Thinking of Tang Yuan’s expression when he slamd the door and left last night, Xu Jia felt quite pleased.
After breakfast, she let Tang Yong play in the courtyard by himself and returned to her parental ho.
Early in the morning, Mrs. Xu went to the market and heard about Tang Yuan planning to take a concubine. After returning, she told it to Xu Shu and his wife.
The family was discussing counterasures when unexpectedly Xu Jia ca back on her own.
Seeing her calm expression, Mrs. Xu was anxious and grabbed her hand, "My dear daughter, such a big issue has co up, why didn’t you notify the family in advance?"
Xu Shu’s face was gloomy, "Is that bastard Tang Yuan really going to take his sister-in-law’s sister as a concubine?"
Song Fang silently sighed. She had thought that having Third Brother stand up for her sister-in-law would give her a prominent face. The Tang family wouldn’t dare to look down on her sister-in-law anymore. But unexpectedly, Tang Yuan, who normally wasn’t shaless, had made such a grand gesture by sending such a big ’gift’ directly to the General Mansion.
Seeing her family worried about her, Xu Jia felt uncomfortable, but she couldn’t yet expose the sordid relationship between Tang Yuan and Jiang Qingyu. She smiled and said, "Mother, brother, sister-in-law, don’t worry, I can handle it."
After hearing this, Mrs. Xu felt even worse, "Mother knows you’re a good child, but isn’t the Tang family blatantly bullying others with such actions?"
Xu Jia comfortingly patted Mrs. Xu’s hand, "I’ve grown up without suffering under anyone’s hand. If he humiliates today, I will pay him back a hundredfold in the future!"
Mrs. Xu understood her daughter’s strong-willed nature and her unwillingness to suffer losses. After marrying into the Tang family, she had collected her spikes to beco a virtuous wife and mother, conforming to the Tang family rules. But her daughter’s retreat led to Tang Yuan’s outrageous demands, taking a concubine right after the new bride entered the door. It not only humiliated her daughter but also trampled on the General Mansion’s face.
This injustice was truly infuriating.
Seeing Xu Shu, furious, Xu Jia advised, "Brother, Sister-in-law, please stay calm. Give a few more days, and I’ll surely regain my dignity without dragging down the General Mansion."
Xu Shu looked at his sister’s determined eyes and didn’t insist on seeking justice for her. He just sighed, "Be careful in your husband’s house. You’ve always been straightforward and might suffer losses in the intricate back house. If you really can’t manage, just let know, and I’ll make Tang Yuan apologize to you personally."
Apologize?
Xu Jia sneered inwardly. What she wanted was far more than just an apology.
After finally reassuring her family, Xu Jia let out a long sigh, got on the carriage, and returned to the Tang Mansion. She didn’t get off the carriage; instead, she sent Mo Xiang to bring out Tang Yong and headed straight to the Song Mansion.
Yun Shisan, indeed, didn’t go out today and was waiting for her at the mansion.
Yesterday, they had agreed to spend the next few days in the garden detoxifying Tang Yong.
Upon entering the mansion, Xu Jia was led directly to the garden by the Song Mansion’s servant and found that Wen Wan was also there.
Wen Wan had heard the rumor about Tang Yuan taking a concubine and quickly pulled Xu Jia aside to ask, "What’s going on exactly?"
About to speak, Xu Jia looked up to see a glimpse of white approaching. She lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable, "It’s fine, after all, he and I never really had marital relations."
After speaking, she glanced toward the white figure who had just arrived behind Wen Wan. As Wen Wan looked at her in shock, she seed to realize Yun Huai was nearby and quickly curtsied, "Master Yun."
The title "Master" instantly created distance between them, sounding like she was slightly annoyed that he didn’t bend down to pick up the handkerchief for her yesterday.
Yun Huai gave a soft acknowledgnt, his gaze lingering briefly on her lowered eyelashes before moving on. Then he walked towards Yun Shisan and whispered sothing.
Xu Jia couldn’t clearly hear due to the distance.
Wen Wan felt embarrassed, "Do you think he heard what we were saying just now?"
"Huh? Did he?" Xu Jia blushed appropriately, "I didn’t expect Master Yun to pass by."
Not wanting Xu Jia to feel bad, Wen Wan continued to smooth things over, "But don’t worry, Yun Liulang has good character, even if he heard, he wouldn’t spread rumors."
"Oh," Xu Jia responded, "that’s good then."
The topic drifted again, and Wen Wan suddenly realized, "Wait, what do you an? You two have been married for so long and still haven’t..."
