Madam Xiao regretted it now—she shouldn’t have let her emotions get the better of her and cried here. How had Mingxi caught her at just the right moment?
She knew how busy and exhausted Mingxi was and didn’t want to add to her burdens.
But under her younger sister-in-law’s sharp gaze, she didn’t dare to lie.
Feeling uneasy, Madam Xiao pressed her lips together nervously before finally speaking in a low voice. “Mother wants me to bring in a yiniang for my husband. I’m willing, but…”
Hearing this, Mingxi immediately understood that the issue lay in the choice of person.
It was customary for a wife, especially when pregnant, to arrange for a concubine or a bed servant for her husband.
Had she been an ordinary young lady, Mingxi might have been embarrassed by such topics. But now that she was managing the affairs of the Marquis Manor, she had long learned to set aside any discomfort.
As a daughter-in-law, Madam Xiao couldn’t openly defy her mother-in-law, especially not at a time like this. And she couldn’t go complaining to the Old Madam either.
Even if the Old Madam found out, she’d likely just issue a mild rebuke, saying that having a servant attend to her son wasn’t a great crime. it wouldn’t have any real effect.
Besides, how could they possibly expect the Old Madam to meddle in the inner chambers of her grandson’s household? That would be utterly inappropriate.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, just be direct with me.” Mingxi decided to cut to the chase.
Madam Xiao could no longer maintain her forced smile. She gritted her teeth and, with determination, led Mingxi back to her courtyard.
Once seated, she finally spoke. “I originally planned to promote one of my dowry maids as a bed servant, but Mother disagreed. She said the maid’s background was too lowly and insisted on bringing in a proper concubine instead.”
As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly with suppressed emotion.
A “proper concubine”?
Madam Jiang had suffered greatly at the hands of Yang Yiniang. How could she, having endured such hardship herself, force her daughter-in-law to go through the same?
A proper concubine came from a respectable background. If such a woman entered the household, how would Madam Xiao be able to keep her in check?
No wife in her right mind would want a concubine she couldn’t control.
it was clear now—Madam Jiang was deliberately making things difficult for her daughter-in-law, using this as a way to assert dominance over her.
But there was nothing Madam Xiao could do. She couldn’t rely on her maternal family to intervene every time; that would only turn in-laws into enemies. Even the Old Madam wouldn’t approve of that. If things reached that point, how could she continue to stand firm in this household?
Madam Xiao was trapped, unable to take a step forward or back. it was tormenting her.
“A proper concubine?” Mingxi immediately grasped Madam Jiang’s intentions, her expression darkening. “I’ll handle this. You just focus on taking care of yourself and delivering your child safely.”
“Eldest Little Sister, what are you planning?” Madam Xiao grabbed Mingxi’s hand in alarm. “Don’t go confronting Mother.”
Mingxi was still a junior in the family—if anyone had to suffer, it would be her.
“I won’t go to the main courtyard,” Mingxi reassured her, her tone softening upon seeing Madam Xiao’s concern. “I’m going to see grandfather.”
“What?” Madam Xiao was confused. What did grandfather have to do with this? He was a man—why would he get involved in inner-court matters?
Mingxi called Bai Qing over and instructed, “Take good care of your mistress. I’ll inform Grandmother that Sister-in-law is feeling unwell and needs to rest quietly. From now on, just stay in your courtyard and focus on your health.”
There was no need for Madam Xiao to keep running to Madam Jiang’s place to suffer.
A mother-in-law setting rules for her daughter-in-law was something Mingxi couldn’t interfere with.
But that’s what the Old Madam was for. If there was ever a time to bring her into the matter, it was now.
Bai Qing immediately knelt and saluted Mingxi. “Thank you, Miss. With your words, our mistress can finally rest properly.”
“Bai Qing!” Madam Xiao scolded.
“Mistress, you can punish me if you want, but I just don’t want you worrying yourself sick and harming the little master inside you,” Bai Qing said, eyes reddening with unshed tears.
Mingxi patted Bai Qing on the shoulder. “You’re loyal. Take good care of my sister-in-law.”
With that, she turned and strode away.
Mingxi turned on her heel and walked away. Madam Xiao couldn’t stop her and instead reached out to tap Bai Qing on the forehead. “You troublesome girl, why are you adding fuel to the fire?”
“I wasn’t adding fuel to the fire, I was just telling the truth,” Bai Qing said, vigorously wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “Now that the shizi’s future is looking bright, Madam just wants to put someone in place to suppress you, to force you to submit. I’m just a lowly servant, a worthless life, but I had to speak up for you.”
“You…” Madam Xiao sighed. “With your temperament, how could I ever be at ease sending you away? Even when I wanted to arrange for you to gain status, you refused.”
“How could I accept that? If I became a concubine, how could I continue serving you?”
“Wouldn’t it be the same?”
“It’s not the same. I am your servant, now and forever. I am not the shizi’s concubine, and I refuse to be one.”
“Isn’t it good that we, master and servant, are of one heart?”
“That still won’t do. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“You stubborn girl.”
“That’s because you spoiled me,” Bai Qing chuckled. “Forget about it, don’t think about this anymore. I know you care for me and trust me, but I don’t trust myself. If I were to serve the shizi and somehow gave birth to a son in the future, my heart might change. What would I do then?”
Madam Xiao sighed again. “That’s true… now that you put it that way, I really wouldn’t feel at ease. Fine, forget it.”
Bai Qing giggled. “Thank you, Young Madam.”
Madam Xiao looked at Bai Qing, understanding that she truly didn’t want this. The two had grown up together and shared a deep bond. She had thought that if she had to choose a concubine, it might as well be someone she trusted—but since Bai Qing was unwilling, she couldn’t bear to force her.
On the other side, Mingxi finally arrived to see the Old Master. But when she looked at him—his temples now streaked with gray—she suddenly couldn’t bring herself to say what she had intended.
“Why are you standing there in a daze?” The Old Master gestured for Mingxi to sit down and talk.
Mingxi did not sit. She simply said, “I just came to check on you.”
The old Master chuckled, “What’s there to check on? I eat well, drink well, and I’m doing fine. You all go about your own business, no need to worry about me.”
After chatting with her grandfather for a few moments, Mingxi left. After some thought, she decided to visit the Old Madam.
Once Mingxi had left, the old Master instructed his attendants to find out what had been happening in the household lately. If Mingxi had come to him, it likely meant that there was an issue she couldn’t handle directly—most likely something related to the main branch of the family.
Meanwhile, after listening to Mingxi, the Old Madam asked, “What do you want me to do about this?”
Mingxi said bluntly, “Just one thing—ask the Madam of the House directly. If she wants a divorce, she should just say so instead of tormenting her in a roundabout way. Before she had a grandson, she kept staring at my sister-in-law’s belly every day. Now that she has one, she’s still stirring up trouble. If something were to happen to my sister-in-law during this pregnancy, would she blame her too, saying she’s useless for not even being able to keep a child?”
The Old Madam: …
You’ve said everything—both what should and shouldn’t be said. What else is there left for me to say?
Mingxi continued, “If she’s dissatisfied, tell her this: I see that Lord Marquis is still young enough to give me a few more brothers and sisters. I might as well start looking for respectable young ladies from good families in the capital to bring in as honored concubines for him!”
The Old Madam: …
Someone bring this old person’s heart medicine—quickly!
This granddaughter of hers was completely rebellious—she couldn’t suppress her at all!
