Chapter 221 - 100: Tearing Off the Facade
The Eldest Madam left with those words. If she had stayed any longer, she feared she would truly embarrass Mrs. Cai, and it wouldn’t look good if things turned ugly.
Mrs. Cai hadn’t expected the Eldest Madam to refuse her so decisively. Her face turned dark as she gritted her teeth and stormed away.
Aunt Che received the news quickly. As she sewed a garment for the Third Young Master, she said to her daughter, "The Eldest Young Miss must have sent word. That’s why the Madam went to the Eldest Madam to ask for that piece of jade."
Song Jinxuan was also doing needlework, embroidering a small pouch. It would be her turn after Song Qinghan was married. Since pouches and handkerchiefs were essential items for a married woman, she needed to prepare plenty. That was why her mother was keeping her in her room to focus on her sewing.
Hearing this, Song Jinxuan said irritably, "How could she have the nerve to ask? I swear, Song Qinghan really thinks marrying into the Marquis Wuxin Mansion will be her moment of glory."
Aunt Che lowered her head. "It is a Marquis Mansion, after all. Marrying into it is indeed a glorious thing."
"I wouldn’t want that kind of glory, even if it were offered to me. Becoming a mother the moment you walk through the door? It’s utterly mortifying," Song Jinxuan said bluntly. "The last time people from the Marquis Wuxin Mansion visited, someone overheard the Marchioness’s servants talking amongst themselves. They said the mother of that illegitimate son would never be sent away. They’re quick to make promises now, but it’s all just lip service."
Aunt Che glanced up at her daughter. "Don’t repeat any of this outside. Just keep it to yourself."
"I wouldn’t dream of it. But when I went to pay my respects to the Madam this morning, the way Song Qinghan looked at me was unsettling. She’s definitely up to no good. Mother, you have to ask Father to arrange my marriage. Otherwise, the Madam will surely sell me off."
"Don’t worry, I’ve already spoken to your father," Aunt Che said, her head bowed. "When he returns, I’ll ask him to arrange your marriage right away. I won’t be at ease until you’re married off. However, you need to control your temper these days. Don’t give the Madam or Song Qinghan any leverage over you. Just endure it for now."
"I know," Song Jinxuan replied, suppressing her anger. ’What else can I do?’ she thought. ’Father isn’t in the capital. If I really provoke the Madam, there’s no telling what she might do.’
As this thought crossed Song Jinxuan’s mind, her needlework paused. She looked at her mother and said, "Mother, do you think there’s another reason why the Marquis Wuxin Mansion is in such a rush for Song Qinghan to marry in? Why were the Marchioness Wu Xin’s people so certain that the illegitimate son’s mother wouldn’t be sent away?"
Aunt Che was taken aback by her daughter’s words. She looked up. "I always assumed the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was going through with it because the Concubine arranged the marriage. But now that you put it that way, perhaps there’s more to it."
Song Jinxuan frowned in disgust. "Eldest Aunt already said the Concubine and Song Qinghan had a falling out long ago, yet this marriage is still happening. I agree, something isn’t right. But Eldest Aunt is a formidable woman. The news has already spread, so who doesn’t know by now that Song Qinghan was sent away from the palace for harming her own sister? Now that people outside know the truth, they won’t blame the Concubine for lacking sisterly affection."
Aunt Che was lost in thought and didn’t seem to hear her daughter at first. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "There’s only one thing that could make Marchioness Wu Xin agree not to get rid of the illegitimate son’s mother."
"What is it?" Song Jinxuan asked.
"That girl must be pregnant again."
Song Jinxuan was shocked. "Mother, you can’t just say things like that."
Aunt Che scoffed. "I’ve been your father’s concubine for years, and even though I gave birth to you and your brother, in the Song Family, I’m still no better than a servant. That serving girl of the Marquis Mansion’s young master must be a clever one. She managed to hold on after giving birth to the eldest illegitimate son. Do you think she doesn’t know that once the new mistress arrives, she’ll become an eyesore who will be swept out the door to avoid upsetting the new wife?"
Song Jinxuan had never encountered anything like this, but hearing her mother’s explanation, she had to admit it made a strange kind of sense.
"If she wants to save herself, her only option is to get pregnant again. For the sake of the baby, they’ll have to let her stay," Aunt Che muttered to herself. "The young master of the Marquis Mansion must be very fond of her. This child will be his leverage to protect her from the Marchioness. Otherwise, why would the Marchioness choose Song Qinghan? Her reputation is in tatters, and our family is no match for a Marquis Mansion. She’ll enter the marriage already at a disadvantage, which will make her easy to control."
Song Jinxuan was dumbfounded.
Aunt Che laughed heartily. "I knew something felt off about the people from the Marquis Wuxin Mansion that day, and now I finally understand what it was!"
"Mother, this is just speculation. It might not be true."
Aunt Che was dismissive. "The lives of concubines are worthless. To survive, they rely entirely on their wombs and the master’s favor. The mother of that illegitimate son in the Marquis Wuxin Mansion is a clever one. You just watch, Song Qinghan’s life is going to be miserable after she marries."
The thought delighted Aunt Che. She said to Song Jinxuan, "You must be on your best behavior in front of the Madam for the next few days. Even if Song Qinghan tries to pick a fight, you must endure it. We have to make sure she gets married off without a hitch. I’m just waiting to see the day that mother and daughter cry their eyes out. Just you wait and see."
Seeing the fiery glint in her mother’s eyes, Song Jinxuan was startled. She quickly said, "Mother, you can’t do anything reckless. The Concubine is very concerned with our brother’s studies now. He’s sure to have a bright future. If you do something that gets him in trouble, with the Concubine’s personality, she’ll surely abandon him."
Hearing her daughter’s words, the fire in Aunt Che’s eyes instantly died out. ’What a pity,’ she thought. ’I was hoping to fan the flames a bit.’
"Fine," Aunt Che said. "I’ll listen to you. I won’t do a thing."
Only then did Song Jinxuan feel relieved. "I’ll find a chance to see our brother and give him a heads-up."
Aunt Che shook her head. "Your brother is studying with the main branch of the family now, which is much better than before. We shouldn’t visit him too often. If the Madam finds out, she’ll be furious, and if she decides to make things difficult for him, there’s nothing we can do while your father is away."
Song Jinxuan sighed as well and nodded listlessly.
She could only hope that in a few years, her brother would succeed in his studies, pass the examinations to become an Advanced Scholar, and return. ’Only then,’ she thought, ’will Mother and I truly be able to hold our heads high.’
Aunt Che soothed her daughter, but that night, she secretly went to see the Eldest Madam. She herself couldn’t do anything, but the Eldest Madam certainly could.