With Concubine Zhang gone, Xu Zhihe had never had much of a presence in the household. Looking at it now, it seemed Madame Lü had ultimately been too lenient with the concubine-born sons and daughters under her authority.
Each and every one of them thought that just because they lived under the same roof and ate the same family’s rice, they were actually masters of the house, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.
Zhang Fuyong’s heart and eyes were entirely focused on his niece. Hearing her sleep-talking, he walked over to Xu Zhihe’s bedside in two or three steps. “Zhihe? Zhihe, it’s your younger uncle.”
Xu Zhihe pretended to jolt awake from a nightmare. Opening her eyes and seeing Zhang Fuyong looking at her with a face full of worry, a burst of grievance welled up in her heart, and she reached out to tightly grip his sleeve.
A single tear hung precariously on her eyelashes, looking fragile and pitiful, making one’s heart ache endlessly.
Zhang Fuyong comforted her, “Your younger uncle is here. Zhihe, don’t be afraid. Fang Li, you are the one who serves closely by the Miss’s side. You tell me, exactly what happened here? What is this about marrying or not marrying?”
With her eyes lowered, Xu Zhihe couldn’t help but mentally cheer for him upon hearing Zhang Fuyong’s question.
Truly worthy of being my younger uncle, playing right along with my words.
Fang Li looked toward Madame Lü with some difficulty.
Madame Lü took two steps forward, bringing her handkerchief to her lips. “I expect there is some misunderstanding? Was the Third Miss sleep-talking?”
Zhang Fuyong, however, completely ignored her and looked straight at Fang Li. “Speak without worry. You are a person of my Zhang family; your deed of indenture is still in the hands of the Zhang family. Outsiders cannot do anything to you.”
Being pointed at as an “outsider,” Madame Lü’s face instantly turned chalk-white, her heart filled with both furious shock and grievance.
Truly from a lowly, coarse background—to speak so offensively! What ‘outsider’? He is clearly taking a jab at me!
Having received Zhang Fuyong’s guarantee, Fang Li said with a tearful voice, “Young Master Zhang, the Master and Da-niangzi were just discussing sending the Miss to Xianwei Wei to be a concubine!”
Zhang Fuyong abruptly whipped his head around and stared fixedly at Madame Lü, looking as if he wanted to bore a hole right through her.
He was, after all, a full-grown man with a tall and sturdy stature. He could sit in a hall and write essays, and he could also stand in the fields and busy himself with farming. With his body full of solid muscle, a few household servants likely wouldn’t even be enough to take him on.
Madame Lü was terrified by his glare. She stumbled backward a few steps, leaning against Sun Mama.
Suppressing his temper, Zhang Fuyong asked, “Da-niangzi, what is the meaning of being someone’s concubine?”
Madame Lü avoided his gaze. In her mind, she even thought: Wasn’t Concubine Zhang also someone’s concubine? What is so strange about her daughter following the exact same path as her birth mother?
Zhang Fuyong said, “Da-niangzi of the Lü family, I am only speaking to you civilly out of consideration for the fact that you are Zhihe’s legitimate mother. No matter what, Zhihe can be considered half a member of our Zhang family. If there truly was an intention to look for a match for Zhihe, you ought to have at least informed us, shouldn’t you?”
Madame Lü replied, “We originally intended to say something. However, the matter arose suddenly, and there wasn’t time to inform the Zhang family. Young Master Zhang, do not be angry. Sit down and listen to me explain slowly…”
Just as the two were confronting each other, an untimely voice suddenly drifted in from outside.
“—Many thanks.”
It was the voice of Lady Tang.
She had left the house in a rush and only realized after getting into the carriage that her hair ornaments were too simple. She had reorganized them in the carriage before stepping down.
Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. In the village, Lady Tang could naturally disregard these superficial things, but today, facing the Magistrate’s wife, she had to dress more formally so as not to be looked down upon.
Zhang Fuyong glared at Madame Lü and comfortingly patted Xu Zhihe’s back. “Rest assured, today your uncle and aunt are here; no one can subject you to any grievances.”
