Elder Du returned home utterly dejected, as if mourning a parent’s death, only to find Madam Du in an equally grief-stricken state. Madam Du had knelt until her knees turned bruised and purple. Her granddaughter Du Fang Xi was now leading servants to apply medicine for her. She reclined on a soft couch, clutching her head and moaning incessantly. It was truly too humiliating—in all her years, she had never lost face like this. The moment she saw Elder Du, despite her advanced age, tears still came unbidden: “The Crown Princess refused both soft and hard approaches, and that Sixth Miss Song stood there like a door god.”
Du Fang Xi, being younger, felt somewhat at a loss seeing her grandmother cry. She gently tugged at her grandmother’s sleeve, then lowered her head and respectfully paid her respects to Elder Du before carefully leading everyone out.
She first went to the First Madam Du’s chambers. First Madam Du was having her meal and couldn’t help expressing surprise at her arrival: “Why aren’t you dining at your grandmother’s today?” Ever since Madam Du returned from the palace last time, she had shown exceptional favor toward her granddaughter, keeping her for meals almost daily lately.
Du Fang Xi felt much more at ease with her mother. Sitting face to face with her, she first inquired after her father, and upon learning he wasn’t home again, she sighed: “Grandmother returned from the palace today, and she doesn’t seem well.”
First Madam Du knew this too. A few days ago, Madam Du had entered the palace and emerged all smiles and satisfaction, but today was completely different from her usual excited demeanor upon leaving the palace. She had dismissed everyone, refusing to see anyone, and had even summoned the household physician.
She took the handkerchief passed by a maid, wiped her hands, and stood up to leave: “I’ll go check on her.” She had already gone several times before, but for some reason, Madam Du hadn’t even allowed her through the door. Hearing her daughter mention it again now, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat panicked.
But Du Fang Xi held her back, shaking her head: “Grandfather is with her. They’re probably discussing something important. Mother, don’t go over just yet.”
First Madam Du hadn’t raised any sons, which gave her much less confidence before Madam Du. Although Madam Du didn’t make an issue of it, everyone with eyes could see how favored the grandsons from the second and third branches were in Madam Du’s presence. Over time, First Madam Du naturally became increasingly cautious.
While daughters were certainly lovable, if one had sons first and then added daughters, that could be considered icing on the cake. But if one only had daughters, that loveliness became considerably less lovely. Though Madam Du had treated Du Fang Xi reasonably well in the past, compared to the grandsons from the second and third branches, the difference showed. Recently, she had shown exceptional favor toward Du Fang Xi, which truly left First Madam Du feeling honored beyond measure.
Hearing her daughter say this now, she nodded accordingly, stroking her daughter’s hair with a face full of maternal love: “At last, your time has come.” She stopped there, saying no more. Where her husband had gone, she knew in her heart—First Master Du was keeping a mistress outside. Previously, she had merely pretended not to know, and if their days could pass tolerably, so be it. But recently, First Master Du had grown increasingly brazen, not even bothering to cover up anymore. He was single-mindedly determined to bring the woman into the household, spouting all manner of shameless talk, saying she couldn’t bear children, leaving him without a legitimate son, making him a laughingstock, and that he wanted to bring the woman back as an equal wife.
Over these words, she had lived in fear and trepidation for an entire month, yet didn’t dare expose it before her parents-in-law, afraid that once news spread of the outside woman becoming pregnant and giving birth, her in-laws would comply with her husband’s wishes—First Master Du had only one concubine-born son, and even he was plagued by constant disasters and difficulties. His offspring were truly pitifully few.
Though Du Fang Xi was young, she was more clear-sighted about this than her mother. She took her mother’s hand and shook her head: “For Grandfather and Grandmother to suddenly be so amiable, there must be a reason. I only hope this reason won’t be too unbearable. As for Father…” She paused, leaning against her mother’s shoulder: “As for Father’s matter, you shouldn’t worry too much. When it needs to be exposed, expose it. You cover for him, but he doesn’t appreciate it. He’d rather the matter blow up bigger, thinking Grandfather and Grandmother would grant his wish and let the outside woman enter the household. But what kind of person is Grandfather? Someone who cares so much about his official reputation—would he permit Father to do something so scandalous?”
She laughed once, supporting her mother’s hand: “At most, they’ll keep the child and dispose of the mother. You can take the child and raise it yourself. No matter what, you’ll have a son at your side in the future, and your daughter can rest easy.”
First Madam Du was somewhat surprised: “How can you say such things? You know how much your grandparents long for grandsons…”
While Elder Du and Madam Du certainly longed for grandsons, it wasn’t as if they had none—the second and third branches had heaps of grandsons waiting for them to dote upon. Compared to their prospects and the family’s standing, how many sons the first branch ultimately had wasn’t so important. They all bore the Du surname and were all their sons. Those born to the second and third branches—weren’t they still their grandsons?
Du Fang Xi lowered her voice and whispered in her mother’s ear. Finishing, she saw her mother’s eyes widen, then tidied the phoenix hairpin by her mother’s temple, saying unhurriedly: “At this time, Grandfather won’t indulge Father. Mother can rest assured.”
Elder Du had been pointed at and scolded by Emperor Jianzhang, saying he couldn’t properly manage his inner household? First Madam Du was shocked pale, nearly fainting. After listening to her daughter’s words, she still couldn’t regain her composure for a long while: “How… how do you know this?”
Du Fang Xi smiled broadly: “These past few days, Grandmother has even had me sleep beside her. Naturally, I know. So Mother, don’t be afraid. In a moment, feel free to tell them about Father’s matter. Any later, and I fear you’ll lose this opportunity.”
Her daughter’s words raised goosebumps all over First Madam Du’s body. She embraced her daughter, pressing her face against her daughter’s, worriedly: “What are you saying? Mother doesn’t understand a single word…”
Du Fang Xi just stared blankly, lying back on the kang that the maids had already tidied, gently tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Perhaps it was better not to know. Not knowing, at least before the potential disaster arrived, one could still enjoy a few comfortable days.
Though she was still young, having grown up with such an unreliable father, to protect her mother, she had honed her skills in reading expressions to perfection. Regarding Madam Du’s sudden recent enthusiasm, she had observed carefully and attentively, finally gleaning some understanding from her grandparents’ conversations.
At first, she only knew she might be sold off like those gold artifacts and antiques, and didn’t feel particularly sad about it—hadn’t her aunts all been treated the same way? In any case, marriage matters couldn’t be decided by oneself; one was destined to be sold off like an object. If she could fetch a good price and spare her mother from suffering so much from Father’s abuse, that would be worthwhile.
Who knew that today the situation would suddenly become so grave.