Chapter 049
Chapter 49: Cursing the Eldest Miss to Become a Concubine
Old Madam Xia kept her face calm, but blame flashed in her eyes: “Xing Yan has already been punished. The past is past. From now on we should live well as one family, so outsiders won’t laugh at us.”
Xia Meng Yan raised a brow. The old madam did not strike back?
Prompted by his mother, Xia Xing Yan lifted his cup toward Xia Meng Yan and said: “Meng Yan, your second uncle was misled and did a foolish thing. Today, before everyone, your second uncle apologizes. Please don’t let the past harm the feelings between you sisters.” As he finished, he did not wait for her reply and drank it all in one gulp.
She had thought it odd a moment ago; now she was sure the second branch had a plan. Looking at the wine in front of her, she said evenly: “I’m pregnant and cannot drink. Please forgive me, Second Uncle.”
Xia Xing Yan froze, not expecting her to refuse, and turned toward the old madam.
Old Madam Xia’s sharp eyes showed displeasure as she said firmly: “The child is over three months. A little wine won’t hurt.”
A chill flashed across Xia Meng Yan’s clear brows. They could not pretend even a little longer; their tails were already showing. If she drank this apology wine, would they go straight to the real topic next?
Xia Ping Yuan had also guessed this was a Hongmen Banquet. The thin trace of family feeling that had risen in him vanished.
Madam Wan tried to smooth things over with a smile: “Meng Yan is careful for the child. It is fine to replace wine with tea.”
A maid quickly set a cup of tea by Xia Meng Yan’s hand.
Old Madam Xia snorted and was about to call her dramatic, when Xia Meng Yan said first: “Sorry, I cannot drink tea at night.”
“Xia Meng Yan, what do you want?” Old Madam Xia’s long?pressed anger burst out, her eyes like knives. “Your elders apologize, yet you put on airs. If this spreads, who would dare marry you?”
Madam Lin moved to speak, but Xia Meng Yan stopped her and said: “Grandmother, Second Uncle apologizes because he knows he was wrong. Whether I accept it is my choice. Who has the right to press my head down? Or is it that Second Uncle does not truly mean it?”
Old Madam Xia was hit where it hurt. She clicked her beads onto the table, using an elder’s pressure as she said: “An apology is an apology. Don’t overthink it.”
Seeing the old madam’s show of strength was hollow, Xia Meng Yan did not expose her. She only smiled and said: “Second Uncle has done many wrong things. If he truly wants to apologize, one cup of wine is far from enough.”
“You…” Old Madam Xia felt as if she had a personal feud with Xia Meng Yan. Every meeting left her half dead with anger. Remembering tonight’s purpose, she looked to Madam Wan.
Madam Wan cursed the old madam in her heart: [You really cannot keep your cool. You angered her first and only then looked to me.] For the sake of the second branch’s future, she had to speak up: “Meng Yan, your grandmother has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She is just worrying for you.”
Old Madam Xia snorted and stepped down: “I worry about her, but she does not take me as her grandmother. Forget it. I’m the useless one who cannot make her happy.”
“Meng Yan is a sensible girl. She will understand her elders’ good intentions sooner or later,” said Madam Wan with a smile as she tapped the person beside her under the table.
Xia Xing Yan said: “Right. Nobody has it easy.”
“…,” thought Madam Wan, [What nonsense. I ought to slap you.]
Watching the three of them act, Xia Meng Yan did not interrupt. She lifted her chopsticks and ate while she listened. [The child in my belly matters most. I cannot let the baby go hungry.]
Madam Lin felt sick at their words. Seeing her daughter was hungry, she also picked up her chopsticks and put food into her bowl. In a short while, the dishes before Xia Meng Yan were piled high.
Seeing that the other three showed no reaction and her one?woman show could not go on, Madam Wan finally said: “Elder Brother, Elder Sister?in?law, since Consort Ping is the matchmaker, Qing Yao’s dowry must not be shabby. You know what the second branch has. Mother means for you to add more, so Qing Yao can save face. Do not worry. After she marries in, she will surely speak well for Elder Brother before Consort Ping. In the future, when Elder Brother serves before His Majesty, he will have an extra layer of protection.”
