A copper tripod of a golden lion holding a ball, red incense smoke curling upward.
The longer Fourth Madam delayed speaking, the more anxious Zhang Shi became in her heart.
“Could it be that something has happened to Fourth Son?” This guess made her feel even more certain it was the case.
“Madam, though it’s not that Fourth Son has encountered trouble, it is related to him.” Fourth Madam Jiang Suxin continued to delay speaking, waiting for Zhang Shi to become flustered and confused. Otherwise, as soon as she opened her mouth she would receive a scolding.
“Daughter-in-law, quickly tell me.” This was the second time she’d urged.
“Madam also knows that Ai Lian is now with child and can no longer properly serve Fourth Son.” Fourth Madam spoke in halves, waiting for the other person to continue and finish—truly quite clever.
“You don’t mean to take another concubine for Fourth Son?” Though Zhang Shi had risen from concubine status herself, as a mother-in-law she very much hoped to see a household full of sons and grandsons.
Jiang Suxin had shown no signs of pregnancy in the several years since marrying in, and Ai Lian’s pregnancy hadn’t come easily. So for the sake of spreading branches and scattering leaves, Zhang Shi had indeed considered finding another fertile woman to be her son’s concubine. It was just that she had already sent two senior maids into Fourth Son’s quarters. If she spoke up again, she feared her daughter-in-law would harbor resentment. She relied heavily on this daughter-in-law and tried by every means to win her over, planning for future benefits for her son.
Now, hearing her daughter-in-law’s words suggesting she intended to take a concubine for her husband, how could she not be pleased?
“Daughter-in-law has precisely that intention.” Fourth Madam followed along with her mother-in-law’s words.
Though Zhang Shi was happy, her expression still maintained proper decorum. “If Ai Lian cannot serve well, you should spend more time with Fourth Son. In the past two years you were still young, naturally it wasn’t easy to conceive. Now you’ve reached the right age. If you can bear a son, wouldn’t that be ten times better than a concubine-born eldest son?”
“Daughter-in-law is useless, troubling Madam to worry on my behalf. It’s just that since the beginning of the year, daughter-in-law’s body has been somewhat irregular. I’m taking medicine to regulate it and may need to continue for some time.” How could Fourth Madam not want to bear her own child? Just as Zhang Shi said, she had been too young before. Now she had found formulas to aid conception and was beginning to nourish and regulate her body. “Besides, if we have another sister to help our family spread branches and scatter leaves, Fourth Son will have another caring person to look after him. If Fourth Son is well, then daughter-in-law is well.”
“You should have been taking tonic medicine earlier. Which physician wrote the prescription? Doctor Zou from Huatuo Medicine Hall is the best.” Zhang Shi inquired with detailed concern.
“It was indeed his prescription. After taking three doses, it truly seems better.” Fourth Madam felt awkward about discussing menstrual irregularities, so she only said her body was unwell—all women understood.
“That’s good then. At the end of the day, no matter how good the relationship between husband and wife, one must have one’s own son for old age.” The purpose of concubine-born sons was to continue the family bloodline when the principal wife couldn’t produce sons. Once a concubine-born son inherited the family business, the principal wife couldn’t compare to his own birth mother. Therefore, regardless of whether one was principal wife or concubine, bearing a son meant having someone to rely on.
“Daughter-in-law understands.” Fourth Madam answered obediently.
“Since you want to take a concubine for Fourth Son, do you have someone in mind?” Zhang Shi looked her over from left to right, feeling that her fourth daughter-in-law was proper and generous, very likeable. Completely unlike Fifth Son’s wife, whose eyes and heart couldn’t tolerate others—her own belly couldn’t compete, yet she spent all day being jealous and petty.
“Yes, Madam.” Fourth Madam nodded. Having just drunk tea, she lightly dabbed her lips with a purple silk handkerchief.
“Which family’s daughter is she?” Zhang Shi set down her teacup and spoke seriously. “Since she’s to be a concubine, it’s different from taking in a maid. Engage a matchmaker and bring her in properly and formally. It doesn’t matter if the family is poor—as long as she’s a daughter from a good family, we’ll provide the dowry.”
“Madam, she’s a maid from the mansion.” Fourth Madam remained very composed, explaining bit by bit.
