Having encountered Xu Yuyan outside, Xu Zhihe lost the mood to continue strolling through the marketplace. Calling Fang Li, she returned to Tonghua Lane.
She lived in the West Room. In autumn and winter, the wind was cold, and during the day, it was noisy, with the worst soundproofing. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard Xu Yuyan and Xu Lanshu arguing at the doorway.
Relying on Concubine Yao’s favor, the Sixth Girl, Xu Lanshu, was also someone whose words were absolute in the courtyard. The two of them broke out into a noisy argument over who should enter the door first. The older female servants beside them clustered around, coaxing and persuading them, calling them “little ancestors” with every breath.
As the legitimate daughter born to the principal wife, and taking advantage of being older, Xu Yuyan gained the upper hand.
Exasperated and furious, Xu Lanshu shouted from behind, “Dressing up so gorgeously, who knows who you went to see!”
Having her tail stepped on unintentionally, Xu Yuyan instantly glared in anger. “What nonsense are you talking about! Could it be that only you can leave this house, and I cannot? What kind of upbringing is this, Sixth Sister! Who knows how Concubine Yao taught you.”
After finishing, as if still not having vented her anger, she turned around to her servant girl, Taozhi. “Who knows what she went out to do again?”
Xu Lanshu had originally just spoken without thinking. Who knew it would draw endless scolding from Xu Yuyan. Her eye rims instantly reddened, and she cried out, “My biological mother is pregnant, and I went to buy her candied dates, yet you slander me! I’m going to tell my biological mother.”
With that, wiping her tears, she ran toward Concubine Yao’s courtyard.
Behind Xu Lanshu, Yinxing and her wet nurse were anxious to chase after their young lady. After curtsying to Xu Yuyan, they closely followed after her.
Xu Yuyan didn’t take it to heart at all. Xu Lanshu was extremely delicate and squeamish; crying seven or eight times a month was a common occurrence. Who in the household didn’t find it annoying when they saw it? Only Concubine Yao spoiled and doted on her, placing her at the very tip of her heart.
The commotion outside gradually died down.
Fang Li had also been pricking her ears to listen to the noise outside. When the sounds faded, she whispered to Xu Zhihe, “The Fourth Girl and the Sixth Girl are going to cause a fuss again.”
Covered by her quilt, Xu Zhihe rubbed her hands together to generate heat. Squinting her eyes, she smiled calmly. “Let them make a fuss. As long as the fire doesn’t burn us, it’s fine.”
The news that the Fourth Girl and the Sixth Girl had argued at the doorway spread through the manor like it had grown wings.
In Concubine Yao’s courtyard, the older female servants and maids formed a tight circle, looking with concern at Xu Lanshu, who was crying so hard she was out of breath.
“Shu-ji’er, don’t cry, don’t cry. Tell Madam what exactly happened?”
Mama Tian was the head servant by Concubine Yao’s side. Having watched Xu Lanshu grow up little by little with her own eyes, her pity and love for her were second only to Madam Yao’s in this room.
The charcoal fire in the room was burning a bit too strongly, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on Concubine Yao’s forehead. She unfastened the top button of her padded jacket, revealing a slender, fair neck.
Pulling Xu Lanshu to sit beside her, she softly comforted her, “What’s wrong? Tell Mother all about it.”
Xu Lanshu’s eyes were already red. Hearing the comfort of those around her, her grievances immediately erupted like a flood. “Xu Yuyan said she didn’t know who I was going out to see, and even said I had no upbringing!”
Concubine Yao’s expression instantly changed. She repeated, “Did she really say that?”
Xu Lanshu nodded vigorously, pulling Yinxing to her side while wiping her tears. “Yinxing was right there at the time and heard it absolutely clearly.”
Mama Tian was the one who could least bear to see Xu Lanshu suffer grievances. She immediately said to Concubine Yao, “Madam, our Shu-ji’er has suffered a great grievance.”
Xu Lanshu would only be fourteen after the New Year. She had gone out with her maid and wet nurse, yet such a massive chamber pot of dirty water had been dumped on her head. Anyone in her place wouldn’t be able to tolerate it.
Since it concerned Xu Lanshu’s reputation, Concubine Yao hesitated no longer. She immediately changed her clothes and, surrounded by a large entourage, headed majestically toward Madam Lü’s main hall.
Madam Lü had somewhat caught wind of it in the main hall.
At this moment, Xu Yuyan stood beside her, tugging at her clothes with an aggrieved tone. “Mother, I truly didn’t provoke Xu Lanshu on my own initiative.”
Madam Lü looked at her, speaking unhurriedly, “What exactly did the Sixth Girl say to make you start arguing with someone right at the main gate before you even entered the house?”
