Chapter 22: 16

Chapter 16: Auntie

 

 

October 26, 2022

 

The Fifth Madam, née Lin, and née Fang had known each other since childhood. In name, they could be considered cousins.

 

It’s just that née Lin, as the legitimate wife, prides herself on her identity, and has always disdained communicating with Concubine Fang and the like, and when she usually sees her, she pretends to not have seen her.

 

Ren Yaoqi dawdled at née Lin’s place for a while, and what she said was nothing more than implying that Ren Yaohua was the mastermind behind the framing of Ren Yaoyu.

 

After Ren Yaoqi left, née Lin invited her confidant, Momo Sun, to investigate the matter in the outer courtyard.

 

Momo Sun was also a well-respected momo in the Ren Estate, so she quickly investigated this relationship.

 

“Madam, the Third Young Lady is too vicious, and she even resorted to such means!” Momo Sun said angrily.

 

Née Lin tapped on the small table and pondered for a long time: “I see that this matter is not as simple as it seems.”

 

“What does Madam means?”

 

Née Lin said slowly: “My grandmother once said that it’s not a business to rush, and most of the news that people want to let you know is not the truth. Today, if Momo Zhu didn’t instigate the fifth girl to come here, I wouldn’t necessarily doubt it.”

 

(It’s not a business to rush = To be calm and  not do anything urgent or eager)

 

Momo Sun was startled: “Madam means, someone deliberately provokes your relationship with the people there?”

 

Née Lin’s smiled but not smile: “Whether it was an intentional provocation or just wanted to take this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, we might as well wait and see. With that woman’s scheming, there will definitely be a follow-up when she makes a move.”

 

(Smile but not smile = Smile reluctantly, an unnatural or malicious look)

 

Momo Sun pondered for a while, and suddenly realized: “Madam is talking about Concubine…”

 

Née Lin, using a copper drill, casually fiddled with the incense ashes in the three-legged bronze incense burner with Sanskrit: “When I was a girl, I hated her attitude the most. Obviously the cheap life of a concubine-born, but is more pretentious than anyone else, yet also likes to play tricks. Look at my aunt, she is also amazing, huh? Of the concubine-born sons and daughters, which one wasn’t cleaned up and bowed their heads in front of her and didn’t even dare to make a fuss? It’s only the two of them siblings that got better, now her brother has already achieved the County Magistrate of the Seventh Grade.”

 

(Officials are divided into Nine Grades, the County Magistrate, which is the Seventh Grade, is mainly in charge of the politics, economy, military affairs, litigation, etc. of a county, and can be selected through the imperial examination and other means of selecting officials.)

 

Momo Sun said with a smile: “This slave thinks this Madam Aunt is a kind person. It is said that the young master from the Fang family is able to get this job thanks to her management. If you change it to a madam of another family, it’s already not bad to just be suppressed.”

 

Née Lin smiled and glanced at Momo Sun: “Do you really think that my aunt is a vegetarian? Although she only gave birth to one foolish son, she has five or six concubine-born sons. Why did you think she only cultivated Concubine Fang’s brother?”

 

(Vegetarian = A peaceful and gentle person)

 

“Why is this?”

 

Née Lin curled her lips and said with great disdain, “Isn’t it because Fang Yaru ran in front of her legitimate mother to express her sincerity, and rushed to the Ren Estate to be a concubine? You know that being a concubine is like handing over your life and wealth to others. Our Old Madam and Fang Yaru’s legitimate mother are sisters. She did this to tell her legitimate mother that she will never run out of her palm in her whole life. Her statement was really in the favor of her legitimate mother, and her brother also stood out among the many concubine-born sons of the Fang family.”

 

(Legitimate mother = A name called by concubine-born children to their father’s wife)

 

“Speaking of which, this Concubine Fang is very kind to her brother, as she is willing to sacrifice for her brother’s future.”

 

Hearing the words, née Lin shook the copper drill in her hand: “You ah… you don’t know her. My aunt has six concubine-born daughters, and all of them are married lowly. Only one is married highly but that man is still ghostly sick! She alone, because she came to Ren Estate to be a concubine, Aunt gave her more than ten times the dowry because of her affection. Even our Old Madam treats her differently in the face of her cousin. Her brother, because of his love for her, is now her biggest backing in the Ren family. Look at her calculations, can you calculate as well as her?”

 

Momo Sun sighed and shook her head: “This slave can’t, this slave has a slave’s fate.”

 

(Slave’s fate = Can only be trampled)

 

Née Lin sneered: “She is a person who does not accept fate. Not only does she not accept fate, but also likes to struggle, likes to rob, and pluck it clean. To put it in harsh words, she wants to be a bitch and build an archway!“

 

(To be a bitch and build an archway = Be a bitch but still pretends to be a virtuous woman. Archway refers to Chastity Arch built to honor chaste women)

 

“Then let’s watch this matter first?” Momo Sun hesitated.

 

Née Lin frowned, her eyes did not hide her worries: “I’ve taken care of Yu’er’s side, but I just don’t know when the Old Madam will calm down.”

 

Speaking of this, née Lin’s expression turned ruthless, “My mother repeatedly told me not to confront her easily, saying that she was too deep-minded and was afraid that I would suffer. But if she really dared to scheme against my daughter, I would definitely make her look good! Continue to watch carefully at the outer courtyard, and if there is anything wrong, report it to me immediately.”

 

“Yes, Madam.”

 

In the afternoon, Xi’er came over to tell Ren Yaoqi that the arrangements had been made according to her instructions.

