Chapter 11: Rules

When the people emerged from the side chamber, both the First Madam and the Second Madam looked expectantly at the Prefect’s wife. The Second Madam, Tao-shi, was not well-rested, and she glared fiercely at Su Yunxi right to her face. The Prefect’s wife frowned inwardly, feeling quite displeased.

The First Madam, Yuan-shi, stepped forward. "Madam, has the matter been clarified?"

The Prefect’s wife sneered. "Naturally, it is clear. I have finished paying my respects. I wonder if the Old Madam of the house is free at the moment; I would like to pay her a visit."

The Education Commissioner’s wife echoed the sentiment from the side.

The First Madam, Yuan-shi, looked troubled. "This... this... the Old Madam has been feeling a bit unwell these past few days."

"In that case, we should visit her all the more. Lead the way, First Madam Su." The Prefect’s wife was not being polite at all.

The First Madam, Yuan-shi, was in agony, but she dared not defy the Prefect’s wife. As the saying goes, a local official is no match for the one currently in charge; she still had to give the Prefect’s wife face. With no other choice, she could only lead the way. The Second Madam, Tao-shi, did not follow. As soon as the two ladies left, Tao-shi began to berate Su Yunxi.

"Fourth girl, what are you trying to do? You’ve thrown away the Su family’s reputation; what good does that do you? If the Old Madam blames us, can you afford to take the fall? Besides, this matter was agreed upon by the Old Madam. If not for that, we wouldn't have had the guts to do it this way."

Su Yunxi glanced coldly at the Second Madam, Tao-shi. "Why is Second Aunt telling me all this? I am just a young girl; my knowledge is limited. I only know that my mother worked hard her entire life and lived in luxury her entire life. There is no reason for her to leave so shabbily at the end, unable to even afford two decent coffins. If Second Aunt has time to tell me these things, you might as well go tell the Prefect’s wife. See what the Prefect’s wife has to say about it."

"Fourth girl, you are going too far. Do you have any sense of propriety left? How is this shabby? How is this not presentable? You are simply being insolent!" Tao-shi became agitated.

Su Yunxi gave a cold laugh. "Second Aunt has such great authority, making such a scene at the entrance of my mother’s mourning hall. Fine, why don't you go tell my mother? Say these words again to her face and see if my mother agrees or not."

As soon as she finished speaking, a gust of wind blew by. Tao-shi shivered all over, goosebumps rising on her skin. Suddenly, her heart felt hollow; could it really be that Madam Wei’s spirit had manifested? Tao-shi was flustered and, for a moment, lost her composure.

Su Yunxi pressed on, step by step. "Second Aunt, go inside and tell my mother, so that everyone knows the Su family is only willing to spend three thousand taels of silver for the Third Madam’s funeral."

"Enough! I will not lower myself to your level, you little girl." Tao-shi hurriedly pushed Su Yunxi aside and ran off in a rush. It was the very picture of a guilty conscience.

Su Yunxi scoffed repeatedly. They dared to talk about the Su family’s reputation? The Su family didn't even want their own reputation, nor were they willing to give her mother any face, so why should she care about the Su family’s reputation? Since they wouldn't give face, then nobody would have any. Su Yunxi returned to the mourning hall and continued to kneel.

Young Master Yuan’s little face was pale; in such a short time, he had lost a circle of weight. "Fourth Sister, are they bullying Mother?"

Su Yunxi nodded and said, "Yes, they are all bullying Mother. But those two ladies are very kind; they came to help us."

"They are all bad people. I don't like them."

Su Yunxi said expressionlessly, "Fine, if you don't like them, then you don't like them."

Concubine Wen, who was kneeling behind Su Yunxi, had finally grasped the whole situation. She said with some worry, "Young Miss is too impulsive. Mother has only just passed, and you have already offended the First Madam, the Second Madam, and even the Old Madam. How will things go on like this?"

Su Yunxi looked back at her. "Shut up. I don't need a concubine to teach me how to do things. If you have the ability, Concubine, then please find a way to make up for the deficit in my mother’s funeral expenses, how about that?"

"You... I... Young Miss, that is too much."

Su Yunxi continued, "Is the Concubine trying to lecture me in front of my mother? Or is it that now that Mother is gone, you are impatient to take her place and become the mistress of the Third Branch?"

"Young Miss, you are wronging me." Concubine Wen hurriedly denied it, though she might not have been without such thoughts in her heart.

Su Yunxi sneered. "I advise you to give up those unrealistic thoughts early. For someone of your background to want to be a high-ranking official's wife, you might as well hope to be reborn into a better family in your next life. Don't go throwing away the Su family’s reputation; I fear Father would be furious. Since when is the wife of a Su official a former maid? It would be truly shameful to say it out loud. Concubine, am I right?"

Concubine Wen’s face turned deathly pale; these words had almost trampled her into the dirt. Concubine Xia kept her head down, secretly smiling. Being able to see Concubine Wen make a fool of herself was a good thing.

Feeling someone glaring at her, Su Yunxi looked over. It was indeed the Eighth Young Master, Su Mutai, born to Concubine Wen. Su Yunxi sneered. "Eighth Brother, what is with that look? Are you going to beat me up to vent for Concubine Wen?"

Concubine Wen hurriedly pulled Su Mutai back. "Tai-ge, you must not be foolish."

Su Mutai continued to stare fixedly at Su Yunxi. Su Yunxi held her head high. "Tai-ge has also studied for a few years; I should think you understand some principles. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate cannot be challenged; a concubine-born child is a concubine-born child, and a concubine is a concubine. This principle holds true anywhere, in any family. The Su family is, at the very least, a prominent local family in Suzhou. If we don't even have these basic rules, why should the Su family be respected? Why would the Prefect be willing to speak with the Su family? Why would the Su family have a foothold in this world? It is precisely because of these universal rules. If you want your mother to be well, and if you want to have a future yourself, you must abide by these rules. Only then will others give you a shred of respect and secretly praise the Eighth Young Master of the Su family as someone who understands rules and etiquette. Having such a reputation is far more useful than glaring at me with wide eyes. If you are smart enough, you should understand the intention behind my words. If you don't understand, hmph, then you are just mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall."

Concubine Wen hugged Su Mutai. "I beg you, Young Miss, say no more. It is all this servant's fault; whatever you have, just take it out on me."

Su Yunxi ignored Concubine Wen and continued to stare at Su Mutai. Su Mutai had already lowered his head, his expression unreadable. However, it seemed he had taken some of it to heart.

Concubine Xia seized the opportunity to show her worth and pinched her daughter, Su Muwan. "Fifth girl, did you hear that? Everything your Fourth Sister just said is a golden rule. To have a foothold in this world, one must abide by the rules." After saying this, she glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Concubine Wen.

Concubine Wen was so angry her face turned white.

Su Muwan rubbed her pinched arm, it hurt like crazy. She nodded and replied in a low voice, "Concubine, I know. I will abide by the rules. I don't have Eighth Brother’s courage."

"It is good that you know." Concubine Xia hurriedly said to Su Yunxi, "Fourth Young Miss, look at how sensible Muwan is. In the future, if you have anything to do, you can leave it to Muwan. This servant believes she will definitely do it well."

Su Yunxi nodded slightly. "I understand your good intentions, Concubine Xia."

Without a clear answer, Concubine Xia was a bit disappointed, but it was a good start nonetheless.