Seeing that Third Master Chen was listening intently, Third Madam Chen inexplicably felt half the weight lift from her heart. She exclaimed and personally pushed the tea closer to Third Master Chen’s hand, patting her chest as she made a guarantee: “Madam Fang told me this with her own mouth. It’s only because I lent money for interest together with her and suffered disaster together that she told me about it. Otherwise, where do you think such a good opportunity would come from?”
Seeing Third Master Chen frowning somewhat hesitantly, she pushed his arm and sighed heavily: “It’s truly my fault for getting angry with you. I really was so anxious I had no other way. Both son and daughter need silver, your future prospects also require silver—but just look, does the family care about us at all?”
These were all hidden wounds in Third Master Chen’s heart. Old Madam Chen was kind to him on the surface, but inwardly she was extremely harsh. The trouble was that Old Master Chen respected his legitimate wife and insisted that Old Madam Chen showed no favoritism. These household matters added up to a rotten account that simply couldn’t be calculated clearly. But there was one point where Third Madam Chen truly wasn’t wrong at all—no one in this family genuinely thought of him. Even Father had never put his heart into his prospects. According to Father’s way of putting it, the Chen family had already reached such heights of wealth and nobility that him being muddled and going out to serve as an official would only make it easier for others to use him as a target against the Chen family. It would be better for him to stay at home.
But if he stayed at home, what was the point of working so hard to pass the examination and become a presented scholar?
Second Brother, whom Father single-handedly promoted, was even more absurd, yet didn’t he still thrive all the way up to the fifth rank? How could he be as miserable as this? They were equally Father’s sons, yet his heart was truly too biased.
Third Madam Chen immediately added fuel to the fire: “What’s more, it’s really not that I’m complaining, but Third Master, you should open your eyes and look at how harshly our Qing’er has been treated! Tomorrow when we go to Qingxu Temple, apart from me, Old Madam didn’t assign a single person to accompany her. Tomorrow is the Tong family’s prayer ceremony, and our family has had frequent dealings with the Tong family. By rights and reason, it shouldn’t be just me, an already-engaged future in-law, taking my daughter alone. Yet Old Madam insisted on arranging it this way. Others are accompanying Mingyu to the Empress’s blessing ceremony in a few days. You don’t know how Old Madam bestowed things on Mingyu right in front of Qing’er’s face—the hair ornaments alone were worth at least two to three thousand taels of silver. Yet facing Qing’er, she wouldn’t part with a penny and even spoke mockingly.”
Old Madam Chen’s words were never harsh, but she would definitely step on people’s sore spots. Not uttering a single vulgar word yet making you unable to lift your head for ten days to half a month was a common occurrence. Thinking of his sensible and well-mannered daughter being belittled this way, the anger in Third Master Chen’s heart surged up wildly.
Seeing the timing was about right, Third Madam Chen sat in the chair and hung her head, assuming a posture of leaving everything for Third Master Chen to decide: “I’ve explained everything clearly to Third Master, without hiding a single thing from you. Whether to live out a lifetime in this household in a cowardly manner, watching others’ expressions, or to forge out prospects for yourself and争这一口气 for your children—it all depends on you, Third Master.”
After all, as a woman, she couldn’t handle external social dealings. Many matters required Third Master Chen, Old Master Chen’s biological son, to step forward.
Third Master Chen sat for a long while, looking at the tree branches outside the window being blown by the wind and beating against the window. He stood up, walked a few steps, then walked back to Third Madam Chen’s side and asked her in a lowered voice: “Are you certain this matter won’t leak out?”
After all, they would be using Elder Chen’s name to accept others’ money and promise to handle affairs for them. If word got out and people found out, implicating the family, Old Master Chen wouldn’t spare him.
“Lord Fang also accepted people’s money himself. Would he be foolish enough to tell others?” Third Madam Chen couldn’t help stamping her foot: “Madam Fang also honestly told me that Lord Fang originally planned to introduce this matter to Second Master. Second Master’s side truly does everything imaginable! Where do you even compare? Oh, so only their second branch can extort and take bribes, but we’re not allowed to get a share? At worst, if it’s exposed, we’ll all die together!”
Third Master Chen also became ruthless. They were equally descendants of the Chen family—damn it, the foundation his father built, why shouldn’t he get even a bit of benefit? The first and second branches had so much money they didn’t know where to spend it, while only their third branch had to be stingy and calculating. Even the servants below looked down on their third branch.
This wasn’t fair! He’d risk it all! He nodded: “Tomorrow you go tell Madam Fang that I understand Lord Fang’s difficulties. Indeed, it’s more appropriate for me as a son to speak to Father about this matter. Tell them to go ahead and introduce the person. I’ll naturally handle what comes next.”
If Old Master Chen truly refused, at worst they’d think of another method. Get the money first, then talk. Besides, he’d heard that Lu Bingyuan from the Lu family who was waiting to take the examination was already Jiangnan’s foremost talent. He just wanted to test the waters and establish connections. Passing the examination shouldn’t be much of a problem. When the time came, whether he actually exerted effort behind the scenes or not—heaven only knew.
The next day, after enduring until the ceremony ended, Third Madam Chen had the carriage take her daughter home first while she herself went straight to Madam Fang’s house to find her.
Madam Fang was somewhat startled: “Why are you coming over at this hour? Do Old Madam and the others know you came to my place?”
Third Madam Chen was so rash in her actions. If she left traces and the Chen family discovered something wrong, that would be terrible. Therefore Madam Fang’s tone became somewhat unpleasant: “Didn’t we agree that if there was anything, we’d have our servants notify each other and meet at a restaurant? Now you’ve come rushing over so rashly like this. If your family discovers it later, I’ll also get dragged into trouble.”
Third Madam Chen felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Madam Fang angry made her a bit afraid, so she hurriedly shook her head: “Rest assured, rest assured. When the time comes, I’ll just say I came to your place to sit for a while. I’m only coming this once—they won’t notice. Right now everyone at home is busy with the ceremony that Old Madam will be attending together with Mingyu in a few days.”
Seeing Madam Fang’s expression soften somewhat, Third Madam Chen tentatively said: “Last time, didn’t you tell me about the Lu family matter? I went back and told my husband. My husband also said that he too is a descendant of the Chen family—his words might not necessarily be useless. Good sister-in-law, please help me and introduce my husband to this Master Lu from the Lu family.”
Madam Fang’s face showed a trace of doubt: “Third Master Chen agreed in person? Don’t tell me you’re taking matters into your own hands. If things don’t work out later, it won’t be easy to explain.”
Third Madam Chen hurriedly waved her hands: “It truly is my husband who agreed. How would I have such capability? Naturally it only counts when the master agrees—that’s why I dared come find sister-in-law. Otherwise I’d have no way either. As a woman of the inner quarters going out to show my face in public wouldn’t be proper, right? Just rest assured.”