Chapter 239

Madam Yu remained silent for a long while.

That voice—soft and languid—who else could it be but Mama Shu?

The thought flashed through Concubine Wu's mind as Mama Shu laughed and said, "Madam knew that with only Lianxin as your maidservant, you must be quite inconvenienced, so she's sending Zelan over to serve you." With that, she called out loudly, "Zelan! Come over and kowtow to Concubine Wu."

What kind of love potion had that Lady Fan fed him to make him so utterly bewitched that he couldn't tell east from west...

Madam Yu asked urgently, "She—what did she say to you?" Her tone betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Just as she was about to lie down, someone outside responded, "Concubine Wu, is that maid Lianxin being disobedient? Why doesn't she answer when you call her!"

She changed her clothes, washed her hands and face, and went first to pay her respects to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu was taken aback, saying, "You've taken a permanent vegetarian vow? How is it I didn't know?"

According to custom, she had to go and pay her respects to Lady Fan.

Concubine Wu was not stupid—she simply hadn't devoted her energy to such matters before. Now that she was putting her mind to it, things she'd never noticed before gradually floated to the surface of her thoughts.

So it was her after all!

Concubine Wu sat on the heated kang by the window, draping a thin quilt over her knees, and pondered whether she should return to the Wu residence for a visit to ask Madam Wu.

It seemed her guess was right—the Yu family had done something to wrong Mrs. Zhao.

When had concubines ever been offered a seat here at Madam Yu's?

Concubine Wu replied obediently, "To answer Madam, this servant knows nothing of tea. I'm afraid I would only waste your kind offering."

Madam Yu looked at her with unease. She always felt that her granddaughter's frailness was somehow connected to that child who never came to be—that child hadn't even had the chance to enter the cycle of reincarnation, so how could there not be some resentment! She instructed Concubine Wu to go to Tanzhe Temple to perform a rite for that child, to dispel any lingering resentment.

"She—she's pregnant again?" Madam Yu's face was full of astonishment.

Could it be Fu Tingjun?

But ever since Lady Fan's eldest daughter Zhen-jie'er was born, Lady Fan had devoted herself entirely to her daughter. Moreover, she found Concubine Wu to be someone who had lost a child, so she excused her from the morning and evening greetings. This way, she no longer had to attend to Yu Jingxiu either.

"That's good then!" Madam Yu smiled and also raised her teacup, taking a light sip, then asked about her incense offering: "...Did the masters give any instructions about taboos?"

Lianxin wanted to say more, but Concubine Wu had already turned and entered the inner chamber, instructing her, "Go quickly to the kitchen and see if there's anything to eat. I'm hungry."

At this thought, her face darkened.

"The master only instructed that it's best to eat vegetarian on the first and fifteenth of each month." Concubine Wu's voice was somewhat low. "I told the master that I've taken a permanent vegetarian vow, and he said that was even better. Madam need not worry."

Concubine Wu thought of this and called out loudly, "Lianxin!"

Madam Yu was somewhat surprised, a hint of approval showing in her eyes, and said indulgently, "Then have a drink to quench your thirst! The journey was bumpy enough to wear anyone out."

At the time, she had thought that since Concubine Wu was already in such a state, she must at all costs protect the child in Lady Fan's belly, so she turned a blind eye. But heaven still did not grant their wish—what Lady Fan gave birth to was a daughter.

Perhaps frightened by the ordeal, Lady Fan had experienced two episodes of bleeding and barely managed to keep the pregnancy. When the daughter was finally born, she was thin and frail, without even the strength to suckle. It was only through Lady Fan's wet nurse, who attended her day and night without undressing, expressing milk and feeding her one silver spoonful at a time, that the child survived. Even so, she was like a candle flickering in the wind—one never knew when the flame might go out. It was a constant worry. Even for the full-month celebration, only relatives and the closest friends gathered; they dared not make a grand affair for fear of disturbing the child.

She pondered this silently, yet her expression remained respectful as she answered Madam Yu: "Lord Zhao accompanied Mrs. Zhao there. Mrs. Zhao seems to be with child again—not only did she have a crowd of maidservants and matrons around her, but Mrs. Zhao's elder sister was also there attending to her. I kept well away..."

Otherwise, a woman as strong-willed as Madam Yu would never have lost her composure upon hearing that she had encountered Mrs. Zhao.

Madam Yu couldn't help but console Concubine Wu: "Since the master said eating vegetarian on the first and fifteenth is sufficient, you needn't keep a permanent vow. I'm still waiting for you to regain your health and bear more children for the Yu family!"

Concubine Wu watched her, a slight stir in her heart, and said in a low voice, "Madam, today at the temple, I encountered Mrs. Zhao..."

Madam Yu suddenly became aware of this.

If Madam Wu had been someone she could rely on, she would never have sent her into the Yu family in the first place.

"How quickly!" Madam Yu muttered to herself. "Zhao Ling only returned in May... and she's already borne a son and a daughter..."

In July of this year, Concubine Wu had a miscarriage, and Lady Fan had been present at the time.

Zelan hurried forward to take the teacup: "Concubine, do sit down and chat with Mama Shu—I'll handle the tea and water."

The bloody scene had caused her to faint on the spot.

She raised her eyes and stole a quick glance at Concubine Wu, then nimbly brewed a cup of tea and handed it to her.

She couldn't help but scrutinize Concubine Wu carefully.

Concubine Wu was never one to speak much, so why today...

The Yu family had few descendants, so shock and jealousy were understandable, but why was there also resentment and hatred mixed in?

"Thank you for your concern, Madam," said Concubine Wu. "The carriage was smooth and steady, so I didn't feel any discomfort." Only after saying this did she take a sip of tea.

