Chapter 298: Frustration
Of course, that wretched maid must be summoned and questioned!
What gives her the audacity to act so boldly?
Fan Shi sneered coldly.
The divide between wife and concubine was as vast as heaven and earth. If Fei Shi dared to disregard the rules, what could Madam Yu do even if she found out about her punishment?
If everyone behaved like Fei Shi, thinking they could do as they pleased just by currying favor with Yu Jingxiu, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Fan Shi’s expression grew even colder.
Mo Zhuan understood her mistress’s intentions without needing explicit orders and went to summon Fei Shi.
Fan Shi stared at Fei Shi’s plain features, which nonetheless exuded an air of composure and grace, and felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.
“After you went to Yunxiu Workshop yesterday to buy a few new handkerchiefs, where else did you go?” Fan Shi’s gaze was frosty as she fixed it on Fei Shi.
Fei Shi smiled. “I went to Needlemaker Alley to visit Miss Min.”
Fan Shi was stunned.
She had expected Fei Shi to panic and stammer out some excuse to evade her, at which point she could reveal her discovery, rebuke Fei Shi, and seize the opportunity to teach her a harsh lesson while she was caught off guard.
But she never imagined Fei Shi would admit it so calmly, as if it were nothing!
What was Fei Shi playing at?
Did she not fear reprimand?
Was she relying on her connection to Madam Yu?
At this thought, the humiliation of Madam Yu sending a concubine to her husband, coupled with Fei Shi’s secretive obedience to Yu Jingxiu behind her back, surged through Fan Shi’s heart like old grievances and fresh resentments, setting her aflame with anger.
“Who gave you permission to go?” Fan Shi snapped back to her senses and, imitating Madam Yu’s manner when angry, slammed her hand on the kang table with a loud smack . “Who do you think you are? You told me you were going to buy handkerchiefs, yet you sneaked off to visit someone—one thing to my face, another behind my back! Have you no sense of propriety? Is this how Madam Yu taught you to behave?”
Before Fan Shi mentioned Madam Yu, Fei Shi had stood there with her head bowed, listening meekly. But the moment Madam Yu was brought up, Fei Shi abruptly raised her head, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes as she interrupted Fan Shi.
“Please calm your anger, Mistress. That day, I truly intended to go to Yunxiu Workshop to buy handkerchiefs. But as I was leaving, I happened to run into the master. He said that with the Lantern Festival approaching, he wasn’t sure if Miss Min had prepared everything she needed for the holiday. Last winter, when the court was at war with the Koreans, even silver frost charcoal couldn’t be bought with money. Miss Min had only stocked five cartloads at the start of winter, and with this year’s lingering cold, he feared she might run short. He regretted not having bought more in advance and asked me to check on her, taking the opportunity to deliver five hundred taels in bank notes.
“I had planned to inform you, Mistress, but right after the master left, I encountered Madam Yu.
“Madam Yu scolded me on the spot.
“She said it wasn’t even the fifteenth of the first month yet, and here I was running around. She told me to stay home if I had nothing better to do and asked whether you knew about my outing.
“Afraid she would accuse me of lacking propriety, I quickly replied that I wouldn’t dare step beyond the inner gate without your permission.
“Madam Yu neither agreed nor disagreed. When she noticed the stack of bank notes in my hand, she asked what I was doing with them.
“I didn’t dare hide the truth and explained in detail that the master had instructed me to deliver the silver to Miss Min.
“Madam Yu said nothing further and left, supported by Housekeeper Shu.”"I saw that Madam didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping me, and with the master’s orders weighing on my mind, I first went to Needlemaker Alley before heading to Yunxiu Workshop to buy the handkerchief."
"What did you say?" Fan Shi was as if struck by lightning, her face instantly turning as pale as paper. "You mean Madam knew about you delivering silver to Miss Min?"
Fei Shi nodded in confusion. "Of course she knew." She added, "Last time when I was delivering Laba beans to Miss Min, Housekeeper Shu happened to be sent by Madam to the kitchen to fetch some Laba beans. She said Madam Ji from Bensi Alley liked them, and Madam planned to visit the Ji family in a couple of days, so she wanted to bring some for Madam Ji to try. When Housekeeper Shu found out I was delivering Laba beans to Miss Min, she even advised me on which beans were good and which weren’t..."
"You... you..." Fan Shi trembled with rage, wanting to point at Fei Shi and curse her out, but having never sworn at anyone since childhood, she didn’t know how to begin. Yet if she didn’t vent her fury, the fire in her chest burned unbearably. After pointing at Fei Shi for a long moment, she finally spat out through gritted teeth, "You’re honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted, utterly shameless..."
Fei Shi listened in terror, stepping forward and kneeling before her. "Madam, every word I’ve said is true. If you don’t believe me, you can have Mo Zhuan ask Granny Bai from the kitchen—she was there too and helped Housekeeper Shu and me pack the Laba beans..."
At these words, Fan Shi swayed a few times before suddenly collapsing backward, fainting onto the kang by the window.
"Madam! Madam!" Mo Zhuan had never seen such a scene before and was so frightened her legs went weak. Clutching Fan Shi’s body, she burst into tears.
Fei Shi scrambled to her feet.
"What’s wrong? What happened to Madam?" She rushed over.
If not for this Fei Shi, Madam wouldn’t have been so enraged as to faint.
Mo Zhuan, filled with resentment, sharply elbowed Fei Shi in the chest. "Get away! Go call for help, now!"
