Chapter 304

Mozhuan's heart ached as she understood Lady Fan's words. With tears streaming down her face, she called out "Eldest Young Madam," wanting to console her with "the Eldest Young Master is not that kind of person," but thinking of the news she had gathered, she found the words impossible to utter.

If she helped the Eldest Young Madam paper over the cracks now, and then that Miss Min came charging in without the Eldest Young Madam having the slightest guard up, wouldn't they be left helplessly on the defensive?

At this thought, Mozhuan could not help but say, "In this inner courtyard, only Madam can rightfully rein in the Eldest Young Master. Eldest Young Madam, please stop crying. Let me help you freshen up and accompany you to see Madam. Madam has always treated you with warmth and closeness. There was the matter of heirs standing between you before, but these past two years you've bought quite a few maidservants to serve in your chambers. Didn't Madam praise you at New Year's for being far more sensible than before? Clearly, Madam is very pleased with this change in you."

"That Miss Min was exchanging flirtatious glances with the Eldest Young Master while still in mourning for her parents. What kind of upbringing could someone like that have? Even if she bore a son and was brought into the household, she would only corrupt the children. The Yu family has maintained a spotless reputation for a hundred years—we cannot let someone like her ruin it..."

Lady Fan understood Mozhuan's meaning. She thought it over and felt that this was the only argument she could use to stop Miss Min from entering the household. Forcing herself to rally, she wiped away her tears, let Mozhuan dress and groom her, and then went to see Madam Yu.

Madam Yu had already learned of the matter when Mozhuan was making inquiries at the Needleworkers' Alley.

She had been waiting for Lady Fan to make her move!

When she heard that Lady Fan wished to see her, she nodded inwardly, thinking that at least this daughter-in-law had not been foolish to the very end. She had a young maidservant usher Lady Fan in, and asked with a genial expression whether she had eaten, how little Zhen was doing, and how she had been passing her days these past two days.

Lady Fan answered each question in turn. Seeing Madam Yu's gentle tone and warm demeanor, her heart gradually settled, and she steered the conversation toward Miss Min: "...I could hardly believe it when I heard! The Eldest Young Master is a man who has read the sages' writings and placed first in the imperial examinations—how could he possibly harbor such intentions? Most likely he has been bewitched by someone. Mother, Miss Min is still in mourning for her parents. If this were discovered and spread abroad, the Eldest Young Master would certainly be impeached by the censors. Wouldn't his reputation suffer irreparable damage?"

Madam Yu frowned at this and said, "This matter was indeed too rash of Depu!"

Lady Fan's heart leapt with joy at these words, and she hurriedly said, "How could the Eldest Young Master be blamed? Most likely Miss Min used some scheme or other! A gentleman may be deceived by playing on his integrity—the Eldest Young Master is simply too upright in his conduct."

Madam Yu nodded, then leaned forward and asked her, "Tell me, what should be done about this?" There was undisguised expectation in her tone.

Lady Fan barely suppressed a smile.

She said in a low voice, "Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. The Eldest Young Master was raised reading the Classic of Filial Piety . This matter must be handled by you, Mother—surely the Eldest Young Master would not defy his own mother?"

The smile in Madam Yu's eyes gradually faded.

She slowly straightened up and said, "And what if he pays lip service to me but disobeys in practice? Did you not say yourself that Depu has been bewitched by Miss Min? I fear he might act willfully." With that, she cast a faint, meaningful glance at Lady Fan.

Lady Fan's heart skipped a beat.

She felt that glance carried deep significance.

Thinking back—when Yu Jingxiu had wanted to marry her, had he not also acted willfully... and in the end, had he not gotten his way and married her?

In that instant, she felt a flutter of panic. She drew a deep breath, forcing those chaotic thoughts down, and mustered a strained smile, saying, "That won't happen. The person the Eldest Young Master respects most is you, Mother. If you do not consent, the Eldest Young Master would never go against your wishes."

"Oh?" Madam Yu raised an eyebrow. "I'm speaking hypothetically—what if he doesn't listen to me? What then?"

What to do if he didn't listen to Madam Yu?

Indeed!

If he wouldn't listen to Madam Yu, what recourse did she have?

Make a scene with Yu Jingxiu?

He would only think her a shrew.

And a shrew was precisely what Yu Jingxiu could not tolerate.

If she did that, not only would she fail to win back Yu Jingxiu's heart, but the present harmony between them would be lost as well.

Endure it?

Was she simply to watch that Madam Min enter the household?

Once that happened, who in the family would still pay her any heed?

Humiliate that Madam Min?

No, no, no.

If she did that, not to mention Yu Jingxiu, even Madam Yu would likely think her cruel and vicious, not a virtuous wife.

What to do?

As she wrestled with her dilemma, the urge to humiliate Madam Min grew stronger and stronger.

Lady Fan's hands clenched tightly into fists, and it was with great difficulty that she suppressed the thought.

This wouldn't do, that wouldn't do—what on earth was she to do?

Her expression turned bewildered.

Madam Yu, who had been observing Lady Fan closely all along, could hardly conceal her disappointment.

She closed her eyes, and it was a long moment before she opened them again.

But when she opened her eyes again, her gaze was already cold and clear. She took a sip of tea and said indifferently, "You may go back first. I'll have a word with Depu about this."

Lady Fan's face lit up with joy. She respectfully saluted Madam Yu and withdrew.

Mozhuan, who had been pacing anxiously outside the door, hurried forward and whispered urgently, "What did Madam say?"

"Madam has agreed to speak with the Master on my behalf." Lady Fan revealed a pleased smile.

But before that smile could fully spread across her face, a loud crash came from Madam Yu's inner chamber behind her.

