♂?，，

  They lingered in the Zhou residence for most of the day, until it was time to light the lamps. Madame Ding and her daughter had not yet left, and Ding Yu discussed poetry with Zhou Shi-xian, or talked about her difficulties in the residence. Although Zhou Shi-xian couldn't forget Ding Min, the Ding Yu before him seemed a bit too weak, making his heart ache with pity. With a tumultuous life, a beauty like Xi Qing had tears shining in her eyes, and her sympathy for Ding Yu overflowed into words. At the same time, she was self-pitying, and Zhou Shi-xian was busy comforting both Ding Yu and Xi Qing.

  "If Fourth Miss could stay in the mansion for a short while, discussing poetry with me, sisters would be delighted."

  Xi Qing's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Zhou Shi Xian, her misty and watery eyes overflowing with emotions. Zhou Shi Xian's heart was already softened, and he almost agreed to her request. Ding Rou was really disgusted, having watched for an entire afternoon, she felt like vomiting. How could there be someone in this world who is so self-satisfied?

  "Fourth Sister is the young lady of the Ding manor, unlike Xi Qing who sells herself. As a refined and educated lady from a good family, how can she be called sister together with Xi? How are we, Fourth Sister's younger sisters, supposed to conduct ourselves?"

  Ding Yu's eyebrows rose slightly, exuding an air of a grande dame, "Although Brother Zhou appreciates Xi Qing's talent, he must also distinguish between the superior and inferior."

  "Miss Wu."

  Xī Qíng's tears fell like a broken string of pearls, her sorrow was overwhelming, her slender body trembled. Dīng Jiǔ wiped away her tears and said, "Can't I speak? I'm just a slave of the Zhōu family, who would pity the young lady of the Dīng family? Who gave you the right to be so arrogant? Second Aunt didn't deprive Fourth Sister of food and clothing, but only made her practice needlework diligently. If there was anything wrong, she would scold and punish her. Which mother isn't like that? If I did something wrong, my mother would also scold and punish me. Xī Qíng has suffered greatly, losing both parents, and can't even remember what her mother looked like, let alone experience her mother's upbringing."

  Xī Qíng's lips turned purple, her body trembled, and she almost fainted. Only the eldest miss of the Ding family, Zhōu Shì Xiǎn's cousin - Dīng Jù could say such things. Dīng Róu secretly applauded for Dīng Jù, if not limited by her status, Dīng Róu would have spoken out long ago, although she felt a bit uncomfortable with the high and low identity in Dīng Jù's words, but as a daughter of a feudal society, Dīng Jù had no concept of equality.

  Zhou Shi Xian supported Xi Qing, his eyes filled with tenderness and pain, and said sorrowfully: "How could Fifth Sister be so heartless? Xi Qing is noble and elegant, I forced her to stay in the manor."

  Young Master.

  "Fine day."

  The two of them were very close, and Xi Qingran hid in Zhou Shixian's arms, looking up at him. "If Master says so, Xi Qing will die with a grateful heart."

  Ding Yu sympathized with Xi Qing, but the habit of many years made her dare not refute her legitimate sister. Ding Rou's eyes were actually looking down, and she said slowly: "It's better to let Xi Qing go down and rest first, in case Fourth Aunt sees her, this fox-like charm will be hard for Xi Qing to escape."

  "Xī Qíng's icy clearness is like jade, how can I, Xī Qíng, be tainted by the flirtatious and seductive? Sixth Sister, not only are you worldly and vulgar, but your heart is also bad, what a waste of this good skin."

  "Zhou Shi Xian shielded Xi Qing, casting a disgusted glance at Ding Rou. 'After an entire afternoon with the fifth sister, she must have been corrupted. How could she be so vicious? Bullying the fourth sister wasn't enough, and now even Xi Qing isn't spared. Indeed, just like the rumors say, her heart is narrow-minded and jealous of others' talents. She doesn't possess a shred of kindness and humility that a woman should have. If she doesn't cultivate virtue, she'll become a jealous wife in the future. I won't associate with someone like her.'"

