Chapter 36
Chapter 36: Luo Ning Makes Trouble, The Truth Unfolds
The chaos at the Marquis Manor soon died down.
In the end, this was not such a huge scandal, and even the Censorate could not make a big fuss out of it.
The Luo family ranked low among the powerful nobles. Aside from their own servants gossiping nonstop, people outside were not very interested.
Luo Ning brought two dishes of pastries to Second Madam.
Luo Ning said: “Thank you, Aunt, for waiting at the gate and leading them to Grandmother.”
Second Madam smiled and said: “The family probably did not want things to blow up this much.”
Luo Ning replied softly: “Naturally.”
Second Madam added: “Madam Wen is probably holding a grudge against you in her heart. You exposed her husband’s disgrace.”
Luo Ning said: “It is still better than being fooled.”
Second Madam smiled and said: “You are not wrong. But Madam Wen has gone back to her maiden home. From now on, she and her husband, and she and her mother-in-law, will probably no longer be of one mind.”
Luo Ning just smiled.
Second Madam did not say anything more.
The new Concubine Nan had entered the manor already four months pregnant. In less than three days, she suddenly claimed she could not get used to living here and wanted to move to the Country Estate.
She said this to Old Madam.
Old Madam was a little surprised.
The Marchioness said: “Mother, she is a young lady from a small household. It is true she is not used to our large compound. She also has to take care of her pregnancy, so everything should be done for her comfort.”
Nan Xi nodded and said: “Yes. Please let Old Madam agree.”
Old Madam glanced at Madam Bai and had no choice but to agree.
Once this person was sent away, the Lord Marquis would probably feel more at ease, or else there would always be a thorn in his heart. The eldest young madam could also feel relieved.
It was just that no one knew what method the Marchioness had used to persuade Nan Xi in only three days.
Nan Xi left again.
The servants of Wenqi Courtyard were all shocked.
Qiu Hua said: “Young miss, Madam is amazing. Concubine Nan’s parents came to make a scene, trying to force their way into the Marquis Manor no matter what. Yet in less than three days, she willingly chose to leave.”
Luo Ning knew the reason.
The courtyard the Marchioness arranged for her had three connected sections, small and exquisite, furnished entirely with the finest rosewood furniture. Her food and clothing were all of the best quality.
Nan Xi’s parents had also received two thousand taels of silver.
Instead of moving to the Country Estate, she stayed in the city, living a cozy little life as a kind of “household matriarch.” How could Nan Xi and her parents not be willing?
Money often blinded people’s eyes.
Luo Ning said calmly: “Sister-in-law is probably about to come back.”
After sending Nan Xi away, the Marchioness went to the Wen family home.
The Wen parents blamed Luo Yin for being so thoughtless. But when they heard that Nan Xi had been sent to live on the Country Estate, their mood improved a lot.
On the way back, the eldest young madam cried to Madam Bai.
She was deeply moved.
Madam Wen said: “Mother, besides you, no one would think for your daughter-in-law so carefully.”
The Marchioness was secretly pleased.
She had originally planned to use Madam Wen. Nan Xi’s entry into the manor had almost ruined her plan.
Yet she had not expected that after this incident, Madam Wen would be even more grateful to her.
The Marchioness seized the chance and said: “From now on, this Marquis Manor will all belong to you and your husband. If I do not protect you, who else would I protect? Once you married into the manor, you became like my own daughter.”
Madam Wen had been very miserable these past few days.
This move of the Marchioness was like sending her warmth and patching up the crack in her heart.
After a good cry, she felt much better.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan Manor returned to its former calm.
Luo Wan whispered to Second Madam: “Big sister made such a fuss, but aside from brother getting a beating, nothing has changed at all.”
Second Madam smiled and said: “The servants will still talk.”
Luo Wan said: “Servants do not count for much. Mother, I think big sister’s real purpose was to break the unity of the eldest branch. At the very least, sister-in-law and Aunt cannot be too united and of one heart.”
Second Madam nodded with satisfaction: “You have grown up.”
Luo Wan said: “It is a pity big sister’s efforts were in vain.” She felt a little worried for Luo Ning.
Second Madam thought for a moment and said: “We will wait and see. A Ning did not look flustered at all to me. Maybe this was only the first step, and her real move is still to come.”
Ten days later, when Luo Ning went to visit Grandmother one morning, she saw sister-in-law helping her brother walk in the courtyard.
Her brother could already get out of bed and needed to walk more to get the blood moving and disperse the bruising.
When he saw Luo Ning, her brother’s gaze was extremely vicious. Sister-in-law only nodded politely at her as a greeting.
As soon as Luo Ning left, Luo Yin could not help cursing: “She is a disaster!”
Sister-in-law thought: [You were beaten because you misbehaved and could not control yourself. How can you blame your sister?]
[She only found out about it later too.]
