Chapter 305

Madam Yu smiled faintly, unconcerned. "You needn't worry. I know exactly what Lady Fei is up to."

Mama Shu gave an awkward laugh and couldn't help murmuring under her breath, "Then why do you let Lady Fei have her way? If the Eldest Young Mistress truly takes her advice and lets her run everything, won't the Eldest Young Mistress be reduced to a figurehead?"

"And if she weren't a figurehead, would she be able to come up with any sound plan of her own?" A flicker of disdain passed through Madam Yu's eyes as she said coldly, "Lady Fei is a clever woman. If anything were to happen to Lady Fan, Depu is in the prime of his life—he'd surely remarry soon enough. And what would the new bride be like? Would she be as easy to manage as Lady Fan? Lady Fei has no doubt turned this over in her mind again and again—rather than have a new person come in, better to find a way to steady the old one. With a head like Lady Fan's, Lady Fei will always have a place at the table. If that weren't her intention, why would she swallow her pride and go running to help Lady Fan with advice?" Madam Yu paused briefly, then said to Mama Shu, "You've been with me for so many years—you may not have eaten pork, but you've certainly seen a pig run. You must have a fair read on Lady Fan's temperament by now. Expecting her to manage the affairs of the inner courtyard is out of the question." Her tone grew dejected. "But I am the mother-in-law, after all. My son is well past thirty, and the daughter-in-law has been in the family for over a decade. If I keep clutching the household reins and meddling in the young couple's chambers, what will people say about me? Lady Fei just wants to secure her footing in this household. If she wants to stir things up, let her stir. Who knows—we might even reap some unexpected rewards! I've made up my mind anyway. A person can't have everything go their way in life. I don't care who gives me my first grandson—as long as I still have my strength, I'll bring the child into my own chambers to raise. I won't let him grow up crooked. In a few years, when the boy is older, I'll find him a good wife. By then I'll be old and deaf, and I can hand the household over to my grandson's wife... So let them make all the trouble they want!"

It was the only option left!

Mama Shu thought of how Madam Yu had been strong all her life, yet had been defeated by this daughter-in-law, and her heart ached. She nodded repeatedly. "Madam has thought this through most thoroughly!"

Madam Yu merely sighed and waved her hand at Mama Shu, signaling that she was tired and could withdraw.

Mama Shu bent her knees in a salute and quietly retreated from the inner chamber.

...

Lady Fan lay still in bed, mulling over Lady Fei's words. The more she thought about it, the more sense they seemed to make—yet when she recalled the things Lady Fei had done behind her back, she felt Lady Fei wasn't as docile and obedient as she appeared on the surface. She feared Lady Fei might be setting a trap for her.

She called Mozhuan in. "Tell me, what do you think Lady Fei means by saying this to me? If the Eldest Young Master insists on taking Madam Min as a concubine, what am I supposed to do?"

Mozhuan couldn't see through Lady Fei's motives either. She chose her words carefully. "Perhaps the Eldest Young Mistress could pretend to know nothing and see how things develop first? Isn't there a saying—'respond to all changes with constancy'?"

Lady Fan thought for a long while, then nodded with some resignation. "It seems that's all we can do!" She then asked about Yu Jingxiu. "Has the Eldest Young Master returned?"

"Not... not yet!" The Eldest Young Master didn't yet know the household had learned about the Needle Alley matter. At this hour, he was most likely at Madam Min's place, wasn't he? Mozhuan thought, and her answer came out haltingly.

Lady Fan had been thinking the same thing, and her eyes dimmed at the words.

Mozhuan then offered a suggestion: "Eldest Young Mistress, why not summon Lady Fei and ask her? The Eldest Young Master told no one else—he only entrusted her with delivering things to Needle Alley. He must trust her completely. She's sure to know where he's gone."

Lady Fan nodded at this. "Very well, go fetch her. I'll ask her!"

Mozhuan went off cheerfully and returned before long with Lady Fei in tow.

When Lady Fan explained why she had called for her, Lady Fei was taken aback for a moment. Noticing the faint look of schadenfreude on Mozhuan's face, she inwardly regretted her decision.

What a mistress she'd ended up with!

She wasn't even half the woman Madam Min was.

Madam Min, clever as she was, knew how to keep the Eldest Young Master close—but she also knew when to yield. Every time he visited, she would urge him not to come to Needle Alley again, warning that if he were seen, the censors might impeach him and ruin his reputation. And she would cling tearfully to his sleeve, saying she had brought misfortune upon him, that she wished to go home—yet the thought of never seeing him again pierced her heart, and she simply couldn't bring herself to leave...

Thinking of all this, Lady Fei couldn't help but doubt whether helping Lady Fan had been the right choice at all.

A woman as perceptive as Madam Min—surely a single hint from Lady Fei would be enough for her to understand what was meant.

If she were to help Madam Min marry into the family...

The moment this thought arose, Lady Fei involuntarily shook her head.

Madam Min was far too shrewd. Lady Fei knew her background well—when she had been delivering things for the eldest master, Madam Min had humbled herself before her, treating her with the utmost courtesy. If Madam Min were to marry in and become the legitimate wife, recalling those past matters, she would likely make Lady Fei her first target.

Lady Fei felt a chill run through her, and her expression turned somewhat cold.

Then came Mozhuan's voice, tinged with a hint of mockery: "Concubine Fei, first you shake your head, then you pull a long face—what exactly do you mean? The eldest young mistress merely asked you a few questions; she didn't ask you to go out and find the eldest master. Why such difficulty? If the eldest young mistress had instructions for you, would you be ready to bolt out the door?"

