Page 5

"What did Third Miss see?" she asked.

Pei Yuanxi licked the crumbs off her fingers, revealing a cunningness that only a three-year-old would have. "I saw there's a little brother in her belly. I also saw him talking to her."

This 'he' referred to Zhou San, and this 'she' was Dong Po, the servant girl beside Concubine Qiu.

Madam Shen's expression turned cold.

Concubine Qiu said, "Madam, Third Miss is an idiot. You can't believe what she says."

Concubine Li shed silent tears at the word 'idiot.'

Pei Yuanxi raised her head, her face fierce. "I'm not an idiot!"

Her big eyes were wide with anger, looking like a child who had been teased by adults until she was ruffled up. Madam Shen's heart ached again, and she used a handkerchief to wipe the crumbs from her mouth.

"Our Third Miss is the smartest child. Smart children remember many things. Now tell Mother, what else did that person do at the Chengming Pond?"

"He fell into the water and wanted to climb up to hit me. I asked him to pick lotus seeds for me, but he refused, so I threw stones at him. Mother, it was so much fun watching him crawl around in the water. I want to play again."

So that was how Zhou San got his bruises.

Zhou San kowtowed desperately, blood seeping from his forehead, looking terribly miserable. Dong Po also knelt on the ground, crying out that she was innocent, saying that she only chatted with Zhou San and didn't do anything else.

Concubine Qiu's expression was unpleasant as she kicked Dong Po. "You dead slave, it was you who said you saw someone trying to harm Third Miss, which is why I hurriedly came to tell Madam. If you dare to utter a single lie, I won't spare you."

Madam Shen ignored her words and looked calmly at Concubine Zhao.

Concubine Zhao was very calm. "Right and wrong are in people's hearts. I believe Madam will be able to make a fair judgment on this matter."

Concubine Li fidgeted. "Madam, since nothing happened to Third Miss, I think this is just a misunderstanding. Don't let one person cause discord among us all because of Third Miss."

Madam Shen disagreed with her words. No matter how foolish Third Miss was, she was still a daughter of the marquisate. Regardless of whether there was any conspiracy behind the incident, these two servants couldn't be kept.

Suddenly, Zhou San crawled towards Concubine Zhao. "Auntie, please save this slave. It was you who instructed this slave to help you…"

"Silence!" Madam Shen suddenly lashed out. "Gag his mouth and drag him out to beat him!"

Concubine Zhao remained calm, and Concubine Qiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. How could Madam Shen not know about the tricks involved? In the inner courtyard, having one family dominate was most detrimental to her position as the main wife, and there would always be a day when she would have to look at other people's faces. If two tigers fought each other, she would sit high and watch the fight, and only then would she be invincible.

Zhou San was gagged and given thirty strokes before being sent to the estate. He wouldn't be leaving the estate alive. Dong Po received thirty slaps to the face, was given a drug to render her mute, and was sold off with a kick, never to reappear in Dongdu City.

The art of managing a household lay in the balance. Madam Shen herself had no son, and she could not be said to be careful and cautious in dealing with the concubines' affairs. Such treatment was akin to giving fifty strokes to each, which could be considered fair.

She told Concubine Zhao to get up, ordered someone to bring her a seat, and gestured for her to sit with Concubine Li.

When she looked at Concubine Qiu, her smile didn't reach her eyes. She sent someone to escort Concubine Qiu back while sending another to call for a doctor. Whether Concubine Qiu was pregnant or not would be known with a test.

As Concubine Qiu left, her resentful gaze seemed to linger on Pei Yuanxi for a moment.

Pei Yuanxi wailed. "Mother, she glared at me."

Madam Shen frowned and looked at Concubine Qiu displeasedly. Concubine Qiu hurriedly apologized, explaining that she didn't glare at Pei Yuanxi. In her heart, she cursed Pei Yuanxi to death, wishing that the idiot had died from falling years ago.

"She did, she glared at me. Mother, I don't like her, and I don't like the brother she gave birth to."

Concubine Qiu didn't dare to stay and quickly left.

Concubine Li looked at her own daughter covertly and said, "Third Miss, don't be rude. Come here to Auntie quickly, don't bother Madam."

Madam Shen said it was fine and ordered someone to pick lotus seeds.

Pei Yuanxi was overjoyed at the thought of eating lotus seeds, dancing with excitement.

Madam Shen exclaimed in admiration, "Look at our Third Miss, how beautiful she is."

"Our young ladies in the manor are all exceptionally beautiful," said Concubine Zhao, praising not only all the young ladies but also her own daughter in one sentence.

Madam Shen laughed. Concubine Zhao's words were true.

Eldest Miss Pei Yuanruo was well-versed in literature, courteous, and possessed both talent and beauty. Her Yuanjun was bright, generous, and noble. Although Third Miss was foolish, she had a charming appearance, and Fourth Miss Pei Yuanhua was lovely and pretty.

Concubine Li looked frightened. "The other young ladies are naturally good, but how can Third Miss compare with her sisters? I only hope that she remains safe and doesn't cause any trouble."

Madam Shen's smile dimmed slightly. No matter how beautiful Third Miss was, she was still a fool. Rulan had been through a lot these years, and Madam Shen herself had a headache every time she thought about Third Miss's marriage.

With such a childish temperament, it was indeed difficult to find a suitable match, neither too high nor too low. She knew why Rulan had been humble and subservient these years, and she had made up her mind to find a good home for Third Miss.

This matter couldn't be rushed and required careful planning. The young ladies in the manor were all of marriageable age, and some preparations should be made for certain matters.

"When I entered the palace earlier, Empress Dowager Zeng mentioned something to me. She said that the palace has been too quiet for the past three years, and she wants to find some girls to come in and keep her company."

Empress Dowager Zeng and Madam Shen were close friends, and their relationship was extraordinary.

Concubine Zhao's eyes lit up.

The emperor would turn sixteen next month for his birthday. Did Empress Dowager Zeng mean that His Majesty was preparing to select concubines?

Such a matter needed only to be mentioned once, and others would understand its implications. Madam Shen elegantly sipped her tea, taking in the expressions of the two concubines. Concubine Li was unperturbed; Pei Yuanxi was a fool and had no qualifications to be selected.

Concubine Zhao was different. Her daughter, Pei Yuanruo, was renowned for her talents and was the eldest daughter of the marquisate. Not only did she have the qualifications to be selected, but if she could win the emperor's favor, she would have a promising future.

Madam Shen didn't want Pei Yuanjun to enter the palace. She had only one daughter under her care, and she hoped her daughter could live a life of peace and happiness forever. Though the imperial family was wealthy, once one entered the palace gates, it was like entering a deep sea, and she didn't want her daughter to be trapped in such a place for her entire life.