After Concubine Nan Xi was sent away, the eldest young madam’s reputation looked a little brighter, and she had been moved to tears at the time. But in the dead of night, her heart still felt cold.
The crack was already there. Even if it had been patched over for the moment, it still existed, secretly staring at her in the dark of night and keeping her from sleep.
However, she did not blame her mother-in-law for this. Her husband was at fault, but the Nan family had plotted first, so he was only half wrong.
The eldest young madam talked herself around and went on helping the eldest young master take his walk.
One afternoon, the eldest young madam’s son was taken out to play by the wet nurse.
After quite a while, the wet nurse came back in a hurry and said to the eldest young madam: “Young miss carried the child out. The little young master wanted candy, and young miss said she would take him to the market to buy some. She would not allow this servant to follow.”
The eldest young madam turned pale with fright.
She felt that Luo Ning would not harm the child. But seeing how guarded her husband and mother-in-law were toward Luo Ning, the eldest young madam still worried that she might take out her anger on the child.
She hurried to Wenqi Courtyard.
Inside Wenqi Courtyard, Nanny Kong smiled and said: “Eldest young madam, do not worry. The young miss took A Qin, the little young master, to buy candy. They will be back soon. If you are not at ease, you can go and have a look.”
She added: “I also need to go out. A relative of mine has rented a house. Eldest young madam, could you give this old servant a ride?”
The matter of her child had set her heart on fire, so the eldest young madam did not think too much and said: “Let’s go.”
The carriage left the manor and followed the route Nanny Kong had given to go look for Luo Ning.
Nanny Kong’s relative had rented a residence in Wanxia Ward, so she got out of the carriage there first.
After getting down, Nanny Kong said: “Eldest young madam, please go slowly.”
Unexpectedly, another carriage on the street was blocking the doorway. It looked as if its axle had come loose and it had to be lifted away for repairs.
The eldest young madam was burning with anxiety but could not get past. She lifted the carriage curtain and unexpectedly saw Nan Xi’s mother.
The last time this woman had gone to the Marquis of Zhen Nan Manor to cry and make a scene, the eldest young madam had been deeply impressed by her. It had been less than half a month, yet now the woman’s clothes were all new, and she was covered in gold and silver.
On top of that, she was living in this quite decent looking residence in Wanxia Ward.
The eldest young madam suddenly grew suspicious.
Luo Ning had taken the child away for no reason, Nanny Kong had insisted on getting out here, and the carriage happened to be blocking the road…
The more she thought about it, the more her hands trembled.
The wet nurse and a head maid, both her trusted aides, were with her. The eldest young madam said in a shaking voice to the wet nurse: “Go knock on the door!”
The wet nurse did not understand, but she still went.
The eldest young madam also got out of the carriage.
When the door opened, the eldest young madam stepped forward and said: “I am here to see Madam Luo.”
The servant boy saw how richly she was dressed and smiled: “Young madam is resting for her pregnancy. I am afraid she cannot receive guests. Do you want to see Madam instead?”
“Please go report my visit,” the eldest young madam said.
A moment later, Nan Xi’s mother came out.
This woman had seen Madam Wen back when she had cried and made a scene. Seeing her come now, she was a little surprised, but her smile was warm.
The woman smiled and said: “Eldest young madam, you have come?”
The eldest young madam kept a calm face and said: “Mother-in-law sent me to visit my sister.”
The woman let out a big sigh of relief: “The Marchioness really is a good person. Eldest young madam, you also have a kind, Bodhisattva’s heart to treat Ah Xi so well. Please, come in.”
Madam Wen saw a delicate little courtyard, furnished with extremely expensive rosewood furniture, even more lavish than her own yard.
Maidservants were going in and out, at least ten that she could see. There were probably rough servants she could not see as well. The display was on par with her own rank as the eldest young madam of the Marquis Manor.
Nan Xi was lying in the inner room, resting for her pregnancy.
She wore ruby hair ornaments and a gown made of fine Hangzhou silk.
When she saw the eldest young madam, Nan Xi tried to rise and give a weak curtsey, but her maidservant quickly supported her.
This time the eldest young madam managed to stay calm. Using the excuse that she was visiting Nan Xi on her mother-in-law’s orders, she sat and chatted casually with her.
After they had sat only a short while, a steward arrived.
The eldest young madam excused herself to straighten her clothes and slipped into the inner room.
She heard the steward say to Nan Xi: “The eldest young master has sent a letter, along with pastries and money. He misses young madam so much, but he is injured, and that old witch at home is watching him closely, so he cannot come for now.
“These five hundred taels of silver are the eldest young master’s private savings. Young madam, please keep them. The eldest young master also asks young madam to give him two pieces of your personal clothing to ease his lovesickness.”
Hearing this, Nan Xi glanced toward the inner room and felt a burst of satisfaction.
She had pressed Madam Wen beneath her.
So she giggled.
In her laughter, Madam Wen’s face was covered with tears.