“Yes, Old Madam.”
As soon as Ming Weishen entered, he saw the mother and daughter kneeling on the floor, weeping pitifully. The daughter’s face was swollen on one side. Hearing her mother’s words, he then looked toward his wife, who was half-reclining against the headboard.
Ming Weishen couldn’t help but frown. Stepping past the kneeling mother and daughter, he went forward and took his wife’s hand. “Why are you so angry?”
“Just listen,” Qiao Ruoying motioned with her chin toward Chuntao.
Chuntao began speaking clearly and methodically, as instructed by her mistress: “The flowers in the garden were blooming beautifully today. When Madam and Miss Li went for a stroll in the garden, they heard voices chatting near the Chuihua Archway and went to investigate.”
“Upon approaching, they discovered it was Third Young Miss and Young Master Qiao conversing. Third Young Miss gifted an Embroidered Pouch to Young Master Qiao, and Young Master Qiao in return gave Third Young Miss a Silver Hairpin.”
“After talking for a while, they essentially agreed to meet in three days for a spring outing to admire flowers in the suburbs.”Later, Third Young Miss asked Young Master Qiao what would happen if Madam did not agree to the arrangement.” Young Master Qiao told Third Young Miss not to worry—he would persuade Madam to agree and would also compensate Miss Li.”
“Upon hearing this, Madam summoned Third Young Miss and Young Master Qiao to the courtyard…”
“Madam intended to go to the east courtyard to seek out Old Madam, but she fainted halfway. Physician Chu was summoned and said Madam’s condition was due to extreme anger overwhelming her heart, advising her to avoid frequent fits of rage. Shortly after, Old Madam arrived.”
Ming Weishen laughed in anger. “To think she would do something like secretly meeting with an engaged man—utterly shameless! Break it off with that Qiao fellow immediately!”
“Since she’s had enough of comfortable living, let her experience hardship and learn what true suffering means. Send her to the Farmstead to work in the fields for a month. Su Yiniang is confined to her quarters for one month.”
Old Madam looked somewhat surprised but did not contradict her youngest son.
“Please no, Master!” Su Yiniang stared at him in shock, her eyes reddening again. “Shu’er has been pampered since childhood—how could she endure such hardship!”
“Shu’er, tell him you’ll break it off! Beg your father for mercy and show some remorse!” Su Yiniang tugged at Ming Yueshu, weeping bitterly.
Ming Yueshu looked stubbornly at Ming Weishen. “I won’t. Father, you yourself knelt and begged Grandmother to let you marry Mother, vowing to be with her. Why can’t you show some compassion for your daughter?”
“You were able to pursue true love—why can’t I?”
Shi Jianli discreetly glanced at the expressions of Old Madam and Ming Weishen.
Ming Weishen’s face turned pale with rage. “Do you still think you’ve done nothing wrong? He’s engaged yet he fooled around with you—what kind of decent man would do that?”
“And who taught you to discuss your elders like this?”
“Someone, escort Su Yiniang back,” Ming Weishen waved his hand. “First, take Third Young Miss back to her courtyard. Tomorrow, send her to the Farmstead.”
The mother and daughter were dragged away—Su Yiniang, delicate as a willow, sobbing mournfully, while Ming Yueshu stalked off stiff-necked and stubborn.
Shi Jianli offered another cup of tea to Ming Weishen. “Uncle, please have some tea.”
Old Madam glanced at the sickly Qiao Ruoying, then took Shi Jianli’s hand. “Good child, sit. You’re the wronged party—what are your thoughts?”
Since the engagement was set, this child had met with Qiao Jingchuan a few times accompanied by her daughter-in-law. She feared the girl might also have developed feelings for Qiao Jingchuan, which would make the situation awkward.
Sitting beside Old Madam, Shi Jianli appeared docile and gentle. Softly, she said, “Let’s call off the engagement. I don’t wish to marry a fickle man.”
“Good, let your aunt find you a better husband. There are so many fine young men in this world, your destined match is surely among them.”
“I shall follow the Old Madam’s arrangements.”
