Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Bitter Fruit
The carpenter’s servant looked suspicious.
The maid protected Xie Jinyu’s reputation, saying, "The young lady lost her temper, accidentally broke the teacup, and it hit the door, leaving a small mark."
"The young lady cannot tolerate blemishes, so make sure you fix it quickly!"
The carpenter’s servant looked at the door foot, similar to the Eldest Young Madam’s door.
How it really got damaged, could he not guess?
See through, but don’t speak of it.
"I will definitely fix it quickly," the carpenter’s servant said.
...
In front of the Duke Mansion.
The Third Master stopped on horseback.
A palanquin followed behind him.
The palanquin was draped in satin, with tassels hanging from its roof edges, and bells at its four corners.
A gentle breeze blew.
The bells chimed melodiously, pleasing to the ear.
After dismounting, the Third Master walked to the palanquin and personally lifted the curtain.
A girl with a veiled face stepped down.
Her appearance was unclear, but her figure was graceful, her slender waist could barely be held, and her every movement captivated the soul.
The gatekeeper servant stared in a daze.
Firstly, because the girl was indeed beautiful, her eyes sparkled, as if waves of light rippled, beautiful beyond worldly women.
Secondly, because the Third Master seemed intimately close to her.
The Third Master helped her up the steps.
Chief Steward Li stepped out of the mansion and said to the Third Master, "Who is this young lady?"
"My newly bought concubine," the Third Master replied.
Chief Steward Li frowned deeply.
The Third Master wanted to enter the mansion.
Chief Steward Li stopped him.
"Make way!" the Third Master said impatiently.
Chief Steward Li replied, "Third Master, taking a concubine is none of my business, but this is the main gate of the Duke Mansion. It is surely against reason for a concubine to enter through the main gate."
He was the steward of the Duke Mansion.
Guarding the main gate was his duty.
Under his watch, such a significant oversight would never be allowed.
The Third Master, having his face brushed off, felt displeased, "Chief Steward Li, don’t forget your status!"
"Third Master, it is my duty, please don’t make it difficult for me," Chief Steward Li said.
"I will send someone to ask the Old Madam, and if she agrees for your concubine to enter through the main gate, I will not obstruct the path."
Chief Steward Li was the Old Duke’s trusted aide.
In the entire Duke Mansion, apart from the Old Duke, no one could do anything about him.
However, Chief Steward Li was loyal and honest, never using the Old Duke’s trust to act recklessly.
He treated everyone amicably, never making enemies.
If it weren’t for considering the Duke Mansion’s reputation, he wouldn’t have stopped the Third Master at the gate.
South Courtyard.
Inside Jianjia Courtyard, inner room.
The Third Madam had just changed into a new skirt, and the maid was helping her with her hair bun.
The embroidery room was now under her charge, and the Third Madam used her power to make several sets of new skirts for herself.
She looked at the hair bun, very satisfied.
Beside her was a brocade box, containing a medicine bottle delivered by Su Jin in the morning.
"Has the Master returned?" The Third Madam was a bit impatient.
"Not yet," the maid replied.
"Madam looks so beautiful, the Master will surely be amazed," the maid flattered.
"You’re such a sweet talker," the Third Madam laughed.
Outside, a maid rushed in, "Madam, something bad happened!"
Just as the Third Madam was in high spirits, the maid doused it with cold water, making her face fall, "What happened?"
"The Master bought a concubine back," the young maid said anxiously.
The Third Madam’s expression changed.
She stood up abruptly, "Where is the Master?!"
"The Master wants to bring the concubine through the main gate, but Chief Steward Li stopped them," the young maid replied.
The Third Master taking a concubine was enough to anger the Third Madam.
Now knowing that the Third Master wanted the concubine to enter through the main gate made her tremble with rage.
Only the legitimate wife could enter through the main gate!
Now a concubine, not even formally met, wanting to overshadow her, how could she endure?
The Third Madam immediately headed out.
She did not go straight to the front courtyard to cause a scene at the Duke Mansion’s main gate, avoiding being labeled as jealous.
Without the Old Madam’s approval, Chief Steward Li would not allow the concubine to enter through the main gate.
The Third Madam swiftly arrived at Qihao Hall.
Inside, the Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, her face slightly green.
She hadn’t expected the Third Master to be so foolish.
The Duke Mansion’s family rules were not just for show; letting a concubine into the mansion through the main gate was akin to stepping on the Third Madam’s face.
Although the Old Madam was annoyed with the Third Madam, she wouldn’t act so foolishly.
