Chapter 58: Chapter 51, Wife and Concubine_l
“Wenhui, what’s happened to you?”
Yan Zhigao visited Shuangxin Courtyard as usual, and upon entering the courtyard, he noticed to his surprise that his beloved concubine did not greet him at the door as she usually did. He quietly stepped into the room and found his concubine lost in thought, completely motionless.
“The master has arrived!”
Upon seeing Yan Zhigao, Concubine Lin immediately put away her deeply troubled expression and greeted him with a smile.
Yan Zhigao took her hand and asked with concern, “What are you thinking about? Why didn’t you even notice me coming?”
Concubine Lin shook her head, her face showing a touch of bitterness as she spoke, “I wasn’t thinking about anything, just… just lost in some idle thoughts.
Yan Zhigao asked again, “What’s really the matter?
Concubine Lin hesitated, as if there was something she wanted to say but thought better of it.
Yan Zhigao sighed and patted Concubine Lin’s hand, “I know you’ve been wronged recently. I’ll speak to mother about it. With your knowledge and reason, once she understands how good you are, she’ll naturally accept you.’ “As for Daohua… that girl has been spoiled by mother to the point of no return. I will discipline her properly in the future. But she is still young, and if she has said something offensive, don’t take it to heart.”
At these words, Concubine Lin’s eyes immediately reddened, “I’m just a concubine, no matter what the old madam or the eldest young lady do to me, I will endure it, and I should endure it.”
“But… Yishuang and Wenbin are the flesh and blood of the Yan Family, they shouldn’t suffer because of me.”
Yan Zhigao detected the implication in Concubine Lin’s words and reassured her, “Haven’t I said it before? Our family doesn’t abide by those rules of legitimate and illegitimate birth that other grand households do. In my heart, Wenbin and Yishuang are no different from Wenxiu and the others, they won’t be slighted.”
Concubine Lin was visibly moved, “The master’s deep love for his children is clear to me, and I know you will treat them equally. It’s just that what I worry
about isn’t that.”
Yan Zhigao was puzzled, “Then what are you worried about?” Concubine Lin looked at Yan Zhigao and seemed to muster courage before she finally said, “The eldest young lady… she seems to really dislike Wenbin and
Yishuang.”
Yan Zhigao frowned, “What has Daohua done now?
Concubine Lin hastily responded, “It’s nothing much. It’s just that today, Wenbin and Yishuang took the pastries their younger brother sent to Zhegui Courtyard, inviting several young ladies and masters from our household for joint poetry composition. The eldest young lady also went, but… as soon as she heard the pastries were brought by Yishuang and the others, she threw them
away.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao’s face immediately betrayed anger.
Seeing his expression, Concubine Lin continued carefully, “After that, the eldest young lady left Zhegui Courtyard and went to the old madam’s place. Then, she treated the young ladies and masters of the household to fermented rice, yet Yishuang and Wenbin were not invited.
Having said this, Concubine Lin’s tone became more urgent, “I’m not coveting what the eldest young lady has, but Yishuang and Wenbin look up to her as their sister. Her obvious biased treatment now might affect their sibling love in the future.”
Yan Zhigao abruptly stood up, his anger evident, “I’m going to the main courtyard. You just take Yishuang and Wenbin to have dinner later.” Watching Yan Zhigao leave furiously, a triumphant smile crept onto Concubine
Lin’s face.
Yan Yiyi, you made me lose so much face in front of the Yan Family, you won’t have an easy time this New Year!
“Sister!”
Just then, Teacher Lin walked in.
Concubine Lin was surprised, “Little brother, what brings you here?” Teacher Lin said, “How could I not come visit when you’ve been bullied? The County Governor’s Office isn’t that big; though the front and back courtyards are separate, if something happens, you can always find out a thing or two. Concubine Lin felt comforted, “It’s just the antics of a little girl. Don’t worry, your sister can handle her.”
Teacher Lin shook his head, “The eldest young lady of the Yan Family may be young, but she’s exceptionally intelligent and striking in both appearance and demeanor. Sister, you must not underestimate her. Besides, she has the old madam behind her as well.”
Concubine Lin sneered, “So what if she’s intelligent? With such a wild temper, she’ll have a hard time winning people’s affection. You don’t know, that day she not only mocked me covertly but also made veiled criticisms against the master. He was so angry his face turned red. If this happens a few more times, I assure you, she will completely lose the master’s favor.”
“A daughter who doesn’t hold the master’s favor, even with the old madam’s protection, what waves can she make?
Teacher Lin knew his sister was truly angered and after some thought, he said, “Sister, what you’re doing now isn’t enough if you really want the eldest young lady to completely lose the master’s favor. As long as it doesn’t get out, family matters are easy to solve. Only if the eldest young lady offends people outside will the master have to punish her severely to preserve the family’s reputation.” Concubine Lin’s eyes brightened, “Do you have a plan?”
Teacher Lin replied, “Leave it to me; you don’t need to do anything to avoid further criticism from the old madam.”
