Chapter 77

When Su Mingde and Su Zhen left yesterday, it was already nighttime, so Su Mi got up early the next morning and went to the southern mansion.

When Su Mi came out of the main house, there was already an official double-horse carriage parked at the door, with Ling An sitting in the front seat with a cold expression.

Qin Yan never interfered in Su’s family affairs, and Su Mi didn’t want to bother him with these trivial matters. She planned to bring Chun Mei with her, but judging from the situation, it seemed that the Lord was not at ease and arranged for Ling An to accompany her.

Inside the carriage, there were already two warm stoves, and the fragrance filled the spacious compartment, keeping out the cold wind outside.

Su Mi pushed aside the blanket that Chun Mei had put on her absentmindedly and said, “Chun Mei, I’m not cold.”

“Yes, miss,” Chun Mei withdrew her hand and looked at the worried expression on Su Mi’s face, but ultimately said nothing.

Su Mi felt stifled and opened the curtain of the carriage, looking at the passing street scenes in a daze with various speculations running through her mind.

Although there weren’t many letters from Mrs. Yu recently, they never mentioned anything. Perhaps she was overthinking, and her mother might just have some minor illness; who knows?

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“Flnsde Ykpp, usw’al cynj.”

“Zlp, Bdnzl Nw.” Fw Yk zsolale bla tygl yde bkdvle, “R blyae vbyv Ysvbla kp pknj, ps R nyxl vs pll bla.”

Bdnzl Nw oyp rwggzle. “Flnsde Ykpp, R byhld’v blyae ycswv Yyeyx clkdt pknj. Jlpkelp, Yyeyx byp yzalyeu alvwadle vs Kkydtzkdt Ukvu yde kp dsv blal.”

Tla osaaklp clnyxl nzlyala kd bla xkde, yde Fw Yk ypjle, “Ebld eke pbl zlyhl?” Ebu eke Yap.Zw dlhla xldvksd kv kd bla zlvvlap?

“Rv byp clld vos eyup pkdnl pbl zlqv.”

“Bdnzl Nw, es usw jdso obu?”

Uncle Lu scratched his head. “Second Miss, I don’t know about that. I suggest you ask Auntie Lan in the kitchen; she might know.”

“Alright.”

Su Mi nodded. Auntie Lan had been in the Su Mansion’s kitchen for decades, even before the Su family rose to prominence. She was old and kind-hearted, and she often chatted with Yu Qingniang about household matters. When Su Mi was young, she saw Auntie Lan just as much as Yu Qingniang.

Uncle Lu didn’t know what Su Mi was pondering, and he asked softly, “Second Miss, should I go in and inform Master?”

“No need; I made an arrangement with Dad that I would come today, so he knows.”

“Alright, Second Miss.”

***

Since Su Mi had stayed here before, she entered with Chun Mei confidently. Originally, she planned to go directly to find Auntie Lan, but as they passed through the front courtyard and hall, they heard voices. Su Mi instinctively followed the sound.

As they approached the lacquered wooden door, they heard Auntie Zhao’s voice. Su Mi gestured to Chun Mei to be quiet, and they stood by the door. A sense of curiosity arose within her. When did Auntie Zhao arrive? Why didn’t Mother tell her anything? What happened during these days that she wasn’t aware of?

Su Mi became increasingly nervous and held her breath, pressing her ear against the door.

Inside the hall, Auntie Zhao, dressed in a pibajin flower jacket, stood behind Su Mingde and gently smoothed his back.

“Master, you’ve rested for a whole night. Why are you still angry? It’s not good for your health.” Auntie Zhao spoke softly with concern and added, “Moreover, the second miss has married the chief. It’s only natural for her to have some temperament.”

“Natural? Hmph! No matter who she marries, I am still her father. Yet she dares to show me a disrespectful attitude. This temperament must have come from her mother!”

Auntie Zhao saw Su Mingde getting angrier, and a slight smile appeared on her lips. “Master, I can understand. It’s a privilege that Zhen’er doesn’t have. Even you can’t persuade her, so who else can?”

Su Mingde chuckled. “She must acknowledge her adopted son, whether she likes it or not.”

“Well, if Madam were here, it would be better. Second Miss always listens to Madam. Madam would be able to persuade her. If it weren’t for me, Madam wouldn’t have gone back.”

Su Mingde’s face darkened upon hearing this. After the argument with Yu Qingniang a few days ago, she returned to Jiangling City. It seemed she hadn’t mentioned it to Su Mi, showing some restraint.

“What does this have to do with you, Wan Niang? You are too kind-hearted, always taking everything upon yourself. If Qi’er hears this, he will think I am bullying you.”

Auntie Zhao covered her mouth and smiled, then started talking about Su Qi, mentioning her son. Su Mingde’s expression improved significantly.

Su Mi stood outside, not hearing everything clearly, but she understood that Auntie Zhao had arrived and Mother had returned to Jiangling City. However, they didn’t continue talking about the reasons behind it.

Listening further would be uninteresting. Su Mi took a few steps back with Chun Mei, deliberately making heavy footsteps. She glanced as Auntie Zhao slipped into a side room and then called out, “Father.”

When Su Mingde turned around, his surprised expression had turned into a smile. “Mi’er, why have you come?”

No one from the gatehouse had come to report, so he didn’t know how long she had been there.

“Father, you said Mother was sick, so I wanted to come and see her. Is she in her chambers now?”

Su Mingde looked at Su Mi’s natural expression and realized she had just arrived and hadn’t heard or seen anything. In fact, he wasn’t afraid of Su Mi, knowing that Yu Qingniang had returned to Jiangling City. He was afraid that she would learn about the reason behind their argument and hold a grudge against him and Auntie Zhao, making it even more impossible for Su Zhen’s child to be adopted.

