The woman wore a white silk dress, her figure graceful, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, a small mole gracing the tip of her nose, making her exceptionally charming.
She stepped down from the carriage gracefully, turning back to speak softly:
“Yuan Ge’er, Tian Jie’er, quickly take Mother’s hand and come down.”
A pair of delicate, jade-like hands pulled down a boy and a girl, who clung tightly to the woman’s side, their expressions nervous.
This display quickly caught the attention of the Xu family members, and they all turned to look.
Second Master Xu was first startled, then scrutinized the two children. The girl was about seven or eight years old, the boy five or six—both old enough to be stable.
He shot his elder brother a strange look. After all these years away, he had taken a mistress and kept it hidden for so long, only bringing her back now with two children already born!
The others shared similar thoughts, and Li Shi was particularly gleeful, feeling quite pleased inside.
Her gaze toward the woman held a hint of goodwill. Though she was a lowly concubine, at least her womb was productive.
It would be best if she bore more children, trampling that little bastard Yue Ge’er into the mud.
Xu Yue soon noticed Yuan Niang’s worried gaze—her face pale, her eyes filled with anxiety.
She was worried.
Forget all that talk about being connected by blood; Xu Yuan Niang knew only one thing: the one who shared the same womb as her, Xu Yue, was her true brother.
Moreover, this woman was beautiful and had both a son and a daughter. She was bound to win Father’s favor, and what mother wouldn’t scheme for her own children?
With more illegitimate children, her and her brother’s share would shrink.
Xu Yue maintained a sweet smile, as if unaware of anything, obediently leaning against her father’s shoulder and clinging to him. Her round, large eyes stared curiously at the woman—
So this was the stepmother mentioned only briefly in the book. No wonder she had captivated Master Xu so thoroughly.
As soon as the woman appeared, Master Xu frowned and scolded her harshly:
“I didn’t tell you to come out. What are you doing here?”
Suddenly reprimanded, the woman’s face paled, her bright eyes welling with tears, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip:
“This humble one shouldn’t have done so, but the children have been in the carriage all day and can’t take it anymore. I panicked…”
This pitiful, delicate demeanor would soften any man’s heart, and Master Xu almost immediately changed his expression:
“Alright, alright, I didn’t say much. You were just acting out of a mother’s love.”
The woman gazed at Master Xu as if he were a god, her tears turning to a smile, her tenderness flowing like water:
“As long as Xu Lang doesn’t misunderstand me.”
Xu Lang.
Second Master Xu savored those two words. Even though they weren’t directed at him, his heart melted repeatedly. His elder brother certainly had good fortune in love.
Bah, a vixen!
Yuan Niang’s lowered eyes nearly spat fire, her heart growing increasingly frantic. If this woman had bewitched Father, what would become of her and her brother in the future?
What to do? Let it be. Xu Yue mused inwardly. This stepmother from the book was no pushover. Of the two children, only the little boy was related to the Xu family.
She had followed Master Xu back this time because she was anxious about the Xu family’s plans to take a new wife.
Now, every move, every action had only one goal—to secure her position.
But first, she had to pass her test.
“Father, who is this auntie?”
A child’s innocent voice rang out. Xu Yue tilted her head and suddenly clapped her hands together.
“I see, is this the wet nurse Father found for me? Brother Wen told me all children need wet nurses, and the wet nurse’s child can serve as my study companion.”
This childish remark made the woman’s face turn pale with anger, nearly causing her to lose composure. What wet nurse? And claiming her son would be a study companion?
How dare he!
The woman seemed so flustered with rage she didn’t know what to do. Others watched as if enjoying a play, none offering to help.
Of course – Xu Yue was a descendant of the Xu family, while this unrelated woman was nothing at best a mistress kept outside the main household.
Even Li Shi watched with amusement. As the legitimate wife, how could she genuinely like mistresses or concubines? Yuan Niang felt particularly pleased, but her expression darkened again the next moment.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Master Xu lightly scolded, somewhat awkwardly gesturing to the woman:
“This is Li Niang. Her children are also your elder siblings, not any study companions. You must get along well with them in the future.”
The woman – no, Li Niang – glided forward like a swallow returning to its nest, first exchanging a knowing smile with Master Xu.
Then she looked at Xu Yue and said very gently:
“It’s alright, Xu Lang. Yue Ge’er is still young and doesn’t know better. I won’t blame him…”
“You’re not even worthy of being a servant girl, yet you dare to blame Yue Ge’er? How dare you address him as Yue Ge’er!”
At the main entrance, Landlord Xu stormed out with fierce eyes, scolding Li Niang before slapping Master Xu across the face:
“Have you lost your mind? Our Xu family has been respectable for generations with strict family rules. We’ve never allowed women of unknown background to enter our household.”
Saying this, Landlord Xu swept a contemptuous glance over Li Niang, full of disdain:
“Prostitutes and courtesans have no loyalty. What you do outside is your business – I can’t control you. But now you actually bring her back to bully my good grandson? This I cannot ignore.”
Li Niang clenched her silver teeth, leaning delicately against Master Xu as if about to cry:
“You misunderstand, I’m not… not a prostitute or courtesan…”
She couldn’t continue, nor could she afford to. For a woman in her humble position, even having such words spoken about her damaged her reputation.
The two children were frightened, hugging their mother and crying loudly. Finally Master Xu spoke, glancing helplessly at the other Xu family members.
He had planned to quietly bring Li Niang and the children into the household without alerting Landlord Xu, then slowly persuade him. With children present, his father would surely soften.
This way things wouldn’t become ugly, and Li Niang wouldn’t suffer humiliation.
Now that plan had failed. Master Xu gave Li Niang an apologetic look before saying:
“Father, Li Niang isn’t that kind of woman. She bore me a son. Yuan Ge’er, quickly greet your grandfather.”
The little boy timidly prepared to step forward, like a frightened small animal. Xu Yue sneered inwardly – in his previous life, as the only son of the main branch, this one had been utterly arrogant and domineering.
“Stop. I only need Yue Ge’er as my grandson. Other stray cats and dogs – it’s not even certain if they’re truly of Xu blood.”
Landlord Xu’s expression was cold. He wouldn’t allow anyone to threaten the status of the Xu family’s prized steed.
What was some bastard child worth?
He sneered again:
“You say the boy is your son. Then what about this little girl? Who do you say she is?”
Li Niang broke down sobbing. Yuan Ge’er turned back crying to hug his mother. The little girl fared somewhat better, lifting her small face with stubborn defiance.
Master Xu’s face was flushed with anger as he turned away and explained through gritted teeth:
“Li Niang has a tragic background. She was abducted by traffickers as a child and sold to a wealthy family. When she grew up, she was forcibly taken by the master of the house and gave birth to Tian Jie’er. Later, the jealous first wife drove them out with a sum of money.”
“After this misfortune, Tian Jie’er fell ill. Li Niang, a helpless woman, was at a loss and happened to meet me. She begged me to find a doctor, and that’s how we became acquainted.”
“And then you, an adulterous pair, hooked up together.”
Landlord Xu showed no mercy, trampling even his own son’s dignity. Master Xu was deeply humiliated but offered no defense.
The facts spoke for themselves—otherwise, how could Yuan Ge’er exist? He was already five, nearly six years old, more than two years older than Xu Yue.
This proved that Yuan Ge’er had been born while Xu Yue’s birth mother was still alive.
The Xu family watched this drama unfold, while a few villagers lurked nearby, observing with great relish.
They were thrilled: Landlord Xu’s eldest son had an affair with a dismissed concubine who already had a child, and they even had a son together!
With such juicy gossip, they wouldn’t even need side dishes to go with their meals today.