Seeing Wen Wan’s surprise, Xu Jia instead laughed, "It’s pretty good."
"Pretty good?" Wen Wan truly couldn’t understand what was going on in this girl’s head and flicked her forehead, "Do you know what this ans?"
"I don’t know." Xu Jia raised her voice slightly, "Anyway, I don’t like him, so why should I..."
Before she could finish, Wen Wan covered her mouth and dragged her to the corridor, whispering, "Didn’t you see Yun Liulang and Yun Shisan are both over there at the Waterside Pavilion? You careless girl, aren’t you afraid others will overhear?"
The angrier Wen Wan got, the more amusent Xu Jia found, and she even chuckled out loud.
Wen Wan didn’t know what to say to her, sulking for a mont before asking, "So what do you plan to do?"
Xu Jia raised an eyebrow slightly, "When the ti cos, I’ll figure it out; when the road reaches its end at the mountain, naturally there will be a way. I just won’t lose out to myself."
"But continuing like this isn’t a solution." Wen Wan said, puzzled again, "What happened? When Tang Yuan proposed to you, he seed sincere. How could he start thinking of taking a concubine not even a month after getting married?"
Xu Jia spread her hands, "I can only bla my bad luck for eting a scumbag."
"What do your parents and brother-in-law say?" Wen Wan asked.
"Just before I ca to your house, I went back ho for a bit and told them not to worry; I have plans," Xu Jia replied.
"Really?" Wen Wan was skeptical.
"Of course, it’s true." Xu Jia gave her a reassuring look, "Although I’m not deep, I have so intelligence. I won’t let myself be manipulated. So things just need the right timing. For now, the most important thing is to cure the little one."
Seeing her confident deanor, Wen Wan slowly relaxed and rembered to ask soone to serve tea and snacks.
Xu Jia tilted her head, her gaze passing through the flowering trees, fixing on the tall white figure.
She had no intention of wandering over again.
She understood the principle of moderation.
...
After Xu Jia took Tang Yong away yesterday, Yun Shisan spent ti researching redies. Today, he first gave Tang Yong a few needles, then used the wind stove to brew so dicine for him to drink. After all this, it was already noon, and Xu Jia ended up having a al at Wen Wan’s again.
Yun Shisan needed to observe the effects in the afternoon, so Xu Jia couldn’t leave just yet. While sitting with Wen Wan, she casually asked, "How long do Yun Liulang and the others plan to stay in the capital this ti?"
Wen Wan replied, "After the martial exam ends, it’ll take half a month for the results to be released. They have to wait for the results, so they can’t leave for a while."
"I see..." To prevent Wen Wan from being suspicious, Xu Jia added, "How co I haven’t seen Miss Xue?"
"She didn’t co," Wen Wan said. "Only her brother Ah Yin ca to the capital this ti."
The Miss Xue that Xu Jia ntioned, Wen Wan had learned about only in the past few days. Also, she unexpectedly discovered that Song Jiao’s fiancé had t Xue Yinhuan before being engaged to Song Jiao. It was said that both parties were quite satisfied at that ti. However, Xue Yinhuan’s biological father died shielding Zhao Xi, and Xue beca the Eldest Prince’s concubine. Thus, there was no further developnt between her and Liang Jun.
From the perspective of a senior, such matters made Wen Wan uncomfortable. But at the Shangsi Festival, Song Jiao said that Liang Jun had personally told her in the suburbs that he’d t soone before her without revealing the woman’s na.
Wen Wan also considered that Liang Jun was chosen by her husband as a nephew-in-law, so she didn’t hold it against him.
...
After staying in Wen Wan’s room until the afternoon, Xu Jia estimated it was the right hour and went to the garden’s Waterside Pavilion.
Yun Huai was no longer there, leaving Yun Shisan alone by the fire, talking to Tang Yong.
Even though the little boy couldn’t respond, Yun Shisan still talked happily, appearing to really like children.
Hearing movent outside, Yun Shisan looked up and, seeing Xu Jia, smiled deeply with dimples, "Madam."
Xu Jia asked him, "How is the situation today?"
Yun Shisan replied, "Recovering well. As long as the dication continues and dietary restrictions are maintained, he should be able to speak in five to six days."
Five to six days. Hopefully, it would coincide with Jiang Qingyu’s entry into the house. Xu Jia thought.
Tang Yong liked this elder brother very much and held onto his arm, unwilling to let go when leaving.
Xu Jia smiled helplessly, "If you really can’t bear it, just co early tomorrow."
Tang Yong reluctantly said goodbye to Yun Shisan and followed Xu Jia onto the carriage back to the mansion.
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