The Splendor of the Red Chamber

Not to mention the feast held by everyone in Wutong Garden.

Meanwhile, Siqi left the Rongguo Mansion and headed straight for the alley where the stewards and servants lived.

Throughout the journey, she was filled with mixed feelings. Several times she wanted to get rid of the burden and made up her mind to resign from her job by the Second Madam's side.

But her parents also work in the Rongguo Mansion. If the Second Madam asks about it later, she won't be able to explain.

Hey~

If I had known this would happen, I should have quit my job a couple of days ago instead of hesitating and getting deeper and deeper into trouble.

"Ouch~"

Siqi was frowning when she suddenly heard a pretentious voice: "Who is it? It's Siqi."

Siqi looked up and saw it was Hu, Yuanyang's sister-in-law.

This Hu woman relied on Yuanyang's favor with the old lady, and her husband Jin Wenxiang was the old lady's purchasing manager. He usually loved to put on airs and meddle in other people's business.

"Sister-in-law Jin".

Yuanyang was in a bad mood and didn't bother with her. She nodded and greeted her before passing by.

Seeing this, Madam Hu was a little displeased. She thought to herself, "Even if you, Siqi, have climbed up the social ladder by marrying into the Second Mistress's family, can you still compare to my husband and sister-in-law?"

So he couldn't help but mock, "You look so worried and carry so many bags, did you do something wrong and get kicked out?"

Siqi paused, raised her head, and sneered, "Can't you think of me in a better way, sister-in-law? To tell you the truth, this is a reward from Second Madam for my good work. Since she gave me so much, I'm worried about how to distribute it."

With that, he puffed out his chest, looking down on his peers with pride, and strode confidently toward his home.

She is a proud and self-conscious person. No matter how upset or anxious she is, she doesn't want others to look down on her.

Therefore, he forced a smile the whole way, and took the initiative to explain and show off to everyone he met, until he returned to his own courtyard, at which point his face fell and he went into the house.

Siqi's father was still on duty with the master, and her mother was eating alone in the room. When she saw her daughter drop her bundle as soon as she entered the door, looking worried and distressed, Qin Wangshi was also startled.

He hurriedly put down his rice bowl, stood up, and asked, "What's wrong? Did you do something wrong...?"

"Mother!"

Siqi interrupted her mother, pointing to the bundle and saying, "These are all gifts from Second Mistress, containing food and useful items. She specially asked me to bring them home to share with you."

"That's a good thing!"

Madam Qin felt a sense of relief. While rummaging through the contents of the bundle, she exclaimed happily, "Last time, Second Madam bestowed over a length of fine silk upon you, and now you've given me so much more! My child, you've truly made something of yourself!"

Seeing her mother's expression, Siqi knew that she would definitely not support her quitting her job.

But further delay would only make things worse, so she braced herself and said, "Mother, there are too many and complicated tasks for Second Grandmother, and I'm finding it hard to handle them. I'm afraid that if I mess things up, it will cause trouble..."

"What are you afraid of?!"

Madam Qin and her daughter were completely on different wavelengths. Upon hearing her daughter's reluctance, she quickly encouraged her, "Which of those powerful female stewards in the mansion didn't work their way up through this? Besides, Second Madam values ​​you so much, she will surely forgive any minor mistakes you may make."

"What if it's a big mistake?"

Siqi argued, "I still think the Second Miss is more suitable for me. After the Second Miss gets married in two years, I... I can find another way out for myself."

She didn't dare to reveal her secret engagement with Pan Youan, and could only vaguely say that she was looking for another way out.

"What way out are you looking for?"

Madam Qin retorted angrily, "If you were to follow the Second Miss, you'd most likely be a maidservant accompanying her in her dowry. With your stature, do you really think you can become the Second Son-in-Law's concubine? Besides, nothing outside compares to the prestige of our Rongguo Mansion!"

Siqi was well aware of this, but she still firmly stated, "Even if I refuse to comply to the death, it doesn't necessarily mean I have to accompany you..."

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law~!"

Just then, a loud voice came from outside. It was Qin Xian's wife, Siqi's aunt.

Qin Wangshi hurriedly hid the things that Siqi had brought into the inner room.

When Qin Xian's wife entered and saw Siqi, she exclaimed happily, "I was just about to go to the manor to take up my post when I heard you were back, so I rushed over to see you. Sure enough, you're home!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Siqi's hand and looked her up and down with a strange look in his eyes, making Siqi feel very uncomfortable.

At this moment, Madam Qin came out from inside and said to her sister-in-law, "You all work in the mansion, and we see each other all the time, so don't let her interfere with your night patrol."

Qin Xian's wife was a night watchwoman in the Rongguo Mansion, and it was time for her to go to work.

"Good sister-in-law!"

Qin Xian's wife grabbed Qin Wangshi's hand, her smile growing even brighter: "From now on, our Qin family will all be counting on you, our precious daughter!"

Lady Qin was bewildered by her words and mumbled, "She's just working for the Second Mistress; it's hard to say whether she'll become a steward in the future."

"Who told you that?"