Hearing him speak with hidden barbs, Sun Mama couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “Young Master Zhang, those words are incorrect. The Third Miss is sitting perfectly fine in her courtyard, who would dare subject her to grievances? You are, after all, someone who studied at the White Deer Grotto Academy; how can your words be so unpleasant to hear!”
“Unpleasant to hear is exactly right. My husband is just a coarse and unrefined man, naturally incomparable to Da-niangzi.”
Lady Tang had a petite figure, dressed in a pale yellow ruqun, with a pear blossom huadian painted between her brows. Every frown and every smile was gentle and refined, and her voice was soft and tender.
Madame Lü narrowed her eyes, looking the newcomer up and down. On the wife of the Zhang family’s fourth son, she surprisingly couldn’t detect even the slightest hint of rustic vulgarity.
Her face was delicate and tender, her figure slender—one look and it was clear she had never done farm work. It was evident that after marrying the fourth son of the Zhang family, she had not suffered the slightest grievance.
Not only was Madame Lü staring at Lady Tang, but even Xu Zhihe couldn’t help being captivated by her younger aunt, Tang Zhaoyun.
Her younger aunt and uncle had been married for five years, and she only ever saw her during holidays and festivals. Moreover, when sending things to Xu Zhihe, it was mostly her younger uncle who came alone, so at first glance, Xu Zhihe found her somewhat unfamiliar.
Now truly seeing her, the first thought that popped into her mind was: Isn’t this the classic trope of the delicate young miss and the rugged, rough man?
Xu Zhihe couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
Fang Li, half-embracing her, was somewhat confused. “Miss, what are you so excited about?”
Xu Zhihe waved her hand, pretending to be in a state where her consciousness hadn’t fully cleared. She raised her eyes to look at Tang Zhaoyun and called out in a soft voice, “Younger Aunt.”
Tang Zhaoyun’s heart immediately melted into a puddle of water. She walked over to Xu Zhihe’s side, comfortingly patting her back, and said gently, “Zhihe, don’t be afraid.”
Watching the three of them acting so warm and affectionate, the expression on Madame Lü’s face nearly slipped.
“What sort of talk is this again? Since Young Master and Lady Tang have both arrived, why not wait for my husband to return, and you can discuss the details with him?”
She couldn’t hold on any longer. These three were being utterly unreasonable and teaming up together; she couldn’t get a single word in.
If she really let them say whatever they wanted, and word got out later, it would become a story of her, the legitimate mother, treating a concubine-born daughter harshly, insisting on pushing her out to be a concubine.
She absolutely could not afford to lose such face.
Zhang Fuyong said, “Forget the meal! Zhaoyun, you stay here and keep Zhihe company. I am going out for a bit.”
Tang Zhaoyun nodded. Reaching out to place Xu Zhihe’s hand in her own palm, she said gently, “Husband, go ahead.”
He only said he was going out, but didn’t say where. Madame Lü had the mind to ask, but catching sight of his face, which was darker than the ash on the bottom of a pot, she resentfully swallowed the words back down her throat.
Zhang Fuyong left the Xu residence. With Lady Tang and Xu Zhihe clearly having things to discuss, Madame Lü, vomiting blood in her heart, said with a dignified air, “I imagine Lady Tang and the Third Girl still have words to exchange, so I will not intrude.”
After saying this, she took Sun Mama and a few mamas and left the west wing together.
Only after she left did Xu Zhihe completely slump down, raising her eyes to look at Tang Zhaoyun.
Tang Zhaoyun couldn’t help but examine this “niece” of hers as well. Xu Zhihe’s appearance was naturally beyond words—her looks were delicate and lively, beautiful but not vulgar. Although she had broken out in a cold sweat from the fever, the thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead did not detract from her beauty in the slightest. Her smooth skin still looked like a peeled egg, radiating a white-and-pink luster.
With a slight flush on the tip of her nose and her cheeks, she looked lovable and obedient.
When Zhang Fuyong spoke of his childhood, it was mostly about his third sister, Zhang Fuyun. Knowing her husband cherished those old ties, Tang Zhaoyun naturally loved the house and its crow, feeling a surge of affection for the only bloodline left behind by Third Sister Zhang.
