After Transmigrating As The Second Male Lead In Qn Old-School Angsty Romance - Chapter 4

“Have you heard? That new one lost favor the moment he arrived. I thought he was someone the heir treasured in his heart, but who knew he was so unlucky?”

“Exactly. I heard he was kneeling in the heir’s courtyard before dawn. That face of his was so pale, like a ghost.”

“Tsk, tsk. On the wedding night, too. Just what did he do to offend our heir?”

…

Early in the morning, the entire marquis residence became lively because of what had happened in the heir’s courtyard. The news seemed to have grown wings, spreading through the entire residence in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, their young heir was sleeping soundly in his room, making Chuyu Courtyard the quietest place in the whole marquis residence.

And the liveliest place, of course, was the old madam’s room.

The old madam was graceful, noble, and dignified. Even the imperial consorts in the palace would have to show her some deference when they saw her. At this moment, a group of daughters-in-law and grandchildren were gathered around her, paying respects and having tea and snacks.

However, the old madam’s expression was displeased this morning, so no one dared to speak too much. But everyone had already heard about what had happened in Chuyu Courtyard. They had nothing much to do on ordinary days, so naturally they loved discussing gossip like this most. Each of them wanted to speak but did not dare, feeling terribly stifled, and could only whisper among themselves when the old madam was not paying attention.

Only the woman seated to the old madam’s right, who had an exceptionally beautiful face, remained calm and indifferent from beginning to end, as if nothing had anything to do with her.

She was Sun Zibai’s mother, Wen Wan’er. She came from a famous noble family, and both her appearance and bearing were first-rate. Looking across the entire marquis residence, no one could compare to her. Yet this woman had always had a detached temperament. If not for the fact that today was the heir’s first day after marriage, and by rights the two newlyweds should come to greet the elders, everyone might not even have seen her.

But now the sun was already high in the sky, and the two newlyweds still had not appeared. Although the marquis residence usually did not care much about these complicated formalities, today was different after all.

The heir was the most noble person in this residence. No one dared blame him. But what about the new wife? Although he was a man, even a man still had to observe etiquette, did he not?

Thus, everyone could not help muttering in their hearts.

It was said that in order to marry this person, the heir had nearly angered the old madam to death. The heir had declared that if he was not allowed to marry him, then he would never marry in this lifetime and would never have descendants. Only then had he forced the old madam to compromise.

Tsk, tsk. That was love deep into the bones. Once this person entered the residence, would he not be spoiled up to the heavens?

Unexpectedly, the moment he arrived, he was punished to kneel—and punished to kneel without the slightest dignity. When several of the younger grandchildren heard this, they all felt uneasy in their hearts and grew even more afraid of Sun Zibai, this elder brother with a foul reputation. When they thought of how he could turn against even someone he had held in the palm of his hand and trample him underfoot at any time, what about insignificant people like them?

“Bang!”

The old madam suddenly slapped the table. “Do you all think I’m old and deaf? Whispering to each other like that—what kind of behavior is this? If you don’t want to eat, then go back to your own homes. You’re making this old woman’s head hurt.”

The old madam suddenly lost her temper, and the room immediately fell silent out of fear.

“Mother.”

Wen Wan’er turned her head and frowned slightly, concern in her eyes.

Zhu-shi and Wang-shi at the side also hurriedly soothed her carefully, but the old madam’s expression only grew worse.

“Outrageous!”

No one knew whether she was talking about them, or about that arrogant heir who was still sleeping, or perhaps about that male granddaughter-in-law whom the old madam had never liked to begin with.

“I heard that one was kneeling in the heir’s courtyard before dawn. On the night of the wedding, too. Who knows how he offended our little ancestor?”

Zhu-shi was the daughter-in-law of the first branch. Although her husband was the old marquis’s eldest son, he was born of a concubine, so before Wen Wan’er, she had always been one rank lower. However, everyone did not usually live together, and the marquis residence was not as particular as the rear courtyards of ordinary noble households. In addition, Wen Wan’er was always high above them, seemingly cold and indifferent to everyone, so Zhu-shi inevitably became a little bolder.

“Alas, the heir really is… On the wedding night, he should have endured a little longer. If this matter spreads outside, who knows—”

Before she could finish speaking, she felt Wen Wan’er’s faint glance. Zhu-shi immediately shut her mouth. But those who understood understood; there was no need to say more.

