Concubine Wu didn’t want to send Lian Xin to inquire about news from her family. If the Wu family knew about this yet still allowed her brother-in-law to barge in so recklessly, it meant they didn’t want to involve themselves in this matter. If the Wu family didn’t know, and her brother-in-law had traveled thousands of miles to the unfamiliar capital for her sake without seeking the Wu family’s help, it showed he didn’t believe the Wu family would stand up for her.
But she couldn’t resist the increasingly burning desire in her heart.
For so many years, she had dreamed about what her life would have been like if she hadn’t entered the Yu family!
Especially when thinking of the child she never had the chance to bear…
Even knowing Concubine Fei had ill intentions, she still gritted her teeth and allowed Concubine Fei to provide cover while sending Lian Xin to the Wu family.
Madam Wu was greatly shocked upon hearing the news. Looking at Lian Xin, who stood before her waiting for instructions, she immediately became furious and angrily said, “This isn’t like a common household taking a concubine, where you can just redeem her with money. No wonder your master was so angry he wanted to sell her!” She continued, “Who gave that brother-in-law such an idea? Isn’t the Wu family his relatives? For such a significant matter, he didn’t even consult with us first—does he still consider us at all?” Then she called her attendant, “Go, accompany Lian Xin to find that brother-in-law. I want to see exactly what he’s up to!”
Her tone suggested she intended to discipline Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law.
Lian Xin felt her heart tighten as she listened.
If Concubine Wu could leave the Yu family, she too could leave. Then she wouldn’t have to be paired with a Yu family servant, sharing the family’s fortunes and misfortunes for life.
No wonder Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law hadn’t dared to consult with Madam Wu about such a significant matter—Madam Wu’s heart was entirely with the Yu family!
Thinking this, she couldn’t help feeling sad for Concubine Wu. Seeing that Madam Wu wanted her to find Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law, she quickly said, “Madam, I haven’t met him either. If the Master hadn’t mentioned it, we wouldn’t even know about this matter…”
“Then it’s even more necessary to summon that brother-in-law for questioning.” Madam Wu wouldn’t relent, pressuring Lian Xin to produce the person. “The capital is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. If he acts without caution and offends someone he shouldn’t, even with our protection, there could be trouble. The most urgent task is to find that brother-in-law quickly.”
Lian Xin, with a dejected face, had no choice but to tell Madam Wu everything she knew.
As Madam Wu listened, her expression became unpredictable, her lips slightly parting. Just as she was about to say something, a little maid announced from behind the door curtain: “Madam, Miss Yu Wei from next door’s Madam Zhao has arrived.”
Grand Scholar Tian had retired, Hao Jianfeng had been promoted to Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall with concurrent rank as Minister of Rites, and Lord Wu had been recommended by Hao Jianfeng and Qian Donglin to become Vice Minister of Personnel. Though still just a Vice Minister, it was a significant position—among the six ministries, Personnel was noble, Revenue was wealthy, Justice was powerful, Rites was poor, and Works was lowly. A Vice Minister of Personnel was much more prestigious than a Vice Minister of Rites. Since hearing this news, Madam Wu couldn’t stop smiling. Coincidentally, Shen Rensi had been promoted to Supervising Secretary from Section Chief of the Ministry of Personnel during this reshuffling. Madam Wu thought that, being connected to this line, she should express gratitude to Fu Tingyun. After the Lantern Festival would be the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raising Its Head Festival—a perfect occasion to host a banquet at home. She delivered an invitation, but discovered Fu Tingyun wasn’t home, having taken the children to Tanzhe Temple to visit Lord Yan. She could only sheepishly leave the invitation and return.
It seemed Yu Wei had come to deliver a response.
Madam Wu ignored Lian Xin and repeatedly invited Yu Wei to enter.
Though merely a maid from Madam Zhao’s household, the Wu family respectfully addressed her as “Miss,” and Madam Wu eagerly invited her in…
Seeing this scene, Lian Xin’s gaze flickered slightly. Pretending not to notice Madam Wu’s attendant signaling her to withdraw, she remained in the room.
Upon entering, Yu Wei immediately noticed a maid standing before Madam Wu, which she found curious.
Regardless of the reason, she was representing Fu Tingyun as a guest, and Madam Wu should have asked this maid to withdraw. Why was she allowing her to remain?
She couldn’t help examining the maid more closely.
The more she looked, the more familiar the maid’s face seemed.
Madam Wu, seeing Lian Xin standing there obliviously, felt quite annoyed, but couldn’t express it in front of Yu Wei. Noticing Yu Wei glancing at Lian Xin several times, she worried that if Yu Wei mistook Lian Xin for her household maid and reported back to Fu Tingyun, wouldn’t Fu Tingyun laugh at her inability to manage her servants? So she explained with a smile, “This is Concubine Wu’s maid, who says she has business with me.”
Yu Wei suddenly understood, remembering that if not for Concubine Wu informing Fu Tingyun, they would never have known about Yu Jingxiu and Concubine Min’s affair. Feeling goodwill toward her by association, she smiled kindly.
Lian Xin’s eyes lit up, but she was then forcibly pulled out by Madam Wu’s attendant and pushed into a side room: “Wait here. When the Madam gives her orders, I’ll go with you to find that brother-in-law.”
She obediently agreed, opening a small gap in the window lattice to peek at what was happening outside.