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Ren Yaoqi had sent Xi’er back to serve née Li early this morning, but she came here to speak for Ren Yaohua.

 

While speaking, Xi’er did not forget to look at Ren Yaoqi curiously, but her expression was a genuine joy.

 

No one around née Li was unhappy about the current harmony between the two sisters.

 

In the evening, when everyone went to the Ronghua Courtyard, Old Madam Ren told the public to let Ren Yaohua move to the Ronghua Courtyard.

 

The Fifth Madam, née Lin, who pleaded for her daughter and was ignored by the Old Madam, glanced at Ren Yaohua, and her doubts were swaying again.

 

She had asked Ren Yaoyu, the puppet and even the birthday characters were all from her, and only one character was changed by someone, so she could not explain her daughter.

 

Originally, she suspected that Concubine Fang wanted to use her hand to get rid of Ren Yaohua, but if this matter is really caused by Ren Yaohua, it is not impossible for Ren Yaoyu to make room for herself.

 

Everyone knows that the reason why Ren Yaohua walks sideways in Ren Estate is because of the love of Old Madam Ren. She has been gone for a year this time, and it is precisely when she needs to make up for the love between her and her grandparents.

 

(Walk sideways = To be overbearing and do whatever you want)

 

There, Ren Yaohua happily answered.

 

Née Lin was unhappy and was thinking about whether to pull Ren Yaohua into the water first, but Ren Yaoqi, who is beside her, quietly took a half-step towards her and winked at her anxiously to make her come out.

 

(Pull into the water = To implicate)

 

Née Lin thought about it for a second. She really didn’t want to be a gunman for someone like Concubine Fang, so she simply turned her head and pretended not to see it.

 

Early the next morning, Ren Yaohua’s maids and momos began to pick up clothes and wares in Ronghua Courtyard with great fanfare. That attitude seemed to be afraid that the people in the manor would not know that the Third Young Lady had won the favor of the Old Madam.

 

In the morning, the gatehouse of the outer courtyard came to report that Auntie Xiao was here.

 

“Auntie” is a kind of honorific title, it mostly refers to the kinds of women who have a high reputation in a specific circle and have one or another kind of ability. Such women are often either widowed or past the marriageable age and unmarried. They often visit the inner courtyards of wealthy families and are treated as guests.

 

No family dares to offend such a person easily. Not only because of their lofty skills and immense popularity, but also because as long as they say something bad about you, the streets and alleys will know about it the next day.

 

Just like midwives and matchmakers who often divide their territory, the “aunties” also have their own “territory”. Auntie Xiao is known to everyone in Baihe Town. Of course, this kind of famous auntie has always only been with the rich and wealthy, and they don’t come to ordinary people.

 

“How come Auntie is free today?” After taking a seat, Old Madam Ren greeted with a smile on her face, with a very polite and warm attitude.

 

Auntie Xiao is also a frequent visitor to the Ren Estate. She is only in her thirties, with a beautiful face, simple and neat clothes, and no accessories on her body. At first glance, she is a very upright and decent person.

 

“Today I’m here to send next year’s imperial calendar to the estate.” Auntie Xiao had a decent smile on her face and spoke at a moderate pace. It doesn’t make people feel that her attitude is lofty, nor does it make people feel servile. It is very easy to win the favor of high-ranking people.

 

Old Madam Ren smiled and patted her forehead lightly: “Look at my memory! Forgot about it.”

 

“It’s not that the Old Madam has a bad memory. It’s actually that this year’s imperial calendar was printed half a month earlier than in previous years.” Auntie Xiao motioned for the woman who followed her to present a delicate red lacquered wooden box.

 

The Old Madam Ren asked Momo Gui to come and take it: “I just remembered when you said that. In previous years, you only delivered it in early October. Why is it so early this year?”

 

Auntie Xiao said: “In previous years, the imperial calendars were issued by the Qin Tianjian and then printed by our Yanbei bookstores, but this year is a bit special and passed the eyes of Yanbei Palace.”

 

(Qin Tianjian = An ancient government department in charge of observing celestial phenomena, calculating the calendar, timing, and other works)

 

Old Madam Ren was stunned for a moment, and smiled: “I only heard that the imperial court issued the imperial calendar, but I didn’t…” Having said that, Old Madam Ren realized that this must not be said, so she smiled, picked up her teacup, and drank tea.

 

Auntie Xiao pretended that she didn’t hear Old Madam Ren’s gaffe, and said: “Last year, Yanbei’s imperial calendar made a few mistakes, and as a result, several bookstores were implicated and confiscated.”

 

This matter is known to everyone in Yanbei.

 

“After what happened last year, which household would dare to dip this year?” Old Madam Ren wondered.

 

(Dip = To involve)

 

The imperial calendar has always been printed by the bookstores of various prefectures and counties after it was issued by the Qin Tianjian of the imperial court, and generally, there is no mistake. Last year, for some unknown reason, Yanbei’s almanac made many mistakes compared to the one issued by Qin Tianjian, was ultimately brought up to the court, and many people lost their lives because of it. There are also people who impeached the Yanbei Palace for condoning this move because they wish to change the dynasty.

 

“I heard that the scribes in the Yanbei Palace have checked it no less than ten times this year, so there is absolutely no mistake.” Auntie Xiao said with a smile, “And this time, the almanacs of several states in Yanbei were all printed by the Han family. “

 

“The Han family?” Old Madam Ren thought for a while, “The Han family that moved from Jizhou to our Baihe Town last year?”

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