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  Chapter 11

  Madam Hou hastily got up and supported Old Madam Zhus body, anxiously calling out, "Mother!"

  Madam Zhu took a deep breath, and after she calmed down, she asked with a stern face, "Whats going on? Tell me everything, dont leave out a single word!"

  Madam Hou didnt dare to hesitate, and immediately recounted what she had seen and heard on the seventeenth night of the twelfth lunar month in Maosheng Garden. "Qiguer was drunk and unconscious, although his clothes were disheveled, but both the bed and the couch were spotless, it can be seen that nothing happened. That vicious Cai sister deliberately made such a noise, originally to lure people to come and make a big deal out of it."

  She wiped the corner of her eye and continued, "The daughter-in-law sent Xiaojie to the Zhuangzi last night. Firstly, we cant let this matter get out of hand and disturb your birthday celebration, causing people to laugh at us. Secondly, Hejie is getting married next March and will become the princess consort of the Qingping Dukes mansion after she gets married. If Xiaojies affair gets out, how can Hejie hold her head high as a member of the prestigious Qingping Dukes mansion? The reputations of Xiangjie, Wujie, and Qianjie cannot be tarnished either!"

  Designing to climb into a mans bed in order to gain wealth and status is something that only the courtesans of the brothel would do. In the households of high-ranking officials, if some young servant girl were to be promoted to the position of mistress because she had climbed into the masters bed, even though she would have become half a mistress, she would still be looked down upon by people in secret for her whole life.

  Ke Qis sister is a talented and beautiful lady, but she has done such an ugly thing...

  Madam Hou felt both regretful and bitter in her heart, "The Pingchang Dukes estate would never want a concubine-born daughter as their legitimate daughter-in-law. Our Hou estate also couldnt bear the shame of letting our girl become a concubine. If things go wrong, it will hurt the bone-and-flesh kinship. The wife has no choice but to pretend that nothing happened and first lock up Cui sister."

  She paused, and with a red eye added, "Its also the wifes private heart. Yuan Xian and Lin Yues marriage is almost settled, just waiting for next year to pass, it will be considered done, the wife doesnt want this matter to break up this good marriage. So I think that if we can drag on for one more day, it will be one more day, after the new year, Brother Qi will return to Longxi, and then slowly talk about this matter with you."

  Madam Zhus face turned even colder, she nodded slightly, "I know Lan Niangs temperament, Cai Jie cant enter her eyes. Moreover, Qi Ge is currently discussing marriage with the granddaughter of Mei Hanlins family, it will probably be settled like this. Da Sao, this matter was done correctly, it protected the Hou Mansions face and the reputation of several sisters in the house, I should thank you."

  She asked again after a moment, "What did Brother Qi say about this later?"

  Madam Hou gently shook her head, "Young Master Qi doesnt know what happened, but his personal attendant has some suspicions. Ive already instructed someone to remind him, Mother, you can rest assured that Young Master Qi wont find out anything."

  She raised her head and said tentatively, "Sister Cang is no longer able to return to the mansion."

  The flesh and blood of the Gu family cannot be beaten or sold, but the situation of Cais sister is no longer suitable for marriage. If she is not confined in the villa for a lifetime, then she will have to find a reliable nunnery to spend her remaining years.

  Madam Zhus body trembled slightly, and she closed her eyes weakly, "Dispose of it as you see fit, there is no need to report back to me about this matter again."

  If in a strict and dignified family, Cang Jie did something so shameful to tarnish the familys reputation, it would not be long before news of her "untimely death" spread. But no matter how foolish or stupid she was, no matter what bad things she did, she was still the familys own granddaughter...

  Mrs. Zhu felt uncomfortable in her heart, but she also didnt want to get involved in anything else anymore.

  She cant control it either.

  She concentrated her mind on thinking about how to respond to Madame Hous next words, having already said this much, it should be getting to the point soon, shouldnt it?

  As expected, Madame Hou wiped away her tears and said, "Mother, Wus birth mother was a woman of ill repute. Although weve kept it hidden from outsiders, the Duke of Jianan is no ordinary person. With just one investigation, hell find out that Wus origins arent worthy of the Dukes family background. As for Mei, I heard that her younger brother and sister have already set their sights on the young master of the Anguo Gong household."

  If Jians family were to make a fuss, it would be a disaster for the whole household.

  Madam Hou watched Old Lady Zhus expression carefully and continued, "Besides, the Marquis of Jianan has already made it clear that he wants Xianger..."

  "Old Mrs. Zhu snorted, You dont dare to lay a hand on Ruos sister, but you dare to openly ask me for Xuans sister? Eldest daughter-in-law, I only ask, what is the difference between Ruo and Xuan? Both are legitimate daughters of the Yongning Marquis residence, yet you treat them so differently. Its nothing but bullying the third branch because they have no one to rely on. Xuan has no one to depend on, and this old woman is too old to care."

  She and Mrs. Hou had been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for over twenty years, but it was the first time she had spoken so heavily.

  "Mother, dont misunderstand your daughter-in-law, its really..."

  Madam Zhu interrupted her, "Xuans sister has not left the house for three years, and every day she is at home in a dignified manner. On the 18th of the twelfth lunar month, she came to pay her respects early in the morning, and later when my aunt arrived, I had someone summon her to entertain the guests. Until the banquet was over and the guests left, she did not leave. Id like to ask, has Duke Jianan ever been to our inner courtyard? How could he have seen Xuans sister?"

