A group of servant women and stewards approached one by one to report matters, mostly related to the marriage arrangement between Jiang Longyi and the Xiao family. Madam Du sat on the couch, her eyes slightly lowered, occasionally giving a brief instruction. Bai Xiang sat nearby, noting down important expenses to be reported to the Old Madam later.
Since the incident at the Duke’s mansion, the Old Madam hadn’t had any health issues for a long time. On the surface, things remained as before, with Madam Du managing household affairs. However, any significant expenses or personnel changes now required the Old Madam’s approval. Privately, Bai Xiang thought Madam Du had become the household’s workhorse – handling all the difficult tasks and taking the blame for any issues, while the Old Madam got to play the benevolent role and wield authority. The situation had reversed; previously, Madam Du had always played the good cop.
But Madam Du seemed unaffected. Apart from no longer diligently attending to the Old Madam and the Duke, and occasionally feigning illness to slack off, she remained as calm as ever. Her handling of the Xiao family marriage arrangements was flawless. One notable change was that she no longer offered suggestions, instead simply following instructions and doing without saying, naturally shouldering less responsibility.
By the time the last steward finished reporting, it was already noon. After a busy morning, even Bai Xiang felt hungry. She put away her writing materials and asked Madam Du, “Where would you like to have lunch today, Madam?”
Madam Du lifted her eyelids slightly, looking at her well-manicured hands without speaking. This meant she wouldn’t be attending to the Old Madam. Bai Xiang smiled and said, “It’s been so busy today, with another group of people coming soon. Going back and forth would waste a lot of time. Song Xiang, go inform the Old Madam that the Madam is too busy and will eat something simple here instead of going over.”
Unpleasant errands were always left to her people. Song Xiang pouted silently. Bai Xiang ignored her, ordering a table to be set up and saying cheerfully, “Madam, we have steamed squab. Please eat more. You’ve lost weight recently.”
What did it matter if she’d lost weight? No one cared anyway. Madam Du touched her cheek, feeling somewhat listless and disheartened. “Is she still ill over there?”
Bai Xiang nodded, “Yes, the rice porridge sent in this morning came back untouched. Mama Niu says she just lies in bed crying all day. She’s not using the perfumes and powders the Old Madam gave her, and she’s lost a lot of weight. The doctor said if this continues, she won’t last another two days.” It was strange – this marriage wasn’t even certain to happen, why was Jiang Yunqing making such a fuss?
Surprisingly, the usually soft Jiang Yunqing could be quite stubborn when she wanted to be. Madam Du picked up the small gilt silver lotus leaf bowl, moving the crystalline rice grains around with her rhinoceros horn chopsticks, having no appetite at all. Seeing this, Bai Xiang quickly took a silver fish-tail spoon and scooped some steamed squab soup, urging, “Please eat more, if only for the Second Young Master’s sake.”
Madam Du adhered to the rule of not speaking while eating. She silently forced down half a bowl of rice, half a bowl of soup, and a few bites of dishes as if taking medicine. Gently placing down the chopsticks, she carefully wiped her mouth with a silk napkin before saying softly, “Another group was sent to invite the Duke and Madam He?”
“Yes, Hong’er went this time.” Bai Xiang efficiently cleared the dishes, occasionally glancing at Madam Du. Madam Du seemed to be carefully planning something, but the problem was that she no longer confided in Bai Xiang about many things. At most, she’d have Bai Xiang deliver messages or run errands, dealing directly with the parties involved in important matters. Feeling guilty, Bai Xiang felt quite uneasy.
Madam Du said with a hint of sarcasm, “Are those two still hanging around the Old Madam?”
“They should be. These past two days, they’ve been there before dawn, inseparable.”
Madam Du pondered briefly, then pointed at the barely touched bowl of steamed squab, “This is light and nourishing. Take it to Concubine Xue. Tell her to take good care of herself and guide Yunqing when she has time. Don’t let her cause trouble for the family. In our current situation, we can’t afford any disturbances.”
Bai Xiang agreed, packing the food into a box. As she was about to call a maid to deliver it, Madam Du looked at her and said, “You take it yourself.”
Though puzzled, Bai Xiang complied. Just as she reached the door with the food box, she saw the recently promoted second-class maid Jin Zhu hurrying in. Jin Zhu merely smiled and curtsied to Bai Xiang before moving to enter, as if she had urgent news for Madam Du. Instinctively feeling uneasy, Bai Xiang deliberately blocked her way and lied, “Where have you been, girl? The Madam was looking everywhere for you earlier and was quite angry. I covered for you, saying you were in the kitchen. Quickly, let’s get our story straight to avoid any slip-ups.”
Jin Zhu’s eyes showed anxiety, but she forced a smile and thanked Bai Xiang without revealing anything, “I met Green Plantain from the Old Madam’s room on the way. She said the Young Madam has arrived and requested the Madam to come over immediately.”
Such a formal invitation surely meant she would go, so why the rush to report? Bai Xiang wondered, but could only watch as Jin Zhu passed her and entered the room. As she moved closer to hear what Madam Du and Jin Zhu were saying, she realized Jin Zhu had cleverly left the door open, making any of Bai Xiang’s movements visible. Bai Xiang could only sigh softly and turn to leave.
