{"id":3446,"date":"2026-05-18T13:43:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-14\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T13:44:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:44:01","slug":"the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-14","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/id\/chapter\/the-young-mistresss-little-romance-in-the-dukes-mansion-14\/","title":{"rendered":"The Young Mistress’s Little Romance in the Duke’s Mansion 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 14


Gu Xiyan walked quickly away.

When she reached the end of the corridor, she saw Qiusang peering around the screen wall.



As soon as she saw Gu Xiyan, she exclaimed in surprise,



“Why is your face so red, Madam?” Gu Xiyan scolded,



“Useless girl!



I never see you when it matters, and now you’re skulking around here like a thief, sneaking about.



Anyone who sees you would think you\u2019ve been up to no good!” Although she had been scolded, Qiu Sang knew her mistress was in a good mood, so she grinned and stepped forward.



“Madam, I deliberately waited here to come and greet you!” Gu Xiyan retorted,



“Enough with your cheeky talk.” Autumn Mulberry saw Gu Xiyan clearly embarrassed and annoyed, so she pursed her lips and smiled, saying,



“One look and I can tell that the Young Mistress has received good news!” Gu Xiyan gave her a sidelong glance and said,



“Let’s go!” As they spoke, the master and servant passed through the winding covered corridor, exited the crescent moon gate, and hurried back to their own courtyard.



Gu Xiyan had received a definite confirmation from Lu Chenglian that Meng Shuhui\u2019s maternal uncle\u2019s case was making progress, and her own brother\u2019s matter could also look forward to a resolution.



Her heart was filled with joy, and even her steps felt light and buoyant.



Upon returning to her own courtyard, she gave only a few brief instructions before hurriedly entering her room and ordering the windows to be closed.



She paced restlessly within the room, unable to stop herself from recalling every moment spent with Lu Chenglian that day\u2014his gaze, his words, and the searing heat of their closeness.



Her thoughts grew hazy, her heart stirred with budding affection.



She couldn’t go on like this, it was unbearable\u2014her heart felt as if it might burst!



Covering her face with her hands, she let out a soft moan, feeling utterly captivated and bewitched by that man!



No, this simply would not do.



Gu Xiyan took a deep breath, leaning against the screen as she slowly leaned there, trying to calm herself down.



Once she calmed down, she was filled with a sense of frustration and helplessness.



To be fair, Lu Chenglian truly possessed exceptional looks and significant power, with a boundless future ahead of him.



Who in the Duke’s Mansion didn\u2019t rely on him?



To put it plainly, take Yingtong for example\u2014just a senior maid, not even formally taken into his chambers yet\u2014but wasn\u2019t she living like a fish in water within the mansion, all thanks to his influence?



If a man like him deliberately cast his hook toward any woman, who wouldn\u2019t feel their heart flutter and skip a beat?



Gu Xiyan was naturally no exception.



Yet she was also all too aware of her own station, and even more aware that should she fall into Lu Chenglian\u2019s snare, she would likely gain nothing but trouble.



Without a proper name or standing, in the end, I’m afraid I might not even compare to Yingtong\u2014at least she can be formally welcomed into the household, whereas I am merely a stolen affair!



She knew this step must never be taken; once taken, it would lead to irreparable ruin.



At this thought, she jolted awake, sitting up abruptly and beginning to carefully reflect on her earlier responses\u2014wondering if there had been any missteps.



In her efforts to appease Lu Chenghai, her words had inadvertently slighted Ye Erxun.



Naturally, she felt immensely guilty toward Ye Erxun, but at that moment, to soothe Lu Chenghai’s anger, it seemed the only way.



After all, if Lu Chenglian were to become displeased, not only would the case involving her sister-in-law and brother-in-law be in jeopardy, but even Ye Erxun might end up suffering by association.



After all, he was the Emperor’s own nephew and had earned his merits in battle.



