In the small and elegant courtyard, several banana plants transplanted from the south swayed gently in the breeze. Amidst the vibrant flowers and willows, a half-opened gauze window revealed a young woman in her early twenties dressed in elegant attire, sitting by the window and intently threading a needle. A young maid with double round buns approached with a tea tray and whispered, "Fourth Madam, please rest for a while. It's been all morning. Let me massage your neck for you."
The young woman looked up and smiled, saying, "Alright." She set down the embroidery hoop she was holding and picked up the tea, blowing on it gently.
The maid kneaded her shoulders and neck, muttering, "...Your shoulders are as stiff as wood. If you don't take care of yourself, Fourth Master will worry and then give us a hard time."
The young woman smiled shyly but did not reply.
Since childhood, she had loved needlework and was skilled at embroidery. After marrying into the family, she often made clothes and accessories for her sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and even her elderly mother-in-law and mother-in-law from afar, earning much praise.
Her husband had repeatedly urged her to do less, but she would only respond with a shy smile. Once, she finally asked him in return, "Do you know what my maiden name is?" Her husband, who was handsome and kind-hearted, suddenly teased, "I know—it's Little Mouse." She pretended to be upset and pouted, playfully hitting him until he laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I dare not tease you anymore... Hmm, I heard your mother call you Er Ya."
She replied shyly, "That's just a childhood nickname, used casually. I have a proper maiden name—it's Xiu Qiao." She slowly traced the two characters in the air with her finger, a hint of pride in her gesture.
"Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law are so capable, knowledgeable, and experienced—I could never catch up to them no matter how hard I try. At least I have this skill to show off a little..." She lowered her voice, "It's getting cold, and Concubine Xiang's legs are bothering her. I'm making her a pair of leg warmers."
Her husband's eyes filled with affection as he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "When it comes to studying or character, I can't catch up to my two elder brothers either. We're a perfect match—let's stay together for a lifetime."
Xiu Qiao's heart swelled with sweetness, and she felt so happy she could almost fly. Her husband was considerate, gentle, and pure-hearted, with no other women in their household. Since their marriage, the young couple had always been affectionate and harmonious, discussing everything together and never once quarreling.
Everyone said she was blessed. Over the years, many sisters from families that had risen alongside the Shen family had married into influential households, but few lived as happily as she did.
The Sheng family was a scholarly household filled with officials. Every man in the family held an official title, and the daughters had made excellent marriages, with in-laws including prominent and powerful ministers—a family blessed with both wealth and status.
Her father-in-law was kind and upright (in Xiu Qiao's eyes). Though he rarely met with his daughters-in-law, he repeatedly instructed his sons to manage their households well before anything else, warning them never to indulge concubines at the expense of their wives—a practice that could bring ruin to the family.
For this reason alone, her third brother-in-law, renowned in the capital for his literary talent, had been caned and scolded by his father more than once, each time saved only by Third Sister-in-law's intervention.
Xiu Qiao had witnessed this twice. Once, Third Brother had fallen in with bad company and was led to visit a brothel, where he met a 'remarkable woman' who sold her talents but not her body. Their father-in-law was so furious his face turned pale. He confined Third Brother to the house for two full months, gave him twenty strokes of the cane, and made him copy the Sheng Family Precepts five hundred times—one of which strictly forbade Sheng family members from having any association with women from brothels.In truth, Xiu Qiao felt her father-in-law was being somewhat excessive. Scholars often enjoyed pretending to refinement—even her bookish second brother had visited brothels. Such occasional indulgences were mere performances; no respectable young gentleman would take them seriously. Why should Father Shen be so enraged? Third Brother was, after all, a father himself—this public humiliation was too severe.
To her surprise, her husband sighed and said, "You don't understand. We once had a granduncle—the immense fortune left by our great-grandfather, along with his own daughter, an entire respectable family—completely destroyed by a courtesan. Our generation never witnessed it, but Father saw it with his own eyes."
Another incident occurred two months before the spring imperial examinations. A maid serving in Third Brother's study suddenly revealed she was with child. At that time, Father Shen was fully focused on urging his son to prepare for the exams. Upon hearing the news, he immediately erupted in anger, punishing every servant in and around Third Brother's study and expelling the pregnant maid to a rural estate. He declared harshly, "If he fails this time, neither the child nor the mother will be spared."
