Chapter 342

Chapter 347: Turmoil (Part 2)

Lady Lin was taken aback.

"She’s marrying far away, so it won’t be easy to see her often. We’d like to keep her a few more years..." Elevenniang explained the Xu family’s reluctance to part with Zhenjie. Thinking of Huijie, Lady Lin could empathize with their feelings. She quickly said, "I’ll speak to my brother about this." After Elevenniang left, she immediately wrote an impassioned letter to Cangzhou.

Meanwhile, as soon as Elevenniang returned to her quarters, Yanrong followed her in.

"I’ve found out what happened last night," she whispered. "They say Qin Yi complained to Marquis Xu about Second Young Master Xu. She said Lean is a backwater place, not as prosperous as the capital, and life there is hard. The second young master only has one young maid attending him, with no senior maid to oversee things. If anything happens, he might not know what to do. She wanted Marquis Xu to send Qin Xiang and the others who stayed behind to serve him."

Elevenniang was slightly startled.

"At first, Marquis Xu listened carefully. But then his expression darkened. He said Second Young Master Xu was there to study, not to live in luxury—what did he need so many servants for? Seeing Marquis Xu displeased, Qin Yi quickly threw herself to her knees and apologized. Only then did Marquis Xu’s expression soften. He called Cui Er to help him change clothes. But then Qin Yi started bringing up the second young master’s marriage. She said he was several days senior to the eldest daughter, yet while the mistress had been devoting all her attention to finding a match for the eldest daughter—even consulting Lady Wen—there was no word about the second young master’s marriage. Now that he was studying in Lean, where the teacher’s authority was paramount, given his looks, character, and family background, he’d surely stand out. If some poor scholar acquainted with Mr. Jiang took a fancy to him, and if Mr. Jiang, out of obligation, couldn’t refuse and hastily arranged a match, wouldn’t that ruin the second young master’s future? She begged Marquis Xu to arrange a suitable marriage for him as soon as possible..."

Was Qin Yi genuinely worried, or was this an act? Xu Siyu wasn’t an orphan. Even if Mr. Jiang wanted to propose a match, he would surely consult Marquis Xu first. How could he rashly agree to anything?

Elevenniang raised an eyebrow.

"Upon hearing this, Marquis Xu threw the washcloth in his hand into the basin, splashing water all over Qin Yi’s face. He said Mr. Jiang was not someone she should criticize. Then he asked her: Was she unhappy that the second young master went to study in Lean, or was she unhappy that the mistress prioritized arranging the eldest daughter’s marriage first?" Yanrong stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Qin Yi was so terrified she froze, not even daring to wipe the water from her face." As if recalling the scene, she pressed her lips together before continuing, "Seeing Qin Yi speechless, Marquis Xu grew livid and ordered Cui Er to prepare the east chamber, saying he would sleep there. Qin Yi panicked, throwing herself to her knees and clutching his leg, sobbing that she was just overly worried about the second young master and had spoken nonsense."

"With Qin Yi weeping piteously, Marquis Xu frowned and had Xinghua help her up before walking out. Cui Er chased after him, kneeling to plead for Qin Yi’s forgiveness, but Marquis Xu simply left for Half-Moon Pavilion..."

Just then, a maid entered and announced, "Mistress, Qin Yi is here!"

It wasn’t even time for evening respects yet!

Elevenniang had her brought in.

Qin Yi, her eyes red and swollen, walked in and immediately prostrated herself before Elevenniang. "Mistress, I was led astray by foolish thoughts and spoke nonsense. Please, as the generous lady, overlook my faults. For the sake of the second young master, forgive me this once!" She pressed her forehead to the floor as if to prostrate herself further.

Yanrong swiftly pulled her up. "What’s wrong, madam? You came in without explaining and started prostrating yourself. Even if you have grievances ten thousand times over, how can our mistress help you without knowing the details?"

Qin Yi didn’t rise but stopped trying to prostrate herself, her tearful eyes fixed on Elevenniang. "I saw that the heir apparent was engaged, the eldest daughter’s marriage was settled, yet the second young master remains alone. I worried for his future, so last night when Marquis Xu visited, I spoke out of turn and angered him. Mistress, Marquis Xu respects you above all. Please, since I’m uneducated and ignorant, plead my case with him."

She actually wanted Elevenniang to plead her case to Marquis Xu? Elevenniang was momentarily speechless.

Qin Yi tried to prostrate herself again, but Yanrong stopped her.

"Mistress," she said urgently, "I was originally a servant in Marquis Xu’s household. By the elder mistress’s grace and Marquis Xu’s favor, I was raised to concubine status. I’ve long been content. Besides, I’m approaching forty—I should’ve long given up such concerns. If Marquis Xu is angry with me, it’s my fault, and I deserve whatever punishment. But I fear he might think the second young master is also lacking in judgment because of me... Mistress, as long as Marquis Xu doesn’t blame the second young master, I’ll accept any consequence without complaint."

Elevenniang was surprised.

Was Qin Yi telling her that she cared only for Xu Siyu and no longer sought Marquis Xu’s favor?

