Madam Yu smiled slightly and said dismissively, “You needn’t worry. I understand very well what Madam Fei is planning.”

Matron Shu smiled awkwardly and couldn’t help muttering quietly, “Then why do you allow Concubine Fei to continue? If the First Madam truly believes her words and lets her have her way in everything, wouldn’t the First Madam be rendered powerless?”

“If she’s not rendered powerless, could she come up with any proper plan herself?” Madam Yu’s eyes flashed with contempt as she coldly said, “Madam Fei is a clever person. If something were to happen to Madam Fan, Depu is in his prime and would certainly remarry quickly. What would the temperament of the new wife be? Would she be as easily manipulated as Madam Fan? Madam Fei has probably considered this from every angle—rather than having a new mistress enter the household, it’s better to stabilize the current one. With Madam Fan’s intellect, Madam Fei will always have her place. If not for this strategy, why would she swallow her pride to help Madam Fan with advice?” Madam Yu paused and said to Matron Shu, “You’ve been with me for so many years. Even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run. You must have observed what kind of person Madam Fan is. It’s impossible to expect her to manage the inner household effectively.” Her tone sounded dejected. “But I am, after all, a mother-in-law. My son is already in his thirties, and his wife has been in this household for over a decade. If I keep control of household management and interfere in my daughter-in-law’s domain, what would others say about me? Madam Fei merely wants to secure her position in this family. If she wants to cause trouble, let her do so! Perhaps we might gain something unexpected. I’ve come to terms with the fact that one cannot have everything in life. I don’t care who gives birth to my eldest grandson. While I can still move about, I’ll have him brought to my chambers to raise, ensuring he doesn’t grow up crooked. In a few years, when my grandson is older, I’ll find him a good wife. By then, I’ll be old with poor hearing and eyesight, a perfect time to hand over household affairs to my grandson’s wife… Let them create whatever commotion they wish!”

This was indeed a solution born of having no better options!

Matron Shu, thinking of how Madam Yu had been strong all her life yet was defeated by this daughter-in-law, couldn’t help feeling sad. She nodded repeatedly and said, “The Madam thinks so thoroughly!”

Madam Yu sighed, waved her hand at Matron Shu, indicating she was tired, and dismissed her.

Matron Shu curtseyed and quietly withdrew from the inner chamber.

…

Madam Fan lay quietly on the bed, contemplating Madam Fei’s words. The more she thought about them, the more reasonable they seemed, yet remembering the things Madam Fei had done behind her back, she felt that Madam Fei wasn’t as obedient as she appeared. She feared Madam Fei was setting a trap for her.

She called Mozhuang in: “What do you think Madam Fei meant by telling me those things? What should I do if the Master insists on taking in Miss Min?”

Mozhuang couldn’t discern Madam Fei’s intentions either. She carefully said, “Perhaps, First Madam, you could pretend to know nothing and see how things develop? Isn’t there a saying about ‘responding to changing situations with steadiness’?”

Madam Fan thought for a while, then nodded, saying somewhat helplessly, “It seems that’s all we can do!” Then she asked about Yu Jingxiu: “Has the Master returned?”

“Not, not yet!” The Master still didn’t know that the household was aware of the matters in Needleworkers’ Hutong. At this moment, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance he was with Miss Min. Thinking this, Mozhuang’s response was hesitant.

Madam Fan had the same thought, and her eyes dimmed upon hearing the answer.

Mozhuang then suggested to Madam Fan: “First Madam, why don’t we call Concubine Fei and ask her? The Master tells no one else but entrusts her to deliver things to Needleworkers’ Hutong, showing he completely trusts her. She must know the Master’s whereabouts.”

Madam Fan nodded at this: “Very well, go call her here. I’ll ask her!”

Mozhuang went happily and soon returned with Madam Fei.

After Madam Fan explained her purpose, Madam Fei was slightly startled. Seeing Mozhuang’s somewhat gloating expression, she secretly regretted her actions.

How did she end up with such a mistress!

Not even half as good as Miss Min.

Though Miss Min knew to please the Master, she also understood priorities. Each time the Master visited, she would urge him not to come to Needleworkers’ Hutong again, warning him to be careful lest someone see him and he be impeached by a censor, damaging his reputation. She would also sorrowfully clutch the Master’s sleeve, saying she had brought trouble upon him and wanted to return home, but thinking she would never see the Master again, her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, making it impossible for her to take that step…

Thinking of these things, Madam Fei couldn’t help but question whether helping Madam Fan was right or wrong.

With someone as perceptive as Miss Min, wouldn’t she understand the implications if Madam Fei sent her a message?

If she were to help Miss Min marry into the household…

As soon as this thought arose, Madam Fei instinctively shook her head.

Miss Min was too shrewd. Madam Fei knew her background. When helping the Master deliver items, Miss Min would act humble and extremely polite to her. If she were to marry into the household and become the principal wife, remembering past events, she would likely target Madam Fei first.

Madam Fei shuddered at the thought, her expression becoming somewhat stern.

Then she heard Mozhuang’s slightly mocking voice: “Concubine Fei is shaking her head and looking stern—what does this mean? First Madam merely asked you a few questions. She’s not asking you to go out and find the Master. Why are you so troubled? If First Madam had instructions for you, wouldn’t you flee through the door?”