Later, Third Brother indeed passed the exams, ranking among the top candidates in the second tier.
In reality, Third Brother was highly intelligent, exceptionally gifted in literature, and warm-hearted. Ever since the Sheng and Shen families became related by marriage, he had enthusiastically taken Xiu Qiao's bookish second brother under his wing, introducing him to society, bringing him to classical texts gatherings, and recommending him to several great scholars. Second Brother Shen was overjoyed, repeatedly telling Father and Mother Shen that this marriage alliance was excellent.
What Third Brother lacked was inner perseverance; he occasionally slipped up and needed resolute individuals to steer him back on track—such as Father Shen, or... Third Sister-in-law.
Though Third Brother had a fondness for romantic dalliances, he held Third Sister-in-law in great respect and affection... indeed, almost in awe. However, Third Sister-in-law handled matters with impartiality and integrity, and her skillful methods deserved such reverence.
Initially, Xiu Qiao found Third Sister-in-law stern and imposing, less amiable and approachable than Eldest Sister-in-law, and she was quite nervous for some time. But as days passed, she discovered that Third Sister-in-law was actually very kind, patiently teaching her the principles of managing affairs and receiving guests.
She delightedly shared this discovery with her husband, who chuckled and said, "With someone like Third Brother, if Third Sister-in-law didn't maintain a stern face and enforce strict rules, the household would fall into chaos. As for Eldest Sister-in-law... you've met Eldest Brother. With someone like him, if she didn't speak gently and smile often, how could life go on?"
Mention of Eldest Brother made Xiu Qiao stick out her tongue in a gesture of being unable to handle him.
The eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Sheng family were stationed elsewhere for their official posts. So far, Xiu Qiao had only met this Eldest Brother once face-to-face, yet she felt even more tense than in Father Shen's presence—and she wasn't alone in this feeling. Third Brother occasionally dared to joke and discuss poetry with Father Shen, but in front of Eldest Brother, he could only stand obediently with hands at his sides, not even daring to twitch an eyebrow.
That year, when Third Brother's legitimate eldest son began to speak, his childish voice was utterly adorable. Seeing how much Father Shen doted on the child, Third Brother pleaded to bring his birth mother back from the estate. "...If that's truly impossible, at least let Concubine see the child. After all... he is her own grandson..."
It was said that as Third Brother spoke, he began to weep.
Father Shen seemed to soften somewhat, but unfortunately, Third Brother's timing was poor—Eldest Brother happened to return to the capital urgently for official reporting. Upon learning of the matter, Eldest Brother shot Third Brother a sharp glance, and Third Brother immediately fell silent.
"Bring her back for what? To cause more harm?"The eldest brother said nothing to his face, but later summoned his younger brother. The three brothers closed the door to speak privately. "Look at our sisters—aside from the fourth sister, which one doesn’t have a harmonious marriage and children around them? If not for Consort Lin, how could Fourth Sister’s marriage have ended up like this! As a concubine, she shows no respect whatsoever for Old Madam or Madam Sheng, and doesn’t even take the master’s decisions seriously. She acts recklessly—what gives her the audacity? Nothing but having a son like you!"
Xiu Qiao had also heard a little about the matter of the fourth young lady of the Sheng family. Back then, the young master of the Liang family had held her in his arms in public, leading to their marriage—an incident that couldn’t help but stir gossip. Although the Liang and Sheng families publicly claimed it was an accident, many households privately speculated that Madam Sheng’s lax management had allowed a concubine and her daughter to openly scheme against a noble young master in public.
Fortunately, the two families eventually became in-laws, and the matter was swept under the rug with the wedding veil. The gossip gradually died down.
"You’re a father now. If someday you have a concubine who, emboldened by your favor and the success of her son, acts just as recklessly—thinking she can make a comeback in a few years—do you think the Sheng family’s reputation can withstand such repeated damage?"
The eldest brother didn’t raise his voice, speaking in a calm tone, yet his words pierced like needles, each one drawing blood. The third brother broke into a cold sweat and nearly burst into tears.
