After returning to the Pei Mansion, the Third Young Madam headed straight to see the old lady without even changing her clothes.
"Your granddaughter-in-law has co to bring glad tidings to the matriarch."
The elder loved hearing about joyous occasions, but this out-of-the-blue statent left Mrs. Pei sowhat bewildered, "From where do the glad tidings co?"
Yao Xing replied with a smile, "Mrs. Zhao has taken a liking to Haitang and wishes to redeem her, bringing her back to be a concubine for Old Master Zhao. This is such a rare fortune that even with a lantern in hand, it would be hard to find another like it! Certainly, it’s a cause for celebration that such luck has befallen Haitang."
In Yao Xing’s eyes, a maid being chosen to beco a concubine for a person of high status was the utmost fortune, a position many maids could only dream of achieving. It was naturally a great honor for Haitang to be chosen.
Therefore, Yao Xing’s congratulatory words to Mrs. Pei were sincere, unfeigned by any sense of impropriety.
If she weren’t eager to remove a thorn in her side, she wouldn’t even consider arranging for soone of status.
"Only a maid by the side of the matriarch would have such an opportunity. Other maids would simply not be chosen. Haitang is incredibly clever, spending the entire banquet pleasing Mrs. Zhao, even accompanying her in drinking quite a bit. I suppose she is very happy in her heart, after all, young ladies are often shy about such matters, so it’s only natural for to break the news to the matriarch."
Yao Xing spoke with enthusiasm, not realizing that the old lady’s expression had already turned cold.
"Haitang is still young; there’s no need to rush into these matters," Mrs. Pei said indifferently.
"She’s not that young. At what age do ordinary girls begin their betrothals? We can send her over now, and in two years, she can be officially taken in; otherwise, it will be too late if we start worrying after she’s of age."
The words sounded quite considerate, and to soone who didn’t know better, it might truly seem as though she had the girl’s best interests at heart.
But in reality, it was nothing more than a pretense.
Mrs. Pei’s face had fallen.
"Third granddaughter-in-law, if your intentions are truly to matchmake, you should choose well; otherwise, forging a union of doom may harm the girl, wouldn’t that be a sin?"
Having lived most of her life, Mrs. Pei had experienced more than others could fathom. How could she not know the character of Old Master Zhao?
In his youth, he shirked his governntal duties. In old age, he constantly brought in one concubine after another, who knows how many innocent girls from respectable families he had ruined?
Mrs. Pei spoke bluntly, directly pointing out Yao Xing’s ulterior motives, leaving Yao Xing’s face alternating between red and blue, extrely embarrassed. "Matriarch, I didn’t an it like that, I..."
Mrs. Pei let out a long sigh, "I’m tired, you may leave now. It’s only been a short ti since you joined the household; I’m sure there are many things to adapt to. From now on, you should remain in the third chamber and learn well how to manage it, no need to co pay respect to anymore, go."
The Pei Family nowadays could be considered tripartite, with the main force being the first chamber; the other two chambers had to carefully manage their affairs to maintain their dignity.
"Matriarch!" Yao Xing panicked, this was not the result she wanted. She couldn’t understand why, just because of a maid, Mrs. Pei would speak such harsh words, how could she be worthy of this treatnt?
Who didn’t know that the first chamber was the most prestigious in the Pei Mansion? The other two chambers depended on the first for their respectable lives, especially the third chamber, without the protection of the first, their future was unpredictable.
"Matriarch, I was wrong, I only thought that for a maid to encounter such an event was her great fortune. Besides, she’s willing herself, that’s why I sought you out, Matriarch. My intentions were genuinely good, if you don’t believe , you can call Haitang over to ask her, every word I said is true!"
In the end, she attempted to shift all the responsibility onto Haitang, subtly reminding the matriarch that it was unwise to snub the granddaughter-in-law over a re maid.
Besides, she wasn’t afraid of having Haitang summoned for questioning, as she imagined that little maid wouldn’t dare contradict her words.
However, the matriarch had no intention of such confrontation, waving her hand to signal Nanny Wang to see the guest out.
"Matriarch, Matriarch..."
Yao Xing’s anxious and flustered voice was slowly isolated outside.
After sending her away, Nanny Wang returned and noted the matriarch’s displeased deanor, she then inquired, "Is the matriarch unwell?"
"Just a slight headache, nothing serious."
"Headaches shouldn’t be taken lightly, it would be best to call a physician to have a look."
"No need, it’s rely caused by being vexed, it’ll pass with so rest."
Nanny Wang sighed and said, "Third Young Madam is young and immature, the matriarch need not take her words to heart."
The matriarch glanced at the nanny, "Even young, unmarried girls wouldn’t be so ignorant, let alone a married woman. I didn’t favor this marriage at the start, yet the third daughter-in-law insisted. Now, seeing this situation, it’s truly as they say, like attracts like, let them be."
Qu Fulan was unaware that the matriarch had taken a bullet for her.
She felt at ease because of the narrative’s course and her understanding of Mrs. Pei.
The matriarch’s nature wouldn’t allow even a maid by her side to beco a concubine against her will. If a maid truly wished to be a concubine, she would advise her otherwise, or if she were insistent, she would concede.
But if the person in question was soone like Old Master Zhao, the matriarch wouldn’t agree even in death; sending one of her maids to such a person would be a slap in her face.
Yao Xing’s insistence on stirring this trouble ant she inevitably gained nothing good.
Qu Fulan was in no way worried about this matter; her concern lay with another issue instead.
When lying in bed at night, she pondered the events involving the Xiao family’s mother and daughter she encountered during the day.
At that ti at the banquet, Xiao Shinuan was called away by Miss Zheng, leaving Mrs. Xiao remaining there. However, her gaze shifted from initial shock to subsequent calm, and finally to utter disregard.
If Mrs. Xiao were soone who valued old ties, she would have approached and inquired out of concern for the daughter of a forr acquaintance.
But there was nothing.
She ultimately chose indifference.
Completely in line with the novel’s plot.
Once the original owner’s family fell, they no longer matched up to Prince Xiao in the eyes of the Xiao family.
In the original work, Li Jirou did not attend today’s banquet. After all, she had already t Prince Xiao before, and there was an understanding between Heir Pei and Prince Xiao. Though still a third-class maid, she had soone secretly watching over her by Heir Pei’s order, averting many problems unseen.
Xiao Shiqing was inherently a taciturn person, keeping his lips sealed, and before bringing the heroine ho, his family had no knowledge of his having t Li Jirou.
Thus later, when he suddenly brought her back, it shocked the entire Xiao Mansion to its core.
The son’s sudden actions left Mrs. Xiao unprepared, but being a wise woman, she wouldn’t outwardly express any disapproval.
Now that she had arrived and altered the storyline sowhat, what consequences might follow from Mrs. Xiao eting the original self in advance?
Qu Fulan thought, perhaps they feared more than she did that her identity would be exposed.
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