Chapter 567

Chapter 573: Misunderstanding (Part 1)

Lady Eleven had heard about County Magistrate Fang resigning, but the news of Mrs. Fang bringing her son north to visit Fang Shi was new to her. She couldn’t help but feel surprised: "The eldest daughter-in-law’s due date is at the end of September or early October. Why is Mrs. Fang coming north now? The weather is so hot—if she suffers heatstroke, it’s no joke!"

The Fifth Lady pursed her lips and smiled. "Now, Third Sister-in-law is in charge of Sanjing Lane. The eldest daughter-in-law is solely focused on resting at home for her pregnancy. In May, when the Gan family married off their daughter, I heard Third Sister-in-law sent a glass screen as a congratulatory gift. Some say it looked exactly like the one the eldest daughter-in-law brought as part of her dowry. Counting the days, this news must have reached Huzhou by now. Mrs. Fang’s arrival couldn’t be more timely!"

Lady Eleven frowned slightly. "No matter how scatterbrained Third Sister-in-law is, she couldn’t possibly be this foolish. Who’s spreading such rumors?"

"Regardless of who’s saying it, our eldest daughter-in-law has been married into Yanjing for two years now. It’s only natural for her family to miss her and come for a visit." Considering how the Fang family had acted regarding Fang Shi’s supposed 'widow-making curse,' the Fifth Lady felt Mrs. Fang’s arrival would surely stir up some trouble in Sanjing Lane. "I was just thinking about Nanny Tian—I wonder if she’ll be back by the time I give birth?"

So that was the real concern.

The Fifth Lady and Fang Shi’s due dates were only two or three months apart. The first three months of a child’s life were the most critical, so if Nanny Tian absolutely had to return, it wouldn’t be impossible. But since she had already been sent over, recalling her so soon would seem cold-hearted, both in principle and sentiment. However, since Lady Eleven was the one who had sent Nanny Tian, the Fifth Lady naturally had to ask her for the favor.

"What do you think of Wan Mama’s daughter-in-law, Wan San’s wife, in my household?" Lady Eleven suggested tactfully. "She’s very experienced in childcare—just look at how well our Jin Geer is doing!" She added, "You know more about the situation in Sanjing Lane than I do, and you’re a clever person. You must understand the Dowager’s intention in sending Nanny Tian over. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to send her in the first place. Since the Dowager wants to protect the eldest daughter-in-law, it’s only proper to wait until the child is at least a year old..."

The Fifth Lady understood this as well. Both Wan Mama and Nanny Tian were getting on in years—tasks like holding the baby or changing diapers were left to the wet nurses and serving girls. Nanny Tian’s role was merely to supervise, so whether she returned or not made little difference. The Fifth Lady simply wanted another reliable person by her side. Traditionally, when a daughter-in-law in the family was pregnant, the Dowager would assign two attendants to serve her. Now that Lady Eleven was managing the household, and the Dowager doted on Jin Geer like a treasure, the servants were even more fawning toward the mother and son. If the Fifth Lady had only one attendant during this pregnancy, people would surely gossip and stir up trouble.

Having achieved her goal, the Fifth Lady smiled. "Of course I understand your dilemma, Fourth Sister-in-law. But since Shen Geer hasn’t been weaned yet, and now I’m pregnant again, my mind is split between two concerns. I just hope to have as many reliable people around as possible. Since you’re willing to part with her, I won’t hold back!"

It was a relief that the Fifth Lady agreed.

"We’re family, living under the same roof—there’s no need for such formalities!" Lady Eleven replied politely, just as she noticed the figure of a young maid darting outside the bamboo curtain. She paid it no mind and continued chatting with the Fifth Lady.

The maid’s figure darted twice more.

Since Lady Eleven had a guest, the maid wouldn’t dare interrupt unless it was urgent.

Just as Lady Eleven was about to call the maid in to ask, the Fifth Lady stood to take her leave.

Lady Eleven urged her to rest a while longer. "The sun is scorching—why not wait a bit before heading back?"

The Fifth Lady smiled. "I came out while Shen Geer was napping. If he wakes up and doesn’t see me, he’ll pitch a tantrum!"

It was unclear who had passed on this trait, but Xin Jieer had been the same way as a child—if she couldn’t find the Fifth Lady, she’d cry inconsolably. After turning four, the habit mysteriously vanished. Now, Shen Geer was just the same...

Lady Eleven escorted her to the courtyard gate before turning back and asking Qiuyu, who was on duty, "Was there something?"

"It was Cha Jing, one of Jin Geer’s maids," Qiuyu replied with a smile. "Most likely, Gu Ma sent her to check when the sixth young master would wake up."

Just then, Gu Ma entered. "I knew the Fifth Lady was here, so I didn’t send any maids over!"

Qiuyu’s expression darkened, and she summoned Cha Jing for questioning.

Cha Jing was a junior maid serving Jin Geer, usually assigned to outer duties. Entering the inner chambers made her nervous. "It was Sui Feng who asked me to check..."

Now Sui Feng was involved!

Lady Eleven was about to press further when another maid entered. "Madam, Sui Feng requests an audience!"

Sui Feng was only twelve, with an ordinary appearance but keen, alert eyes that hinted at intelligence beneath his quiet demeanor.

He bowed to Lady Eleven and said, "A while ago, the Dowager gifted a pair of orioles to the sixth young master. He adores them—feeding them every day and having me take the cage to the back garden each morning for fresh air..."

Lady Eleven knew about this.

Ever since Sui Feng had made the peacock spread its feathers last time, though he remained Lord Xu’s page, he was now in charge of Jin Geer’s pets. When the Dowager gave Jin Geer the orioles, Sui Feng immediately sought advice from the older women in charge of birds in the Dowager’s household. Not only did he quickly learn the orioles’ habits, but he also took them out daily for walks.

