Chapter 240

"Mother Li said that the Eldest Young Lady and the Eldest Young Master must be in a sulk with each other—neither of them ate. In the evening, the Eldest Young Lady personally went to the kitchen to prepare a few dishes, and even had a small jar of Jinhua wine brought out, which was reportedly sent to the Eldest Young Master's room."

The lady was so furious that she fainted on the spot. Even the master, who was usually composed, turned pale with anger. Yet the Eldest Young Master was wholly preoccupied with the Eldest Young Lady, afraid that she might bear the blame of her in-laws, and even scolded Concubine Wu for being dull-witted, saying she couldn't even yield the path properly, causing the Yu family to lose an heir...

Madam Yu was startled to hear this: "How could this happen?" She added, "How did the Emperor discover that the Grand Treasury was short of silver? This is a crime punishable by death!" Then she sighed, "I wonder how many ministers will lose their heads over this!"

Fortunately, she was by nature introverted and taciturn, so Mama Shu thought nothing of it. After giving a few instructions, she went back to report to Madam Yu.

By the morning of the first day of the new year, Concubine Wu had even rewarded her with two small silver ingots as New Year's money.

Madam Yu gasped sharply.

Within a couple of days, word came back from Madam Wu's side. It was said that the one who accompanied Fu Tingjun to Tanzhe Temple was Fu Tingjun's fifth cousin-sister, who had come along when Fu Tingjun returned to Shaanxi to erect memorial tablets for her father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Seeing her husband looking worried, Madam Yu sat down anxiously beside Grand Secretary Yu and asked with concern, "What exactly has happened?"

Mama Shu was thinking of offering a few words of comfort when Madam Yu spoke again: "There's something else... Concubine Wu said that Fu's sister is staying by Fu's side. Go and make inquiries to find out who this sister by Fu's side really is to her."

Lady Fan stamped her foot hard, pretending not to see Zelan, but in her heart she felt a stifling resentment that would not disperse. Especially when she saw Yu Jingxiu's gaze linger on Zelan several times, she could no longer hold back and said with a smile: "What? Our Eldest Young Master has finally found someone worth looking at? Although she has served Mother, since Mother has placed her in my courtyard, she is now my person. I can make decisions on your behalf!" With that, she covered her sleeve and laughed, yet there was not a trace of joy in her brow—only a contrived, mocking sneer.

Ever since they had a child, Yu Jingxiu and Lady Fan had been referred to as the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Lady respectively.

Madam Yu nodded slightly at this.

With that thought, he waved his hand toward Madam Yu: "Handle this matter as you see fit! I have been busy with official duties these days."

Madam Yu nodded slightly but was still uneasy, and again instructed Mama Shu: "Have you made everything clear to Zelan?"

But unlike before, he did not turn his head away with a look of weariness.

"It's all been made clear," Mama Shu said hastily. "If Concubine Wu stays within the courtyard, then so be it. But if Concubine Wu leaves the courtyard, no matter what she says, does, or whom she meets, everything must be reported to me in full."

Concubine Wu thought of the several times Madam Yu had approached Fu Tingjun only to be met with a cold shoulder.

Lady Fan found Zelan increasingly displeasing to the eye.

Grand Secretary Yu was feeling vexed.

"This is also to nip problems in the bud!" Madam Yu sighed and said, "If the Wu family were to learn of this matter, it would reflect poorly on Depu's reputation."

The couple exchanged intimate words for a while. Seeing that Grand Secretary Yu still had to write a memorial, Madam Yu personally brewed a cup of tea for him and returned to the main hall. The next day, she summoned Yu Huaian and quietly gave him instructions. Yu Huaian handed over the household affairs to the second steward and set off for Huayin himself.

As she pondered, her expression could not help but appear somewhat vacant.

"That is a matter for later." Madam Yu was only concerned with the present. "So what plans does the master have now?"

