Chapter 489

Chapter 495: Anxiety (Part 2)

Even if it were Madam Huang herself who had come, she certainly wasn’t so distinguished as to warrant the two of them personally preparing tea. The realization struck the third wife, and she suddenly understood.

Madam Huang’s hurried visit was clearly because she had something to discuss with the elder madam about the Yang family's property confiscation.

Wordlessly, she followed Eleven Miss out of the room. Once outside, she tended to the stove, waiting for the water to boil, and sorted through the tea selection on the shelf, discussing with the third wife what tea to brew:

“...Though Longjing is good, it’s still rather ordinary. Wuyi is too strong. The flavor is too light... I think Tieguanyin would be best... but I don’t know if Madam Huang would like it...”

The third wife watched her making a show of busywork and, recalling her sharp reaction earlier, guessed that she must know the reason for Madam Huang’s visit... She stepped forward and picked up a tea canister beside Eleven Miss, lowering her voice:

“Sister-in-law, has the Huang family gotten into trouble?”

The Huang family matter was too serious. This wasn’t the time to discuss it!

“I don't really know either,” Eleven Miss said. “I just noticed Madam Huang seemed to have something to say to Mother.” She added, “When I pulled you out, didn’t Mother stay silent?”

That must mean there really was something to discuss with the elder madam!

The third wife nodded, her voice dropping even lower:

“I’ve long heard that the Yang family made a killing loan-sharking. Do you think the Huang family borrowed from them? Now that the Yang family has been raided, once word gets out, the Huangs would be utterly humiliated!”

Eleven Miss feigned ignorance:

“Surely not. Madam Huang’s usual lifestyle doesn’t seem like she’s scraping by to make ends meet! You’re overthinking it, sister-in-law. Maybe she’s just rattled by the Yang family’s troubles. After all, they were acquainted.”

The third wife disagreed:

“Why should families like ours care about their troubles...” She paused mid-sentence and quickly added, “Speaking of which, we have Lady Yang in our household! You should hurry and talk to Lord Xu about it, lest she drag our entire family down with her!”

“It surely won’t come to that!” Eleven Miss laughed. “She was a concubine given by the Empress Dowager, and even the Emperor approved back then. It’s not like we took her in privately!”

“That’s true!” The third wife thought for a moment and realized she might be being paranoid. She chuckled, “If anyone should worry, it’s Marquis Zhongshan’s family.” She covered her mouth with her hand, laughing, “And then there’s the Grand Secretary Liang... He must be regretting it now!”

“A married daughter isn't responsible for her family's crimes,” Eleven Miss said with a smile. “I don’t think there’ll be much trouble.” Yet her mind flashed to Madam Tang’s coldness and distance toward the third wife of the Liang family.

“Oh!” The third wife gave Eleven Miss a look that said, *How can you be so naive?* “Even if the Emperor doesn’t punish them, without her natal family’s support, a woman has no standing in her husband’s household...”

She kept talking, but Eleven Miss’s thoughts drifted far away.

Would the Emperor keep his promise to Lord Xu and merely reprimand the Huang family? And what of the Yang family—would they just lose their property, or would the women and children also face punishment? Exile would be manageable, but if they were reduced to commoners, the men made slaves, the women prostitutes...

Suddenly, someone patted her shoulder.

Eleven Miss startled.

“What are you thinking about?” The third wife’s puzzled face appeared before her. “The water’s ready!”

“Oh!” Eleven Miss hurriedly poured the Tieguanyin into the teapot. “I was just thinking about the Yang situation!”

The third lady dismissed it with a wave of her hand, "After all, our family and theirs are known to be at odds. Even if those people from the Ministry of Justice make a mistake, they won’t come knocking on our door." As she said this, she leaned in and whispered to Lady Eleven, "Tell me, if the Huang family really gets implicated, can we let that affect Young Master Qin’s marriage?"

Her words implied that they should change the matchmaker!

Lady Eleven managed to suppress her annoyance and replied, "The Fang family has already sent over the dowry list, and the amount of the betrothal gift has been agreed upon with Madam Liu... I think we should let Grandmother Huang handle everything from start to finish. After all, the Marquis will preside over Young Master Qin’s wedding, and you can always invite someone else to be the full-fortune person!"

Typically, the matchmaker would also serve as the full-fortune person for the wedding unless there were special circumstances.

The third lady hesitated upon hearing this.

Fearing that she might actually do something rash, Lady Eleven added, "We don’t know yet if the Huang family is involved, and even if they are, we don’t know the specifics. If something does happen to the Huang family, others might see us as kicking them while they’re down, which could harm Young Master Qin’s reputation. And if nothing happens, we’d just be offending the Huang family for no reason, causing unnecessary trouble!"

The third lady nodded reluctantly.

After seeing off Grandmother Huang, the matriarch went to the prayer hall accompanied by Aunt Du.

Lady Eleven and the third lady then parted ways.

Not long after, the entire household learned of the Yang family’s downfall.

**********

Yang Shi’s face was ashen, her hands trembling as she clung to Mother Yang’s. "Mother, how could this happen? How could this be? After all, we are the Empress Dowager’s family. Even if there were faults, a stern reprimand would have been enough... Why did they raid our home!" Tears streamed down her face, and she looked like a frightened, helpless child of ten.

