Chapter 9: Harmony in the Family Brings Prosperity to All Matters

The Earl’s mansion carriage and guards had originally come to escort Li Xueying back to the estate, but now they departed in a grand procession, leaving Li Xueying behind at the Lu family’s doorstep. Lu Feng was overjoyed; he knew Li Xueying had been abandoned by the Earl’s mansion and could only serve as his equal wife, a realization that filled him with secret smugness.

“Xueying…”

Li Xueying’s tears fell like rain. She felt aggrieved, furious, and a faint sense of regret welled up within her. If she had listened to her mother back then and chosen a young master from a family of equal standing, how could she have suffered such humiliation?

Lu Feng truly loved her, and he wiped her tears away with a pained heart. “Xueying, I promise you, from now on there will be only you in my heart. If I fail you, may the heavens strike me down and may I die a wretched death.”

Li Xueying cried until she was exhausted, knowing the situation was beyond saving. She understood that if she continued to be willful, she would completely alienate her in-laws. Now, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and be Lu Feng’s equal wife. If she did, the Earl’s mansion might still acknowledge her, and she would still have her status; otherwise…

*An equal wife it is, then… I will endure it for a year. Xie Zhaolan, if I could kill you once, I can kill you a second time!*

Lu Feng brought Li Xueying into the main hall, where the unmarried young ladies of the Lu family were gathered. It was lively, as if they had been certain Li Xueying would return.

Zhang-shi, intent on twisting the knife, smiled and said, “Since you’ve returned, it’s time to begin the tea ceremony. The auspicious hour has already passed.”

Li Xueying had long since wiped away her tears, composing herself to offer tea to Lu Shaoqing and Lin-shi. Although Lu Shaoqing and Lin-shi were displeased, they tolerated it for the sake of her family background.

Both gave her red envelopes. Li Xueying then exchanged greetings with the other Lu ladies. Since she hadn’t expected to perform the tea ceremony, she hadn’t prepared gifts, but her maid, Chuntao, was clever and had prepared them on the fly. She gave the Lu ladies pearl flowers and hairpins, and the young masters the four treasures of the study, which was perfectly acceptable.

Except for the third young master, the Lu family was complete.

Zhang-shi also gave her a red envelope with a smile.

After the tea ceremony, Li Xueying recognized the faces of the Lu ladies and young masters one by one and prepared to leave. Su Qingwan smiled faintly. “Is Concubine Li forgetting that she needs to offer tea to the legal wife?”

Li Xueying’s body stiffened, her face burning with shame and anger. “You!”

Lu Feng, feeling sorry for Li Xueying, protectively shielded her. “What concubine? Li-shi is on equal footing with you; she is an equal wife. That is settled.”

“An equal wife is still a concubine; it’s just a nicer title. If she doesn’t respect the mistress of the house, the rites are incomplete,” Su Qingwan said calmly. “We are a family of scholars; we must uphold the proper rules.”

Lu Feng was incensed. “Xie Zhaolan, do not push your luck.”

Su Qingwan frowned. “These thousand-year-old rules were set by our ancestors. How am I the one pushing my luck? If you don’t want to follow the rules, then so be it. But if I happen to say something outside that I shouldn’t, don’t blame me.”

“Li-shi, offer the tea!” Lu Shaoqing only wanted to settle this matter as quickly as possible. Furthermore, Su Qingwan was absolutely right—rules were rules.

The Lu ladies and young masters dared not speak, all of them secretly astonished.

Their eldest sister-in-law seemed different. In their memory, she was gentle, kind, thorough in her actions, and forbearing. Because she came from a merchant background, she always yielded when faced with conflict. Even when they were disrespectful to her, she never got angry. When had they ever seen her so strong and overbearing?

Li Xueying was deeply humiliated and had no other choice. She knelt to offer the tea. Su Qingwan didn’t say anything; she drank the tea and handed her a red envelope. “From now on, serve your husband well and bear children early.”

Li Xueying’s face flushed red, then turned deathly pale. She was so dizzy with rage she nearly fainted. These were words a mistress spoke to a concubine. Li Xueying had never suffered such an insult in her life, and her eyes turned bloodshot with hatred.

Fearing she might do something rash, Lu Feng hurriedly smoothed things over. “Father, Mother, Xueying is not feeling well. I will take her to rest.”

After Lu Feng led Li Xueying away, Lu Shaoqing gave a few warnings that family scandals should not be aired in public and that no one was to speak of this outside. He gave Su Qingwan a long, deep look.

Su Qingwan played dumb and merely smiled.

The other Lu young masters left as well. Lu Shaoqing had one wife and one concubine, with whom he had his eldest son, Lu Feng, and the fourth daughter, Lu Yunxiu. Concubine Zhou had the second young master, Lu Ming, the eldest daughter, Lu Yunyan, and the second daughter, Lu Yunshu. The second branch also had one wife and one concubine; Zhang-shi had the third young master, Lu Jing, and the third daughter, Lu Yuntang.

The eldest daughter was already married, and Lu Yunshu was betrothed, with her wedding set for next year. The remaining daughters were of marriageable age.

“Sister-in-law, the younger sister-in-law is willing to be your equal, yet you are still being aggressive, calling her a concubine at every turn and forcing her to offer tea. You’ve caused such a scene early in the morning; you really don’t know how to conduct yourself with propriety.”

The speaker was Lu Yunxiu, dressed in a pale green silk dress with a magnificent, swaying hairpin in her hair, looking bright and moving.

Su Qingwan looked at the hairpin on her head with interest. Compared to the simple and plain attire of the other young ladies, she was dressed quite lavishly.

“Fourth Sister, what should I do to be considered as having propriety?”

“The younger sister-in-law is a legitimate daughter of the Li family, a person of high status. If not for a twist of fate, how could she have married into our family? You and she are like clouds and mud; you should have been respectful to her from the start. And you dared to ask her to offer tea? Hmph! Overestimating yourself.”

Su Qingwan’s expression darkened. To be so unrestrained in front of everyone—it seemed she was usually extremely arrogant and rude to her sister-in-law.

“You seem to like her quite a bit, and admire her?”

“Of course. The younger sister-in-law is not only beautiful but also talented. Which noble lady in the capital doesn’t admire her?”

Su Qingwan mocked, “Admiration is one thing, but don’t learn her ways—getting pregnant before marriage. There aren’t many noble ladies in the capital who would do such a thing.”

Lu Yunxiu’s expression stiffened. “You…”

Zhang-shi raised an eyebrow slightly. Zhaolan’s temperament had indeed changed. The fourth daughter looked down on her background and often bossed her around; Xie Zhaolan had never lost her temper and had always been submissive. Now, both her gentleness and kindness were gone.

That was quite good, actually!

“Enough!” Lin-shi said unhappily. “Everyone keep your mouths shut about what happened today. Family scandals must not be spread; keep it all buried in your stomachs.”

The Lu ladies tremblingly replied in the affirmative. Lu Yunxiu glared fiercely at Su Qingwan.

Su Qingwan’s expression remained indifferent.

Lin-shi said, “Zhaolan, you come from a merchant background, and you are indeed like clouds and mud compared to Xueying. In the future, be respectful and polite to her. The Earl’s mansion is not someone we can afford to offend. Serve Feng-ge well and help the Lu family flourish early. Do not waste your energy on jealousy.”

“Mother, rest assured. Harmony in the family brings prosperity; Zhaolan understands.” Su Qingwan replied in a flat, indifferent tone.

(End of chapter)