Chapter 301: A Slap in the Face
Seeing Consort Wu collapse to the ground without a word, Yu Jingxiu grew even more furious.
He shouted at Fan Shi, "What are you standing there for? Go and fetch someone for me!"
Even if Fan Shi were utterly foolish, she would never do such a thing. Not only was Consort Wu's status significant, but the Yu Family's reputation was also at stake. If she truly obeyed Yu Jingxiu's order and called for a slave trader, once word got out, people would only say she was jealous and had acted outrageously without regard for propriety—not that Yu Jingxiu had lashed out in shame and anger.
Yet, she had always been gentle and submissive in front of Yu Jingxiu. How could she openly defy his command in front of a concubine and servants?
Fan Shi hurriedly responded with deference, "This humble wife will go find someone at once," then exchanged a glance with Mo Zhuan and turned to leave the inner chamber.
Mo Zhuan followed closely behind. Seeing Fan Shi stop, she quickly stepped forward and whispered, "What are your orders, madam?"
"Go and inform Madam Yu immediately," Fan Shi said urgently. "Let her decide what to do!"
Mo Zhuan was taken aback. "You... you intend to save Consort Wu?"
"Fool!" Fan Shi couldn't help but scold. "If the young master wants to sell Consort Wu, even if the Yu Family agrees, the Wu Family will never allow it. Rather than face blame from my mother-in-law for failing to stop him and earning the Wu Family's hatred, it's better to let her make the decision now... As a daughter-in-law, it's my duty to follow the elders' instructions and assist, but I shouldn't bear the blame for doing so."
Understanding now, Mo Zhuan rushed off to Madam Yu.
Madam Yu was helping Grand Secretary Yu change his clothes when she heard the news. She nearly collapsed from anger but forced herself to suppress her rage, exclaiming loudly, "What are those two quarreling about now? Can't they let anyone live in peace? Selling Consort Wu to a house of pleasure—how dare he even suggest such a thing? I don’t know how my good son turned into such a beast after marrying..."
Though she was cursing Yu Jingxiu, her words were clearly aimed at Fan Shi.
Mo Zhuan couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Thank goodness she had listened to the young mistress and sought Madam Yu's intervention. Otherwise, wouldn’t the blame have fallen entirely on her?
Grand Secretary Yu was speechless, his face dark with anger. He waved a hand at Madam Yu and said sternly, "Come, let’s go see what kind of farce they’re putting on this time!"
The maids and matrons inside and outside the room fell into dead silence.
Housekeeper Shu personally carried a lantern to escort Grand Secretary Yu and Madam Yu to Yu Jingxiu’s courtyard.
As soon as they entered, they heard Yu Jingxiu’s voice, thick with suppressed fury, berating someone:
"...Have we ever starved you or left you without clothes? Have we made you serve the young mistress like a lowly maid? You’ve been well cared for, with seasonal garments and maids attending to you—no less than the daughters of noble families. Yet you still couldn’t behave properly, gossiping outside! Tell me, how has the Yu Family ever wronged you?"
Not behaving properly?
How could this be?
Back then, she had chosen Consort Wu precisely because of her meek temperament. Over the years in the Yu Family, despite enduring much hardship, Consort Wu had remained kind, honest, and obedient. How could her son now accuse her of misbehaving? Had she misjudged her?The thought flashed through her mind, but Madam Yu immediately dismissed it.
Consort Wu had barely left the house in recent years, and whenever she did, she was always accompanied by maids and matrons. Even if she wanted to do something scandalous, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity!
Madam Yu couldn’t help but regret her earlier actions.
She had been too consumed by anger to ask for details about what had happened.
She turned her gaze to Mo Zhuan.
Mo Zhuan shook her head blankly.
Ahead of them, Grand Secretary Yu had already strode toward the main house with a dark expression.
The maids standing nervously under the eaves of the main house, listening for any commotion, finally sensed something amiss. Some shrank back in fear, while others barely managed to raise their voices to announce, “The master is here,” lifting the curtain for Grand Secretary Yu.
Seeing this, Madam Yu could say no more and silently followed Grand Secretary Yu into the hall.
Upon hearing the announcement, Yu Jingxiu had already led Fan Shi and the others out of the inner chamber, just in time to see Grand Secretary Yu enter.
At his age, nearing thirty, Yu Jingxiu was both ashamed and annoyed that a domestic matter had disturbed his parents. Suppressing his embarrassment, he stepped forward to bow to Grand Secretary Yu and Madam Yu.
Grand Secretary Yu didn’t even glance at Yu Jingxiu and went straight to sit in the Grand Tutor chair in the center of the hall.
Madam Yu also didn’t speak to Yu Jingxiu and sat down beside Grand Secretary Yu.
The maids and matrons who had followed them silently fanned out to stand on either side of Grand Secretary Yu and Madam Yu.
The atmosphere in the hall immediately grew tense, taking on the air of a courtroom trial.
Yu Jingxiu felt even more awkward and couldn’t help but glance at Fan Shi.
Fan Shi stood beside him with downcast eyes, her fingers twisting nervously, looking as innocent as if she had suffered an undeserved calamity.
For some inexplicable reason, Yu Jingxiu felt a surge of irritation, his brows involuntarily knitting together.
Meanwhile, Grand Secretary Yu noticed that only Fan Shi and Fei Shi had come out with Yu Jingxiu to greet him. His eyelids flickered as he asked, “Where is Wu Shi?”
