Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 322 How could the Apricot Garden possibly hinder your departure? The flowers are not yet in bloom, so let's take a look.

Fortunately, it was planted near pine and bamboo trees.
It does not bloom all at once like peach and plum trees.

How could Xingyuan possibly prevent you from going?
Even before the flowers bloom, let's take a look.

This poem, titled "Inviting Liu Langzhong on Behalf of the Forsythia," was written by Bai Juyi to Liu Yuxi during the Tang Dynasty. At that time, Liu Yuxi had just returned from exile and remained as upright and outspoken as ever. Bai Juyi said that he "did not compete with the flowers for beauty, but possessed a unique and unconventional character."

The second daughter, Yingchun, used this poem to refer to herself, meaning that after going through many twists and turns, she had always been waiting for Chen Siyuan.

In the Grand View Garden, where beauties vied for attention, Yingchun, who appeared unremarkable and was known for her timidity, was clearly the most inconspicuous one. But now, she was completely different; her once timid eyes were now filled with unwavering courage.

She wore a pink satin round-necked robe embroidered with spring blossoms, over which was a white cross-collar jacket, a white long skirt, and a bright red felt cloak. Her eyes were bright and sparkling.

Chen Siyuan's heart skipped a beat. The most beautiful words of love in the world are those faint, blushing expressions on a woman's face.

Which young lady in her boudoir would dare to speak so frankly? Even someone as meticulous as Baochai and as rebellious as Daiyu would not utter such bold and direct words when they were not familiar with each other.

Seeing the hope in Yingchun's eyes gradually fade, Chen Siyuan quickly came to his senses and said, "What a fine poem. I didn't expect Second Sister to be so knowledgeable, even remembering such an obscure poem."

Yingchun laughed and said, "I am not very knowledgeable, how could I be so well-read? It's just because of my name that I have memorized some poems about forsythia."

With a gesture of invitation, Yingchun said, "Brother Yuan, would you have time to stroll around the garden with me? It's been quite a while since you arrived, but we've never actually taken a walk together before."

"Okay," Chen Siyuan replied.

The two walked side by side, rounding the verdant peaks. Yingchun didn't head towards Qinfang Pavilion, but instead went towards Yihong Courtyard. Besides Xia Jingui, even Miaoyu had moved away from here.

As they strolled leisurely along the path, Yingchun brought up the matter from earlier, saying, "What Second Brother did just now... although it was inappropriate, it was ultimately because Sister Feng was too strict. Even in private, the Old Madam has said that Sister Feng went too far."

Chen Siyuan said, "I think it takes two to tango. If Brother Lian really can't resist, he can keep a mistress outside. Why does he have to bring all sorts of women, good and bad, to his side?"

Yingchun glanced at Chen Siyuan and said with a smile, "Brother Yuan has excellent character, so he is naturally different from Second Brother."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Second sister, you flatter me. In this world, who doesn't wear a mask during the day and have a different face in private?"

Yingchun sighed and said, "Brother Yuan is right. There are always too many things in this world that we can't help. If we had no other choice, who would want to wear a different face?"

Chen Siyuan said, "It's not a matter of whether we're willing or not; it's just that the truth can sometimes be too hurtful."

Yingchun seemed lost in thought, then nodded slightly. They had already passed the rose trellis and were about to reach the White Jade Bridge. Looking into the distance, they could see red plum blossoms peeking out from the wall of the Green Bamboo Hermitage.

Yingchun smiled and said, "The plum blossoms are in full bloom. The other day at the poetry gathering, Brother Bao insisted on picking a few sections of red plum blossoms to add to the fun. Unfortunately, the Longcui Nunnery was locked. Brother Bao tried to climb over the wall, but he tripped and fell."

Chen Siyuan walked with his hands behind his back and asked, "Second sister likes red plum blossoms?"

Yingchun said, "In the winter, when everything is white, this touch of bright red always makes things feel fresher."

Chen Siyuan then said, "Then please wait a moment, Second Sister."

"Hey?" Yingchun reached out to stop Chen Siyuan, but Chen Siyuan strode away and started running when he got close to Longcui Nunnery. He then stepped on the wall and grabbed the top of the wall, and in a few moments he had climbed over it.

