Not wishing to sadden her grandmother, Xiao Yunzhu lifted her chin slightly and said with confidence, “Yes, Zhu Zhu is so fine that even if she misses out on Third Cousin, she can still find an even better match—one who will bring her titles of honor and a hall filled with wealth and prestige!”
Old Madam He knew that if she wallowed in guilt, it would only unsettle Xiao Yunzhu. So she forced a smile and said, “Yes, our Zhu Zhu will surely enjoy honor and prosperity!”
But how easy was that? Even her own uncle and aunt despised her fallen household. Other noble families would surely scorn her, too. Her marriage prospects would have to be lowered.
Lower was not frightening—so long as the man truly cherished her. It would be best if he were someone whose character was well‑known.
The old madam slowly thought through her surviving sisters and which families had unmarried sons of suitable age.
Xiao Yunzhu did not know her grandmother’s thoughts had gone so far. She only reminded, “Grandmother, Aunt may try to turn the blame back on you.”
The old madam said calmly, “No matter. I am not made of wood.”
Xiao Yunzhu added, “The Chen family will also reproach Grandmother for failing to guard their daughter.”
From Chen Chunsi’s conduct, one could see the Chen family’s character. They would not let matters rest.
The old madam reassured her, “Zhu Zhu, don’t worry. I have words enough to answer them.”
Her granddaughter was clever and filial—how could she not favor her? She stroked Xiao Yunzhu’s hair with affection. “I expect your aunt will come soon. You are the younger generation; it is not fitting for you to be present. Go back now. Whatever you wish to eat or use, just order it.”
Xiao Yunzhu was not without support. What followed should be handled by her elders.
“Yes!” Trusting her grandmother could manage, Xiao Yunzhu bowed and withdrew.
The old madam was right. About half an hour later, Madam Jiang came to see her, entering the main hall in tears.
“Mother, that relative of yours, Miss Chen, has ruined our Baoyan!”
“Yunzhu must have told you? Chen Chunsi is three months pregnant, nearly showing!”
“That shameless girl should never have been brought into the household!”
“She is your kin—too close to punish harshly, too distant to protect. What are we to do?”
Madam Jiang rattled on endlessly, every word blaming her mother‑in‑law.
The old madam listened with a cold face, silent. Only Madam Jiang’s voice filled the room.
At last, Madam Jiang faltered, muttering, “Mother, you must set down a plan!”
“What plan?”
The old madam spoke slowly, deliberately. “You are mistress of this house, in charge of affairs, keeper of the household. You should have guarded the gates, kept order within and without. Yet such a scandal has happened under your very eyes, and you still have the gall to blame me!”
She had never coveted the power of managing the household. For the sake of harmony between mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law, for peace in the family, she had let go of it for many years.
The He family’s inner affairs had all been in Madam Jiang’s hands.
Though narrow‑minded and short‑sighted, Madam Jiang did have a capable side. For years she had managed without disaster, and the old madam had felt reassured. Precisely because of this, she had grown careless, failing to notice in time the secret affair between He Baoyan and Chen Chunsi.
Madam Jiang: “..This daughter‑in‑law would not dare!”
Old Madam He: “Not dare? I say you dare plenty! What, because Chen Chunsi is my distant kin, it becomes my great fault? Hmph! As if no one sees through your scheme—using Chen Chunsi to force my Zhu Zhu to break her betrothal. Calculating indeed!”
Her anger mounted; with a *crash* she smashed a teacup.
Madam Jiang jumped to her feet, kneeling to protest. “Mother, I never had such thoughts…”
The old madam: “Do you take me for a fool? Whether you did or not, you know it yourself!”
Madam Jiang stammered, “Truly not. I care for Yunzhu as well!”
She dared not admit she had wanted to dissolve the match. Back then, the old madam had advised her not to rush—the children were still young. But she had been too eager, afraid Xiao Yunzhu would be promised elsewhere, and had insisted.
The old madam had no patience for hollow words. Catching her breath, she said, “Such disgrace! The Chen family will surely come to question me—how did their good daughter lose her virtue in my care? And I ask you: how did a good girl, under your watch, end up pregnant?”
Madam Jiang: “.If the Chen family dares come, I’ll slap them! A foster daughter who seduces my son—how dare they claim the right! Mother, the Chen family entrusted her to you with ill intent from the start!”
She cursed inwardly—her mother‑in‑law played tai chi well, pushing all blame onto her. She had hoped to watch the Chen family and the old madam tear at each other. Now it seemed she herself would be the one fighting them. Truly, the elder was the sharper blade.
The old madam also suspected the Chen family’s motives. She shifted the topic. “Where is Chen Chunsi?”
Madam Jiang: “She fainted just now, resting.”
The old madam said coolly, “Is she dead?”
Madam Jiang: “…Not dead.”
The old madam: “Then let her come see me.”
Madam Jiang: “Yes!”
The order was passed, and soon Chen Chunsi entered, frail as a willow in the wind.
He Baoyan came too, but the old madam, unwilling to see the grandson she had once cherished, had him stop outside.
Chen Chunsi wavered to her knees, trembling voice: “Greetings to Grand‑Aunt.”
The old madam regarded her for a moment, then said slowly, “Your mother entrusted me to find you a good match. I did not shirk—I sought three: the youngest son of Magistrate Li, the brother‑in‑law of Official Liu, and Scholar Zhou. All were from solid families and of suitable ages. Yet you refused each. Why?”
Chen Chunsi whispered, “Grand‑Aunt, it was not that I was picky, only…”
The old madam: “Only that you set your eyes on Baoyan.”
Compared to those three, Baoyan’s family was far stronger. In Anzhou, the He family held some renown; her husband, the late Old Master He, had served as Vice Minister of the Court of Transmission. Otherwise, he could never have married his daughter to Marquis Xingyuan. Sadly, he died early, and their eldest son proved mediocre, securing only the post of Assistant Prefect of Anzhou. Even so, the He family still surpassed the other three.
Chen Chunsi covered her face, weeping. “Grand‑Aunt, I know my lowly birth cannot match the Third Young Master. But he is like the sun and moon, lighting my heart…”
The old madam cut her off. “Do you know he was long betrothed to Zhu Zhu?”
Chen Chunsi, mortified: “I… I could not help myself…”
From the first glance, she had given her heart. Gentle as jade, handsome and elegant—he was the finest noble youth she had ever seen. With such brilliance before her, how could any other man compare?
The old madam spoke each word with weight. “Could not help yourself? I showed kindness to your family, and you repay me by biting my granddaughter. This is the tale of the farmer and the wolf.”
Chen Chunsi sobbed, “Grand‑Aunt’s great kindness, I will never forget…”
The old madam sneered. “I hear you wish to be Baoyan’s concubine, even to enter before the wife? Very well. I’ll grant it. First, you’ll serve as a bed‑chamber maid. When Baoyan marries and has a son, then you may be raised to concubine.”
She turned to Madam Jiang. “Move her out of Huilan Pavilion, send her to Baoyan’s quarters. Remember—there is no more ‘Miss Chen.’ Only ‘Chunsi.’”
This distant kinship with the Chen family should be severed.
Madam Jiang gave Chen Chunsi a mocking look, then bent low in assent.