“Captain Wang?” San Niang thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, “I remember he came to our mansion before, the tall and thin one.”
Yun Shen nodded, then looked at San Niang with some guilt and said, "I had an accident in Yunnan that year. If Wang Xin hadn't saved me, I probably would have lost my life there."
Upon hearing this, Third Sister's face changed drastically, and she completely forgot about women and children.
She hurriedly grabbed Yun Shen's sleeve, her face still showing lingering fear. "What happened? Why haven't you mentioned it before?"
“I accidentally wandered into a forest filled with miasma and almost got lost. It was Wang Xin who led people to find me, which saved me from disaster.” Yun Shen said casually, “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you and Mother would worry.”
Upon hearing this, Third Sister's eyes immediately reddened, and she choked out, "Such a terrible thing happened and you didn't tell me!" She lowered her head, her gaze falling on the jade bracelet on her wrist. Even after such a harrowing experience, Yun Shen remembered to bring her a gift before returning... "Our family doesn't need you to earn that military merit!"
Thinking this, tears immediately welled up in Third Sister's eyes.
Seeing that he had made her cry, Yun Shen quickly comforted her gently, "Look at me, I'm standing here perfectly fine. Don't cry, you'll hurt your eyes." He then teased her, "My wife has such beautiful eyes, how will you compensate me if you ruin them by crying?"
"What time is it? How can you still be in the mood for jokes!" Third Sister raised her eyes, her watery eyes looking at Yun Shen with a mixture of worry and anger.
Yun Shen's heart immediately softened.
“I’m not telling you this today to make you cry.” Yun Shen pulled her to sit down on the kang (heated brick bed) by the window and said to her, “Wang Xin asked me for a favor, and after thinking it over, I think it’s best to get it done here.”
Third Sister was still somewhat shaken, but upon hearing that it was Wang Xin's request, she readily agreed. "Just tell me, he's our savior, I'll definitely do it for him."
Her husband had nearly lost his life, and it was all thanks to Wang Xin. No matter how difficult the situation, she would do everything she could to help.
A warm feeling immediately welled up in Yun Shen's heart.
“It’s not that difficult. Wang Xin was wounded while fighting in the south and got separated from his unit. Later, he was rescued by a farmer and stayed there to recuperate for a while. You’ve met him; he’s quite handsome. The farmer’s family also has a fifteen-year-old daughter. After a while, the two of them got engaged.”
Yun Shen explained in detail: "Wang Xin is the most promising child in the family. Before, his family only owned two shops in the capital. Now that he has an official position, his parents feel more confident. So they thought of finding him a powerful in-law family so that he could advance further in his career."
"But Wang Xin is a devoted lover and absolutely refused to agree. He brought the girl from the south and secretly settled her in the capital. But not long ago, the girl became pregnant, and it was really inappropriate to keep delaying like this. He didn't want to wrong the girl, so he came to me for help."
Having said that, Third Sister understood everything.
Wang Xin's family wanted to arrange a marriage for him with the daughter of an official, but the girl Wang Xin liked was just the daughter of an ordinary farmer, whose status was not prominent at all. If his parents didn't agree, even if Wang Xin forced the girl into the family, his life would probably not be easy.
He probably sought help from Yun Shen because he wanted the women of the Prince's mansion to handle the matter.
"This matter can only be addressed by asking Madam for help." Yun Shen stood up, bowed respectfully to Third Madam, and said, "Madam, please take good care of me."
Third Sister couldn't hold back and a smile crept across her face.
“This is easy to handle. I can either adopt this girl as my younger sister or say that she is my distant cousin,” Third Sister said shrewdly. “I will personally go and act as matchmaker for Madam Wang. There is an eight or nine out of ten chance that this will work out.”
So that's what those people were saying, that the young master was going to bring a pregnant woman into the family! Third Sister couldn't help but feel relieved. Luckily, she listened to Ninth Sister's advice and didn't make a scene on the spot. Otherwise, not only would she have been embarrassed, but Yun Shen would have also lost face.
As for those who spread rumors... a cold glint flashed in Third Sister's eyes. She would never let those who gossiped get away with it!
******
Luoyue Pavilion.
After the wet nurse had the child fall asleep, Lady Li instructed Xiao Cui to immediately summon Consort Li.
"Just tell her I have something urgent to discuss and that I must ask the concubine to come over." Madam Li urged urgently, "You still need to be careful. It's better to take a longer route than to let anyone find out."
Xiao Cui agreed and immediately went to Consort Li's courtyard.
Inside the room, Li held a stack of papers on the black lacquered square table in her hand, the delicate handwriting on them clearly visible. Her gaze suddenly turned angry, and she wanted to smash the stack of papers to vent her anger, but she restrained herself and gently smoothed them out before placing them back on the square table.
Getting angry and throwing a hysterical tantrum is something only a brainless woman like An San Niang would do; she wouldn't be that stupid.
The more unfavorable the situation, the more she needs to remain calm.
She took a deep breath, but still couldn't help pacing back and forth in the room.
Before long, she heard footsteps outside.
Soon after, a maidservant came to announce that Consort Li had arrived.
"Aunt!" Madam Li hurriedly came to greet her on the veranda. She took a few steps down the steps and opened her mouth to speak.
Consort Li nodded, then gave Lady Li a wink, indicating that this was not the place to talk.
"Did Dong-ge'er sleep well?" A smile appeared on Consort Li's face. Her voice was neither loud nor soft, as if she was not deliberately avoiding suspicion because she had come to Li's place.
Li also smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with him.
As soon as Consort Li entered the room, Madam Li, her face flushed, immediately invited her to the inner chamber for a private talk.
"Didn't I tell you? The relationship between you and me, aunt and niece, is already quite obvious. If you need anything, just have a maid deliver the message." Consort Li sat down on a black lacquered rose chair with an autumn-colored brocade cushion, looked around the room, and her gaze fell on a set of old official kiln ten-pattern brocade tea set on a small table. She thought to herself that Third Sister had not mistreated her.
"I told you long ago, this path of mine isn't easy." A faint, slightly cold smile appeared on Consort Li's well-preserved, beautiful face. "Now that you're merely a concubine of the heir apparent, you've already lost your composure?"
Madam Li sensed Consort Li's displeasure, and her face turned somewhat embarrassed. "Aunt, please forgive my impetuousness. It was truly an important matter that disturbed you. You know, although Third Sister hasn't confined me to my quarters, I still have my young master here, so I can't go out as I please."
Consort Li waved her hand, signaling her to get to the point.
"Aunt, our plan has failed today!" Madam Li said bitterly, "I clearly had someone pass on the message to the little maidservant next to Third Sister, but in the end she didn't do anything about it."
"I heard that it was An Jiu Niang who persuaded her again! Someone saw that An Jiu Niang followed An San Niang out shortly after she left the table. The same thing happened the previous two times. San Niang has such a quick temper and is easily provoked, but she managed not to lash out. Don't underestimate An Jiu Niang because of her young age; she is more composed and steady than her sister."
Consort Li scoffed at her hasty idea.
"I think you've lost your mind." Consort Li looked at her water-red nail polish, her fair and soft hands as well-maintained as a young girl's. "Your plan was never reliable to begin with. You succeeded repeatedly before, but that was because your mistress is the Third Mistress, and her temperament is too easy to control. What, you can't stand it after failing twice in a row?"
"Ninth Sister is a young girl who is not even fourteen years old. You, a proper concubine with a son to rely on, are you afraid of her?"