A moment later, he rolled back over, a bright red plum blossom still in his mouth. Yingchun covered her mouth in surprise, and when she got closer, she saw that Chen Siyuan's front was already dirty, so she scolded, "I was just mentioning it casually, Brother Yuan, why did you have to take the risk?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and handed the red plum blossom to Yingchun, saying, "Since Second Sister likes it and I can get it, then I will get it for you."

Upon hearing the unspoken implication, "I can marry again," Yingchun blushed instantly. She lowered her head, her face flushed, and clutched the red plum blossom in her hands, unsure what to say.

Throughout her life, her birth mother died early, she was disliked by her grandmother and father, and her stepmother treated her like dirt. She was truly unloved by her maternal grandmother and uncles, so she had no choice but to pretend to be timid and become a nobody in the Rongguo Mansion, which is how she managed to survive until now.

After wearing the costume for so long, it inevitably developed some habits. As soon as this instinctive action came out, Yingchun immediately realized that something was wrong.

She thought to herself, "Yes, in terms of looks, talent, and personality, I am far inferior to Baochai and Daiyu. Now that Chen Siyuan's principal wife is vacant, if I want to win her over, I must please Chen Siyuan."

Chen Siyuan and Daiyu were betrothed early on, but because Daiyu was still young, their relationship only recently began to develop more frequently; as for Baochai, she and Chen Siyuan were a loving couple. Upon entering the Xue family mansion, the Xue family and Chen Siyuan had a falling out, and it is unknown how many coincidences and fortuitous events led them to this point.

It was also a matter of luck; if Xue Pan hadn't brought this upon himself, Baochai would surely have become Chen Siyuan's wife. Putting aside their relationship, just considering who came first, Yingchun knew she could never surpass Baochai.

She couldn't compare to him in looks, talent, or even affection. How could she possibly win Chen Siyuan's heart? After much thought, she realized that the only way was to please Chen Siyuan.

This Brother Yuan is good in every way, except that he's a bit...womanizing. In that case, Brother Yuan will surely be pleased with a wife who isn't jealous and can manage the household perfectly. As for my feelings for him... I won't rush it. People are all made of flesh and blood. Even if Brother Yuan's heart were truly ice, Yingchun is confident she can melt it.

So, suppressing her shyness, she mustered her courage, raised her eyes, and curtsied to Chen Siyuan: "Thank you, Brother Yuan, this red plum blossom is exactly what I like."

"I'm glad my second sister likes it."

Yingchun nodded in agreement and gestured for them to proceed towards the square building and round pavilion. Once inside, the pavilion provided shelter, preventing the fine snowflakes from falling on them.

Yingchun carried an oil-paper umbrella, while Chen Siyuan only wore a cloak, and his shoulders were covered with snowflakes.

Yingchun found a handkerchief, held it up, and frowned in distress, saying, "Brother Yuan is quite tall."

Chen Siyuan then crouched down, letting his second sister use a handkerchief to sweep the snowflakes off his body.

Suppressing her embarrassment, Yingchun turned around and looked at the scenery outside, saying, "Brother Yuan, you probably don't know, but Third Sister has offended Madam badly. I'm afraid... Third Sister won't be able to hold the position of steward for much longer."

That's true. These past few days, the maid Yunxiang has been coming and going, saying that Tanya has gotten into a fight with Wu Xingdeng and his wife. Not only have they investigated the cosmetics and other items in the garden, but they've also thoroughly investigated the supplies of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in the private school. Under their constant pressure, they've forced Wu Xingdeng to hand over a considerable amount of money.

Chen Siyuan glanced down at Yingchun's profile and said, "Even if Third Sister doesn't manage the household, does Madam think she can manage it herself? As for that Xia family girl, she's an outsider no matter what..."

Yingchun said, "Brother Yuan, don't forget you have a sister-in-law."

Li Wan? Li Wan had mentioned long ago that Madam Wang intended for her to manage the household, but she declined.

Chen Siyuan feigned surprise and asked, "Madam, are you planning to let your sister-in-law manage the household?"

