Chapter 558

Chapter 564: Auspicious Celebrations (Part 1)

Third Master couldn’t linger outside Old Madame’s quarters for long. After sitting with Xu Lingyi for a while and discussing Xu Sijian’s wedding, he noticed it was already mid-afternoon. Assuming Old Madame had woken up, he went to inquire, only to find she had gone to the Fifth Lady’s place.

Xu Lingkuan was still on duty at the palace and hadn’t returned.

Third Master hesitated.

"...I’ll go to the main hall to check the arrangements. Later, I’ll listen to the Deyin Troupe (a renowned opera group) perform a few lines. If Third Master has nothing to do, why not join me for an act?"

Bringing up the matter of who would manage the accounts for his son’s wedding now would only dampen the mood.

"In that case, I’ll come another day," Third Master said with a smile, teasing Jin’er for a moment before taking his leave.

Xu Lingyi asked Lady Eleven, "What’s the matter?"

"Old Madame is cross with Third Master," Lady Eleven explained the situation to Xu Lingyi. "We’ll have to wait until her anger subsides before discussing it further."

Xu Lingyi fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "It’s not a big deal. If you get the chance, plead their case for Third Brother and his wife in front of Mother." Yet his expression remained thoughtful.

Lady Eleven agreed with a smile.

However, Old Madame’s displeasure lasted longer than anyone expected.

Third Master and his wife still hadn’t found an opportunity to speak with Old Madame even after Shen Geer’s first birthday celebration. Third Lady grew increasingly anxious. When it came time to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Jin family, she made a special effort to pay her respects to Old Madame, only to find she had gone to Second Lady’s quarters. Third Lady hurried there but stood outside *Shaohua Yuan* for nearly half a day without seeing her.

Feeling suddenly estranged, Third Lady grew resentful. On the day of the formal betrothal, she claimed a headache and lay abed, unable to move. Lady Huang arrived to find the tea leaves still unpacked, the geese uncaged in the kitchen, and no sign of the Gan family’s matriarch, who was supposed to deliver the gifts.

"...It’s all in disarray."

Madame Fang stepped in, pulling Lady Huang aside. "At this rate, we’ll miss the propitious time. If you don’t mind my clumsiness, I’ll gather a few people to pack the gifts. As for the hairpin, I have a few new ones—you can choose the best one to use. For the gift delivery, we can send someone to fetch the aunt while inviting Fifth Aunt over. We’ll say we’re asking her to help pack as a blessing. If the aunt arrives in time, Fifth Aunt can assist with packing. If not, she can deliver the gifts. This way, no one is offended, the situation is resolved, and Old Madame won’t be disturbed, avoiding any discomfort."

Lady Huang nodded repeatedly, looking at Madame Fang with newfound respect. "Let’s do as Mistress Fang suggests."

Madame Fang called her own servants to help.

Third Lady lay in bed, listening to the commotion. As the propitious time approached, the loud honking of geese echoed outside.

She shot upright and was about to send a maid to investigate when Xingjiao entered. "Madam, Madam! Mistress Fang invited Fifth Lady over, had her maids pack the gifts, and sent Lady Huang to the Jin family!"

Third Lady gnashed her teeth in fury. Another maid rushed in. "The aunt has arrived!"

Xingjiao hurriedly helped Third Lady put on her shoes, but her sister-in-law had already swept the curtain aside and entered.

"Anger is one thing, but we can’t delay Xu Sijian’s propitious time," she said anxiously. "Quick, where are the betrothal gifts? I’ll go with Lady Huang right away."

Third Lady had deliberately kept her sister-in-law waiting in the back rooms, hoping to pressure Old Madame. She hadn’t expected this outcome.

Her face flushed with anger as she muttered, "This whole household is under her control. I refuse to believe she didn’t know my sister-in-law was waiting in the back rooms!" Her expression darkened with resentment.

Her sister-in-law knew exactly who "she" referred to. Waving the servants away, she whispered, "Right now, you need to either dismiss or sell off those disobedient maids to intimidate the older ones. Without her lackeys, how can she act so boldly? Once you control the household, she’ll only eat or drink what you permit..."

Third Lady hesitated. "But what if Old Madame finds out?"

"You’ve already moved out. Even if she knows, what can she do?" Her sister-in-law scoffed. "Remember, she too answers to a mother-in-law. If she interferes with how you manage your daughter-in-law, does that mean she can dictate how you’re managed too?"

Third Lady’s eyes lit up. She called Xingjiao to help her dress and freshen up. "We’ll settle this after Xu Sijian’s wedding. It’ll also serve as a warning to the incoming bride."

"Exactly!" Her sister-in-law finally smiled. "As for the wedding accounts, since the ceremony is in your courtyard, just hold a feast after the incoming bride arrives. Invite the accountants to celebrate, then have Old Gan and his men tidy everything up. Why trouble yourself with details?"