“Oh, you came a bit late. Qingniang isn’t feeling well, so I had her go back to the mansion in Jiangling City for recuperation.” Su Mingde recalled Auntie Zhao’s words and continued speaking to Su Mi, “Since you’re here, I won’t speak in riddles. Why did you refuse in front of the chief yesterday? It seems the Chief doesn’t oppose it.”

“Father, I asked the Chief early on. He has a relative in the countryside who is about to give birth. I couldn’t say it in front of him yesterday. The chief has already arranged for someone from another family. How could I dare to object?” Su Mi improvised, as she had no intention of accepting the adoption. They had no way to force her.

Unexpectedly, Su Mingde slammed the table and said, “Then adopt two! Good things come in pairs. Mi’er, you should also consider yourself. The chief  relative’s child will never be as caring as your natal family’s. When you get older, do you still expect others to treat you well?”

“Father, I’ve never been a mother. How can I handle two children at once?”

“The chief’s household has plenty of servants. Just find a few more wet nurses. There’s no need for you to personally take care of them.”

“Not personally taking care means there won’t be any affection.”

…

“Father, the Chief is waiting for me at home. I should go back first.”

Su Mingde tried to persuade her earnestly, but every word seemed to bounce off Su Mi’s stubbornness. After speaking for a while without any positive response, he grew a bit impatient. Frowning, he waved his hand and said, “Alright, go back then.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Su Mi turned and walked out of the hall. Instead of going straight to the entrance, she took Chun Mei with her to the kitchen in the inner courtyard and found Auntie Lan.

“Auntie Lan,” she said, glanced at the familiar blue cotton skirt behind the stove, and spoke softly.

Aunt Lan was over ten years older than Yu Qingniang, but she had been called Auntie Lan by the people in the mansion for decades and never changed.

“Ah! It’s Little Mi’er and Chun Mei!” Auntie Lan exclaimed in surprise when she saw them. She wiped her hands on her apron and eagerly grabbed Su Mi’s hand. “Why did you come today? Let me take a look. Oh, my little Mi’er has grown up to be like a young lady.”

Auntie Lan had watched Su Mi grow up and treated her more warmly than others. After Su Mi got married, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. When Su Mi came from Jiaozhou, it had been over a year since they last met.

“Auntie Lan…” Su Mi’s eyes welled up with tears when she saw Auntie Lan. In her childhood, Su Mingde ignored her, and there were only a few people who treated her well. Auntie Lan was one of them.

“It’s good that you’re here. Why are you crying? Aren’t you happy to see Auntie Lan?” Auntie Lan pinched Su Mi’s cheek and sighed, “Unfortunately, you came a few days late. Madam, she just returned to Jiangling City.”

Su Mi adjusted her emotions and asked, “Auntie Lan, that’s exactly what I want to ask you. Do you know why Mother suddenly went back to Jiangling City? Is it related to Auntie Zhao?”

Auntie Lan was surprised by her question and said, “Such an important matter; didn’t Madam tell you anything?”

Su Mi sensed that something was wrong and felt a tightness in her heart. She shook her head.

Aunt Lan whispered, “I think Madam is afraid that you’ll worry. You don’t know, those two days she and Master had a huge argument in their room. It was all because of Auntie Zhao.”

“What happened to Auntie Zhao?”

Auntie Lan lowered her voice. “Master wanted to elevate Auntie Zhao to the status of a secondary wife. Your mother disagreed. So, Master forced her to come and talk to you about adoption. He said if adoption happens, he won’t elevate Auntie Zhao. If not, he will.”

—

In the North Courtyard, where Auntie Zhao resided, the floor was littered with broken porcelain shards.

“I’m so angry. She comes back, and I have to hide. The master doesn’t even think about it. Why keep this matter a secret? A casual question would reveal everything.”

“Yu Qingniang has returned to Jiangling City. Why are you still upset? It’s not good for your health to be angry,” said Feng Mu Mama, who had accompanied Auntie Zhao for decades.

Auntie Zhao was the eldest daughter of the Zhao family. Her biological mother passed away early, so Feng Mu Mama and Auntie Zhao were like mother and daughter.

“Mama, to be honest, it’s not worth getting angry about this. What I’m most angry about is that I finally convinced Master to consider the status of a secondary wife, but Yu Qingniang refuses. Now, you see, I’m in a difficult position, and even Zhen’er’s matters aren’t going smoothly. The mother and daughter are just against me.”

Feng Mu Mama patted her shoulder and smiled, “Wan Niang, a secondary wife is never on par with the main wife. If Yu Qingniang doesn’t agree, it will

 be difficult. However, I have an idea. If it works out,you might become the main wife.”

Auntie Zhao’s eyes lit up. She knew that Feng Mu Mama was the most cunning, and she had been the mastermind behind many things in the past. Hearing her words now, she knew there was a chance. “Mama, quickly tell me.”

“When the time comes, you may have to endure a few days of discomfort,” Feng Mu Mama leaned close to Auntie Zhao and whispered.

Auntie Zhao clicked her tongue and said, “I’m afraid this matter will be exposed then.”

“Rest assured, Master has Qi’er in his heart, and this matter is a thorn in his side. It won’t be brought up,” Feng Mu Mama reassured her.

“Alright, I’ll do as you say, Mama. As for that person…”

“Don’t worry, Mama guarantees that everything will be arranged properly.” Feng Mu Mama chuckled darkly.

“Just like those things in the past.”