Yingchun smiled and shook her head, saying, "My sister-in-law has always kept to herself and kept a low profile; she would never take on that housekeeping job."

Chen Siyuan said, "That's true, then there's no one else here."

“Yes,” Yingchun turned around and looked at Chen Siyuan with a smile, “Brother Yuan, have you forgotten about me?”

Chen Siyuan remained silent for a moment, then Yingchun said, "My aunt used to manage the household, and there's also the precedent of my third sister. What's so strange about me taking over the household management?"

Before Yingchun spoke, Chen Siyuan had already figured it out. This was because Madam Wang saw that Tanchun was uncontrollable, so she simply found Yingchun, who was as soft as cotton, to be her puppet.
"So, what does Second Sister plan to do? Push it away?"

Yingchun shook her head and said, "Someone has to manage the household. Third Sister is decisive and efficient, but she lacks gentleness. I should learn from this... This family needs someone to properly manage it."

Chen Siyuan said, "Since Second Sister has such aspirations, I wonder how I can help you?"

Yingchun said, "Mother is more inclined to believe what Brother Yuan says. Perhaps we should ask Brother Yuan to lend a hand when the time comes."

Good heavens, Yingchun is planning to outwardly comply but inwardly defy, colluding with Madam Xing and the eldest master to secretly undermine the foundation of the second branch of the family.

Chen Siyuan became interested and said, "Although I don't know how Second Sister plans to manage the household, it's just a matter of a few words. I will help if I can."

"Alright, I'm relieved to hear Brother Yuan say that."

Yingchun took a deep breath, looked up and smiled, saying, "It's getting late, I'll head back first. Brother Yuan, you should also go back and study."

After saying that, she opened the oil-paper umbrella again and moved back with graceful steps.

Chen Siyuan watched as the figure crossed the white stone bridge, then turned and looked at himself on the other side of the bridge before disappearing into the wind and snow.

Chen Siyuan turned and walked away with his hands behind his back, passing through the long corridor and winding passage. Unexpectedly, the snow stopped as soon as he emerged. The dark clouds gradually parted, and the sky suddenly brightened. Chen Siyuan smiled to himself, thinking, "I had previously heard my fourth sister, Xichun, say that my second sister was a clever person. Now, Yingchun is willing to take on this thankless task, clearly proving her competence in managing the household to me."

It seems that the second sister, Yingchun, has indeed been hiding her talents all along. But who knows what kind of storm she will stir up when she truly takes charge of the household in the future?

Chen Siyuan had already figured it out: since Baochai and Lin Daiyu each had their own lineage, to avoid future turmoil in the household, it was necessary to choose a suitable principal wife. He knew the second sister, Yingchun, well, and she was extremely intelligent, so marrying her as the principal wife was not unreasonable.

It's a pity that the third sister, Tan Chun, is a bit too young; otherwise, Chen Siyuan would have preferred to marry her.

After pondering for a while, Chen Siyuan smiled and strolled towards his humble thatched cottage. Little did he know that Xing Xiuyan had just left when she came out from in front of the Jade Emperor Temple. Seeing Chen Siyuan walk away, she smiled sweetly.

............................................................

Sister Feng's children's courtyard.

After examining Jia Lian, Physician Wang rose and said to Feng Jie, "Second Madam, the Second Master's injuries are not serious. He only needs to apply medicine to the wounds morning and night, and he will recover in three to five days."

Sister Feng kept a straight face and remained silent. Ping'er quickly stepped forward and said, "I'm sorry to trouble Physician Wang. Please have Physician Wang examine Qiu Tong again."

"It's easy to talk about."

Physician Wang agreed, picked up his medicine chest and walked out. Ping'er quickly instructed an old woman to lead him to the east side room.

As soon as the person left, Jia Lian, who had been lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), got up, looked at Feng Jie awkwardly, and said, "I—"

Sister Feng instructed, "Pack up your second master's bedding and send it to the front study in a bit."

"Feng'er, let me explain—"

Sister Feng sneered, "I never expected that Second Master would become so ambitious. Before, he only dared to seek out the wives in the mansion, but now he's even eyeing the maids around the First Master."