Then, the eldest brother suddenly softened his voice, personally helping the third brother to sit beside him, and gently advised, "As men, we rely on our lineage before adulthood and on our abilities afterward. You’re no longer a child under our parents’ care—you have a wife and children, and in the future, you’ll have to support a household on your own. If you lack resolve and let your emotions dictate your actions, how are you any different from a woman!"
"If you resent me for this, after our father passes, we can simply cease contact. Though we aren’t born of the same mother, we are still flesh and blood. How could I not wish for both of you to thrive? I may not expect you to bring glory to the family, but at the very least, you must stand firm in this world. A true man prioritizes right and wrong over personal feelings—not to be heartless, but to keep emotions within bounds!"
According to her husband, by the end, the third brother was clinging to the eldest brother’s legs, weeping bitterly and repeatedly admitting his faults, swearing to heaven that he would never be so foolish again and would always prioritize the family’s honor. The innocent younger brother was also reprimanded and made to vow the same.
Her dazed husband returned to their room and took a long time to collect himself before hugging his beloved young wife and sobbing—this was, as Xiu Qiao knew, the last time the third brother attempted to bring Consort Lin back.
It was said that afterward, Old Madam also sent a letter to the master, stating plainly, "As long as I live, don’t even think about bringing Consort Lin back." From then on, even the master never brought it up again.
"Why must Grandmother do that? Since Eldest Brother has already persuaded Third Brother." Wouldn’t that only invite resentment from her descendants?
Her husband sighed. "That’s just how Grandmother is. Though she doesn’t speak much, her heart is the kindest of all. She fears discord between father and sons, between brothers, so she draws all the displeasure onto herself."
Xiu Qiao hadn’t met this grandmother many times. She was shy by nature and not good at making conversation, so even in Old Madam’s presence, she never knew what to say. She found Old Madam somewhat aloof and hard to approach, but in daily chats, her husband always said that Grandmother was the most sincere person in the entire family.After thinking it through, Xiu Qiao realized she had completely overlooked Madam Wang. As a daughter-in-law, sometimes serving one's mother-in-law was more important than serving one's husband—but she didn't have this problem at all, because her formal mother-in-law had long resided in the ancestral temple back in their hometown.
What was she doing there? Praying for blessings on behalf of the frail Old Madam.
It was a rather peculiar explanation. Even someone as naive as Xiu Qiao knew there was more to it, but being obedient and timid by nature, she never asked questions beyond her purview.
With her formal mother-in-law absent, there was a deputy mother-in-law at home to serve: Concubine Xiang.
Before the wedding, Mother Shen had worried about how her daughter would get along with this concubine mother-in-law—neither too distant nor too familiar. Yet all these concerns proved unnecessary.
Concubine Xiang turned out to be unexpectedly reasonable. From start to finish, she only addressed Xiu Qiao as "Fourth Madam," treating her with respect and courtesy, no different from how she treated Third Madam Liu. She never meddled in her own son's household affairs. Later, Xiu Qiao learned that not long before their wedding, it was Concubine Xiang who had spoken to her father-in-law, ensuring that the two bedroom servants attending her husband were properly dismissed beforehand.
Concubine Xiang wasn't particularly beautiful, far less so than Jufang, the concubine who attended her father-in-law, but she had a delicate, serene elegance. When she smiled, she especially resembled her husband, though her eyes held much weariness and fatigue. Watching her, already advanced in years, often standing by her father-in-law's door to lift the curtain, serve water, or offer tea, Xiu Qiao felt an inexplicable sadness.
Those skilled in needlework usually have good judgment. Xiu Qiao observed Concubine Xiang's figure carefully for a long time, then secretly made a set of intimate undergarments—soft cotton fabric, fine stitching—just as she would for her own mother. With a heart full of gratitude, she put extra care into every stitch. Then, she had a young maid discreetly deliver them.
Concubine Xiang accepted the clothes without a word, but her gaze toward Xiu Qiao grew gentler, carrying a touch of heartbreaking gratitude. Pleased, Xiu Qiao began making more intimate items: winter warm hats, summer vests, soft and comfortable slippers, delicate hand muffs... Concubine Xiang secretly sent word, asking Xiu Qiao to stop.
