Chapter 22: The Cousin Arrives

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Second Mistress had a stiff smile on her face. “That’s what Madame wants, and naturally I will have to agree. I know you have Miss Lan in your heart, and if you so choose, you can take her as another wife of similar status as the first and marry her together with Miss Su. That would be for the best!”

Ji Yuxian bowed his head to blow the tea and whispered, “Business is brisk these days. Let’s talk about marriage after it passes.”

The Second Mistress smiled faintly. “That’s fine, too!”

Business? she wondered. Cuddling with concubines, listening to songs, you call this business?

With this dismissive attitude, she couldn’t help but wonder if he simply didn’t take the Su Family seriously, or if he disregarded her?

It seemed that the Eldest Young Master Ji did not care about anything, but everyone in the Ji Family knew how domineering he was!

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A chill bloomed from the bottom of Second Mistress’s heart. Her smile was still gentle, maintaining a considerate demeanor a step-mother should have. She got up and said, “Since you are very busy, I won’t bother you further. But Miss Su is really sick, no matter if this marriage goes through, it would be better if you went to visit her!”

Ji Yuxian nodded dismissively. “Understood!”

The Second Mistress nodded back and excused herself, walking out of the flower hall slowly with the servant girl behind her.

Once she was out of the room and they could hear the sound of music behind her, the Second Mistress clenched her fists under her wide sleeves, and her expression turned iron-green with fury.

Yuan’er looked around and whispered, “Mistress, that’s what the Eldest Young Master has always been like!”

The Second Mistress sneered. “What am I angry at? Since I entered Ji Manor, I have been a concubine and a slave. Has the Ji Family ever taken me seriously?”

Yuan’er held her arm to comfort her, “Mistress, be patient. When the Second Young Master becomes an official, you can be proud!”

When it came to her son, the Second Mistress’s expression relaxed. She chuckled and said, “Ze’er naturally will not let me down!”

She not only wanted her son to be an official, but she also wanted him to bring honor to the whole Ji Family!

She had been a concubine for twenty years and endured it for so long, waiting to be the master of the Ji Family one day!

Meanwhile, Xie Ying had just left the main courtyard and encountered the Third Young Mistress: Ren Zi’er.

There were now three concubines in Ji Yuxian’s chambers.

The daughter of a concubine, the daughter of the Director of the Ministry of Revenue, Xie Ying, was the first to marry into the family and was the most arrogant.

The second daughter of the Ren Family’s Third Concubine, Ren Zi’er, which hailed from a prestigious family had always followed Xie Ying’s lead.

The third daughter of Shengyuan Bank’s Shopkeeper Chen, Chen Yuchan was the Second Young Mistress.

Ren Zi’er had a pretty oval face, doe eyes, and thin lips, and her smile was particularly charming as she asked, “Sister, aren’t you accompanying our Young Master today? Why are you free to enjoy the scenery here?”

Xie Ying glanced at her. “You sure are clear about my whereabouts!”

Ren Zi’er chuckled and said carefully, “Sister, you have misunderstood. I embroidered a pattern and wanted to ask you to see it. It’s your attendant who told me you were with Young Master!”

Although Xie Ying was a daughter of a concubine, she was from an official’s family. She has never liked Ren Zi’er and Chen Yuchan. Being doted on by Ji Yuxian had made her even more arrogant. She harrumphed dismissively and walked slowly back to her chambers.

Ren Zi’er lagged behind her half a step and whispered, “Sister, I heard that the Second Mistress went to see Miss Su today.”

Xie Ying’s footsteps paused as she replied, attempting nonchalance, “So what if she went, she can’t decide for Young Master, can she?”

“Yes, I’m afraid the Second Mistress will bring up Eldest Mistress, who had passed away. Young Master would have to consider that.”

Xie Ying’s gaze flashed coldly as she looked at the blooming chrysanthemums in the garden.

“But Sister does not have to take that Miss Su seriously. She is but the young lady of a small family, and they even took the initiative to send her here. How would our Young Master care about her? Young Master dotes on you a lot, so you don’t have to worry!” Ren Zi’er smiled. “Besides, we are also looking forward to Young Master’s marriage…we just don’t know how this Miss Su is like.”

“No matter how good she is, a woman who has no foundation and support in Shengjing is not capable of doing anything,” Xie Ying snorted disdainfully.

Ren Zi’er smiled and said, “Why don’t we find a way to test this Miss Su?”

“What do you propose?”

