Harboring a joyful mood, Xu Yuyan walked into the main hall. Seeing Madame Lü flipping through the account books, she immediately took brisk steps to Madame Lü’s side, tugged on her arm, and said, “Mother.”
Madame Lü beckoned her to sit down, looking at her daughter with a mixture of happiness and worry.
Xu Yuyan didn’t notice Madame Lü’s thoughts. Continuing on her own, she pulled on Madame Lü and said coquettishly, “Mother, Deng-lang is coming today. You must absolutely remember to keep him for a meal.”
The hand Madame Lü used to flip the account book abruptly paused. She raised her eyes to look at Xu Yuyan. “Today is New Year’s Eve, and he is still coming over?”
Xu Yuyan originally thought Madame Lü would be just as happy as she was. Unexpecting to hear Madame Lü ask this, she froze for a moment before whispering, “Yes, Mother… are you not happy?”
She looked at Madame Lü’s face, her heart anxiously tossing up and down. “Mother, you have already met Deng-lang’s mother… Although she comes from a merchant background, her speech and conversation are absolutely top-tier. Mother, although today is New Year’s Eve and he originally shouldn’t come over, Deng-lang is also doing this wholeheartedly for me. Just permit him, won’t you?”
As Xu Yuyan spoke, she shook Madame Lü’s sleeve, her tone charmingly persuasive and spoiled.
Madame Lü knitted her brows.
New Year’s Eve was supposed to be celebrated behind closed doors with family. This Deng-lang hadn’t formally proposed yet; if he visited rashly now and word got out, it would be bad for Xu Yuyan’s reputation.
But Yuyan had already dived in headfirst. Her heart and eyes were completely filled with Deng Liangyu; how could she possibly listen to anyone else’s words?
Her face flushed red, Xu Yuyan leaned into Madame Lü’s ear, lowered her eyelashes, and said, “Deng-lang said that after the Beginning of Spring, he will send someone to our door to propose.”
Hearing her words, Madame Lü reached out and lightly smacked her forehead.
An unmarried maiden, opening and closing her mouth about marriage—if others heard it, it would be terribly embarrassing.
Knowing she had misspoken, Xu Yuyan stuck out her tongue.
Looking at her daughter’s face full of joy, Madame Lü truly couldn’t bear to spit out even half a refusal. On second thought, the residence had been in contact with Deng-lang for quite some time now… Although it was somewhat unjustifiable in terms of etiquette, it was a matter everyone was silently well aware of, so it wasn’t anything serious.
Furthermore, in this Eqiao County, who would dare utter half a “no” in front of the Xu residence’s door?
Thinking this way, Madame Lü convinced herself. Looking at her daughter’s face full of longing, she stroked her affectionately. “Never mind, never mind. As long as you are safe and prosperous in the future, if we can’t hear the gossip of others, so be it.”
Seeing the white hairs growing at Madame Lü’s temples, a wave of sour sorrow suddenly welled up in Xu Yuyan’s heart. Her mother exhausted all her thoughts and efforts for her in every matter, placing her wishes first, yet she only cared about Deng-lang… In the future, when she was together with Deng-lang, she must return often to look after her!
If Deng-lang succeeded in the future and could settle down in Bianjing city, she would definitely bring her mother over to properly enjoy a life of ease and comfort.
Just as the mother and daughter were talking warmly, a gentle yet high-pitched voice sounded from outside the door.
“This concubine has come to pay respects to Da-niangzi. Oh, the Fourth Miss is here too?”
Hearing this voice, Xu Yuyan subconsciously knitted her brows tightly.
Madame Lü didn’t have a good expression either. She withdrew the hand stroking Xu Yuyan’s face, her demeanor returning to its usual dignified sternness.
Concubine Yao interrupted their conversation without the slightest hint of guilt. With one hand resting lightly against her lower back and the other draped over Tian Mama’s arm, she walked very slowly and carefully.
Madame Lü deliberately ignored Yao-shi, but as her gaze swept over Yao-shi’s slightly bulging lower abdomen, she still unavoidably froze for a moment.
That’s right. Calculating the days, this pregnancy was already over five months along; it was time it began to show.
Today, Concubine Yao wore a peach-red jacket, paired below with a water-red and silver-white long skirt. It looked bright and beautiful but not overly vulgar. Matched with her carefully painted and made-up face, she truly looked like a blooming red plum blossom born in the winter days.
