The dreadful autumn heat had finally passed, and ice was no longer needed in the rooms. The prickly heat on Li Shu's body had completely disappeared. With her milky-white skin and large, black grape-like eyes, she looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly realized how adorable she had been as a child!
Behind her, Mother was combing her hair, her movements gentle and slow, careful not to pull her hair. Li Shu once again felt that the greatest meaning of her rebirth was being able to enjoy family affection once more.
Outside, Dan Hong and Dan Qing had just received new clothes. Dan Hong said happily, "Thanks to Concubine Ding managing the household, even before winter has arrived, she’s given us servants two sets of clothes each. This is much better than when the First Madam was in charge."
For servants, no matter how eloquently you speak, nothing compares to having enough to eat and wear.
Xiao Fu Shi smiled and said, "I had only heard before that she was cautious, unambitious, virtuous, and gentle. I never imagined she had such talent for managing affairs."
"Mother, who is better at managing the household, you or Concubine Ding?" Li Shu pretended to compare like a competitive child.
If she were to tell Xiao Fu Shi to be careful of Concubine Ding or Fu Shi, such words would hardly come from a child not yet six years old. It would be shocking, and her mother wouldn’t take it seriously.
That’s why she brought it up in this provocative way.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Fu Shi pursed her lips. It had been a long time since she had managed the household.
Dan Qing, however, said, "Third Miss, of course, the Madam is better. When our Madam managed the household before, everything was handled very well."
"Since Father doesn’t let Mother manage the household now, I hope Concubine Ding will always be in charge. That way, you’ll have chicken legs and meat on the table and nice clothes to wear." Li Shu spoke and laughed in her childish way.
Dan Hong and Dan Qing looked at Xiao Fu Shi and quickly said to Li Shu, "Miss, this…"
Xiao Fu Shi slowly shook her head. "I always thought that stepping back would avoid trouble, but now it seems that if this continues, even my most beloved daughter will think her mother is useless."
"Children’s words carry no harm. Madam, please don’t take it to heart," Dan Qing advised.
Xiao Fu Shi said calmly, "I had underestimated Concubine Ding before. Seeing how she’s winning over the servants with these actions, once power is in her hands, it will be difficult to take it back later."
Li Shu was surprised because, just as Xiao Fu Shi had anticipated, in her previous life, Xiao Fu Shi had miscarried, remained ill, and passed away within a few years. Fu Shi had also served Grandmother for three years, later became pregnant, and her health was never very good. It seemed that Concubine Ding had always managed the household.
Could it be that this person was truly like Wang Mang, humble before his usurpation?
Women in the inner courtyard grew up amidst struggles, and none were foolish. After Li Shu’s reminder, Xiao Fu Shi stroked her belly and said to Dan Qing, "If someone is solely focused on acting as a caretaker, they would simply follow established rules. Yet, she reduced unnecessary expenses on the schooling fees for the two young ladies and two young masters and persuaded the master to purchase many cheap citrus fruits from Jiujiang to dry into aged tangerine peel. This aged peel even earned a considerable profit. Clearly, she is ten times more capable than my elder sister."
Such talent, and she had underestimated her.
Dan Hong added, "But she isn’t favored. The master would rather accompany the First Madam now than visit her."
"Just because there’s no opportunity now doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future. Given enough time, opportunities will arise. This is what’s called the slow and steady approach." Xiao Fu Shi understood this very well.
Li Shu thought to herself that her mother still saw things very clearly. She had made her point and reminded her mother to take good care of herself, and that was enough.
At that moment, Dan Qing smiled and said, "Even meticulous effort can't compare to you. Once you give birth to a son, where would there be room for a mere Yiniang to manage the household affairs?"
Xiao Fu Shi touched her belly, feeling rather puzzled. Concubine Ding was making such a fuss—didn’t she know that after she gave birth, if her elder sister was unable to manage, Concubine Ding would naturally take charge again?
Unless…
At this thought, Xiao Fu Shi felt a sudden unease.
Unless something happened to her. In the past, she could have assured herself that nothing would go wrong, but now she was pregnant, at her most vulnerable, and most susceptible to—
being plotted against!
Meanwhile, Nanny Rao, seeing that the stipend allowance for the main household was larger than before, couldn’t help but say to Fu Shi, "Madam, Concubine Ding has always been upright. She respects the rightful wife and follows your lead in everything. Even when it came to making new clothes, it was only because Yu Ping complained that she took the opportunity to have them made."
Fu Shi nodded. "Concubine Ding entered the household to serve the master at fourteen. She adores him but has never resorted to any underhanded tactics. She is an upright person, and I trust her."
