I was indeed too overconfident, thinking that after a brief chat, I could fathom the depths of the Xu family’s matriarch…
However, she is truly formidable. If I hadn’t inquired about other members of the Xu family, I would have been deceived by her appearance as well…
Wang Simu was on high alert. Well-versed in the art of household politics, she knew that true masters never bare their fangs. Those women who, relying on favor, become arrogant and write their domineering nature on their faces, lack real skill and rely solely on pleasing men.
When that favor is lost, they quickly fall from grace, losing any chance of a comeback.
Those who know how to disguise themselves are the true masters. And the disguise of the Xu family’s matriarch had even deceived her own discerning eyes.
In comparison, the Xu family’s younger sister beside her was far inferior to her mother.
At least she had already learned through the incident at the poetry gathering that day that she was a woman of means and schemes.
“I’m becoming more and more curious about her. Through what methods did she make the unruly Xu Qi An swallow his pride and move out? And after Xu Qi An rose to prominence, he remained loyal to this family, still respecting her…”
While Wang Simu was wary, she also felt an intense curiosity.
Her attitude was like Huai Qing’s seeing a military treatise, eager to learn.
Wang Simu had three objectives in coming to the Xu mansion today: First, to test the depths of the Xu family’s matriarch. Second, to observe the foundation of the Xu family, including the house, finances, and various aspects of household furnishings.
Third, to preliminarily understand the personalities and preferences of the Xu family members, to ensure who to ally with and who to suppress in the future.
For a woman, this was essential intelligence and knowledge to master. If she were to marry the Second Young Master in the future, she would be moving in here.
She had gradually formed a judgment about the depth of the Xu family’s matriarch—unfathomable!
Now, she planned to take this opportunity to observe the foundation of the Xu family.
As the two chatted casually, touring the Xu family’s grand residence, Wang Simu was quite satisfied with the house. Even if she were to live here in the future, she wouldn’t find it shabby.
The only problem was…
“There seem to be fewer guards in the mansion,” Wang Simu remarked in a deliberately casual tone.
“Because neither Father nor my elder and second brothers have many close subordinates. So we only hire escorts, not guards,” Xu Lingyue explained.
Wang Simu nodded slightly. Guards to protect the house must be trusted confidants, otherwise, it would be easy for them to betray their duty. Moreover, the master of the house couldn’t always be present, and if the women of the household were beautiful, it would be even more dangerous.
In that case, the defensive force seems a bit weak… Wang Simu frowned inwardly. Although she could bring guards from her own Wang mansion, such an action would be seen as both an unstable factor and a provocation to the husband’s family.
Xu Lingyue sighed, “The Xu family’s foundation is shallow, this is unavoidable.”
As she spoke, she discreetly glanced at Miss Wang, and seeing her brow slightly furrowed, Xu Lingyue smiled charmingly.
At this moment, as they passed by Xu Lingyue’s boudoir, Wang Simu casually glanced in and suddenly froze. She saw an unexpected figure—the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect!
Why is she in the Xu mansion? How could she be in the Xu mansion?!
Puzzled, Wang Simu gracefully performed a courtesy and said softly, “Greetings, Holy Maiden.”
Li Miaozhen had also noticed this mistress of the Second Young Master Xu, and nodded, responding coolly, “Miss Wang.”
As the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect and the Flying Swallow Heroine, Li Miaozhen’s prestige was quite high. This attitude was not discourteous but rather befitted her status as a Jianghu expert and a generation’s heroine.
Wang Simu took the opportunity to enter the room, glancing at Susu who was focused on her needlework, and was inwardly astonished. The beauty of this woman in white was so stunning that even she found it amazing.
Add to that Li Miaozhen… Were there so many peerless beauties in the Xu family?
Wang Simu was secretly shocked, but maintained her composure outwardly, even putting on a smile: “Is the Holy Maiden also visiting the mansion?”
Li Miaozhen shook her head: “No, I’ve been staying at the Xu mansion for several months.”
Staying at the Xu mansion for several months… Is she a guest official of the Xu family? Wang Simu suddenly realized why the Xu mansion didn’t need guards. Of course, they didn’t need them.
They had the physically formidable young woman from the Southern Frontier’s Gu Clan, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect Li Miaozhen, the Imperial Knife Guard Centurion Xu Pingzhi, and Xu Qi An who had subdued both the Heavenly and Human Sects.
Even her Wang mansion didn’t have such high-end combat power, so why would they need ordinary guards?
“Although the Xu family’s foundation in officialdom is shallow, in the Jianghu world, in certain aspects, their foundation is terrifyingly deep…” Wang Simu thought to herself. In terms of defense, she was satisfied.