  She waved her hand, "Dont mention that you saw me three years ago, it cant fool me. The number of times Jianan Bo comes to our Hou Mansion every year is at most one or two, the main house and the third house are not in the same place, when there are guests in the mansion, the meals will also separate men and women, even if they are invited to a banquet outside, male guests with families are in the outer courtyard, unmarried girls are placed in the inner courtyard, and they cant meet at all."

  Madam Zhus tone became increasingly stern, "Even if youve met a few times, that doesnt mean you have to keep thinking about your sister-in-law and remembering her in your heart. If Jianan Bo is really like this, Eldest Sister-in-law, do you still want to continue following Eldest Brother and pursuing this marriage? Arent you afraid of tarnishing the reputation of our household?"

  "She said with a sigh, There are no more children of our own to marry off, but dont forget, there are still grandsons and granddaughters!"

  These words were harsh and unjust, and many of them were grievances against Madame Hou.

  Madam Hou felt uncomfortable upon hearing this, her eyes reddening as she spoke in a tearful tone, "Mother has truly wronged me. If it werent for the words of the Duke of Jianan, how would I have known that you were protecting Xianger and intentionally came to provoke you? On this grand New Years day, if I were to upset your mood, it would be unfilial of me as a daughter-in-law."

  Zhou Chao valued filial piety, no matter how capable one is, a mountain of "unfilial" can crush someone to death.

  She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, "Its just that Im worried about the safety of the noble consort and the crown prince, and also cant help but think of those two sons born to Ruzi. Mother, you said the other day that the young master left behind by Princess Yongjia is pitiful, even though he is a member of the royal family, without his mother, its still desolate."

  Yongjia County Princess was the only daughter of Emperor Xians cousin, Prince Xiangchu of Chu. She married Pei Xis eldest son, Pei Xiaoan.

  Xiang Chu Wang misused military power, and in the previous emperors time, he was entrusted with important tasks. He controlled more than half of the Zhou Dynastys military power. Later, 300,000 northern nomadic bandits invaded our northern border. Xiang Chu Wang personally went to battle but unfortunately was shot by a stray arrow. Not only did he lose his life, but also lost five cities in the north.

  Although the former emperor still gave Xiang Chu Wang Yan a burial with the rites of a close prince, he was not pleased in his heart after losing the city and the pool, so he beat the town governments Pei family everywhere, with some intention of transferring anger. Not long after, Yongjia Countys main early production gave birth to a male infant, and then ended up in sorrow. The Pei family did not pass 100 days, and they brought their successor into the house, and one after another gave birth to male heirs. The days of Yongjia Countys son, Pei Jingxun, were naturally not good.

  I heard that I have been on the verge of life and death several times. Although good fortune has saved my life, I have been bedridden with illness for many years, and I dont know how much longer I can live.

  Madam Hou was truly worried, so these words were spoken with sincerity and feeling, moving those who heard them.

  Madam Zhu thought of her second granddaughter, who was struggling to maintain the familys wealth and honor within the palace walls, and the baby in her womb whose sex had already been determined. Then she thought of her eldest granddaughter, who was on her deathbed, barely clinging to life. She also thought of those two adorable great-grandchildren, and the weight that had been pressing down on her heart for so long began to shift slightly.

  She suddenly felt a little powerless, "Although Xiangs sister has no parents, the Wu Ding Hou Fu still has her two uncles in it. Her marriage must be discussed with the people of the Lu family in Wu Ding Hou Fu. Otherwise, even if the people of the Lu family are far away in Beiling, they will definitely come to Shengjing to reason with Lao Da."

  This means that Old Lady Zhu will no longer take the lead for Xiangs sake.

  Madam Hou felt a slight relief in her heart. "This is certainly the case. Dont worry, Mother, when it comes to marrying off girls, the Yongning Marquis Manor will not make any mistakes."

  She thought to herself, when the Lu family passed away that year, the Wu Ding Hou Fu only sent two juniors to mourn, although it was because of the war, but after three years, neither did they see anyone from the Wu Ding Hou Fu come to ask for peace and condolences, nor did they see a letter from Beiling, it can be seen that the Lu family has decided not to care about this matter of the third house.

  If its like that, then whats called knowing and discussing is just a formality, easy to get through.

  Madam Hous face showed a grateful expression, "Mother, your kindness will be remembered by the noble consort."

  Madam Zhus eyes grew increasingly complex, her gaze dimming as she waved her hand. "Im tired, go."

  Madam Hou curtsied and quietly withdrew.

  Yans mother-in-law entered the house and attended to her, seeing that Old Lady Zhus expression was somewhat off, she hastily asked, "Old Lady, where do you feel uncomfortable?"

  "Mrs. Zhu let out a long sigh, Im feeling unwell... but theres nothing I can do about it."

  Now that Madame Hou has said so, she can no longer make any private moves to drag the Wu Ding Hou Fu Lu family out, just to delay for a few more days in exchange for that tiny and elusive possibility.

  Even at this time, she still hoped in her heart that the young master of the Yan family would be moved by Zi Yuns words and come to propose marriage. Her intentions were understood by both Dongping Old Lady and Fuguo Princess. Her current situation probably wouldnt be hidden from these two clever people either. She only hoped they could take pity on Xianger and find a way to help that Yan child when the time came.

  But this hope is still too faint...

  Is it going to be like this forever?

  Madam Zhu supported Ming Xuan and kept the unfinished painting. She let out a soft sigh, "Xuan sister, dont blame your grandmother..."

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