Concubine Lin sighed and rubbed her forehead, “I don’t know how to please the old madam anymore.”
Teacher Lin smiled, “Sister, you still have me. Man proposes, God disposes; the old madam will come to like you. Haven’t front and back courtyards of the County Governor’s Office been vying to praise you all these years?” Concubine Lin also smiled, but then she sneered again, “Ever since the eldest young lady arrived, I have never had a single day of peace. I truly hope to get rid of this trouble next year.”
“Of course.”
The main courtyard.
Yan Zhigao came over in a furious huff, and upon entering the room, he saw Madam Li checking the account books, her brows revealing an indescribable weariness. Seeing him, she actually looked surprised.
“How come you decided to come here?”
Yan Zhigao glanced at the thick ledger on the table and a rare sense of guilt surged in his heart.
He was tired from his work at the County Governor’s Office, but his wife was equally tired from managing domestic affairs.
Enough, for the sake of his wife, he would temporarily refrain from arguing with his eldest daughter.
He knew clearly that, back then, his wife was really reluctant to leave their eldest daughter behind in their hometown, but for the sake of filial piety and to free up her hands to help him manage the inner courtyard, she had agreed with tears in her eyes.
The character their eldest daughter had developed was partially his responsibility too.
NOW that the eldest daughter had only just returned to his wife’s side, it was inevitable that she would be somewhat indulged, and he estimated that it would take some time to readjust her disposition.
Yan Zhigao sat down with a stern face: “What, I’m not allowed to come back?” Madam Li put down the ledger in her hands and said with a smile, “Everything at the Yan Family belongs to you, you can go wherever you want.” As she spoke, she glanced outside and noticed the sky was already growing dim.
“It’s already evening, huh? Time really does fly when you’re balancing the accounts.” With that, she packed away the books, looking towards Yan Zhigao, “Are you dining in the main courtyard tonight, my lord?”
Yan Zhigao nodded expressionlessly.
Madam Li smiled, her tone seeming a bit more cheerful: “Then I’ll have the dishes served immediately.”
During the meal, it was only Yan Zhigao and Madam Li.
Yan Zhigao: “Where are Wenxiu and the others?”
Madam Li: “The old lady asked them to eat in her courtyard.
A quarter of an hour earlier, the Old Madam Yan, knowing that her grandson had actively returned to the main courtyard, worried that her grandchildren might disturb the recently reconciled couple, promptly decided to keep everyone there.
Yan Zhigao nodded: “Now that Wenxiu and the others are not attending classes, they should certainly spend more time with grandmother. Right, I heard today that Daohua brought everyone some fermented grains?” Madam Li cast a glance at Yan Zhigao, her expression growing colder by a shade and shook her head, “No such thing. Daohua didn’t make much fermented grain; she said it should be saved for New Year’s Eve. However, today, the old lady was happy to see her grandchildren paying respects, so she had them drink a bowl each.”
Originally, Old Madam Yan hadn’t planned to give it to all her grandchildren, but just as Yan Wenxiu was about to take a bowl, Yan Wenjie and the others arrived, and she couldn’t very well show too much favoritism, so she had to scoop a bowl for each person.
The reason Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin didn’t get any was that Old Madam Yan had made her dislike for Aunt Lin quite clear. The two, holding a grudge for their own mother, rarely visited Songhe Courtyard, and thus, they missed out.
Yan Zhigao showed a look of surprise, clearly not having anticipated that his mother would also be involved in this matter.
Seeing him like this, Madam Li’s face became even more expressionless.
She thought to herself that it was no wonder her always obedient husband had taken it upon himself to visit the main courtyard at this time; he must have heard some rumors.
With a chill in her heart, Madam Li said indifferently, “I hear the fermented grains taste quite good, it’s a pity that I, as their mother, couldn’t manage to get even a bowl to taste. After all, not having raised them personally, the affection just isn’t there.”
Upon hearing this, Ping Xiao, who was standing by the table, quickly glanced towards the inner chamber; there, a small, delicate white porcelain jar was placed just right.
The jar was filled with the mouthwatering fermented grains.
Madam was clearly saying something with her words; that last sentence was a dig at her husband!
Sure enough, Yan Zhigao’s expression turned somewhat unnatural. If a mere servant girl like Ping Xiao could understand, he as the party in question definitely knew even better; to cover his own embarrassment, all he could do was to lower his head and continue eating.
Madam Li: “My lord, with the New Year coming up soon, I need to finish checking the account books promptly. You should go to Shuangxin Courtyard tonight, as Aunt Lin, being a concubine, should fulfill her role in serving people at this time.”
“Crack!”
The sound of chopsticks dropping to the floor rang out.
Yan Zhigao stared dumbfounded at his usually docile wife, seemingly in disbelief that she could say such things.
Her role in serving people?!!!
Madam was treating Wenhui as if she were a servant, a servant raised in their own home…
Madam Li continued eating her meal calmly, not even giving him a glance in
return..