For a man like him to crush a mere scholar would be as easy as squashing an ant.



As she thought this, she suddenly remembered the flicker of strangeness that had crossed Lu Chenglian’s face when she mentioned Lu Chengyuan.



At the time, she had been too flustered to pay it any mind, but upon careful reflection now, his expression had truly been odd, making her wonder if she had said something wrong.



What exactly is the issue?



Gu Xiyan went over Lu Chengyuan\u2019s past behavior once more.



Their relationship seemed decent, right?



She remembered them drinking, laughing, and even riding horses together during the springtime, with no apparent grudges or conflicts between the brothers.



However, since they were close in age and both talented in both literary and martial arts, it would be understandable if there were some underlying rivalry between them.



If that was the case, then by saying such things in front of Lu Chengjuan and belittling Lu Chengyuan, she had truly made Lu Chengyuan lose face.



No wonder Lu Chengjuan said that Lu Chengyuan\u2019s coffin would shake three times in response.



However\u2014 Gu Xiyan snorted inwardly, thinking that if he looked down on him, so be it\u2014it was nothing serious!



Lu Chengyuan had died early and couldn\u2019t support him anymore.



Keeping her here only meant she had to endure other people\u2019s contempt.



If he thought those words were unpleasant and resented them, then he could come back to life and return to stand up for her and vent her anger!



************ Having been kept busy these past few days due to Princess Ruiqing\u2019s poor health, Yingtong had been tending to her old mistress both inside and out, while also constantly advising Lu Chenglian, to the point where she hardly had a moment to catch her breath.



Now that the princess\u2019s health had slightly improved, she finally found herself with a bit of leisure.



While tidying up her things, she happened upon a package of white wax and thought to send it to Gu Xiyan.



She carefully wrapped the white wax, planning to take it to Gu Xiyan\u2019s courtyard along the way as an excuse to pay respects at Taihe Hall, seizing the opportunity to deliver it.



But as soon as she lifted the curtain, she saw Lu Chenglian striding up the steps, the hem of his robe swishing.



His expression was unlike his usual self, carrying a trace of concealed anger.



Yingtong, who had a beeswax candle hidden in her bosom, had kept this matter from Lu Chenglian.



Seeing Lu Chenglian in such a state, she was even more startled.



She hurriedly bowed and said,



“Master.” Lu Chenglian stepped into the room expressionlessly, not even sparing a glance at Yingtong.



Yingtong stood frozen in place, unsure whether to go in or retreat.



After all, she was a favored senior maid in the room and had once served the princess.



To be treated so coldly for no reason now naturally left her in a state of shock and confusion, her heart filled with unease.



Just as Peibai noticed Lu Chenglian had returned, she swiftly ordered a young maid to serve tea, personally presenting the cup to him.



Lu Chenglian did not take the tea, but instead suddenly turned his head and asked Yingtong,



“Were you originally planning to go out?” Yingtong quickly curtseyed.



“Yes, sir.



I was just about to go pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess.



If time allows, I was also thinking of dropping by the young mistress’s place for a casual chat.” Lu Chenglian:



“Which young mistress?” Yingtong grew increasingly uneasy.



In the past, the Third Master was always too busy to pursue such trivial matters.



She feared he already knew the answer.



She could only say,



“…



Sixth Young Mistress.” Lu Cheng Lian:



“Oh?



Since when have the people in my room become so close with the third branch?” Ying Tong hurriedly explained,



“A few days ago, this servant was weaving patterns with willow branches by the lake.



Sixth Young Mistress has such skillful hands that she helped me weave some.



I thought that if I had any free time today, I would go and seek her advice.” Lu Cheng Lian chuckled lightly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.



“In the past, you also received instruction under Mother.



Tell me, has all the discipline you learned over these years been in vain?” These words carried a weight that terrified Yingtong, who hurriedly dropped to her knees:



“My lord!” Peibai and the other servants and maids nearby were also startled, quickly following suit in kneeling.



