Marrying a treacherous official

After leaving the outer study, Yunji felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest, making her breathing slightly erratic.

Cui Zemin singled out her dress as a point of contention, clearly mocking her for wearing such a lavish outfit just to curry favor with him.

Granny Kong followed closely behind into the house.

"Madam, this old servant has some things to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"The old lady was the late madam's head maid during her dowry, and she is also the household's governess. She is an elder to me, so please feel free to speak your mind."

"The First Madam has not yet given birth to a legitimate eldest son. No matter how angry she is, she should not allow the Master to take a concubine. Wouldn't that be exactly what that slut wants?"

Granny Kong said in the most tactful way, "Besides, the master cares a lot about the madam, but he is used to being cold-faced, so his words are inevitably harsh. Madam, don't take it to heart. No one's heart is made of stone. If you warm it up, it will get warm."

Yunji agreed outwardly, saying, "What you say makes sense, Granny. From now on, I will avoid the master's sharp edge and try to avoid arguing with him about these things."

After hesitating for a long time, Granny Kong finally spoke the words she had been holding in her mouth.

"The First Madam is elegant and refined, observes proper etiquette, and knows how to conduct herself. If the late Madam knew that the First Master had married such a good wife, she could rest in peace in the afterlife."

How could Yunji possibly accept such a generous offer?

If Granny Kong finds out in the future that she and he will never have children, and that all her previous flattery and attentiveness were just a ploy to get a divorce and leave the mansion, what will the old lady think of her?

As the year draws to a close and the weather grows cold, the wind and rain fall incessantly.

Chunxuan strode into the flower hall, stepping on the wet bluestone slabs and holding a silk umbrella.

She folded her umbrella, went inside, curtsied, and returned to her post, saying:

"Madam, I inquired at the Buddhist hall and found out that the old lady will return to Cishou Hall after her fast and bath."

Yunji was bent over his desk, copying a Buddhist scripture. Upon hearing this, his brushstrokes became more fluid and elegant. The character "至" (zhi) was full of spirit, and the whole piece of calligraphy showed a certain fullness and beauty.

"What's the Lady of the Marquis's doing?"

"I heard from the gatekeeper that after the Lady of the Marquis has had breakfast, she will take the Third Master and the Eldest Miss to pay their respects to the Old Madam."

"Take out that scroll of the copied Lotus Sutra."

Yunji placed the purple-haired brush on the shelf and took a damp cloth to wipe her hands:

"I need to get to the old lady's place before the Lady Hou does, so that I can shut the Lady Hou up and prevent her from causing any more trouble."

Cishou Hall is located deep within the backyard of the Cui family mansion.

Since General Cui died on the battlefield, Madam Cui has lived a secluded life, detached from worldly affairs, and has been living in seclusion in the Buddhist hall, eating vegetarian food and chanting scriptures.

On the first or fifteenth of each lunar month, Madam Cui would emerge from seclusion to reunite with the younger generation and enjoy the bliss of family life.

Yunji spread a scroll of scriptures on the pear wood waisted painting table and showed it to Madam Cui.

"Grandmother probably doesn't know, but I've never believed in gods or Buddhas."

"Then why did you think of copying the Lotus Sutra?"

Looking at the calligraphy, which was both fast and slow yet possessed a beautiful, jade-like quality, Madam Cui couldn't help but nod in approval.

Yunji took Old Madam Cui's arm and said:

"The year my father passed away, the abbot of Puchang Temple came to our house to perform a ritual. He looked at my face and said that I had a connection with gods and Buddhas. I asked him, puzzled, what does it mean to have a connection? Grandmother, guess what the abbot said?"

Madam Cui stroked the back of her hand and said meaningfully, "You believe in gods and Buddhas, which means you are destined to meet them."

Yunji's watery eyes sparkled, and a gentle smile appeared on her face:

"How come what Grandmother said is exactly the same as what the abbot said?"

Anyone can lie!

As soon as Madam Cui said this, all the maids and servants in the room burst into laughter.

Lady Hou, You Shi, happened to arrive at this harmonious and joyful atmosphere, and led her eldest daughter Cui Lizhu and third master Cui Gongchuo to pay their respects to the old lady.

"No wonder I could hear the old lady's hearty laughter from so far away. It turns out it's Ji'er here."

Madam You led her two children to greet Old Madam Cui.

Yunji released Madam Cui's hand and bowed to Madam You.

"I originally planned to go to Minghe Hall to pay my respects to my mother after leaving Cishou Hall, but my mother happened to come over, so I told her everything in front of my grandmother."

She smiled brightly at Madam You:

"There were no extra stewards in the mansion, so my mother told me to make the best use of everyone's talents. I found Granny Kong, the steward of the North Manor, to manage the three hundred acres of land that the palace had bestowed upon the master."

Madam You ultimately underestimated her abilities. She had expected her to lower herself to beg her, but she never imagined that her elder sister's dowry maid would become the head maid.

She frowned, clearly displeased, and shook her head, saying:

"There are only ninety-odd old servants tending the fields in Beizhuang. If you take away the stewards there, what will those loyal servants who have toiled for the Marquis's mansion for most of their lives eat?"

"Mother, you're too kind."

"Since you value those three hundred acres of land under your name so much, and we really can't find anyone to take care of them, I'll just transfer ten managers from various estates to properly manage your private fields."

Lady You displayed the authority of a mistress, her anger reaching its peak, clearly showing utter disappointment in her.

Yunji lowered her eyebrows and sat obediently in the armchair without making a sound.

Granny Kong stepped in at the right moment to smooth things over: "Madam Hou has misunderstood the First Madam."

When Lady You saw Granny Kong return to the Marquis's mansion after many years, her eyes were filled with hatred as she looked at her.

"What's the misunderstanding?"

"There are only thirty-two old servants in the North Manor, which does not include the sixty-three servants born into the household. Moreover, the twenty-two male servants are in their prime. It is reasonable and justifiable to select eight manor managers to oversee the First Madam's estate."

Granny Kong replied in a manner that was neither humble nor arrogant.

Yunji looked longingly at Old Madam Gu and slowly revealed the hidden story behind it.

"To be honest, Grandmother, I went to Beizhuang a few days ago and saw the old servants tending to the hundred acres of wasteland with their families. After handing over 60% of the harvest to the manor, the remaining food was barely enough to fill their stomachs. So I thought of letting these servants work on the master's farm."

"Why must more than half of the harvest be handed over?"

Madam Cui chanted sutras and recited Buddhist prayers in the Buddhist hall in order to accumulate merit and do good deeds for the entire Cui family. How could she tolerate such exploitation of servants?

Lady You calmly replied, "The Marquis established a rule that the amount of harvest to be handed over from the estate is determined by the number of people. I dare not break the Marquis's rule."

Madam Cui simply didn't want to get involved; she wasn't senile.

After calming down and thinking about it, she understood the intricacies behind it all.

No wonder she couldn't stand this concubine's daughter, Lady You. But the Marquis liked her and insisted on marrying her as his second wife. Now, considering her dignity as the mistress of the house, he could only give her a small punishment as a warning.

"Beizhuang was originally a wasteland. What good crops could grow there? It's a bit too much for the manor to take 60% of the grain. From now on, we'll take 40% of the grain. If the Marquis asks, just say it was my idea."

Old Madam Cui sternly addressed Madam You:

"Now that all the servants in Beizhuang have been transferred to help Ji'er manage the fields, why not put the people and land of Beizhuang under Ji'er's management as well, thus easing your burden?"