Chapter 251: Waves of Gossip
Madam Wu nodded with a smile, tidied herself up, and went to visit Madam Ji.
At Madam Ji’s place, there was another female guest—a woman in the prime of her youth with a face that could easily shift between joy and displeasure, strikingly beautiful.
“This is the wife of Lord Li from the neighboring Bensi Alley,” Madam Ji introduced the guest to Madam Wu. “Her son came to study at the Imperial College, and she followed him here out of concern.”
Madam Wu quickly stepped forward with a smile and greeted her.
Lord Li had earned his Presented Scholar degree in the 32nd year of the Xiping era and was now in his forties. How, then, was this Madam Li so young and beautiful? Was it due to meticulous care or because she was a second wife?
Though pondering this inwardly, Madam Wu maintained a cheerful expression as she engaged with Madam Li: “I heard Lord Li was transferred this spring to serve as the Huguang Provincial Administration Commissioner? That’s the place where the dragon lurked—proof of His Majesty’s deep favor toward Lord Li. And with such a youthful and lovely wife, you truly are the envy of us all!”
Madam Li was evidently a smooth talker as well. She laughed and replied, “It’s merely a lateral transfer—nothing to envy. Official Wu, on the other hand, holds a prestigious and leisurely post in the capital, something my husband dreams of.” After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she tactfully took her leave.
Madam Ji escorted Madam Li to the moon gate before returning.
Madam Wu then asked, “Why did Madam Li come to visit you?”
In terms of their husbands’ positions, Lord Ji was a capital official while Lord Li was assigned outside. As for regional ties, Lord Ji was from the south, and Lord Li from the north. Moreover, they lived in adjacent alleys.
Madam Ji smiled. “Madam Li heard that before our second son earned his Presented Scholar degree, he studied for several years under Old Hanlin Chen. She wants to send her son there as well and asked me to put in a word.” Dismissing it as a trivial matter, she quickly changed the subject. “But what about you? Didn’t you say your third daughter-in-law is due soon? How do you have time to visit?”
“There are still over ten days left!” Madam Wu laughed. “I’ve just been cooped up at home and needed an excuse to come chat with you. Once she gives birth, I’ll have even less free time.” She then added, “I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“Don’t be so formal,” Madam Ji replied warmly. “I’m delighted you’re here—how could it be a disturbance?” With that, she peeled a plum and handed it to Madam Wu.
Without hesitation, Madam Wu ate the plum while continuing the conversation. “Now that your husband has been promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Revision, he must have even more social engagements, no?”
Lord Ji had previously served as the Vice Minister of the Court of Revision.
Madam Ji chuckled. “Quite the opposite—he’s much more at ease now. Before, he had to cater to others and follow their lead. Now, others revolve around him, and he does as he pleases. Naturally, he has more leisure.”
Madam Wu considered this and nodded. “That makes sense.” She then steered the topic toward Shen Rensi. “Have you heard? Left Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Lord Shen, managed to edge out Grand Secretary Yu’s eldest son…”
This was already the talk of the capital’s official circles, so how could Madam Ji not know? However, given Madam Wu’s ties to the Yu Family, she hesitated to comment. Yet Madam Wu’s tone held no trace of resentment, which struck her as odd."That Lord Shen is truly too unyielding," Madam Ji said vaguely. "Young Master Yu is still young, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. There's no need to rush now."
Madam Wu knew she was being considerate of her feelings and nodded with a smile. "That's exactly what I told Madam Yu. However, Lord Shen's actions were indeed too hasty. Speaking of which, he actually has some connections with the Yu Family. Even if he didn't consider the monk's face, he should have considered the Buddha's. Had he compromised just a bit, the Yu Family would naturally remember this favor. In the future when he needs help, Grand Secretary Yu would surely lend a hand out of gratitude. Wouldn't that be better than this public squabbling that makes them a laughingstock?"
Madam Ji felt her temper rising.
This Madam Wu had such a snobbish eye—she'd latch onto whichever family was prominent. More than once she'd dragged her along to social gatherings, making others mistakenly believe she was related by marriage to the Yu Family.
Had she told so many lies that she'd started believing them herself?
If Shen Rensi had connections with the Yu Family, how come she, an actual in-law, didn't know about it? Where did Madam Wu get this information?
And from where did she pick up these fragments of gossip to spout such nonsense here!
Thinking this, Madam Ji smiled faintly and said, "Lord Shen has connections with the Yu Family? How come I didn't know that?"
Madam Wu had been waiting for this very question. She replied with a smile, "You might not be aware yet. Lord Shen is the son-in-law of the Fu Family from Huayin! Didn't Young Master Yu once have a marriage arrangement with the Fu Family's Ninth Miss? Even now, the Yu and Fu families still interact like relatives!"
Madam Ji was stunned.
Young Master Yu was every mother-in-law's ideal son-in-law. Back then, countless families had set their sights on him. His engagement with the Fu Family was common knowledge among relatives.
"Lord Shen is actually the Fu Family's son-in-law!" she murmured, her brows furrowing. "Then this matter was indeed handled rather poorly."