Qin Xian's wife glared at her sister-in-law and said reproachfully, "Sister-in-law, do you really not know, or are you deliberately hiding it from me?"

"What do you mean I kept it from you?"

The Queen of Qin was even more bewildered, staring blankly at her sister-in-law.

Seeing this, Qin Xian's wife finally believed that Qin Wangshi was truly unaware of the situation. So she quickly pulled Qin Wangshi into the house and whispered, "Has Second Madam bestowed many gifts again?"

"Uh~"

Seeing that her sister-in-law already knew, Qin Wangshi could only nod vaguely.

Qin Xian's wife asked mysteriously, "Do you know why?"

Why?

"Of course, it's because Second Mistress has taken a liking to Siqi and intends to take her away to be Second Master's concubine!"

Qin Xian's wife's words immediately stunned Qin Wangshi.

Because Siqi was taller than most men, many people were intimidated by her; in addition, there were folk rumors that tall women had difficulty conceiving, large bones made childbirth difficult, were unlucky in having children, and were not good for their husbands' families.

So the Queen of Qin was always worried that Siqi would not be able to find a man in the future, but who would have thought that such a big pie would suddenly fall from the sky.

She asked incredulously, "Really? Second Master really likes her?"

"It doesn't matter if Second Master doesn't like it, as long as Second Madam takes a liking to it." Qin Xian's wife smiled mysteriously and said, "Eldest Brother is on duty in the east wing, so he probably hasn't heard the rumors about Wutong Courtyard."

She deliberately kept everyone in suspense, and only after Madam Qin pressed her for details did she whisper, "Ever since Second Master received the blessing of the ancestors, his health has been incredibly robust. Every time Second Madam sleeps with him, she staggers the next day!"

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Qin couldn't help but gossip, "Even if Second Mistress can't handle it, isn't there still Ping'er?"

"Would you have had it easier being Ping'er?"

Qin Xian's wife smiled ambiguously and said, "To tell you the truth, I heard it clearly from behind the wall of Wutong Garden. The noise... tsk tsk, even an old sow mating wouldn't be this noisy."

Lady Qin spat and laughed, "If you dare eavesdrop on Second Master and Second Mistress, you'd better watch out, or I'll skin you alive!"

"That's not important. What's important is our Siqi!"

Qin Xian's wife nudged her sister-in-law and winked, saying, "Everyone outside thinks Siqi is too tall, but Second Madam can't resist and wants to drag someone down with her. Is there anyone more suitable than her?"

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin understood and was overjoyed.

Her husband and parents all work for Jia She in the east wing. Now, Jia She is under house arrest by the old lady for a long time, while Jia Lian has gained the emperor's favor.

Anyone could see that Jia She was a thing of the past, and Jia Lian was the future master of the East Wing and even the entire Rongguo Mansion.

If Siqi could climb the social ladder by marrying Lian Erye at this time, her whole family and relatives would be able to settle down safely, and they might even be able to take the opportunity to rise to a higher level!

How could the King of Qin not be overjoyed?

The two sisters-in-law chatted quietly for a while, dreaming of a bright future where they would share both glory and fortune. Only then did Qin Xian's wife hurriedly go to the mansion to take up her duties.

After seeing her off, Madam Qin turned back and looked at her daughter with increasing delight. This large physique was practically made to cushion the back of the Second Mistress.

"Mother."

Siqi felt a chill run down her spine from all the stares. She quickly shook off her mother's hand and said speechlessly, "What's wrong with you all? Why are you all staring at me like that?"

"I'm your mother, see what's wrong?"

Qin Wangshi rolled her eyes at her daughter, then couldn't help but grin and say, "I was worried you'd become a nun, but I never imagined there would be someone in the world who would like you."

Siqi was taken aback upon hearing this. She didn't think of Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian, but immediately thought of her cousin Pan Youan.

Could it be that my cousin asked my aunt to mediate?!

Siqi immediately blushed with excitement, grabbed her mother's hand, and asked, "So, Mother doesn't object to my relationship with my cousin?!"

"Cousin?"

Qin Wangshi's joy froze on her face, and it took her a long time to react: "You mean your aunt's son, Pan You'an? No, absolutely not!"

She already had a strained relationship with her sister-in-law, and now that she saw an opportunity to climb the social ladder by marrying into the Pan family, how could she possibly agree to marry her daughter to the Pan family?

Siqi was stunned: "But what you just did..."

"I'm talking about Second Madam!"

Madam Qin said firmly, "You will stay and serve Second Mistress obediently. Do whatever Second Mistress tells you to do. If you dare to flirt with the Pan family, I'll break your legs!"

After saying that, seeing that Siqi was stubbornly refusing to back down, she quickly added, "I won't let the Pan family off the hook either; I'll definitely have to argue with your aunt!"

Siqi finally relented. Her mother had already objected, and if she were to fall out with her aunt, things would be even more difficult.

This argument led to a cold war between the mother and daughter.

Lady Qin was afraid that revealing the story of the Second Mistress using others as scapegoats would force Siqi to take desperate measures and act rashly, so she kept it a secret.

She secretly prayed to the gods and Buddhas, hoping that the Second Master would take her daughter as his concubine soon.