She looked at Susu and smiled, “This sister is…?”
Li Miaozhen said coolly, “Her name is Susu, she’s my sister.”
In front of outsiders, she would never say that Susu was a maid.
“Hello, Miss Susu.” Wang Simu greeted warmly, “Miss Susu’s needlework is truly skilled, much better than mine.”
Susu smiled and said, “My background is humble. Even if I marry in the future, I would only be a concubine, so I can’t avoid doing chores. I envy Miss Wang. Born into nobility, your fingers have never touched spring water.”
Here it comes… Xu Lingyue’s eyes lit up, not in vain had she brought Wang Simu here.
This Miss Susu seems to harbor some hostility towards me, yet I’ve never met her before! Wang Simu’s pupils contracted slightly, and she made a bold guess that this Miss Susu had feelings for the Second Young Master?
She knows she can’t compete with me, so she mentioned being a concubine, relying on the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect for support, hiding needles in cotton wool with her words to prick me…
Wang Simu smiled, this familiar confrontation scene made her feel as if she had returned to her home turf, temporarily emerging from the “shadow” of the Xu family’s matriarch.
The young lady of the Wang family spoke in a gentle tone:
“A concubine has her hardships, and a principal wife has her burdens. Sister, you needn’t be so self-deprecating. However, there’s one truth in this world that never changes. The higher the position, the greater the ability required. So in the end, being a small person, a concubine, seems to be the easiest. Isn’t that right, Sister Susu?”
Susu responded with surprise: “Is that so? I think Madam Xu lives quite contentedly, is loved by her husband, and is respected by her children. But of course, Miss Wang, coming from a noble family, is naturally different.”
This is praising on the surface but criticizing underneath… Miss Wang thought to herself.
Li Miaozhen watched from the sidelines as Susu and Miss Wang exchanged veiled barbs, both master-level experts in household politics, their sharp words hidden within seemingly pleasant conversation.
Their composure was as steady as old dogs, showing no signs of anger. This was going to be a protracted battle.
Li Miaozhen had never experienced such a thing, so she listened with great interest, only wondering why Wang Simu, who was Second Young Master Xu’s mistress, and Susu, who was Xu Ning Yan’s mistress, were arguing.
She glanced again at Xu Lingyue. The Xu family’s younger sister wore a face of innocent gentleness, smiling as she sat to one side as if she couldn’t understand the exchange between the two at all.
The weak little lamb is often the most dangerous… Li Miaozhen mused when suddenly she heard faint footsteps on the roof. After a brief sense…
She rolled her eyes, Xu Ning Yan had also come to listen in on the drama…
That rascal!
Li Miaozhen’s eyes darted around, feeling she should add fuel to the fire. She couldn’t let the guy on the roof be too leisurely, so she found an opportunity to interject into the conversation, smiling as she said:
“Speaking of which, Sister Susu’s family circumstances are pitiful. She lost both parents many years ago and has been relying on me for survival. Now that she’s come to the capital, she doesn’t want to leave.”
A sharp light flashed in Wang Simu’s eyes: “Oh? She doesn’t want to leave?”
So this little vixen wants to be Second Young Master Xu’s concubine? But Second Young Master Xu clearly said his family had no concubines. Hmph, indeed there are no concubines because they haven’t been officially taken in!
Wang Simu’s heart suddenly sank.
Li Miaozhen continued: “Susu and Xu Ning Yan are kindred spirits. I plan to leave Susu at the Xu mansion. She doesn’t ask for the position of a principal wife, being a concubine would suffice.”
Ah! Xu Ning Yan’s concubine? Then it’s fine.
Wang Simu felt a sudden relief, and her smile became genuinely friendly.
Oh, kindred spirits with the eldest brother… A sharp light also flashed in Xu Lingyue’s eyes as she said with a forced smile:
“Sister Susu, you’ve hidden it so well. I never realized you and my eldest brother were kindred spirits. That’s wonderful. After Miss Fuxi
And passed away, my eldest brother has been melancholic. Now with Sister Susu here, I’m sure my eldest brother will gradually become cheerful again.”
Is she comparing me to a courtesan… Susu glanced at Xu Lingyue.
Li Miaozhen heard faint footsteps leaving. Xu Ning Yan had come quietly and left quietly.
The fire has inexplicably spread to me. With Lingyue’s temperament, she might hide needles in my clothes… This won’t do, I can’t let Aunt get away scot-free. I want to see her get beaten. One must stay true to their original intentions… Xu Qi An scowled as he strode towards the inner hall.