Elevenniang recalled Chun Ge’s aversion to Qin Yi when they first met, her deference when Elevenniang first entered the household, and that rainy winter night when she overstepped to greet her... A peculiar sensation rose in her heart.

"Get up." Marquis Xu’s voice suddenly broke the silence of the hall.

Elevenniang quickly composed herself and curtsied.

Without even glancing at the kneeling Qin Yi, Marquis Xu ordered Yanrong, "Everyone leave. I have matters to discuss with the mistress."

Yanrong curtsied in acknowledgment, glancing at Qin Yi. Qin Yi, her eyes downcast at Marquis Xu’s stern expression, hesitated before rising and withdrawing with Yanrong.

Elevenniang poured tea for Marquis Xu. "What urgent matter brings you here, my lord?"

But Marquis Xu’s expression softened. "Nothing urgent. I just didn’t want her weeping here." He said no more about it, changing clothes and joining Elevenniang for dinner at the elder mistress’s. After returning, he didn’t visit Qin Yi but reclined on the heated brick bed in Elevenniang’s inner chamber to read. Unsure of his intentions—given his midnight trip to Half-Moon Pavilion and Qin Yi’s prostration plea—Elevenniang didn’t want to get involved. She sat on the heated brick bed, sewing shoes for Lady Zhou while keeping him company.

By the hour of hai, her eyes growing heavy, Marquis Xu suddenly stood. "I’m leaving."

Elevenniang pondered for a moment before understanding. She set down her work and said, "Safe travels, Lord Xu!"

Lord Xu paused in his steps, as if explaining or muttering to himself, "Since she came to apologize to you, I should at least uphold your dignity."

Elevenniang watched his retreating figure thoughtfully.

Concubine Qin had come to apologize publicly and begged her to intercede. If Lord Xu didn’t visit Concubine Qin that night, by the next day, people would either accuse her of jealousy or pettiness, or even claim she held no weight in Lord Xu’s heart.

Concubine Qin truly understood Lord Xu well!

The next day, Lord Xu stayed in Elevenniang’s quarters, and from then on, Concubine Qin treated Elevenniang with even more deference than before.

Elevenniang couldn’t help but smile wryly.

******

A few days later, Lady Lin’s elder brother and Shao Zhongran’s father arrived in Yanjing to discuss the wedding details with the Xu family.

Lord Xu allocated ten thousand taels of silver from the outer courtyard to Elevenniang for preparing part of Zhenjie’s dowry. Elevenniang entrusted the money to Zhuxiang and the accounts to Lady Wen, saying, "...It's not a vast sum, but used wisely, it can still make a proper display. Please oversee this—don’t let the money be spent poorly."

This was for Lord Xu to purchase decorative items and combs for Zhenjie. Land and property would be handled by the outer courtyard stewards. Three to five thousand taels could already make a fine display, let alone ten thousand. But Lady Wen remembered how, when she had entered as a concubine, her mother’s carefully saved belongings had gone unused. Now that she had money, why not spend it on Zhenjie rather than take it to the grave? *(Note: This reflects a traditional Chinese belief that wealth should be enjoyed in life rather than taken to the afterlife.)*

Considering Madam’s fair-mindedness, she hesitated before tentatively suggesting, "The Wens are merchants, and our connections are with merchants. If you trust me, I could introduce a few shopkeepers. I’m not asking for bargains, just fair prices without deception." She still didn’t dare mention her private funds. She added, "Zhuxiang is an unmarried girl and might be too shy to bargain. Unlike me, raised in a merchant family and now a married woman, I can speak plainly with shopkeepers. How about I manage the funds while Zhuxiang keeps the accounts? What do you think?"

Zhenjie’s dowry concerned not only the Xu and Shao families’ reputations but also Miss Zhenjie’s future married life. Since Lady Wen had a merchant’s mindset, Elevenniang trusted she would make sensible choices. Without much deliberation, Elevenniang agreed but cautioned her, "Be very careful, Lady Wen. Any misstep could shame the Xu family and hurt Miss Zhenjie, making her life difficult in the Shao household."

She couldn’t hide her delight openly bloomed on Lady Wen’s face. "Though I may be narrow-minded, I know this is important. I won’t ruin Miss Zhenjie’s prospects!"

Elevenniang immediately instructed Zhuxiang to hand over the ten thousand taels to Lady Wen, complete with signed receipts. Back in her room, she summoned Qiu Hong (Autumn Red) and Dong Hong (Winter Red).

"Dong Hong, your calligraphy is excellent. Write up some gilded red cards—I’m arranging Miss Zhenjie’s dowry!" Her tone brimmed with excitement.

Qiu Hong and Dong Hong exchanged startled glances before delight dawned on their faces. "Did Lord Xu agree?"

"Not Lord Xu," Lady Wen replied cheerfully, sipping her tea. "Madam approved it." She mused, "Madam handles matters so efficiently." Recalling Lord Xu’s scrutinizing gaze, she added, "Unlike... someone who makes people uneasy."

Unlike whom?

Her evasion suggested someone Lady Wen dared not name outright.