{"id":3452,"date":"2026-05-18T13:45:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-17\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T13:45:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:45:49","slug":"the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-17","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/bn\/chapter\/the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-17\/","title":{"rendered":"The Young Mistress’s Little Romance in the Duke’s Mansion 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 17


Gu Xiyan ignored him, while Lu Chenglian sneered,

“Do you think that now that the matter is settled, you no longer need to rack your brains for flattering words, so you can play dumb and ignore people?” Gu Xiyan found these words absurdly laughable upon hearing them.



If it were before, with her heart fluttering in a crush, she might have eagerly explained herself, or felt ashamed for needing to rely on others, carefully apologizing and speaking kindly.



But now, it all felt rather pointless.



As a dignified gentleman with power and influence outside, why would he stoop to bickering with a widowed woman in the household?



Did he really have the face for that?



Immediately, she curtsied once more, lowering her eyelids, speaking respectfully yet coolly: \u201cThird Master, you jest.



My family\u2019s case relied entirely on your consideration.



I have kept it in mind all along.



Now that you say this, I am uneasy.



If I have been disrespectful in any way, I hope you will be magnanimous.



I shall change accordingly.\u201d This remark, covering every angle though it may, sounded aloof and indifferent in Lu Chenglian’s ears, even somewhat piercing.



In families of high status and refined manners, within the deep courtyards and inner chambers, the boundaries between men and women are clear and distinct.



Yet, from the moment she walked up to him and begged for his help, those boundaries began to loosen.



She had already crossed the forbidden line, and between them, something vague and indefinable had taken shape.



Last time with the rose dew incident, he was naturally displeased, but then he thought about her seclusion from the outside world, living deep within the rear residence\u2014there was absolutely no chance for her to meet Yeluxun.



The rose dew Yeluxun received might not necessarily have been sent on her own authority, especially since Meng Shuhui was also involved in this matter.



Meng Shuhui, having benefited from Yeluxun’s favor while living under someone else\u2019s roof, could very well have casually sent something as a gesture of gratitude.



For this reason, he reluctantly held back, thinking that one day he would definitely get to the bottom of it.



Unexpectedly, since the start of spring, the affairs related to the capital garrison inspections had been heavy, and he had been occupied day after day checking the troops of various households, supervising drills, with no leisure time at all.



Whenever he returned to the mansion, it was already nighttime.



Even when he managed to find a brief moment in his busy schedule to pay respects to the elderly madam, he never once encountered her.



Finally catching a break from the busy day, I met her, yet she was so distant and indifferent.



Pursing his thin lips, his gaze fixed on her face:



“Indeed, times have changed.



My sister-in-law’s words today make it seem as if you’ve become a different person.” Hearing this, Gu Xiyan smiled gently, lifting her eyes to meet Lu Chenglian’s gaze:



“Why do you say that, Third Lord?



How is now, and how was then?” Lu Chenglian’s eyelids lowered slightly, his dark eyes cold as he spoke:



“Gu Xiyan, if you had spoken to me like this back when you begged for my help, do you think I would have even given you the time of day?” Gu Xiyan found it increasingly amusing.



Though this man spoke with a clear note of resentment, what was the reality?



He had a noble-born daughter of a county prince already arranged for marriage, and in his chambers, he kept two fresh and delicate beauties.



Yet, for some reason, he insisted on making things difficult for her.



What was this all about?



Did the grass always look greener on the other side?



Was it only interesting when stolen in secret?



Yet, remembering that she still needed his support and couldn\u2019t afford to offend him, she suppressed her emotions.



Opening her eyes wide with a look of bewildered confusion, she gazed at him respectfully and said,



“Third Master, such words make this humble one feel uneasy.



As a widowed woman with no one to rely on, I depend entirely on the care and support of everyone in the household.



If you were to become angry with me because of this, then I\u2014” Lu Chenglian slightly lowered his head, staring at her from a close distance:



“What do you intend to do?” Gu Xiyan felt a flurry of panic and turned her face away, saying,



“Naturally, I could neither sleep nor eat peacefully.” Lu Chenglian questioned,



“Neither sleep nor eat peacefully?



Do you mean you tossed and turned, unable to sleep at night?” His voice was icy cold, but his breath was scorching, burning against her ear.



Gu Xiyan\u2019s heart raced, and she instinctively tried to pull back.



Suddenly, without warning, Lu Chenglian seized her wrist, holding it firmly in place.



Gu Xiyan was terrified out of her wits.



She wanted to call for help but didn\u2019t dare, and could only glance around frantically.



The autumn wind rustled through the bamboo grove, whispering softly, but the area was deserted.



Even Qiu Sang had vanished without a trace.