Aunt was holding a small copper kettle, bending over to water her beloved potted plants.
“Ahem!”
Xu Qi An coughed to attract Aunt’s attention and said:
“Aunt, I just saw Lingyue taking Miss Wang to do needlework. Don’t you think that’s improper? She’s a guest, how can we make her do chores?”
Aunt became anxious upon hearing this, “That won’t do! This girl Lingyue isn’t much smarter than Ling Yin, she’s too honest and always busy with chores. When she gets married in the future, she might end up being treated like a servant by her mother-in-law.
“Miss Wang is the daughter of the Prime Minister. How can we make her do needlework? It’s infuriating!”
After speaking, Aunt suddenly remembered something and said: “Ning Yan, we don’t seem to have any crystal glasses at home, only the most common porcelain plates and cups. It’s still early for lunch, could you help Aunt buy some and bring them back?”
Aunt negotiated kindly: “With a few crystal glasses, our family will appear more presentable, right? We can’t let Miss Wang look down on us.”
“Alright, alright, Aunt, you should hurry and go,” Xu Qi An urged.
Aunt left with quick steps.
Go on, Aunt, farewell Aunt… Watching Aunt’s graceful and charming figure receding, Xu Qi An smiled.
Buying glasses would take quite a while to go and come back, which meant he wouldn’t be able to see Aunt, this iron-ranked player, enter a battle of kings and be brutally defeated.
Xu Qi An thought for a moment, then took out a small jade mirror and placed a set of dragon blood crystal jade cups from Duke Cao’s private collection on the table.
He also took out some dragon and phoenix porcelain bowls and a few blue and white porcelain plates, sending them to the kitchen for the cook to use for serving dishes.
…
Meanwhile, Aunt hurried with small steps, bustling into her daughter’s boudoir.
The atmosphere here had already become somewhat tense, with three women secretly competing, like supreme masters comparing internal energy, reaching a stalemate where no one could overcome the others.
“What are you doing needlework for at this time?”
Aunt’s entry into the room instantly broke the deadlock, and the outwardly projected internal energy of the supreme masters receded like an ebbing tide.
“You’re always busy with these chores. You’re now the young lady of the Xu family, you should have the self-awareness that matches your status, understand?” Aunt scolded her daughter.
“Mother, I understand,” Xu Lingyue lowered her head.
Susu smiled and called out “Madam Xu,” then retracted her “claws” and lowered her head to continue sewing the robe.
She came and immediately suppressed both Lingyue and Susu… Wang Simu observed this and was inwardly impressed. When she was at home, if her mother scolded her, she could argue back until her mother was speechless.
But in front of the Xu family’s matriarch, what she saw was complete suppression of Xu Lingyue and Susu, without even a hint of talking back.
Seeing that Wang Simu wasn’t doing needlework, Aunt felt relieved and thought that since she was here, they might as well sit down and chat.
She explained kindly: “It’s all my fault. I’m usually too lazy to manage the shops and fields outside, as well as the dividends from the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendar. Lingyue manages all of these. She’s busy all day, it’s become a habit.”
Here it comes, she’s starting to test me… She implies that if I want to manage the household accounts in the future, I’ll have to get past Xu Lingyue first… Wang Simu pondered secretly.
After Aunt arrived, the room became harmonious.
Xu Qi An stood on the roof, listening to the women’s meaningless conversation in the room, and couldn’t help but admire Wang Simu.
She had suppressed her true nature very well, completely portraying herself as a gentle and docile young lady from a good family, trying to give Aunt and our family the impression of being harmless.
As expected of the Prime Minister Wang’s daughter, she’s quite capable.
…
As lunchtime approached, Aunt led Miss Wang and the women of the family to the inner hall, preparing to start the meal.
The daily meals were also a standard for measuring the foundation of the Xu family, but it was expected that the dishes would be plentiful when guests were present. So Wang Simu wasn’t looking at the dishes but at the porcelain.
Aunt invited Miss Wang to be seated. Wang Simu glanced at the dishes on the table, which had just been served and hadn’t been touched. It was just mealtime, and this was the main table, yet there were clearly men in the family, so why were they eating first?
Wang Simu probed: “How come I don’t see Xu Qi An?”
Aunt waved her hand and casually said: “He’s the only man in the mansion, it wouldn’t be proper for him to dine with you. I told him to eat in his room.”
… Wang Simu’s heart skipped a beat. She looked deeply at the Xu family’s matriarch, thinking to herself: And how wary are you of her, Xu Qi An!
At this moment, Aunt picked up a jade wine pot and warmly offered: “This is sweet wine brewed in our mansion, have a taste.”