Chapter 37: Overwhelmed

Chapter 37: Undue Humiliation

Lin Ji rode home with the children, his heart heavy as he gazed at the empty carriage behind him.

The children felt even worse.

Since Qing Tong was soon to depart for the border with the Mighty General, Chen Yuhu had kept him behind, fearing his mother would worry.

The child Chen Yuhu usually favored least was the one she ultimately left behind.

It felt like a divorce, with children being divided.

Meanwhile, Chen Yuhu was as delighted as a mouse in an oil jar, overjoyed.

Chen Yuhu's mother declared, "Stay home and settle down. After the divorce, I'll find you someone better."

Chen Yuhu smiled.

Lin Ji brought the children home. They bowed silently to him before scattering.

Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo went together to the outer courtyard, while the other children sought out their respective mothers.

Qing Jiao returned alone to Guanjū Pavilion.

That evening, An Zhi and Yuzhi went to see Qing Jiao, offering to sleep with her.

They were actually worried she might be feeling down.

With Chen Yuhu gone, the children could no longer eat together.

Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo sent daily inquiries about their younger sisters.

They told them to send word to the front courtyard if anything came up.

However, it was usually Qing Luo who was constantly running back and forth with messages.

These past few days, Qing Luo had been terribly busy, worrying first about his brothers, then about his sisters.

It took the matriarch two days to realize someone was missing from the household.

The children had just earned the title of child scholar and had come to pay their respects and share the good news. But these past few days, there had been no sign of joy—something must have happened.

The matriarch inquired, "You say Chen Yuhu went back home? Because of a concubine? And she even hit Jun Shi?"

After hearing this, the matriarch’s face turned stern. "Bring me a cup of tea."

The serving woman who usually attended her asked, "Aren’t you angry, Matriarch?"

The matriarch shot her a sidelong glance. "Why should I be angry? It was just a slap. He’s thick-skinned."

"As for that concubine, since Chen Yuhu isn’t here, have her come serve me tomorrow."

The serving woman hesitated. "Matriarch, Yiniang Jiang hasn’t finished her month of confinement yet."

"A lowly concubine should consider it a blessing to serve me. Since the lady of the house left because of her, someone ought to take care of me."

The matriarch rarely shared her true thoughts with the serving woman.

"No matter how flawed Chen Yuhu may be, she is the properly married matriarch—she bears heirs and respects her elders. They talk about the *Three Obediences and Four Virtues*, but people are living beings."

"How can anyone live like a block of wood? All these years, she’s swallowed so many grievances. Why did a concubine make her so angry this time?"

"Go ask around for me."

Lin Ji had already ordered silence on the specific reasons, forbidding any leaks.

But the matriarch soon found out. After hearing, she frowned. "Have the Marquis come see me after his duties tonight."

"Bring that so-called concubine here as well."

"I want to ask Lin Ji: if he remarries, can he still find a woman of excellent character, appearance, and influential family?"

Implied meaning: if he could, she wouldn’t interfere.

The old master had once taken his cousin as a concubine. Though there was only one concubine, the matriarch had suffered greatly and detested these flirtatious women.

Now they were flaunting themselves right before her.

Yiniang Jiang, who hadn’t finished her confinement, knelt before the Buddha, sorting Buddhist beans all day.

She wasn't even given lunch or dinner.

In the evening, as the matriarch was dining, Lin Ji rushed to Songhe Hall after his duties and happened to see Yiniang Jiang, pale and on the verge of fainting, kneeling in the main hall reporting to the matriarch.

"Matriarch, the Buddhist beans have all been sorted."

The matriarch, sitting in the host seat, responded with a noncommittal "Mm-hmm." "Continue tomorrow. Weren’t you a girl from a good family? You should be literate. Copy Buddhist scriptures for me tomorrow. Rest well tonight."

"Don’t fall ill tomorrow and be unable to get out of bed."

A girl from a good family? The matriarch hated that phrase the most. If she were from a good family, why didn’t she properly become someone’s lawful wife?

Instead, she became a concubine?

She must be scheming.

