Too high to reach

Chapter 57 The So-Called Concubine

On the first day of the lunar new year, it was just getting light.

Liu, who had barely slept, suddenly opened her eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins and a fierce look.

Suddenly I felt someone beside me. I turned around and saw my daughter... Looking at her, my heart ached and tears streamed down my face again.

At the slightest movement, Mo Yuan opened her eyes. "Mother!" she called softly, her voice a little hoarse.

"Yuanyuan, Mother is going back to the Liu family now! I'll call your uncle over!"

“Mother…” Mo Yuan hugged her arm, “Please don’t get agitated. We need to discuss this matter further…”

"What's wrong?" Liu sat up and looked at her daughter.

“Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. My uncle and aunt will be paying respects to their ancestors and entertaining guests. The house will definitely be bustling with activity. If you go back like this, they will probably only annoy them. Why would they stand up for you? Besides, my maternal grandfather and uncle both have several concubines. They don’t take it seriously at all.”

“Yuanyuan, you don’t understand! This woman isn’t your father’s concubine, but his mistress! Your father divorced his wife and remarried! This is no small matter… it violates the law! Even if your uncles are just trying to save face, they will not let him off the hook!”

"What if we don't let him off? Should we send Father to the yamen to be flogged, or should we beat him ourselves? Or beat those mother and three to death?"

Just as Liu was about to say that was the case, she froze... How should she handle the situation then?

“Mother, the Liu family has always looked down on the Mo family and despised you. As you said, they had no choice but to come to the Mo family to save face. They vented their anger, but what benefit could we possibly gain?”

Liu blinked as she looked at her daughter.

"What if Father gets angry and acts recklessly, using this as an excuse to divorce you... then will you still be able to go back to the Liu family?"

"He wouldn't dare..."

Mo Yuan took Liu's hand. "That woman has given birth to two sons. Whether it's according to custom or judging from what Uncle and Aunt said yesterday, this woman can't be driven away. If they won't leave, we can't just leave, can we?!"

Liu slumped her back in exasperation, "...Why is it so hard for your mother and your great-aunt?"

Mo Yuan smiled helplessly, "It's just that everyone has their own difficulties. Who has it easy? Is it easy for Second Aunt?"

"Hmph... The Mo family has a poor background!" Liu said resentfully, "Yuanyuan, what do you suggest we do?"

"Right now, Father is in the wrong, so let's state our conditions. First, those two brats cannot be recorded as legitimate children. Then, make that woman kneel before you and serve you tea, and take her as a concubine... just a concubine. In the long run, you won't be able to deal with her, will you?"

Thinking of her aunt's ordeal, Liu nodded firmly...

"Furthermore, our daughter is at a crucial stage in her life, and this scandal will affect her marriage prospects. If she can marry into a wealthy and powerful family like the Xu family... well, then you'll see my father's fawning face!"

These words were like a wake-up call, and Liu's eyes lit up: "Yes! Yuanyuan is right! The most important thing now is your marriage! Now you can support your mother, ha! I'll see what kind of good ending Mo Rusong and those three will have!"

“That’s right! Mother! Don’t meddle in their business. You’re good at your work, so just stay home and help me prepare my dowry. And take care of yourself. Look…” Mo Yuan got up and picked up a mirror, “Look at you, you look like you’ve aged a few years! Don’t wait until your daughter becomes successful so you can’t enjoy it anymore!”

"Okay... Mother will listen to you!" Liu sniffled and wiped away her tears.

"Listen to your daughter, stop crying. You need to be in good spirits when you go back to your parents' home tomorrow. The harder things get, the less we can afford to be laughed at!" Mo Yuan said coldly.

After the mother and daughter had figured things out, they washed up and went to find Zhuang Shi to make their request directly.

Zhuang nodded in agreement. She understood and agreed, and said she would persuade the heads of the family to settle the matter sooner or later.

In the morning, the Mo family ate dumplings and prepared some side dishes. The dumplings were steaming hot in a large pot on the table. Liu stopped making a fuss, and everyone relaxed a bit.

Regardless of what happens with the real estate market, we can only discuss it after the New Year.

Yunniang, along with her child and Sister-in-law Song, ate alone in the living room as usual.

After breakfast, Mo Ruhai escorted Sister Song back to her courtyard.

Even on the first day of the lunar new year, the Mo family couldn't stay idle; they were busy unpacking the things Mo Ruhai had brought back. More guests were coming soon, and the Xu family's young master would be visiting in a couple of days, so everyone was busy. Even Mo Wen and Mo Yi went to help in the front living room.

That night, Wang didn't sleep well either. She was concerned about Yunniang's matter, not for herself, but for Mowen.