Xiu Qiao obediently nodded, but after a while, she resumed her work. Soon, her husband found out. That night, he held her for a long time, his head resting heavily against her neck. She could feel her shoulder growing damp.
About half a year after Xiu Qiao entered the household, Concubine Xiang suddenly fell ill.
It started as a mere common cold, but she failed to recover. The highly renowned old doctor from the capital sighed, "She has been overworked and worried for too long; over time, her body has been gradually worn down." By the time she finally recovered, she had visibly lost weight, her clothes hanging loosely on her frame.
Xiu Qiao suddenly recalled that year when Uncle Shen's wife, the elder Lady Zou, had been the same. The doctor said she had toiled for half her life, burdened with worries, and her inner vitality had been depleted, leaving her unable to withstand even ordinary minor illnesses.
She thought of Concubine Xiang's bitter childhood—sold off without parents, relying on no one in the mansion. With a temperamental principal wife to cautiously appease and the favored Consort Lin to constantly guard against, she had lived on tiptoe for over a decade, never daring to show off. Finally, after her son married and achieved scholarly honors, she still had to endure.Xiu Qiao felt a pang of sorrow. Once, while visiting the sickroom, she took advantage of the empty room to quietly approach Concubine Xiang and whispered by her ear, "You must take good care of yourself and live a long life. When our branch of the family moves out, I’ll be counting on you to teach me how to manage the household and raise the children."
Tears suddenly welled up in Concubine Xiang’s eyes. She weakly patted Xiu Qiao’s hand and murmured, "You are a good child. It is Fourth Young Master’s blessing to have married you."
If it were Eldest Sister-in-law or Third Sister-in-law—noble ladies from prestigious families—they might have been too proud or concerned with status to act this way. But Xiu Qiao carried no such burdens. As Mother Shen’s beloved youngest daughter, she had never been taught strict, high-society etiquette. Having grown accustomed to acting spoiled and willful with her parents, she now applied the same effortless ease to another.
She often took advantage of quiet moments to lean close and share secrets with Concubine Xiang.
"Auntie, my husband still acts like a child. Last night, he studied until midnight and went to bed without even soaking his feet…"
"Auntie, I told him to have a midnight snack, but he gets so absorbed in his books that he forgets. He doesn’t listen to me—you should scold him later…"
"…Auntie, his birthday is coming up. What does he like to eat? Let’s make it for him together, alright?"
Perhaps because she now had something to look forward to, Concubine Xiang’s spirits gradually improved. In private, she grew even more affectionate toward Xiu Qiao, though she still dared not show it openly. The two women shared a small, warm secret, like playing hide-and-seek.
Others might not have noticed, but Xiu Qiao always felt that her clever Third Sister-in-law had long been aware—she simply never brought it up. Later, when the sisters-in-law grew closer, Third Sister-in-law once sighed and said, "Actually, with Concubine Xiang… you and Fourth Brother are doing quite well."
Xiu Qiao understood her meaning.
Although Third Brother excelled in many ways compared to her own husband, there was one area where he fell far short. On the day the family divided, if Third Brother really brought that troublesome Consort Lin to live with them, Third Sister-in-law would face endless difficulties. Their situations were opposite: Xiu Qiao hoped for an early division so she could take Concubine Xiang out to enjoy a peaceful life, while Third Sister-in-law wished to delay it, hoping Consort Lin would pass away first.
But what kind of person was this Consort Lin, who could vex someone as sharp and perceptive as Third Sister-in-law so deeply?
It wasn’t until over a year later that Xiu Qiao finally had the chance to meet the legendary Consort Lin—the once highly favored woman so formidable that even the principal wife had to yield to her!
It was a summer morning. Third Sister-in-law was making her usual visit to the estate to see Consort Lin, while Xiu Qiao was heading to the countryside to visit her gravely ill wet nurse. Since their routes aligned, the two sisters-in-law traveled together.
Xiu Qiao knew that ever since the grandmother and mother-in-law had left the mansion, Consort Lin had often caused trouble for Third Sister-in-law, frequently sending messages—now claiming she was ill, now pretending she was dying. Unwilling to let Third Brother visit Consort Lin, Third Sister-in-law had no choice but to go herself.