“Cousin Yu’er from Great Uncle’s Manor has always wanted to marry our Young Master. She is probably listening to all the news at home. As long as Sister sends her hints, Shangguan Yu will certainly go and test this future Mistress of Ji Manor for us!”

Xie Ying thought for a moment, raised her delicate eyebrows and agreed. “That works. I’ll send someone to send hints to this cousin now.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for the good news from you!” Ren Zi’er said with a smile.

Ji Yuxian’s mother (surnamed Shangguan) also hailed from a famous family in Shengjing. However, she had no immediate relatives in the family. There was only one cousin, and he had a daughter named Shangguan Yu.

Proud and spoiled, she had always wanted to marry into Ji Manor as the young mistress. Therefore, Miss Shangguan should be the most anxious about Miss Su entering Shengjing.

Sure enough, the next day, Shangguan Yu found out through Ji Manor’s Housekeeper about Miss Su’s residence and came with two servant girls to the door.

After entering the door, looking at the ordinary shabby yard, Shangguan Yu sneered. “Even a beggar’s place looks better than this!”

The little servant girl next to her immediately echoed, “How can someone that curries no favor with those in power marry the Eldest Young Master? He’s nice enough to give them a yard to live in! If it was me, I would throw them out of Shengjing tomorrow morning!”

After listening to the words of the little servant girl, Shangguan Yu became more and more arrogant. “Call for someone!”

“Yes!” the little servant girl answered and shouted to the hall, “Is anyone there?”

Su Jiu and the gang had just finished breakfast when they heard the shouting of the woman outside. Nanny looked outside and said, “It looks like someone’s coming!”

“Chang Huan, you stay. I’ll bring Dapao and Ah Shu back to the room!” Qiao An said.

Wearing a scarlet dress, Chang Huan stuffed the last steamed bun into his mouth and hummed disgruntledly.

There was another cry outside. “Is anyone there? Come out and welcome our young lady!”

Nanny asked Su Jiu and Chang Huan to go back to the hall, and then opened the door and went out alone.

“May I ask who this young lady is?” Nanny asked, rubbing her apron with her hands.

Shangguan Yu was just seventeen years old this year, but her face was covered with thick powder and heavy makeup. This aged her and made her look like a married woman. She snorted arrogantly and did not look at Nanny.

The servant girl said, “Our young lady is the Eldest Young Master’s cousin, the first daughter of the Shangguan family. Hurry up and get your young lady to come out to meet us!”

“Oh, so it’s Miss Shangguan!” Nanny smiled warmly but forcefully. “Our young lady is ill and it’s not good for her to be subjected to the cold breeze. Miss Shangguan, welcome to our abode!”

“If your young lady doesn’t come out, we won’t go in!” the little servant girl said coldly.

In their opinion, if Miss Su wanted to marry into Ji Manor, she must please all the people concerned with Ji Manor meekly.

“Well, this…” Nanny frowned. “Our young lady is really sick, I seek your understanding, Miss Shangguan!”

“Sick?” The little servant girl raised her eyebrows and spat meanly, “Even if she has to crawl, get her to crawl out!”

Nanny bowed her head. “Well then, please wait a minute, Miss Shangguan, I will call for my young lady!”

“Hurry then, don’t keep my lady waiting!”

“Yes, yes!” Nanny turned back and went back to the house.

Su Jiu naturally heard the commotion outside the house and sneered coldly. “Who does she think she is? How dare she make demands of me!”

“I’ll kick them out, Chief!” Chang Huan remarked angrily.

“Why kick them out? Just let them wait, since they want to wait!” Su Jiu took out the dice under the table. “Come on, play two rounds with me.”

Chang Huan immediately jumped on the chair and went to play dice with Su Jiu.

Nanny sighed, knowing that it was good enough to let Su Jiu alone so she would not cause trouble. It was impossible for her to grovel to cater to their rude guests, so she simply left it alone and sat down to do needlework.

Besides, this Miss Shangguan was not even from Ji Manor and was so cocky and rude. If they gave her face, other random people would find trouble with them in the future.

After time taken to drink a cup of tea passed, the little servant girl outside began to yell, “Where are you!”

“If you’re not dead, get out of here!”

“If you don’t come out, we’ll leave!”

No matter how she shouted, each of the three people in the room did their own thing and turned a deaf ear to it.

Shangguan Yu in the yard finally could not stand it, the sun was ablaze, and the cold wind was blowing. The young lady who had not yet suffered such grievances before stormed into the house.