Zhong Xiulan didn’t get any advantages from Zhong Xiuxiu, nor did she hear the news she wanted, so she was a bit unhappy.

However, thinking about Zhong Xiuyao’s current situation, she felt a bit schadenfreude.

"What’s the use of being good-looking? What’s the use of being favored? Still got sent to become an old man’s concubine."

Zhong Xiulan went to tell Aunt Gu about this, and that brainless Aunt Gu agreed.

"The eldest miss is pregnant now, she won’t be returning; the second miss married far away and can’t return; the third miss went to Lin Mansion as a concubine, wanting to return is not so easy; the fifth miss is going to Women’s Medical College to study, so only you and the sixth miss are left beside Madam. The sixth miss is young, Xiulan, you must seize the opportunity to show filial piety to Madam, and later find yourself a good family."

"Later? I’m almost sixteen already."

She also wanted to get married, to marry a suitable gentleman. Suddenly, an image of someone flashed in her mind: the son of Madam’s elder sister, Second Young Master Yang, handsome and elegant, became a Scholar at fourteen, now seventeen, preparing to take the scholar examination next year...

The more she thought, the more her face blushed.

"Fourth Miss, I’m talking to you, what are you thinking about?"

Aunt Gu glanced at the daughter’s face and suddenly knew what she was thinking.

"You have someone you fancy?"

Zhong Xiulan didn’t dare to speak.

"I am your aunt, I won’t harm you. Tell me, which family’s young master is it?"

Zhong Xiulan blushed bashfully.

"Who is it, you’re really making me anxious. I am your aunt, I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you, raised you. If you don’t tell me, how can I help you come up with an idea?"

"In this mansion, who else can you trust?"

Zhong Xiulan thought, indeed.

Only her own aunt would help her.

Immediately, she told her about her intention toward Second Young Master Yang.

"You, child, have high standards, better than your aunt."

Aunt Gu had also met that young man. As a relative, and being classmates with Young Master Zhong, he often discussed studies with Young Master Zhong.

The Yang Mansion was more prestigious than the Zhong Mansion, Lord Yang was the patriarch’s superior.

If her daughter could marry into the Yang Mansion, it would indeed be a good marriage.

Of course, Aunt Gu was very clear: with Zhong Xiulan’s status as a concubine’s daughter, the chance of marrying Second Young Master Yang was zero.

The mother and daughter conspired and came up with an idea.

"Aunt, can this really work?"

"Why not, scholars have a high regard for reputation..." Aunt Gu said: "Sometimes you must use extraordinary means, there’s gain in sacrifice..."

"Aunt, I’ll do as you say."

"This matter cannot be known by anyone else."

Aunt Gu thought for a while and told her the name of a medicine, instructing her to buy it at the pharmacy.

"Which maidservant around you is clever and loyal?"

"Aunt, none of the maidservants are reliable." Zhong Xiulan frowned: "When you’re good, she acknowledges you as her master, but if you become bad, she’ll be the first to betray you."

"That’s true, in this you are smarter than your aunt."

So, it was finally decided that only the two of them would know about this matter and handle it.

Zhong Xiuxiu never expected that the bed-climbing gossip she heard at Chunshan Women’s Medical College would appear in the mansion.

Fourth Sister Zhong Xiulan climbed into Second Young Master Yang’s bed!

In the madam’s courtyard, she saw Zhong Mansion’s Fourth Miss in disarray with messy hair and clothes, Zhong Xiuxiu was shocked inside.

"How dare you do such a shameless thing."

Madam Zhong was livid with anger: "Ruining the reputation of my Zhong Mansion, making it so that the girls of my Zhong Mansion cannot hold their heads up outside because of you alone."

"Mother, I didn’t..."

"Didn’t, didn’t what?" Madam Zhong slapped her in the face: "Wearing a maid’s clothes, delivering tea to Second Young Master Yang in the guest room, what were you thinking? You think others don’t know? How shameless can you be...?"

Madam Zhong was not only furious at her lowliness but also at how to explain to her own elder sister.

"Madam, Mrs. Yang is here."

"I’ll go right away." Madam Zhong said to a servant woman: "Tie up this shameless girl, I’ll deal with her when I return."

"Mother..."

Zhong Xiulan wanted to go forward and hug Madam Zhong’s leg, but Madam Zhong kicked her in the chest.

Zhong Xiuxiu... she really didn’t know what to say.

"Fifth Sister, mother has always favored you, please, go beg mother for my sake. I’m already Second Young Master Yang’s person..."

"Fourth Sister, just shut up."

Zhong Xiuxiu was speechless.

Women in the back courtyard climbing into bed really have unclear brains!

Madam was already extremely angry, and the Yang Family certainly wouldn’t marry such a woman who used lowly means to climb into bed, not to mention marry, they might not even accept her as a concubine.

Everyone knew when Mrs. Yang gave birth to Second Young Master Yang, she was momentarily careless, and he almost didn’t survive. Mrs. Yang felt guilty and cherished him the most since he was young.

Coupled with Second Young Master Yang loving to study, passing the Scholar examination at fourteen, he was the best among Yang Mansion at studying, Lord Yang had high hopes for him.

He came to the Zhong Mansion just to exchange knowledge with Young Master Zhong, who knew Zhong Xiulan would set her sights on him, and climb into bed using such disgraceful means.

Mrs. Yang being merciful by not killing her was already kind.

Thinking of this, Zhong Xiuxiu shivered coldly.

"Fifth Sister, how can you be so cold-blooded, I’m your own sister, if I can’t enter the Yang Mansion, it will affect your and Sixth Sister’s marriage too."

"Fourth Sister, whose idea was this?"

Zhong Xiuxiu knew saving her life would already be difficult, yet she still thought about entering the Yang Mansion.

"Was it Aunt Gu?"

"No, it wasn’t, I don’t even know what happened..."

"Fourth Miss, better save it."

Nanny Lu sneered: "Madam has seen much more, your little tricks are simply not enough. Still not admitting? Old maid speaks bluntly, whether you can keep your life depends on Mrs. Yang’s harshness."

"Ah?"

Zhong Xiulan was scared pale.

"I’m already Second Young Master Yang’s person, Second Young Master Yang won’t abandon me."

"You’re really too naive."

Nanny Lu sympathized greatly with this woman, truly, the concubine daughters of the inner courtyard have such shallow outlooks because they have a shallow-eyed aunt.

This is why most of the concubine daughters didn’t live well.

"Second Young Master Yang is to take the imperial examination, will be the pillar of the court. He will marry the daughter of a wealthy family, even a concubine would be someone knowledgeable, graceful and beautiful. Look at yourself, like what?"

"Having nothing, yet led astray by your aunt using such disgraceful means, now you just pray you can survive."

"I..."

Zhong Xiulan was frightened to death.

"It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me, it was my aunty who told me..."

"I figured it might be the case." Nanny Lu, instructed by the Madam, was to find out the truth, didn’t expect one scare would make her spill everything.

"Come on, bring Aunt Gu over."

Nanny Lu must clear up the course of events and report to the Madam, so the Madam can account to Mrs. Yang.