Therefore, although the two hadn’t met often, they did not feel estranged.
Tang Zhaoyun looked at Xu Zhihe with a smile. Reaching out to lightly tap the tip of Xu Zhihe’s nose, she asked softly, “Were you terribly frightened?”
Xu Zhihe told the truth: “I was extremely scared last night… but now that Uncle and Aunt have come, I am not afraid at all!”
As she spoke, her tone inevitably carried a bit of joy.
Now that the people who “backed her up” had arrived, wanting to send her off to be a concubine was absolutely impossible.
Looking at Xu Zhihe, Tang Zhaoyun couldn’t resist reaching out and giving her head a rub… This feeling, it really is better to have a daughter.
“It’s a good thing you sent that letter in time last night,” Tang Zhaoyun said. “A few days ago, my father wrote to say that the White Deer Grotto Academy had expanded its classrooms and was recruiting students widely. Your younger uncle intended to take the examinations again and was preparing to set out in a day or two.”
Hearing Tang Zhaoyun’s words, Xu Zhihe couldn’t help but feel a wave of lingering fear.
Although her First Uncle and Second Uncle Zhang cared for her in their hearts, they were honest and straightforward. How could they possibly out-talk the Magistrate Xu’s glib tongue, let alone Madame Lü’s?
If her younger uncle hadn’t been home, but instead at the White Deer Grotto Academy, she truly would have had no way out at all.
Seeing Xu Zhihe purse her lips, Tang Zhaoyun comforted her, “Fortunately, we made it in time. Your younger uncle said last night that he will only set out once your matters here are completely settled.”
However, settling things completely would likely take a period of time. It was already the tenth month, and in just over a month, it would be New Year’s Eve. If he really was going to leave, it would have to be after the New Year.
Xu Zhihe looked up at Tang Zhaoyun and said in a soft voice, “I have troubled Aunt to expend effort and worry on my behalf.”
Although she had no great abilities right now, she wasn’t the type of person to receive grace without returning it. Those who treated her well, she recorded every bit of it in her heart.
Seeing a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes, Tang Zhaoyun quickly said, “Silly child, when a junior suffers a grievance, naturally an elder must step forward to resolve it. Since you call me Aunt, I am considered half a mother to you. What is there to speak of trouble?”
Xu Zhihe broke into a smile through her tears. “Aunt is as beautiful as a flower and the moon. If I truly called Aunt ‘Mother,’ it would make Aunt seem old.”
Tang Zhaoyun laughed, poking her forehead with a finger. The corners of her mouth curved up, her mood exceedingly delightful.
…
Meanwhile, outside the county office, Zhang Fuyong went straight to Magistrate Xu’s personal manservant and said bluntly, “Are you going to take me to see your Master, or should I just lay the matter bare right here in the county office?”
People were coming and going outside the county office, and this kind of matter was truly not something honorable.
The manservant only thought for a moment before leading Zhang Fuyong through a side door and past the corridor. He said quietly, “I must trouble Young Master Zhang to wait here for a moment. This old servant will go and inform the Master.”
Zhang Fuyong only sneered and didn’t speak.
The manservant instantly felt a terrible headache coming on. Bearing the oppressive weight of Zhang Fuyong’s gaze, he quickly hurried away.
Sitting in the hall drinking tea, Magistrate Xu heard that someone from the Zhang family had arrived. It took him a moment to process exactly which Zhang family it was.
His face turned ashen as he asked the manservant, “From where did he get the news?”
The manservant was confused himself. Hearing Magistrate Xu’s question, how could he possibly answer? With a bitter face, he said to the Magistrate, “Master, you had better go and meet with Young Master Zhang first! Young Master Zhang threatened that if he cannot speak clearly in private, he will make a fuss until everyone in the county office knows!”
“He wouldn’t dare!” Xu Zhongyi was so furious he blew into his beard and glared. After shooting a glare at the manservant beside him and barking out, “Useless trash,” he angrily strode out.
He went to meet Zhang Fuyong, who had come to seek justice for his niece.
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 🤓 💅.