At this time, even the concubines in the mansion did not know that Xiao Ji was going to marry Zhao Ruizhu, the niece of Grand Secretary Zhao. Xiao Ji had only asked the Zhao family for the marriage.
The Zhao family was initially reluctant. Zhao Ruizhu was the third daughter of the second branch of the Zhao family and was greatly favored by Grand Secretary Zhao. Although she had become an old maid at the age of twenty-one due to her mourning for her mother and grandmother, there were still quite a few men who wanted to marry her.
Xiao Ji managed to get the Zhao family's approval by virtue of his teacher-student relationship with Grand Secretary Zhao. Moreover, he solemnly assured the Zhao family that his wife, Lady Luo, did not require him to wait a year, as Lady Luo had said before her death that she wished for the mistress of the house to enter the mansion, so they could prepare to marry Zhao Ruizhu after one hundred days.
If Xiao Ji were to marry another woman to become the mistress of the household, these two concubines would collude and unite, making it even more difficult for her to interfere in the affairs of the household. After thinking about it for several days, Xiao Jin still felt that for her and Xiao Ye, it would be best to elevate one of the concubines in the household to the position of second wife.
This created conflict between the two concubines, and their open and covert struggles can be imagined.
Natural selection dictates that only the fittest survive. Ultimately, the struggle leads to harmony, peace, unity, and love; a harmonious family brings prosperity.
At the very least, she had to clean the house thoroughly before handing it over to Xiao Ye.
She had inexplicably transmigrated during her school years, so she would have to continue her journey in this world. She suddenly had a premonition that she would be fighting for this cause for the rest of her life.
For the sake of what will happen in the future, she must now stop Xiao Ji from marrying Zhao Ruizhu!
As a mere child, her words carried little weight, and besides, she shouldn't have known about this matter in the first place, so naturally she couldn't let a word slip. As for those two concubines… Xiao Jin didn't intend to say anything either.
Whether they can succeed is still uncertain. This is only the first step of her "plan," so she feels more at ease arranging it herself.
Xiao Jin knelt before the coffin, her head bowed, but secretly keeping an eye on the noble ladies coming and going to offer incense. Today was the forty-ninth day, a significant day. Crucially, Qin Shi, the matriarch of the third branch of the Zhao family, was coming, firstly to offer her respects, and secondly to visit the Xiao residence.
Finally, I heard the name Qin!
Xiao Jin secretly raised her eyes to observe Qin Shi. She saw that Qin Shi was wearing a brocade jacket with a longevity symbol and a light autumn fragrance, and her demeanor was quite elegant. This Qin Shi was not only Zhao Ruizhu's aunt, but also her cousin.
Zhao Ruizhu's birth mother, Liu, the original mistress of the second branch of the Zhao family, was the third legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jinxiang. Qin, the mistress of the third branch of the Zhao family, was the second legitimate daughter of the Duke of Yongning. Qin was the daughter of Liu's aunt, and the two were sisters-in-law, who were close since childhood. Later, they became sisters-in-law and naturally looked after each other.
When Zhao Ruizhu's mother passed away, her aunt, Madam Qin, naturally doted on her and couldn't bear to see her suffer any hardship. Initially, Madam Qin didn't approve of her twenty-one-year-old niece marrying Xiao Ji, who was over forty.
Moreover, the Xiao family had no real power base in the capital; they only rose to the position of Hanlin Academy scholar by relying on the influence of their eldest branch. They wouldn't even look down on a powerful family like the Zhao family. However, the Zhao family patriarch, Grand Secretary Zhao, had a high opinion of Xiao Ji.
She couldn't refuse, so she could only come and see if her niece would feel wronged.
The Qin family is the breakthrough Xiao Jin is looking for!
Xiao Ji probably understood Qin's meaning, so he specially appointed the clever and sensible Aunt Xu to accompany him today.
With the matriarch of the Xiao family gone and Xiao Ji having no relatives, the most senior concubine, Chen, is temporarily in charge of managing the household affairs.
This displeased Aunt Chen somewhat. The Xiao family was considered a protégé of the Zhao family, so naturally, they should treat the Zhao family members as honored guests. But why did the master specifically designate Aunt Xu to accompany Madam Qin?
Could it be...? Countless thoughts raced through Aunt Chen's mind. Did the master want to make Aunt Xu his official wife?
This Aunt Xu was nothing more than a maidservant bought from a matchmaker; she only bore the master a daughter. But I am, after all, the daughter of a clerk in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and I've given the master a son and a daughter—how could I not be more respectable than her! Readers, you can search for "" to find this site immediately.
Chapter 69
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The three talked for another half a day, and when they looked at the clock, it was already 11:45 PM.
Huan Yue and Zi Su quickly fetched water and helped Xiao Jin to bed. Xiao Jin still slept with Xiao Ye; if he woke up the next day and couldn't see her, Xiao Ye would be devastated.
An elder sister is like a mother! Xiao Jin has experienced what it's like to be a mother ahead of time...
*****************
After Luo's death, the scholar's residence became much quieter.
During these days, Xiao Jin did not waste a single moment. Not only did Huan Yue and Zi Su spare no effort to "promote" Xiao Ji's "good reputation," but almost all the maids in Jinrong Courtyard also participated.
Zisu was very puzzled at first, since there were spies of Aunt Chen and Aunt Xu among the maids in Jinrong Courtyard... Although Huanyue had the same doubts, she still advised Zisu to just do it.
In the end, Xiao Jin took the initiative to clear up their doubts.
"This matter couldn't be kept secret anyway," Xiao Jin said nonchalantly. "I asked you to keep it from everyone before because I didn't want it to be exposed too early. Now it doesn't matter anymore."
“But if Master finds out that it was you, Miss, who interfered and prevented him from marrying Miss Zhao…” Huan Yue’s eyes deepened with worry, “He will definitely not let you and Fourth Master off the hook!”
Zisu nodded in agreement, "That's right. Miss, although Miss Zhao won't marry into the family this way, you and Fourth Master will suffer, and those two concubines will benefit for nothing!"
The two were right. Xiao Jin and Xiao Ye, the siblings, were not favored by Xiao Ji. If Xiao Ji found out that Xiao Jin was the one who sabotaged things in secret, he would definitely not let them off easily. In this way, it would only benefit the two concubines.
Xiao Jin had already thought of these things.
“That’s true,” Xiao Jin said calmly, her unhurried tone reassuring. “Think about it again. Based on my usual behavior in the manor, am I the kind of person who would be so audacious as to do something like this?”
Huanyue and Zisu seemed to understand something after listening, but they still couldn't grasp the key point.
“Without an outsider marrying in, the position of mistress will definitely go to the concubine,” Xiao Jin patiently explained to the two of them. “In that case, one of those two concubines will benefit!”
"Who do you think did it, sir?"
Upon hearing this, the two men's eyes revealed a sudden realization.
Huanyue's expression was somewhat agitated, "That's exactly right! Master will definitely think that one of the concubines instigated Miss to do this!"
“Miss has always been gentle and compliant, so Master will certainly not suspect her!” Zisu’s face lit up with joy. “This will only create discord between Master and the concubines!”
Seeing that the two understood everything after a little guidance from Xiao Jin, she smiled with satisfaction and said, "That's exactly why I dared to let you spread rumors!"
Seeing that they were no longer worried, Xiao Jin remembered something else: "...How are you doing with the things?"
Huan Yue nodded, "I've checked everything. Although a few pieces of Madam's jewelry were missing, most of them have been safely stored away! As for the things in the room, a lot of them have been moved..."