At lunchtime, Wang called Mowen and Moyi into the room. She seemed a little lost in thought, and her voice was lower than usual. "In our family, among your grandparents' generation, your maternal grandparents' family, and the surrounding relatives, there are really not many who have concubines. After your uncle became successful, your aunt did mention that she wanted to take two concubines for him."

Mo Wen and Mo Yi hadn't heard of this before and were somewhat surprised. "Your uncle didn't agree at the time. Later... he probably regretted it, right? Your aunt said the other day that she would bring it up again after the New Year. This time..." She shook her head.

"Logically speaking, how could your aunt be willing? But she had no choice. Let's not even talk about men, they're all lustful. In officialdom, having a concubine is a matter of face. It's common for them to exchange beautiful women."

The two girls blushed slightly upon hearing this.

"Besides, Wenwen, the Xu family does have connections!" She looked at Mowen with affection.

Mo Wen blinked, twisting her handkerchief nervously.

“Any woman would find this hard to accept. But there’s no other way! Otherwise, it would be the beginning of a falling out between husband and wife…and she would be criticized by her mother-in-law and laughed at by outsiders…ha!” She shook her head with a bitter smile.

"Specifically, I haven't experienced much, so I don't have much to teach you. Wenwen, you need to think carefully about what you would do if you encountered the same situation as your third uncle. After the New Year, we'll hire a nanny to teach you manners. Then you can ask her about it carefully..."

After saying that, she felt a mix of emotions. Although her husband wasn't very successful, he hadn't let her go through something like this...

……

Wangfu.

Li Jing returned to his residence only after he and the Emperor finished paying respects to their ancestors.

At noon, there was a family banquet at the mansion, another joyous occasion for the concubines and mistresses. This time, however, there was another guest, Concubine Chu.

Aunt Chu arrived in the capital the first year, along with Zhou Dong's wife. Consort Feng didn't "trouble" Zhao Mama with Zhou's affairs; the courtyard, belongings, and servants were all arranged perfectly.

Mrs. Zhou was the daughter of a minor official, and in Consort Feng's opinion, she was somewhat petty. Seeing that she could have such a place to stay upon arriving in the capital, she was deeply moved, constantly expressing her gratitude to Consort Feng.

Even the concubine, Consort Feng, didn't tell Zhao Mama where Madam Zhou lived.

And this Aunt Chu was an extremely beautiful woman.

Her eyes were as clear as water, and her skin was as white as snow. Her soft, black hair didn't need any makeup; her complexion was already incredibly radiant.

At this moment, dressed in a very light green dress, she stood out like a delicate spring flower among the elegantly dressed women.

Moreover, she was only sixteen years old, with a pitiful appearance that everyone found endearing.

Consort Feng suppressed her jealousy and still had to make proper arrangements for the courtyard and staff. Not to mention, Madam Zhou and Concubine Chu both had people she had trained herself.

Li Jing came in just as dinner was about to start.

Li Chang, as if he were always by Li Jing's side, followed along eagerly. He even brought some cheap trinkets from outside for the family's children and busied himself preparing food and wine.

Zhou Jiuniang went home for the New Year, so Li Chang took on the task of taking care of Li Xiangling, serving food, telling jokes, and never stopping eating...

Several women wanted to take advantage of the New Year to strengthen their relationship with the prince and to help their children get closer to him, but they couldn't do it!

They all looked at him with reproach, but he just smiled foolishly, oblivious to their own ignorance.

……

After seeing Song's wife off, Mo Ruhai returned and told Mo Yi: "Song Qiang and his wife were extremely happy, but the place was too narrow and too crowded."

"Father, I've made up my mind: let them make do for now, and once we find a good shop, we'll rent a small courtyard nearby. Li Qi and Song Jiafu can move there. Sister-in-law Song can take care of cooking and laundry. That way, we won't have to spend so much time on the road every day. Besides, look at the employees in those big shops, they're all so clean and presentable. When our business grows, we need to be more particular too!"

Mo Ruhai was pleased to hear this and nodded repeatedly.

“Yi Yi, there’s something else…” Mo Ruhai told her about the family business back home. Although Mo Yi didn’t understand the key point, seeing her father’s tense tone, she couldn’t help but worry about the Song family.

"After the New Year, your uncle will go to gather information. Feeding the whole family is no small matter! Also, Song Jiayou's wife is a farmer's daughter, not a slave. Our harvest in our hometown is good, thanks to Song Jiayou. He has worked hard all these years! I plan to return his indenture after the New Year. Also, let's return Song Jiaxing and Song San'er to them. It will make things easier! If you're worried, you can keep Song Qiang and his wife's."

"Father, you have a kind heart and you are very thoughtful!"

Mo Ruhai chuckled as his daughter praised him...

Thank you to "Lailaiwangwang", "Menghui Moganshan", and "Wandaojia" for the generous donations! I will continue to work hard!

(End of this chapter)