Chapter 383: The Consequence of Treating Wine Like Water

Chapter 383: The Consequence of Treating Wine Like Water

The two maids exchanged glances. They had both become concubines and given birth to sons for the master, yet in the eyes of the mistress, they were still just servants?

Could it be that one's status—high or low, noble or humble—is truly determined at birth?

"But you're different from us. You're practically half a mistress."

"That's right; you even gave birth to a son for the master."

"Hush, you mustn't say that. If I dared to boast about my son, the madam would cut off all communication between me and the fourth young master, and that would be disastrous."

The maid wanted to speak up for her, "Even after giving birth to a son..."

"Enough," Concubine He interrupted. "Madam is upset with the master, and she has grievances. Since I've monopolized the master for so long, it's only natural that she vents her anger on me."

The two maids said nothing more, only sighed, helped her sit down, and applied ointment to her wounds.

In truth, Concubine He was right. Even if the madam and the master were currently at odds, their status wasn't something these servants could easily disregard.

The madam had the support of the Cui family, which even the master wouldn't dare offend, especially since two members of the Cui family were staying next door.

...

Zheng Jinyu couldn't drink, but today she was feeling troubled. Seeing the wine flask Cui Yongnian offered, she didn't refuse.

She closed her eyes and drank like she was taking medicine, gulping it down.

The taste was even worse than medicine, burning her throat as she breathed out heavily.

Beside her, Cui Yongnian laughed, "Why do you drink so boldly when you can't handle it? I thought you were some great drinker, gulping it down like that. Even I wouldn't dare drink such strong wine like that."

Zheng Jinyu took a moment to catch her breath, "Then why are you laughing at me? I want water."

"All right, wait a moment." He fetched the teapot from the table, intending to pour her some water, but she snatched it away and drank several large gulps directly from the spout.

Cui Yongnian commented, "Oh, cousin, remember you're a noble lady? This behavior is quite uncouth."

"Hmph, couth?" Zheng Jinyu sneered. "I'm from the countryside; I was never couth to begin with."

After saying this, she sat on the steps under the eaves and looked up at the last traces of dark crimson in the sky.

"Tsk, tsk, talking in anger again?" Cui Yongnian also sat down, sighing softly. "You are who you are; why let others' opinions affect you?"

Zheng Jinyu nodded and turned to look at Cui Yongnian, "But I can still feel sad."

Cui Yongnian suddenly remembered that she was just a teenage girl.

Thinking of his own sisters, who were doted upon by their parents, he realized that his cousin had never had such opportunities due to her unique circumstances.

Zheng Jinyu felt a bit dizzy, her head heavy and her vision blurry. Cui Yongnian seemed to split into two, then three.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind, but instead saw countless versions of him.

"Cousin, why did you split into multiple?"

Cui Yongnian: "What?"

Seeing her sway and stand up unsteadily, Cui Yongnian asked, "Did you get drunk, cousin?"

"Drunk? Oh..." She staggered towards the house, nearly tripping over the threshold.

Cui Yongnian, who had been standing a short distance behind her, quickly moved forward to steady her.

Just as he touched her, a black-clad figure pushed him aside, and she fell into that person's arms.

Recognizing the face of the black-clad man, Cui Yongnian chuckled, "A noble prince like you, acting like a common thief?"

Xie Peiyu looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms.

He glared angrily at Cui Yongnian, "You gave her wine?"

Yes, he had given her wine; the flask was still in his hand.

Cui Yongnian couldn't defend himself and awkwardly smiled, "Just a sip, no harm done."

"Just a sip and she got this drunk?"

Cui Yongnian: "..."

"I didn't expect her to treat it like water."

Xie Peiyu gave him a harsh look, then wordlessly carried Zheng Jinyu into the house.

Cui Yongnian called out, "Hey, you're not married yet; isn't it improper for you to enter her room?"

Xie Peiyu ignored him and slammed the door shut.

Cui Yongnian helplessly smiled, took a swig from the wine flask, and left.

...

The next day, Zheng Jinyu woke up feeling dizzy and uncomfortable.

She remembered drinking wine last night and getting drunk, with someone carrying her into the house.

Who was it?

Yesterday, she had drinks with her cousin. Could it have been him?

That’s impossible. He’s a scholar who knows the rules. He would definitely call for a maid to serve him rather than do it himself.

Zheng Jinyu rubbed her temples and struggled to sit up, feeling the weight of her body.

Looking down, she saw a note beside her.

She recognized the handwriting—it was Xie Peiyu’s.

So he was the one who came yesterday?

The note said that if she wanted to drink in the future, she should drink with him.

Zheng Jinyu felt bewildered and burned the note.

After getting up, Chunmei brought her a booklet.

“What is this?”

Chunmei replied, “It’s what Madam instructed to give you.”

Zheng Jinyu looked at the booklet and then went to the empty room to inspect the dowry items.

Madam Zheng did not take back the portion of the dowry she had given to Fang Jinxiu, but she had separated it out and placed it aside.

This booklet listed only that part of the dowry.

Seeing the two clearly distinct batches of dowry items, Zheng Jinyu almost laughed. Was this an attempt to make her decide how much to take and how much to leave for Fang Jinxiu?

No, she either wanted it all or none of it.

Who was Fang Jinxiu? Why should she share her dowry with someone like her?

Moreover, many of these items were second-hand things she had already used, such as lacquerware and copper trays.

She wasn’t a scavenger.

Lord Zheng had said she could take these items as part of her dowry when she left. She didn’t want the second-hand items that Fang Jinxiu had used, but she didn’t refuse the gold and silver, or the shops, which were fixed assets.

As for the rest, including the portion belonging to Madam Zheng, she left them untouched, allowing Lord Zheng to handle them himself.

Lord Zheng usually left such matters to Lady He, which was something Zheng Jinyu had anticipated.

When Madam Zheng heard that the dowry she had left for her daughter had been moved by Lady He, she was furious.

She stormed into the Zheng family’s ‘South Courtyard.’

"Bitch." She slapped Lady He directly. "Did I not teach you a lesson yesterday? How dare you touch my belongings?"

Lady He covered her face and said, "It was Lord Zheng’s order for me to inventory these items and store them in the warehouse."

"Whose warehouse?" Madam Zheng gritted her teeth, looking at the separate room. "Hmph, impressive. Is this your warehouse?"

"No, no, it was Lord Zheng’s order… Ah…"

Before she could finish speaking, she was hit again.