"Exactly. But Concubine Su has been frequently sending the Second Young Master and Third Young Master to see the master. In the past, she came to you every day, pretending to be loyal, but every time she visited, she would mention placing the Second Young Master under your care within three sentences. You are still young—how could you possibly be unable to bear children?" Nanny Rao was furious.
Fu Shi, of course, knew what Concubine Su meant. However, her mother, Lady Fu, had sent her a letter with a prescription for conceiving a son. Back then, her mother had given birth to five sons in a row, which was why her mother-in-law had arranged for her marriage.
But ever since she returned from her arduous journey outside, her mother-in-law had grown cold toward her, as if suspecting she had been tainted during her time away. Fortunately, for the sake of her children, her mother-in-law did not show it openly.
"Madam, the most urgent matter now is to regulate your health and give birth to another son as soon as possible! In my opinion, the second wife is ill-fated and short-lived. I’ve heard her pregnancy is not going well—she doesn’t seem capable of succeeding. It must be you," Nanny Rao urged.
Fu Shi frowned. "Don’t speak of Qiujun that way."
Nanny Rao agreed readily and, after helping Fu Shi rest, left the room. Seeing Yu Ping and Yu Lan looking at her eagerly, she shook her head. "I tested the waters with Madam, but she still disagrees."
The three of them were all Fu Shi’s dowry maids and had gathered to discuss the matter. Yu Lan said, "Madam has always been kind-hearted, but others may not be. Once the second wife stabilizes her pregnancy, the master cannot stay with Madam forever. If the master goes to the second wife’s side and she gives birth to a son and gains favor, what will become of our Madam? If Concubine Ding manages the household, it might be fine, but if the second wife takes charge, where will we find a way to survive?"
Yu Ping knew this all too well. Back when the second wife was in charge, her own mother had been sent away to the estate. She immediately said, "In my opinion, she might have had a hand in the death of the Eldest Young Master. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? As soon as the Eldest Young Master passed away, she became pregnant. Thankfully, the master still has feelings for our Madam."
Nanny Rao agreed wholeheartedly. She smiled faintly. "We all rely on Madam, but Madam is too soft-hearted. Some things will have to be done by us."
Yu Ping and Yu Lan exchanged glances.
The next day, Concubine Su came again, lifting her skirt as she walked. Her seniority was greater than Concubine Ding's, and her offspring were more promising, yet now she found herself overshadowed by Concubine Ding. Previously, relying on her two sons, her stipend allowance had been equal to that of the primary wife. But now, Concubine Ding handled matters strictly by the rules, even issuing orders, making it seem as though Concubine Su were somehow inferior.
Thus, she came to pay her respects, but to her surprise, when Fu Shi saw her, her expression was indifferent. After exchanging only a few words, Fu Shi excused herself, claiming to be unwell. Concubine Su had no choice but to leave in frustration.
As soon as she stepped out, she overheard Yu Ping and Yu Lan saying, "Our Second Mistress is the primary wife's own younger sister. When the time comes to adopt a son, surely it will be Second Mistress's son. How could it ever fall to some outsider?"
"Exactly. Some people are just deluding themselves. Once Second Mistress gives birth to a son, with the favor she enjoys, she’ll surely have another. By then, perhaps even the eldest branch will adopt one," Yu Lan chimed in.
Yu Ping swept the ground loudly, adding, "In short, some people shouldn’t get their hopes up."
Concubine Su was furious. Returning to her courtyard, she saw Ying Tao come back empty-handed, which only fueled her anger. "Didn’t I tell you to fetch the bird’s nest for me? Why didn’t you bring it?"
Ying Tao replied, "The kitchen is undergoing major changes now. The bird’s nest is strictly accounted for. I heard Concubine Ding reported it to the primary wife. The household is now prioritizing Second Mistress, and all the bird’s nest in the residence is to be sent to her. Besides, the household is cutting back on expenses, so yours has been suspended for now."
As if afraid of angering Concubine Su further, Ying Tao added, "Yiniang, please bear with it for now. Once Second Mistress gives birth, things will go back to how they were."
"No, it won’t be the same. When Xiao Fu Shi was favored, I couldn’t even see the master once in two years. She’s still so young, beautiful, and of noble status. If she gives birth to one son, she’ll surely have another. Then it will be difficult for my son to be formally adopted into the eldest branch. Today it’s bird’s nest; tomorrow it will be my son’s future." The contentment she once felt while enjoying fruits and pastries was gone from Concubine Su’s face.
She had heard that the court’s decrees were beginning to relax. The eldest master held a hereditary position as a Jinyiwei Thousand-man Commander, a fifth-rank official post. How could she let others take advantage of this?
At this thought, Concubine Su’s gaze sharpened, as if she had made a decision.