Jia Lian hurriedly said, "It was all that little vixen Qiu Tong who seduced me. I couldn't resist for a moment, that's why—besides, we've been married for several years and have only given birth to Qiao Jie. The old lady was still talking about wanting us to have more children."

Sister Feng laughed in exasperation and said, "Oh dear, Second Master's many children have all ended up with Qiu Tong?"

Jia Lian chuckled and said, "Why are you arguing with her? In the end, she's just a maid. How could she possibly surpass you? To put it bluntly, even if she gives birth to a child or two in the future, wouldn't they be raised under your name?"

Feng Jie was furious that Qiu Tong was going to raise her child. She frowned and said, "Ping'er, aren't you going to send him away?"

Ping'er quickly stepped in front of Jia Lian and secretly shook her head at him. Jia Lian knew what kind of person Feng Jie was, so he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. With a sigh, he let Ping'er pack up her bedding and went to the outer study with a sullen face.

As soon as the two left, Sister Feng plopped down on the kang (a heated brick bed), reached out and slapped the kang table, causing the cups and plates on it to shake and rattle.

Feng Jie knew that Jia Lian was a habitual philanderer and could no longer control himself. But when she thought of the Autumn Paulownia tree that the master had used, and how Jia Lian had stolen it without caring about the dirt, and what if Jia Lian came looking for her again... Feng Jie frowned and felt extremely disgusted.

While pondering, Ping'er turned around with her head down and replied, "Grandma, Second Master has gone to the study in the front to settle down."

"Hmm," Sister Feng replied.

Ping'er then softened her tone, saying, "Qiu Tong is naturally restless, so what Second Master said just now might be the truth. If you're still angry, once Qiu Tong recovers, you can make her suffer more."

Sister Feng said, "She's just a maid, I can't be bothered to argue with her."

At this moment, an old woman came to report. Ping'er went out and listened for a while. When she came back, she said to Feng Jie'er, "Doctor Wang has examined Qiu Tong. The master is really angry. Doctor Wang said that Qiu Tong will probably not be able to get up if she doesn't rest for more than a month."

In addition, Physician Wang said that Qiu Tong had used too much contraceptive decoction before, and he was afraid that she would have difficulty conceiving in the future.

Grandma, look—

Feng Jie closed her eyes and pondered for a moment, then said, "Since the old lady has spoken, I can't very well go against her wishes. Go to Tan Ya's place later and settle Qiu Tong's allowance. Everything she needs must be provided for."

Ping'er remained silent, but then Feng Jie sneered, "If there's one, there will be two. That Qiu Tong is arrogant and domineering. Keeping her around might be useful in the future." Ping'er agreed and hurried off to find Tan Chun, not to mention anything else.

............................................................

A simple thatched cottage.

As soon as Chen Siyuan entered, a young maid named Yunxiang swarmed around him, shouting, "Master, Master, Second Madam has lost her temper, and Second Master has slunk away to his study."

"Yes, that's to be expected."

Chen Siyuan walked with his hands behind his back. As soon as he entered the courtyard, a steward brought him some silver frost charcoal. Chen Siyuan glanced at it and saw that Hongyu had answered two sentences correctly. The steward then hurried away.

He frowned slightly, and asked in surprise, "You're not accepting money anymore?"

Hongyu turned around and tugged at Chen Siyuan's arm, saying, "Master, you don't know, the Third Miss is extremely strict in managing the household. A couple of days ago, the storeroom manager accepted silver from the Fourth Miss, and the Third Miss immediately punished him with a beating. Now, everyone in the household is terrified, so who would dare to accept bribes?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Third Sister is still the most straightforward."

Hongyu said, "It's just that... Third Miss's methods are too forceful, which has caused dissatisfaction among many people. I'm afraid she will suffer in the future."

Chen Siyuan said, "Third sister knew she couldn't manage for long, so instead of playing along, she should take decisive action."

"Too."

Seeing Hongyu nod, Chen Siyuan then instructed her and Xiangyun, "When you have time, please help out as well. If you find out anything, please inform Third Sister so that she doesn't suffer any losses."

Hongyu agreed, while Yunxiang's eyes darted around, wondering if she would be rewarded for her good deeds in the future.