Seeing the Third Madam enter in a huff, the Old Madam said, "I won’t let him have his way."
This was the Old Madam’s promise.
The Third Madam suppressed her anger that was about to erupt, sat down to drink tea while waiting for the Third Master.
The maid hurried to the front yard and said to the Third Master, "The Old Madam does not allow concubines to enter the mansion through the main gate."
The Third Master’s face turned tense.
"I’ll enter through the back gate," the young woman said.
Her voice was so soft, it made people’s bones feel a bit weak.
The Third Master disagreed, "Go wait for me in the sedan chair."
After speaking, he strode into the mansion.
Manager Li frowned.
Had the Third Master taken the wrong medicine?
The concubine had offered to enter through the back gate, yet the Third Master insisted otherwise.
The Third Master was adamant.
He insisted that Aunt Xue should enter through the main gate of the Duke Mansion.
This was an agreement between him and Aunt Xue.
If she couldn’t enter through the main gate of the Duke Mansion, he must not touch her for two months.
The Old Madam was originally determined not to let concubines enter through the main gate, but with one sentence from the Third Master, she hesitated.
"She can cure my illness," the Third Master said.
"I have already bought the pills!" the Third Madam said displeasedly.
"Those pills may not necessarily cure my illness," the Third Master replied.
The Third Madam stood up and said, "Are you sure that concubine can cure it?!"
"I know my own body better than anyone else," the Third Master said firmly.
The Third Madam was so angry that she nearly tore the scented silk handkerchief in her hand.
The Old Madam swiftly manipulated the Buddha beads in her hand.
After a while.
She said, "Since she can treat your illness, I will make an exception and let her enter through the main gate."
"Old Madam!" the Third Madam exclaimed anxiously.
"This is the bitter fruit you’ve brewed yourself; who else should swallow it if not you?" the Old Madam said coldly.
The Third Madam’s anger brought tears to her eyes.
The Third Master turned and left.
Outside the Duke Mansion, the young woman sat inside the soft sedan chair.
The Third Master lifted the curtain and said, "Come in with me."
The young woman emerged, and the Third Master helped her up the steps and led her into the mansion.
At the moment of crossing the threshold, a faint, indecipherable glimmer flickered in the young woman’s eyes.
She hadn’t expected such a prestigious place as the Duke Mansion would allow a concubine to enter through the main gate.
Now, she found herself in a dilemma.
...
Bam!
The Third Madam smashed a teacup and then grabbed the teapot, hurling it to the ground.
The ground was a mess.
The Third Madam threw the rouge and powder from the dressing table all over the floor.
When she was about to throw the brocade box, the maid bravely stopped her, urgently saying, "Madam, this is medicine, bought for ten thousand silver, you cannot throw it."
Xie Jinxiu came forward, snatched the brocade box, and held it in her arms, "Mother, Father doesn’t need this medicine anymore, I’ll return it to Sister-in-law."
Six thousand silver coins, just thrown like that, indeed hard to bear.
Thinking of the Third Master, the Third Madam gritted her teeth in resentment towards Su Jin and the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Xie Jinxiu handed the brocade box to the maid and helped the Third Madam sit down, saying, "Mother, it’s just a concubine, why get angry? Once Father’s illness is cured, figure a way to dismiss the concubine."
Xie Jinxiu’s words seemed easy, but the Third Madam felt no comfort.
The Third Master insisted on having the concubine enter through the main gate, which showed how much he valued her.
She really made a mistake last time.
...
In the bathtub.
It was filled with fresh flowers.
The woman soaked in the bathtub, the maid ladled water to wash her snow-white skin.
Her skin, as delicate as lotus petals adorned with morning dew, shone brilliantly.
Through a screen, watching that hazy scene, the Third Master swallowed hard.
He stood up, just taking a step towards the screen, when suddenly the door was knocked.
"Master, the Old Madam wants you to go to Qihao Hall," the young maid said.
What a disappointment!
The Third Master looked displeased.
But he really didn’t dare not to go to Qihao Hall.
As soon as he left, the maid behind him said, "Mistress, what should we do now, will you really yield to him?"
The woman’s smile vanished.
Duke Zhen’s military discipline was strict, and he was known for his firm stance.
Yet, unexpectedly, the Duke Mansion respected no boundaries, catching her off guard.
Leaving now was not too late, but once gone, returning would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Thinking of the way the Third Master looked at her, a hint of disgust flashed in the woman’s eyes.
"Do I have any choice now?" she said, closing her eyes.
"But...,"
"No buts!" she shouted softly.
"Just leave me alone for a while."