"Since the Emperor intends to deal with Grand Secretary Shen, Grand Secretary Shen certainly cannot directly recommend anyone to take his place," Grand Secretary Yu said calmly. "But the Emperor cannot possibly let Mo Yingbo take over either—he was once one of Prince Zhuang's men. Fortunately, I have good relations with both Grand Secretary Shen and Mo Yingbo. I can only bide my time and see whether luck is on our side."

Concubine Wu, who normally paid no attention to anything, had actually spoken to her in such a manner—this showed that although Concubine Wu was cold on the surface, after all these years of service, Concubine Wu still recognized her loyalty.

Lianxin opened her eyes wide and looked at Concubine Wu with curiosity: "Does the concubine have business with Chief Steward Yu?"

At such a time, the household absolutely must not make any mistakes!

Speaking of the Eldest Young Master, Mama Shu could not help but show hesitation on her face. She mused, "Do you think... should we go and inform the Eldest Young Lady? After all, Zelan was bestowed upon Concubine Wu without going through the Eldest Young Lady..."

The child's illness had put both of them under tremendous strain, and their tempers were not what they used to be.

Mama Shu breathed a sigh of relief and comforted her, saying, "Madam, Concubine Wu rarely leaves the house even once a year. Even when she does go out, the chance of her crossing paths with Fu is extremely slim. They move in different circles after all—this was merely a coincidence. There's no need to worry too much."

Zelan simply assumed it was because she served Concubine Wu, and could not help secretly laughing at Lady Fan for being narrow-minded and lacking the magnanimity of a mistress of the house.

Grand Secretary Yu was currently seeking Shen Shichong's support.

Although she had been sent by Madam Wu, Concubine Wu was not favored, and now that she had lost her child, she had no foundation in the Yu household. How could she compare to Zelan, who had not only served the mistress but was also born into the household? Her only chance of survival lay in staying loyal to Concubine Wu.

Grand Secretary Yu was also quite frustrated, saying: "The Emperor is raising funds and grain for the suppression of the rebellion in Guizhou. It's just a local disturbance—the Ministry of Revenue could easily transfer some silver from anywhere. But instead, the Emperor suddenly designated the Grand Treasury to supply Guizhou's provisions. Grand Secretary Shen never imagined the Grand Treasury would be short of silver, and so the matter came to light." He added with some indignation, "The Emperor must have had his eye on this for a long time, yet Grand Secretary Shen had no inkling whatsoever. After Qin Feiyu took office as Commander-in-Chief of the Tengji Guard, the Guard stopped monitoring the feudal princes and turned its attention to spying on the court officials instead. If this continues, the court will be thrown into panic!"

Mama Shu quickly collected her thoughts, respectfully acknowledged the order, and went to Madam Wu's quarters.

Grand Secretary Yu thought it over and then informed Madam Yu of the matter.

Could it be because of that Madam Fu?

Concubine Wu had slipped while making way for the eldest young mistress and had miscarried as a result.

If he succeeded, he would replace Shen Shichong as Chief Grand Secretary.

Before she could finish speaking, she heard Madam Yu snort coldly and say: "Isn't she able to command Depu however she pleases? Let her go cry to Depu then. I'd like to see what Depu has to say for himself this time!"

Lianxin giggled softly.

But who would have thought—before she could find an opportunity to pledge her loyalty to Concubine Wu, Concubine Wu approached her instead: "...Just stay by my side with peace of mind. Even if I fall from grace, your indenture contract is still held by the Wu family, and I'll see you sent back when the time comes."

She had flown into a rage at the time: "...Eldest Miss's life hangs by a thread, and everyone is worried about her, yet she still has the mind to gift a maidservant to the concubine. Is she saying I don't look after the concubine well enough? Or does she think that since the eldest young master no longer visits Concubine Wu's room, she needs to find someone fresh to give the concubine a helping hand?"

The mistress had barely managed to swallow that anger.

Lianxin couldn't help but worry.

In the old days, he would have pulled her into his arms with reassurances and vows, but today he didn't even offer a word of explanation.

But she had no other choice. She could only try to stay out of Lady Fan's sight as much as possible, spending her days in the room with the taciturn Concubine Wu doing needlework.

Although this matter had nothing to do with Shen Shichong directly, for such a thing to happen under his administration, he could not escape blame.

Concubine Wu instructed her: "If Steward Yu returns, let me know."

This gave Grand Secretary Yu more confidence: "Let us hope it is as you say, madam! When the time comes, I will certainly come to thank you for your auspicious words."

Before Lady Fan could finish speaking, her wet nurse covered her mouth: "My dear young mistress, do bear with it! What if you frighten Eldest Miss? Whether he favors you or not depends entirely on the eldest young master! Otherwise, your chambers would have been filled with concubines long ago—why wait until today? Instead of spending this energy being angry at your mother-in-law, you'd be better off putting effort into winning the eldest young master's heart." She added, "A woman's only fear is not conceiving. Once she conceives, one child follows another. Rest assured, young mistress—as long as you bear another son, no matter how many schemes the mistress devises, they will be useless."

Shen Shichong was finished this time!

The Emperor had seized upon the shortage of silver in the Grand Treasury.

Yu Jingxiu frowned: "What nonsense are you talking now?" Without paying her any mind, he asked, "How is Zhen-jie'er today?"

In the past, she had only been angry that the eldest young mistress had bewitched the eldest young master's soul and committed such heartless and unjust deeds. But the eldest young mistress had married into the family after all—she was now a daughter-in-law of the Yu household. The mistress couldn't very well embarrass the eldest young master without regard for appearances, so she endured what she could. But now that Fu Tingjun had borne two children in three years, blooming and bearing fruit, and was pregnant once more... anyone would feel somewhat discomfited, let alone a proud woman like the mistress. She would likely vent this anger on the eldest young mistress again.

Mama Shu felt a chill run through her.

She grew excited, feeling that she must repay Concubine Wu's kindness well. Watching Zelan hover around Concubine Wu every day, she often ran to the kitchen to help the cooks rinse rice and wash vegetables, and would occasionally bring news to Concubine Wu: "...Mama Shen said that Shi Tou has gone out with Steward Yu, and all household affairs have been handed over to the second steward. They won't return until after the New Year!"

She immediately went to find Grand Secretary Yu and reported the matter to him: "...The Fu family likely already knows that Fu Tingjun is still alive. Go make inquiries quickly and find out what the Fu family is saying. They are a prominent clan in Huayin with marriage connections throughout Shaanxi. If this gets out, there will be trouble."

Concubine Wu spat at her upon hearing this: "Stop your gossiping. Be careful someone hears you."

Lianxin was so delighted she couldn't stop smiling, and would often take it out to look at it before going to sleep at night.

Madam Yu laughed.

Madam Yu encouraged her husband: "Didn't Heavenly Master Zhang of the Tianyi Sect say so? These years are precisely when your fortune is at its peak. I believe this time, my lord, your wishes are sure to be fulfilled?"

Whether they were sworn sisters or female relatives from other households, they would call her "elder sister" to get closer...

For Madam Yu to humble herself like this, it was clear that not only did the Yu family lack justification, they were likely the party in the wrong.

Shen Shichong knew this as well, so he prepared to make a painful sacrifice—he would voluntarily retire and find a way to recommend one of the Grand Secretaries to succeed him as Chief Grand Secretary.

Later, seeing that the eldest young lady was frail and thinking that the eldest young mistress cried every day and was not having an easy time either, she had become much more amiable toward the eldest young mistress. How could she suddenly harbor resentment against her again?

As for Lady Fan, it was only after seven or eight days that she learned Madam Yu had gifted a maidservant to Concubine Wu.

When the child came, it was a baby boy.