The girl's thoughts were written all over her face. Chen Siyuan couldn't help but poke Yunxiang's forehead with a finger and scolded her, "Well done, you deserve a reward."

Yunxiang covered her head and said happily, "I understand, Master, you can hold up the good boy!"

After saying this, he hastily curtsied and then turned and skipped away.

Hongyu couldn't bear to look at her, thinking to herself that Yunxiang was a complete waste of her talents. A perfectly good young lady had become a busybody; how would she ever find a husband?
Chen Siyuan stepped inside, his mind drifting back to the scene in Jia Lian's outer study. He thought to himself, "It seems this affair won't provoke that old bastard Jia She. I'll have to think of another way."

This man, in this world, sought only three things: power, sex, and wealth. The second was unattainable, and the first... Chen Siyuan didn't yet possess such abilities, so he could only focus on wealth.

Just then, he received news from the Prince of Yanping's residence that the houttuynia cordata extract was indeed effective, and now the young princess's business was thriving. Chen Siyuan now had another way to make money. He might as well spread the word and let that old bastard Jia She take the bait himself.

Just as she was pondering this, she suddenly heard the old woman outside knocking on the door. Hongyu hurriedly went out and then quickly returned to Chen Siyuan and said, "Master, news has come from the new house that Qingwen has a high fever and the Third Madam requests that you go back to take a look."

"Hmm? What's wrong? He's sick?" Chen Siyuan's heart tightened. He quickly got up, dressed, and ran to the front to get a horse. In no time, they arrived at his new house.

He dismounted, and servants came to greet him. Chen Siyuan walked quickly and asked, "How is Qingwen?"

An old woman from the ceremonial gate came to greet us and said, "It's not good. We've already invited Dr. Ding from Henian Hall, but two doses of medicine haven't helped."

At this moment, the two sisters, You Erjie and You Sanjie, came to greet him. Chen Siyuan asked again, "You were fine just a few days ago, how did you get sick?"

Third Sister You glanced coldly at Second Sister You and said, "I don't know which fool pushed Qingwen into the water while she was off guard in the side garden. Luckily the pond is shallow, otherwise someone might have drowned!"

Chen Siyuan suddenly stopped, first glancing at You Sanjie, then turning to look at You Erjie.

Sister You was so frightened that her face changed drastically. She cried out, "Does Master also suspect me? Everyone in this family knows that Qingwen is Master's darling. Even if I had a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare to harm her."

Chen Siyuan remained silent, then turned to Sister You and asked, "Wasn't it investigated afterwards?"

"We investigated, but as you know, there are few people working in this new house. When the accident happened, there were only two cleaning women in the garden, and they were too far away to see anything. Later, when they heard Qingwen calling for help, it was they who pulled Qingwen out."

Qingwen got soaked in cold water, but was fine when she returned to her room. However, she developed a high fever last night. I called Doctor Ding this morning, and after two doses of medicine, she still didn't get better.

Chen Siyuan pointed to Chunxi and instructed her, "I have time. I forgot to bring something. Go to Rongguo Mansion and ask Hongyu to bring some houttuynia cordata extract."

Chunxi agreed and hurried outside.

Chen Siyuan strode towards the side room and said, "Since we are short-handed, sister, we should hire a few more people. We're not short of a few taels of silver anyway."

Sister You said, "Alright, I'll find a slave trader later."

When Chen Siyuan entered the side room, he saw Granny Qu holding Luan'er, and Qingwen lying on the kang (a heated brick bed). Her pretty face was flushed, a damp cloth was on her forehead, her lips were dry, and she looked sickly.

Chen Siyuan quickly approached and reached out to touch Qingwen's small hand, finding it burning hot.

Startled, Qingwen groggily opened her eyes and saw that it was Chen Siyuan who had come. She immediately tried to sit up, but Chen Siyuan quickly pressed her down, saying, "You're so sick, don't try to be strong."

Qingwen forced a smile and said reproachfully, "I only have a slight fever, sir, you didn't need to come all this way. Don't, don't pass on your illness to sir."

Third Sister You pouted, feeling a little jealous, and simply pulled Second Sister You away.