The matriarch looked at people sideways—usually, it was Chen Yuhu who received such looks.

Just as Lin Ji entered, it wasn't clear how much he'd heard, but the matriarch didn’t care either way.

She happened to say, "I think she’s ambitious. She’s borne a child. Since Yu Hu doesn’t want her, just raise the child however. As for this lowly concubine, send her away or give her to someone."

The matriarch said casually.

But it made Yiniang Jiang’s hair stand on end.

Terrified, Yiniang Jiang turned sorrowfully, grabbed Lin Ji’s sleeve, and looked at him pleadingly.

The matriarch found this even more unacceptable and rolled her eyes.

Chen Yuhu had been put through so much by her, yet even in her presence, she never dared to be physically familiar with her husband.

She paid no mind to the fact that Chen Yuhu and Yiniang Jiang’s situations were entirely different.

Lin Ji didn’t stop Yiniang Jiang’s actions, only saying, "Someone, escort Yiniang Jiang back."

What exactly was said between the matriarch and the Marquis in Songhe Hall remained private.

But the other two concubines, learning of Yiniang Jiang’s ordeal, became much more cautious in the household, extremely careful.

They were terrified of being summoned by Old Mrs. Chen to pick prayer beans as well.

The lightness that had once existed during Chen Yuhu's time there was gone completely.

Yiniang Hua privately said to Yiniang Hu, "It would be better to become a maid to Concubine. Why don’t we ask Marquis Lin when he’s going to the Censor’s residence? If Concubine remarries, maybe she can take us along?"

Yiniang Hu burst out laughing.

But both of them knew they had nowhere else to go.

Lin Ji, on the advice of his family's matriarch, went to the Chen residence the next day, just as Cui Shi's reply arrived.

The other family’s matriarch heaped praise on the Chen family’s upbringing.

Old Mrs. Chen, knowing full well what was happening, straightforwardly said to Lin Ji, "My good son-in-law, I failed to raise Yu Hu properly. She refuses to admit her mistakes. Why not opt for an amicable separation? That way, she won’t return to the Lin family and become even more overbearing and domineering."

"It is entirely my fault for not raising her well. You should separate from her to avoid bringing unrest to the Lin household."

"Half of her dowry will remain with the Lin family as compensation."

Old Mrs. Chen’s words were very persuasive.

Lin Ji was taken aback but promptly cupped his hands in respect and replied, "Mother-in-law, I will not agree to a separation. It was my fault—I shouldn’t have quarreled with her over a concubine and a child by a concubine."

After Chen’s mother had gone through her whole routine, this was the only response she received.

His face changed like turning a page.

She had already done her research: the other family had only one son, a young daughter, and upheld strict Confucian values. They were nothing like these country bumpkins—there would absolutely be no tolerance for a Concubine.

A Concubine was a clear signal of dissatisfaction with the primary wife, even an outright insult.

Chen’s mother had no desire to waste more words with Lin Ji. "An early separation would be best for both Yu Hu and you. Our Chen family cannot tolerate a second Concubine."

"Our men still have official careers to pursue, and our daughters still need to marry. The Chen family has its reputation to uphold."

"The last time I remained silent was because Yu Hu said it was fine. But in all these years since she married you, do you have any idea how much suffering she has endured?"

"Your mother is difficult to get along with, yet my Yu Hu showed utmost filial piety and endured it all for your sake. Even before she entered your household, your concubine was already pregnant. She tolerated it, even with the wedding date approaching."

"Now that you have everything, you bring in a Concubine to humiliate my daughter. Marquis Lin, our Chen family has already shown the utmost forbearance."

"Please leave. The separation agreement will be delivered to you."

Lin Ji immediately fell to his knees.

Chen’s mother finally revealed her true face—she had no intention of holding anything back anymore.

Having said too much, she sat down and took a sip of tea.

"If you don’t wish to care for the children, let Yu Hu take them all. She dotes on the girls in the household."

"Our Chen family will see to their marriages when the time comes, and the boys can be sent to our clan school."

Lin Ji was more ashamed than ever.