Such matters were surely something Third Sister-in-law wouldn’t want others to witness. Xiu Qiao, being considerate, decided to part ways early to spare her any embarrassment. But that day, the heat arrived unusually early. Unaccustomed to the stifling humidity of the capital, and with the sedan chair jolting violently, she succumbed to heatstroke before halfway and fainted, completely unconscious.When she slowly regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a simple straw mat in a side room. From behind the green bamboo curtain came the sound of hushed voices. Xiu Qiao felt too weak to call out and could only listen as two voices outside the curtain seemed to be arguing—
"...I advise you to calm down, Concubine. The young master won’t be coming. The master has already given orders: if the young master dares to visit you, he’ll receive twenty strokes of the cane. If he dares again, it’ll be thirty strokes, increasing each time. Since you and the young master share a mother-son bond, why not spare him the pain?" The voice was light and gentle—it was Third Sister-in-law.
"Nonsense! I gave birth to him and raised him. Even if it were twenty strokes, or even dying for his mother, it’s his duty as a filial son!" retorted a coarse, hoarse voice defiantly.
Could this be Consort Lin? How could she be like this? Xiu Qiao thought hazily.
"You still don’t understand. If you were his rightful mother, filial duty would naturally come first. But you—the word ‘mother’ in your case is preceded by ‘concubine.’ To put it bluntly, even if the young master were to someday earn honors for his mother, it would first go to the legitimate wife. Only if there’s any leftover favor would it come to you. If you can’t accept this, in your next life, make sure you’re never a concubine. No matter how hard life is, at least be properly wedded. That way, if you bear a promising son, you can scold him or see him as you please. Wouldn’t that save you all this frustration?"
Third Sister-in-law’s words were sharp! Usually so dignified and reserved, who would have thought she could be so cutting when provoked.
Xiu Qiao struggled to shake off her drowsiness—she missed the next few words, only aware that the unpleasant voice kept cursing and threatening, while Third Sister-in-law calmly mocked and taunted, clearly gaining the upper hand.
"...Fine, fine! Now that you have someone backing you, you dare disrespect me like this? Just you wait! When my son inherits his share of the family and takes me out to care for me, we’ll see how I deal with you!"
Third Sister-in-law suddenly let out a sharp, light laugh, tinged with self-mockery, and said calmly, "When that day comes, I’m afraid things still won’t go as you wish."
"You fatherless, motherless little wretch, what did you say?!"
Third Sister-in-law lowered her voice and spoke slowly, "Consort Lin, even now, do you still not understand why you were driven out of the estate back then? The young master, at his core, is much like his father. What they value most is neither a virtuous wife nor a favored concubine, but themselves. The master was determined to bring glory to the family—you stood in his way, so you had to be removed. As for the young master, he enjoys a carefree life of poetry and leisure."
Here, Third Sister-in-law’s tone turned openly sarcastic.
"Inheritance won’t happen for another ten years or more. By then, the young master will likely have reputation and status. Would he, for the sake of an illegitimate concubine mother, trouble his properly wedded wife? Offend my Liu family? Are my brothers and uncles dead?! And my children—by then they’ll be grown, some studying, some with honors, some well-married. I am their legitimate mother. What are you?! Do you think the young master would risk all of this—disgracing himself before his refined, talented, and unworldly poet friends, classmates, and peers—just for you?!"
What the two argued about after that, Xiu Qiao could no longer recall clearly. She only vaguely sensed the unpleasant voice retreating further in defeat before dizziness overwhelmed her, and she fell back into unconsciousness.When she woke again, Third Sister-in-law was once again the picture of dignified elegance, sitting cheerfully by her bedside. "Look at you, useless thing. Don't go running about today—return to the manor first."
Xiu Qiao naturally nodded repeatedly, not mentioning a word of what she had overheard earlier.
As she was being helped out of the room, she saw a coarse, middle-aged woman standing by the door. Her figure was bloated and obese, yet her plump, fleshy face still faintly revealed delicate features bearing some resemblance to Third Brother and Fourth Aunt. Two matrons were forcibly trying to pull her back into the room, calling her "Consort Lin" and such.
