Chapter 13: A Hidden Loss
The Emperor “valued” her.
The words were amplified, carrying a deep meaning.
After all, their aunt, Consort Xue Shu, had also been a favored concubine in the current Emperor’s prince’s former residence.
Favored concubine was a nice way of putting it, but she was still a concubine.
After the Emperor ascended the throne, Aunt Xue smoothly became one of the four consorts.
Unfortunately, her luck was poor. Not long after ascending to the rank of consort, she suffered a premature birth, and both mother and son perished.
That pregnancy was for a young imperial prince, and he was the Emperor’s eldest son.
Rumors spread in the palace back then that Consort Xue Shu had been killed by Empress Xie. Before she died, only Empress Xie had entered her chambers.
This was also one of the reasons the Xue family sided with Prince Duan.
Xue Sui said little, nodding obediently.
“The Old Madam is right. Your granddaughter is not wronged.”
Just as Old Madam Cui praised her for being well-behaved, Third Madam chuckled.
“Old Madam, that’s not fair. For a concubine’s daughter raised outside, if she feels wronged upon her first return to the manor, would she dare to say it?”
She sized up Xue Sui.
“Look, how long has she been back? She hasn’t even gotten a new set of clothes or a pair of shoes, let alone jewelry or cosmetics. Old Madam, hearts are made of flesh and blood. Sixth Sister is also your granddaughter. Is there anything from head to toe that she can show off? Alas, in this world, true feelings are not welcomed, while false affections win hearts. To put it bluntly, it’s my fault as Third Aunt for speaking too much and causing trouble.”
Old Madam Cui’s face changed several times.
Everyone could see Xue Liu’s shabbiness; otherwise, the other young ladies wouldn’t have used scented sachets meant for begging to shame her…
First Madam, who managed the household, had always been harsh towards Xue Liu. If she didn’t speak up, others wouldn’t dare to interfere.
And when Madam Qian married into the Xue family, Xue Liu was no longer in the manor, so she knew nothing of past events.
If you can’t stand it, then say it.
She spoke bluntly and harshly.
Old Madam Cui couldn’t beat around the bush any longer and looked at First Madam.
“How are you managing as the Mistress? Sixth Sister has been back for so long, haven’t you made arrangements for her?”
Fu Shi gritted her teeth, wishing she could bite a piece of flesh off Madam Qian, her sister-in-law.
But in a prominent family, rules were important. Xue Sui’s appearance was embarrassing her, and she couldn’t refute it.
“Xiugu.” She turned and questioned the servant, “Didn’t I instruct you to get Sixth Sister some clothes and shoes? What happened?”
Xiugu’s heart skipped a beat.
She glanced at Fu Shi and hesitated before kneeling in front of everyone.
“First Madam, please forgive me. This matter was simply unfortunate… Nanny Liu went to Li Xiang Courtyard yesterday to handle this task, but somehow offended Sixth Young Lady. She was beaten so badly that she couldn’t get out of bed… I suppose that’s why it was delayed.”
She shifted the blame onto Xue Sui.
This made people realize she wasn’t a kind person, and it also cleared First Madam of blame.
Fu Shi gave her a look of approval.
Xue Sui’s mood was complex, and she wanted to speak but stopped herself.
“Beating Nanny Liu was wrong, but it’s also her fault for damaging First Madam’s reputation…”
How could that be?
Xiugu said, “Sixth Young Lady, please don’t speak nonsense. Nanny Liu is First Madam’s wet nurse and respects First Madam greatly.”
Xue Sui looked up at the Old Madam seated at the head.
“Nanny Liu spoke harshly at the entrance of Li Xiang Courtyard, saying that your granddaughter is just a lowly woman not on the family registry and unworthy of serving Prince Duan…”
She then glanced at Madam Qian, who was listening with great interest, “As someone with no father or mother to love me, being ridiculed by her is nothing. Who knew Nanny Liu would speak so presumptuously, saying that even the Tenth Young Lady from the Third Branch, a legitimate daughter, would not be put on the family registry if First Madam was unhappy…”
Madam Qian’s teacup fell from her hand, her face changing faster than the sky.
Xue Sui added fuel to the fire, “I don’t believe the virtuous and thrifty First Madam would bully Third Branch’s young ladies like this. How could I let her damage First Madam’s reputation? Beating her was a light punishment.”
“Good!” Madam Qian hugged her youngest daughter and questioned Fu Shi, “Didn’t you say during the ancestral rites last year that you would add Tenth to the family registry? Why hasn’t it been done yet? What is Eldest Sister-in-law’s intention? Are you trying to drive the Third Branch out?”
Fu Shi was so angry her teeth were about to shatter.
Last year, when revising the family registry, it was discovered that the Tenth Young Lady from the Third Branch had been omitted. As the Mistress, she should have submitted the birth date and time to have her name recorded.
But at that time, Madam Qian accused her of doing it intentionally, making a scene in front of the entire clan and embarrassing her. Fu Shi, displeased, deliberately delayed the process and even complained a few words to Nanny Liu…
However, Nanny Liu would never have said this to Xue Liu.
Then why did Xue Liu find out?
Fu Shi thought resentfully, seeing Madam Qian’s eyes wide open as if she would devour her, she felt even more that Xue Liu was a troublemaker, returning to disrupt the family…
A perfectly good family became tense and confrontational.
