Duke Chen’s family had three daughters. Chen Shi was the youngest, with two older sisters above her. The eldest married into the prominent Xu family of Jiangnan, the second into the prestigious Rao family of Shandong. The current Grand Secretary of the Xianzheng Hall was this second daughter’s husband.
This couldn’t be the legitimate daughter of Chen Shi’s sister, could it? How could a legitimate daughter easily leave home? Going to maternal grandparents’ house would be possible, but coming this far to an aunt’s house would be quite unlikely.
Madam Xie understood Chen Shi’s meaning in an instant.
She wanted her to look the girl over as a potential match…
By rights, Marquis Dingxi marrying a daughter of the Rao family would be a suitable match, but that was for legitimate daughters. As for concubine-born daughters…
But any family with official titles or hereditary positions would seek legitimate sons for their legitimate daughters. Even becoming a second wife was rare, let alone becoming a concubine.
“This is my brother-in-law’s younger brother’s daughter. Her parents died early, and she’s been raised by their side all along,” Chen Shi said with a smile.
A legitimate daughter of the Rao family!
Madam Xie was somewhat surprised, but this child whose parents died young…
Still, a child of the Rao family, raised by Duke Chen’s daughter, would naturally be well-bred.
“I thought so – she has such refined bearing, as if cut from the same mold as you,” Madam Xie smiled, extending her hand, “Come, let me have a look.”
Yufang walked over with lowered head, placing her hand in Madam Xie’s.
Her palm was round and smooth, with no nail polish, neatly trimmed, with good bone structure and flesh – exactly the type Madam Xie favored most.
Madam Xie looked at her face, growing more satisfied the more she looked.
Nanny Su had already gone to prepare a meeting gift when Madam Xie extended her hand, and now hurried over with it.
“Here, take this to play with. I didn’t know you were coming, so don’t mind if it’s simple,” Madam Xie smiled, handing her a set of three twisted silver bracelets.
Yufang accepted them graciously, thanked her, and stepped back.
“Yinglan, take Yufang to visit your eldest sister-in-law,” Chen Shi said.
Madam Xie said nothing.
“Oh,” Chang Yinglan slowly responded, bowed to Madam Xie, and took her leave.
“Go ahead,” Madam Xie said with a smile.
Chang Yinglan left the room and stood in the corridor without moving. Yufang quietly followed behind her, neither urging nor rushing.
“Eldest sister-in-law is very boring and doesn’t like talking to people. She’s the most uninteresting,” Chang Yinglan turned to whisper to her, “Let’s go play with Shulan instead.”
Yufang’s eyes held a smile.
“Sister, I heard from Nanny Wang that Second Sister seems to be… not quite convenient?” she said quietly.
Yinglan was startled, then remembered that Concubine Zhou had suddenly been sent to the family temple. Although officially it was said to be for praying for the Old Marchioness’s blessings, even three-year-old children in the marquis household didn’t believe such words. Second Miss’s birth mother was Concubine Zhou. Though there was no real relationship, she had still voluntarily closed her doors to visitors.
This woman knew everything! She’d only been here a few days!
“It’s fine. Things become convenient when I go,” Yinglan said.
Yufang smiled knowingly and lowered her head, saying nothing more.
The two began walking out again. Just as they were about to leave, they heard someone walking hurriedly behind them.
“…If he’s not well, your heart feels even worse… What’s the point of you mother and son tormenting each other like this!” Chen Shi’s voice came through.
Yinglan, concerned about her mother, quickly turned around. Yufang followed suit, seeing Chen Shi hurrying out of the room without assistance, with Madam Xie and maids and servants rushing after her.
“Mother,” Yinglan immediately ran back over.
Yufang naturally followed.
By the time they arrived, Chen Shi had already entered a room.
“Get up quickly. Your aunt says to let you get up,” her voice came from inside.
Madam Xie also lifted the curtain and went in, while the servants and maids stopped at the doorway.
“This is…” Yinglan looked puzzled.
“This is the room where the former mistress’s spirit tablet is kept,” a servant woman whispered to her.
Yinglan understood. The former Marchioness was the current Marchioness’s own sister. Other households’ second wives would be superstitious about having the previous wife’s spirit tablet in their courtyard, but young Madam Xie didn’t mind. From the day she married in, she had moved her sister’s tablet over, and it had remained there ever since.
“Who’s inside?” she couldn’t help but wonder.
Before she finished speaking, a voice came from inside.
“I’m fine, Mother.”
The Lord…
Yinglan was even more shocked, turning to look at Yufang beside her.
Yufang looked over with some curiosity.
Chang Yinglan bit her lip and turned to leave.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go,” she said, pulling Yufang along.
Yufang made an acknowledging sound and nodded obediently, following her.
They had only walked a few steps when they heard the curtain rustling behind them and the servants stirring. Chang Yinglan couldn’t help but stop and look back, and Yufang naturally looked back as well.