Both women turned in shock toward Madam Yu's inner room.

"Fool!" Madam Yu muttered impatiently under her breath. "Selfish to the extreme! No wonder she's timid and small-minded. Thank heavens she only gave birth to a daughter—if she'd produced the eldest grandson, our Yu family would likely be ruined in her hands. She wants to keep Madam Min from entering this house, yet also wants to appear virtuous before the men. And she dares to scheme against me, egging me on to fight her battles for her... What does she do herself? Hides aside pretending to know nothing? Or would she, in front of Depu, urge me to let the matter rest?"

"Please keep your voice down!" Mama Shu said softly as she deftly cleaned up the shattered teacup Madam Yu had thrown. "The Eldest Young Mistress hasn't gone far yet!"

"And what if she hears?" Madam Yu's voice didn't lower—if anything, it grew louder. "She's only brave within her own walls. Away from Depu, who treats her as anything at all!" Madam Yu spat and continued, "I'll say what I like about her. Would she dare make a single sound of protest before me? A useless thing that can't be propped up! Utterly disgraceful..."

Mama Shu dared not approach. She was the only one in the room, and she didn't dare leave either. Trembling, she shrank into the corner, not daring to move a muscle.

Lady Fan heard every word Madam Yu said from outside the door.

She felt ashamed and humiliated, her face flushing red and then turning pale by turns.

For her mother-in-law to berate her like this in front of the serving women—how could she have any face left to remain in this household!

Lady Fan's tears fell like raindrops, yet she dared not make the slightest sound, fearing that Madam Yu, in her fury, might say something even more cutting and make things worse for her.

"Eldest Young Mistress!" Mozhuan, her eyes brimming with tears, supported Lady Fan.

"Let's return to our room!" Lady Fan wiped her tears, and the two of them, leaning on each other for support, walked back with desolate steps.

Meanwhile, after her tirade, the pent-up frustration in Madam Yu's heart gradually dissipated. She asked Mama Shu, "What is Concubine Fei doing?"

The question came out of nowhere—even Mama Shu, accustomed to serving her mistress, was caught off guard. Hastily forcing a smile, she followed Madam Yu's lead and said, "I'll go see what Concubine Fei is doing."

Madam Yu's expression softened slightly, and she gave a small nod.

By the time she had drunk two cups of tea and eaten a few pieces of pastry, Mama Shu had returned.

"Concubine Fei is at the Eldest Young Mistress's quarters," Mama Shu said with lowered eyes and a strange expression on her face. "She's keeping the Eldest Young Mistress company in conversation."

Madam Yu let out an "Oh" of surprise.

Mama Shu said in a low voice, "She's said to be consoling the Eldest Young Mistress, telling her to rest easy—that someone like Miss Min would never be allowed through the door, no matter what. She also said that even stray cats and dogs, once kept for a long time, stir one's heart with pity, let alone a beauty in distress like Miss Min. The Master truly only feels compassion for Miss Min at present. During Miss Min's mourning period, he's only gone to see her twice; the rest of the time, he's had her pass messages along. He's likely waiting for Miss Min's mourning period to end. She advised the Eldest Young Mistress, saying, 'The Master hasn't brought this matter up openly before you even now—why not turn a blind eye? As long as you don't give your consent, Madam Min cannot set foot through that door. And even if she bears a son—well, that's all the better. You currently have only Zhen-jie'er. You could take the child and raise it as your own, and perhaps bring Zhen-jie'er a little brother. If Madam Min, whose position is entirely illegitimate, can take things in stride, why should you—the rightful mistress who was carried into the Yu family in a bridal sedan with full honors—be the one to fret?'"

"Ah!" Madam Yu's expression turned serious at this. "So I've underestimated her."

Mama Shu stood there smiling, not daring to chime in.

Madam Yu then asked her, "And what did the Eldest Young Mistress say?"

"The Eldest Young Mistress asked Concubine Fei what she would do if the Master proposed bringing Madam Min into the household."

"And what did Concubine Fei say?" Having calmed down, Madam Yu had been pondering this very possibility herself. She felt that no matter what, there was no sure way to stop Yu Jingxiu, and she was especially curious to hear how Concubine Fei had answered.

"Lady Fei says that given the Elder Master's character, he would never conceal the fact that he already has a family. Since that's the case, Miss Min must have followed the Elder Master without any title or status because she deeply admires him. Why should the Elder Master demean Miss Min by bringing her into this household, where she must bow her head before the First Madam every day and vie for favor with the concubines, turning a woman as elegant as a magnolia blossom into something as garish as a roadside rose? It would be better to keep her outside as a separate establishment. If he fears the child will be wronged, let the First Madam pretend to be pregnant while Miss Min is with child. When the baby is born, it can be quietly brought in and raised under the First Madam's name. Recorded in the family register, it would be a legitimate eldest son—a hundred, a thousand times better than a concubine's child..."

"Well said—'Why demean Miss Min'!" Before Mama Shu could finish, Madam Yu clapped her hands in approval. "This Lady Fei has truly inherited a few tricks from the Eldest Sister-in-law." Then, with a look of regret, she added, "What a pity she's not a proper wife!" She continued, "People say a child's intelligence comes from the mother..." Madam Yu sighed, appearing somewhat wistful.

Mama Shu naturally dared not comment on this in front of Madam Yu.

She asked for Madam Yu's instructions: "And what of Concubine Fei?"

"Never mind her," Madam Yu said. "With her abilities, even if we block her once, we cannot block her forever."

Mama Shu smiled and acknowledged with a "yes," but thinking of Concubine Fei's duplicity, she could not help but let a trace of worry show between her brows.