Liu Niang was furious. She had never seen anyone more shameless than Chen Qian.
"According to you, sir, it seems I've been interfering with you and your favored concubine?" Sixth Sister laughed in anger, her eyes wide as she stared at Chen Qian, a cold smile curving her lips. "You've spared that Hui Niang a title out of consideration for my feelings; should I be grateful and thank you profusely?"
Chen Qian remained unmoved, giving a cold snort without saying a word.
Liu Niang glared angrily at Chen Qian, not knowing where to begin. Chen Qian was clearly trying to force her to admit it, and she couldn't offer any words of comfort.
Chen Qian and his concubine were having an affair in Ding's courtyard, which Wang had already seen. If word got out, how could Liu Niang socialize? If it were to spread that Xu Hui had been made a concubine and then gave birth to a son by a concubine after the New Year, Liu Niang would be utterly humiliated.
"Who knows if you want to marry me or not? Don't act like you've suffered a great injustice." Chen Qian suddenly seemed to remember something and said disdainfully, "Back then, you even came up with the idea of using your body to seduce people, but were you ever coerced by the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion?"
The fact that she threatened Chen Qian to help her meet Fang Ting was a thorn in Chen Qian's side; touching it would cause him pain.
It's no wonder Chen Qian is unhappy that his wife is thinking about other men.
Sixth Sister was both angry and furious. Just as she was about to retort, she heard the maids outside announce that Ding Shi had arrived.
No one knows a son better than his mother. Perhaps fearing Chen Qian would mess things up, Madam Ding rushed over, hoping to smooth things over for him in front of his daughter-in-law. After all, no matter how rosy Chen Qian's vision of the future was, Madam Ding knew she couldn't offend the Marquis of Nan'an's household, so she came personally.
"Mother." When Sixth Sister saw Madam Ding arrive, she didn't throw a tantrum anymore and bowed meticulously. Her attitude, however, was noticeably polite but distant, even revealing a hint of aloofness and coldness. She had done everything she was supposed to do, leaving no room for criticism. Any wrongdoing the Chen family had done for her was the Chen family's problem.
Ding knew that Liu Niang must be unhappy about what had happened, and she knew it as soon as she saw the shards of sweet white porcelain on the ground.
"Sixth Sister, it's all Qian-ge'er's fault, and I was just confused for a moment." Ding stepped forward, took Sixth Sister's hand, and said guiltily, "After arriving in the capital, I've been busy arranging your marriage with Qian-ge'er, and I haven't been paying attention. I didn't manage the people in the courtyard well, and this happened."
"That maid was too wild, daring to seduce a man. Don't worry, Mother will definitely get revenge for you!"
Although her words were mostly excuses, they did make people feel a little more at ease.
Sixth Sister said calmly, "I'm afraid there's nothing you can do. The master has already informed me that the young lady is pregnant with his child. He's here with me, trying to get a proper status for her!"
Upon hearing this, Ding's eyes showed astonishment.
It was clearly agreed beforehand that the main purpose was to appease Sixth Sister, but Chen Qian's words were all designed to provoke her anger.
"Sixth Sister, you must have misheard. That's not what Qian-ge'er meant," Ding Shi quickly tried to smooth things over for her son. "That maid is nothing but a plaything; she's not worth giving a title. Besides, you and Qian-ge'er have only been married for a short time. It wouldn't look good if this got out, wouldn't you say?"
Hearing her words, and even her threats, Liu Niang was very dissatisfied.
Even at this point, Ding didn't forget to give him a stick and two red dates.
"Sixth Madam, the child is Qian-ge'er's bloodline, after all. It's not right to raise him in the manor without a proper status." Madam Ding added, "When the time comes, just send that maid away and keep the boy in the manor. As for what to do with that maid, you can decide what to do after she gives birth, okay?"
Sixth Sister's expression softened slightly.
She won't let this go easily, but this matter definitely needs to be considered carefully.
******
If one simply waits at the Chen residence, it's tantamount to sitting and waiting for death.
Sixth Sister had been keeping a close eye on things in the Ding family's courtyard these past few days. Xu Hui hadn't been moved away; instead, she continued to stay in the Chen residence to rest and prepare for childbirth. This was good for her. Although she didn't even have a formal title as the head servant, she didn't need to pay her respects to the eldest mistress every day, which made her quite content.
The one who is restless and impatient is Sixth Sister.
Neither Chen nor her son are good people; she wants stronger external forces to support her.
She thought it over and over, but no one in the Nan'an Marquis's mansion was willing to help her. An Ran had a past grudge against her, and An Ran was also too young. If Third Sister were willing to step forward, that would be the most suitable. But now that Sixth Sister was heavily pregnant, she might not be willing to get involved in such matters.
After such an incident, she naturally wanted to go back to her parents' home to cry and complain.
But the letter, written on that bright red paper with gold flecks, clearly stated that she had an affair with Chen Qian. It's likely that the Grand Madam and her stepmother, Zhao, also had their disagreements.
After much deliberation, Sixth Sister decided to try her luck at Third Sister's residence.
After all, what happened to her today was practically a carbon copy of what had happened to Third Sister a few days ago. Putting herself in Third Sister's shoes, she figured she could at least evoke Third Sister's sympathy! She'd only just entered the door and had already been tricked; if she swallowed her anger now, how would she survive in the future?
Third Sister was straightforward and not petty, so Sixth Sister lowered her guard a bit.
The anger and disappointment that Sixth Sister had shown these past few days were all within a controllable range and would not make Ding and her son feel threatened. It was precisely because Sixth Sister seemed as docile as ever that they hadn't been paying much attention to her before.
She went to inform Madam Ding that she wanted to send some gifts to Third Sister. Even if someone had connections, it would be difficult to curry favor with Third Sister. Sixth Sister took the gift list upstairs, and Madam Ding quickly added many more items, personally instructing a reliable person to accompany her.
Sixth Sister did refuse, but instead, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she got into the carriage and went to Prince Yi's residence. Only there could her crying have the greatest effect.
By the time Ding discovered it, Liu Niang had already gotten into the carriage and quietly left.
Therefore, after San Niang and An Ran hesitated for a moment, they still sent for the maid from the Chen family to come. If something really happened, it would not look good for them.
This little maid was actually Sixth Sister herself.
Third Sister and Anran were looking at children's clothes, socks, and other small items when a soft gasp came from outside the sapphire blue curtain. "Sixth Aunt?"
The two sisters, who hadn't paid much attention to what they were doing, immediately put down what they were holding and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Before long, the curtain was lifted, revealing a beautiful but slightly haggard face. It really was Sixth Sister!
When she returned to her parents' home a few days ago, Sixth Sister was radiant in her bright red robe covered in gold and her headdress adorned with red gold and rubies. Now, however, Sixth Sister is without makeup, possessing a delicate and pitiful beauty.
"Sixth Sister?" An Ran saw this and quickly stood up from the soft couch.
Third Sister also found it strange and said in surprise, "Sixth Sister, why is it you? You didn't send an invitation beforehand."
Liu Niang seemed not to hear a word the two men said. Her face was pale, her expression blank, her eyes empty, and she looked completely lost and dejected.
What exactly happened?
After a while, as if waking from a dream, Sixth Sister knelt down in front of Third Sister with a "thump".