Understanding Madam Fan’s words, Mozhuang felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife. Tearfully, she called out “First Madam,” wanting to say “The Master isn’t that kind of person,” but thinking of the information she had gathered, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

If she helped the First Madam maintain a false peace now, when Miss Min arrived without any warning, wouldn’t they be caught completely defenseless?

With this in mind, Mozhuang couldn’t help but say: “In household matters, only the Madam can rightfully restrain the Master. First Madam, please stop crying. Let me help you freshen up, and I’ll accompany you to see the Madam. The Madam has always been kind to you, and there used to be the matter of heirs standing between you. In the past two years, First Madam has bought many maids to serve in your chambers. Didn’t the Madam praise you during the New Year for being more sensible than before? The Madam is pleased with your change.”

“That Miss Min has been exchanging glances with the Master while still in deep mourning. What kind of upbringing could such a person have? Even if she bears a son and is brought into the household, she would only corrupt the children. The Yu family’s century of good reputation cannot be tarnished by such a person…”

Madam Fan understood Mozhuang’s words and, after much thought, realized that this reasoning was her only hope of preventing Miss Min from entering the household. Gathering her strength, she wiped away her tears, allowed Mozhuang to help her dress and groom, and went to see Madam Yu.

Madam Yu had already learned about the inquiries about the Needleworkers’ Hutong while Mozhuang was investigating.

She was waiting for Madam Fan to make her move!

Upon hearing that Madam Fan wanted to see her, she nodded to herself, thinking that her daughter-in-law wasn’t completely foolish after all. She had a young maid escort Madam Fan in and asked with a pleasant expression whether she had eaten, how little Zhen was doing, and how she had been spending her days.

Madam Fan answered each question, and seeing Madam Yu’s gentle tone and friendly demeanor, her heart gradually calmed. She steered the conversation toward Miss Min: “…I couldn’t believe it when I heard! The Master is a scholar who has read the classics and achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. How could he have such thoughts? He must have been bewitched. Mother, Miss Min, is still in the mourning period for a parent. If this were discovered and spread, the Master would surely be impeached, and wouldn’t his reputation be damaged then?”

Hearing this, Madam Yu frowned and said: “Indeed, Depu has been too reckless in this matter!”

Madam Fan’s heart leaped with joy, and she quickly said: “How can we blame the Master? Miss Min has likely used some tactics! As they say, ‘a gentleman can be deceived by proper means.’ The Master is simply too upright in his conduct.”

Madam Yu nodded and leaned forward to ask: “What do you think should be done about this?” Her tone carried undisguised expectation.

Madam Fan could barely restrain her smile.

She said softly: “Among all virtues, filial piety comes first. The Master grew up reading ‘The Classic of Filial Piety.’ For this matter, Mother must intervene—surely the Master wouldn’t defy you?”

The smile in Madam Yu’s eyes gradually faded.

She slowly sat upright and said: “What if he pays lip service but disobeys in private? What if he doesn’t listen to his mother? Didn’t you say Depu has been bewitched by Miss Min? I fear he might act obstinately.” As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Madam Fan.

Madam Fan’s heart skipped a beat.

She felt that Madam Yu’s glance carried deep meaning.

Back then, when Yu Jingxiu wanted to marry her, hadn’t he also been obstinate… and in the end, didn’t he get his way and marry her…

In that moment, she felt flustered and took a deep breath to suppress her jumbled thoughts. Forcing a smile, she said: “That won’t happen. The Master respects you above all others. If you disapprove, he would never go against your wishes.”

“Oh!” Madam Yu raised her eyebrows and said, “I’m asking what if, what if he doesn’t listen to me, what should be done?”

If he didn’t listen to Madam Yu, what could be done?

Indeed!

If he didn’t listen to Madam Yu, what could she do?

Create a scene with Yu Jingxiu?

He would only see her as a shrew.

And a shrew was precisely what Yu Jingxiu could not tolerate.

If she did that, not only would she fail to win back Yu Jingxiu’s heart, but even their current affection might be lost.

Endure it?

Was she supposed to watch helplessly as that woman, Min, entered the household?

When that happened, who in the family would still respect her?

Humiliate Miss Min?

No, no, no.

If she did that, not to mention Yu Jingxiu, even Madam Yu would think her cruel and unworthy.

What could she do?

As she struggled internally, the thought of humiliating Miss Min grew stronger and stronger.

Madam Fan’s hands tightened into fists, and she barely managed to suppress this thought.

This wouldn’t work, that wouldn’t work—what should she do?

Her expression became bewildered.

Madam Yu, who had been observing Madam Fan closely, could not hide her disappointment.

She closed her eyes and only opened them after a while.

When she reopened them, her gaze was cold and distant. She picked up her tea and indifferently said, “You may go now. I will speak with Depu about this.”

Madam Fan’s face lit up with joy, and she respectfully bowed to Madam Yu before withdrawing.

Mozhuang, who had been anxiously waiting outside, hurried forward and quietly asked: “What did the Madam say?”

“The Madam agreed to help me speak with the Master.” Madam Fan revealed a pleased smile.

But before her smile could fully form, there came a loud “clang” of something being smashed from Madam Yu’s inner chamber behind her.

The two turned back in astonishment, looking toward Madam Yu’s room.

