CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404: SENDING OFF

The Third Madam’s reckless attitude made the Old Madam frown.

The Third Madam was angry with the Third Master.

Ever since Aunt Xue entered, the Third Master stayed in her room almost every night, thoroughly neglecting the Third Madam.

The Third Master exempted Aunt Xue from the formalities of becoming a concubine, leaving the Third Madam no opportunity to take control.

One could say, apart from not having the official title of a concubine and receiving less monthly allowance than the Third Madam, Aunt Xue was a concubine.

This was a thorn stuck in the Third Madam’s throat.

The Old Madam’s indulgence towards the Third Master was undoubtedly like rubbing salt into the Third Madam’s wounds.

Half of the Third Master’s impotence was the Third Madam’s responsibility, so despite her anguish, she had to endure it.

In front of the Old Madam, she had to endure, but in front of Duke Zhen, she didn’t need to.

Duke Zhen would return to the Capital in a few days; however she treated the Third Master before the Old Madam, she would do the same before Duke Zhen.

Duke Zhen and Old Master Xie bled on the battlefield, while the Third Master extravagantly purchased a concubine in the Capital City.

The concubine was to enter through the main gate of the Duke Mansion, yet the Third Master agreed to it. As his legitimate wife, she demanded rules for the concubine but was reprimanded by the Third Master.

She couldn’t believe that Duke Zhen wouldn’t be angered by this.

To the Third Madam, Aunt Xue was the real threat, as for the pregnant maid, she had been sent to the villa by the Third Master before she could even speak. Had she stayed in the mansion, when would there have been a chance for them to conceive?

This maid was the work of Princess Nanzhang and the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, unrelated to her.

Why should she get her hands dirty and be accused of being jealous?

The Third Madam decided to ignore this matter.

The Old Madam could see her attitude.

The maid was temporarily staying at Qihao Hall.

After the Third Master finished court, he had just entered the Duke Mansion when he was informed that the Old Madam was looking for him.

The Third Master already knew what had happened; if there was anyone he didn’t want to see, it was definitely those two maids.

Seeing them...

No!

Just mentioning them brought back unpleasant memories for him.

With a sour expression, the Third Master entered Qihao Hall.

However, the Old Madam didn’t mention the maid, but rather Aunt Xue.

Looking at the Third Master, the Old Madam said, "Duke will return to the Capital in a few days. When do you plan to send Aunt Xue away?"

Staring into the Old Madam’s cold gaze, the Third Master felt his heart sink.

He didn’t reply, which made the Old Madam even angrier.

Nobody knew her son better than her.

It was clear he had no intention of sending Aunt Xue away.

A concubine, no matter how beautiful, could she compare to this Duke Mansion and the power it represented?

With power and status, what kind of woman couldn’t he have?!

The Old Madam looked at the Third Master, "The Third Madam was wrong, but the lesson you gave her was enough. The Duke Zhen Country Mansion does not allow the spoiling of concubines and the destruction of the wife."

"Out of consideration for Aunt Xue’s contribution in curing the illness, I haven’t done anything to her. If you insist on keeping her in the mansion, be prepared to collect her corpse!"

The Old Madam’s words were heavy, and the Third Master’s heart sank to the bottom.

He tried to persuade the Old Madam, but she was not moved in the slightest.

What could the Third Master do? Could he treat the Old Madam the same way he treated the Third Madam?

Especially when the Old Madam did it for his own good.

He was just reluctant to part with Aunt Xue.

"I know what to do," said the Third Master dejectedly.

The Third Master returned to the South Courtyard and went directly to Aunt Xue’s room.

Aunt Xue was playing the zither.

She was the Oiran of Baihua Building, not excelling in both beauty and talent wouldn’t qualify her for the title of Oiran.

After the Third Master entered, he sat there watching Aunt Xue play the zither.

At the end of the tune.

Aunt Xue placed her hands on the zither strings and smirked, "Master, are you in a bad mood?"

The Third Master was silent for a moment, then said, "Pack your bags, I’ll send you out of the mansion."

Aunt Xue’s smile froze on her face.

Gradually turning livid.

A murderous gleam flashed in her eyes.

So quick it was almost impossible to catch, then it vanished.

She bit back her anger and asked, "Why?"

The Third Master knew she was angry.

Not just angry, there were tears sparkling in her eyes.

She didn’t want to leave him.

He too didn’t want her to leave.

He embraced Aunt Xue and said, "The Old Madam fears my concubine matter will anger the Duke, she wants me to send you away."

Aunt Xue’s eyes bore a frosty gleam.

The Third Master held her tightly, "I’ll persuade her to let you back."

"If you have decided to send me away, why lie?" Aunt Xue said with tears.

The Third Master swore, "I would never lie to you."

Aunt Xue wiped her tears and said, "Master, you know my nature, I will not be an unidentified mistress despised by others. I give you one month, if you can’t bring me back, I’ll leave."

"When we meet again, we’ll be strangers."

The Third Master said tenderly, "I promise you."

Aunt Xue pushed the Third Master out, she didn’t want to be mocked as she left, just as she had been full of confidence when she entered.

After the Third Master left, Aunt Xue looked at herself in the copper mirror.

There couldn’t be anyone more ridiculous than her in this world.

She had mixed into the Duke Zhen Mansion to wait for Duke Zhen’s return.

In the end, before he could return to the Capital, she was driven out like a stray dog.

The chance she exchanged for with her chastity thus went up in smoke!

The maid walked up behind her, Aunt Xue closed her eyes, letting two rows of tears flow down.

"You might as well laugh," she said.

"I’ll pack up," the maid said.

There weren’t many things when they came, all were given by the Third Master to please Aunt Xue.

The Third Master had given exquisite and expensive gifts to win Aunt Xue’s favor.

The maid wanted to pack, but Aunt Xue didn’t take a single item.

She found the clothes she came in with and changed into them again, even her hairstyle and accessories were exactly the same.

The Third Master recalled the circumstances of fighting for her at Baihua Building.

Aunt Xue didn’t love power and wealth, otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen him.

Without the Third Master’s urging, Aunt Xue headed for the Duke Zhen Mansion’s main gate, the maid following closely with her parcel.

She entered through the Duke Zhen Mansion’s main gate, naturally she would leave through the main gate.

South Courtyard, main room.

The maid couldn’t wait to tell the Third Madam the news that the Third Master had sent Aunt Xue away.

The Third Madam reclined on a small couch, saying, "What’s there to be happy about?"

She knew the Third Master too well.

If the Old Madam hadn’t forced him, he would never have sent Aunt Xue away.

Sending her away was just putting her somewhere else to hide her.

He would feel sorry for sending her away, leading him to pamper her even more.

Once a man’s heart is set on a woman, even nine oxen wouldn’t pull it back.

However, with Aunt Xue out of the mansion, her chance had come.

"Send someone to keep an eye on where the Third Master hides her," the Third Madam instructed.

"I’ll do it right away," the maid said.

By the time it was nearly lunch, the person sent to monitor the situation finally brought back news.

The Third Master had hidden Aunt Xue in a small three-room courtyard near his government office.

That courtyard originally belonged to an official under him.

When the Third Master asked to buy it, the person handed it over directly.

The Third Madam was so angry she couldn’t eat her lunch.

Hiding her near the government office made it more convenient than staying in the mansion!

"Should I inform the Old Madam?" the maid asked.

"No need!"