Although I don't need to flatter or fawn over her, I can't afford to let the old lady dislike me, or life would be too difficult.
Knowing that Anxi and Anze would be visiting Anran today, the Dowager Madam instructed Anran to pay her respects to Madam Zhao. With Sixth Sister and the others out, and no classes at Tingfeng Pavilion, Anran had a day of free time to do as she pleased.
Before leaving, the Dowager Lady also gave Anran several purses containing silver coins, which she asked Anran to take back to Anze and Anxi.
An Ran thanked him profusely.
Going to Zhao's place was even easier. Sixth Sister and the others had already set off with Fifth Sister. Zhao had always disliked illegitimate daughters, and Anran was the last to return, so she had nothing to say to Zhao. Soon, Zhao sent her back.
On the way back, Anran's steps were lighter.
******
Main courtyard.
While casually picking through a few pieces of fabric, Zhao asked Nan, who was serving her, "Has there been any news from the person who sent the fabric to Third Sister last time?"
Madam Nan, sitting on a small stool beside the daybed, hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Replying to Madam, there has been no news yet. Perhaps the Third Miss feels that such a message doesn't need to be sent over specially..."
“You didn’t even try to defend her.” Zhao threw the fabric in her hand aside and sighed deeply. “She came from my womb, do you think I don’t know her temperament? Last time I made a harsh statement, and only then did Third Sister reluctantly keep Zhimo and Rulan.”
"Looking at it now, it seems she didn't get her son-in-law to take them in."
Seeing this, Madam Nan quickly advised, "You should also understand Third Miss's feelings. Third Miss and her husband were such a loving couple, all sweet and blissful. How could Third Miss not be heartbroken if you suddenly tried to force someone else into their lives? She kept Zhimo and Rulan, which is precisely where Third Miss's filial piety lies! She was afraid you would be anxious and angry!"
"If you're really afraid of making me anxious and angry, you should have already given the young master a concubine!" Zhao said anxiously. "Now that she has no children, she's still being pressured to give the young master a concubine or a mistress. Won't that make her a target of jealousy? The young master may tolerate her for now, but what about later?"
Zhao became increasingly distressed as she spoke, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke. "I am her own mother, how could I not love her? I have suffered greatly in the past, how could I see her follow in my footsteps? You have been with me since you were a child, and you have seen how I have lived since I married into the Marquis's family! Why won't this child listen to me?"
Upon hearing this, Nan's mother's eyes also welled up with tears.
“Third Miss is still young, don’t be in such a hurry!” Madam Nan said, choking back tears. “Third Miss was pregnant with a boy before, but she miscarried because she was inexperienced with her first pregnancy. Our Miss is very fortunate. Although she didn’t marry Marquis Pingyuan, she is the future Princess Consort. Good days are yet to come!”
“Now that you have Third Master, although he is much younger than your two older brothers, his brother-in-law is the heir of a prince. Who will dare to look down on you in the future?” Nan Mama had no choice but to bring up An Yu to ease Zhao Shi’s worries. “Third Miss, Fifth Miss, and Third Master support each other, and their future will only get better and better!”
Although Zhao still looked gloomy, her expression had improved somewhat.
Last time, taking advantage of the spring banquet, Zhao gave Third Sister a warning. The Prince's Mansion is not like the Marquis of Nan'an's Mansion. In the past, when she was the youngest daughter-in-law, the Princess Consort could overlook their private affairs as a young couple, and she wouldn't interfere later when they had children. But now that Yun Shen is the only legitimate son and will inherit the Prince Yi Mansion in the future, the Princess Consort can no longer ignore it.
If Yun Shen does not have any offspring for a long time, his two illegitimate sons will probably become restless.
That's why Madam Zhao was so anxious, and even personally sent a maid with excellent looks and character to Third Sister, just to force Third Sister to face reality as soon as possible.
Now that Third Sister has not made any move, Zhao is both anxious and angry.
"Send another old woman over in a couple of days, and find an opportunity to whisper some things to Third Sister." Even though Zhao was anxious, she couldn't make the decision for Third Sister. She said helplessly, "The sooner the better... We must get our people on board before the Princess Consort sends them to the young master..."
Before Zhao finished speaking, her head maid, Biyu, rushed in without even announcing her arrival.
"Madam, something terrible has happened!" Biyu said anxiously to Zhao Shi, "Third Aunt has been in trouble!"
Startled, Zhao immediately stood up, scattering fabric all over the floor. Her eyes widened, and she almost lost her balance. She demanded sharply, "What exactly happened? Explain yourself!"
Nan's mother hurried over to support Zhao, her eyes also showing anxiety.
"The third son-in-law is bringing a woman back from outside, saying she's almost full-term pregnant!" Biyu was sweating profusely, her voice trembling with worry. "Yinping received the news and immediately sent someone to tell Madam and Grand Madam to persuade the third young lady to stop!"
Zhao felt a sudden dizziness.
She knew her daughter's temperament all too well. Normally, Yun Shen didn't even have a decent concubine; he only had two or three maids who didn't serve him often. Now that such a person had suddenly appeared, she wondered what kind of chaos and turmoil Third Sister would cause.
"Why is a woman suddenly appearing?" Zhao asked, her face pale. "Have you inquired where she's from?"
Biyu quickly replied, "It's Li, the distant niece of the former concubine of the Prince!"
Both Zhao and Nan's mother were utterly astonished.
Third Sister had complained about Li Shi climbing into her bed, but since she was related to the concubine, it wasn't easy to just send her away. Third Sister was so angry that she argued with Yun Shen every day, while Li Shi was gentle and considerate. During those days, Yun Shen often spent the night at Li Shi's place.
Fortunately, San Niang and Yun Shen were a young couple, and their feelings for each other were undeniable. Later, Yun Shen couldn't go against San Niang's wishes and found fault with Li Shi, so he had Li Shi sent far away to the estate.
Third Sister and Yun Shen have reconciled.
On the very day Anran returned to the manor, Third Sister came to complain to Zhao that Yun Shen hadn't forgotten Li Shi and had gone to see her after all...
So that's the reason! Li was pregnant, and Yun Shen was afraid that Third Sister's wrath would harm his child, so he sent Li away under some pretext. Now that she was about to give birth, he brought her back!
We can't let the eldest son of the Prince's mansion be born outside! And then the baby's third-day celebration, full-month celebration, and 100-day celebration aren't held at the Prince's mansion... What would it look like if others saw them?
"Yinping hasn't dared to tell Third Aunt yet! Please send someone over to persuade Third Aunt to stop!"
They all knew San Niang's temperament well. Now that such a thing had happened, wouldn't the "affectionate relationship between husband and wife" that others had previously seen become a huge joke? San Niang had always been proud, how could she stand such an insult?
"Madam, the most important thing right now is not to pursue this matter, but to calm Third Aunt down!" Seeing Zhao Shi trembling with anger, Nan Mama held her tightly. "We absolutely cannot afford to make a mistake at this time!"
I'm afraid that even if I sent one of the maids, I wouldn't be able to stop Third Sister, nor would I be able to control the servants. Unfortunately, Tenth Sister, the most sensible one, went out today…
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
"Let Ninth Sister go!"
It was the voice of the Dowager Lady.
Chapter 22 Persuasion (Part 1)
Zhao hurriedly went out to greet them, and saw Su Mama helping the Grand Madam in.
"Mother!" Zhao Shi didn't care about anything else. She said anxiously, "What good will sending Jiu Niang do? She grew up in the countryside. How would she know the intricacies of the inner courtyard of this mansion?"