Anyone with sense would disapprove of Yu Jingxiu’s idea. The fact that Grand Secretary Yu immediately asked about Wu Shi showed his displeasure with Yu Jingxiu. Fei Shi quickly said, “This humble one will go and help Consort Wu over.” Without waiting to see how Yu Jingxiu or Fan Shi would react, she turned and helped the trembling Consort Wu out.
When Grand Secretary Yu saw Consort Wu, who could barely walk without Fei Shi’s support, he couldn’t help but shoot his son a glance.
If she was this frightened after just a few scoldings, she must be an honest person. What could someone like her possibly have done?
His expression softened slightly as he looked at Consort Wu, and he asked her gently, “What exactly happened? Tell me.”
Consort Wu’s lips trembled before she finally spoke. “The young master said… my brother-in-law wants to redeem me and take me home… He thought I had said something to my family…” At this point, recalling Yu Jingxiu’s insults and her own grievances, tears began to fall uncontrollably. “I truly didn’t know… I said nothing… My brother-in-law is just a petty merchant, acting on my sister’s orders…” She suddenly dropped to her knees before Grand Secretary Yu. “Master, I beg for your mercy. Please don’t hold it against my brother-in-law. I’m happy here—I don’t want to go back!”
A magistrate could ruin a family; a county official could exterminate a household. And someone as powerful as Grand Secretary Yu was someone even Official Wu had to curry favor with. Otherwise, why would Madam Wu have gone to such lengths to send her here?My sister meant well, but she couldn't let this harm her sister.
Consort Wu began kowtowing to Grand Secretary Yu with loud thuds.
Apart from Yu Jingxiu, Fan Shi, and Fei Shi, everyone else in the room was stunned.
In the silent hall, only the sound of Consort Wu's kowtowing could be heard.
Soon, blood began to trickle from her forehead.
Madam Yu shuddered, snapping back to reality, and quickly said, "What are you doing? Get up quickly. His Lordship will handle everything for you—don't overthink it."
Housekeeper Shu hurried forward to pull Consort Wu up. Seeing blood from her forehead trickling down her temples, she took out a handkerchief to tie around Consort Wu's head.
Grand Secretary Yu's gaze lingered on his son, but he remained silent for a long time.
Yu Jingxiu also knew he had overreacted.
But the thought of that country bumpkin cornering him outside the yamen, offering a bag of silver to take Consort Wu away, made his blood boil.
What did that bumpkin take him for?
A mere few hundred taels of silver—he casually gave away more than that as rewards. How dare he think such a paltry sum could sway him?
Then he thought of Chen Shi, who had voluntarily left.
Had Consort Wu been influenced by her? Had she already planned to leave the Yu Family back then?
With these thoughts, he yanked the carriage curtain shut and returned directly to the Yu Family.
But the more he thought about it on the way back, the angrier he became.
First Chen Shi, now Consort Wu—did they think the Yu Family was a vegetable market? Coming and going as they pleased? If he didn't teach Consort Wu a lesson, wouldn't everyone in the household follow their example?
That was why he had threatened to sell her to a brothel.
Once the words were out, he knew they were inappropriate. But seeing Consort Wu's reaction, he thought it wouldn't hurt to scare her a little, lest she get too bold and incite others in the household to act out of line. That was why he had urged Fan Shi to summon the slave trader.
Unexpectedly, Fan Shi hadn't stopped him at all. Instead, she had called his parents over, turning a trivial matter into a farce known to everyone.
Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance at Fan Shi again.
Fan Shi was tending to Consort Wu and didn't notice Yu Jingxiu's look.
Fei Shi, however, who had been discreetly observing Yu Jingxiu out of the corner of her eye, was silently calculating.
If Consort Wu stayed... Recalling how she had tried several times to use her for her own ends but failed, it was clear Consort Wu was clever—just somewhat timid. So far, there had been no conflict between them. But even a rabbit bites when cornered. If they ever clashed, everyone saw her as meek and harmless, so if she ever struck back, Fei Shi would likely be the one to suffer.
But if Consort Wu left... Remembering how warmly Fan Shi had treated her recently... At least Fan Shi would have one less ally. Even if Min Shi entered the household, Fei Shi, as the longest-serving concubine in Yu Jingxiu's quarters, could play both sides between Fan Shi and Min Shi...
It would be better if Consort Wu left!
Lost in her scheming, Fei Shi waited until Grand Secretary Yu had comforted Consort Wu with a few words and asked Yu Jingxiu and Fan Shi to stay behind for a talk. She then volunteered to escort Consort Wu back to her room, called Lianxin to fetch hot water, and personally helped Consort Wu freshen up. Taking her hand, Fei Shi leaned in with a confiding air and whispered, "What are your plans?"Consort Wu knew she should push Fei Shi away at this moment, but the thought that her younger sister had actually sent her brother-in-law to the Yu Family to redeem her filled her heart with excitement.
How wonderful it would be to leave the Yu Family!
Even becoming a nun in a temple would be better than this half-dead existence!
But how could she dare say such a thing!
Seeing her silence, Fei Shi tentatively suggested, "I wonder if Madam Wu knows about this matter? Should we send word to Madam Wu? That way, the young master won't keep losing his temper and saying things like selling you or not. Though his words are outrageous, if he keeps shouting like this, even the long-serving servants who already look down on us concubines will treat us with even more contempt."
It was a pity that when Yu Jingxiu had been venting his anger earlier, she had been too frightened to ask whether the Wu Family knew about this matter!
Consort Wu pursed her lips unconsciously.
Fei Shi then smiled and said, "Why don't you send Lianxin to ask the Wu Family?"
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End of the month, seeking pink votes...
O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of chapter)
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