Chapter 31: Right and Wrong

  At that time, the amber girl had already changed out of her usual white clothes. Since she had shown her face, she should follow the rules. Fu Xueyang was now in high spirits and the people below were trying to curry favor with her. Looking at what she was wearing - a light brown silk skirt, an outer garment with pink trim and shallow red satin wide lapel embroidery of hibiscus, as well as the red pendant hairpin on her head - this was not the treatment that a concubine could have.

  Amber girl noticed Bai Lian Sen Han's cold gaze, and unconsciously shrunk her body, with a hint of timidity, but it made her look even more delicate and charming, like a weak willow in the wind, and also showed a bit of girlish coquetry, no wonder Second Master had an outburst at Second Madam for her sake.

  Bai Lü also noticed his own awkwardness and hastily covered it up. At this time, the courtyard gate of Wang Yiniang opened, and Wang Yiniang came out with a charming and elegant demeanor. Bai Lü bowed to her and said: "Greetings, Wang Yiniang." Wang Yiniang stroked her crimson embroidered jacket with golden flowers: "Ah, it's Bai Lü from in front of the old lady, what's going on?"

  Bai Lian smiled and said: "The old lady asked me to come and take a look at the second wife, I was just walking here when I met Miss Hupo."

  Wang Yiniang walked up to Amber with a warm smile, trying to take her hand affectionately. Amber's eyes welled up with tears as she dodged Wang Yiniang's grasp. Wang Yiniang's expression stiffened for a moment, but she didn't get angry and her smile remained unchanged: "Why are you still being so formal with me, sister? Although you're currently just a concubine due to Old Lady's words, you have Master's favor, it's only a matter of time before you become a yiniang too."

  A flash of shame and humiliation crossed her amber eyes, her slender body swaying unsteadily. "I... I didn't."

  The aunt patted her hand, "In that case, why don't you come with me to pay your respects to the mistress and ask for her blessing? It's not that I'm being difficult, but only after paying respects to the mistress can one be considered to have a formal status."

  Bai Lü was standing beside her, she couldn't interrupt either. And this Wang Yiniang's status was different after all, not like Wei Yiniang and Liu Yiniang who were born into the family, from an official background, a noble concubine. Moreover, Bai Lü also enjoyed watching Wang Yiniang bully Xuè Bō.

  Amber bit her lower lip and said, "But Mrs. Ke is ill, it's all because of me, let's not disturb her."

  Amber's gaze fell unconsciously on the transparent bangle made of jade on Wang's wrist, pursed her lips, this bangle must be worth a lot of money, she didn't see Wang's disdainful gaze with her head lowered.

  The queen's lips curled up in mockery, but she was just a clown after all. She had overestimated her. She took off the bracelet on her wrist and put it on Amber's wrist, saying warmly: "Sister is really kind-hearted, since you don't want to, I won't force you. When Madame recovers, sister can go visit her again, it's not too late." She also said to Bai He: "Since that's the case, I shouldn't delay you from doing your job either."

  The white heron dressed and went to Madame Chen's courtyard.

  Amber lowered her head, a sarcastic smile playing on the corners of her mouth.

  Madam Chen's illness was cured on the second day, which was unusual. Not only did she drink the tea made by Hua'er, but she also took out twenty taels of silver to host a banquet. In the evening, when Fu Xueyang arrived, she even actively pushed him into the room of the newly opened Huaper girl.

  Fu Xueyang was puzzled as to why Madame Chen had not made a scene, but he still enjoyed the atmosphere of having a virtuous wife and a beautiful concubine. He reluctantly left Madame Chen's room and went to Hupo's quarters, which he had been thinking about all along. After he left, Madame Chen gritted her teeth and smashed a teacup, glaring viciously at Hupo's courtyard: "We'll see about that! I'd like to know how long Master can keep this up!"

  Fu's mother was quite satisfied with Chen's behavior, and the next day she specially called Chen and Su Ying over. With a serious expression, she said to Chen, who had carefully covered up her dark circles under her eyes with several layers of powder: "You are the second wife of the Hou Mansion, married through proper channels. No matter who it is below you, no one will surpass you. Why must you lower yourself to the same level as a slave servant? It makes you seem unrefined as a mistress."

  This is almost as good as saying that Madame Chen is not virtuous and magnanimous, and that she is jealous by nature. Madame Chen's face turned ugly, and the handkerchief in her hand was twisted into a rope, making her even more angry and resentful. She had not forgotten that Fu Xiyang had threatened to divorce her because of that cheap maid, and had accused her of being a jealous woman. What made her even more indignant was that despite her precautions, one of her maids had actually sneaked into Fu Xiyang's bed behind her back, joining forces with the maid to make her lose face completely. The most infuriating thing was that her aunt not only did not take her side but instead accused her of being narrow-minded and even took the side of the cheap maid!

  Mrs. Chen's face was a mixture of pale and white, quite colorful.

  Su Ying stood by, uninterested - she was of course aware that Fu Mu's words were not just for Chen Furen to hear. Seeing Chen Furen's changing facial expressions, she thought to herself: still young after all, acting skills not yet refined, needs more tempering.

  Fu Mu Duan sat on the couch, took over the tea from Bai Yu and took a sip, opening her mouth lightly: "Master hasn't come to the backyard for two days, is it because of busy official business? Su Shi, as the mistress, you should also advise Master to prioritize his health."