Madame Lü couldn’t help but look at her own fingers. Despite carefully maintaining them every day and applying Jade Dew Ointment, fine wrinkles still appeared on them, making them look somewhat rough.
Today, when the hair-combing maid came to do her hair, she had clearly seen new white hairs growing at her temples again. The hair-combing maid had served by her side for a long time. Upon seeing it, she softly asked Madame Lü for instructions: “Niangzi, shall this servant pull them out for you?”
Pulling them out, they would grow back. Growing back, she would pull them out. Over and over again, as if there was no end. Madame Lü sighed and shook her head.
The hair-combing maid didn’t ask further. Carefully hiding the white hairs beneath the black ones, she comforted Madame Lü, saying, “In another two years, once the Second Miss gives birth, Niangzi will be a maternal grandmother.”
Yes. Her eldest daughter had already married, and now her youngest daughter was discussing marriage… But even knowing this well in her heart, the moment she saw Concubine Yao, a wave of dense, prickling pain still spread through her heart.
Tian Mama took a soft cushion from the hands of the accompanying maids and padded the stool with it, then supported Concubine Yao as she sat down. After Concubine Yao sat down unhurriedly, she reached out to caress her stomach while raising her eyes to look at the distracted Madame Lü.
“This child is restless; I have made Da-niangzi laugh at me,” Concubine Yao said with a pursed-lip smile.
Madame Lü felt as terribly disgusted in her heart as if she had just swallowed a fly.
Seeing Madame Lü remain silent, Concubine Yao wasn’t annoyed either. Turning to look at Tian Mama standing beside her, she smiled and said, “The sour jujubes Shu-jie’er bought yesterday were delicious. Have someone go buy some more today.”
Tian Mama cooperated and laughed, “Rest assured, Xiaoniang. Knowing you love to eat them, Shu-jie’er sent someone out early on. The doctor even said the day before yesterday that your pregnancy symptoms are excellent; this child is guaranteed to be a son.”
Watching the two exchange words back and forth while her mother remained silent, Xu Yuyan grew anxious in her heart and blurted out, “Whether it can even be born is still uncertain! How can you have the foresight to know it’s a son?”
Madame Lü’s heart gave a violent start. Before she could smooth things over, she saw Concubine Yao instantly widen her eyes in disbelief. In just two seconds, tears began to fall drop by drop.
She looked weakly at Madame Lü, the very picture of absolute heartbreak. “The Fourth Miss’s words are entirely unreasonable. The children of the Xu family will all be registered under Da-niangzi’s name in the future… Taking ten thousand steps back, this child will also be your younger brother or sister in the future, Fourth Miss. Can the Fourth Miss truly not tolerate him to this extent?”
When had Xu Yuyan ever seen such a difficult and entangled scene? She immediately panicked a little. “You… what nonsense are you spewing? When did I say I couldn’t tolerate him?!”
Tian Mama said, “So many people in this hall have ears, Fourth Miss…”
Madame Lü pulled the panicked Xu Yuyan behind her back and harshly reprimanded, “When the master’s daughter is speaking, what business does a filthy old woman like you have interrupting! Truly lacking in rules!”
“Then am I lacking in rules as well?!”
Amidst the chaos, Magistrate Xu suddenly walked in.
The moment he entered, his gaze fell tightly upon Yao-shi. Seeing her caressing her stomach and weeping like pear blossoms bathed in spring rain, his face instantly sank, and he slapped Xu Yuyan across the face.
Xu Yuyan was completely stunned by the sudden slap.
Father… Father actually hit her!?
Madame Lü stood up with a start. “What are you doing?!”
Magistrate Xu supported Yao-shi, his tone icy cold. “What a fine daughter you have raised. The child hasn’t even come into the world yet, and she already cannot tolerate him like this?”
“Yuyan was only anxious and spoke too quickly for a moment.” Madame Lü was in disbelief. “My husband, you strike her directly without asking for right and wrong—do you even remember that today is New Year’s Eve?”
Looking at the handprint on Xu Yuyan’s face, Sun Mama couldn’t help but say, “Master, the Fourth Miss is still young after all, and doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut
No matter what, you shouldn’t have directly struck the Miss.”
“Without asking for right and wrong? Too Young?” Magistrate Xu sneered coldly. “I heard it perfectly clearly outside; could I possibly be wronging her?”
Madame Lü had never seen Magistrate Xu this furious.