Seeing the bowl of squab soup, Concubine Xue’s tears flowed freely. She sobbed into her handkerchief and said softly, “The Madam still thinks of this humble concubine.”
Bai Xiang efficiently set out the bowls and chopsticks, encouraging, “The Madam is very concerned about you and the Young Miss’s health. She’s just too busy, otherwise she’d come personally. She wants you to take good care of yourself and guide the Young Miss when you can. Don’t let her cause trouble for the family. In our current situation, we can’t afford any disturbances.”
Concubine Xue replied softly, “This concubine understands.”
Bai Xiang’s face showed sympathy, “Concubine, forgive my impertinence, but is there something that can’t be resolved? Why is the Young Miss…?”
Concubine Xue blinked, her tears stopping. She lowered her eyes under the guise of drinking soup and said quietly, “She’s young and doesn’t understand. It’s normal for her to be upset for a while.” Then, gritting her teeth, she added, “This ungrateful child, let her go hungry for a couple of meals and she’ll learn her lesson.”
It seemed nothing more could be learned. Madam Du and Jin Zhu were hiding something from her, and Concubine Xue was also keeping secrets. Bai Xiang keenly sensed that something had gone wrong as if Madam Du no longer trusted her as before. Recently, she hadn’t heard any news about Jiang Changzhong, and whenever she intentionally brought him up to Madam Du, the Madam didn’t engage – this was highly unusual. Bai Xiang sat silently for a moment before standing to take her leave.
Concubine Xue quickly put down her spoon and saw Bai Xiang at the door. Watching Bai Xiang’s retreating figure, Concubine Xue furrowed her brow slightly, realizing that even Bai Xiang didn’t know Madam Du’s stance on this matter.
Ever since learning of the Old Madam’s intention to marry Jiang Yunqing to the foolish grandson of the Fen Wang府, Jiang Yunqing had been crying daily. Yet the Old Madam showed no signs of softening, even sending people to strictly admonish her. Jiang Zhong remained out of sight, let alone taking a stance. As someone who came from Madam Du’s side, Concubine Xue naturally turned to Madam Du for support, concerned for her daughter.
Initially, Madam Du refused to help, sighing that she had no say and telling Concubine Xue to follow the Old Madam and Jiang Zhong’s arrangements. Seeing Concubine Xue’s pitiful crying, Madam Du finally said flatly, “If it’s just a small fuss, tell her to stop. It won’t change anything next time, because people know she’s just putting on an act. What does the Duke know? He just believes whoever tells him someone is a good match.
Who would have thought a tiger would eat its cubs? If I had known earlier, I would have arranged her marriage long ago. You know, that family I mentioned to you before… Never mind, let’s not speak of it. You should come here less often in the future.” These words directly implicated the Old Madam, suggesting it was all her decision. If not for the Old Madam, Jiang Yunqing’s marriage prospects wouldn’t have been so dire.
Did Jiang Zhong not know? Of course, he knew! She had never seen such shameless grandparents and parents. This realization was a wake-up call – if she wasn’t sold this time, she would be sold next time. It was better to let the Old Madam see enough this time, to scare her so that next time she wanted to sell her granddaughter, she would think twice about whether she wanted to drive her to death. That’s why Jiang Yunqing’s illness kept getting worse.
“In our current situation, we can’t afford any disturbances.” These were Madam Du’s words. If that was the case, she would risk her life. Whoever dared to force her, she would die in front of them. Concubine Xue drank the squab soup, fiercely tearing at the squab leg. Did they want to ruin Jiang Yunqing’s life for the sake of their family’s future? Did they want to rip out her heart? Those with nothing to lose fear nothing; what face did she, a mere concubine, have to save? But the Duke’s mansion couldn’t afford such a loss of face. Let’s see who was more afraid.
Just as Concubine Xue had made up her mind, a young maid came running in frantically, “It’s terrible, the Young Miss has fainted!” Concubine Xue dropped her bowl and was about to rush out, but then turned back to grab a bottle of wine from the cabinet. She downed it with her eyes closed, then strode towards the Old Madam’s room, emboldened by the alcohol.
Hong’er carefully guided them forward, “Young Madam, please be careful. There’s moss here, mind you don’t slip.”
Since when had she become so delicate? Mudan smiled, exchanging a glance with Shu’er, graciously accepting Hong’er’s attentiveness. As they passed through the garden and entered the Old Madam’s courtyard, they heard the Old Madam laughing heartily.
Mudan smiled, “Do we have guests?”
Hong’er suppressed a smile, “Yes, a distant relative of the Old Madam’s who hasn’t visited in many years has come.”
Could it be someone coming to claim kinship? What distant relative was so important that they had to come? Mudan paused, then stepped forward. She heard a soft, gentle female voice saying, “Great-aunt, you’re so skilled at chess.”
As the maid lifted the curtain, Mudan looked up and saw a chessboard set up on the couch by the window. The Old Madam, wearing a brown-green gold-threaded robe, sat with her back to Mudan, laughing merrily. Facing her was a beautiful young woman with snow-white skin and a slightly plump figure, dressed in a goose-yellow short jacket and sapphire blue skirt, her hair styled in a double-ring bun. Her delicate jade-like hands were elegantly playing with a chess piece.