Madam Wu chuckled. "I think Lord Shen had his reasons—it concerned his own future prospects. Having no direct ties with the Yu Family, it's understandable he'd fight for himself. But Lord Fu acted unfairly—as an elder who's benefited from Grand Secretary Yu's support over the years, how could he stand by and let Lord Shen act so recklessly? Losing the appointment is one thing, but being beaten by someone from your own side is like being slapped in public... Thankfully Grand Secretary Yu is magnanimous. If it were my husband, he'd probably be cursing up a storm by now."
This was the first Madam Ji had heard of this. She couldn't help asking, "Does Madam Yu know about this?"
"I'm not sure if she does," Madam Wu said with a somewhat helpless expression. "I don't visit Madam Yu often, afraid she might think I'm stirring up trouble." Then raising her voice slightly, she quickly added, "Madam Ji, though I enjoy casual gossip, I do know propriety—what should and shouldn't be said in different situations. It's just hearing all the outside talk, seeing the Yu Family suffer such injustice while enduring these rumors, I truly feel for them. And since it's just you here, I allowed myself to ramble a bit more.""Madam Wu, please don’t misunderstand," Madam Ji quickly said with a smile. "I was merely curious." Though she said this, she couldn’t help but take the matter to heart. Afterward, her conversation with Madam Wu became somewhat distracted. Once Madam Wu left, she hurried to the Yu Family.
Madam Yu was trembling with anger when she heard Madam Ji had arrived. After drinking a few sips of cold tea to steady herself, she barely composed her emotions and went to the reception hall.
Seeing Madam Yu’s poor complexion, Madam Ji hesitated before speaking and instead asked cheerfully about Zhen Jie’er.
"She can eat porridge on her own now," Madam Yu replied, visibly pleased at the mention of her only granddaughter. "The housekeepers have been very attentive. I’m sure she’ll continue to improve."
"That’s wonderful!" Madam Ji smiled, pondering how to bring up what Madam Wu had said. Just then, Mama Shu hurried in.
Though her expression was grave, she forced a smile and greeted Madam Ji before whispering something into Madam Yu’s ear.
Madam Yu’s face immediately darkened. She murmured a few instructions to Mama Shu—though the words were inaudible, the suppressed fury in her tone was unmistakable.
What could have happened to anger Madam Yu so much?
Madam Ji was puzzled, but Mama Shu had already rushed away.
Taking a deep breath, Madam Yu softened her expression and asked Madam Ji gently, "What brings you here today? Is there something you need?" Her directness was a stark contrast to her usual tact.
In that instant, Madam Ji understood—Madam Yu had urgent matters and wanted to dismiss her quickly.
After a brief hesitation, considering the gravity of the situation, she relayed Madam Wu’s words to Madam Yu in full detail.
Madam Ji expected Madam Yu to either react with shock or explain that she already knew. Instead, Madam Yu merely said, "Oh," and dismissed it lightly. "The master has long been aware of this. Minister Shen simply didn’t know the relationship between our families."
It seemed Madam Yu had no intention of discussing the matter further.
Or was there something more to it?
Madam Ji pondered, feeling rather foolish for rushing over in such haste. After exchanging a few more words, she stood to take her leave.
"Come visit me when you have time!" Madam Yu said politely, seeing her to the door.
Madam Ji stopped and declined, "There’s no need to escort me further. Please rest inside! This housekeeper can see me out."
Madam Yu didn’t insist. After a few courteous words, she instructed the housekeeper to accompany Madam Ji safely to the inner gate before returning inside.
On the way, Madam Ji asked the housekeeper escorting her, "Why did Madam Yu seem so unwell today?"The housekeeper, though serving in Madam Yu's quarters, wasn't among her most trusted attendants. Seeing that Madam Ji was a frequent visitor to the Yu Family and also a relative by marriage, and that Madam Yu treated her with great warmth, the housekeeper spoke without much reservation, whispering: "The First Madam and Third Madam each sent a cousin to serve the young master. Madam Yu has arranged for them to stay in the young master's chambers." At this point, she glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before continuing, "Strangely enough, though both cousins are quite beautiful, the young master dislikes them intensely—even more than when Consort Wu entered the household, which angered Madam Yu so much she couldn't sleep properly for days."
Madam Wu was greatly surprised.
Madam Yu had always feared that the First and Third Madams would spoil Yu Jingxiu and disrupt family discipline.
She quietly asked the housekeeper: "Is it the young mistress..."
"I don't know," the housekeeper shook her head honestly. "They say the young mistress has been unwell these past few days. Everyone's saying she fell ill from anger over the two cousins..."
Madam Ji returned home with a furrowed brow.
When Lord Ji returned that evening, she told him about the matter: "...Could Grand Secretary Yu have fallen so low?"
"Don't talk nonsense," Lord Ji laughed. "No matter what, he's still a Grand Secretary—how could that be considered 'fallen low'?"
Madam Ji said: "After much thought, the only possible reason Madam Yu would allow people sent by the First and Third Madams to serve her son is this—a shift in power. With Grand Secretary Yu losing influence, the First and Third Madams are seizing the opportunity to meddle in the Yu Family's affairs!"
※
Though somewhat late, today's update is finally complete... O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Sisters, brothers, last half hour—pink votes please!
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel