Chapter 552 - 451: The New Mistress

Chapter 552: Chapter 451: The New Mistress

The Old Duke’s wife had a few more cups of wine and began to complain about Aunt Liao.

"Usually lively as a dragon, but gets sick every New Year and festival. Those in the know might think she’s playing hard to get, refusing to show up. Others might think our Duke Mansion is mistreating her!" the Old Duke’s wife said with pursed lips. "Wasn’t she quite spirited in past years? But now she seems to have sharply declined."

The Old Duke cast a sidelong glance at his wife but still didn’t stop her from speaking. He merely coughed twice, which finally made the Old Duke’s wife flush with anger and fall silent.

Ye Yuzhi always let these words go in one ear and out the other. If he took issue with every single one, not only would it be of no benefit to him, but it would also make Aunt Liao’s position even more difficult.

After all, the Old Duke’s wife’s critique of Aunt Liao is like picking bones out of an egg; she could always find plenty to say.

The new wife wore a smile, but in her heart, she cursed the Old Duke’s wife.

Right now, whether it’s New Year or ordinary days, Aunt Liao doesn’t leave her room. Whether she’s bedridden or energetic, who in the mansion really knows?

Playing hard to get?

What game could a fallen concubine be playing?

When managing the household, one must keep up appearances. Now, who wouldn’t shut their door and decline visitors?

It’s not like she’s had her head kicked by a donkey.

Whether the mansion treats Aunt Liao courteously or harshly, outsiders have already formed their judgment, and it can’t be changed.

The past two years of being married have matured the new wife’s mindset considerably. Unlike when she first became a new officer, rushing about in a flurry, she now slipped up a few times while taking over household management, enough to make many of the capital’s aristocratic wives laugh at her, yet she had to quietly endure the bitterness.

Indeed, she is a new officer. In the eyes of the Old Duke couple and the Young Master, she is a higher-grade substitute for Aunt Liao. Her existence is meant to pave the way for the children left by her sister.

Aunt Liao, having lost her usefulness, was kicked aside by this family, which made the new wife gradually understand her situation.

If she couldn’t control the situation and let the legitimate son left by her sister rise smoothly, she too would eventually face a fate akin to being discarded after the horse has plowed the field.

Although she was a fill-in wife, making her harder to dismiss than Aunt Liao, it was merely a difference of degrees.

The new wife was determined not to let herself fall into such a state.

She glanced at her young son who was eating an egg custard in the arms of the wet nurse. A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.

Her son was still too young. To wait until he can stand on his own, many years would need to pass.

During this time, what she could do for her son was to prevent Ye Xizhi, the legitimate son left by her sister, from skyrocketing.

Since Aunt Liao was unwilling to come out as a scapegoat...

The new wife secretly observed Ye Yuzhi...

Then the only option was to put Ye Yuzhi out front.

Ye Yuzhi’s marriage must not allow the Old Duke’s wife to have her way.

If he really marries a girl who is not up to standard, mismatched in family background, and importance in the eyes of the Old Duke couple diminished, then the new wife’s utility value would be greatly reduced. Moreover, she would certainly become a laughingstock among the other ladies in the capital.

The new wife was unwilling to do such an unbeneficial trade. After all, even if Ye Yuzhi married well, he could not surpass the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate.

While the new wife was pondering over Ye Yuzhi’s marriage, the Old Duke’s wife steered the topic in that direction.

The Old Duke’s wife had drunk too much wine. Only after receiving a glare from the Old Duke did she quiet down for a moment. But her mouth soon itched to speak again: "Yuzhi is not young anymore. If we don’t finalize his marriage soon, what will we do in the future?

Among the suitable girls in the capital for Yuzhi’s age, how many are left who haven’t been promised? If this drags on for another two years, should he marry a young, inexperienced one?"

Upon hearing this, before the Old Duke or the Young Master could react, the new wife’s face lengthened instantly.

She was a second wife, a full cycle younger than the Young Master. When she married in, she was only sixteen or seventeen, around the same age as Ye Yuzhi and An Ran, exactly the "young and inexperienced" the Old Duke’s wife spoke of.

The Old Duke’s wife intended to belittle Ye Yuzhi but ended up disparaging the new wife as well, which left her both angry and unable to express it.

The Old Duke’s wife continued, "It’s one thing for Yuzhi, but there are still Xizhi and Jinzhi. As the legitimate eldest son, Xizhi’s marriage proposals must be thoroughly vetted. If Yuzhi causes delays, what then? Mrs. Xiao Guan, since you are their aunt and stepmother, you should be more considerate for your deceased sister."

The new wife, Mrs. Xiao Guan, gritted her teeth so hard in frustration that she nearly fell backward.

Her sister, Mrs. Da Guan, was always frail. Even when Mrs. Xiao Guan was young, she recalled the helplessness and heartache of their parents, saying Mrs. Da Guan was biding her time until death.

But no one knew what remedy Mrs. Da Guan used; she managed to live long enough to bear a pair of children. However, all she did for them was bring them into the world, lacking the strength even to cradle them.

Consideration? Consider for what?

Ye Xizhi is the legitimate eldest son, and the Old Duke’s wife is adamant about finding a prestigious match for him.

It’s truly foolish dreaming!

The aristocratic ladies in the capital haven’t lost their minds. Why would they marry their daughters to Ye Xizhi?

He may seem like an heir apparent, but the Duke Jing Mansion has long lost favor in the palace, and others just observe Mrs. Xiao Guan as the second wife...

With a sideways glance at the Old Duke’s wife, Mrs. Xiao Guan mused that this pair had toyed with Aunt Liao for over a decade, thinking the situation was now stable.

Even with her heart filled with rebuke, Mrs. Xiao Guan maintained her outward composure, saying gently, "Mother, you know me. I may be their aunt and stepmother, but my age is actually similar to theirs, and many matters aren’t clear to me yet.

Marriage arrangements, matching two families, are crucial. I must ponder them carefully.

Xizhi is a son, unlike Jinzhi who’s a daughter. It’s better to settle a girl’s marriage sooner rather than later."

These words were agreeable to the Old Duke’s wife, who nodded, "That’s true, we mustn’t neglect our Jinzhi."

Ye Jinzhi’s face flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled with a hint of pride.

Noticing this, Mrs. Xiao Guan chuckled. "In a few days, when the ladies all gather to admire the chrysanthemums, Jinzhi, you should prepare some new clothes and accessories. You should go with me and mother."

Ye Jinzhi beamed, "Aunt, didn’t grandmother send a bolt of orchid and butterfly brocade at the beginning of the month? I like that one."

Even though Mrs. Xiao Guan had become the second wife and stepmother to Ye Jinzhi and Ye Xizhi, they still called her ’Aunt.’

The Old Duke couple and the Young Master didn’t correct it, so Mrs. Xiao Guan let it be and replied with a smile, "Jinzhi likes it? Then use that material."

"That sounds wonderful." The Old Duke’s wife nodded.

Mrs. Xiao Guan continued, "Just in time, I’ll also inquire about Yuzhi."

Ye Jinzhi, amidst her joy, shot Ye Yuzhi a look.

Whether Ye Yuzhi or An Ran, these siblings seemed superfluous in Ye Jinzhi’s eyes.