She had no other choice in her desperation, urgently saying,



“Third Master, what are you doing?” Lu Chenglian gritted his teeth, chuckling softly,



“Tell me…



If you\u2019re lying awake all night, what are you thinking about?



Which one are you thinking of?” Gu Xiyan’s legs trembled, overwhelmed with panic, tears nearly welling up in her eyes.



Biting her lip, she pleaded softly,



“Let go, you mustn\u2019t do this\u2014” Lu Chengliang drew even closer, his gaze fixed on her, voice low and husky:



“Not allowed how?



Gu Xiyan, you shouldn’t have taken this step to begin with.



Now that you have, there’s no turning back\u2014and I won’t let you retreat.” These words were so direct and scorching that Gu Xiyan\u2019s heart pounded like a drum, leaving her at a loss for what to do.



Suddenly, she heard a faint sound in the distance\u2014it turned out to be the gentlemen who had come to pay their respects were now returning.



Her face instantly turned ashen.



“Someone\u2019s coming.



Please, let me go.



Don\u2019t do this.” Lu Chenglian lowered his gaze, only to find the woman in his arms had skin as fair as snow, features stunningly beautiful, and eyes misted with tears, utterly pitiable.



At that moment, the sound of laughter and conversation grew closer.



Frightened and bewildered, she was on the verge of tears.



He suddenly released his grip.



Gu Xiyan abruptly lost her support, her delicate frame unable to hold on as she began to fall.



Lu Chenglian sneered, clenching his teeth as he spoke, \u201cIs the household short of money for you?



Go and buy yourself some winter clothes, lest people think the Duke\u2019s mansion mistreats a widow!\u201d With that, he flicked his sleeve and stormed off.



After such a fright, Gu Xiyan’s eyes went wide and her mind grew muddled, to the point where she couldn’t even stand steadily.



Fortunately, Qiu Sang rushed out from somewhere and held her up.



By that time, the gentlemen had already made their way to a nearby corridor, separated only by a cluster of bamboo.



They were right there, chatting and laughing.



Gu Xiyan was so terrified she didn’t dare move an inch, holding her breath for fear they might spot her.



My current appearance would inevitably raise suspicions in anyone’s eyes.



After they had finally passed, Gu Xiyan’s tense body relaxed at last, feeling a chill down her back as if he had just narrowly escaped death.



Qiusang supported her:



“My lady?” Gu Xiyan took a forced breath, biting her lip as she complained,



“Why did you suddenly disappear just now?



It made me face someone’s unexpected rudeness here!” Qiu Sang, upon hearing this, also grew agitated:



“I was walking right behind you, mistress, when suddenly something grabbed me, covered my mouth, and dragged me into the nearby bamboo grove.



I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move\u2014it was terrifying!” Gu Xiyan exclaimed,



“Huh?” She hurriedly checked Qiu Sang from head to toe:



“Were you injured?” Qiu Sang:



“No, I wasn’t, but I was truly frightened.



Mistress, you don’t know\u2014the thing that caught me, I don’t even know what it was.



It seemed to have hands, but those hands were as black as charcoal, and incredibly strong!” Gu Xiyan asked in confusion,



“Black as coal?” She recalled the dark-skinned little maid she had seen at Taihe Hall that day\u2014indeed very dark\u2014but such a maid surely couldn’t be strong enough to lift something heavy?



Qiu Sang said,



“Who knows?



It really frightened me.



But I thought, whatever could appear within the mansion likely isn\u2019t a monster\u2014perhaps it\u2019s a person.



Yet, if it is a person, I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s a man or a woman\u2014” Thinking of this, she suddenly pouted her lips, feeling wronged:



“If it\u2019s a man, wouldn\u2019t I have lost my purity?” Gu Xiyan had been greatly frightened and was filled with distress.



Upon hearing Qiu Sang’s words, she found it both absurd and amusing, yet also felt guilty.



She had no choice but to gather her spirits to comfort Qiu Sang.



Once both mistress and maid had recovered their energy and comforted each other, they hurried back to their courtyard.



Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered their home, they saw Madam Zhouqing there.



As soon as Madam Zhouqing saw Gu Xiyan, she smiled and said,



“I was just saying that the mistress should be back by now, and as soon as I mentioned you, you arrived.” Gu Xiyan noticed that Madam Zhouqing was accompanied by two maidservants, each holding a colorfully painted square box.



Uncertain of what this meant, she composed herself, put on a smile, and greeted them.



Mrs.



Zhouqing was quite enthusiastic:



“I’ve just come from Taihe Hall and happened to catch the freshly delivered royal tribute of milk.



We’ve simmered it into a creamy porridge.