In no time, both inside and outside the room, people were kneeling everywhere.



Yingtong hung her head low:



“Third Master, this servant was wrong.” Lu Chenglian didn\u2019t even lift his eyelids.



“What was wrong about it?” Yingtong ventured,



“The Sixth Madam is a widow, so this servant should have respected her.



It was inappropriate to play around with her, much less ask her to design patterns for this servant.



That was disrespectful to her\u2014taking advantage of my position to bully my superior.



It was a grave offense.” She hesitated, then pulled out the packet of white wax from her bosom.



“…This servant noticed some white wax in the side room and thought that since the Sixth Madam enjoys writing and painting, she could surely make use of it.



So I intended to give her some, as a way of repaying her kindness.” She simply dared not mention the rose dew incident, let alone disclose a single word about the embroidered patterns on the robe, only hoping to brush it off with the willow branch matter.



However, after she spoke these words, Lu Chenglian above remained silent.



She only felt the atmosphere in the room growing colder and more tense.



Cautiously glancing over, she saw Lu Chenglian frowning, staring at the white wax in his hand as though lost in thought.



Yingtong\u2019s heart pounded even harder.



She truly couldn\u2019t grasp her master\u2019s thoughts and had no idea what had triggered this sudden storm of anger.



If he were angry about her taking the initiative to give away the white wax, that didn’t seem likely either.



In the past, he had always casually rewarded them with various items in the room, allowing them full discretion and never interfering.



For a moment, she thought back to his demeanor when he had just returned\u2014it had been quite cold and somber.



And since he seemed to have come from the Taihe Hall, had he perhaps had some argument or dispute with Her Royal Highness the Princess?



Just as her thoughts began to drift aimlessly, a voice came from above: \u201cGo now.\u201d Yingtong was momentarily taken aback, her mind slow to process what she had heard.



Lu Chenglian stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly,



“How could a maid in my quarters owe favors for no reason?



A bit of white wax\u2014simply gift it graciously.” Yingtong had never expected him to say such a thing.



Without a moment\u2019s hesitation, she hurriedly replied,



“Yes, I will go right away to apologize to Sixth Mistress and present the white wax.



I truly neglected her earlier, and I will go to make amends.” Finally able to withdraw, she left the room and thought it over carefully, feeling pained and distressed.



She knew that from the start, Princess Ruiqing had placed her in Third Master\u2019s quarters to serve him.



With her humble background, she dared not harbor any lofty ambitions, but relying on the education she had received in the princess’s presence, earning the title of a concubine should not have been difficult.



Over the years, as the Third Master paid little attention to the mundane affairs of the household, she managed everything in an orderly fashion.



From social interactions within the estate to even showing filial devotion in front of the princess, she handled everything on behalf of the Third Master, clearly indicating that he placed great reliance on her.



She had thought herself already halfway through the threshold of becoming a concubine.



Yet today, for some unknown reason, the Third Master had unleashed an inexplicable temper upon her, shaming her in this manner.



All her usual meticulousness and thoroughness seemed wasted, unable to earn even a sliver of his pity.



The thought nearly brought tears to her eyes.



At this moment, Peibai quietly moved closer, not daring to speak, and only gave her a meaningful look, gesturing toward the corridor outside the study.



Yingtong, puzzled, followed her gaze and saw the little black servant girl, Amo Le, squatting in a horse stance.



She held a blue stone in each hand, standing perfectly still in the wind.



Yingtong asked in confusion, \u201cWhat is this?\u201d Peibai leaned in closer, lowering her voice.



\u201cI heard that the young master was furious when he returned from seeing His Highness.



He ordered Amo Le to be punished.



It seems his anger wasn\u2019t directed at you or me, but likely some mishap occurred outside.\u201d Yingtong felt a bit relieved upon hearing this and then lowered her voice to ask,



“Have you found out why Amo Le was punished?” Peibai replied,



“I asked, but as you know Amo Le, she was evasive and couldn’t give a clear reason.



