Chapter 261: Consideration
Seeing her son Yu Jingxiu remain uncharacteristically silent during her conversation with Fan Shi, Madam Yu initially thought her words had moved him. She felt comforted, thinking that although her son doted on his wife excessively, he still knew what mattered when it came to important matters. Her expression softened considerably as she said, "This is a matter for your household—you two should decide. But don’t delay too long. The Mid-Autumn Festival gifts will be sent soon, so take this opportunity to inform your Aunt and make her happy as well!"
Her implication was clear—this matter had to be settled before the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts were dispatched.
In the capital, festival gifts were typically sent to Nanjing on the first day of the eighth lunar month.
Today was already the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month.
Fan Shi bit her lip but, remembering Yu Jingxiu’s earlier admonition, forced a smile and agreed. She casually flipped through the almanac and set the date for Yu Jingxiu to take a concubine as the twenty-eighth of the seventh month.
Madam Yu nodded slightly, her expression even gentler than before, and even took Zhen Jie'er into her arms to play with her for a while.
Yu Jingxiu let out a quiet sigh of relief, though an odd feeling crept into his heart.
Fei Shi had been right—as long as he stayed out of these matters, his mother would treat Fan Shi much more kindly.
Returning to his courtyard, he couldn’t help but glance toward the back room where Fei Shi resided. The main house completely obscured the back room from view, yet inexplicably, his mind conjured an image of Fei Shi sitting under dim lamplight, diligently sewing.
The fleeting thought startled him.
What was wrong with him?
Why was he thinking such things?
He shook his head, as if trying to dispel the image, and strode briskly into the main house.
On the twenty-eighth, the Yu Family set up only two tables in the outer courtyard, inviting a few of Yu Jingxiu’s fellow scholars and colleagues in the capital for a modest celebration. Fei Shi, led by Fan Shi’s wet nurse, knelt respectfully before Fan Shi, offering tea to the main wife.
Fan Shi, observing Fei Shi’s plain appearance and deferential demeanor, was quite pleased. She rewarded her with a set of silver head ornaments and spoke a few perfunctory words about "serving the master well and bearing children for the Yu Family" before dismissing her, deliberately avoiding any formal acknowledgment of seniority between Fei Shi and Consort Wu, who stood nearby.
Fei Shi’s maidservant, Cai Rong, had previously worked in the outer courtyard. Quick-witted and diligent, she had secured her position serving Fei Shi through connections with Yu Huaian. Smiling, she handed Fei Shi a cup of tea and whispered, "Madam, since you’re related to Madam Yu and the mistress didn’t ask you to serve tea to Consort Wu, doesn’t that mean you outrank her?"
Fei Shi, who had been smiling, suddenly frowned. "I entered this household after Consort Wu, so naturally, I rank below her. Isn’t that obvious?" She added sternly, "I don’t know how your Housekeeper raised you, but now that you’re in my service, you’ll follow my rules—don’t speak what shouldn’t be spoken, and don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked. Do you understand?"
Cai Rong was startled.
She hadn’t expected the usually gentle Fei Shi to turn so severe.
Trembling, she dropped to her knees. "This servant will never dare again..." Her voice quivered with fear.Fei Shi smiled faintly and bent down to take Cai Rong's hand.
"I'm not blaming you," she said earnestly in a soft voice. "It's just that our status is humble, and we can't afford the slightest carelessness or impropriety. Since fate has brought us together, I only hope you can regard me as your closest confidante. If we can discuss matters and remind each other, even the greatest difficulties can be overcome together. Don't you think so?"
Cai Rong nodded repeatedly.
Fei Shi then instructed her with a smile, "Ask the housekeepers to bring in water for washing up."
Cai Rong was taken aback.
Today was the day Fei Shi was elevated to consort—would the young master really not come to spend the night?
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but remembering Fei Shi's earlier words, she swallowed them back. Obediently, she went to call the housekeepers to bring water and attended to Fei Shi's washing. She also helped Fei Shi change into a casual rose-red lined jacket before going to prepare the bed.
A housekeeper announced cheerfully from behind the curtain, "The young master is here!"
Fei Shi, who had been applying scented cream in front of the mirror, smiled slightly and stood up to greet him.
The curtain was lifted, and Yu Jingxiu walked in, slightly drunk.
Fei Shi hurriedly supported Yu Jingxiu and loudly instructed Cai Rong to prepare sobering soup.
Yu Jingxiu waved her off and said firmly, "No need... just a cup of strong tea will do."
"That won't do!" Fei Shi paid no heed and stepped forward to support his arm again. "Drinking at night is bad for your health." She added, "Shall I have Cai Rong inform the first wife?"
"No need!" Yu Jingxiu took a deep breath, sobering up a little. "Zhen Jie'er has just gone to sleep. Don't wake her."
Fei Shi then said, "Then let this humble one help you wash your face?" Without waiting for his reply, she went to fetch water.
Yu Jingxiu, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, didn't refuse and washed his face.
Cai Rong brought in the sobering soup.
Fei Shi helped Yu Jingxiu drink it, then said with a smile, "Young master, you should rest early!" As she spoke, she moved the ram horn palace lantern from the kang table to the brocade stool by the bed and placed two books on it. "If you're bored, you can read. Cai Rong and I will squeeze together for the night so as not to disturb your reading." With that, she walked around the screen and settled onto the daybed where Cai Rong usually kept watch.
Yu Jingxiu was surprised.
But he was happy to have a quiet night's sleep.
As for reading, his head was spinning, and he couldn't focus.
