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Last time on Grafting Life: Wang Xi Feng does her best to prepare for the fall.
Chapter 67 – Red Chamber (67)
“Go ask around outside, who has ever seen the concubines and servant girls in the home not serving the missus, but keeping the miss company? Is it the miss looking down on me, the sister-in-law, or because you are willing to lower yourself to be together with such shameful people? What, do you hope that Xiang Ling will serve you like she serves your brother? Who in the family does not have such a taboo? You say you are imperial merchants? Bah! You do not fear losing your tongue? The Xia Family will have the same silver that you do just by sweeping out the ground. You begged for the marriage, and now that a clean girl like me has been ruined by you, you can’t start to pick at my flaws. You fooled me into your family. You saw that I did not have any brothers, and wanted to torment me. Then, when I could not bear it, you wanted my silver so you could supplement your daughter. In other families, the daughter marries and supplements the paternal family. Your family has to pay gold mountains to marry your daughter. The daughter has affected the family so much. If it was me, I would have died of shame, and not have the face to interfere in the family.” Xia Jin Gui pointed at the sky outside and cursed.
Aunt Xue wanted to argue, but felt that it was embarrassing as a mother-in-law to be unable to control her daughter-in-law. Also, a junior offending an elder was an embarrassing matter anywhere.
Xiang Ling knelt in front of Xue Bao Chai and cried. “It is me who has dragged Miss down.”
Xue Bao Chai had no attention to spare for her. Xia Jin Gui’s words felt on her heart like strikes with a whip.
Aunt Xue could not argue with her daughter-in-law like this, and cursed at Xue Pan who was outside the window, “…… You have no conscience. I raised you, and worried a lifetime for you. Now that you have married, I do not hope that you will be very filial but will you just watch your wife force your mother to die?”
Xue Pan felt sad hearing this. He was a scoundrel to other people, but he was truly good to his mother and sister.
He guiltily walked out and said, “Mother, you go back into the room to rest. I drank too much last night, and have a headache. I did not hear it before, but now I will lecture my wife. Do not be angry.”
Aunt Xue saw her son smile and admit his mistake. Her anger fell slightly. She said, “When a man marries, he needs to stand up.”
Xue Pan nodded with a smile, “Yes, Mother, do not worry, I will sort her out.”
Just after he finished, Xia Jin Gui howled, “I just knew I should not have agreed to the marriage. This family is evil, they want to kill me and take the property of the Xia Family. No wonder people say not to marry the sons of widows. Now, I know the hardship. Which mother-in-law does not want their son and daughter-in-law to live well, but you urge your son to beat your daughter-in-law. The world will see……”
“Stop shouting.” Xue Pan saw his mother was about to faint in anger and shouted.
“You bastard, now you pull up your pants, you do not recognize me.” Xia Jin Gui put her hands on her hips and spat at Xue Pan. Then she rubbed her chest and said her heart hurt. “This family just wants to kill me.”
Xue Pan could not disobey his mother and was a bit afraid of Xia Jin Gui. He was stuck in the middle. Xiang Ling heard Xia Jin Gui shout that her chest hurt and ran over. Xue Pan immediately felt a place to vent his anger and kicked Xiang Ling to the ground. “Where did you go to pretend to be dead? Do you not know to serve your missus, and comfort the mistress? What can you do?”
Xiang Ling immediately covered her stomach, lying on the ground and unable to move.
Xia Jin Gui took a look and gave a smile. Aunt Xue saw her son so useless and cursed, “You…… You failure, why beat her? Just beat me and your sister to death before you are satisfied.”
It was noisy for a long time before quieting. In the night, mother and daughter sat facing each other, feeling sad.
“I did not know that the Xia Family’s miss has such character,” Aunt Xue patted Xue Bao Chai’s hand and said, “My child has been wronged today.”
“There is nothing that cannot be said between us.” Aunt Xue knew that her daughter had more ideas and ability than her son. She always believed in her daughter’s words.
“Mother, how about you ask Aunt tomorrow to help me discuss a good marriage?” Xue Bao Chai whispered.
“I have talked with your aunt. Your marriage with Bao Yu……” Aunt Xue was in a hurry and took over.
“But are there the three match makers and six items?” Xue Bao Chai looked up at her mother.
Aunt Xue was stuck for a moment and said, “But you still do not need to have your aunt to find another match for you. We can ask someone else……” Aunt Xue felt that she could not mention going back on her word. Right now, they were still living in the other’s home.
“I know this as well. Mother, just find Aunt, I have plans.” Xue Bao Chai returned to her room.
Aunt Xue tossed and turned half a night before she understood her daughter’s meaning. They were not asking for another match, but forcing her sister to make the decision. If she still did not give a firm answer now, then it was better to copy Ying Chun’s marriage. Even as a second wife, one may live well.
Madam Wang heard of Aunt Xue’s intention, and was shocked. Hadn’t this been agreed on? Why, without a word, were they reneging?