At present, the heir’s reputation was already rotten through. Who in all of Sucheng did not know it? Unfortunately, the heir was noble. The old marquis had been stationed at the southwestern border all year round and could not manage the heir at all. As for the old madam, she spoiled him without any principles. Therefore, even if the heir’s reputation stank like dog shit, they did not dare say much.

With only a faint glance from Wen Wan’er, Zhu-shi shut her mouth. But with her beginning the topic, the others could not hold back anymore.

“That’s right. Although he is a man, his body is weak too. No one could stand kneeling for so long.”

“Brother Heir must have been truly furious. Otherwise, how could he bear to do it?”

“I actually think that one is proud and unyielding. This time, the heir probably hit a wall.”

…

Everyone spoke one after another, truly curious, yet not daring to show it too obviously. Just then, the momo by the old madam’s side walked in.

“Reporting to Old Madam, the heir has not risen yet. Qin-shi is indeed kneeling outside the heir’s door, but without the heir giving the word, this old servant does not dare bring him over.”

Qin-shi…

Qin Mo was a man, so he could actually be called young master. But who told the old madam not to like him? Momo Li was doing it deliberately.

When the old madam heard this, her expression actually improved. She was not angry at her grandson’s unruly behavior. But the person Sun Zibai had once lifted up to the heavens was not being favored, and that made her feel much more comfortable. She truly had been afraid her grandson had gone mad over a man.

Once the old madam felt comfortable, she immediately raised her hand to everyone.

“Disperse, disperse. You’re making my head hurt.”

On the other side, Sun Zibai woke from his sleep feeling refreshed and clear-headed. In his previous life, he had been born into a wealthy family, but he had been an unnecessary extra. He had rarely ever slept so peacefully. Unexpectedly, after arriving here, he had adapted rather well.

Qin Mo, whose face had turned deathly pale from kneeling, was called inside. His legs were almost unable to stand steadily, but he stubbornly refused to let the servants support him. As soon as he entered, he knelt straight before Sun Zibai.

“Heir.” Qin Mo’s voice was trembling. “I beg you, please let Ah Yan go. He and I are already impossible. From now on, I will definitely treat the heir wholeheartedly.”

This was the result of an entire night of thinking. The heir was so noble. Ah Yan’s existence would surely make him annoyed and furious. But the heir’s feelings for Qin Mo were deeply rooted, so it was only natural that he would be jealous and resent Ah Yan.

Everything was because of him. Therefore, only if he yielded to the heir and promised to cut things off with Ah Yan in the future could the heir let Ah Yan go.

Qin Mo spoke with humiliation. Unexpectedly, Sun Zibai, who was washing his face, let out a low, unrestrained laugh. He then tossed the cloth into Sun Hong’s hand and crouched before Qin Mo.

“Raise your head.”

Qin Mo’s entire body trembled, but he did not dare look directly into the heir’s eyes.

Looking at Qin Mo in daylight, he was indeed extremely handsome. At this moment, he was also terribly fragile, giving him a soft, androgynous beauty. Whether men or women saw him, they could not help feeling pity for him. But Sun Zibai only let out a low laugh above his head.

“You thought for an entire night, and this is the method you came up with? Begging me?”

But had he not already begged last night? Sun Zibai made no effort to hide his contempt for him, and his voice immediately turned cold.

“Qin Mo, have you ever thought that after making such a scene, the entire marquis residence will know about your adulterer breaking into the residence last night? When that time comes, where are you asking this heir to put my dignity? Where is the dignity of the marquis residence supposed to go?”

Sun Zibai truly did not understand. Aside from love, did this person’s brain contain anything else? Originally, no outsiders had known about what happened last night. The entire residence might even have thought he was Sun Zibai’s cherished favorite. Now, with him kneeling in Sun Zibai’s courtyard like this, not only had his status in the residence plummeted, but what happened last night might also be dug up. That would be serious.

When Sun Zibai said this, Qin Mo immediately understood. He trembled, gritted his teeth, and looked somewhat at a loss.

“I… I did not do it on purpose.”

“Of course you did not do it on purpose. You simply had your whole heart fixed on your lover and could not think of anything else.”

Sun Zibai stood up and looked down at him from above.

“So what makes you think this heir would take you, someone whose heart and eyes are full of another man, to heart?”

Qin Mo’s breathing surged.

Last night, Ah Yan had been left behind alone, but Steward Sun beside the heir had told him that the man was not dead. As for what had happened to him, Qin Mo had no idea at all. Therefore, he could only guess that Ah Yan had been locked up, or perhaps sent elsewhere to be tortured. In any case, the heir would absolutely not let Ah Yan go easily.

