Chapter 204: Beyond Expectations
Fan Shi felt an inexplicable fury rise within her.
What kind of look was that?
Was I wrong?
A mere concubine, and you dare glare at me like that...
She snorted inwardly, turned away, and leaning on Mo Zhuan’s shoulder, hurried back to her room with quickened steps.
Yet she didn’t pause to reflect on why that sudden rage had seized her.
Consort Wu pressed her lips into a thin line and returned to her quarters without a word.
Outside, murmurs of gossip buzzed in the air.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in Consort Wu’s eyes.
Clutching her blanket, she curled up in the corner of her bed.
When Lianxin entered to bring her meal, she hesitated for a moment before tiptoeing to the bedside and calling softly, "Consort Wu..." She lowered her voice. "We all know you’re not that kind of person... Please, don’t grieve so. Your health is what matters!"
Consort Wu remained motionless, silent as stone.
Lianxin suddenly grew afraid.
"Consort Wu, Consort Wu..." she cried anxiously, shaking her gently.
Consort Wu turned her head, her face streaked with tears. "I’m fine..." She gave a self-deprecating smile. "Every concubine faces such trials sooner or later. For the young mistress to strike now... is merely to tarnish my reputation. It could have been worse..." She sat up. "You’ve brought the meal, haven’t you? Just set it here."
In the dimly lit inner chamber, Consort Wu’s face was as pale as the paper effigies burned during the Ghost Festival. Lianxin shuddered at the sight and quickly lowered her head, arranging the dishes from the food box onto the kang table.
The clinking of bowls and plates was the only sound in the room, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.
Frightened, Lianxin kept talking. "The kitchen stewed an old hen with ginseng today and saved a bowl for you... They say the ginseng was specially ordered by Madam Yu, who had General Manager Yu fetch it from her hometown in Nanjing. It was part of her dowry... The kitchen Housekeeper hesitated at first, wondering if they should divide it into several servings, but Mama Shu said no. She said there are two expecting mothers in our courtyard, and the ginseng might not even be enough as it is, let alone if divided... So the kitchen saved a bowl for us... Madam Yu still cares deeply for you..." She rambled on, as though only words could dispel the chill in her heart.
Consort Wu listened quietly, her hand unconsciously resting on her belly.
Did she?
Only because the truth hadn’t come to light yet. If she bore a son first, and the young mistress later delivered the legitimate heir, would Madam Yu still treat her this way?
She sneered.
Yet her body trembled uncontrollably.
If only she weren’t pregnant!
The thought flashed through her mind, and she froze in shock.
Meanwhile, Madam Yu was so furious she couldn’t speak for a long while.
"This is the trick she’s playing? She might as well have forced Consort Wu to drink poison—then I’d at least respect her for being decisive and formidable..."
"Madam!" Mama Shu shot a warning glance at the maids in the room and raised her voice sharply.
Madam Yu fell silent, though the rapid rise and fall of her chest betrayed her emotions.
The attending maids hastily withdrew.
Only then did Mama Shu step forward. "The young mistress is still inexperienced. Some matters still require your guidance, don’t they?"
Before she could finish, Madam Yu scoffed. "My guidance? Have you seen her? Always quoting Confucius and Mencius—how dare I presume to guide her?"Mama Shu looked awkward.
Madam Yu said resentfully, "I've said it before—daughters from those small, isolated families are no good. Say she's unrefined, yet she's read the Four Books and Five Classics; say she knows propriety, yet she employs nothing but underhanded tricks. Giving a pregnant concubine a hard time, and not only getting caught by the servants below but also having them play along with her act—how could she even think of it, let alone do it!
"She's the legitimate wife, for heaven's sake!
"If the concubine had miscarried, a mere oversight could have landed her with the charge of 'disrupting the household.' Would she still have a place in the Yu Family? Would she still be fit to be the Wife of a Clan Leader?" Still fuming, she added, "Thank goodness I brought her to the capital. If she'd stayed in Nanjing, wouldn't my sisters-in-law have laughed themselves silly behind my back!"
"How could that be?" Mama Shu forced a smile to comfort Madam Yu. "We're all family here. The elder and third madams are surely hoping the young mistress will soon bear a noble son..."
Madam Yu waved her hand impatiently. "Go and fetch her for me. She's like an oil lamp—won't shine unless you poke it. Some things need to be made crystal clear to her, lest she makes another fool of herself."
Mama Shu hesitated. "Perhaps... wait a few days? The young mistress has only just conceived..."
Madam Yu thought for a moment and nodded. "Then we'll speak of it later."
Mama Shu relaxed and shifted to topics that might interest Madam Yu. "When I delivered the ginseng to the young mistress this morning, I stopped by the kitchen. The cooks mentioned Consort Wu has a hearty appetite. I sent a maid to check on her—they say she's filled out quite a bit since first arriving..."
Madam Yu gave a noncommittal "Hmm," her expression softening slightly.
Encouraged, Mama Shu continued cheerfully, "But Consort Wu seems rather introverted, rarely venturing out. That’s not ideal either. With All Saints' Day approaching, the palace will likely send its customary gifts. Perhaps you might grant Consort Wu some fabric—to reassure her and let her sew clothes for the unborn young master..."
