After chatting a few more words with Madam Su, Concubine Su took her leave.
Madam Su saw Concubine Su off and remained dazed in the hall for quite some time.
It wasn’t until Su Xiaosheng emerged from another room that she snapped back to her senses.
“The Old Master and Old Madam of the Ye Family sent this.
It seems they’ve set their sights on you, seeing you as the Ye Family’s future grandson-in-law.” Madam Su opened the wooden box that Concubine Su had delivered right in front of Su Xiaosheng.
As soon as the wooden box was opened, both mother and son were taken aback.
The bottom of the wooden box was lined with two layers of exquisite, thumb-sized gold ingots.
All uniformly cast in the Zhuangyuan Jidi style…
No wonder Madam Su had felt the box was somewhat heavy when she handed it over earlier.
On top of the gold ingots was a stack of silver notes.
Apart from the top two notes, which were each worth five hundred taels, the ones below were all one hundred taels each.
“Perfect timing. We can use this to make you a couple more sets of clothes. Since we’re moving away from the Ye Family’s side, we’ll probably need to add a few things.” Madam Su said calmly.
Su Xiaosheng thought for a moment but still shook his head.
“Mother, outsiders see me as someone relying on the Ye Family. It’s better not to draw too much attention.
I should just wear what I used to wear!
Besides, there isn’t enough time to have new clothes made now.”
Madam Su thought it over and agreed it made sense.
But letting her son go to Chun Bu Wan looking too shabby, sitting among those young masters…
“Child, don’t worry about it. I’ll arrange everything for you!” Madam Su pressed her hand firmly onto the wooden box.
Su Xiaosheng nodded, dropping the matter, and instead brought up another topic.
“Mother, why did you suggest that Ning Jie'er become the Heir Apparent’s secondary consort? Haven’t you always looked down on such things?” Su Xiaosheng asked.
“What do you know?
Ning Jie'er has excellent character and looks, but her background is poor—a merchant family’s illegitimate daughter. It’s a pity, given her abundant talent.
Rather than marrying into an ordinary family as a proper wife, it’s better for her to become the Heir Apparent’s secondary consort.
At least she’ll be someone recorded in the imperial genealogy.
Besides…” Madam Su paused briefly.
“Her marrying into the Ning Wang Fu will benefit you, or rather, benefit both of you.
You’ll have a cousin who can speak up for you in the Ning Wang Fu.
As for her, she’ll have a cousin with a bright future in the imperial court, helping her secure her footing in the inner quarters. Isn’t that a good thing?
Sheng Ge'er, don’t look down on such matters. Every great family rises from one or two individuals, supporting each other and growing stronger together.
Women, just like men, can contribute to the family’s prosperity.
Sheng Ge'er, you’re not… interested in Ning Jie'er, are you?” Madam Su suddenly realized something.
Hearing this, Su Xiaosheng quickly waved his hands.
“Mother, no, it’s not that. I just feel a bit sorry for… Ning Jie'er!
She has high aspirations and surely wouldn’t want to be a secondary wife.”
“No matter how high her aspirations are, it has nothing to do with you. She’s a merchant family’s illegitimate daughter. You can only watch her walk her own path.” Madam Su said sternly.
Su Xiaosheng fell silent.
Perhaps feeling her tone had been too harsh, Madam Su quickly softened her voice.
“It’s not that I’m overly pragmatic, but the burden on your shoulders is too heavy.
Only you can bring glory to the Su Family. The road ahead of you is long, and there’s no room for detours.
Entering the Grand Secretariat and becoming a chancellor is your ultimate goal.” Madam Su said slowly.
Su Xiaosheng nodded heavily, then bowed deeply to Madam Su.
“Mother, I understand!”
…
After leaving Madam Su’s place, Concubine Su seemed somewhat absent-minded.
Madam Su's words kept swirling in her mind—a royal concubine was far more dignified than the principal wife of an ordinary family…
As she walked, she found herself in front of her daughter Ye Ningshu's Zui Xia Ge (Drunken Rosy Clouds Pavilion).
Pushing open the courtyard gate, Concubine Su immediately spotted her daughter reading by the window.
"Ning Jie'er…" Concubine Su called softly.
"Mother, didn't you go to see Auntie? Why are you back so soon?" Ye Ningshu quickly set down her book and came out to greet her.
Concubine Su took Ye Ningshu's hand, gazing affectionately at this daughter she had risked her life to bear.
"I just came to see you. What are you reading? Don't strain your eyes," Concubine Su asked with a smile.
"A travelogue, sent by Father," Ye Ningshu replied, smiling.
Concubine Su nodded and led Ye Ningshu to sit on a chair in the study.
"My Ning Jie'er is so learned—if she could take the imperial examinations, she'd surely return as a Jinshi. With such talent, we must find you a good family in the future," Concubine Su probed.
Ye Ningshu pursed her lips and smiled, then spoke up quickly.
"Mother, I won't be a concubine!"
Concubine Su…
"That… you shouldn't say it like that. In some families, a secondary wife holds a higher status than the principal wife of an ordinary family. Look at those imperial consorts and secondary consorts…"
"Mother, if you force me to be a concubine, I'd rather dash my head against a wall or hang myself inside the bridal sedan chair. I'd rather be an ordinary principal wife, even a farmer's wife, than bow and scrape before another woman while adorned in jewels," Ye Ningshu said softly.
Ye Ningshu's words pierced Concubine Su's heart like a knife.
"Ning Jie'er… do you look down on your mother?" Concubine Su asked, trembling.
Ye Ningshu gently shook her head and stared out the window for a moment.
"Mother, I don't look down on you. I feel for you. Your talent—not just in the Ye Family, but who in all of Gusu City can compare to you? Yet you cannot wear bright red, you cannot walk ahead of the principal wife, and when you meet the legitimate sons and daughters, you must greet them first. I don't want to be like you. I want to wear red openly in the future, to stand tall and manage my own household," Ye Ningshu said earnestly.
Seeing Ye Ningshu's serious expression, Concubine Su's heart trembled.
She knew this daughter meant what she said. If anyone tried to force her into being a concubine, she would surely resist to the death.
Pulling Ye Ningshu tightly into her arms, Concubine Su murmured, "Ning Jie'er, don't worry. Mother will definitely secure a position as a principal wife for you. I will never let you be a concubine."
"But what if Father says it's for the Ye Family's benefit and forces me to marry?" Ye Ningshu asked.
"Then I'll hang myself right in front of him," Concubine Su said bitterly.
…
In Second Madam Ye's Bishui Residence, Ye Cishu followed Ye Wanshu, watching Madam Li give instructions to the servants.
"Replace everything. Bring back all the things Old Master frequently uses and send new ones over. Also, inform Madam Su that the middle section of Qiugui Xuan is where Old Master often goes. Madam Su understands propriety and likely won't stay there. Replace all the movable furniture in the front section with new ones… Ci Jie'er, do you have something to say?" Madam Li asked, noticing Ye Cishu's hesitation.
"Mother, remember to replace the furniture and decorations with heavy, large, and very expensive ones!"
"Oh, it's best to mark it with the Ye Family's insignia in a hidden place," Ye Cishu said.
Madam Li…
This girl must have some scheme in mind!