Chapter Twelve: Ning Er

  Lu Qi's mind was in a state of turmoil as he saw Zhou Yue'er and Li Niang walk out together, Li Niang holding a bundle of old clothes. She had changed into a pale green servant's uniform, her head bowed so that her expression couldn't be seen. A woman relative took some firewood from the stove and placed it in a mud basin, and Li Niang personally threw the clothes she was holding into the mud basin to burn them.

  She changed into her old clothes and hastily walked to Mrs. Lu, knelt down and bowed respectfully: "Slave Ning'er greets the madam, wishing the madam a thousand peace."

  Lu Mu and Sheng Dao said: "Get up, go and pay respects to Young Master's wife."

  Ning'er hastily got up and walked to the front of Zhou Yue'er, kneeling down and saying: "Slave Ning'er greets Young Mistress, wishing Young Mistress ten thousand safeties."

  "Get up and attend to the mistress." Zhou Yue'er gave a proper order, Ning'er responded with respect and got up to stand beside Madam Lu.

  Lu Qi looked on with a silent sigh, in the short span of an afternoon, Li Shiyi, who had a name and a position as a respected elder in the Lu household, was suddenly reduced to being a nameless and insignificant concubine. He knew that this was all his mother's doing, his mother having her own reasons which she considered justified, for she was the true master of the Lu household.

  Lu Qi felt like he was on fire, from his bones to his skin, as if he had been burned by flames. The previous day, under the enthusiastic congratulations of his friends and family, he had drunk the most alcohol he had ever had in his life. Alcohol was a good way to add to the excitement, but the suffering that came after getting drunk was also very painful.

  Lu Qi, in his intoxication, dreamed of strange and bizarre things. A person was flying naked towards the sky, which was covered with dark clouds and flashes of lightning that cut through like whips, mercilessly lashing at his body, causing him unbearable pain that made him want to go mad and die. Suddenly, he saw a beautiful woman also being ravaged by the lightning in mid-air. The woman stretched out her slender right hand, constantly reaching out to him as if desperately seeking help.

  "Ah Ya, I can't save you." A low, mournful male voice, filled with a longing call.

  "Master, are you alright?" a soft and gentle female voice anxiously asked.

  Ah! Lu Qi let out a low growl and suddenly opened his eyes, in the dim light he first saw a fair and beautiful face, looking at him with concern. Lu Qi was startled, and hastily shrunk back to sit up.

  Sat up, composed herself and took a look at her surroundings. She was lying on a bed in the study cum bedroom she had lived in for ten years. Beside the bed sat a maid dressed in light green, Li Niang... no, it should be Ning Er.

  Lu Qi's head was a bit dizzy and painful. He shook his head, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, and subconsciously blurted out: "What are you doing in my room?"

  Ning Er was taken aback, her expression turned gloomy as she turned around and bowed her head, saying in a low voice: "It was the mistress who ordered me to come and serve the young master. If the young master does not like me serving him, I can leave."

  Lu Qi listened and lowered his eyes, speechless. His mother's approach did not entirely resonate with him in his heart. After a moment of silence, Ning'er got up and walked to the desk, picked up a bowl of rice porridge, and handed it to Lu Qi, saying softly, "Drink some porridge to fill your stomach, you'll feel much better."

  Lu Qi's heart warmed up, and Ning Er was indeed a considerate and gentle older sister. He took the bowl from her hand and drank it all in one gulp. The warm porridge filled his stomach, and his spirits lifted, feeling much more comfortable.

  Ning'er took the bowl away and brought a warm towel to gently wipe Lu Qi's face and arms, her movements soft and natural, just like a mother taking care of her own child.

  "Lie down and sleep for a while." Ning Er said softly, Lu Qi didn't make any resistant movements, like a well-behaved child, he lay down obediently.

  Ning'er sent away the water basin and warm towel, then naturally took off her shoes and got into bed. She lay down beside Lu Qi, who felt his heart start racing, his face and neck flushing with heat. His emotions were in a state of awkward turmoil. The two of them lay on their backs, side by side, in silence. Neither of them had any intention of sleeping, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Half a time had passed, and Lu Qi finally couldn't bear it anymore. He opened his mouth and said softly, "Sorry, I've troubled you."

  "Why say that?" Ning Er responded calmly.

  "It's unfair for my mother to treat you this way," said Lu Qihe softly.

  "So what's fair? Is it like Cheng Yiyuan, marrying a husband with no property or status, or remarrying into another family as a concubine?" Ning Er said calmly.

  "What I meant by unfair is that you lost your position." Lu Qi explained in a soft voice.