Keeping busy would prevent idle thoughts.
Madam Yu nodded approvingly. "You always know what's needed."
"I've served you for over forty years," Mama Shu chuckled. "Just a matter of practice making perfect. Once the young mistress bears a son and becomes a mother, she'll settle down. Understanding a mother's hardships, she'll gradually learn compassion."
Madam Yu raised a skeptical brow but swallowed her retort at Mama Shu's hopeful expression. Instead, she asked, "Has the young master returned?"
"Yes!" Mama Shu beamed. "He's discussing matters with the master in the study."
"Oh?" Madam Yu was surprised. Her husband had been leaving early and returning late these days; though they shared a room, they'd barely spoken properly for days. "Why is the master back so early today?"
"Shall I inquire?" Mama Shu offered.
"No need." Though she trusted Mama Shu, Madam Yu disliked the idea of probing her husband's affairs—it might seem like distrust. "I'll ask him myself when he returns."No sooner had the words been spoken than Grand Secretary Yu's cheerful voice sounded from outside, "What matter requires my attention?" As he spoke, he lifted the curtain and entered.
Housekeeper Shu quickly curtsied and called for maids to attend to Grand Secretary Yu's change of clothes, while she herself brewed a cup of tea and placed it on the kang table.
"You've returned from the office quite early today, my lord," Madam Yu said with a smile, personally stepping forward to hand him a towel. "I was just a little curious, that's all!"
At her words, Grand Secretary Yu's hand paused abruptly as he wiped his face.
Madam Yu's heart skipped a beat, her expression turning serious as she asked in a low voice, "Has something happened?"
Grand Secretary Yu instinctively wanted to deny it, but then reconsidered. Since Madam Yu would inevitably hear the news sooner or later, it was better to tell her now rather than have her hear it from someone else. At least this way, she could prepare herself.
He said gravely, "The Tatars have gathered fifty thousand troops from six tribes, bypassing Zhangye and heading straight for Xuanfu. Mo Yi led troops to intercept them, while Zhao Ling commanded five thousand soldiers from Yulin Garrison to flank them from behind. They routed thirty thousand Tatars, not only lifting the siege of Xuanfu but also securing the greatest merit. The Emperor was overjoyed—before the battle was even concluded, he summoned the Grand Secretariat to discuss rewards..."
Madam Yu was startled. "So, the Emperor intends to elevate Zhao Ling?"
Grand Secretary Yu nodded, his brow darkening slightly. "The Emperor has long wished to promote his own men. Unfortunately, while men like Qin Feiyu are highly skilled in martial arts and utterly loyal, they lack the talent to command armies. Now that someone capable in warfare has finally emerged, the Emperor's delight is beyond words..."
Madam Yu fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "Is there truly no way to resolve this feud?"
Grand Secretary Yu grew visibly irritated. "It's all because of that petty Fu—too proud for his own good. What harm would it have done to quietly acknowledge his daughter? But no, he had to put on airs. And now, Fu Shi refuses to recognize him as her father... At least we didn't become in-laws with him! If we had, who knows what messes we'd have to clean up for him!"
Madam Yu sighed deeply. "It seems nothing in this world is ever perfect."
Grand Secretary Yu was momentarily taken aback. "Has something else happened at home?"
Not wanting to burden her husband further with household matters when he was already troubled by their son's affairs, she replied, "With so few of us here, what could possibly happen?" She smiled. "I was merely reflecting on things."
Grand Secretary Yu nodded and instructed her, "Pay more attention to that Wu woman. Our family's lineage is too thin. Even if the child is born of a concubine, having a brother to rely on is still better than depending on outsiders."
Not necessarily! Madam Yu thought to herself. But she couldn't voice this to Grand Secretary Yu, so she gave a vague acknowledgment before steering the conversation back to Zhao Ling. "...Then what should we do? Should we try to enlist the help of that Mr. Zhao who has taken monastic vows at Tanzhe Temple to mediate?"
"Best not," Grand Secretary Yu said. "Not only do we have no connection with him, but his residence at Tanzhe Temple is unknown to most. Moreover, the Emperor has stationed a contingent of imperial guards to ensure his safety—ordinary people wouldn't even be able to meet him." His expression grew even darker. "Don't trouble yourself with this matter. I'll think of something."
This wasn't a matter for women to concern themselves with anyway. Madam Yu obediently assented and, after helping Grand Secretary Yu change, the couple had their meal served in the inner chamber.
Just as they began eating, Yu Jingxiu rushed in.
"Finished already?" Madam Yu asked him."He hasn't eaten yet!" said Yu Jingxiu, looking toward Grand Secretary Yu with a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Madam Yu found this strange, but Grand Secretary Yu remained as steady as a mountain and calmly said, "Then let's eat first!"
Yu Jingxiu gave an "Mm" of acknowledgment and took his seat at the lower end of the table.
Madam Yu personally arranged the bowls and chopsticks for her son.
Yu Jingxiu thanked her and sat down to eat quietly.
Several times, Madam Yu opened her mouth to ask something, but seeing the solemn expression on her husband's face, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
After dinner, Grand Secretary Yu and his son went to the study.
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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