Luan'er was led away by a maid, and Granny Qu brought water. Chen Siyuan said gently, "I'm not as weak as I used to be. Yesterday...did you see who pushed you into the water?"

Qingwen shook her head and said, "I didn't see it. The pool was full of silt. I couldn't pull my feet out or turn around. By the time I was pulled out, the person had already disappeared."

Chen Siyuan said angrily, "How could such a wicked person come to our perfectly good home? I'll have my third sister investigate carefully and give you an explanation."

Qingwen nodded and said, "We can't let her get away with this. She pushed me today, but who knows what she might do tomorrow. Don't let me catch her, or I'll make her pay!"

Granny Qu wet a handkerchief and was about to come over to wipe Qingwen's face when Chen Siyuan took it from her and said, "There's no need for Granny Qu here, I can do it myself."

Granny Qu said, "If you ask me, it's all the concubine's own fault. She fell into the water during the day, so she could have just sweated it out at night, but she insisted on staying up all night to make a cloak for the master."

Chen Siyuan asked in astonishment, "You've already fallen into the water, and you're still not behaving yourself?"

Qingwen gave Granny Qu a reproachful look and pouted, "It was just a matter of a few needles, I never thought it would make me sick instead."

Chen Siyuan was both amused and exasperated. He took a handkerchief and carefully wiped Qingwen's pretty face and neck.

Granny Naqu glanced at it a few times, then turned away, covered her mouth and laughed, before quietly leaving.

Seeing Chen Siyuan wipe her palms and then the soles of her feet, Qingwen felt very comforted despite being ill. Such things were always done by maids; it was unheard of for a master to serve a maid like this.

If it were Hongyu or someone else, they would probably have refused. But Qingwen never considered herself a maid, and with her pride and arrogance, she took it for granted that Chen Siyuan would serve her.

After wiping himself clean, Chen Siyuan saw Qingwen smiling and looking at him.

Chen Siyuan reached out and tapped Qingwen's nose with a finger, saying, "Still laughing? Even a common cold can be fatal these days."

Qingwen laughed and said, "I'm not afraid. If I could be served by the master just once, I would be willing to die right now."

"Stop talking nonsense. How old are you? You have a long life ahead of you. Stop spouting such life-or-death nonsense."

Qingwen smiled and remained silent.

After a while, Chunxi returned with the houttuynia cordata extract. Chen Siyuan helped Qingwen up and fed her a spoonful of the extract. He then coaxed Qingwen for a while, and she finally fell asleep, tugging at Chen Siyuan's arm.

Once Qingwen calmed down, Chen Siyuan withdrew his arm and headed towards the back building.

As she went upstairs, she heard the two You sisters arguing. The third sister was certain that this was the work of the second sister, who shouted, "Me? Instruct someone to push Qingwen? No matter what, she was born a maid. If I were to push someone, I would push you, not her. Instead of suspecting me, you should think about whether Qingwen has offended someone and is being retaliated against."

At this moment, Chen Siyuan came upstairs, and the two sisters stopped arguing.

Chen Siyuan pondered in his heart that it was indeed as You Erjie had said. You Sanjie preferred to stay in the outer residence rather than go to Chen Siyuan's room. You Erjie did have some thoughts. Qingwen was Chen Siyuan's personal maid. Although You Erjie and Qingwen did not get along well, there was no need for You Erjie to push her into the water.

Moreover, the pool was extremely shallow; unless by sheer coincidence, no one could possibly drown. The person who made the move was most likely not Sister You Er.

The two sisters got up and greeted Chen Siyuan as he sat down. You Sanjie then said, "Tomorrow, find a suitable maid for Qingwen so she will have company and won't be left alone and vulnerable to being schemed against."

Without any evidence or witnesses, Chen Siyuan was unwilling to speculate and decided to put the matter aside for the time being. He only instructed You Sanjie to thoroughly investigate all the servants in the house in the next few days to prevent any malicious individuals from infiltrating.

It was getting late. After having dinner with his two sisters, Chen Siyuan glanced at Qingwen in the side room and saw that she was sleeping soundly and that her fever had subsided. He was relieved.

............................................................

Mrs. Wang’s courtyard.