“I agree, and it is also for Elder Brother’s sake. Serving the ruler is like serving a tiger; if trouble comes and you look for help then, it will be too late,” said Old Madam Xia with a worried mother’s look. She sighed and added: “You always say I am partial, but it is only because I have no connections. Now that the second branch has tied to Consort Ping, the first ones I thought of were you. On the surface it is adding to Qing Yao’s dowry, but in the end it is to send things into the Imperial Palace to handle matters for the head of the household.”
Hearing this, Madam Lin was so angry that her chest rose and fell.
Xia Meng Yan secretly patted her mother’s hand to reassure her.
Xia Ping Yuan gave a cold laugh: “Thank you, Mother, for thinking of your son.”
They called it adding to the dowry, but wanted the first branch to pay and then send it into the palace to grease the wheels. Did they take him for a fool?
The second branch’s little abacus was already counting on Xia Meng Yan’s face. She was not angry. Instead, she wanted to know whether this added dowry was the second branch’s idea or the Wan family’s demand.
Seeing their sarcastic tone but no open fight, Madam Wan felt even more pleased. Though her daughter would be marrying a concubine?born son, the Lu family had Consort Ping behind them. No matter how unwilling Xia Ping Yuan was, he would not dare offend Her Highness. The more she thought about it, the more certain she felt.
“The Xia family has only you two brothers, so of course you should support each other,” said Madam Wan. “Since Qing Yao can win Consort Ping’s favor, Meng Yan’s marriage will also go more smoothly. She might even become a principal wife.”
At that, the dining hall fell silent.
The two concubines by the door did not dare breathe.
What did Madam Wan mean? Was she cursing the Eldest Miss to be a concubine in the future? How could someone asking for help say such a thing?
The person being mentioned kept eating at an easy pace, as if those words had nothing to do with her.
Angered by Xia Meng Yan’s calm, Old Madam Xia snapped: “Your second aunt is worrying for you. You do not thank her, and you eat right in front of us. Where did all your rules go?”
“You may not be hungry, but the child in my belly is,” said Xia Meng Yan. She slurped on purpose, taking rudeness to the end, then picked up a bun and added while eating: “With Grandmother and Second Aunt worrying for me, I suppose I can even become a prince’s consort.”
The two women froze.
A child by the door could not help it and laughed. The concubine beside her quickly covered her mouth and bowed her head in embarrassment.
Only then did Madam Wan realize that Xia Meng Yan was mocking her. If Madam Wan had that kind of ability, how would her own daughter be marrying a concubine?born son?
“Meng Yan, are you looking down on your second aunt for lacking ability, or are you saying you truly want to be a prince’s consort?” she asked.
Finishing the last bite of bun, Xia Meng Yan took the handkerchief that Chun Yue handed her and wiped slowly as she said: “Consort Ping is acting as matchmaker because she values Sister Qing Yao’s character and talent, not some optional dowry. The Lu family belongs to the Imperial Clan. They already have all the fine things. Why would they care about a daughter?in?law’s dowry? Grandmother and Second Aunt are overthinking it.”
There could be an added gift, but not a single coin more.
“If I tell you to give, you give,” said Old Madam Xia. “She is your sister. Do you want to watch her be wronged by her own family?”
“No,” Xia Ping Yuan refused first.
Old Madam Xia’s face turned ugly. Her son had refused her in front of everyone. How could she still command respect? She said, “To tell you the truth, this added dowry is not what we want. It is what Consort Ping wants.”
She did not believe they would dare offend Her Highness in the Imperial Palace over silver.
At the name Consort Ping, Madam Lin hesitated. If Consort Ping truly asked for it, it was hard to refuse, though the whole thing was disgusting.
Xia Meng Yan frowned. Had the first branch been too easy to talk to, so people thought they were easy to bully and dared wave a consort’s name to make demands? She said: “Grandmother, you should have said so earlier. How much does Consort Ping want?”
Old Madam Xia failed to hear the sarcasm and thought her plan had worked: “The street?front shops in the Capital. And don’t blame Consort Ping. She has only one princess. In the end, the benefits will go to the Lu family. As their in?laws, we will not be left out either.”