Shen Lanyue did not understand what she meant.
“This world places countless shackles on women. Someone as beautiful and capable as you can only be confined to the inner household, unable to escape. I know I am not as capable as Mother. If I were a woman, I fear I would have met with an even more miserable fate.”
“I am very satisfied with my identity as it is now. Mother, please do not ever mention this again in the future. We must be careful in case someone overhears us. If that happens, both you and I will be doomed.”
Tears streaming down her face, Shen Lanyue nodded repeatedly. “All right, all right, all right. My son is right.”
Xiao Qing took a handkerchief and stepped forward to wipe Shen Lanyue’s tears. Wanting to cheer her mother up, she teased, “Don’t cry, Mother. If someone sees you, they’ll start spreading rumors that you’re heartbroken over Father again.”
Shen Lanyue’s tears stopped at once, and she waved her hands repeatedly. “Don’t disgust me by bringing that up.”
These days, they could say anything about her—anything except that she loved that damned man.
Xiao Qing had not made the remark without reason. On her mother’s birthday some time ago, Xiao Qing had been unable to return because something had come up at court. Her mother had missed her and shed some tears, so the people in the residence began saying that, because her husband had not come home, she had been devastated and had wept in her room.
The next day, Concubine Yun had even mocked her mercilessly over it. When Shen Lanyue learned what had happened, she had several loose-lipped servants beaten with rods.
Seeing that her mother had stopped crying, Xiao Qing finally relaxed. “Mother, there’s something I don’t know how to bring up.”
“There’s nothing you can’t tell me, Qing'er. Speak freely.”
“When I returned to the capital and met His Majesty, he seemed to be considering arranging a marriage for me.”
The teacup in Shen Lanyue’s hand fell to the floor with a bang and shattered into pieces. An alarm she had never shown before appeared in her eyes. “Did he say which family’s daughter?”
“Don’t worry, Mother. He only said that he would keep an eye out for a suitable girl. He didn’t say that he intended to arrange the marriage right away.”
Shen Lanyue pressed a hand to her chest, then spoke repeatedly, still shaken. “That’s good! That’s good! We have to arrange your marriage as soon as possible, before His Majesty does it for you. Fortunately, I began making preparations long ago. I was thinking of choosing a girl from my family and bringing her here. Only someone who stands with us can help us keep the secret.”
Xiao Qing hesitated. “Mother, perhaps we should forget it. Whoever we marry, given our circumstances, we’ll only be ruining her life.”
“How could we do that? Are you planning to wait for His Majesty to arrange a marriage for you?”
“But—”
“No more ‘buts.’ I’ve already chosen a chamber wife for you. She’ll attend to you at night and your writing implements by day. All these years, the reason those ladies wanted to marry their daughters to you was because your reputation was too good. Now that you have a chamber wife and concubine in your rear court, it would be best if word spread that you enjoy consorting with women.”
Xiao Qing had not even swallowed her tea before it went straight down the wrong way and into her lungs. “Cough, cough, cough… A chamber wife… Cough, cough, cough…”
“Oh, be careful. Why are you so excited? It’s not a particularly serious matter.” Seeing her son coughing so violently, Shen Lanyue hurried over to pat her back and help her catch her breath.
“You’re no longer young. Look at any other prominent household—what man your age still has no one attending him?”
Xiao Qing thought for a moment. She remembered that when she had been only fifteen or sixteen, the young masters around her had already been taking people out to drink wine at pleasure houses. It truly was not a major issue. The problem was her identity. “Mother, I can’t take a chamber wife. My identity…”
“I know what you’re worried about. I rescued this girl when she was young, so I have a life-saving debt over her. I’ve also supported her outside the residence for nine years. I know how serious this matter is. I examined her carefully in every respect before I dared bring her to your side.”
“If you continue having no one around you, people will eventually start saying that you’re incapable. If your damned father sends someone to examine you, you won’t survive either. Never underestimate how heartless he is.”
After hearing her mother say this, Xiao Qing felt somewhat reassured. “Is she doing this willingly? We can’t force someone into such a thing. And does she know my true identity?”
Shen Lanyue nodded. “I told her about it two months ago. She has always conducted herself properly and has never revealed even the slightest hint of it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare use her. Besides, she is willingly coming to your side. The idea of becoming your chamber wife and concubine was hers in the first place.”
Xiao Qing nodded. “Since you’ve already made all the arrangements, I’ll do as you say, Mother.”
Shen Lanyue nodded. “All right. I’ll bring her over after dinner.”
Not long after she finished speaking, a servant’s voice came from outside. “Madam, Concubine Yun has come to pay her respects.”
Having suffered at the hands of concubines when she was young, Shen Lanyue had taken control of the household years ago and had harshly tormented the people of Yiyun Courtyard.
But over the past two years, she had come to see things differently. There was nothing wrong with a woman wanting to become a principal wife. The fault lay with the men. Why should they covet a woman’s wealth and still keep a beauty in their arms?
If a man truly loved his beloved, he should give her dignity—not make her a concubine and force the children she bore to call someone else “Mother.”
Although she thought this way, it did not mean she had any fondness for the people of Yiyun Courtyard. “Didn’t I order her not to come except on the first and fifteenth days of the month?”
Nanny Feng said quietly, “The Second Miss has come as well. Perhaps she brought Concubine Yun along.”
“I see. Let them in.”
Speaking of this Second Younger Sister, Xiao Qing considered her a remarkable person. She clearly knew that her mother and the principal wife were as incompatible as fire and water, yet she could move between the two courtyards with ease. She was also well liked throughout the residence, and no one had a bad word to say about her.
In this era, women had little room to survive. The care she took in managing all these relationships was probably because she hoped to marry into a good family one day.
Xiao Qing admired her quite a bit. If she were in Xiao Yanran’s place, she was not at all certain she could have done better.
“Greetings, Madam.”
“Greetings, Mother.”
Two voices sounded at the same time. Shen Lanyue said calmly, “Rise.”
When she looked at Xiao Yanran, a smile appeared on her lips. “Autumn will be here soon. If you take a fancy to any clothes or jewelry, just go to the accounts office and draw the money.”
As the principal wife, Shen Lanyue disdained mistreating the sons and daughters of concubines. As long as Xiao Yanran did not make the same foolish mistakes as her mother, Shen Lanyue was happy to show her some favor.
Besides, she was a daughter of the Xiao family. If she married well in the future, she would also be an asset to Xiao Qing.
Hearing Shen Lanyue’s concern, Xiao Yanran hurriedly curtsied. “Thank you for your concern, Mother.”
Seeing how proper and well-mannered she was, Shen Lanyue’s smile widened. “Come, sit down.”
Xiao Yanran did not sit. Instead, she turned toward Xiao Qing and dipped into a shallow curtsy. “Second Brother, I hope you are well.”
In the household, the person she feared and respected most was this Second Brother. Now that he stood at the highest levels of the imperial court, she would also need to rely on his influence when seeking a husband’s family in the future.
Thinking of her own brother, she felt a little downcast. If only her brother could be as accomplished as Second Brother.
Although her principal mother and Second Brother did not mistreat her, there was ultimately a barrier between them. And she was not the only daughter in the household. Her own full brother would naturally cherish her more.
Xiao Qing teased her, “It’s been half a year since we last met, and Second Younger Sister has become even more obedient and clever.”
Xiao Yanran’s small face flushed like peach blossoms in the third month. “Second Brother, you’re making fun of me.”
Hearing this, Shen Lanyue also turned her gaze to Xiao Yanran’s face and examined her carefully. At such a tender age, even the slightest frown or smile was enough to stir affection.