A good omen for a good person

  When it comes to this matter, even the big madam has a deep understanding. Otherwise, where would Zhou Yiniang come from, and how would the fourth child in the family be born? However, she also understands that being a mother and being a mother-in-law are two different things. Even if she suffered in front of her mother-in-law, she still had to support so many concubines, but she didn't stop her son from taking a mistress or playing with maids, as long as he wasn't too out of line. Even when the children born to concubines were bullied by their elder siblings, she would turn a blind eye. In the future, if her daughter-in-law encountered similar situations after entering the household, she would probably make the same choice as her mother-in-law. Harmony between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law is rare; the tug-of-war between sworn enemies will not be lacking in any family. However, these are things that the big madam cannot say in front of her daughter.

  "Don't get angry and hurt your body, if it's really not working out, I'll let your father and husband talk about it?" The big madam thought that her daughter's mother-in-law was also a normal person, but after all, she still didn't feel quite right, and couldn't help feeling uncomfortable in her heart.

  Jin Qiaoling waved her hand and comforted her mother instead, "This is our women's business. If we find Father, this time will pass but next time won't be peaceful either. It's better to let her have her way this once, just can't fully satisfy her."

  "Daughter, what's wrong with you..." Seeing the chill in her daughter's eyes, Madame felt a pang of sadness and hugged her while wiping away tears: "This world is just hard on women."

  "It doesn't matter, every family has a few concubines. Now that I have children, besides, in our country of Pei, we've always attached importance to the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. Even if they give birth to many more illegitimate children, they won't be able to take away even a single tile from my son's roof." Jin Qiaoling let out a sigh of relief, leaning against her mother's side, and continued: "But now that I'm about to get pregnant again, if the concubine from the maternal family really enters my courtyard, I won't be at ease. If she wants Master to take a concubine, fine! But it must be done according to what I say."

  "What do you mean?" The madam glanced at Chun Jing, and Chun Jing immediately took the maid beside Jin Qiaoling out, leaving only the madam and Jin Qiaoling in the room.

  "Mother, I think Spring Scene is quite good, are you willing to give her to me?" Golden Clever Bell whispered to her mother as she watched Spring Scene's figure disappear behind the curtain.

  "She's just a little maid, there's nothing much to miss about her, but after all, your mother-in-law is sending off a daughter." The madam hesitated.

  "It doesn't matter about status, who doesn't know that the concubine daughters in my mother-in-law's household are what kind of people, probably not even as clean as our own maidservants...” Jin Qiaoling pulled on Madame's hand and paused for a moment before asking: "Xian Xian, how old is she?"

  "It seems like it will be fourteen in another month or two." The madam's eyebrows slightly furrowed, but she still replied.

  "Bring her along with your daughter too." Jin Qiaoling slightly lowered her head, avoiding the doctor's gaze, and said calmly.

  "She's only thirteen!" The madam exclaimed in surprise and disapproval.

  "You also said that in two months, her virtual age will be fifteen. Besides, even if I send her to my place, it'll take two years for her to be loyal to me. With that girl's face, I'm afraid she won't be able to stabilize our family's master." Jin Qiaoling sneered, recalling the expression on her husband's face when he mentioned his mother's concubine-born daughter, and couldn't help but feel annoyed in her heart. She was a top-notch beauty herself, but after marrying into the family, she wasn't valued anymore. So, she deliberately got a great beauty to stay in the house, letting her husband see but not touch, and as for later, it depends on whether this girl will be lucky or not.

  "This is nonsense!" The old lady thought of the favors Chen had begged for in front of her, and the sweet appearance of Xianyi, so she shook her head and said: "Not to mention that it's useless to fool a child like this, even if you really hook up with your daughter-in-law in the future, you'll cry too late."

  "But just a plaything, not letting her give birth to evil offspring is enough. Besides, playing with things too much also gets boring, it's better than him always thinking about outside." Jin Qiaoling said nonchalantly, completely forgetting that before she got married, she and Yao Xianyi played together and lived together.

  Even the madam felt that it was not right to be cold-hearted, but after all, her daughter was her own flesh and blood, so she naturally had a soft spot for her. Moreover, Chen Qiangqiang was her trusted aide, and besides, Chen Qiangqiang had asked her to take charge of her daughter's marriage several times. Furthermore, Yao Zongguan was trying to save the old master's life, if he really wanted to send Yao Xianyi as a pawn to his daughter, wouldn't that chill the hearts of most of the servants in the mansion?

  Perhaps it was seeing Madame's hesitation, or perhaps Jin Qiaoling also felt that Yao Xianyi was too young, so she softened her voice and said: "This matter naturally needs to be discussed with Chen Nai Nai, this time I'll just bring Chun Jing along, let's go to Old Lady's place, lest she complains again."

  The madam saw that her daughter didn't insist, so she secretly let out a sigh of relief and happily took her daughter to the old lady's courtyard.

  Xian Yi had no idea that she almost got sent away to be someone's concubine, she stood outside the door for a while before entering the side room to wait. Before long, it was announced that Madame and Big Miss had gone to Old Lady's courtyard. Xian Yi's status wasn't high enough, plus Madame didn't summon her, so she stayed in the side room. But soon, Xiuzhu came in from outside with a gloomy face, her small mouth pursed tightly, and her eyes were moist. She didn't see Cui Zhu who was also a second-class maid like her.

