Chapter 375: Chaos Ensues in the Mansions
Chapter 375: Chaos Ensues in the Mansions
As Sue happily shared gifts with her brothers, a heavy atmosphere loomed over Jin Yangzi's mansion.
Terrified, Xu Yuyao had retreated to her room early on, not daring to stick her head out.
Jin Yangzi had been demoted, Old Madam Xu was gravely ill, Madam Xu was confined to the Buddhist hall, and Concubine Su, who had often meddled in household affairs with great favor, had been sent away to the estate, closely watched by people arranged by Old Madam Xu.
Currently, Madam Zhou was in charge of the mansion, and while she was fairly capable, she shared a similarity with Concubine Su and the others.
Like them, she also looked down on Xu Yuyao and the other outer chamber ladies.
Xu Yuyao was well aware of this, so she dared not get too close, keeping a low profile and observing the situation cautiously.
With all the female members of the household in a frenzy, Jin Yangzi, ironically, had little to do.
Feeling depressed, he went straight to the Flower Pavilion to drink, paying no heed to the well-being of his household.
Old Madam Xu had already suffered a stroke, and now her entire person could barely speak clearly, only able to make strange sounds of "huh huh huh."
Even so, her son, Jin Yangzi, was not by her side to attend to her.
Old Madam Xu did not blame her son for being unfilial, but instead felt that the wives and concubines he had taken were not good enough, hence the unrest in the family.
At this moment, Old Madam Xu was still making those strange noises.
Madam Zhou, who was attending to her, could not understand what the old madam was trying to express and anxiously looked towards Liu Pozi, the old madam's longtime companion, from time to time.
Having served Old Madam Xu for many years, Liu Pozi could sometimes decipher the old madam's thoughts.
At this moment, there wasn't much she could decipher, but it was still somewhat useful.
"Huh huh huh..." Old Madam Xu struggled to raise her hand, trying to express herself urgently.
Liu Pozi thought for a while before tentatively saying, "Could it be that the old madam means to marry the eldest young miss to the Cui family in Qiongzhou?"
Old Madam Xu nodded with difficulty.
Hearing this, Madam Zhou fell into a dilemma. Looking at the old madam's unsightly face, she bit her lip and said softly, "But the Cui family has already declined. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to marry the eldest young miss to the Cui family?"
Currently, Jin Yangzi's mansion was also in decline and in dire need of support.
Marrying someone off to the even more declining Cui family would only make things worse, wouldn't it?
Old Madam Xu was so anxious that she was about to speak directly. She lifted her hand and gestured for a long time.
However, her movements were stiff, and after gesturing for a while, she lay back heavily.
Xu Pozi thought about it for a long time before uncertainly opening her mouth. "Could the old madam's meaning be that the Cui family still has a chance to rise? Moreover, being in a remote location, if the eldest young miss were to enter the Cui family as a concubine, it would at least connect the two families. But if the eldest young miss were truly made a concubine, would she still be willing to help her natal family?"
Hearing this, Old Madam Xu coldly snorted. Xu Pozi immediately understood and said, "Yes, I understand. Without the support of her natal family, the eldest young miss would also find it difficult to move in the Cui family."
There was a need to cover up the scandal involving Xu Yuling and Xu Yujao.
Thus, sending Xu Yuling far away, regardless of whether she went as a legitimate or illegitimate daughter, was a good solution to avoid causing irritation to those in the capital.
Old Madam Xu's health was already poor, and from now on, Madam Xu would be the decision-maker in this mansion.
Old Madam Xu was also reluctant to hand over the responsibility of managing the household to Madam Xu.
Therefore, sending Xu Yuling away to be a concubine was actually a way to spite Madam Xu as well.
Zhou Yiniang was no fool; she could roughly guess what the old madam was thinking.
At this moment, Zhou Yiniang's heart turned cold. She thought, 'With the Xu Manor in such a state, the old madam is still only concerned about her own interests and maintaining her authority within the manor. She doesn't care about the well-being of the Xu family at all...'
With such an old madam, how could the Xu family prosper?
Zhou Yiniang's heart chilled, but her face remained calm as she quietly contemplated a way out of this situation.
Relying on the Xu family was clearly not an option anymore, but other than the Xu family, who could she and her son depend on?
As the Xu family was in disarray, chaos also erupted in the Huayang Hou Manor, the residence of the Marquis of Huayang, Wei Jia.
The currently favored young master of the Wei family, Weilanqiao, had been beaten up.
His face was bruised and swollen, and one of his legs was broken.
The assailant had been ruthless, but they had ultimately left him a breath of life.
Young Master Weilanqiao was found and sent back to the manor, and only then was he able to hang onto his life after an expensive physician was summoned.
However, the attacker's identity remained unknown.
Madame Wei, Xu Shi, flew into a rage and tormented everyone in the manor.
The Marquis of Huayang found her bothersome and, after showing concern for his son and confirming that he would survive, he left to play chess with an old friend.
Madame Wei became even angrier when she heard this.
She suspected that one of the manor's concubines was responsible, but she had no evidence.
"Could it be Concubine Qian, Qian Jin? She would resort to any means to ensure her son's success."
"Perhaps it was Concubine Mei. Since she has no son of her own, she must be jealous of my little treasure."
"It could also be Concubine Cui, that old busybody's arrangement. What good could come from her?"
"It might even be that prostitute, the first young master's concubine!"
...
Madame Xu Shi went into a frenzy due to her young son's injury, and her rage was not limited to words. She stormed through the various courtyards, physically assaulting the concubines.
When Old Madame Wei learned of this, she nearly fainted from anger. "This troublemaker! She almost harmed my good grandson last time, and now she has the nerve to call others poisonous women?"
Wei Yongmei had just been pushed around by her stepmother, and her appearance was disheveled.
She was still worried, so after a quick tidying up, she went to find her younger brother.
At that moment, Wei Mingqiao was practicing calligraphy. When he saw his eldest sister, he immediately put down his brush and bowed to her.
Wei Yongmei looked at her quiet and reserved younger brother, unable to voice her suspicions.
She thought, 'It couldn't have been my younger brother, could it?
He's so timid and dislikes causing trouble, and he's still so young.
Moreover, our position in the manor is precarious, with our stepmother treating us like thorns in her side.
It's already been challenging to survive these years.
My younger brother wouldn't go looking for trouble, would he?'
After reassuring herself, Wei Yongmei gently stroked her brother's head, offered him a few kind words of concern, and then signaled for him to continue practicing his calligraphy.
As Wei Mingqiao watched his sister leave, his expression turned slightly somber after she was out of sight.
Wei Mingqiao thought, 'I shouldn't have held back. I should have just killed Weilanqiao.
Anyone who bullies those dear to me deserves to die!'
Suese, who was already in a sweet dream, seemed to dream of something in her sleep. Her cute little mouth puckered slightly, as if savoring something.
Her aunt happened to pass by and, seeing the adorable sight, fanned Suese gently to keep her comfortable. After ensuring that the little girl was sleeping peacefully, she quietly left the room.
She checked the incense burner to make sure the mosquito-repelling incense was still burning before finally returning to her own room to rest.
Second Watch
(End of Chapter)
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