So this was Consort Lin? Xiu Qiao felt a slight pang of disappointment.
She had heard that when Consort Lin first got into trouble and was demoted to the estate, she remained restless, constantly attempting suicide and looking for chances to escape. At that time, Madam Wang was in power, and it was all too easy for her to deal with her former rival. Under the pretext of preventing Consort Lin from taking her own life, Madam Wang confined her to a small earthen hut with only one tiny high window, providing her with just three bowls of lard mixed noodles each day.
Of course, Consort Lin had no real intention of dying, so she ate the food. With no opportunity to move around, the more she ate, the more she craved. After half a year, she had turned into a bloated pig-like woman.
Xiu Qiao shuddered inwardly.
How sinister and ruthless! To deliberately destroy the beauty and grace that a woman values most.
She had heard that this idea came from Madam Wang’s mother-in-law’s elder sister. Later, that aunt disappeared without a trace, and even the Kang Family gradually drifted apart. Xiu Qiao breathed a sigh of relief—she was deeply afraid of anyone who could devise such a scheme.
She kept the events of that day to herself, only confiding in Mother Shen during a visit to her maternal home.
Mother Shen sighed and said, "Your Third Sister-in-law has had it hard too. As for that woman surnamed Lin, there’s no need for you to pity her too much—such people get what they deserve." She added, "Don’t bother yourself with these trivial matters. What’s important now is for you to conceive soon!"
Xiu Qiao’s eyes quickly dimmed with sadness.
Her life was comfortable—her family was wealthy, their status respectable, and they commanded respect wherever they went. Her mother-in-law was no longer around, her grandmother-in-law was gone, and even her elder brother and sister-in-law were absent. Her father-in-law was amiable, her third brother was kind, and Third Sister-in-law was even more gentle. She didn’t have to follow strict rules, serve a demanding mother-in-law, deal with troublesome sisters-in-law, nor suffer from a husband who chased after other women.
In such a leisurely and comfortable life, the only flaw was that nearly two years into her marriage, she still hadn’t conceived.
Her husband and Concubine Xiang treated her so well that she felt guilty just thinking about it. With tears in her eyes, Xiu Qiao suggested finding a fertile maid to serve as a concubine. Before she could finish, Concubine Xiang scolded her.
"Silly child, many women don’t conceive until three or four years into marriage. How young are you two anyway? Besides, there are plenty of children and grandchildren in this family—it’s not up to you two to carry on the lineage. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Though deeply moved, Xiu Qiao felt even more uneasy and grew thinner day by day. Her husband couldn’t bear to see her like this and decided to seek Old Madam’s help, asking He Laofuren from White Stone Pool to examine her. After letters were exchanged, Old Madam agreed, mentioning that He Laofuren would come to the capital in half a year. At that time, she would use all her influence to ask for her assistance.
"R-really? Can it be done?!" Xiu Qiao asked, tears welling in her eyes, her heart filled with hope.
To comfort her, her husband patted his chest and lavishly praised the old lady’s medical skills.
"You don’t know this, but back then, our eldest sister also couldn’t conceive for five or six years. After He Laofuren treated her, she gave birth to a son right away and had two more in three years. Now she’s almost forty and still going strong—she’s pregnant again! Over the years, we’ve spent a fortune on New Year’s money for our nephews and nieces from her family. So, once He Laofuren examines you, we’ll have children with all our might—we must at least recoup our losses, or else we’d be at a disadvantage!"
Xiu Qiao, being honest and simple by nature, immediately wiped her tears and smiled, not doubting his words in the slightest.Upon learning of this, Mother Shen was also moved to tears and repeatedly said to Father Shen, "Old man, what did I tell you? This is what a scholarly family truly means - principled, orderly, compassionate and righteous! Those who casually take multiple wives and concubines are merely pretending to be refined and moral!"
After laughing for a while, she couldn't resist bringing up Miss Zhong again.
Mother Shen had originally wanted to engage Miss Zhong as her eldest daughter-in-law, but Madam Zhong had instead set her sights on the son of Governor Zhou of Liangguang, who was currently studying in the capital. While the family status was respectable, the Zhou household maintained four generations under one roof with three branches living together. The family was so crowded with uncles, brothers, sisters-in-law, cousins and in-laws that Xiu Qiao couldn't remember who was who even after multiple explanations.