Her Highness mentioned that she no longer enjoys such rich, sweet treats nowadays, so she instructed us to share it among the ladies of each household for a taste of something new, to ward off the lingering chill of spring.” Gu Xiyan listened, feeling pleasantly surprised and flattered.



Could this mean there was something delicious to enjoy?



Mrs.



Zhouqing chuckled warmly and took Gu Xiyan’s hand.



“Her Highness specifically instructed that the porridge be delivered to you first while it’s still hot.” As she spoke, she gestured for the maid to present the food box.



Having just gone through that ordeal with Lu Chenglian, Gu Xiyan was already filled with heartache and unease.



Compounded by her thin clothing and the chill seeping into her body, the discomfort was almost unbearable.



Suddenly hearing these words now was like receiving a warm piece of charcoal in the dead of winter\u2014so unexpected, so incredibly delightful.



Did Princess Ruiqing really make a point of instructing that buttered milk custard be sent to her, and even



“specifically reminded” about it?



Overjoyed, she quickly thanked Madam Zhou Qing, then respectfully accepted the gilded and lacquered food box with both hands.



She carried it personally back to her room and set it carefully on the table.



For a moment, Zhou Qing’s wife bid farewell and departed.



She lifted the lid of the box, and a wave of sweet, warm aroma rushed straight at her.



It turned out that this delicacy had been simmered slowly over a low fire with butter, cow’s milk, and rock sugar for a long time, still emitting steaming hot breath that could scald one\u2019s mouth.



She cherished the fragrance with a careful sniff, then cautiously held it in her hands, taking a small sip.



It was sweet, aromatic, and utterly delicious.



Cow’s milk was a rare delicacy, something ordinary families simply could not afford to consume.



Even in households as illustrious as that of Duke Jingguo, with their grand feasts and lavish lifestyles, it was only served during festive seasons.



Now, to be specially rewarded by the princess\u2014this was indeed a rare and precious favor.



She first leaned in to inhale the aroma, then carefully cradled the bowl, taking a small, gentle sip.



As it entered her mouth, she felt its smooth, rich sweetness, luxuriously moistening every corner of her palate\u2014truly a taste of wealth and nobility.



She let out a contented sigh, but asked Qiushang beside her,



“Why do you think Her Highness the Princess gave me this in the first place?” Qiushang, who had originally been heavy-hearted, now saw this and immediately pushed aside her worries, feeling invigorated and spirited.



Upon hearing Gu Xiyan\u2019s question, she replied, \u201cHow could a lowly servant like me understand the thoughts of noble people?



But I think it must be because earlier, when Madam went to pay respects to Her Highness, during the tea tasting session, didn\u2019t Her Highness also compliment Madam?\u201d Gu Xiyan nodded slightly, \u201cIt\u2019s likely because of that.\u201d Autumn Sang smiled and added,



“It might also be because of Third Master.



Who knows if he said something in front of His Highness?” Gu Xiyan immediately gave her a sidelong glance:



“If you don\u2019t know how to speak, just cover your mouth.



What kind of talk is that?



What does he have to do with me?” The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.



With a resentful tone, she said,



“The way he treated me today is like trying to kill me.



If the milk pudding came about because of him, I\u2019d rather not have it.” Autumn Sang was dumbfounded, thinking, Our lady has such great ambition!



She stole a glance at the milk custard:



“If we don’t eat it, how should this custard…



be handled?” Gu Xiyan paused for a moment, struggled a bit internally, but finally said,



“We’ll naturally eat it.” Qiusang:



“…” She knew it all along\u2014her grandmother couldn\u2019t bear to waste good things, even if she pretended otherwise!



Gu Xiyan truly couldn’t bear to waste it.



She cradled the milk custard carefully, took another sip, and sighed\u2014it really was delicious.



Wishing to savor every bite thoroughly, she wanted to fully appreciate the sweet taste before reluctantly swallowing.



After eating roughly seventy to eighty percent of it, she said,



“Actually, this milk pudding is nothing special.



Eating too much of it can be quite cloying.” Qiusang was nearby tidying up some miscellaneous items and, upon hearing this, felt like rolling her eyes.



Her lady had only taken a few bites of the precious delicacy and was already starting to talk nonsense?



Gu Xiyan picked up a handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her lips, saying, \u201cThese are for you to eat.\u201d After speaking, she went straight to the writing desk, picked up a painting on it, and examined it carefully.



The work was nearly finished, and she kept it in mind all the while\u2014after all, it was a whole tael of silver.



Beside her, Qiu Sang froze at her words, looking at Gu Xiyan with some confusion, and said, \u201cMistress?\u201d Gu Xiyan:



“If I tell you to eat it, just enjoy it.



Otherwise, it’ll get cold soon, and that would be a waste of something good.” Qiusang: !!!



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