Aunt Xue said, “I do not fear Sister laughing at me. My daughter-in-law is not a good one, and she dislikes Bao-yatouat home, picking at her. Rather than have her slighted at home, it is better to send her out soon. As a mother, this is my care for her.”
Madam Wang was stuck. If the Xue Family was willing to lower their standards, they could make a marriage like Ying Chun’s. But on Bao Yu’s side, if they waited until the consort gave birth to a son, they may not find a match they liked. Also, the family’s conditions were getting worse. The palace sent people to demand silver. The master was in his position, and each month, sent people back. They said they came with greetings for the old mistress, but in reality, they came to get silver. In any case, after becoming an official, he brought no silver back home, and more silver had been spent.
Even if the consort gave birth to a son, there would be more places in the palace to use silver. The family would not benefit quickly. If the Xue Family was present, they could supplement the family.
So she smiled and said, “Why say this? Us sisters has settled the marriage between Bao Yu and Bao-yatou. It is just that the family mourning period has not passed, and it is not good to mention it.”
Aunt Xue thought, then did Ying Chun not first exchange notes?
She could not say such a thing and said, “It is us sisters who want this, and this is not settled. I have delayed Bao-yatou. I have not beared to part with her. However, with such a wastrel in the family, I do not want her to stay at home and be slighted.”
Madam Wang smiled and said, “Since you have called me to be the matchmaker, then listen to me about this. My Bao Yu is not very accomplished, but he is good to girls. You watched him grow up, the two are childhood sweethearts and know each other well. He is better than others. I will report to the old mistress today, and we can finalize the matter.”
Aunt Xue finally had a smile, and valued her daughter even more.
Mother Jia heard Madam Wang mention the matter once again. This time, she did not refuse. She faintly seemed to feel that the consort in the palace would have trouble. The people in the family may be affected. The Xue Family’s girl was able to judge situations, and change with the times. Giving Bao Yu to her, to say nothing else, at least he will not be very slighted.
Because the timing was not right, and fearing that Bao Yu would make a fuss if he learned, the two families were very low key when exchanging their notes with the marriage proposal and the time of birth. The marriage match was officially set.
Lin Yu Tong learned of the news and did not hide it from Lin Dai Yu. Lin Dai Yu was one who remembered others. While she said she would not ask, it did not mean that she did not have it on her mind.
Sleeping at night, Lin Dai Yu was in a daze. She seemed to see herself lying in the River Bamboo Building in the garden. There were joyful horns and cymbals. She heard a servant girl say that Bao Yu and Miss Bao were getting married. She saw another her throw a handkerchief into the fire basin, and then die.
She knew that was her. She finally understood why her sister opposed her and Bao Yu from the start. So this was her ending.
She suddenly woke up, feeling coldness come from everywhere. She sat up, and called Xue Yan in.
“Miss, what is it?” Xue Yan came in and gave Lin Dai Yu a handkerchief to wash her face. “Did you have a bad dream?”
“No matter.” Lin Dai Yu calmed herself and said, “Find that handkerchief and burn it.”
Xue Yan stilled and then acknowledged. She threw the handkerchief that Second Master Bao had asked Qing Wen to deliver into the fire basin in front of Lin Dai Yu. She knew that Miss was a decisive person. Since this was burned, it was the end.
Lin Yu Tong learned of this, and her worries were completely assuaged. Her heart finally landed.
One day, Lin Ru Hai came from the palace and instructed Lin Yu Tong, “Have people prepare funeral gifts. This father will have use in two days.”
“All right.” Lin Yu Tong responded and then asked, “Is someone not well?” Depending on the degree of relationship, the gift would be of a different standard. She would have to know.
“Wang Zi Teng died on the way back to the capital,” Lin Ru Hai took a sip of tea and answered.
Lin Yu Tong was shocked inside. Wang Zi Teng was dead. Then Jia Yuan Chun’s death was soon. Lin Yu Tong did not show anything on her face but inside, there was a storm.
She had never heard of Wang Zi Teng becoming the commissioner of the capital training divisions. In reality, Wen Tian Fang had been the commissioner. She thought that Wang Zi Teng’s fate would change because of this, but she had thought too simply.
Wang Zi Teng could count as the only capable person in the Jia, Shi, Wang and Xue families. Now, he was suddenly dead. This added some gloom to the marriage that had just been arranged for Jia Bao Yu and Xue Bao Chai.
Madam Wang and Aunt Xue panicked when they heard their brother was dead. Their paternal family had been supported by their brother. What about the future?
Wang Xi Feng felt a kind of terror and urgency other than sorrow. She sensed a danger coming close.
As expected, just after Wang Zi Teng’s funeral, before everyone recovered, someone came from the palace with news that caused the Jia Family to feel the sky had fallen.
Consort Yuan Chun had died in the palace!
- Grafting Life Chapter 66 – Red Chamber (66)
- Grafting Life Chapter 68 – Red Chamber (68)
- Grafting Life Chapter 69 – Red Chamber (69)
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