Lady Fei was so angry she couldn't speak for a long moment.

This Mozhuan, relying on being the eldest young mistress's dowry maid, was throwing her weight around like a fox borrowing the tiger's might. Lady Fei hadn't even settled the account of that collision to the chest, and yet Mozhuan was already lording it over her. If the Horse King doesn't show his might, you wouldn't know he has three eyes. Once I've soothed Lady Fan, just wait and see how I deal with you!

Lady Fei made a silent vow in her heart, but her face betrayed nothing. She said with a smile, "Miss Mozhuan, you do me wrong with such words. I was merely thinking that the Lantern Festival is almost upon us. The eldest master is usually not in the capital, and he would most likely take this opportunity to visit his superiors and socialize with his colleagues. Even if he were to go to Needle Alley, he would probably wait until after the Lantern Festival. Otherwise, the eldest master wouldn't have sent me to deliver things to Madam Min."

"Really?" Lady Fan sounded doubtful.

"If the eldest young mistress doesn't believe me, you might have Miss Mozhuan ask the coachman," Lady Fei said with a smile. "He would surely know which places the eldest master has gone to..."

Before she could finish her words, the little maid stationed at the door by Mozhuan suddenly burst in, flustered: "Eldest young mistress, Miss Mozhuan, the eldest master—the eldest master has returned!" she said with some alarm.

Lady Fan exchanged a glance with Mozhuan, then said to Lady Fei, "Not a word of today's matter to anyone."

Lady Fei barely suppressed the urge to reveal a contemptuous look.

Anyone might let it slip, but she never would.

If she did, wouldn't Yu Jingxiu come after her?

Wouldn't all her efforts over these years be wasted?

I'd like to remind you as well—not a word of today's matter to anyone!

Lady Fei muttered inwardly, then saw the door curtain flung open with a bang as Yu Jingxiu strode in, his face ashen.

Everyone in the room had something to hide, and at the sight, their hearts sank. Mozhuan lowered her head and retreated to the corner, as if that would make Yu Jingxiu overlook her. Lady Fan, meanwhile, stammered, "Eldest master, you—what's the matter?" Her face had gone somewhat pale. Only Lady Fei remained relatively composed, stepping forward to offer Yu Jingxiu a salute.

Yu Jingxiu was somewhat surprised to see Lady Fei in Lady Fan's inner chamber. He said, "What are you doing here?"

Lady Fei steadied herself and forced a smile. "The eldest young mistress had questions for me. I had just entered when the eldest master came in." The moment the words left her mouth, she inwardly cursed herself.

That Lady Fan was a blockhead. Having shifted the matter onto her, Lady Fan would most likely have no proper response. And if Lady Fan thought deeper, she might suspect Lady Fei of lacking responsibility... Their relationship had just begun to thaw—this was not a good sign.

Lady Fei secretly fretted.

But Yu Jingxiu paid no attention to this. Instead, with a grim face, he growled in a low voice at Lady Fan, "Where's Wu?"

Everyone in the room was startled, but at the same time, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"What does the eldest master want with Concubine Wu?" Lady Fan said quickly, then instructed Mozhuan, "Hurry and fetch Concubine Wu!"

"Yes!" Mozhuan acknowledged and hurried out the door.

Lady Fei shot Lady Fan a meaningful glance, then stepped forward with a smile. "Has the eldest master just returned from the yamen? The weather is quite cold—allow me to help you change into fresh clothes?"

Lady Fan also caught on and loudly ordered the little maid to fetch water.

Yu Jingxiu's expression softened slightly, and he allowed Lady Fei to help him change.

Mozhuan returned with Concubine Wu.

Yu Jingxiu looked at Concubine Wu with a cold sneer. "Impressive! You've grown bold, have you? Scheming with outsiders to slap me in the face!"

Concubine Wu's heart gave a lurch.

Could it be that her going to inform Mrs. Zhao had been discovered?

Her expression immediately turned flustered. She wanted to defend herself, but her limbs went weak and she couldn't utter a word.

Then she thought—she ate the Yu family's food and drank the Yu family's drink, yet she had told Mrs. Zhao, who had a grudge against the Yu family, about Yu Jingxiu's misconduct. That was wrong of her to begin with. If he wanted to hit her or scold her, she would let him. What standing did she have to defend herself?

With that thought, Concubine Wu's demeanor wilted further, and she lowered her gaze as if to avoid his eyes.

A shadow of cruelty flickered across Yu Jingxiu's face.

He instructed Lady Fan, "Go find a slave broker and sell Wu to a brothel."

"Eldest Master!" Lady Fan, Lady Fei, and Concubine Wu were all struck as if by lightning. Lady Fan spoke urgently, "Concubine Wu is a relative of Lord Wu's. Mother personally arranged for her to be brought in. How—how can you just sell her off... and to a place like that..."

Wouldn't that be a complete loss of face for the Wu family?

How could the Wu family possibly let the Yu family off easily?

Lady Fei, however, had not expected Yu Jingxiu to be so ruthless and merciless.

A hundred years of cultivation bring people together on the same boat; a thousand years bring them to share a pillow. Even if he didn't care for Concubine Wu, she had still been the one sharing his bed, and a relative of his colleague's family at that. He showed not a shred of consideration, driving her to ruin... No wonder Sister Chen had to leave, willing to endure the Third Madam's punishment just to get away...

She gazed at Yu Jingxiu's handsome face, and the more she looked, the more she felt as if she no longer knew him at all.

Concubine Wu collapsed directly onto the ground.