said that he harassed her?

Zhi Qi started feeling anxious. She thought in her mind― After two days, . Would the Young Madam still have some time to do anything to her? Then before that happens, she should seriously start packing her personal belongings and hide it!

“Ruo Lan. You go make an apology to the old lady in our behalf and say that the Young Master is too drunk that they had to stay here and will only visit them again tomorrow to apologize personally”

After ordering Ruo Lan, Gong Zhuoliang turned to his side and laid down on top of Qiao Yingze’s body as he looked at him, thinking in his mind how pitiful his little xianggong must have been, being molested by a female hoodlum. He must’ve been very shocked at that time… 

Gong Zhuoliang didn’t know why he suddenly had such trust towards Qiao Yingze, but in his heart, he knew that Qiao Yingze would never sexually harass a maid in this closed place.

“Y-You don’t have to do that. Just go and continue having fun with them…”

Qiao Yingze couldn’t help but want to bury his face in the pillow. His wife has to protect him and let him witness such a dirty mess.

He started feeling so ashamed yet frustrated at the same time that it immediately incited his dizziness. 

“Look, you don’t even feel well, so do you think I’d also want to go out now and personally coax them all? Ruo Lan, you go on your own!”

Gong Zhuoliang is currently holding back his anger. Would he even be in the mood to tell jokes at this time and amuse those people? Oh how much he wanted to just drag Qiao Yingze back in their courtyard, lock him inside, and have a proper ‘in-depth discussion’ with him about what happened just now!

TL/N:

I don’t know why but I’m kinda starting to understand why these maids kept doing these evil actions. They simply wanted to live a better life, like…. who wouldn’t want to? Though the way they seek for bliss is inexcusable, it’s still a part of human nature to commit something wrong to get what they want, foremost, they’re only servants. 

Zhuo Zhuo perhaps already knew about this so when he was getting rid of Ruo Zi, he was not too cruel to her nor he did it way too exposed, yet he still ended up punishing her in a way that she deserves ʕ ꈍᴥꈍʔ

Even if to the point that my blood was boiling out of exasperation, I still have to try keeping this in mind (・–・;)ゞ
Still looking forward for more maids making stupid decisions tho, coz’ I crave for face slap XDdd