Mother Yang, though experienced in many matters, had never encountered such a situation before. Her heart was in turmoil, but seeing Yang Shi like this, she had to pull herself together and pretend to be calm.

"It’s alright, it’s alright!" She gently held Yang Shi, rocking her as if she were still an infant in swaddling clothes. "I’m here! It’s going to be fine, it’s going to be fine..."

The warmth of her embrace gave Yang Shi a moment of respite.

Then she slowly straightened up.

Fine? How could it be fine?

She wasn’t a naive toddler who thought hiding in an adult’s arms would solve everything!

"Mother, please fetch me some water. I need to wash my face!"

This child had always been strong-willed. Now, with such news coming from the third branch of the family, who knew how many people were watching and laughing. No matter how uncomfortable she felt inside, she couldn’t appear disheveled when she went out. Otherwise, those shallow people who only cared about appearances would mock her even more. Getting angry with them would only lower her own dignity.

Mother Yang nodded and went to fetch the water.

Yang Shi opened her vanity case, spilling out the gold and silver jewelry onto the bed. Then she lifted the large red velvet cloth lining the bottom of the case, took out five silver notes, and tucked them into her sleeve. She carefully placed the glittering ornaments back into the case and sat quietly, waiting for Mother Yang to return.

**********

When Qiao Lianfang heard the news, she was bent over her desk copying scriptures and frowned.

"We shouldn't meddle in others' business."

Zhu Rui withdrew, embarrassed. At the door, she ran into Xiu Yuan.

"What's wrong?" Xiu Yuan asked Zhu Rui with a smile.

Earlier in the year, Zhu Rui's parents had claimed they had already arranged a marriage for her, and it was through Madam Du's connections that Zhu Rui was taken home. Eleventh Miss had brought in a new maid named Yin Qiao to their quarters—a quick-witted girl, though perhaps too much so. She once said to Dong Hong, who served Lady Wen, "My parents sent me into the household just to give me a respectable background. I’ll stay here obediently for four or five years, and then they’ll take me back. I’m not after praise—just staying out of trouble. I’ll do what I’m told and keep away from what’s off-limits."

Maids from noble households often leave with more refinement and poise than some wealthy young ladies, usually securing good marriages.

When this reached Xiu Yuan’s ears, she took a dislike to Yin Qiao right away. She warmed to Zhu Rui, who served Qiao Lianfang with genuine devotion.

"It's nothing!" Zhu Rui also felt she had made a fuss and smiled before returning to her room to do needlework.

Usually, Xiu Yuan would have chatted with her properly, but today...

Thinking this, she hurried to Qiao Lianfang.

"Third Madame is waiting for you at the back gate!"

Qiao Lianfang was startled and put down her brush. "What does Mother want?" she asked, rising to change her clothes in the bedchamber.

But Xiu Yuan grabbed her arm. "Miss, you must think carefully about this!"

Qiao Lianfang brushed her off. "Mother visited me during the New Year, and the marquis and his lady didn’t object. The lady even rewarded us with a feast..."

It had been so long that everyone seemed to have forgotten the original prohibition.

Xiu Yuan held on tighter. "Third Madame also asked whether the marquis was home and what he was doing."

Qiao Lianfang froze.

Xiu Yuan blurted out, "Last time I went home, my mother mentioned that the lady has recently partnered with Madam Yang in loan-sharking, making a fortune and spending lavishly. She’s so focused on multiplying her wealth that she couldn’t care less that the marquis took a new concubine... The moment word spread of the Yangs’ confiscation, Third Madame arrives... When you see her later, help where you can, but if it’s beyond your means, you must make it clear to Third Madame!"

But Qiao Lianfang shook her head. "My mother has never asked me for anything. If she’s come for this, she must have no other choice. If she asks, I must at least try."

Lady Wen paced her room frantically, like a trapped insect.

She hadn’t expected the emperor to act so swiftly and ruthlessly! The empress dowager’s mourning period hadn’t even ended, yet he had them raided without warning!

Qiu Hong slipped inside.

"What’s the news?" Lady Wen immediately pounced on her.

Though Qiu Hong, six months pregnant, wore loose clothing, her bulging belly was unmistakable.

**********

"My husband says the Wen family’s shops are still open as usual. But none of the head stewards are nowhere to be found."

Lady Wen plopped down into the nearby armchair upon hearing this. "Is there anything else?" Her face turned as pale as paper.

Just as Qiu Hong was about to speak, a young maid rushed in. "Miss Qiu Hong, your maid hurried in, saying she has urgent news for you."

"It might be a message from my husband," Qiu Hong whispered to Lady Wen in explanation before inviting the maid in.

Seeing only Qiu Hong and Lady Wen in the room, the maid gathered courage and said, "The Wen family’s Third Wife is visiting our household. Madam wants you to come back right away to entertain the guest."

Qiu Hong glanced at Lady Wen.

After a long moment of silent contemplation, Lady Wen instructed Qiu Hong, "Stay here and rest for now. I’ll go see the mistress. We’ll discuss everything when I return."

Qiu Hong quickly agreed and called Dong Hong in to help Lady Wen change her clothes.