Concubine Wu softly acknowledged with a "yes" and stood with her hands folded at her side, respectfully saying, "Thank you, Madam, for allowing me to offer incense at Tanzhe Temple." But she said not a word more—the death of her child was both her pain and Madam Yu's pain.

These past few months, Concubine Wu had been eating as if counting every grain of rice. Lianxin was overjoyed to hear this, smiled and agreed, and hurried off to the kitchen.

Concubine Wu looked up and smiled, saying, "Such a small matter, how could I trouble you, Madam?"

Concubine Wu walked as she thought, returning to her courtyard.

The young maid acknowledged and left.

What act is this now?

Concubine Wu walked straight through the side rooms to the rear building.

"You're back!" Madam Yu nodded with a smile.

Concubine Wu nodded: "Her belly is already showing."

Madam Yu was stunned.

"It's the Mrs. Zhao who lives next door to Lord Wu," Concubine Wu said, glancing sidelong at Madam Yu and noticing that her hand, usually as steady as a rock, was trembling slightly. For some reason, her own heart settled, and her tone became even more gentle. "When I was at the Wu household before, I met her once. I heard her husband is the Deputy Commander of Xuanfu, named Zhao Ling..."

Madam Yu was leaning back against the bolster on the heated kang by the window with her eyes closed, listening to her personal maid read the Lotus Sutra to her.

Wait, what did she say?

Concubine Wu smiled and acknowledged with a "yes," without saying anything more.

Concubine Wu thought of Fu Tingjun's gaze, which was so clear and bright because of her openness.

The thought flashed by.

"Mrs. Zhao?" Her voice became somewhat hurried. "Which Mrs. Zhao?"

The personal maid obediently set down the sutra and turned to hold open the curtain for Concubine Wu.

While Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling were on the road, Concubine Wu had already returned to Jiadao Street.

Concubine Wu looked at Zelan, who had kowtowed and was standing with her hands folded, waiting for her orders, and for a long while she could not collect her thoughts.

Could it be that Madam was afraid she would have further contact with that Mrs. Zhao?

For a moment, Concubine Wu's heart was lifted high.

After her miscarriage, Yu Jingxiu had moved her to this corner under the pretext of "rest and recuperation."

The personal maid's heart gave a start.

Surely not... How could Concubine Wu possibly know Fu Tingjun?

Besides shock, Madam Yu's tone seemed to faintly reveal jealousy, resentment, and hatred...

She did not know that Zhao Ling had already been promoted.

Madam Yu was certainly afraid that Mrs. Zhao would tell her the reason for the rift between the two families.

Such a good young lady, how could Depu not regard her at all?

The words had barely left her mouth when she remembered that Lianxin had gone to the kitchen.

Behind her followed a third-rank maid from Madam Yu's quarters named Zelan.

This was the first time for Concubine Wu.

With her thin and pale face, and her demure appearance with lowered eyes, and thinking that the person before her had nearly given birth to the long-awaited eldest grandson of the Yu family, her heart suddenly softened. She pointed to the embroidered stool by the kang, indicating for Concubine Wu to sit and speak.

Because her heart was as clear as the bright moon, that was why she had such bright eyes, wasn't it?

She had thought from the beginning that Lady Fan did not have a face that promised sons, and now her feeling had been proven right.

Simple and innocent Lianxin, in just over a year, had already changed a great deal.

Mrs. Zhao was kind and generous by nature, so what matter could it be that left Mrs. Zhao with not the slightest intention of forgiving the Yu family?

Concubine Wu was surprised and got off the kang: "I sent Lianxin to the kitchen and forgot about this myself."

Concubine Wu hurriedly rose to receive the tea and was about to express her thanks when Madam Yu said, "This is Guilin maojian tea they sent, different from Xinyang maojian. Try it and see if you like it."

The thought had just arisen when she suppressed it again.

She was merely a concubine, so why was Madam afraid of her having contact with Mrs. Zhao?

Ever since Concubine Wu's miscarriage, her son had devoted himself entirely to caring for Lady Fan and had never again set foot in Concubine Wu's door.

In a flash of lightning, she suddenly thought of what had happened today.

Concubine Wu was somewhat puzzled, but she was never one to meddle, so she turned to pour tea for Mama Shu.

She quickly raised her eyes to glance at Madam Yu and saw that her hand had unknowingly clenched into a fist.

After her miscarriage, Madam Wu had come to visit her, but before they had exchanged two sentences, Madam Wu had used the excuse that she needed rest to take her leave, and had never appeared again.

Her voice was soft, but Concubine Wu, sitting beside her, heard it clearly.

Concubine Wu softly thanked the maid and stepped forward to kowtow to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu could not help but sigh inwardly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Concubine Wu scolded Lianxin. "The mistress was only speaking casually—how can you take it so seriously? Even without me, there would be others in my place. You'd best refrain from discussing such matters from now on."

Her personal maid Lianxin felt she was being overly cautious: "If it hadn't been for the young mistress squeezing past you that time, you wouldn't have fallen, and if you hadn't fallen, you wouldn't have miscarried. Now even the mistress herself feels you've been wronged, so why must you be so timid and hesitant—didn't the mistress also say she's still waiting for you to bear children and continue the Yu family line?"

It wasn't as if having only one maid by her side was something new—why did she suddenly think of her shortage of help at this moment?

For some reason, whenever she thought of those troublesome matters in her own household, the image of Fu Tingjun's mocking face would surface in her mind, and then she would toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Hearing that Concubine Wu had arrived, she opened her eyes, let out a soft sigh first, and then instructed the young maid: "Let her in."

Mrs. Zhao?

As she spoke, Mama Shu had already lifted the curtain and entered.

Her expression froze slightly.