She vaguely knew the reason in her heart… Magistrate Xu hadn’t had a child in three or four years. In his previous post, colleagues had joked with him, saying he was “already old and his abilities fell short of his desires.” Now that Concubine Yao was pregnant, he could finally be considered to be “riding the spring breeze of success, washing away past humiliations” in front of his colleagues.
With someone cursing that this child couldn’t be born, wasn’t that blatantly provoking Magistrate Xu’s displeasure?
Afraid he would frighten Concubine Yao, Magistrate Xu reached out to support her to sit on the side, staring unkindly at Madame Lü and Sun Mama.
Stared at by Magistrate Xu’s gaze, Sun Mama felt a guilty conscience and lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
Tian Mama stayed by Concubine Yao’s side, muttering in a low voice, “Sun Mama is right. The Fourth Miss is young, so she certainly wouldn’t be able to utter such cruel-hearted words on her own. She must have heard the adults talking and remembered it in her heart to say such things.”
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, like she was talking to herself, yet it was loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Concubine Yao coughed lightly and scolded, “What nonsense are you saying.”
After listening to this, what was there left for Sun Mama to not understand… This old thief was secretly lodging a complaint with the Master, implying that the first branch was usually cursing Concubine Yao behind her back.
She immediately struggled forward to hit Tian Mama. “You wretched woman, chewing such senseless gossip! Master, you absolutely must not believe her!”
Magistrate Xu’s face turned completely black. Old woman Tian was standing beside Concubine Yao; if this old hag struck without measuring her strength and hurt Yao-shi and the child in her womb, what would he do? He immediately let out a furious shout.
“Tu Zhong.”
The silent, dark figure standing behind Magistrate Xu stepped out, walked to Sun Mama’s side, and twisted her wrist behind her back in a lock.
Crack. The soft sound was enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
It was the sound of a bone snapping.
Ever since Sun Mama married into the household alongside Madame Lü, she had rarely even touched cold water. How could she bear such pain? She instantly let out a miserable, bloodcurdling scream.
Madame Lü panicked and immediately fell to her knees, abandoning all her usual image. “Master, Master! Sun Mama was momentarily muddled; I beg you to let her go.”
Tu Zhong had come out from a mercenary escort agency. Broad and brawny, he possessed quite a bit of martial arts skill. He usually didn’t like talking to people, keeping a sunken face that made him look completely unapproachable.
It was said that Tu Zhong’s parents had also worked in the escort agency. Later, someone harbored a grudge against the agency, and a great fire burned all seventeen people inside to a crisp. Only Tu Zhong, who hid in a dog hole, survived. Seeing his good skills, Magistrate Xu brought Tu Zhong to his side.
Aside from Magistrate Xu, Tu Zhong was an absolute Rakshasa, listening to absolutely no one.
Knowing she couldn’t order Tu Zhong around, Madame Lü could only beg Magistrate Xu.
Magistrate Xu looked at Madame Lü coldly. Remembering that today was New Year’s Eve and the evening’s dinner table could not be without the principal wife, he raised his hand.
Tu Zhong released Sun Mama’s hand and returned to stand behind Magistrate Xu.
Sun Mama gasped for air in large mouthfuls, cold sweat pouring down, not daring to say another word. Tu Zhong… Tu Zhong was truly ready to strike her dead!
She was the managing mama following behind Madame Lü; of all the maids and mamas in the entire courtyard, who wouldn’t have to respectfully call her “Sun Mama” upon seeing her?!
“Master.” Concubine Yao lowered her eyes to appreciate the defeated expressions of Madame Lü’s group—especially the Fourth Miss, whose small face was deathly pale. She couldn’t help but laugh heartily in her heart.
Shu-jie’er had been frowning miserably in her room these days, all thanks to this “Fourth Sister” of hers.
Hearing Concubine Yao’s delicate, soft voice, Magistrate Xu immediately turned back and asked with concern, “Did I frighten you? It’s my fault. You are heavy with child, you shouldn’t have seen this.”
Concubine Yao shook her head with understanding and said gently, “Master, don’t be angry either. Da-niangzi and Sun Mama only spoke carelessly in the moment. This concubine is not heartbroken. Master should not let this ruin your mood either.”
On one side was Madame Lü, stiffening her neck stubbornly; on the other was the warm, fragrant, and soft Concubine Yao. Comparing the two in his heart, Magistrate Xu’s dissatisfaction with Madame Lü grew even heavier.
Lü Suying had never been like this in the past; truly, the older she got, the more muddled she became.
Too lazy to spare another glance at the people on the ground, Magistrate Xu supported Concubine Yao and said, “Let’s go.”
Madame Lü watched the backs of the two departing hand in hand, practically ready to grind her silver teeth to pieces. It wasn’t until the two had almost reached the door that Madame Lü remembered the matter Xu Yuyan had sought her out for, and hurriedly asked, “For today’s New Year’s Eve banquet, the Master must remember to come to the main hall.”
Magistrate Xu’s footsteps paused slightly.
This was the rule. Even if Madame Lü didn’t say it, Magistrate Xu knew it in his heart.
Concubine Yao leaned in Magistrate Xu’s embrace, standing completely quietly.
Madame Lü closed her eyes. “Tonight on New Year’s Eve, Young Master Deng will come visit our door.”
Deng Liangyu. He had met him a few times. His family background wasn’t considered exceptionally good, and his mother was a merchant, but they possessed a modest fortune and were extremely generous in their spending.
Hearing that, like County Lieutenant Wei, he also had a relative working as a high official in Bianjing city, he had tacitly approved of Madame Lü selecting this marriage for Xu Yuyan.
“Understood,” Magistrate Xu replied.
Concubine Yao lowered her head, hiding the flash of a smile in her eyes.
Lü Suying, Xu Yuyan, the good show has only just begun.
Feigning sadness, Concubine Yao tugged on Magistrate Xu’s sleeve as she walked outside. “Master, now that the Fourth Miss has found such a good marriage, you cannot favor one over the other and wrong our Shu-jie’er.”
“How could I?” Magistrate Xu could least bear to see Concubine Yao looking wronged. He immediately patted his chest and guaranteed, “Lanshu is the flesh on my heart. No matter who I wrong, it is impossible for me to wrong her.”
Having obtained Magistrate Xu’s guarantee, Concubine Yao finally changed her sorrowful expression, her smile charming and moving.
“I knew the Master was the best.”
The sound of Magistrate Xu and Concubine Yao’s laughter carried back to the main hall, exceptionally grating to the ear.
After the people left, Madame Lü collapsed on the ground, completely distraught, a wave of boundless, endless grievance washing over her heart.
She felt grieved in her heart, but finding nowhere to vent it, she could only silently swallow the grievance back into her stomach, wipe dry her tears, pretend nothing happened, and continue to host the family banquet.
Maintaining the demeanor of the Xu family’s principal wife.
Beside her, Sun Mama groaned in pain. Snapping back to her senses as if waking from a dream, Madame Lü walked quickly out the door, summoning someone to quietly fetch a doctor to the house.
On a great day like New Year’s Eve, word spreading that the master of the house had severely punished a servant would damage their reputation. Even fetching a doctor had to be done quietly.
Once they left, Madame Lü took a deep breath, holding onto the doorframe as she stood at the entrance. A gust of cold wind blew against her face, chilling her all the way to the bottom of her heart.
Xu Zhihe remained completely oblivious to the events that transpired in the main courtyard.
Having played enough, Xu Lanshu reached out to pat her sleeves and said to Dangui beside her, “I’m tired of playing, let’s go change clothes first. At this hour, the honeyed tangerines will be perfectly warm.”
Acting decisively, after making her decision, she ignored Xu Zhihe standing to the side and ran cheerfully toward Concubine Yao’s courtyard.
Dangui and the mama closely followed after Xu Lanshu. Without looking sideways, Xu Zhihe bent down to pick up the feathered arrows dropped on the ground and set them neatly to the side again.
A servant walked over and bowed respectfully to Xu Zhihe. “Third Miss, this servant can just do this.”
Xu Zhihe offered her a smile. “Many thanks. However, there are quite a lot here; I will help you.”
Once the feathered arrows on the ground were cleaned up, Xu Zhihe dusted her sleeves and tilted her head to glance at the sky.
Just now while playing pitch-pot, the gloomy, gray sky had still faintly revealed some sunlight. Suddenly, a north wind blew in from who knew where. Dense clouds obscured the sun, the sky hung low, and a snowstorm looked imminent.
Xu Zhihe didn’t linger any longer and returned to the west wing.
…
T/n: The New chapter is up! Enjoy the ride and do join us on this adventure 😍🎉🎊. If you want to support me, do check my other novels on my Translator’s Page🫶. You can support the original author here. Please vote on NU here. If you’re interested, you can also buy me a Ko-Fi. Happy Reading 🤓 💅.