Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Lofty, untouchable Third Master Lu simply could not accept the fact that he was a simp.

I thought to myself, he had certainly enjoyed himself when he was holding my foot and kneading it.

The moment he came back to his senses, he turned cold and refused to acknowledge a thing.

He accused me of deliberately seducing him. He despised my lowly status.

During that period, Third Master deliberately gave me the cold shoulder, which led to the other maids and pages bullying me.

I had originally thought that after that incident, Third Master would let me leave the estate.

I was wrong.

The court was sending him to Jiangnan on official business.

Before he left, he set a trap for me.

Third Master said, as if in passing, “Come to think of it, you’re already sixteen.”

My heart sank. I was afraid he meant to take me with him.

Then Third Master said, “Tomorrow, I leave to take up my post in Jiangnan. At the very least, I’ll be gone two or three years.”

I immediately said, full of concern, “Third Master will have to go out and suffer hardship.”

“You’re the only one who worries about me.” Third Master stroked my hair lightly.

After a long while, he asked me, “Would you be willing to become my honored concubine?”

Alarm bells went off in my heart.

This was a fatal question.

I thought it over, then said softly, “I won’t be a concubine.”

For an instant, displeasure flashed in Third Master’s eyes. In the next, it turned into satisfaction.

I knew I had gambled correctly.

If I had accepted with overflowing joy and agreed to become his honored concubine, he would absolutely have cast me aside like a worn-out shoe.

Third Master did not like seeing me take on lowly postures.

If he had simply left without a word, no one would have paid me any mind.

Once my contract was up, I would have been able to leave the estate.

But he just had to mention wanting me as his concubine.

In Old Madam’s eyes, my weight immediately became different.

Old Madam personally ordered me to attend her side.

When Third Master came to bid farewell, Old Madam had me stand behind the screen and listen.

She deliberately said, “Since you’ve taken a fancy to that girl Shen Miao, I’ll step in and send betrothal gifts to her family, then raise her up as your concubine.”

Third Master only gave a laugh. “In this lifeless Lu Family, Shen Miao is a rare little lively thing. Just looking at her makes me feel at ease. That’s why, over the years, I’ve been willing to dote on her and keep her from serving as a slave or maid. She’s nothing more than a little plaything I keep around for amusement. Mother needn’t trouble herself over her.”

Old Madam said, “Then let her go with you to Jiangnan and serve you.”

Third Master shook his head, his smile somewhat teasing. “Her heart isn’t with me. Forcing her would be pointless. Sooner or later, there will come a day when she truly lowers her head to me. After I leave, assign a momo to teach her properly how to be a servant. Let her suffer a little. When I return, her posture will be much softer.”

I stood behind the screen, listening without the slightest ripple in my heart.

Third Master Lu had always been this kind of bastard, someone who liked to toy with people’s hearts. There was nothing surprising about it.

Did he truly think that because he had cherished me and spoiled me for these five years, I would submit to him heart and soul?

Impossible.

He had no idea how free my soul was.

After Third Master left, Old Madam sighed. “Come out.”

I knelt before Old Madam, weeping as I bowed. “I never imagined Third Master’s treatment of me was all an act. From now on, Miaomiao will rely on you.”

Old Madam said tenderly, “When your Third Master returns, if you truly can win over his heart, that would also be a good thing.”

Her words were a hint. Even if I became Third Master’s woman, I would still be her eyes and ears.

While Third Master was away on duty in Jiangnan, I served by Old Madam’s side for two years.

But who could have expected that when immortals fought, lesser beings would suffer?

Old Madam wanted Third Master to marry her niece from her maiden family, but Third Master refused.

So Old Madam used me as leverage and decided to send me to Second Master as a concubine.

I had been raised by Third Master. His mark had long since been stamped on me.

If I truly submitted, Third Master would be the first to step forward and strangle me to death.

Third Master was extremely proud by nature. He would rather wrong everyone under heaven than allow a single person to wrong him.

All I could do was resist Old Madam and throw caution to the wind, seducing Third Master in front of everyone.

Third Master’s reaction to me was both pleased and displeased.

He took me back to his room, yet refused to touch me.

Third Master said unhappily, “If you didn’t want to follow Second Brother, you could have threatened death. Old Madam wouldn’t have gone so far as to make things difficult for you. Why dress like that and flaunt yourself in front of everyone?”

I said stubbornly, “Maomao couldn’t bear to leave Third Master, and I didn’t want to die. Tonight, I threw caution to the wind because I was seducing Third Master. I don’t care about anyone else. If Third Master looks down on me for it, I’ll leave right now.”

Third Master caught hold of me, lowered his head, and kissed me. In a muffled voice, he said, “Two years apart, and your body has grown bigger. So has your temper.”

When our passion was at its height, I asked to leave the estate and become his kept woman outside.

Third Master thought it over and said, “That’s fine. With that temper of yours, it will save you from getting so angry you die when I take a proper wife in the future.”