Chapter 57: Becoming a Concubine

Before her stood a room.

A long sword hung on the wall, and in the center of the room stood an ancient zither.

When Chu Bing opened her eyes, this was the scene that greeted her.

Something about it felt familiar.

“Young master, you should think for yourself,” came an aged voice from behind the screen, startling Chu Bing into an abrupt halt.

She knew where she was now—this was Li Mohan’s room!

She shrank into the corner, not daring to move. Thankfully, the formation had already been activated, so they hadn’t noticed her.

“…You have always been sincere to the Master. Although you are not his own son, all these years, whatever he asked of you, you did—far more dutiful than his two real sons! You have already repaid his kindness…”

What! Li Mohan is not the Prime Minister’s biological son?

Chu Bing’s eyes widened as she strained her ears to catch every sound from within.

“Uncle Zhao, you needn’t say more. Since I promised Father to properly train Third Brother, I will not go back on my word.” Li Mohan’s voice was as cold and restrained as ever.

At the mention of Li Haoran, Chu Bing nearly rushed out to question Li Mohan directly.

But she didn’t dare.

She could only cower within the teleportation array, obediently eavesdropping.

“You sent Third Master to that place—he’s absolutely safe. But this time, the Prime Minister is acting too hastily. Third Master has never studied military strategy before, yet now he’s forced to learn it day after day. His workload is even heavier than yours or Second Master’s. Who knows if he can withstand it in the long run,” Uncle Zhao sighed.

Li Mohan replied, “Third Brother has two sets of military texts in his possession, both extraordinary. I don’t know where he got them, but if he masters them, his future achievements will be remarkable.”

Military texts?

Could they be the ones she gave to Li Haoran?

Chu Bing stroked her chin in thought. Suddenly, the system chimed in her mind.

“Dear host, please hurry and find Li Haoran!”

Chu Bing pursed her lips. “I know!”

She wanted to find him too!

“…Young master, the Prime Minister truly disregards your position. He personally selects all of Third Master’s teachers and checks on his studies every day. But when it was you, he never even inquired…”

“Uncle Zhao, Father has his reasons. We need only do our duty and disregard the rest,” Li Mohan’s voice grew colder.

“…Yes, sir.”

Chu Bing couldn’t help but sigh—Li Mohan was indeed loyal to a fault, ever faithful to the Prime Minister.

Yet the Prime Minister loved his own sons more.

“Who’s there?”

Suddenly, an elderly man hurried from behind the screen, his eyes sharp and piercing as he stared straight in Chu Bing’s direction.

Chu Bing froze, terror-stricken.

Had she been discovered?

Uncle Zhao approached, suspicion clouding his expression. He sniffed the air. “There’s a stranger’s scent here. How odd.”

Clearly, there was no one here!

Li Mohan also walked over, his gaze searching in Chu Bing’s direction, confusion in his eyes.

“Young master, perhaps someone has been here,” Uncle Zhao reported, continuing to walk toward Chu Bing.

Panicked, Chu Bing dared not move. When she saw them drawing closer, she gritted her teeth, activated the array, and hurriedly fled!

The last thing she saw before leaving was Li Mohan’s noble, refined face.

Chu Bing returned to Ren Changfeng’s courtyard.

Ren Changfeng was practicing in the yard. When he saw Chu Bing rush in, his face darkened. “Where have you been?”

Chu Bing was always out, leaving him alone in the courtyard. Ren Changfeng was nearly overwhelmed by this constant sense of unease.

Chu Bing mustered a timid smile. “I was working! There are still piles of laundry waiting for me to wash.”

After all, she was just a maid in the laundry room!

Ren Changfeng was momentarily speechless, irritation rising in his chest. But seeing Chu Bing’s pitiful expression, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her further. He could only say with a stern face, “It’s time to change the dressing.”

His wounds had mostly healed, yet he insisted on Chu Bing changing his bandages every day.

Chu Bing pouted.

Ren Changfeng had many injuries, but mostly superficial ones, which had fully healed with rest.

Chu Bing changed his bandages, her slender fingers brushing across his back, making his expression turn odd.

He coughed lightly and sat up straight. “Hongxiu.”

Chu Bing paused, realizing he was calling her.

“What is it?”

“Why not… let me take you as a concubine?” Ren Changfeng said.

“Sss—”

Chu Bing pressed down hard on his wound.

Ren Changfeng sucked in a cold breath, whipping around to glare at her. “You don’t want to?”

His eyes were like a leopard’s in the forest, brimming with an obsessive persistence that vowed not to rest until he got what he wanted.

Chu Bing felt like prey caught in his jaws, a chill running down her spine.

Yet the word “concubine” truly ignited her anger.

She gritted her teeth, laughing coldly. “How dare you? You want me to be your concubine?”

Any modern woman would find such an insult intolerable!

Ren Changfeng frowned but showed no irritation at Chu Bing’s anger. Instead, he said gruffly, “You’re just a maid. Hoping to be my principal wife is impossible.”

“But don’t worry—even as a concubine, I won’t let anyone bully you.” His words were earnest, but the underlying condescension was still unbearable.

She let out a cold laugh, stood, and looked down at Ren Changfeng. “I’m ever so grateful for your kindness, but I really can’t bear such favor!”

Ren Changfeng grew annoyed. He lowered his voice. “What more do you want? If not for your diligent care these days, a maid would never be allowed into my household!”

He was, after all, an official appointed by the court. If word spread that he’d taken a maid as his wife, he’d be the laughingstock of all.

Chu Bing had no desire to waste words on such a lunatic. She lifted her foot to leave.

Ren Changfeng grabbed her wrist and, with a yank, pulled her into his arms.

Caught off guard, Chu Bing tumbled against his chest. Before she could react, he had pinned her beneath him.

“Let go!” Chu Bing tried to push him away.

Ren Changfeng seized her wrists, pressing them above her head as he loomed over her.

“Whether you agree or not, you’ll agree today. Hongxiu, I’m not a patient man. If you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t have bothered with all this nonsense.”

His eyes lingered on her vivid, tempting lips, a deep shadow flickering within. “But… if you refuse, I have other ways.”

What?

As his face drew close, Chu Bing suddenly lifted her head and rammed it into his.