She just kept saying, ‘I stole, I stole, I stole from the Third Master.’ It was so frustrating!



I still don’t know what she stole!” Stole something?



Yingtong couldn’t help but cast a disbelieving glance at the little servant girl in the distance.



This girl has a face black as coal, and her body is just as dark\u2014never have I seen anyone so black.



They say her father was a black slave.



A maid like this, who can\u2019t even speak proper Mandarin\u2014who would have thought she\u2019d resort to stealing!



With disgust in her heart, she sneered coldly,



“I always thought she was naive and simple-minded, unaware of the ways of the world, and I even cared for her.



Never did I imagine she\u2019d stoop to such lowly acts, dragging us all down with her!” Pei Bai chimed in,



“Exactly, what a thief she turned out to be!” Yingtong lowered her head to glance at the bundle of white wax in her arms and sighed,



“Well, since I’m implicated today, I can only accept it.



Third Master said he wanted to send this wax\u2014probably to avoid being blamed for neglecting the widows of his brothers.



If that’s the case, I’ll take it to her.” *********** That evening, as Gu Xiyan was about to have the maids lower the blinds and close the courtyard gate, she heard movement outside\u2014it was Yingtong arriving.



Just earlier that day, she had spoken with Lu Chenglian, and now, thinking back on it still made her cheeks flush and heart race.



Suddenly seeing his maid arrive, Gu Xiyan felt somewhat uneasy and quickly asked someone to let her in.



Once Yingtong entered the room, she handed over a brocade pouch.



“Sixth Mistress is a person of refined taste.



If you often read by candlelight, you must go through wax quickly.



This is some white wax from the palace, leftovers from previous years\u2014much better than what\u2019s sold outside.



We have more than we need anyway, so if Sixth Mistress doesn\u2019t mind, please keep it.” Gu Xiyan understood that this was for those few base samples.



It was only natural for her not to accept them.



After all, those base samples only took a few days of work to produce and were not worth much.



However, white wax was a precious item, and such a large package would likely cost a considerable amount of silver.



How could she possibly accept it!



Yingtong insisted on giving it:



“Madam, you might not be aware, but these are the Third Master\u2019s orders.



If you do not accept them, I will not be able to report back.” The moment these words were spoken, Gu Xiyan was utterly astonished.



What does Lu Chenglian mean by that?



He actually said it in front of his maid?



Does everyone know about it now?



She could not believe it, her delicate brows furrowing as she looked at Yingtong in confusion:



“Your third master, Third Master gave the order?” Ying Tong looked at Gu Xiyan\u2019s astonished expression and felt utterly helpless, so she had no choice but to explain, \u201cYes, the Third Master specifically instructed me to deliver this white wax to you, Madam\u2026\u201d As she spoke, she sighed softly and said, \u201cIn the past, I\u2019ve shown you little respect and offended you in many ways.



I sincerely hope you can forgive me.\u201d Though she was just a lowly servant girl, she had always held herself in high regard.



Now, forced to bow her head and apologize to Gu Xiyan, she found herself struggling to save face, and her words grew somewhat vague.



Yet Gu Xiyan blushed furiously in an instant, her face turning scarlet with shame.



She thought Yingtong was referring to Lu Chenglian and apologizing on his behalf.



Clenching her fists, she thought to herself, This man always seemed thoughtful and reliable in the past, but look what he’s doing now!



When she asked him for a favor, she had already resolved to go all out, her words and demeanor filled with coyness and charm.



Recalling it now, she felt utterly ashamed.



She thought it was a private matter between just the two of them, something no outsider could possibly know.



But now, it has been completely exposed by his maidservant, who even sent white candles!



Is he really being so brazen!



Gu Xiyan felt so ashamed that her heart trembled, wishing she could just faint on the spot!

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