Chapter 8: Sowing Discord

Chapter 8: Sowing Discord

"Yao Niang, this is insubordination. When elders and seniors ask you to do something, you should do it immediately. Otherwise, your stubbornness will lead to consequences. Have you considered how Grandmother would treat you?" Yan Jingzhao stood with his hands behind his back, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

But Yao Niang replied, "Brother, I know you mean well by advising me, but I believe that living a life filled with resentment day after day is not worth it. It's better to live one day freely. Grandmother has you by her side, which should be enough. My body suddenly feels unwell, so I don't want to go. If Grandmother punishes me, I have no complaints."

She didn't know why she was being rebellious, but she felt frustrated. She had agreed to go with Mother, but now Mother couldn't come. If she didn't stay with Mother, how sad and despondent Mother would be!

Yan Jingzhao did not expect his sister to be so defiant. He did not get angry or upset as he imagined he might; instead, he simply said, "You really won't go?"

"Mm." Yao Niang nodded again.

Yan Jingzhao did not react with harsh words, but calmly said, "I understand. You and Mother stay home."

Yao Niang curved her lips into a slight smile.

Yan Jingzhao quickly returned to report. He told the Third Elderly Lady, "Yao Niang is young, and the weather has been changing rapidly these days. I noticed she seems to have caught a cold."

The Third Elderly Lady was disappointed with this answer because Yan Jingzhao appeared calm and did not enforce her will. However, she had to maintain her dignity in front of her grandson.

...

Inside the Crimson Snow Pavilion

Yao Niang thought her mother would scold her, but unexpectedly, her mother looked incredibly pleased. Yao Niang could sense her mother's happiness and felt that she had made the right decision.

"Since you've taken a leave today, you shouldn't go to school. Later, Mother and I will work on embroidery together," Lady Jie said.

Yao Niang nodded vigorously and added, "Mother, I heard you've been making shoes for Grandfather at night. Why do you need to do it yourself when there are so many servants? And you've been working on them for several days."

Lady Jie smiled gently, "If I'm going to make them, I must make them. But now, I need to teach you embroidery. Let's set aside the shoe-making for now." She wasn't foolish; she would only do such tasks in front of Yan Yingqi.

In terms of embroidery skills, Lady Jie's work was not necessarily faster than others', but every piece she created was exquisitely crafted and uniquely designed, from the color combinations to the patterns.

Yao Niang began learning earnestly from Lady Jie.

News of Lady Jie being publicly humiliated by the Third Elderly Lady spread throughout the Yan family, especially to Lady Zhen, who shared a knowing smile with Auntie Wei.

"It seems the Third Elderly Lady has heard about it," Lady Zhen believed her plan was starting to bear fruit.

Auntie Wei praised her, "Your strategy is brilliant. By hinting to the Guan family that the Second Lady's position is false and that you are still the legitimate mother of the eldest son, Lady Jie can only be considered a birth mother."

Lady Zhen smiled, "I didn't care about Lady Jie's status before, seeing her as sensible and pitiful. Her father is at least a governor. But she seems too ambitious, daring to compete with my son. That cannot be allowed."

"Indeed, the Third Elderly Lady also dislikes her lack of proper standing," Auntie Wei agreed.

Lady Zhen glanced at the invitations on the table, "I heard that the Jin Ling Prefect's family disgraced itself due to favoring a concubine over the wife. Make sure to mention this to the Third Elderly Lady."

Auntie Wei assured her, "Don't worry. If you have to intervene, it will likely be you who arranges the eldest son's marriage, leaving no room for Lady Jie."

"Yes, but we must be discreet. We don't want anyone to suspect us," Lady Zhen instructed.

Auntie Wei nodded, "Rest assured. Given the Third Elderly Lady's personality, she fears Lady Jie and the eldest son becoming close. She probably wouldn't mind at all!"

Lady Zhen sighed, "Though I am against her now, I feel the Third Elderly Lady is too difficult to deal with. Separating a mother and son and wanting future daughters-in-law to recognize her instead of their own mothers is too harsh."

"Madam, why pity her? She's quite pleased with herself," Auntie Wei worried about Lady Zhen's soft heart.

Yan Jingzhao, with a high-ranking grandfather and his father's favor, would be hard for Lady Zhen to handle. Both Lady Zhen and Lady Jie were around the same age, having married at fifteen and eighteen respectively. At their age, they should be focusing on their grandchildren, yet both had one son and one daughter each.

Who would want their son overshadowed by another?

**

At dinner time, Yan Yingqi arrived. Seeing Lady Jie and Yao Niang at home, he joked, "Back so early from the Quan family?"

Before Lady Jie could speak, Yao Niang explained, "This morning, Grandmother said someone from the Guan family would visit, so she asked Mother to stay. We waited all day, but no one came. Grandmother wanted me to go with them, but since Mother didn't go and I don't know anyone from the Quan family, I didn't go either. Father, if Grandmother is angry, please speak up for me!"

