Volume One, Chapter 15: Madam Zhou Inquires About Yun Xi

“Madam Li, Young Madam Ji.” Just as the two were about to flatter each other, a woman dressed in a plain embroidered jacket approached from afar. She wore a phoenix hairpin in her hair, and as she walked, her steps swayed gracefully, drawing all eyes.

Yun Xiang was busy greeting her: “Madam Zhou.” She did not notice Madam Li’s face turning cold beside her.

It was hardly surprising that the wife of Minister Zhou and the eldest daughter-in-law of Grand Tutor Li were on bad terms in the capital. Their personalities clashed even in private, yet their sons constantly mingled together. Each blamed the other’s son for leading their own astray, deepening the rift between the two families.

“Young Madam Ji looks radiant; I bet she and the eldest young master are sweet as honey,” Madam Zhou said, brushing past Madam Li and taking Yun Xiang’s hand, inspecting her closely with a teasing smile.

Hearing this, a blush spread across Yun Xiang’s cheeks, resembling a newlywed unable to withstand such playful banter.

“Ah, yes, unlike some people whose husbands keep taking concubines one after another, turning their faces yellow with worry,” Madam Li raised an eyebrow, fingering her fine jade bracelet as she spoke with cutting sarcasm.

Yun Xiang’s smile stiffened. Even without knowing the background between the two women, the situation was obvious to any fool—Madam Zhou and Madam Li were at odds.

How unfortunate, to encounter such rivals upon arriving at the banquet.

“Not at all, not at all. Speaking of which, I must praise Madam Li’s excellent upbringing of her son,” Madam Zhou said jovially, waving her handkerchief high. “I hear your son spent lavishly at the Spring Breeze Pavilion yesterday for a courtesan, truly a hopeless romantic.” She glanced at Madam Li, whose complexion shifted from red to pale, then added, “It must be a trait inherited from his father, doting on his wife so much.”

Her words left no room for mercy.

As expected, Madam Li was left speechless, trembling with anger. Her son was no different from Zhou’s own—a mere day’s absence from the flower house. What right had she to mock her son?

With others present, Madam Li took a deep breath, swallowed the retort she intended to make, and without greeting anyone else, swept her sleeve and turned to leave.

Madam Zhou naturally did not call her back, and Yun Xiang was silently pulled along.

Before her marriage, her father had warned her to keep a distance from the Li and Zhou families. She would still need to find an excuse to dismiss Madam Zhou later.

At a small pavilion, Madam Zhou first lavished Yun Xiang with compliments beyond compare. Yun Xiang made several attempts to leave but failed each time, her patience wearing thin.

“Seeing Young Madam Ji’s exquisite beauty, do you have any sisters still unmarried?” Madam Zhou finally asked, after much indirect probing.

Yun Xiang, who had planned to leave directly, was taken aback by the question. She exchanged a glance with Madam Li before brushing aside her impatience and smiling gently, “Madam Zhou, may I ask the reason for your inquiry?”

From the start, Madam Zhou’s warmth toward Yun Xiang had seemed odd. Both she and Madam Li were Yun Xiang’s elders. No matter how highly they regarded Ji Yu, they should not be so eager to curry favor with Yun Xiang.

“Oh, it’s just a casual question. Lately, the younger generation’s marriage affairs have been unsettling the household,” Madam Zhou waved her hand, feigning weariness, then looked at Yun Xiang and said, “Seeing such a beauty like Young Madam Ji today, I wondered if there might be any sisters at home, so I might arrange some matches for the unruly lads in my family.”

Yun Xiang clenched her teeth inwardly. No matter where she went, someone always brought up that lowly concubine daughter.

From Madam Zhou’s tone, she intended to find a match for Yun Xiang’s younger sister. As far as Yun Xiang knew, the Zhou family only had one unmarried legitimate youngest son.

Yun Xiang’s expression twisted subtly but she forced a stiff smile. “There is indeed a younger sister in the family,” seeing Madam Zhou’s eyes light up, she sighed theatrically, “Ah, but unfortunately, my sister has been motherless since childhood. Such a pity.”

Hearing that she was a concubine’s daughter, Madam Zhou’s expression darkened instantly but she soon said, “That is indeed unfortunate.”

She had been fretting over her own son these days—insisting on finding this Third Miss Yun.

Yu’er was her and her husband’s late-born child, cherished from birth. Thus, his occasional misbehavior was indulged, since the estate would be inherited by the eldest legitimate son. But after the Lantern Festival night, the boy’s demeanor changed: he lost appetite, clung anxiously to a worn garment, stopped frequenting the flower house, and grew thin, breaking his mother’s heart.

When asked, he said he wanted to find a girl—the Third Miss Yun from the Yun household.

Upon hearing this, she immediately shook her head. Normally, she would tolerate him marrying any lowly woman, as the back house was full of concubines. But this time, it was a respectable official’s daughter. If he caused a scandal, what would become of them? Their lord was already nervous at court and couldn’t afford more trouble from Yu’er.

Yet the boy insisted on a hunger strike to press his will. Though she knew it was a ploy, she still felt pity.

There was only one Yun family with that surname in the capital, and they had recently allied by marriage with the Hou family.

She had asked carefully and learned that Young Madam Ji would also attend this spring banquet. So, she shamelessly inquired.

It was a pity the girl was a concubine’s daughter; otherwise, she could have been made Yu’er’s proper wife.

According to Yu’er’s description, the girl was not formidable, and if made his lawful wife, Yu’er would not suffer any grievance.

With this thought, Madam Zhou sighed and absentmindedly said, “I won’t disturb Young Madam Ji any longer; I have household matters to attend to.” Saying so, she left first.

Unbeknownst to her, Yun Xiang’s expression darkened as she watched her retreating figure.

“Mother, what did you find out?” Zhou Yu, having waited anxiously at home, eagerly greeted his mother upon her return. He pushed aside a maid serving tea and attentively poured tea and massaged Madam Zhou’s shoulders.

“You, when will you start thinking about serious matters?” Madam Zhou doted, tapping her son’s forehead, then shook her head and said, “I found out—there is indeed a girl in the Yun family, but unfortunately, she is a concubine’s daughter.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu grew even more eager, his face twitching with a coarse smile. “Mother, it doesn’t matter if she’s a concubine’s daughter. We can bring her home as a concubine.”

Just the thought of that girl’s face stirred his excitement.

Whether legitimate or not meant nothing to him—if she was a concubine’s daughter, all the better; she’d be easier to control.

Madam Zhou saw the look on her son’s face and knew exactly what he was thinking.

She had considered making Yun Xiang a concubine, but after all, she was the daughter of a third-rank official. Making her her son’s concubine wouldn’t be seen as insulting. Only a concubine to someone like Ji Yu, a minister deeply trusted by His Majesty, would be fitting.

Seeing Madam Zhou’s conflicted expression, Zhou Yu pleaded, “Mother, please, you love your son the most...”