Feeling guilty, Xu Yuyan averted her gaze.
Just as Madam Lü was about to continue questioning her, Mama Sun, with her sharp eyes, leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Madam, Concubine Yao has arrived.”
“She came rather quickly. During morning greetings, she used illness as an excuse and refused to come, but now she hurried right over.” Madam Lü’s face looked as if she had swallowed charcoal, but she was the principal wife in charge of the household after all, and Madam Yao was pregnant. She maintained a stern face and had people let her in.
Concubine Yao was only three months into this pregnancy, so her belly hadn’t started to show yet. But as soon as she entered, she supported her waist with her right hand and rested her left hand on a maid’s arm. Taking a slight, panting breath every two steps, she vividly displayed the appearance of a pregnant woman to the fullest.
“This concubine has come to pay her respects to Madam.” Her voice was delicate and soft.
Madam Lü despised Concubine Yao’s theatrical mannerisms the modt. After excusing her from the formalities, she averted her gaze, out of sight, out of mind.
Concubine Yao walked to the lower seats and sat down on her own. The principal wife’s courtyard wasn’t as warm as her own room. She pulled her fur-collared jacket tighter around herself and slowly raised her eyes to look at the gracefully seated Madam Lü.
“I wonder if Madam has heard about what happened today?”
Madam Lü pulled Xu Yuyan a bit behind her, meeting Concubine Yao’s gaze head-on. “I heard a little.”
Concubine Yao: “It’s good that Madam knows. Today, I asked Shu-ji’er to buy me candied dates, yet she suffered unprovoked grievances…”
Madam Lü didn’t let Concubine Yao finish speaking, interrupting her. “What do you mean ‘unprovoked’? I heard from Yuyan that it was the Sixth Girl who was disrespectful first, contradicting her Fourth Sister.”
Concubine Yao’s expression suddenly froze. Slowly raising her eyes, she narrowed them as she sized up Xu Yuyan, who was hiding behind Madam Lü in front.
“Is that so?” Concubine Yao’s lips curved slightly. “Then perhaps Fourth Girl could tell us what Sister Shu said wrong, so that Sister Shu can apologize to her older sister.”
Having her tail stepped on that morning, Xu Yuyan had spoken without thinking out of guilt, and now she was already regretting it.
Xu Lanshu was like a firecracker that exploded at the slightest spark. Why did she have to provoke her of all people?
Madam Lü also wanted to know exactly what had happened. Hearing Concubine Yao’s question, she unobtrusively looked at Xu Yuyan as well.
Being stared at, Xu Yuyan’s entire face flushed red. Trembling, she closed her eyes and blurted it out all at once:
“Sixth Sister said—said I had no sense of shame, dressing up so gorgeously!”
Madam Lü immediately directed her spearhead at Concubine Yao. “Madam Yao, how do you discipline the Sixth Girl on ordinary days? If you cannot teach her well, then send her to…”
Ignoring the triumphant Madam Lü in the seat of honor, Concubine Yao turned her head and stared fixedly at Xu Lanshu. “Did you really say that?” Before Xu Lanshu could react, she turned back to Madam Lü. “Sister, I am truly sorry. It is this concubine who failed to teach this girl well.”
“Why aren’t you hurrying up and apologizing to your Fourth Sister?” Concubine Yao glared at Xu Lanshu.
Xu Lanshu’s stomach was full of grievances, but with Concubine Yao’s strict gaze, she didn’t dare to act presumptuously. She immediately walked up to Xu Yuyan, her voice thin and weak. “Fourth Sister, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about you.”
Her cheeks burning, Xu Yuyan snorted, turning her head away, unwilling to respond.
Concubine Yao: “We are all sisters from the same family. In which family do sisters not have a word or two of bickering…”
Xu Yuyan shouted, “Who is a sister from the same family with her? I am a legitimate daughter, and she is nothing but a concubine-born one.”
Madam Lü strongly agreed in her heart. Seeing Concubine Yao’s face turn completely black, she exhaled a breath that had been stifled in her chest for a long time even more happily. However, she maintained a dignified and proper facade. “Yuyan, speak less of such words.”
After she finished speaking, she cast a sidelong glance at Concubine Yao, whose nails were digging into her palms, and said airily, “Sisters of the same family bickering is originally not a major issue. It’s just that this happened at the main gate. If they are not punished, I fear it will make outsiders laugh at us and think our Xu family lacks rules. Let’s do this: Fourth Girl and Sixth Girl will both be fined one month’s allowance, and they are not to leave the house this month unless there is an important matter.”
Feeling wronged in her heart, Xu Lanshu immediately began to sob. Thirteen or fourteen was precisely the age of loving to play. Not allowing her to go out was truly more unbearable than being punished to copy books.
Xu Yuyan, on the other hand, was flustered. She looked at Madam, hesitating to speak.
She had agreed to meet Deng Lang in five days. If she couldn’t go out, wouldn’t she be breaking her promise to him?
Madam Lü noticed the change in her daughter’s expression but ignored it, looking with burning eyes at Concubine Yao seated below.
Striking each side fifty times with the paddle—this result was neither good nor bad. It disgusted Concubine Yao, but today’s right and wrong was indeed caused by Xu Lanshu. If she continued to argue, she might not gain any advantage. Thus, she immediately stood up, curtsied, and dragged Xu Lanshu away.
Xu Lanshu was still crying as she was dragged away.
Only when everyone had left did Madam Lü order the doors closed and instruct Mama Sun to guard the entrance, forbidding anyone from coming in.
Panic rising in her heart, Xu Yuyan looked nervously at Madam Lü, feeling uneasy. “Mother…”
The dignified steadiness on Madam Lü’s face faded, and her gaze landed on Xu Yuyan, heavy as a thousand catties. “You are the flesh and blood I carried for ten months… Are you going to tell me yourself, or do you want me to ask you?”
Mama Sun’s heart ached for Xu Yuyan, and she intentionally tried to mediate. “Madam, Fourth Girl is still young…”
“Mama Sun, hold off on pleading for this child for now.” Madam Lü took a deep breath. “I raised her single-handedly. How could I not see what thoughts she has? If we don’t clear this up now, I only fear it will lead to a terrible mistake in the future, and by then, it will be too late for regrets!”
Upon reaching the last sentence, Madam Lü’s voice suddenly grew stern as she stared fixedly at Xu Yuyan.
Unable to bear this kind of pressure any longer, Xu Yuyan fell to her knees with a thud. “Mother, Deng Lang and I are in love. Please grant us your blessing!”
Hearing her say it so directly, Madam Lü felt a wave of dizziness wash over her mind. Mama Sun was quick-witted and deft; she hurriedly placed a soft cushion behind her back, crying out in alarm, “Madam!”
Fearful in her heart, Xu Yuyan looked at Madam Lü’s face, which had turned pale with anger after her words. She shrank back inwardly, but then she remembered Deng Lang deeply holding her hand, vowing, “In life and death, through trials and tribulations, I pledge my word to you.” Her heart grew a bit firmer.
Her beloved was like a solid rock, and she was like a resilient reed. If he would not leave, how could she be the first to break their sacred vows or eternal love?
Madam Lü’s fingers trembled, and her eyelashes fluttered. After steadying her nerves, she looked at Xu Yuyan. “Let me ask you, what kind of person is that Young Gentleman Deng?”
Xu Yuyan had been waiting for Madam Lü to ask this question. She immediately replied rapidly: “Deng Lang said that his family are all scholars, and his mother’s family runs a small business, so they are quite wealthy. His uncle serves in the imperial court. He himself also studies poetry and books diligently, just waiting to showcase his talents in the imperial examinations. In the future, when his name is on the golden scroll of successful candidates, he will marry me as his principal wife.”
Madam Lü: “Absurd! You are still an unmarried girl, yet you open and close your mouth talking about being a principal wife. Do you have any sense of shame?”
Xu Yuyan secretly raised her eyes to observe Madam Lü’s expression. Seeing that although she was still furious, her expression had softened considerably, her heart relaxed slightly.
It seemed Deng Lang was right. As long as she stated his background, Mother would seriously consider it.
Harboring a trace of secret anticipation, Xu Yuyan looked at Madam Lü with burning eyes. She reached out and shook her sleeve, her tone charming and delicate, “Mother, if Mother feels he is acceptable, I’ll have Deng Lang come visit another day so you can meet him.”
Madam Lü extended her index finger and tapped it lightly against Xu Yuyan’s forehead. “…Don’t tell your father about this for now. His heart is currently troubled by many annoyances.”
Xu Yuyan let out an “Oh.” Her eyes darted around, and she obediently leaned against Madam Lü’s knees. “Then Mother, what about the matter with Deng Lang?”
Under Madam Lü’s knee, she only had the Second Girl and the Fourth Girl as her two biological daughters. After the Second Girl, Xu Yijin, married, she doted on this youngest daughter even more. After pondering for a moment, she reached out and helped her up. “As you said, when there is free time, have him come over so I can meet him.”
Satisfied, Xu Yuyan hugged Madam Lü’s arm and said, “I knew Mother doted on me the most!”
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 🤓 💅.