Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Situation
Yet the reaction of Mrs. Pei was truly unexpected for Yao Xing. Even when she returned to the third room, she still couldn’t figure out why Mrs. Pei would lower her face for a maid?
Thinking over and over, she just felt that Mrs. Pei didn’t like her and was deliberately targeting her. When Pei Lian returned, she complained to him tearfully.
After hearing, Pei Lian frowned: "For someone like Mr. Zhao, not only does Mrs. Pei not want it, but I also don’t want to send the maids around to be his concubines."
Yao Xing’s face was full of incredulity at these words, "Husband, maids are just playthings; sending them to powerful families is their fortune. In rich families, isn’t this situation common? Other families manage it, why can’t our family?"
"Other families need to rely on this method to forge connections; the Pei Family does not. Moreover, that’s the maid next to Mrs. Pei. If word gets out, what will others think of the Pei Family?"
Even if Pei Lian didn’t understand, he knew the pros and cons involved. It’s akin to using a princess for a marriage alliance; it seems effortless to form an alliance, but how long can such an alliance last? Not to mention this way is originally a cowardly act; only weak nations need marriage alliances, strong ones do not.
Currently, the Pei Family does not need it either.
Yao Xing retorted, "It’s just a maid, every family has this situation; others wouldn’t care, who would make a fuss over a maid?"
"Really? Since you want to befriend the Zhao Family so much, why don’t you send your own maids over?"
Yao Xing was stunned for a while; let alone she had no outstanding maids beside her, even if she had, she wouldn’t send them to the Zhao Family. She just wanted to solve the issue of Haitang, hence she chose such a family deliberately.
But some things are best kept in the heart; they can’t be spoken truthfully.
"I-I don’t have maids like Haitang here. If I did, I’d send them."
Pei Lian grew impatient: "How many maids from the Yao Family you want to send is your own matter, out of my concern, but the maids of the Pei Family are not for you to decide. In the future, do not bring this up again lest it displeases Mrs. Pei."
Having said that, Pei Lian walked away.
Yao Xing felt a breath stuck in her chest, almost choked with anger.
Huan’er saw her lady trembling with rage, and said: "Let’s return to the Yao Family and have your father make the decision for us."
Yao Xing had nowhere to vent her anger, and hearing this, she slapped Huan’er, "Go back home? You want to return and let others laugh at my grievances here? Foolish thing!"
If her father truly cared for her, he shouldn’t have agreed to this marriage in the first place. But what happened? To forge relations with the Pei Family’s main branch, a daughter was sacrificed. Now, how could she go back to complain?
Letting her father know she offended Mrs. Pei would not make him stand up for her. He might even give her a harsh slap.
Yao Xing only felt a dull pain in her heart, thus she fell seriously ill.
In the morning.
Qu Fulan was gathering dew in the garden, while the other servants in the Pei Mansion had already started their work.
The expansive garden of Pei Mansion was shrouded in morning mist, with objects faintly visible. Walking within felt like a fairyland.
Qu Fulan was busy among the flowers, collecting dew for Mrs. Pei.
It was Yueyuan who told her that Mrs. Pei had been in ill spirits lately. The doctor prescribed medicine, but Mrs. Pei refused it, asking if there was any way to resolve it without taking medicine.
Qu Fulan then thought of dew; brewing tea with dew water could help calm the mind.
Waiting for the sun to rise, she finally collected enough dew.
Returning to the small courtyard, Hai Xia happened to come by.
Hai Xia came especially to talk to Haitang about the Third Young Madam’s illness, feeling unsettled without having the latest gossip.
"I heard she upset Mrs. Pei, and finally the Third Young Master scolded her, making her fall ill. Do you know what she did to upset Mrs. Pei?"
"What did she do?"
Hai Xia looked left and right; after being caught last time for speaking ill of the Princely Heir, she became very cautious. Even if there was a chicken ten meters away, she’d chase it away.
"The Third Young Madam wanted to get close to the Zhao Mansion. You probably don’t know what kind of people the Zhao Mansion has..."
Hai Xia explained a lot swiftly, then said, "In short, our Pei Mansion disdains dealing with such families, yet the Third Young Madam insisted. Who else would Mrs. Pei be angry at?"
"So that’s how it is."
"It’s barely been a while since she entered the family, yet she’s caused such trouble. This Third Young Madam really isn’t easy to deal with."
"I also think she’s not easy to manage. It’s better to avoid her in the future."
"That’s what my parents always tell me. Oh, Sister Haitang, weren’t you with her at the Zheng Mansion the other day? Did she give you any trouble?"
"I’m fine, didn’t you see I’m perfectly alright here?"
Some things haven’t spread within the mansion, so she mustn’t speak recklessly, otherwise, it’ll be bad for everyone.
After successfully brewing tea with the dew for Mrs. Pei, she delivered it to her.
Coincidentally, the Second Madam came to visit Mrs. Pei, and the two were talking about matters concerning Heir Pei.
"The booklet Mother asked me to prepare, I’ve made some now and showed it to Yuan; but Si is never home, so the wife here can’t show it to him."
Mrs. Pei sighed, "Just put it aside for now; he’s busy with military training recently and truly can’t spare the time."
The Second Madam was surprised, "Military training?"
"Indeed, it wasn’t convenient for him to tell us when things weren’t stable. Only now, the training ground is stable, did he inform me."
Mrs. Pei certainly hopes her grandson will settle down sooner, yet it was a task handed down by the emperor, so she can’t interfere.
"Is it at that training ground at the foot of Lion Mountain outside the Capital City?" Evidently, Second Madam had heard of the place.
"Yes, that’s the place. It’s quite a journey back and forth, no wonder he said he can’t often stay at home."
"But I’ve heard that Heir Xiao is also at that training ground?" Second Madam sounded a bit worried.
Mrs. Pei was unconcerned, "What’s there to worry about? Could it be our Si fears that Heir Xiao? Our Pei Family has survived great ups and downs, even the hardest times were overcome; why fear the Xiao Family?"
Hearing her mother-in-law’s confidence made the Second Madam feel more reassured too, and she finally brought up another important issue.
"Actually, while investigating various family’s maidens, the Yu Family sent a matchmaker, trying to establish ties with us."
Mrs. Pei’s expression turned slightly distant at this, "How did you handle it?"
The Second Madam quickly replied, "I refused, but still wanted to inform Mother."
Mrs. Pei nodded, "Refusing is good; from now on, anything concerning the Yu Family needn’t be mentioned. Whether they live or die doesn’t concern us."
The Second Madam nodded repeatedly.
Qu Fulan listened on the side, gradually understanding the current situation.
She didn’t know who exactly the Yu Family was that they mentioned, but she did know some of the ups and downs the Pei Family had been through.