All Hail Cousin Brother

241 Seeing the Newcomer Smile

Everyone in the residence knew that Eldest Master was going to take in Lady Qiu. She would soon have more authority. Even if it was for Eldest Master’s dignity, it was still time to organize something.

Yang Shuwan had been in the family for so many years, but this was the first time she had been in charge of taking in concubines for her husband. How could she be happy?

She was so angry that her head hurt. After letting Nanny Li serve her a bowl of medicine, she had no choice but to perk up and get the servants to tidy up the Rain Autumn Courtyard. Then, she asked the stable to prepare a carriage and a small sedan…

In the past, Yang Shuwan did not know what was going on inside, so she also felt that it was not important to take in a concubine. However, after taking one in, she finally understood the bitterness of being the main wife.

After all the preparations, Yang Shuwan was so busy that her feet didn’t even touch the ground. However, she didn’t expect that there would be so many rules for taking in a concubine. It wasn’t easy in any way, and she had to do everything herself. If there was anything wrong, Master would lose face. Not only would she make Master unhappy, but she would also end up with a reputation of being jealous.

One thing after another had to be done and she actually couldn’t finish it in a day.

No wonder every family had to pick a day to take in a concubine.

However, since she had already said it, even if she gritted her teeth and braced herself, she had to settle the matter first. She couldn’t be too careless. If Old Madam found out, she would be in trouble.

Yang Shuwan had worked hard for the entire day, but she still couldn’t finish her tasks. Fortunately, she only entered the house tomorrow night, so she could handle the rest tomorrow.

Yang Shuwan returned to the inner room and asked Nanny Li to remove the jewelry on her body. She leaned against the couch and rubbed her forehead.

When Yu Jianjia entered the house, she saw that her mother had just brought in the maidservant, Bi Tao, who came over with a bowl of black medicinal soup yesterday. She knew that her mother had been working hard the entire day and had a headache again.

Her mother’s illness was probably chronic.

Previously, Doctor Ding had come to treat her and instructed sternly, “You have to rest well. You can’t think too much. If you’re too angry, it’ll hurt your body, your blood, and your marrow.”

However, these days, the residence was not peaceful either. As the mistress of the household, how could her mother not worry?

Yang Shuwan drank the medicine and ate a few snacks to suppress the bitterness in her mouth. Only then did she see her daughter. “Why are you here? Didn’t you say that you were feeling a little unwell? Why aren’t you resting in your room?”

Yu Jianjia sat beside her mother and said gently, “I just came to see Mother.”

Yang Shuwan sighed slightly. “Mother knows that you’re worried about me.” She forced an ugly smile, her expression filled with fatigue. “Old Madam asked me to prepare to take in Lady Qiu as a concubine. Even though I was unwilling, I didn’t think much of it. However, after this, there’s a bitterness in my heart.”

How could she know some things without going through them?

As she spoke, Yang Shuwan felt a lump in her throat. “Your father and I used to have many loving days in the past, but when he has a new woman, who would hear the old lover cry? Seeing that the new lover has arrived, I still have to arrange it carefully and greet her with a smile. I can’t be unwilling at all. I have to do it decently and make your father happy. It’s all for your father’s dignity. Who will care about my feelings as a wife?”

As she spoke, she pinched her handkerchief and began to wipe her tears, feeling extremely bitter.

Yu Jianjia also felt terrible. “I know Mother’s suffering.”

Lady Qiu was good-looking and had a beautiful figure. Father had always liked her, but since they were not married, it wasn’t good for him to keep coming into her room.

However, now that he wanted to take her as his concubine, his father would no longer have to care about her in the future.

Concubine He was locked up in the courtyard, and Concubine Qiu had probably become the second Concubine He.

Yang Shuwan wiped her tears and stopped crying. If she continued to cry, wouldn’t it really be as she had said? She couldn’t afford to lose face.

“Don’t worry too much. She’s just a lowly concubine. How can she surpass me? Even Concubine He is locked in the courtyard now, right?”

As she spoke, Yang Shuwan’s eyes turned cold, and her red lips curled into a vicious smile.

Yu Jianjia lowered her head and said nothing.

Yang Shuwan held her daughter’s hand. “Too many things happened yesterday, so I didn’t ask you. Did you make friends with any young misses at the small banquet yesterday?”

Although Jia Jia had befriended Seventh Miss Cao of the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence and Fifth Miss Lu of the Marquis of Weining’s Residence, both of them were noble ladies.

However, the Yu Residence was a scholarly family, so they still had to make friends with families of similar status. It would be beneficial to move around in the two circles.

At the mention of this, Yu Jianjia felt an itch in her throat. She covered her handkerchief and coughed lightly. “Mother, it’s Eldest Sister’s birthday banquet. I had fun with her too and I still have to prioritize Eldest Sister. I can’t rush to befriend them. If others see this, they’ll think that I’m rude.”

Yang Shuwan frowned when she heard this. “Why are you so kind-hearted? You’re only concerned about being sisters and being polite. Don’t you know how to be flexible? Your big sister is relying on the fact that she has Grandmother’s favor and wants to suppress you to gain the limelight. Other people’s young misses are willing to interact with and befriend anyone they want. It’s not like Yu Youyao has the final say. How is that rude?”

Yu Jianjia was annoyed when she heard this, so she could only say, “I’m still young. When I turn ten, Mother will also help me hold a small banquet and invite the young misses of the various families into the residence. We can also interact openly.”

However, Yang Shuwan did not dare to agree. “It’s better to befriend them earlier than later. Third Miss Song and Sixth Miss Qi are both important daughters of the first wife in their families. If they befriend Yu Youyao in advance and develop feelings for each other, they will become distant to you. You will lose to Yu Youyao!”

Yu Jianjia naturally understood this too. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so vexed. “We’ll just invite other young misses.”

Yang Shuwan sighed slightly. “It’s not that easy. There are only a few legitimate young mistresses who are close to the residence and have similar families. Third Miss Song is the eldest daughter of the first wife, and her Father has become a Lord. The other legitimate young misses in the family are not as precious as her.”

When Yu Jianjia heard this, she felt uncomfortable.

Yang Shuwan continued, “Sixth Miss Qi’s father is the Imperial Censor. He’s a second-rank official and has a few families in his residence. However, Sixth Miss Qi has the highest status. Although Fifth Miss Tang isn’t outstanding in terms of looks and has her limelight been stolen by the eldest daughter of a concubine, she’s still the first daughter of the family. How can she be more important than them?”

Of course not!

How could Yu Jianjia not know this? However, Third Miss Song and Sixth Miss Qi were focused on befriending Yu Youyao. Even if she found an opportunity to lean over and speak, she would only say a few polite words.

Yang Shuwan was also helpless. “You don’t understand the logic behind this. In the future, if your status at the birthday banquet is lowered, won’t you be inferior to Yu Youyao? You’re both daughters of the first wife. If this gets out, won’t people think that you’re not as respected as Yu Youyao at home? In the future, even if you go out, you won’t be as glamorous as Yu Youyao. That won’t do.”