"Eat it."
The voice was not loud, but in the deathly silent hall, it clearly reached everyone's ears.
Tian Yao's face flushed bright red. She could feel the venomous and resentful looks from those around her.
But she didn't dare to refuse.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire He family, she could only bend down, open her small mouth, and eat the piece of meat.
There was a crisp "snap".
It was the jade chopsticks in He Chengyu's hand that he had snapped in half.
She was just too favored.
The family dinner ended in a strange silence.
Bi Xi stood behind the old matriarch, head bowed, her fingernails almost digging into her palm.
She had originally thought that Tian Yao was doomed. She had even gloated and said a few words. Who could have thought that she would receive such favor?
The looks from the maids around made her face burn, as if she had been slapped in public.
As soon as the banquet was over, the old matriarch unexpectedly called Tian Yao to stop.
"Good child, come here to me."
Tian Yao timidly glanced at He Ciyuan. Seeing that he showed no sign, she shuffled over in small steps.
The old matriarch took her hand, with a kind smile on her face. "Look, what a good child. Ciyuan's courtyard has been much more peaceful lately. I imagine it's all your doing."
She said this quite loudly, and all the masters present heard it.
The marquise twitched the corner of her mouth and forced a smile in agreement. "Indeed. It's still the old matriarch who knows how to train people."
The old matriarch nodded in satisfaction, patting Tian Yao's hand meaningfully. "You just serve him well. If you do a good job, getting the title of a concubine would be your good fortune."
As soon as these words were spoken, He Chengyu's face turned completely dark.
Tian Yao thought to herself: Heh, do you want this "good fortune"?
Even on He Huaibi's usually gentle face, there was a crack. He picked up his teacup to hide his emotions.
What right did a disabled illegitimate son have?
Tian Yao could only smile faintly and agree, not saying much else.
However, the marquise looked at the old matriarch in confusion. "Mother, Tian Yao is just a flirt. How can she be worthy of the position of a concubine?"
At most, she should be a chambermaid. If she really became a concubine and rose higher and higher, wouldn't the mansion be in chaos?
The old matriarch took a sip of tea and slowly put down the teacup. "She's just an ordinary maid. What does it matter? The important thing is whether she'll listen to us."
It would be good if she could be obedient. If not, they'd have to find someone else.
She glanced at the marquise. "I originally planned to give her to Huaibi to calm him down. Who would have thought the eldest son snatched her away. Now that I think about it, it's not such a bad thing."
"You mean..."
"The eldest son looks like his soul has almost been taken away." The old matriarch sneered. "A disabled man with a perverse temper, yet he hides many cards we don't know about. Using such a girl to control him and make him behave is better than letting him run wild like a mad dog."
The marquise suddenly understood. "So that's how this move was meant to be used. I thought... we were just giving that brat a free ride."
The old matriarch snorted. "What rights do these maidservants have? Huaibi is a man indifferent to feelings. It doesn't matter if Tian Yao goes to him."
What her fate would be ultimately depended on their words.
They thought their conversation was secret, but they didn't know that every word had floated into the ears of the person outside the window.
He Chengyu had been furious and wanted to find a place to vent, but somehow he ended up outside the Pine and Crane Hall.
A plaything to be discarded after use?
The innocent yet charming face of Tian Yao appeared in his mind, as well as her shy and embarrassed look on the verge of tears when she was forced by He Ciyuan to eat the meat.
How could such a charming beauty be just a "pawn" in the mouths of those old women?
A strange sense of heroism and possessiveness welled up in his heart.
His elder brother was cruel, and his grandmother and mother regarded her as a tool. In this entire marquise's mansion, no one truly treated her well.
The night grew deeper.
Tian Yao finally managed to get away from the courtyard. He Chengyu was in a bad mood today, and she had served him nervously. As soon as she had the chance, she ran away.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened in the end.
There was no moon tonight, and the wind was quite strong. Tian Yao was carrying a small lantern. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, and the light went out instantly. The surroundings darkened.
[I'm speechless. Can't even low - level people get off work?]
[It's so dark and the road is uneven. If I accidentally trip, I'll really die!]
She hadn't even seen all the wonderful things here yet, and she didn't know who she could rely on in the future.
Such a fate had come so suddenly, and of course, she was in a bad mood.
Tian Yao panicked and subconsciously quickened her pace.
Just as she rounded a rockery, an arm suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed her!
"Um!"
A big hand tightly covered her mouth, blocking all her screams.
A strange male scent enveloped her. A strong arm, like an iron hoop, tightly wrapped around her waist and dragged her deeper into the darkness.
Tian Yao was so scared that her whole body turned cold. She struggled desperately but couldn't move the other person at all.
It's over!
These were the only two words left in her mind.
"Good sister, don't be afraid. It's me."
An oily and fake - gentle voice sounded in her ear.
He Chengyu!
What was this dead man doing here?
He was just a brute who took pleasure in torturing women. Now he was even hypocritically calling her sister?
"You... let me go!"
She squeezed out a few words through her teeth, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
Instead of letting go, He Chengyu hugged her even tighter. His warm breath blew on her earlobe, causing a shiver.
"You need to be quieter. If you attract the people from my elder brother's courtyard, it won't be good for either of us. Do you think you'll be accused of having an affair with me?"
If He Ciyuan was a normal man, with such a charming little beauty by his side, he surely wouldn't be able to resist her.
So He Chengyu was sure that Tian Yao wouldn't dare to complain.
By then, if he made up a few lies, who could guarantee that the two of them were truly innocent?
He just didn't want Tian Yao to die so soon. After all, he hadn't had enough fun yet.
He moved his lips closer, almost touching her cheek. "I came here specially to save you."
Tian Yao felt sick to her stomach and almost vomited.
Save her? More like a weasel paying a New - Year visit to a chicken!
[You pervert. If I were back in my old self, I'd surely kick you!]
"I accidentally heard grandmother and mother talking tonight," He Chengyu's voice was filled with a hint of self - satisfaction and pity. "They said you're just a pawn, a plaything to control my elder brother. Once he's no longer useful, you, this pawn, will be discarded."