Yu Jingxiu blew out the lamp and lay down on his side, pulling up the covers.
Only when the room darkened did Fei Shi open her eyes, staring blankly into the pitch-black room.
Before coming to the capital, the elder madam had instructed her that Madam Yu disliked others interfering in her household affairs. Thus, while she had prepared dowry chests for Fei Shi, she hadn't assigned any personal maids or matrons. As the elder madam put it, "Rather than making the second wife suspicious, it's better to be open and let her see for herself." But she had also advised, "Once you're there, even if I want to help, I won't be able to. Everything will depend on you."
Thinking of this, she turned over.
In the darkness, her eyes grew even brighter.
※※※※※
Next door, Lianxin also tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Consort Wu, awakened by her movements, yawned and asked, "What's the matter with you?"Lianxin felt anxious hearing her indifferent tone and sat up abruptly. "Consort Wu, how can you still sleep? Do you know? The young master went to Consort Fei's chamber! And today was Consort Fei's first day entering the household, yet Madam didn't even have her serve you tea..."
"Alright, alright," Consort Wu yawned again. "If I'm not worried, why should you be?"
"Consort..." Lianxin smacked the quilt in frustration.
Seeing her genuinely upset, Consort Wu consoled her, "Even if I were ranked first, what difference would it make? In the end, it all depends on who holds more weight in the young master's heart! We've finally escaped that mess—let's not jump back in." With that, she waved her hand, signaling Lianxin to drop the subject and go to sleep.
Helpless, Lianxin lay back down.
Consort Wu decided to go the extra mile. Early the next morning, she watched as Yu Jingxiu left Consort Fei's chamber and went to offer her congratulations.
Consort Fei returned the greeting with a bright smile, and together they went to pay respects to Madam Yu.
Upon hearing this, Madam Yu nodded slightly and remarked privately to Housekeeper Shu, "See, some things must be spoken plainly!"
Housekeeper Shu chuckled in agreement. "Indeed, Madam's methods are most effective."
As they spoke, Grand Secretary Yu returned home.
Madam Yu and Housekeeper Shu stepped forward to greet him.
Grand Secretary Yu handed his official hat to Madam Yu and said, "Have De Pu report to the Ministry of Personnel on the second day of the eighth month—he's been assigned as an inspector for Shandong."
Madam Yu couldn't help but sigh softly.
She understood: while one may guard against a thief for a thousand days, one cannot do so forever. They couldn't keep their son cooped up at home just for fear of Zhao Ling's retaliation.
The matter of their son joining the Censorate had been settled days earlier—he was to be stationed in Hebei, where both the General Military Headquarters of Jizhou and Xuanfu were located. Now, with his sudden reassignment to Shandong, it was clear that although her husband had dismissed her concerns as overly cautious, he still harbored some unease.
Didn't this indirectly prove that Zhao Ling was indeed someone not to be trifled with?
Madam Yu mused, "Do you think we should find De Pu a few skilled generational servants for protection?"
Grand Secretary Yu pondered for a moment before replying, "Very well, arrange it."
Madam Yu relaxed slightly.
Yu Jingxiu thought his father was overreacting, but knowing that displeasing him could land him back in the Office of Transmission with a single word, he didn't refuse the family's arrangements.
Fan Shi, however, grew increasingly uneasy.
She whispered to Mo Zhuan, "Is Zhao Ling truly that formidable? For a woman, would he really risk his own future? Find out more about him—what kind of man is he?"
Mo Zhuan hesitated before responding.
Fan Shi pressed, "What is it?"
After a pause, Mo Zhuan spoke haltingly, "A few days ago, I overheard some servants saying that when Consort Wu returned to the Wu residence, she seemed to have visited Madam Zhao..."
Fan Shi was stunned, then furious. "Does my mother-in-law know about this?"
"It seems not," Mo Zhuan replied. "The carriage driver who took Consort Wu back was grumbling and let it slip unintentionally."
Fan Shi's expression darkened. "Find a way to bring this to my mother-in-law's attention."
Mo Zhuan nodded.
A few days later, Madam Yu summoned Consort Wu for a talk.
"Are you acquainted with Madam Zhao?"
The truth had come to light!Consort Wu knew her movements couldn't escape the notice of the Yu Family, and had been waiting for someone to confront her.
She had gone to the Zhao residence on her own initiative—it had nothing to do with Madam Zhao. If they wanted to beat or scold her, they should direct it at her.
She felt there was nothing left to fear. At worst, it would mean death!
After all, her life held little meaning anyway.
Thinking this, she said bluntly: "I know Madam Zhao, though she doesn't know me."
Madam Yu was stunned.
Consort Wu continued frankly: "I thought Madam Zhao seemed like a good person, so while returning to the Wu Family, I went to visit her. However, Madam Zhao said she had grievances with the Yu Family and asked me not to visit her again." She widened her eyes as she asked Madam Yu, "Madam, why would our family have grievances with Madam Zhao? She didn't seem like the type to be unreasonable even when in the right?"
This left Madam Yu speechless with anger. She ordered Fan Shi to confine Consort Wu to her quarters, and went to see Madam Wu the next day.
※
Dear sisters and brothers, my sincere apologies—my computer malfunctioned when I'd only written half the chapter. I borrowed a notebook to rewrite this chapter. The computer should be fixed tomorrow, but I'll need to pick it up myself. Tomorrow's update might be slightly delayed, but I'll try my best to post around 7 PM. If I can't update on time, I hope you'll understand.
(>_<)
OpenNovel