Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade

After paying respects to the ancestor, the men would go to the front yard. As for the women, aside from Lady Cui managing the household affairs, everyone else would spend time joking and chatting with the ancestor before dispersing.

Lunch would be eaten separately, and the family would gather again in Wanshou Hall for dinner in the evening.

After making a full round, Qian Yixiu returned to Lotus Hall, and it was already noon.

She asked all other servants to leave except for Cai Yun, whose mother was the Deputy Manager of the Inner Courtyard. Cai Yun was likely to know more about certain affairs.

When Qian Yixiu paid her respects at the main courtyard today, she noticed that Lady Cui’s eyes were a bit red. Although she tried hard to suppress her emotions, it was still evident that she had just cried.

Qian Yixiu said, "Tell me about some of the affairs in the inner courtyard. The Master Duke rarely used to be at home, and it wasn’t until last year that he started to stay at home regularly, mainly in the outer courtyard, so he doesn’t know much about the inner courtyard."

Cai Yun, with her clear understanding, knew why Qian Yixiu was asking. She then said, her voice lowered, "In our house, aside from Old Duke and Princely Heir who only have one woman, the other masters, besides their official wives, also have concubines or mistresses." She blushed and glanced at Qian Yixiu, then continued, "It seems the Master Duke has taken a liking to a young lady from a respectable family and wants to make her a Good concubine. The main wife disagrees..."

Although Qian Yixiu didn’t have much affection for Auntie Cui, this father-in-law was indeed excessive. He already had a concubine and two mistresses, and still, he wanted to take another Good concubine. No wonder, she had always felt that Old Duke Liang seemed to care for his grandson, Liang Jinzhao, far more than for his own son—who indeed...

She then said, "The father-in-law is really something, being of such an age..."

Cai Yun replied, "Actually, the Master Duke wasn’t like this before, he was very affectionate with the main wife. It all started after the main wife returned from her family and said..." Her face grew even redder, and seeing that Qian Yixiu wasn’t going to keep pressing, she added, "After that incident, their relationship wasn’t as good as before. Plus, with the Cui family’s issues, the Master Duke always felt that he wasn’t as favored by the Emperor anymore, perhaps due to his main wife’s family... In fact, the Master Duke has been quite faithful. Many daughters from families that have fallen upon hard times either get divorced or enter a nunnery. Only our main wife still manages the household affairs, and the Master Duke spends most of his time in the main courtyard."

So, their marital discord had its own reasons!

Qian Yixiu thought that Lady Cui’s continued control over household affairs was not only due to the Master Duke’s faithfulness but also due to the ancestor, Old Duke Liang, and Liang Jinzhao’s influence. Liang Jinzhao was Lady Cui’s son, so he would naturally support his mother. And not only were the ancestor and Old Duke Liang respectable, but they also valued the Liang Family’s reputation greatly and certainly wouldn’t heap misfortune on Lady Cui.