  Xian Yi didn't respond, so she cleverly poured a cup of water for Xiu Zhu and casually asked: "Where's Cui Zhu sister?"

  "She was a lucky one, naturally following the madam to the old lady's courtyard. Xiu Zhu sat on the chair drinking water with a huff, her words full of sourness."

  Xian Yi also felt strange, usually a big madam would bring her mother and two older maids, but this time she brought Cui Zhu instead. Just as she was about to ask, Zeng Yima came in from outside with a smile on her face, but when she saw Xian Yi, she showed a disappointed expression.

  "You two lazy girls finally know to run here and hide." Zeng Yima sat down beside her, poured herself a cup of water, cleared her throat and said.

  "What's so good about it, Old Madam Zeng?" Although Old Madam Zeng wasn't favored by the Grand Madame, she was still a first-class servant in charge of the main courtyard's affairs, and Xiu Zhu tried to curry favor with her.

  "Isn't that a good thing? It's just a good thing, but it doesn't concern me." Zeng Nian's aunt wiped the dust off her skirt with a handkerchief and looked at Xianyi before saying: "You think the reason why the big madam took Cui Zhu to the old lady's courtyard is because Chun Jing didn't go. She wants to enjoy good fortune."

  Xian Yi's heart skipped a beat, although she got along well with the maids in this courtyard, but her impression of Chun Jing and Qiu Jing was the best, especially Chun Jing. She had a calm temperament, not arrogant or impatient, very steady, loyal to the madam, kind to the younger maids, most importantly, she had a good heart and didn't like to fawn over the young masters. It's said that her family has already arranged a marriage for her, the groom is Chun Jing's neighbor's older brother, they've known each other since childhood, all she needs to do is ask the madam for her blessing, and in the future, she can still be a daughter-in-law in the manor...

  "Spring Scene sister is going to be a concubine for Great Aunt's husband?" Xiu Zhu was shocked and stood up, her voice rising significantly.

  However, Zeng Nianiang didn't mind at all and instead nodded her head, shaking it as she said: "This person is really something, you see, they're also a maid, just like you. In the future, she'll be the madam of Langzhong's household, while you'll only be a daughter-in-law, serving them for the rest of your life... tsk, tsk..."

  Xian Yi turned her head to the side, and indeed saw Xiu Zhu revealing a jealous and dissatisfied expression. Normally, she hadn't noticed it before, but Xiu Zhu was actually also a magnanimous person.

  "Xian Xian, it's not that I'm saying you're not good enough, but if your mother were willing to lower her head and not speak of the good things about this young master's household, even being matched with our young master would be acceptable. It's better than being a servant girl for the rest of her life." Zeng Yima looked at Xian Yi with a pained expression, as if she was doing it all for Xian Yi's own good.

  Xian Yi smiled wryly and didn't respond, making an excuse to leave the room. She headed straight for another side room, where the senior maids usually took a nap, it was quiet there. As she walked in slowly, Xian Yi faintly heard sobbing sounds coming from inside, very suppressed, as if trying not to be heard. Xian Yi stood by the door and hesitated for a moment. She could understand Chun Jing's situation, seeing hope right in front of her, yet being abruptly cut off, the person she loved might never return in this lifetime. After waiting for a while, Xian Yi quietly retreated from inside. Although she had a good relationship with Chun Jing on usual days, they weren't close friends after all. At this moment, she couldn't help much, it was better to leave her some quiet space to vent, life would go on, and so would the days.

  She didn't want to go back and see Zeng Nainai's face again, so Xianyi directly returned to her own small courtyard. She also didn't want to wait for Dagu to come back and think of her again. For no reason, Xianyi felt that Dagu was the executioner who hindered Chun Jing's happy life. Since she couldn't help, she wasn't willing to fawn on this person either.

  Xian Yi returned home, but Jin Fenghua couldn't hide anywhere. Looking at her elder sister in front of her, who was as gentle and polite as always, with a hint of concern, Jin Fenghua smiled shyly and hid behind Madame Han. Everyone thought that the eldest daughter had a kind personality, and she had a friendly heart towards her younger half-siblings in the family. Even when they were being scolded, she would lend a helping hand. The several madams also felt grateful to her, so this time, upon learning that the eldest daughter was pregnant, many people thought it was good news for a good person.

  "Foolish girl, what's the point of giving these good things to that broken-down household?" The big madam walked ahead, holding her daughter's hand, her heart aching with hatred for Han Niang. She wished she would disappear, and couldn't believe that after getting rid of that child, this woman had managed to get pregnant again and give birth.

  "Girls are just too straightforward." Jin Qiaoling turned her face, although she still looked gentle on the surface, but her words were icy cold, without a hint of warmth. "These illegitimate children, since they've been born, they should have their uses and can't be wasted after our family has raised them for so many years. Anyway, we've already raised them to this age, why not just bear with it a bit longer, Mother? Wait until the time is ripe, then send them to where they belong."

  "What do you mean?"

  "No matter whether it's in the imperial court or in the palace, don't be fooled by their dignified appearance on ordinary days. In private, they always have thoughts that can't be revealed to others, especially when facing tender young men and women... If Father moves away after the new year, he can't rely on his maternal family forever."