Miss Zhong, who had always been close to Xiu Qiao, frequently returned to her maiden home after marriage to lament about her difficult life in the Zhou household. She complained of being exhausted from morning till night without rest, unable to eat or sleep properly, almost at her breaking point.
Xiu Qiao thought to herself that one couldn't really blame the Zhou family - that was simply their way of life. They actually needed daughters-in-law like Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law, who had been trained since childhood to handle social situations gracefully and could effortlessly manage large gatherings of relatives without showing any sign of inadequacy. Families like hers and the Zhongs, who had recently come into wealth, couldn't possibly compare.
She remembered that year when the whole family gathered for New Year celebrations, coinciding with Old Madam's birthday. The household hosted a three-day buffet banquet with private opera performances, acrobatic shows, and monks and nuns chanting sutras for blessings. Over fifty families came to offer birthday congratulations.
Her remarkable Eldest Sister-in-law managed everything - knowing each family's background, the seniority of visiting ladies, proper forms of address, seating arrangements according to status, which families didn't get along and shouldn't sit together, which were connected by marriage or blood relations, which elderly ladies were sensitive to certain scents, which madams had dietary restrictions, how to arrange carriages and horses outside, feeding the animals, directing servants and coachmen, how the senior maids should receive guests, assign attendants, and handle personal belongings...
Without a single hair out of place or a drop of sweat, Eldest Sister-in-law maintained perfect composure and warmth, effortlessly organizing everything inside and out. While giving precise instructions to dozens of senior maids outside, she could simultaneously attend to the elderly ladies at the banquet, serving them dishes and entertaining them with jokes. Many elderly titled ladies praised her excellence.
At that time, Xiu Qiao was utterly amazed.
Then there was Third Sister-in-law, who during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations that year was pregnant. Being newly married and completely inexperienced, Xiu Qiao had been at a loss. Third Sister-in-law simply shook her head with a light sigh and, despite her advanced pregnancy, handled everything with ease. All Xiu Qiao had to do was pick up her chopsticks and enjoy the feast.
The difference wasn't just between the mistresses - even the servants were worlds apart. The experienced matrons serving Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law were each worth ten ordinary servants, having been trained through generations of family service.
While her family wasn't short on money, they couldn't possibly produce such capable staff! She only had a few simple-minded maids purchased just two years prior, chosen mainly for their honesty and reliability. Her only truly useful wet nurse had recently returned home to recuperate from illness.
She decided to stop comparing - such comparisons only bred discontent.
Besides, Xiu Qiao had never been particularly competitive by nature. As it turned out, this made her get along quite well with both her sisters-in-law.With this mindset, Xiu Qiao continued her simple and happy life, spending her days embroidering, making sachets, and sewing clothes. She ate when hungry, slept when tired, taking good care of her health while counting down on her fingers the days until He Laofuren's arrival in the capital.
Perhaps because she had set her mind at ease, she had been gaining weight noticeably lately. Her husband was delighted to see her like this. As her figure gradually filled out, she developed a hearty appetite and loved sleeping. One day, she actually devoured over a dozen apricots in one sitting.
Just then, Concubine Xiang came to deliver some items. Xiu Qiao enthusiastically shoved half a basin of plump apricots into her arms, saying, "Concubine, please have some! These apricots are especially delicious this time."
Unable to refuse, Concubine Xiang smiled and picked one up to take a bite. Immediately, her eyes watered from the sourness, and she exclaimed, "How can you eat something so sour!"
Xiu Qiao replied innocently, "Sour? I don't think so." They're so tasty.
A slow dawn of joy lit up Concubine Xiang's eyes. Stroking Xiu Qiao's hair, she chuckled, "Silly child!" Then she turned to ask the little maid, "Ben Nizi, how long has it been since your mistress had her monthly courses?"
The little maid blinked blankly, "Oh, that? The matron taught me about this—I've been keeping track. It seems like quite a while. Concubine, please wait, I'll go check the record book in my room."
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