  "Status? The status of a concubine is given by the husband, it's the kindness and generosity of the main wife. I'm just a lowly concubine, as a woman without children to raise, it's the greatest sorrow and hardship in life." Ning Er said with a bitter tone.

  Lu Qi heard the heartache, he wanted to say that I can support you, but the words reached the tip of his tongue and swallowed back, because Ning Er said she longed for her own children, besides Ning Er was already a concubine, at this time speaking randomly could only hurt her feelings.

  "Don't pity me, Mrs. Ken's kindness in letting me stay as a servant in the Lu family is already a great blessing. A woman's life isn't just about having food and clothing, but also about hope and affection. If you think I'm old, you can say it directly, I won't blame you." Ning'er said softly, two glittering tears quietly falling from her eyes.

  Lu Qi's heart was in turmoil, and after a moment of silence, he took a deep breath to calm himself down. He then asked in a gentle tone: "Ning Er, answer me one question, are you here accompanying me because of my mother's arrangement or is it your true intention to be with me?"

  Ning'er fell silent, and after a moment, she got up from the bed and said indifferently: "Young master, sleep well, I'm leaving."

  Lu Qi Meng sat up abruptly and said urgently: "Ning Er, you haven't answered me yet."

  "Ning'er said coldly: 'Young Master, Ning'er is a concubine of the Lu family. It's her duty to serve her master. A concubine shouldn't have likes or dislikes. Ning'er came to serve Young Master under Madam's orders. Young Master's true heart should be reserved for his future wife.'"

  Lu Qi listened, feeling very confused, and said sincerely: "Ning Er, when I left home to join the army that year, you cried and sent me a handmade safe symbol. At that time, I already regarded you as my close sister. Now I call you Ning Er, indicating that I am willing for you to stay. Please sit back down, okay?"

  Ning'er's expression changed for a few seconds and turned gentle, hesitated for a moment, then sat up straight on the bed, Lu Qi stared at her gentle and beautiful face, felt a warm feeling in his heart, smiled and said: "Ning'er, I just asked one sentence, why did you react so fiercely? Can you tell me the reason?"

  Ning'er turned her head to look at Lu Qi, and her beautiful eyes flickered with complex emotions. She bit her lip and said softly: "Remember, I'm a concubine, don't be too good to me, being too good to me will harm me."

  Lu Qi was stunned and asked in confusion: "Why? Is it because my mother doesn't want me to be good to you?"

  Ning'er shook her head and said, "Madam has always been very good to me. Since the day I entered the Lu family, she has never treated me badly. Even when the Lu family was in its most difficult time, she refused to sell me off to alleviate their difficulties. Until today, she still uses the method of changing doors to create a new happiness for me. Madam hopes that I will give birth to children for the Lu family and then properly regain my position as a concubine."

  Lu Qi said: "If your mother is so good to you, what are you afraid of?"

  Ning Er said bitterly, "Because I'm a concubine, in the future when you marry a wife and concubines, if you treat me too well, it will cause discord in the Lu family. If you're not at home, even with your wife taking care of me, your wives and concubines also have the right to call me over to serve them."

  Lu Qi nodded and suddenly understood that Ning Er was afraid of being envied and bringing disaster upon herself in the future. At first, it seemed like an excessive worry, but after careful consideration, there was indeed some reason to be concerned. He himself would not be able to avoid taking a wife and concubines, and those wives and concubines would indeed have the right to order Ning Er around. If they had ill intentions, it was entirely possible that they would beat, scold, or torment Ning Er.

  "He comforted her by saying: 'Don't worry, I'm still young and won't be getting married anytime soon.'"

  Ning Er shook her head and said, "It's not early anymore. Last night, Young Master's wife mentioned a girl from a certain family to the madam, and the madam has already agreed. Tomorrow, we will go to Young Master's maternal home to take a look. If it's suitable, they will get engaged."

  Lu Qi was shocked and hastily said: "What are you talking about? My mother is going to see her tomorrow, how can this be possible."

  Ning Er smiled lightly and said, "The marriage of children is usually arranged by their parents. You are already 23 years old, and your cousins of the same age have long been married with children. Can Mother not be anxious about your marriage? Moreover, she is eager to hold her grandchildren."

  Lu Qiyan was stunned, and immediately shook his head: "No way, I will never marry a woman I don't like as my wife. Tomorrow I'll advise Mother not to go on the blind date. This is a lifelong matter, how can it be done hastily."

  Ning Er smiled faintly: "How can you know if you like it or not without seeing each other? You should indeed get married, Mrs. Lu is eager to carry on the family line of the Lu's, what reason do you have to persuade her otherwise?"