Chapter 8 Hidden Promises
The Eldest Young Master didn’t know my fears. He was both shocked and overjoyed about the pregnancy.
The Second Young Master didn’t care about wearing a green hat. He hoped I would hurry up and give birth to a fat son so he could spend every night in the Male Brothel wrapped around his Ah Yuan.
I went to Madam with full joy to report the good news.
“I knew I wasn’t wrong about you, girl. Round face, perky bottom—you’re clearly made for easy childbearing.”
Madam happily handed me a silver note and hinted, “As long as you deliver a boy safely, I will personally raise you to Concubine.”
A Concubine had documents and could not be bought, sold, or beaten at will.
Many little maids would kill to reach that step.
But it was still only Concubine.
I opened my mouth to mention the Servitude Contract, then caught the fleeting murderous glint in her eyes.
My heart jolted. If I asked for the Servitude Contract now, she might very well keep the child and get rid of the mother.
For now the most important thing was to bring this baby into the world safe and sound.
“Ah Yao, rest easy. I will never have children in this lifetime anyway. The one in your belly will be my only legitimate son!”
Hearing that made me even less at ease.
Wasn’t this practically a death sentence for me?
Before I could think of a plan, the Eldest Young Master came to me again that night and raised the matter of giving me a proper title.
“Ah Yao, our child cannot live without a clear status.”
I frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
He placed both hands gently over my belly, eyes soft. “I will speak to Madam. I want to marry you.”
I shoved his arms away. “Are you insane?!”
If he dared breathe a word to Madam, everything would come out.
The Concubine climbing into the Eldest Young Master’s bed and cuckolding the Second Young Master.
The Eldest Young Master sleeping with his brother’s woman.
The two of us deceiving Madam together. The Second Young Master planning to raise someone else’s child.
They were people of status. At worst they would take a few strokes of the board and recover in days.
The one who would suffer most was me—one cup of poison and my grave would be overgrown before anyone remembered.
Afraid he would act rashly, I softened my voice. “No, no. We need to plan carefully.”
But the usually gentle man darkened. “Plan what?”
“Are you reluctant to give up the wealth and honor the Second Young Master gives you?”
“What about me?”
“Am I just a dog for you, Xu Ah Yao?!”