"What?" Yan Yingqi glanced at Lady Jie, understanding Yao Niang's implication that the Third Elderly Lady deliberately prevented Lady Jie from going.

Lady Jie felt her daughter's approach was wise. When pointing out someone's mistake, it's best to remain objective and rational to prove the truth.

Some words, spoken by some people, can be soothing, while others can be harsh.

Still, Lady Jie explained, "Perhaps the Guan family had something urgent and couldn't come. Let's sit down and eat." She put down the shoe she was working on.

Yan Yingqi loved the dishes Lady Jie prepared, but lately, she had been busy with needlework as per the Third Elderly Lady's orders, leaving little time for cooking. He felt sorry for her.

Historically, a wife's status rises with her husband's. He had married Lady Jie, who had never been cunning or manipulative, always allowing others to bully her.

Even during his recent stay, the Third Elderly Lady had shown no respect for Lady Jie. If so, he would elevate her status. Yan Yingqi's character was rebellious, especially given his promising career as a scholar in the Imperial Academy, which he left due to offending the ruling officials.

"What does the Guan family matter? You are Jingzhao's mother and will be his wife's mother-in-law. If they dare to mistreat you now, imagine what they'll do once they're in the house!" Yan Yingqi was displeased.

Lady Jie looked at him and seemed to gather courage, asking, "Then what should I do?" Men generally dislike strong women and prefer those they can personally guide.

If not for her dire circumstances, Lady Jie wouldn't have reached this point.

Seeing Lady Jie's newfound awareness, Yan Yingqi felt secretly pleased, showing it on his face.

That evening, when the Third Elderly Lady heard that Yan Yingqi was staying with Lady Jie again, she realized she needed to send someone over soon, lest Lady Jie gain more influence over Jingzhao.

Despite her fatigue from the day's engagements, she called over Yue'e and gave her instructions.

Compared to Su'e, Yue'e was gentler and more innocent. The Third Elderly Lady observed that Yan Yingqi had always preferred Lady Jie because of her gentle and considerate nature compared to the Linzi Princess.

She had to send Yue'e over before leaving!

So, when Yan Yingqi came to greet her the next morning, the Third Elderly Lady smiled and suggested, "Now that you often visit, the Third Sister's mother may sometimes be indisposed. As the head of the household, she might not be able to take care of everything. I think my attendant Yue'e is very gentle and pleasing. She serves me well. Would you like her to serve you?"

If Yan Yingqi were younger, he would have respected his elder's wishes, but after years in office, considering Lady Jie's situation, he replied, "There's no need. Since she serves you well, I wouldn't want to deprive you of her. Speaking of which, I have something to discuss with you. The provincial governor's grandson is having a celebration. I want the eldest son's mother to accompany me. Has anyone from the Guan family visited recently?"

The third matriarch thought to herself, this Lady Xie is getting bold, daring to cry to Yan Yingqi?

But she couldn't very well go against Yan Yingqi's face, as he wasn't someone easy to control. Besides, they didn't have any mother-son affection. It was already a great favor for the third branch that both Yan Jingzhao and Yao Niang were registered under them.

When Yue'e wasn't pushed forward to be Yan Yingqi's concubine, the third matriarch didn't mind much, but Lady Xie took action. She kept Yan Jingzhao for a moment when he came to pay his respects.

Yan Jingzhao was somewhat puzzled and saw Lady Xie looking at him, saying, "Has the matriarch been kind to you these days?"

"Very kind, as always," Yan Jingzhao wondered why Lady Xie would ask such a question.

Lady Xie said, "I heard from your father that the matriarch wanted to give Yue'e to him. Naturally, it's the elders' business and shouldn't concern you. But I'm afraid the matriarch might want Yue'e to bear more brothers for you. I know in our large family, having many children is good fortune, but you already have enough brothers. I don't care about the family property, but if there are too many choices, things might not be the same as before."

"You're overthinking it," Yan Jingzhao said, though he had other thoughts in mind.

Lady Xie smiled slightly, "I hope so too."

Yan Jingzhao looked at Lady Xie, seeing her frail body and pale face, yet still looking at him with such kindness. He felt touched, but at his age, he felt awkward and tried to act indifferent. Thus, he left in embarrassment.

After he left, Lady Xie curved her lips and called in Nurse Gu, Yao Niang's wet nurse, saying, "Tomorrow, I will accompany the eldest master to the governor's mansion and bring Yao Niang along. Find her rose-red jacket and iron it, then perfume it."

Nurse Gu promptly agreed, naturally happy for Yao Niang.

Lady Xie, however, thought that Lady Zhen was being too hasty, whispering in the third matriarch's ear, making her believe that the Guan family was dissatisfied with her, thus preventing her from going to the Quan family. Instead, it now worked out in her favor, allowing her to attend with Yan Yingqi and even causing a rift between the third matriarch and Yan Jingzhao.