  Ding Xuan was stunned, was this brother-in-law shifting his anger? Ding Rou was scolded for half the reason because of Ding Xuan, as they were biological cousins. Zhou Shi Xian had to leave some face for Ding Xuan due to their relationship, but it was different for Ding Rou, who was a concubine's daughter and gave Zhou Shi Xian a bad impression, so there was no burden in scolding her.

  Ding Min's mouth slightly curved, and she mentioned how Ding Ruo used to be hot-tempered and arrogant, bullying her sisters. The old lady of the Ding family had suppressed these past events due to concerns about the family's reputation, issuing a strict order not to speak ill of Ding Ruo outside. Ding Min couldn't openly tarnish Ding Ruo's reputation, but she didn't hesitate to do so in private. The Lanling Hou Manor would never take a jealous and unvirtuous woman as their lady.

  Ding Yu cried and persuaded, "Don't say anymore... Zhou Shu's brother... Liu Mei..."

  Ding Rou's face was as usual, with a floating tea leaf, the swaying tea water reflecting the smile on her face, as if Zhou Shi Xian was talking about someone else. It has to be said that Zhou Shi Xian's jealousy is quite accurate, gentle, courteous, humble and polite, Ding Rou didn't have these qualities in her past life, and she still doesn't have them in this life.

  Ding Min's eyes swept over with a hint of concern and satisfaction, while Ding Rou's gaze was fixed on Zhou Shi Xian, her voice light as she asked, "Is that all?"

  Under Ding Rou's profound and dark gaze, Zhou Shiyan felt a chill run down his legs, suppressing the urge to retreat. He grasped Xi Qing's hand and said sternly, "Am I wrong?"

  "Since you say I'm venomous, if I don't speak out a few words today, I'll be bearing the name of being venomous for nothing."

  He gently and slowly placed the tea cup on the table, speaking in a soft and gentle tone, "Those who respect me I will respect, those who humiliate me I will humiliate more."

  "What's next?"

  Zhou Shi Xian was visibly tense, gripping Xi Qing's hand even tighter. Ding Rou wasn't making empty threats, and Zhou Shi Xian believed she could do it.

  "I just want to ask Brother Zhou, is he treating Xiuyun as a slave or a concubine? Looking at how Xiuyun dresses and behaves like a young lady, whenever something happens, she runs into Brother Zhou's arms for comfort. I wonder what Sister Zhou will think in the future. Brother Zhou just said that Xiuyun is icy and pure, this phrase is really well-used, Brother Zhou is indeed a talented scholar."

  Xī Qíng's body went limp, Zhōu Shì Xiǎn couldn't bear to let go, but not letting go wasn't an option either. The etiquette of the Great Qin couldn't keep up with the strictness of the Ming and Qing dynasties in the official histories, but it also wouldn't tolerate a young master hugging a servant girl, Dīng Róu's words were like a slap to Zhōu Shì Xiǎn's face, leaving him speechless. In a fit of rage, he said: "I and Xī Qíng are bound by emotions but separated by etiquette... it's a shame to the literati."

  "I see it arise from emotions, but I don't see it stop at propriety."

  Ding Rouxiu smiled lightly: "As for disgracing the literary world, I really can't bear it. In three months, it will be the Spring Examination, and scholars from all over the capital will gather together. Who among them is not burning the midnight oil, studying hard to get a high score on the imperial examination? Only by becoming an official can one put into practice what they have learned their whole life, report to the emperor above, bring peace to the common people below, and gain fame that will last for generations, bringing glory to their ancestors. In Zhou's eyes, being an official is just a mundane and vulgar thing, handling government affairs to benefit the people, who dares to indulge in romantic fantasies? Zhou talks about poetry and painting, loves flowers and jade, protects this one and that one, how can he be confident of getting high scores on the exam?"

  Zhou Shi Xian's chest heaved up and down, his face twisted into a grotesque expression, "....."

  "A famous quote for Brother Zhou: 'A sharp sword is forged in the fire, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold.' These are the words of Empress Taizu."

  "Shut up, Ting Rou."