Madam Fei was so angry she couldn’t speak for a while.

This Mozhuang, relying on being the First Madam’s maid, was borrowing authority to intimidate others. She hadn’t settled the score for being elbowed in the chest, yet Mozhuang dared to demean her. The horse god hasn’t shown his might, so you don’t know how many eyes he has. Once I’ve placated Madam Fan, I’ll deal with you!

Madam Fei silently vowed, but showed nothing on her face. Smiling, she said, “Mozhuang, your words are wrong to me. I was merely thinking that with the Lantern Festival approaching, the Master, who is usually not in the capital, would likely take this opportunity to visit his superiors and socialize with colleagues. Even if he wanted to go to Needleworkers’ Hutong, he would probably wait until after the Lantern Festival. Otherwise, the Master wouldn’t have asked me to deliver items to Miss Min.”

“Really?” Madam Fan was skeptical.

“If First Madam doesn’t believe me, why not have Mozhuang ask the carriage driver?” Madam Fei smiled. “He surely knows where the Master has gone…”

Before she could finish, the young maid stationed at the door by Mozhuang suddenly rushed in with alarm: “First Madam, Mozhuang, the Master, the Master has returned!” She said with some fear.

Madam Fan exchanged a glance with Mozhuang, then said to Madam Fei, “About today’s events, you are not to tell anyone.”

Madam Fei had to restrain herself from showing a contemptuous look.

Anyone might tell, but she certainly wouldn’t.

If she did, wouldn’t Yu Jingxiu punish her?

Wouldn’t all her years of effort be wasted?

I was about to caution you that today’s events shouldn’t be mentioned to anyone!

As Madam Fei was thinking this, the door curtain was suddenly flung open with a “bang,” and Yu Jingxiu entered, his face ashen with anger.

Everyone in the room felt guilty and nervous. Mozhuang lowered her eyes and hands, retreating to the corner as if this would make Yu Jingxiu not notice her. Madam Fan stuttered, “Master, what, what’s the matter?” her face somewhat pale. Only Madam Fei remained relatively composed, stepping forward to curtsy to Yu Jingxiu.

Yu Jingxiu was somewhat surprised to see Madam Fei in Madam Fan’s inner chamber. He asked, “Why are you here?”

Madam Fei steadied herself, forced a smile, and said, “First Madam had something to ask me. I had just entered when the Master arrived.” As soon as she said this, she immediately realized her mistake.

Madam Fan was slow-witted. By pushing the matter onto Madam Fan, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance she wouldn’t respond correctly. Moreover, if Madam Fan thought deeply about it, she might think Madam Fei lacked courage… Their relationship had just begun to ease, and this wasn’t a good sign.

Madam Fei was secretly anxious.

Yu Jingxiu, however, didn’t notice this but instead growled at Madam Fan with a dark expression, “Where is Madam Wu?”

Everyone in the room was startled, but at the same time, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why is the Master looking for Concubine Wu?” Madam Fan quickly asked, then instructed Mozhuang, “Hurry and summon Concubine Wu!”

“Yes!” Mozhuang responded, hastily leaving.

Madam Fei exchanged a glance with Madam Fan, then smiled and stepped forward, “Has the Master just returned from the office? The weather is quite cold. Let me help you change your clothes.”

Madam Fan also reacted, loudly instructing a young maid to fetch water.

Yu Jingxiu’s expression softened slightly, allowing Madam Fei to help him change.

Mozhuang brought Concubine Wu in.

Yu Jingxiu looked at Concubine Wu with a cold smile: “Well done! You’ve grown quite bold, inciting outsiders to humiliate me!”

Concubine Wu’s heart sank.

Could it be that her reporting to Madam Zhao had been discovered?

Her expression immediately became flustered. She wanted to defend herself but felt weak and couldn’t utter a word.

She also thought that she ate and drank at the Yu family’s expense yet had reported Yu Jingxiu’s immoral behavior to Madam Zhao, who had a rift with the Yu family. It was indeed her fault. If he wanted to beat or scold her, she would accept it. She had no grounds to defend herself.

With this realization, Concubine Wu’s demeanor withered further, and her eyelids lowered as if avoiding his gaze.

A sinister look flashed across Yu Jingxiu’s face.

He ordered Madam Fan: “Go call a slave trader and sell Madam Wu to a brothel.”

“Master!” Madam Fan, Madam Fei, and Concubine Wu were all thunderstruck. Madam Fan urgently said, “Concubine Wu is a relative of Official Wu. The Madam personally decided to bring her in. How, how can you sell her just like that… and to such a place…”

Wouldn’t that thoroughly disgrace the Wu family?

How could the Wu family let the Yu family off easily then?

Madam Fei hadn’t expected Yu Jingxiu to be so ruthless.

A hundred years of cultivation leads to sharing a boat; a thousand years of cultivation leads to sharing a pillow. Even if he disliked Concubine Wu, she had been his bed companion and was a relative of his colleague. Yet he showed no mercy, trying to destroy her completely… No wonder Sister Chen wanted to leave, preferring the Third Madam’s punishment to staying…

She looked at Yu Jingxiu’s handsome face and increasingly felt as if she didn’t know him at all.

Concubine Wu collapsed to the ground.