The Old Madam rose and looked at her youngest son and his wife. “I shall take my leave now. Second daughter-in-law, rest well. We’ll go to the Qiao family to return the Betrothal Agreement in a couple of days.”
“Thank you. This foolish daughter-in-law doesn’t know how to raise children properly, troubling Mother to worry.” Qiao Ruoying looked gratefully at the Old Madam, then turned to her senior maid. “Xialian, escort the Old Madam back.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Shi Jianli also took her leave, moving to support the Old Madam’s other arm. “I’ll walk with you.”
When they reached the path division outside the courtyard, the Old Madam patted her hand. “Alright, you may return now.”
“Yes.”
Back in the Tangli Court, maid Lanxing asked, “Young Miss, aren’t you angry?”
Shi Jianli’s fingers rested at her waist as she removed the White Magnolia Jade Ring and Jade Bell Pendant Fob. Gazing at the spinning white magnolia petals falling outside the low window, her clear eyes shifted with a gaze as crystalline as ice striking jade. “What is there to be angry about? I’ve only troubled my aunt.”
Having lost both parents many years ago, she had merely wanted to find an honest man from a family slightly beneath her station, so she wouldn’t be bullied after marriage. Since Qiao Jingchuan proved dishonest, breaking off the engagement and finding another would suffice.
As for feelings? There were none. Her impression of Qiao Jingchuan had been average – she had only agreed to the engagement because her aunt suggested it and he was reasonably handsome.
Having been here five years, Shi Jianli had come to understand what kind of person her aunt was. While angry, her aunt wouldn’t faint from anger over a concubine-born daughter – half of it was performance.
When the Old Madam arrived later, she first defended Ming Yueshu, then positioned herself as the wronged party to complain, naturally leaving Ming Yueshu for the Old Madam and her uncle to deal with.
“Truth be told, I should thank Ming Yueshu for helping me test my former fiancé’s character.”
Why bother getting angry over an unfaithful man with flawed morals?
Qiao Jingchuan was the clan nephew of both her aunt and her deceased mother. That he had become entangled with Ming Yueshu made Shi Jianli worry whether the Old Madam would blame her aunt – fortunately, she didn’t.
The Anguo Gong Manor had good family traditions, and the Old Madam was reasonable. That’s why she had come to rely on her aunt without causing too much trouble.
When Ming Weishen first saw Qiao Ruoying, he found her heavenly and became instantly smitten, begging the Old Madam to seek marriage. But the Qiao family’s status was too low – her maternal grandfather had only been a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel – the two families’ status differed greatly, and the Old Madam objected.
Ming Weishen persisted for a long time before gaining the Old Madam’s consent. Even after Qiao Ruoying married in, the Old Madam’s attitude remained poor initially – the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law only improved later.
Though truly in love, men from great families valued heirs and wouldn’t have only one woman. Ming Weishen had several concubines, and aside from one legitimate son, the rest were concubine-born children.
When her aunt was pregnant with her cousin, she had taken a fall. After giving birth to her cousin, her health weakened, preventing her from having other children.
“It’s good that you’re not angry, Young Miss. Anger harms the body.” Lanxing took the pendant fob from Shi Jianli and put it away properly while the other maid, Xianyue, had gone to the main kitchen in the west compound to fetch the evening meal.
Shi Jianli picked up the box of face powder from the dressing table and the prescription beneath it. “Take these to Qunyu Pavilion, and bring me back some Peach Blossom Pastry.”
“Yes.”
After Lanxing left, Xianyue soon returned with the evening meal.
“Young Miss, I heard Second Young Miss has returned,” Xianyue said with a smile.
Hearing this, a slight smile appeared between Shi Jianli’s brows.
The second young lady, named Ming Yuelin—derived from the verse “The bright moon overlooks the vast sea, idle clouds linger over the native hills”—was the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch, half a year younger than Shi Jianli. Shi Jianli got along well with her, and she had gone to her maternal grandparents’ home a month ago.
After the evening meal, Shi Jianli packed her schoolwork and went to bed early. The next day, she brought her assignments to the Family School.
“Sister Li, come quickly!”
As soon as Shi Jianli entered the classroom, she saw Ming Yuelin smiling with crescent eyes, beckoning to her.