CHAPTER 846: CHAPTER 844: NO SUCH FORMALITY

The reality was just as Ye Xinyan imagined: this seemingly glamorous marriage, in the eyes of many, felt extremely suffocating for Lady Zhao.

When the dowry of her daughter-in-law was brought into the house like flowing water, Lady Zhao felt embarrassed.

Facing the curious and gossipy glances from neighbors, Lady Zhao felt it was Zhou Biyao showing off, flaunting her high status in the Wong Residence.

As the bride’s sedan chair was carried in and with neighbors and Wong Qiao’s colleagues witnessing, Lady Zhao sat solemnly to accept the couple’s bow.

She believed she deserved this dignified posture, that she was worthy of receiving her son and daughter-in-law’s bow.

As a woman, in this harsh world, she had raised her son single-handedly, acting both as father and mother.

Under her guidance, her son became virtuous and hardworking, leading to their current mother-son glory. No one should think of taking away her home, her son, and everything that belonged to her.

Madam Liang knew that Lady Zhao was difficult to get along with. Although the Wong family residence was small, she still arranged for several servants to come along. Besides Zhou Biyao’s original two maids and Nanny Zhong, she also brought a family of attendants from her own household.

From the moment Zhou Biyao entered, when Wong Qiao lifted her veil, to the old and young women coming and going, praising the new bride, and even when Wong Qiao went out to toast the guests and returned, Lady Zhao neither appeared nor sent word to offer any comfort.

After sending off the noisy guests and serving the newlyweds their meal, Nanny Zhong and Liang Ming’s wife instructed the maids to leave.

Watching as the candlelight in the bridal chamber dimmed, the two returned to their room, keeping an ear on the bridal chamber while whispering softly to each other.

Liang Ming’s wife sighed to Nanny Zhong, "I just don’t understand what our In-law Madam is thinking. Look at those old and young women visiting today, all of them were full of praise and envy for our Second Miss. Yet In-law Madam couldn’t even muster the semblance of a smile."

Nanny Zhong, who lived near the Qi family in Clear Water Village, had interacted with Lady Zhao enough to somewhat comprehend her thoughts.

She said, "It’s just the ignorance of a woman who wants to be the master and flaunt her authority in her little household, never thinking of the Wong family’s ancestral and future honor. She’s just afraid of being overshadowed by our Second Miss, feeling uncomfortable about it. Today, on this joyous wedding day, she wore a gloomy expression. I fear she’s likely to assert herself over Second Miss tomorrow during the tea ceremony with just the family."

Liang Ming’s wife sneered, saying, "We’re not stooping to her level, or she actually thinks our Zhou family and Second Miss can be easily bullied?"

"There’s nothing to worry about," said Nanny Zhong. "Our Second Miss, being with that bandit-like Miss Ye all the time, definitely won’t let people push her around. It’s just Madam Zhao’s luck encountering our Second Miss. If it were Miss Ye entering her house instead, she might very well be driven to frustration with nowhere to vent."

After speaking, Nanny Zhong closed the slightly ajar window to listen to the quietness of the new room before saying to Liang Ming’s wife, "Let’s rest for a bit. Tomorrow we have to get up early to help Second Miss serve tea to Mother-in-law. While Second Miss isn’t one to be easily troubled, we shouldn’t let the lady of the house find fault either."

The next morning, when a still sleep-dazed Zhou Biyao and Wong Qiao were awoken by the not-so-low murmurs outside.

Before then, the Wong family lived in a courtyard with two main houses and two eastern and two western rooms, quite spacious for ordinary families.

Last month, when the Imperial Astronomical Observatory sent the auspicious date for Wong Qiao’s wedding along with the Emperor’s edict, compared to the dowry and servants Zhou Biyao would bring, the courtyard felt too cramped.

Facing pressure from Lady Zhao, Wong Qiao rented a small courtyard next door, which was renovated into their new room.

At this moment, Little Cui, a maid serving Lady Zhao, came over but was blocked by Nanny Zhong and Liang Ming’s wife, standing outside, not knowing what to do.

More accurately, Little Cui was blocked by Liang Ming’s wife, being questioned about what she came to retrieve.

Little Cui somewhat knew what Lady Zhao wanted but, as a twelve or thirteen-year-old child, couldn’t bring herself to say it, stammering that the lady of the house asked her to fetch the blood-stained handkerchief.

Liang Ming’s wife wore a mocking smile. In ordinary families without such formalities, mothers often discreetly asked their sons the next day, understanding it privately. But in more aggressive and ostentatious families, it was not uncommon for the mother-in-law to personally claim the handkerchief.

Sending a young girl just over ten to handle such a task? Lady Zhao, having no firm foundation at home, yet wanting to hold such a ceremony, was quite laughable.

At that time, the sky was still dark. Hearing the voices in the courtyard, Zhou Biyao roughly understood the situation, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. Hastily getting dressed, she was stopped by Wong Qiao, who whispered, "Stay in bed a while longer. I’ll go see what’s happening."

Zhou Biyao, feeling a warm hand on her, retreated slightly, saying, "The housemaids have already woken up, so it’s probably not that early. We still have to serve tea to Mother soon. If we’re late, Mother might be displeased."

Thinking of his mother’s nature, Wong Qiao reluctantly withdrew his hand.

The bridal chamber was lit with candles, and after Zhou Biyao dressed, she called out, "It’s still early. What’s all the commotion outside? Come in if you have something to say."

Little Cui, embarrassed and unable to speak clearly due to Liang Ming’s wife, saw hope in Zhou Biyao’s voice from the main house, trying to go around Liang Ming’s wife to enter.

Liang Ming’s wife, unlike Zhou Biyao, knew how to deal with Lady Zhao and the commonfolk in this alley.

Hearing Zhou Biyao inviting someone inside, she was in no hurry, speaking loudly, "Replying to the grand lady, Miss Xiao Cui came to say the lady of the house needed something, but can’t tell exactly what. I’m asking now to clarify, so I can retrieve it for the lady."

Although spoken within their own courtyard, her voice carried far in the still night. That shout was clearly heard by Lady Zhao in the neighboring courtyard, and surely by close neighbors as well.

This filled Lady Zhao with anger. Already dressed and sitting on the kang in the central courtyard, she had Wong Qiao’s cousin, Xiuqin, standing beside her.

This girl had been in the capital for a year already, and though still cautious while serving Lady Zhao, had found her peace. At least, she wasn’t afraid of being sent back to her family, where her fate would be determined by her parents.

Seeing Lady Zhao’s displeased expression, she silently remained by her side, offering no counsel. Even though the room had a brazier, and the kang was burning warmly, a window was slightly open to catch the sounds outside, chilling the room greatly.

Fortunately, the outside grew quiet soon after, though Lady Zhao’s expression remained poor, the harshness in her eyes somewhat fading.

Meanwhile, Zhou Biyao had called those in the yard inside.