“Fool!” Madam Yu impatiently cursed in a low voice. “Selfish to the extreme! No wonder she’s so timid with her petty mindset. It’s fortunate she only gave birth to a daughter. If she had borne the eldest grandson, our Yu family would likely be ruined by her hands. She wants to prevent Min from entering the household yet appear virtuous before her husband, so she tries to get me involved, urging me to speak up for her… What does she do herself? Hide aside and pretend to know nothing? Or perhaps advise me to let the matter rest in front of Depu?”

“Lower your voice!” Matron Shu deftly cleaned up the teacup Madam Yu had smashed, quietly advising, “The First Madam hasn’t gone far!”

“What can she do even if she hears?” Madam Yu’s voice, rather than lowering, grew louder, “She’s only brave within her domain. Without Depu’s support, who would consider her anything of worth!” Madam Yu spat and continued, “If I scold her, would she dare make even a sound in my presence? Such a hopeless case! Truly embarrassing…”

Matron Shu didn’t dare approach. Being the only one in the room and afraid to leave, she trembled and cowered in the corner, not daring to move.

Outside the door, Madam Fan heard every word Madam Yu said.

She felt ashamed and embarrassed, her face alternating between red and white.

With her mother-in-law cursing her like this in front of the servants, how could she continue to live in this household with any dignity?

Madam Fan’s tears fell like raindrops, yet she dared not make a sound, fearing that the enraged Madam Yu might say even more hurtful words, making her situation even more unbearable.

“First Madam!” Mozhuang, with tears in her eyes, supported Madam Fan.

“Let’s go back to our chambers!” Madam Fan wiped her tears, and they supported each other, walking dejectedly back to their room.

Meanwhile, after her outburst, Madam Yu’s resentment gradually subsided. She asked Matron Shu: “What is Concubine Fei doing?”

This sudden change of subject caught even Matron Shu, who was accustomed to serving people, off guard. She quickly smiled and followed Madam Yu’s lead: “I’ll go see what Concubine Fei is doing right away.”

Madam Yu’s expression softened slightly, and she nodded gently.

After Madam Yu had drunk a couple of cups of tea and eaten some pastries, Matron Shu returned.

“Concubine Fei is with the First Madam,” Matron Shu said with lowered eyes. “She’s keeping the First Madam company.” Her expression was strange.

Madam Yu couldn’t help but let out an “Oh!”

Matron Shu continued in a low voice: “She’s supposedly comforting the First Madam, telling her not to worry, that you would never allow someone like Miss Min to enter the household. She also said that even cats and dogs become dear after being kept for a long time, let alone a beautiful woman in distress like Miss Min. The Master now truly only pities Miss Min. During her mourning period, he has only visited her twice; at other times, he has sent messages through Concubine Fei. He’s probably waiting for Miss Min’s mourning period to end. She advised the First Madam, saying, ‘Until now, the Master hasn’t openly discussed this matter with you. Why not turn a blind eye? As long as you don’t give your consent, that woman Min cannot enter this gate. Even if she bears a son, that’s fine—you only have little Zhen now, so you could bring the child back to raise. Perhaps he could even be a brother for little Zhen. If Min, with her illegitimate status, can be at ease with the situation, why should you, the legitimate mistress of the Yu family who was brought in with an eight-bearer sedan chair, be anxious?”

“Well!” Upon hearing this, Madam Yu’s expression became serious. “I’ve underestimated her.”

Matron Shu stood there smiling, not daring to comment.

Madam Yu then asked: “How did the First Madam respond?”

“The First Madam asked Madam Fei what to do if the Master proposed bringing Miss Min into the household.”

“What did Madam Fei say?” Having calmed down, Madam Yu had also been considering this possibility, feeling that she couldn’t be completely confident in preventing Yu Jingxiu no matter what. She was particularly interested in how Madam Fei would answer.

“Madam Fei said that given the Master’s character, he would never conceal his existing family. Since Miss Min has followed the Master without any official status, she must greatly admire him. The Master need not degrade Miss Min by bringing her into this household, making her lower her eyes in submission before the First Madam daily, competing with the concubines for favor, turning a woman as elegant as a magnolia into something as vulgar as a roadside rose. Better to keep her outside, enjoying both worlds. If there’s concern about the child being mistreated, when Miss Min becomes pregnant, the First Madam could also pretend to be with child. When the baby is born, he could be quietly brought in and raised under the First Madam’s name. Recorded in the family register, he would be a legitimate son. That would be a hundred or thousand times better than being a concubine’s son…”

“Such clever words—’ why degrade Miss Min!'” Before Matron Shu could finish, Madam Yu was already clapping her hands in praise. “This Madam Fei truly has inherited some of my sister-in-law’s wisdom.” She then expressed regret: “If only she weren’t a concubine!” She added, “People say a child’s intelligence follows the mother…” Madam Yu sighed, appearing somewhat lost.

Matron Shu naturally dared not comment on this in front of Madam Yu.

She asked for Madam Yu’s instructions: “What about Concubine Fei?”

“Leave her be,” Madam Yu said. “With her abilities, we might prevent her for a time, but not forever.”

Matron Shu acknowledged with a “yes,” smiling, but thinking of Concubine Fei’s duplicity, her brow couldn’t help but reveal a hint of worry.