Chapter 51 This Violates the Rules

Chapter 51: This Breaches Protocol

Concubine Yu did not realize that her current appearance was hardly better than a ghost's.

In the past, she would occasionally appear delicate and pitiful, tears glistening like pear blossoms in rain, which would make Master Xi cherish her all the more, promptly offering silver and gifts.

But at this moment, her face was mottled with purple and blue, swollen to a frightful degree—not a trace of beauty remained.

Coupled with those two streams of tears, she was truly terrifying.

Xi Jiaojiao, seeing her concubine mother's condition, knew she herself looked no better.

Yet, under the circumstances, she quickly supported Concubine Yu and together they made their way toward their own courtyard.

"At present, the bond between us as husband and wife is merely fractured, and my Zeng family will no longer support you. But should the day come when I sever ties with you completely and cut off all relations with your Xi family, my Zeng family will surely trample upon your house and leave you no chance to rise again. You decide for yourself."

After delivering this threat, Zeng Shi unhesitatingly ordered him to leave.

"My lady, why must you be so heartless? Jiaojiao lowered herself and has tasted the bitter fruit. Now that she has entered the marquis's household, she's completely under Qianyue's thumb. Our feelings for each other shouldn't be affected by all this."

However, despite Master Xi lowering himself and speaking softly in an attempt to reconcile, Zeng Shi remained unmoved and still insisted he leave.

"Mother, you stood up for me today, but you have thoroughly damaged your relationship with Father."

In truth, Xi Qianyue felt a pang of reluctance. She knew that Zeng Shi harbored genuine feelings for Master Xi—otherwise, she wouldn't have put up with so much before.

Now, for the sake of her, a false daughter, she had driven her marriage to this point.

"Qianyue, in the past, your mother did not think clearly. Now I see things with perfect clarity. Do not worry about me. Live your own life well, and that will be enough for me."

Xi Qianyue felt reassured. After having a meal with Zeng Shi and Xun Geer, she headed back to her own place.

Xi Jiaojiao was discreetly carried to the marquis's estate in a small sedan chair, sneaking in through the back gate.

She wore a pink dress, brought all her luggage, and covered her face with a silk scarf.

Yang Xingxian was still excited about her and wanted to "consummate the marriage."

When he arrived at her courtyard all worked up and saw her wearing a veil, he laughed: "You little tease, trying to play hard to get with me."

"Husband, I haven't been feeling well lately. Come back in a couple of days. My face—I've broken out in a rash..."

Xi Jiaojiao turned her face away, shielding it with her hand.

Yang Xingxian got even more interested: "What is there to fear? Let your husband take care of you..."

Before she could stop him, he yanked off her veil, and they both screamed at the same time.

Xi Jiaojiao grabbed the veil and quickly put it back on.

"What—what happened to you?"

Totally caught off guard, he was scared out of his wits.

Xi Jiaojiao's eyes welled up with tears: "It was the main wife who beat me, and the older sister who put her up to it."

"Hmph, that shrew, pulling such dirty tricks."

Though Yang Xingxian was angry, his enthusiasm had cooled off a lot. He mumbled a few half-hearted words of comfort and quickly made his exit.

Lv Zhi said worriedly: "Auntie, Young Master Yang left way too easily."

Xi Jiaojiao was briefly stunned before it hit her that Lv Zhi's "Auntie" referred to her.

"It doesn't matter. It's just that my looks are ruined; it'll clear up in a few days. I've asked around—my husband only has two concubine maids, and he doesn't even go near Xi Qianyue's place."

She thought to herself that in a few days, wouldn't she have him all to herself again?

Lv Zhi thought to herself: It's not that the young master doesn't visit the elder miss's place—he just can't get in.

When Lady Wu learned that her son had taken Xi Jiaojiao as a concubine, she just smiled: "My son's got quite the charm. But with these two sisters sharing the same husband, I'm afraid trouble might brew."

She felt so satisfied. Hadn't that daughter-in-law Xi Qianyue been strutting around all high and mighty every day? Now her own sister had moved in and would be fighting her for her husband's attention.

Just thinking about it made her happy.

The next day, Xi Jiaojiao came to greet Lady Wu.

Lady Wu noticed her veil and was a bit annoyed: "What is this?"

"Answering Mother, I accidentally touched some pollen the day before, which caused a rash on my face. It'll go away in a few days."

A concubine normally wasn't allowed to call her "Mother," but Lady Wu was in a good mood and let it slide.

"Why isn't the elder sister here?"

But when the mistress of the house arrived, she was supposed to serve tea, and only after Lady Wu drank the tea would she officially accept Xi Jiaojiao as a concubine.

Lady Wu said grumpily: "Do not mention her. That older sister of yours doesn't follow any rules at all. As for morning and evening greetings, she's never around."

Whenever Lady Wu tried to use the rules against her, Xi Qianyue would threaten to give back the dowry money...

"Luckily, my son has now taken you as a sweet companion. You must treat your husband as your everything. Only when your husband does well can you do well too. Do you understand?"

Xi Jiaojiao replied with a shy smile: "Of course, your daughter-in-law understands."

Lady Wu frowned: "You can't call yourself 'daughter-in-law.' You should say 'this concubine.'"

Xi Jiaojiao bit her lip, forcing a smile, and nodded in agreement: "This concubine understands."

Xi Jiaojiao glanced at the Yang sisters, who were both rolling their eyes impatiently.

She quickly had Lv Zhi bring out the fancy jewelry boxes and gave each of them a gift.

Lady Wu got a Hetian jade Buddha bead bracelet. Yang Luo and Yang Yao each got a finely crafted gold hairpin—one shaped like a butterfly, the other a peony, decorated with southern pearls and worth a pretty penny.

Only then did Yang Luo and Yang Yao soften up a bit.

Lady Wu said happily: "Today's a big happy day. We ladies should have a nice meal together to celebrate."

Xi Jiaojiao, of course, suggested ordering a feast. Lv Zhi and Nanny Wu took the menu and hurried off to get things set up.

Lady Wu and the Yang sisters were pleased; life felt a bit like the old days when Xi Qianyue first came into the family.

They ordered a big table full of dishes, but Xi Jiaojiao couldn't eat with them. First, there was no rule allowing a concubine to sit at the same table; and second, she couldn't exactly take off her veil.

So when the food arrived, Xi Jiaojiao made her "graceful exit."

Lv Zhi felt a twinge of sympathy: "Auntie, this is so humiliating. The mistress and the others are going too far—you paid for the meal, and even though you can't eat with them because of the veil, they could at least..."

They, however, looked down on her condescendingly and made her stand while serving dishes.

Xi Jiaojiao said she needed to change her medication, and that gave her an out.

Passing by Xi Qianyue's courtyard, she pondered for a moment, then told the gatekeeper to announce her, as she needed to serve tea.

Having successfully entered Xi Qianyue's exquisite courtyard, she saw that infuriating face that begged for a punch.

Xi Qianyue gave an irritating smile: "From now on, when you see me, you must address me as 'Madam.' If you keep calling me 'elder sister' in such an improper way, I will be displeased to hear it.

Secondly, I'm doing away with all the morning and evening greetings here. Don't appear before me, don't disturb me. Thirdly, you should prepare yourself mentally—my money will only be spent on my own courtyard and my own people. As for the other expenses of the household, you'll be responsible for them."

Xi Jiaojiao was startled: "All other expenses are my responsibility? Did I hear that correctly? That breaks all the rules of propriety."