“From the mansion?” Zhang Shi was first startled, then immediately said, “As long as she hasn’t properly been intimate with anyone, you can just ask me for her directly. Why this hesitant, difficult-to-speak manner? She’s just a maid. Handle it the same as with Ai Lian—first take her as a room servant, then later if she bears a son, elevate her to concubine status.”
“Madam, I’ve discussed with Fourth Son—this time we want to do it grandly, give that maid face, and give ourselves face as well.” Fourth Madam again stopped just short of saying everything.
Hearing that her own son had already nodded agreement, Zhang Shi raised her eyebrows and asked with some curiosity, “Which maid has captured Fourth Son’s heart? I had no idea.” No wonder her fourth daughter-in-law mentioned taking a concubine—it was mostly at Fourth Son’s request.
Qiu Si never touched the mansion’s maids. Ai Lian was someone Zhang Shi had forcibly pressed on him. Though the mansion spread word that he doted on Ai Lian, each time Ai Lian came to pay respects, Zhang Shi saw no trace of the smugness of being favored. Now her son was proactively seeking to marry a maid—how rare indeed.
“Madam, please don’t be angry when you hear.” Fourth Madam brought up her husband as backing, yet her words remained cautious and careful. “She’s Third Miss’s maid. You know her—the one called Mo Zi.”
The tea lid clinked against the teacup with a sharp, piercing sound.
“Who did you say?” Zhang Shi’s face immediately elongated, her eyes narrowing.
“Madam—” Fourth Madam rose from her chair, standing gracefully, her expression unchanged. “Mo Zi from Third Miss’s quarters.”
“Fourth Son’s wife, you know I’ve always favored you. Do you know why?” Zhang Shi’s lips pressed downward, her gaze harsh.
Fourth Madam lowered her head without speaking, because she understood clearly that this question from her mother-in-law didn’t require an answer.
“Precisely because you’re sensible and understand my heart well. Unexpectedly, you also speak such muddled words. Knowing full well I would be angry, you still want to marry that slick-tongued, cunning little wretch for Fourth Son. So my slap was for nothing, and my fainting was for nothing. You could want anyone, but it has to be someone from that household—and who knows where that improper goods was bought from.” Zhang Shi slapped the table with her hand, her face flushing red with anger. “I’ll pretend you never said this. If you want to take a concubine for Fourth Son, I’ll find a matchmaker myself to select a good girl.”
Fourth Madam had known early on that her mother-in-law would certainly be furious. Therefore, though her attitude was respectful, she didn’t cower. “Madam, you said daughter-in-law understands your intentions—this is completely correct. If there were any other solution, daughter-in-law wouldn’t bring this before you. It’s not that daughter-in-law has complaints. Madam knows Fourth Son has always preferred those outside to those at home—he seeks those talented women who can sing, dance, compose poetry, and paint, finding the proper ones at home boring and uninteresting. That night when Madam disciplined Mo Zi, I noticed Fourth Son urging Madam to rest seemed like he was helping that maid escape the situation. This made me pay attention. Sure enough, when I mentioned to him taking Mo Zi as concubine, he actually agreed. I thought—those from home are always better than those from outside. With Ai Lian pregnant, I alone find it truly difficult to be thorough. If he were to marry in a woman from the pleasure quarters, wouldn’t that damage the mansion’s reputation? Moreover, it’s rare that he likes and favors someone. Even knowing Madam would be displeased, for his sake I had no choice but to boldly make this request.”
Zhang Shi’s gaze turned cold. Thinking back to that night, her son’s words had indeed seemed to help Mo Zi. If her son liked Mo Zi, it truly made her hesitate. Speaking of Fifth Son who fell in love with everyone he saw—she wasn’t worried about him. But Fourth Son’s personality was completely different.
Fourth Madam took in her mother-in-law’s expression completely, then continued, “Madam, daughter-in-law is not an indulgent person. Having spoken with Mo Zi twice, though she’s from Third Miss’s household, she’s quite obedient and well-mannered, and her conduct is very proper.”
“She’s just putting on an act.” Obedient and proper? Zhang Shi laughed coldly, though the sharp light in her eyes weakened by two degrees.