"Sister-in-law, why didn't I think of that?" Third Madam exclaimed, like grabbing a lifeline, but then her expression faltered. "But wouldn’t doing it so obviously make us a laughingstock?"

"What’s there to laugh at?" her sister-in-law whispered. "Back when the old count passed away, our 'virtuous' sister-in-law did exactly the same thing. Otherwise, how would I know such a trick?"

Encouraged, Third Madam nodded slightly. "Sister-in-law, you must be there to back me up when the time comes."

"Of course!"

...

This episode naturally was reported to elder madam.

She merely smiled faintly and nodded, but at dinner, she only ate half a bowl of rice.

Madam Du had Second Madam summoned.

"Third Young Master is a straightforward man at heart," Second Madam said, fanning elder madam. "How could he possibly grasp the subtleties in your mind? If you keep sulking like this, he might not even understand why. It’s like winking at a blind man..."

"Who’s casting glances at a blind man?" elder madam retorted, displeased, though much of her gloom had already dissipated.

Second Madam and Madam Du exchanged looks and chuckled.

"I spoke carelessly," Second Madam admitted, helping elder madam sit up and handing her a bowl of mung bean soup from Madam Du. "It was boiled for only a quarter of an hour after the water boiled—no sugar added."

Elder madam took a sip and sighed. "I am his legal mother. Even if I were in the wrong, as a son, he should still show filial obedience! Look at the things he’s done!" She sighed again deeply.

"Then have Third Young Master come for a proper scolding!" Second Madam suggested cheerfully, massaging elder madam’s legs. "By acting this way, aren’t you not treating him as a son either?" She added, "If it were Fourth Young Master or Fifth Young Master who’d done such a thing, you’d have slapped them long ago, wouldn’t you?"

Such bluntness was something only Second Madam dared to voice.

Madam Du flinched slightly, stealing a glance at elder madam.

Elder madam sat frozen, her expression blank.

...

The following day, elder madam summoned Third Young Master to the mansion.

"What was it you were looking for me about the other day?"

"It was nothing important," Third Young Master replied with a smile. "The wedding chamber is ready, and craftsmen have repainted the walls. I just wanted to inform you."

Elder madam stared at him for a long while without speaking. The servants quietly withdrew. The pendulum clock's ticking in the western chamber made Third Young Master uneasy.

"Mother..." His smile stiffened.

"Third Son, do you know what disappoints me most about you?" elder madam asked softly, sighing.

Third Young Master was startled.

"What disappoints me most is your inconsistency in word and deed," elder madam stated frankly. "You wanted independence, so I granted it. But the Xu family is indivisible, and Xu Sijian grew up before my eyes. I suggested having his wife and Fifth Young Master's wife assist to add prestige to the event, to give you face before the in-laws. As for the gifts and ledgers, Fourth Young Master has managed your household expenses all these years. Moreover, houses like Count Zhongqin's, the Northern Wei Residence, and Old Minister Liang—their gifts will be reciprocated by them in the future. Even if you turned the gift records over to Fourth Young Master, you could still keep track, couldn’t you?" Her tone carried a hint of displeasure. "All these years, you’ve assisted Fourth Young Master with household affairs. No one understands his treatment of you better than you. Even if you gave him all the gift ledgers, he likely wouldn't take them. Such goodwill—why can’t you, as the elder brother, extend it? Your wife is unwell, but have you considered that he, too, has a wife? You fight for your wife’s dignity, but have you thought about his need for respect in front of his?"

"Mother..." Third Young Master flushed crimson. "I... I..."

Having spoken her mind, elder madam had no intention of letting the matter drop lightly.

"Some things I failed to clarify for you. But in other matters, you’ve shown no backbone at all! Gan Shi doesn’t understand—you should teach her. How can you blindly follow her lead without a second thought? Is a sheltered woman truly wiser than a man who’s seen the world?" She spoke earnestly. "Third Son, you must reflect carefully. Fourth Young Master secured you a provincial assignment and even arranged an advisor for you. Yet not only did you fail to seize the opportunity, you came slinking back to the capital. As the sages say, 'Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state.' If you cannot regulate your family, how can you govern the state? Let me be blunt: when you returned this time, Fourth Young Master wanted to find you another position, but I put a stop to it. I was furious at your lack of resolve and wanted to leave you to reflect. But then, with Xu Sijian’s wedding, you kept flip-flopping. If you heed a woman’s words in everything, even the best opportunity could slip away because of her meddling. If that’s the case, you might as well remain a country squire!"

"Mother..." Third Young Master hung his head in shame.

Elder madam sighed softly. "No matter how much I say, it’s up to you to understand." She then picked up her teacup. "I’m tired. In half a month, it’ll be Xu Sijian’s wedding. Others are busy writing invitations, and with Fourth Young Master’s office assisting, you have plenty of free time. Instead of idling, think through everything that’s happened from the betrothal to the engagement. That would satisfy me."

Third Young Master, overwhelmed with shame, could not utter a word. He bowed and withdrew in silence.