CHAPTER 117: CHAPTER 117: CONCUBINE (1)

Madam Luo seemed to notice Madam Xia’s concern and smiled, "Sister, you needn’t worry about her. In this mansion... even the legitimate wife isn’t necessarily a match for Sixth Miss when it comes to schemes!"

Madam Xia nodded reluctantly, her heart mixed with joy and surprise.

Seeing her expression, Madam Luo knew what she was thinking and couldn’t help but shake her head as she poured herself another drink. Madam Xia still had someone to worry about, but as for herself... she felt her life had reached its end there.

With the door closed, Madam Xia drank a few cups for the first time lightly, her cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol. After sending off the thoroughly drunk Madam Luo, she had the place tidied up and shut the courtyard doors.

Entering the room, she sat in front of a Yaoqin covered with a cloth, untouched for years. Her fingers lingered lovingly over the strings, her expression seemingly lost in memories.

In the study across the wall, the First Master stood at the doorway, gazing at the wooden door behind the holly tree, slightly dazed...

In Zhiqu Courtyard, Xiqiu was sitting at the table having breakfast. When Sixing lifted the curtain and came in, she immediately set down her chopsticks and asked, "How was it? Where did the First Master sleep last night?" Sixing looked disappointed, her voice deflated, "He said he slept in the study and left with the Second Master early in the morning."

Xiqiu said nothing, pointing at the porridge and vegetables on the table, "Have some too!" She got up and sat in a chair sipping tea.

Sixing shook her head, then remembered something and sat on the stool beside Xiqiu, "When I went there, I saw Caitao from Madam Mei’s side. The gatekeeping woman said Madam Mei had sent ginseng tea to the study at 9 p.m. last night, but the First Master had someone receive it at the door and didn’t even let Madam Mei in. Caitao was waiting at the study’s door early in the morning, but the First Master didn’t even glance at her when he left."

Didn’t go in?!

Does this mean the First Master was in a bad mood, touched by the clothes the concubine sent?

Ever since Madam Wang’s incident, the First Master had been sleeping in the study, but every time Madam Mei went, she’d linger there briefly. Last night, she didn’t even enter. She recalled the First Master’s gaze at her yesterday seemed to have a hint of sympathy.

This was something she had never seen before. She didn’t know why there was a change in the First Master, but it was undoubtedly a good sign.

But even if he was touched, so what! Perhaps she was oversimplifying matters between the First Master and the concubines.

She sighed; perhaps she was being too impatient.

She said, "Let’s wait and see. The official documents for the First Master’s appointment haven’t arrived yet. We need to consider if there are other ways!" Whenever the First Master went to take office, he’d take a concubine along. Madam Mei had been visiting frequently, likely because of this matter.

However, there has been no news all year, and there hasn’t been a whisper from Lady’s side either. Could there be any changes?

Sixing knew what was on Xiqiu’s mind and felt helpless, so she changed the subject, "When I was coming back just now, I saw Eighth Miss entering Third Miss’s courtyard. Miss, what do you think..." These days, Third Miss’s place has been unusually quiet, as Moxiang Shuixiang were sent away, and they didn’t interact with the new maids. So, they really had no idea how things were going over there.

As for the Eighth Miss, since Third Miss’s marriage was settled, even though Lady confined Third Miss, Eighth Miss has been visiting even more frequently than before.

Xiqiu smiled slightly. After so much contact, she had come to understand Tong Xiyu’s character a little. Her actions were not surprising. Regardless of how clumsy or ill-reputed Tong Xiyang’s methods were, it was undeniable that in a year, she would marry into Wujin Bo Mansion and become the Third Young Madam of the Marquis Mansion.

It’s like becoming a phoenix on a branch, so it’s entirely understandable for Tong Xiyu to get close to her.

But Tong Xiyang’s attitude surprised her. Madam Wang was sent away, and she accepted it calmly. It was even rumored that when Madam Wang sent a message from the manor, she didn’t let anyone respond.

Lady was very pleased with this!

She sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of shared fate and melancholy.

But Sixing said, "I heard that Lady prepared forty-eight sedan chairs of dowry for Third Miss, the same as for the Eldest Miss back then. Does this mean that when the Miss marries, it’ll be the same? If so, then Miss wouldn’t have to worry in the future!"

Xiqiu smiled helplessly, "A dowry is just for show; what’s inside is up to Lady. A set of solid gold jewelry is one chair, but a gold-plated set also counts as one. The actual count is just for others to see, so why take it seriously?" But there’s no need to worry about Tong Xiyang’s dowry; with the furnishings in her room, how much is noted in the mansion’s records, and how much is her own? I bet Madam Wang has prepared a lot for her in secret, so her dowry won’t be too thin.

Sixing was taken aback. She had no such experiences, truly unaware of such intricacies. But she often packed trunks and knew well that a trunk full of tightly packed clothes is one box. But if just a few garments are loosely folded, it can also be a box. Both are a box of clothing, but the contents are vastly different.

"We don’t need to worry about these things. Even if all forty-eight sedan chairs are not worthy, the accompanying manor shops are real assets. Lady definitely won’t be too stringent!" She paused, then said, "Go get the threads we need and start dividing them while we have time. Fourth Sister seems almost ready, so we should hurry too." Xiqiu got up and sat on the kang. Sixing hurriedly placed a pillow behind her and took out the needle and thread, and the two sat quietly dividing the threads.

"Now there’s a rumor in the court that the battle reports from Fujian were not absent but intercepted on the way." Tong Zhengchuan frowned as he personally refilled Tong Zheng’an’s tea, "I think the so-called pirates this time are probably not simple!"

Tong Zheng’an’s eyes flickered with a thoughtful expression, "I recall the Fujian Governor’s surname is Qiu, wasn’t he recommended by Lord Yang back then?!"

The Great Zhou had long implemented a household registration system; people needed identity documents to travel. If a district had many people appearing out of nowhere, the court would surely notice. If there really was something suspicious with these pirates, then it can’t be unrelated to the Fujian Governor. Even if he was uninvolved, there’s still a crime for negligence.

"That’s correct!" Tong Zhengchuan nodded slightly, squinting his eyes, "Qiu Shan and Minister Chen were from the same class and both were students of Lord Yang. During the Eighth Prince’s rebellion, Qiu Shan was just a minor County Magistrate in Liuzhou County. In only ten years, he’s now a Standard Third Rank official..." As he spoke, he looked at Tong Zheng’an, "Big Brother, though many matters remain unpredictable, isn’t it the time for us brothers to work together to revive the family? Currently, since the documents haven’t been approved yet, you only need to agree, and I will immediately start moving with the Third Prince. Even if entering the Six Ministries isn’t possible, entering the Hanlin Academy is quite easily within reach. If you truly don’t wish to stay in the capital, returning to Yongzhou isn’t the only option. The Jiangsu Salt Transport Inspection Envoy was impeached last month due to last year’s dam issues, and the Third Prince intends to replace him with his own person. With your talents, you are more than capable. If you’re interested, I can discuss it with the Third Prince tonight. What do you think?"