"A couple of days ago, I ran into the second young miss while she was picking flowers in the greenhouse," he said, lowering his gaze. "She loved hearing the orioles sing and demanded I hand them over. The maids by her side, seeing I was the one holding the cage, tried to dissuade her for a long time. The second young miss stormed out of the garden. I thought about how the sixth young master enjoys playing with these orioles every day, and how he’d already given the pair of cats the Dowager gave him to the second young miss. I worried there might be a misunderstanding between them over the birds. After thinking it over, I came to seek your advice, madam. But the maids said you were speaking with the Fifth Lady..." Here, he trailed off, uneasy as if unsure whether to continue.

Lady Eleven understood the situation clearly.

Just like last time, Miss Xin had taken a liking to Young Master Jin’s pet again. The difference was, last time it was a cat Young Master Jin didn’t care for, but this time it was the golden oriole he adored. Sui Feng, seeing the Dowager visit at this moment, mistakenly thought she had come to claim the golden oriole for Miss Xin. He feared Young Master Jin would refuse, causing a rift between the two households.

She couldn’t help but scrutinize Sui Feng closely.

Qiuyu and the others stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to make a sound.

On the surface, Sui Feng acted out of concern that the golden oriole might cause discord between Miss Xin and Young Master Jin. But looking deeper, he had overstepped by involving himself in matters between the fourth and fifth households—a clear breach of propriety.

For a moment, the room was so silent one could hear a pin drop.

The oppressive stillness made Sui Feng struggle to breathe.

Fear flickered across his face.

Lady Eleven asked gently, "Who else is in your family? What do they do?"

Talking could ease the tension.

Sui Feng’s expression relaxed slightly as he hurriedly replied, "Madam, my father was a farmhand on the estate. He passed away when I was three, leaving my mother to raise my sister and me. The steward took pity on our poverty and arranged for me to work in the household. All told, I’ve been here for four now."

"Oh!" Lady Eleven was slightly surprised. "You have a sister?"

Sui Feng answered respectfully, "She wasn’t even born when my father died."

Lady Eleven paused in thought before saying, "I understand what you’ve told me. You may leave now."

She offered no solution as to how the matter would be resolved.

Sui Feng grew anxious.

If Miss Xin came to demand the bird, what should he do?

There were things he didn’t dare say in front of the madam.

Before leaving, Miss Xin had declared that if Young Master Jin refused, she would have the Dowager come and demand it!

But everyone knew Young Master Jin’s temper. If something of his was given away, he would throw such a fit. The Dowager, seeing this, would surely go to great lengths to soothe him—just like last time, when even the marquis got an earful. And as the servant specifically tasked with caring for the birds and animals, Sui Feng would bear the brunt of the blame.

He wouldn’t get off easy!

No wonder they said high rank came with high risks.

Outsiders saw the Xu family’s stewards dressed to the nines, but they didn’t know that one wrong word could ruin you.

His face fell as he bowed silently and withdrew.

...

Meanwhile, the Dowager hurled a full cup of tea onto Miss Xin’s maid, Bibo.

"Is this how you serve your mistress?" The heat shortened her temper. "That bird was a gift from the Dowager to Young Master Jin. A gift from one’s elder isn’t to be refused. Instead of guiding Miss Xin properly, you allowed her to say such things!"

Bibo had already fallen to her knees, shaking, and kowtowed frantically.

Her pale forehead soon flushed red from the impact.

Nearby, Miss Xin sobbed, "Grandmother gave it, not Young Master Jin..."

Madame Wu glared at Xin Jieer’s wet nurse.

“If Grandmother gave it to Jin Geer, it’s his. Say you got a gold necklace, it would be yours. Do you see anyone else trying to take it?” Then, suppressing her anger, she hugged Xin Jieer and whispered to her, “You love that mirror Grandmother gave you, don’t you? What if Jin Geer wanted it too? How would you feel?”

Xin Jieer immediately replied, “That’s mine!”

“Exactly!” Madame Wu seized the opportunity to teach her daughter. “That oriole is Jin Geer’s. How can you take his things?”

Xin Jieer lowered her head. But the moment she recalled how beautiful the oriole’s song was and how vibrant its colors were—even prettier than the orioles in Grandfather’s birdcages—her longing surged uncontrollably.

“Make Jin Geer give it to me!” she said stubbornly. “Then it’ll be mine!”

“Nonsense!” Madame Wu scolded. “It’s wrong to take what someone else loves. How can you demand Jin Geer’s things!”

Seeing that her mother not only refused to help but also reprimanded her loudly, Xin Jieer grew even more defiant. “I want that pair of orioles! I want them! Now!”

“No!” Madame Wu remained firm. “We cannot take what belongs to others!”

“Mother!” Xin Jieer burst into tears. “I want the orioles too! I want them…”

“I said no, and that’s final!” Madame Wu had had enough.

She ordered Xin Jieer’s wet nurse, “Take her out of here!”

Hearing this, Xin Jieer immediately clung to her mother’s leg. “Mother, I want the orioles! I want them…”

The servants hovered nearby, some pleading, some soothing, but none dared to forcibly pull Xin Jieer away.

Seeing this, Xin Jieer cried even louder.

Madame Wu’s face flushed with anger.

Amid the chaos, Xu Lingkuan walked in.

“What in heaven’s name is happening?”

At the sound of her father’s voice, Xin Jieer immediately abandoned her mother and rushed into his arms. “Daddy! Daddy! I want the birds!” “What’s all this about?” Xu Lingkuan, seeing his daughter’s tear-streaked face, quickly said, “All this fuss over some birds? No need to cry!” Then he added, “Daddy will buy you a pair, how about that?” He further assured her, “Top of the line!”