But what could he do? The heir was doing all of this because of him. Other than cutting things off with Ah Yan and expressing loyalty to the heir, what else could he do?

Sun Zibai said again,

“Did you not say you would treat this heir wholeheartedly? Then wait until the day you have completely let him go and can treat this heir wholeheartedly. It will not be too late for this heir to release him then.”

Qin Mo nearly fainted. His heart had long since belonged only to Ah Yan. He could never forget him in this lifetime. Even if he died, in the next life it would still be him. How could he possibly let him go?

Did this not mean that the heir would never let Ah Yan go in this lifetime, nor would he let Qin Mo go?

“Heir, must you force Ah Yan and me to our deaths?”

Sun Zibai was too lazy to waste more words on a fool. After speaking, he led Sun Hong out. He breathed in his first breath of fresh air in the Great Yao Kingdom.

Sun Zibai spread his arms and took a deep breath, looking as if he were enjoying himself.

The feeling of being reborn was truly wonderful.

“Master, what are you doing?”

Sun Hong, who had followed Sun Zibai since childhood, scratched his head in confusion. In his heart, he even added: performing a ritual?

Sun Zibai glanced sideways at him. “Don’t meddle in your master’s business.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Then where are we going?”

Sun Zibai curved his lips, flicking open his folding fan with a shake.

“Of course, to see the old madam.”

Unfortunately, by the time Sun Zibai arrived, most of the people in the room had already left. Only the white-haired old madam remained, dignified yet not without kindness.

“Grandmother! Your grandson has come to pay his respects!”

Sun Zibai was someone without rules. Before he even entered the door, his voice rang out. The people inside heard him before they saw him.

When the old madam saw who had come, she snorted and turned away without even looking at him, acting as if she could not be bothered to see him.

Sun Zibai laughed inwardly. This old madam was still angry.

He hurried over in a few steps and sat down beside the old madam, leaning close with a grinning face.

“Grandmother, why are you still angry with your grandson?”

The original owner had been unruly, but the old madam had spoiled him deeply since childhood. Unexpectedly, that boy had grown more rebellious and more outrageous as he got older. The old madam had been angered half to death by him countless times. Previously, for the sake of marrying a man, he had nearly angered her to death. The grandfather and grandson had not spoken properly like this in a long time, let alone had Sun Zibai lower himself so shamelessly to coax the old madam into happiness.

For a moment, the old madam was somewhat dazed, feeling as if tears were about to appear in the corners of her eyes.

The handsome, jade-faced heir did not know shame at all. Tugging on the old madam’s sleeve, he shook it back and forth, acting spoiled without the slightest embarrassment.

“Grandmother, don’t be angry anymore. During this time, your grandson was wrong. Wasn’t I just momentarily muddled by love? Now I have thought it through. In this world, only Grandmother treats me best, and only Grandmother is the best. No one can compare to you, Grandmother.”

“Grandmother, am I still your most beloved grandson?”

Sun Zibai said it so smoothly, opening his mouth and letting the words come. Compared to the original owner’s tyrannical behavior, he was hundreds of times better at speaking. Moreover, his words were not as reserved as the people of this world. The moment he spoke, even the momo beside the old madam was shocked. The old madam herself immediately flushed, but strangely enough, she was very pleased. She only felt her heart warming.

“Did you smear honey on that mouth today?” The old madam hurriedly covered the heir’s endlessly chattering mouth. “Stop speaking already.”

Sun Zibai merely smiled. This mouth of his could be poisoned enough to kill the heart, but when he turned around, it could also be smeared with honey, sweet enough to rot a person’s teeth.

Although she said that, the old madam was smiling so widely she could not close her mouth.

“In the future, you must not speak that way again to anger Grandmother. Whoever you want to marry, whether man or woman, could Grandmother refuse you? Was there any need to say those cursed words to anger Grandmother?”

“Yes, yes, yes. Your grandson knows. I won’t dare do it again. If you are angry, then hit me.”

Sun Zibai grabbed the old madam’s hand and moved it toward his own face. How could the old madam bear to hit him? Instead, she quickly held her grandson’s hand and instructed the momo to bring up all the pastries she had just received yesterday for Sun Zibai to choose from.

This grandson of hers had been pampered since childhood, and even his mouth had been spoiled into being picky. He was very hard to please.

Sun Zibai cheerfully coaxed the old madam until she could not stop smiling, while in his heart, he recalled the plot that had surfaced in his mind earlier.

This old madam—she had truly been tough.

In the end, the great fire that burned the marquis residence had been set by this little old lady herself.