Soon, she saw Madam Wu’s attendant walk out with Madam Zhao’s maid, chatting pleasantly.
She suddenly pushed aside the curtain and ran out.
“Miss Yu Wei, Miss Yu Wei,” Lian Xin called out urgently, disregarding propriety, “Our brother-in-law wants to redeem our Concubine, but the Yu family refuses. Concubine sent me to beg Madam Wu for help. Please tell Madam Zhao to put in a good word for our Concubine with Madam Wu. We will remember her kindness for the rest of our lives…”
But before she could reach Yu Wei, an experienced old woman stepped forward, covered her mouth, and dragged her back into the side room.
Yu Wei couldn’t make out Lian Xin’s muffled words. However, she was particularly sensitive to the words “Yu family” and caught “the Yu family refuses” very distinctly.
She immediately stopped and asked Madam Wu’s attendant: “What exactly is going on?”
Madam Wu’s attendant looked embarrassed and explained the situation briefly: “…Don’t you find it ridiculous? She’s not deprived of food or clothing, nor beaten or scolded, yet she wants Madam Wu to help her request to leave. What kind of household is the Yu family? How could they possibly agree to this…”
Yu Wei felt that anything the Yu family opposed was worth doing.
Suppressing her excitement, she returned to the Zhao residence with light, quick steps. Ignoring the fact that Fu Tingyun was still calculating accounts, she pulled Fu Tingyun into a side study and told her about the matter.
Fu Tingyun’s expression became strange, as if she had swallowed salt thinking it was sugar, and remained silent for quite some time.
Yu Wei grew impatient and tugged at her sleeve: “Madam, say something! Wouldn’t it be good to help Concubine Wu? Not only can we rescue her from her predicament, but we can also embarrass that Yu Jingxiu—his concubine would rather return home of her own accord than stay with him, which shows how despicable he is.” As she spoke, her eyes grew brighter than usual, clearly more interested in the latter possibility.
Fu Tingyun found this both amusing and vexing. She said, “I’ll have Ah-Sen help investigate this matter carefully. Let’s not jump to conclusions. If Concubine Wu truly has this intention, it would be right for us to help her.”
Yu Wei agreed with a smile and urged Ah-Sen to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, after learning that Lian Xin had blurted everything out in front of Yu Wei, Madam Wu sat deep in thought.
If Concubine Wu returned home, it would be a slap in the face for Yu Jingxiu. Given the rift between the Zhao and Yu families, the Zhao family would certainly be pleased to learn of this. Logically speaking, as Concubine Wu’s elder, and considering that Concubine Wu had no children, was not favored by Yu Jingxiu, and had no prospects in the Yu family, it would be appropriate for her to speak up on Concubine Wu’s behalf… More importantly, the Yu family’s fortunes were declining—in the recent official appointments, Grand Scholar Yu only managed to secure a seventh-rank compiler position in the Hanlin Academy for his relative, while Zhao Ling was reportedly going to be recommended by Qian Donglin for the position of Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou… Rather than being labeled disloyal to the Yu family, why not go with the flow and do Fu Tingyun a favor?
The more Madam Wu considered it, the more she felt she should help Concubine Wu. She called her attendant: “Go and convey my message—tell the steward to find our foolish brother-in-law at all costs. Only if he formally requests my help can I legitimately intervene on Concubine Wu’s behalf!”
Her attendant, accustomed to Madam Wu’s vacillation, immediately gave the order. Being relatives, they found Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law before Ah-Sen did.
Though Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law was shrewd, had traveled extensively, and seen much of the world, he was still just an ordinary merchant who traded southern goods in the north. He often heard his wife speak of past events, and before his journey, she had repeatedly cautioned him about Madam Wu’s cold-heartedness, telling him not to seek help from the Wu family, saying they would not only refuse to help but might even hinder them. Unable to find any other approach, he had resorted to directly confronting Yu Jingxiu at the yamen.
Escorted by Madam Wu’s steward to the Wu family’s magnificent hall, his demeanor revealed wariness and concern.
Having made up her mind, Madam Wu was determined to handle the matter perfectly.
Seeing his state, she chuckled, first explaining their family relationship, then addressing Concubine Wu’s situation: “If you want to take her back, does your father-in-law know? How much money have you prepared? I need to have an idea so I can speak confidently to the Yu family, and also give an explanation to Madam Zhao.”
Though Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law didn’t know who Madam Zhao was, from Madam Wu’s tone, he understood this person had provided significant help, which was why Madam Wu was willing to intervene with the Yu family. He quickly said, “Thank you, Madam. This matter was discussed between my father-in-law and my humble wife. My father-in-law, fearing others wouldn’t believe it, specifically sealed a letter for me to carry, to serve as proof for officials to examine when transferring the documents.” At this point, his face showed some embarrassment as he lowered his voice, “Our two families have pooled together two thousand taels of silver.” He added, “I know this amount may be insignificant to the Yu family, but we cannot afford more…”
Two thousand taels… Madam Wu pondered. Initially, she had decided to accept a betrothal gift of one thousand taels from the Yu family. Two thousand taels seemed about right.
After brief consideration, she said, “Why wait for a better day when today will do? Come with me to Grand Scholar Yu’s residence now!”
Concubine Wu’s brother-in-law was overjoyed, thanking her repeatedly as he accompanied Madam Wu to Jiadao Street.