After watching the commotion, Madam Wang returned home, and later that evening, Xia Jingui came to speak with her again.

Xia Jingui, having learned of the previous events, felt contempt for Jia Lian's lack of talent and was greatly disappointed. Being the cunning type, Xia Jingui secretly hoped the main branch of the Rongguo Mansion would completely descend into chaos, first killing Jia Lian, then driving Jia She to his death, and finally finding an opportunity to eliminate Jia Cong and the Fourth Prince. In this way, the title would naturally fall to the second branch in the future.

After the two argued for a while, Madam Wang couldn't help but sigh, "This time, the master seems to have restrained himself a bit. He only hit Lian'er a few times, and the rest of the blows were on Qiu Tong."

Xia Jingui said, "In my opinion, it's because Sister Feng is too jealous. How many years have they been married? Lian Erge only has Ping'er as his concubine. I heard that Lian Erge only sees Ping'er a few times a year. It's only because Lian Erge has a good temper. If it were anyone else, I'm afraid they would have already fallen out with Sister Feng."

Madam Wang said, "Who says otherwise? But this is a matter for the eldest son's family, so I can't say too much."

Xia Jingui said, "If Madam doesn't say, then neither does the Old Madam?"

Madam Wang said, "Last time, the old lady scolded Feng'er a few times, but she is strong-willed and won't listen to the old lady."

Xia Jingui had an idea and said, "Sister Feng is not doing well. As the saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. She has been monopolizing Brother Lian, but now she has only given birth to a daughter. It is not good for her to continue like this, is it? Madam, why don't you talk to the old lady and ask her to persuade Sister Feng to add another concubine to Brother Lian's room?"

Madam Wang frowned slightly, thinking to herself, what's the point of doing something so thankless? When she looked up and saw Xia Jingui looking at her with a smile, Madam Wang immediately realized that she had misunderstood.

After pondering for a while, she finally realized what was going on. Yes, Feng was a strong-willed girl. If it were just Qiu Tong, she would be annoyed but could still hold back. But if a concubine with a respectable background were sent, Feng would definitely be furious.

At that time, how could Feng'er still have the mind to fight with me? She'll probably be focused on killing that concubine!

In this way, without Feng'er causing trouble, and by removing the disobedient Tan Chun and replacing her with the gentle Ying Chun, wouldn't the household management be handled properly?
Madam Wang understood the situation and immediately smiled, saying, "That's true. As her aunt, I have to consider the future of the eldest son's lineage. Feng'er is indeed behaving rather improperly."

At this moment, Zhou Rui's wife entered and whispered a few words to Madam Wang, which immediately angered Madam Wang. It turned out that Madam Wang's maid had been drinking while on duty that day and was caught by Tan Chun, who immediately gave her ten strokes of the cane.

Madam Wang slammed her hand on the table and gritted her teeth, saying, "Tan'er is getting bolder and bolder!"

Zhou Rui's wife chimed in, "No matter what, the Third Miss was raised in the Madam's quarters. Even if she wasn't born from the Madam's womb, it's not right for her to side with outsiders, is it?"

Xia Jingui said, "If you ask me, Madam has already made up her mind. Why not tolerate her for a few more days? The most urgent things are, firstly, to find a suitable girl; secondly, once we find Second Sister, we must persuade her to take on the job of housekeeper."

Madam Wang was an impatient person, so she said, "Then how about I call Yingchun over right now?"

Xia Jingui smiled and said, "Madam, there is a priority to these matters. I think it would be better to take care of the first thing properly first."

Madam Wang thought about it and agreed. After pondering for a while, she frowned and said, "It's just a pity that I don't know where to find a suitable girl."

Unexpectedly, Xia Jingui said, "Madam, I do know someone. There is a woman named Zhang Jinge in Chang'an County who married the son of the garrison commander. However, she offended Li Yanei and suffered his revenge. The garrison commander's son died less than three months after his marriage. The garrison commander's wife thought Zhang Jinge was an unlucky omen, so she released her from the house."

Feeling utterly disgraced, and unwilling to bring Zhang Jinge back home, the Zhang family patriarch simply went to the Muni Monastery to practice Buddhism while still keeping his hair.

(End of this chapter)