  Su Ying smiled warmly and elegantly: "Let the old lady worry, only the master is concerned with official business, wholeheartedly sharing the emperor's worries. Even if the wife wants to advise, she must distinguish between what is important and what can wait." Anyway, Fu Mu was trying to say that she was not virtuous, but in front of Chen Furen and Fu Xueyang's praise, this high hat of being virtuous and magnanimous she didn't follow to grab. Even if Wei Yiniang made a fuss again, Fu Da Guanren wouldn't be so confused as to say he wanted to divorce his wife.

  Fu's mother's face darkened, and she said coldly: "The old master has always been a man who knows what is important. You should take care of the inner courtyard properly so that the old master won't be distracted by these trivial matters again. Speaking of which, I seem to have heard that Wei Shi was put under house arrest? Didn't you say before that Wei Shi knew her place and also mentioned considering the face of Eldest Miss? What's going on now? If outsiders find out, who knows, you might end up with a reputation for being a troublemaker."

  Fu's mother was eager for Su Ying to spread such a reputation, but now the second house's fermented? Matter is more serious than the big house, it's not guaranteed that you won't hit the rat and hurt the jade bottle instead. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but stare at Chen Fu's foolish wife, who was really useless.

  Su Ying just opened her mouth, and Madame Chen quickly said: "Sister-in-law is so capable, she actually suppressed the most arrogant concubine in your courtyard with one move." She looked up at Fu Mu and saw that she didn't react, then continued to sneer: "I was worried about how to deal with those hidden villains inside, so as not to secretly seduce our masters. It's just right to ask Sister-in-law for advice."

  Come on, why don't you understand that speaking is an art?

  Her sister-in-law is really 'both good and evil'.

  Su Ying stood up calmly, and with her movement, the eight treasure hairpin on her bun swayed, the flowing tassels were made of pearl beads the size of rice grains, paired with a pair of silver phoenix hairpins with chicken heart pendants, and her arched eyebrows, making her look particularly cold and elegant, striking fear into people's hearts. Madame Chen turned away in hatred.

  "Old lady Mingjian," Su Ying's face showed confusion, "Wei Shi originally was exhausted from serving the eldest miss day and night, when the eldest miss moved to the upper house, she relaxed and fell ill. The doctor has come to see her several times, saying that she needs rest. Considering her past dedication to serving Master and the eldest miss, even the usual greetings and respects have been waived."

  "I don't know which good-for-nothing servant has been gossiping about me in front of the old lady, making up all sorts of nonsense about me as the mistress of the house. Although our Hou estate is known for being lenient with its servants, we can't tolerate these kinds of people who secretly criticize their masters. If they don't learn to control their tongues and end up spreading our household's affairs outside, it will be a disaster for our reputation."

  Su Ying's words were concise and straightforward, and she deliberately elevated the matter to the entire Hou Mansion, while also subtly emphasizing the four words "the lady of the house". Although Fu Mu was indeed the most respected person in the Hou Mansion, one should not forget that it was Su Ying, the lady of the house, who was currently in charge. The entire Hou Mansion was under the control of Fu Yao Yang, the brave and martial Marquis, and even Fu Mu's authority came from him.

  Su Ying's words made all the maids standing in the house hold their breath.

  Fu's mother's face turned completely black, and before she could speak, Chen's wife, who was looking at everyone with discontent, launched a indiscriminate attack skill, staring at Su Ying in horror: "Sister-in-law, what do you mean by this? Are you suggesting that Auntie wrongly believed the rumors and framed you? Furthermore, which servant is so foolish as to dare meddle in the affairs of the elderly lady, not fearing their tongue would rot?"

  Madam Chen hypocritically advised Su Ying: "Elder sister, your words are too severe, hurry up and apologize to the old lady."

  Su Ying's eyes twitched, and I said, "Sister, don't you think your words are contradictory? This isn't how you're supposed to help." She innocently blinked her eyes at the indignant Mrs. Chen and asked, "Did sister misunderstand something?"

  "That's enough!" Fu's mother heavily placed the lid of the bowl on the kang table, coldly snorted and scolded: "Since it was a misunderstanding, just clarify it and that's it. It's not worth making such a fuss about, what a commotion!"

  Madam Chen sat back with a sullen face, and Su Ying really gained some insight. Obviously, it was Madam Fu who used Wei Yiniang as a scapegoat to make things difficult for her, but now she was turned back by her few words. Someone's casual remark became the reason for her quarrel with Madam Chen, and she didn't even mention which servant had been stirring up trouble in front of her. Indeed, an old ginger is still spicy.

  Fu's mother, holding her identity, secretly resented Su Ying for daring to lose face in front of her by relying on a servant girl. With anger in her heart, she waved her hand and let Dujuan open the box and take out the things she had prepared. She said coldly: "This is my newly acquired donkey hide gel, which is not the same as what we usually use. It's made from the best materials and is most beneficial for nourishing qi and blood and supplementing the body." She glanced at Su Ying sideways, paused, and continued: "I heard that this has a remarkable effect on women. As an old woman, I don't need it myself, so I'll give it to you. I hope you can soon let me hold my golden grandson."

  This couldn't be more obvious, Fu Mu half-closed her eyes and indeed saw Su Ying's eyes light up, the eagerness and longing in her eyes were more apparent than ever, and she no longer pretended to be that annoying lady of the house. Fu Mu suddenly found it much more pleasing to the eye.