WBSGVS Chapter 149 V1

Watching the sibling pair—one fuming with rage, cursing as if their whole world had been turned upside down, and the other offering a bitter smile while being scolded, glancing at her for help—Qingli simply smiled sweetly, saying nothing.

Qiyue stole a glance at her. That smile wasn’t fake in the slightest. With a helpless sigh, she lowered her gaze, pretending not to see or hear anything.

Just then, Xie Yuning strutted over, her expression haughty. Looking at Qingli, she put on a benevolent face and said, “For the sake of the Xie family’s lineage, I appreciate your sacrifice. You did well.”

You’d never guess that just moments ago, she had been questioning Qingli with a darkened face, furious that the concubines chosen for her brother had come from a brothel.

Qingli remained humble, bowing slightly. “Eldest Sister, you flatter me. This was simply my duty.”

Standing nearby, Xie Rongyun forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. As soon as Xie Yuning left, he frowned and said, “Ali, you shouldn’t have done this!”

Qingli blinked innocently. “But, husband, Eldest Sister has been bringing gifts and visiting every day lately, and you never stopped her. I thought you also wanted a child.”

“I’ve been too busy to notice!” Xie Rongyun struggled to explain, his face twitching as he anxiously rubbed the jade ring on his thumb. His chest felt tight—he had dug his own grave with this one. He never expected her to make such a decision without even discussing it with him.

After a brief pause, he sighed. “Let’s just leave it as is this time. But in the future, don’t do this again!”

“Of course,” Qingli nodded obediently.

She didn’t need to do it again anyway. Five women were more than enough to stir up trouble.

Her eyes gleamed slightly as she tried to maintain a calm expression, though a trace of anticipation slipped through. “Husband, then shall we choose one for tonight?”

“You decide,” Xie Rongyun replied absentmindedly. He glanced at her and felt an inexplicable sense of unease under her gaze. Not wanting to stay any longer, he turned and said, “I’ll be in the study.”

“Alright,” Qingli nodded quickly, already calculating which one to pick.

These five women weren’t the most outstanding in the brothel, but they were certainly the most lively. When she went to buy them, the brothel’s madam had eagerly lined up a group of women for her to choose from.

Being redeemed and becoming a concubine for an official was far better than staying in a brothel, so every single woman there had clung to Qingli, trying to win her favor.

After careful observation, she picked the five who seemed the most scheming and the most troublesome.

If Xie Rongyun wanted to pressure her into accepting concubines by subtly implying that she was at fault for not bearing a child, then she’d give him a whole handful of them.

Breeding, was it? She may not have worked with animals before, but when it came to people, she was more than capable. As a skilled physician, she could ensure everyone was in optimal condition. The back courtyard was about to get very lively.

Qingli turned to Qiyue and saw the understanding in her eyes. Feeling slightly guilty, she gave her a sheepish smile.

First, she had gone to the brothel to buy women. Then, she had someone inform Xie Yuning, ensuring she arrived just in time to see Xie Rongyun lose his temper, forcing him to accept the concubines. Even if Qiyue was usually obedient, it was impossible for her not to notice.

Clearing her throat, Qingli said, “Qiyue, arrange the accommodations for the concubines. For tonight, let’s start with Madam Zhou.”

“Yes,” Qiyue curtsied and went to make arrangements.

As Qingli’s maid, Qiyue currently manages everything in the household. She had a team of servants under her, and since the new concubines all had their indenture contracts in Qingli’s hands, they had no choice but to obey her.

The matter was settled quickly.

Among the new concubines, Qiyue deliberately placed two of them in a courtyard next to Yuegui Courtyard.

The commotion from the move was noticeable.

Mu Lan’er, who was still wallowing in sadness, couldn’t help but notice and asked, “What’s going on next door?”

The maid hesitated before replying, “Someone has moved in.”

“Who?” Mu Lan’er pressed further. “A relative of the Xie family?”

The maid faltered, unwilling to give a direct answer.

She had been sent by Xie Rongyun and had witnessed the subtle interactions between the two over the past few days. Knowing exactly what Mu Lan’er was hoping for, she hesitated to say anything that might ruin it.

But Mu Lan’er’s curiosity only grew stronger. Since the maid wouldn’t answer, she decided to check for herself.

The moment she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw a flirtatious woman at the gate, delicately pinching a silk handkerchief as she cooed, “Be gentle with that—I love this flower.”

At that moment, Mu Lan’er didn’t need an answer from the maid. A sharp pain stabbed at her heart as she realized what was happening.

Even so, she clung to a sliver of hope and softly asked, “Who… might you be?”

The woman turned around with a bright smile. “Oh? I’m Madam Zhou, newly arrived. Are you a concubine too?”

Mu Lan’er staggered back two steps, clutching her chest as a wave of suffocation hit her.

It was true.

She was a concubine.

As if fate wanted to twist the knife deeper, another maid approached and, upon seeing Madam Zhou, immediately stepped forward and said, “Madam Zhou, prepare yourself for tonight.”

No need for further explanation. Everyone understood what that meant.

“Really?!” Madam Zhou’s voice brimmed with excitement, a bit too loud in her enthusiasm. She had never expected to be chosen first—her temper was infamous, and the brothel had almost refused to take her in despite her good looks.

“Of course,” the maid confirmed before walking away.

Madam Zhou, utterly delighted, hurried inside to prepare herself. Everything else in the courtyard could wait—her priority was making herself look as beautiful as possible.

Mu Lan’er, however, couldn’t hear anything anymore. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed.

“Miss!” her maid shrieked in panic.

—

When Qingli heard that Mu Lan’er had fallen ill, she casually sent a maid to fetch a doctor and continued eating her fruit.