  Mrs. Dai's loud voice came from outside, and Ding Ruo's face solidified. She had known that Mrs. Dai and the fourth wife had arrived, so she continued to speak. Firstly, Ding Ruo never wanted to suffer a loss, and being scolded by Zhou Shi Xian was too humiliating for her not to retort. Secondly, she intentionally showed off her sharpness, making the two wives understand that she wasn't their puppet on strings, saying whatever they pleased.

  Ding Rou was forced to the point of desperation, and it's uncertain whether she would rather die than be defeated. Fourth Auntie wouldn't consider marrying her son off to Ding Rou unless she wanted him to die prematurely from anger; otherwise, she wouldn't dare to marry such a formidable daughter-in-law, lest the Wan family fortune change hands.

  She would not forget to keep a low profile, and she was rarely impulsive without considering the consequences. She had never been hot-headed, and her best friend from previous lives always said that DING Yu was an ice block with a computer brain, always deducing the outcome before acting.

  "Mother."

  Ding Rou stood up, bent her knees and saluted, "Daughter... daughter was insulted by Zhou Biao... saying that the daughter is a jealous woman. The daughter cannot bear to defend the reputation of the Ding family's clear stream, but she can endure some grievances. She dare not implicate her married sisters and younger sisters who are still in the boudoir, damaging their reputations. The daughter would rather die than be unable to explain herself."

  Before Ding Rou and Zhou Shi Xian fell out, she had already thought about how to deal with all sorts of unexpected emergencies. The sudden arrival of the madam was one of the outcomes that Ding Rou had anticipated the most. As a result, when the madam saw Ding Rou, who had just been calm and collected with a hint of a smile on her lips, she appeared even more wronged and fearful in front of her.

  After all, he's just a child, although clever, but not deep in the city, Mrs. Zhou heard from beginning to end and was disappointed with Zhou Shi Xian, with the temperament of the fourth wife, she couldn't raise a talented son. Originally occupying reason, heart-aching for her son, the fourth wife listened to Ding Ruo's words and added a few more parts of astonishment, she couldn't blame Ding Ruo, Ding Ruo was for the reputation of the Ding family, the son who humiliated the emperor's granddaughter, the eldest sister of the Ding family who married out was the wife of Lanling Hou, how could they afford to offend the Zhou family?

  After her husband's death, although it was the fourth wife who supported the family business, Daqin did not allow women to show their faces and discuss business with others. The steward left by her husband helped, and with good luck, the Zhou family did not decline. In Jiangnan, the fourth wife had seen the stewards of Lanling Houfu's household managing the business, who were arrogant and boorish, far beyond what the Zhou family could compare to.

  Good fortune can't be relied upon for a lifetime. Since her son passed the imperial examination, Fourth Mistress's thoughts have become more lively. She hopes that her son will become an official and thoroughly shed his merchant identity. Taking her son to the capital is both to rush him to take the exam and to avoid the gossip of Jiangnan.

  Fourth Auntie felt a twinge of regret after seeing the elegant and noble First Lady... The Zhou family was only wealthy, but couldn't compare to the Ding family's nobility. When they went out together, the First Lady would always be respected by others, while she would always receive cold glances. No matter how much silver she spent or how luxurious her clothes were, it couldn't block the disdain of noble women. She had pinned her hopes on her son passing the imperial examination and bringing back an official title to elevate her status, which was why she insisted on forming a marriage alliance with the Ding family - she valued their noble identity.

  Fourth Auntie advised: "Second sister, they two are just temporarily upset and exchanged a couple of harsh words, can we take it seriously?"

  "Mother." Zhou Shixian shouted loudly, and Fourth Aunt narrowed her eyes, "He's a cousin, usually let them have their way."

  Zhou Shi Xian let go of Xi Qing, and his mother got angry. Xi Qing collapsed to the ground, her body trembling like a sieve, and Fourth Auntie looked at her with a gaze that made Xi Qing afraid. She tugged on Zhou Shi Xian's sleeve, but he ignored her, also fearing his mother's wrath.

  The elder lady said: "Even if they are cousins, they must not be presumptuous. After returning to the mansion, Ting Ruo will be punished with kneeling for half a day."

  "Yes."

  /br

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