Given Madam Qian’s temperament, she would immediately start a scene.
At this moment, a maid came to report, “First Master has returned to the manor.”
The Old Madam breathed a sigh of relief.
The ladies tidied their clothes and saw Xue Qingzhi enter with a stern expression.
They all paid their respects. Xue Qingzhi cupped his hands to greet the Old Madam, then lifted his robe and sat down.
“What were you discussing just now? I could hear the liveliness from outside.”
Madam Qian pushed her daughter forward, “Tenth, quickly tell your Eldest Uncle that you are your parents’ biological child, not picked up from a ditch. It’s one thing for your Eldest Sister-in-law to be harsh to a concubine’s daughter, but she’s even being harsh to you. You’re seven years old and still not on the family registry…”
Xue Qingzhi turned to look at Fu Shi.
Fu Shi pursed her lips, “It’s true that there was a lot going on in the manor last year, and I forgot. I didn’t expect some scheming servant to stir up trouble. Don’t worry, Master, I will handle it as soon as possible and apologize to Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law.”
With her words, Xue Qingzhi couldn’t blame her further.
As the Mistress, she indeed had many duties, and forgetting was possible.
No matter how unhappy Madam Qian was, she couldn’t continue to make a scene.
But she hadn’t forgotten Xue Sui, “Eldest Uncle, you might not like what I, your sister-in-law, have to say. Regardless, Sixth Sister is your biological daughter. Since you’re going to do it, why not offer sacrifices to the ancestors together and record her in the family registry?”
Xue Qingzhi indeed didn’t like to hear this.
But he couldn’t refute it, “It should be so.”
Old Madam Cui was getting a headache from all the commotion. She had the highest seniority here, and in the end, she had to resolve it.
So she said with a smile, “The young ladies of the manor are all grown up. One must treat them equally. Don’t make jokes for others to see, and don’t cause discord in the household.”
The word “again” served as a strong warning to everyone.
The Xue family were imperial relatives, appearing glorious, but since the death of the Old Master Xue, they were not as prosperous as before.
“I, an old woman, speak, and you listen with one ear and let it out the other. But you must remember the family motto left by the Xue family’s Old Ancestor—When the household prospers, official fortune flourishes; when descendants are harmonious, blessings are abundant… For the rise and fall of the family, filial piety and fraternity come first. For close kin, do not engage in strife…”
Xue Qingzhi nodded continuously, “Mother, your teachings are correct. Your son has noted them all.”
No one interrupted when mother and son spoke.
Fu Shi, however, knew that the Old Madam was using the lecture to her son to admonish her.
As the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law, her wet nurse was beaten, and she had to suffer in silence. Not only that, but she also had to arrange clothes and trousseau for Xue Liu afterward, or it would affect the prosperity of their Xue family.
This was like eating bitter herbs with a gagged mouth, unable to speak of her suffering.
Well done, Xue Liu.
How could a foolish bastard have the audacity to oppose her?
Fu Shi thought with a ashen face, could someone be advising her from behind the scenes?
After Old Madam Cui finished her lecture, she cheerfully smiled again.
“The family banquet tonight will be held in my old woman’s Shou An Courtyard. Brothers and sisters, all of you come. The manor should have a reunion dinner.”
Everyone responded in agreement.
The Old Madam looked at Xue Sui, frowned, and had Aunt Jinshu retrieve some silver money from the room.
“Jinshu, take Sixth Sister to the market. If you see anything she likes, clothes, shoes, socks, cosmetics, buy plenty. Consider it my grandmother’s token of affection.”
Jinshu curtsied, “Yes, Old Madam.”
Xue Sui gained a lot today and was very satisfied. So, she smiled, curtsied to express her gratitude, and left amidst the strange glances of everyone.
As soon as she left, the atmosphere in the room relaxed.
Xue Yueying smiled as if casually, “I heard that in Old Mausoleum Swamp, there are all sorts of demons and monsters. The market only opens at night, and everything is strange. I wonder how Sixth Sister survived there?”
Her question was also the question of others.
The maids and old women exchanged knowing glances.
What kind of woman from this place could be pure?
Xue Qingzhi looked embarrassed and lowered his head to drink tea.
Xue Yuechen snorted and looked at her belly, “Fourth Sister, you’re quite talkative today? Are Father and Mother unable to discipline you, so I, as your elder sister, must?”
Xue Yueying didn’t intend to slap Xue Yuechen’s face; she just wanted her to change her mind and not favor Xue Liu. Seeing her anger, she decided to stop there and said with a giggle, “If Eldest Sister also adds to my dowry, I’ll shut my mouth.”
Xue Yuechen glanced at her and also smiled.
“Don’t Father and Mother dote on you the most? Will the manor shortchange you?”
A clamor arose from the crowd.
Shou An Courtyard returned to its lively and joyous atmosphere.
Xue Sui could still hear the laughter from afar.
Without her, they were a family.
Being entered into the Xue family registry was not her wish, but Xue Ji’s.
She suddenly wanted to fulfill it.
Li Zhao: I heard someone misses me?
Xue Sui: Did you kill the order? Was it assigned to you?
Li Zhao: Someone, issue the Crown Prince’s decree! By tomorrow, I must add more drama for myself!