Caught off guard, Fei Shi gasped in pain, her face briefly darkening before the expression vanished. She shouted loudly for the maids and servants Fan Shi had earlier dismissed, then moved closer again. Before the others could enter, she feigned deep concern and urgency. "Miss Mo Zhuan, this won’t do! Even if we send for a physician now, by the time they arrive, it’ll be too late. I used to care for my sick cousin as a child, and the physician once told me that in such cases, the best remedy is to pinch the philtrum—it’ll wake them right up." With that, she forcefully shoved Mo Zhuan aside, propped Fan Shi up, and pinched her philtrum, all while instructing Mo Zhuan, "Quick, fetch a cup of cold water. When Madam wakes, she’ll need it to steady herself."
The maids and servants filed in, and seeing Fei Shi pinching the unconscious Madam’s philtrum, two of the older women stepped forward to assist.
Mo Zhuan, realizing Fei Shi wasn’t just spouting nonsense, stayed close, not daring to leave, and ordered a young maid to bring cold water.
Fei Shi, noticing this, had one of the housekeepers continue pinching Fan Shi’s philtrum while she took the teacup, sipped the cold water, and sprayed it onto Fan Shi’s face.
Fan Shi let out a faint moan.
Mo Zhuan was overjoyed.Fei Shi looked agitated. "That's wonderful, the mistress is fine..." She then took another sip of cold water and spat it out again with a "pfft," splashing it all over Fan Shi's face.
After much commotion, Fan Shi finally regained consciousness.
Mo Zhuan was overjoyed and rushed forward to support Fan Shi, helping her lean against the large bolster pillow on the kang. She personally brewed a cup of tea and served it to Fan Shi. Noticing the water all over Fan Shi's face, even soaking the front of her crimson gold-patterned robe sleeves, Mo Zhuan instructed the maids to fetch water for Fan Shi to wash her face. She then opened the wardrobe, took out a rose-red sleeveless vest embroidered with seasonal blessings, and helped Fan Shi change into it. She also sent a maid to inform General Manager Yu to call a physician to examine Fan Shi...
By the time all this was done, it was already dusk.
Fan Shi felt a burning pain on her philtrum. When she looked in the mirror, she realized it had been scratched and bruised by fingernails, red and swollen. She hadn’t noticed earlier because her mind had been preoccupied.
Mo Zhuan was furious and jumped up. "I’ll go find that Fei Shi—"
"Come back!" Fan Shi stopped her sharply. "If I can’t even control a mere concubine—do you want the servants of the Yu Family to laugh at me?"
Mo Zhuan reluctantly turned back.
Fan Shi clenched her teeth and said to Mo Zhuan, "Go and find out if what Fei Shi said is true—whether everyone in the household knows about Needlemaker Alley, and only we’ve been kept in the dark..."
Before she could finish, Mo Zhuan’s face paled. She murmured a low "Yes," bowed her head, and left Fan Shi’s inner chamber.
Fan Shi lay quietly alone on the kang, her face alternating between shades of pale and ashen.
Without distinguishing between the legitimate wife and concubines, there would be no order. Without order, nothing could be properly managed. Without proper management, there would be no standards for conduct. And without standards, the clan members would act recklessly.
Madam Yu, as the Wife of a Clan Leader, should understand this well. How could she tolerate Min Shi’s existence?
Yet from Fei Shi’s tone, it didn’t seem like she was lying. Otherwise, a simple investigation would expose her.
At this thought, Fan Shi’s temples throbbed faintly.
Her husband, worried that Min Shi might feel lonely during the Yuanxiao Festival, had specially sent Fei Shi to visit her. Concerned that Min Shi might be cold, he had sent her five hundred taels of silver... Just like how he treated her—when her monthly discomfort came, he would make her brown sugar water. In the summer, knowing her constitution was weak, he never allowed the maids to serve her anything chilled...
The tenderness that once belonged to her was now bestowed upon another woman.
Fan Shi felt as if she had drunk half a bottle of vinegar—sour and bitter.
As she pondered, Mo Zhuan returned.
Her lips were pressed tightly together, her face ashen.
Fan Shi’s heart sank, and she looked at Mo Zhuan pleadingly.
Mo Zhuan’s tears began to fall, one after another.
Fan Shi felt as if all her strength had drained away, collapsing onto the bed.
For a moment, the room was utterly silent.
After what felt like an eternity, Fan Shi asked desperately, "What did Granny Bai say?"
Mo Zhuan kept her head low. "...Earlier, the master also had Fei Shi send dried fish to Needlemaker Alley. It seems everyone in the household knew..."
Fan Shi closed her eyes, tears seeping from the corners.
"What does he want? Humiliating me like this—does he think it reflects well on him?" Her expression was full of sorrow as she struggled to sit up.
Mo Zhuan hurried to support her.
But Fan Shi shook her off and pushed her away."I want to see Mother-in-law," she murmured. "I want to ask her clearly, why is she like this? Not only not stopping him, but letting him do as he pleases... What exactly have I done wrong? About the matter of heirs, do you think I'm not anxious? Do I want to be childless myself? Didn't I buy several maids with clean backgrounds and outstanding looks to serve De Pu? It's De Pu himself who refuses—what can I do about it..." As she spoke, she sat there motionless, her gaze vacant.
Mo Zhuan, noticing her strange expression, called out fearfully, "Madam."
"When he still had me in his heart, he wouldn't touch others either..." Fan Shi suddenly grabbed Mo Zhuan's hand. "He didn't like the maids I found for him... I thought it was because he still cared for me... But no... It was because he was thinking of her..."
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Finally wrote this part... O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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