Chapter 34 No Return to the Marquis's Residence

People from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence have arrived.

Madam Hou, who is also Qingling's aunt, came with her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Lu.

When she came, she brought with her homemade mugwort cakes and other gifts.

"...Your sister-in-law went for a spring outing the day before yesterday and picked the mugwort herself, one by one, and they were all still very tender. I thought you like to eat mugwort cakes, so we spent the whole afternoon making them yesterday and brought them to you today."

"This is sesame mixed with fried pork cracklings... This is a peach blossom cake. The crust is made of steamed glutinous rice and yam, and the filling is red bean paste mixed with jujube paste. The process is quite complicated. Your sister-in-law is skillful and can always make beautiful shapes. I'll send some to the Duke's mansion later."

As Madam Ma spoke, she craned her neck to look around, then turned back and said, "Your cooking skills are so-so. Back when we were in the manor, I told you to learn properly, but you wouldn't. Cooking, like embroidery, is something women need to learn carefully..."

Madam Ma talked a lot in one breath, saying that pastries were difficult to make and belittling Qingling, just like when she was still in the Marquis's mansion.

Qing Ling looked at the beautifully arranged pastries on the plate with an indifferent expression.

She doesn't like eating mugwort cakes; what she likes are mugwort cakes shaped like leaves, filled with a filling of chopped dried tofu and cured meat, wrapped in persimmon leaves, and then carried around after cooling.

Grill it over charcoal, and the crispy exterior blends with a delicate aroma, creating a unique flavor.

But for the nobles in Shengjing who were used to fine food, those were coarse foods.

When Yao Qingling was still living in the Duke's mansion, Madam Ma often found excuses to visit her.

The Grand Princess did not stop her.

Madam Ma was a snobbish and opportunistic person. She visited the Duke's mansion several times, once to arrange a marriage for her second son. With the Duke's mansion backing her up, her second son married the third daughter of the Earl of Yicheng's family.

Ma's second visit to the Duke's mansion was to seek a better future for her eldest son, hoping he could be promoted from a ninth-rank official to a sixth-rank official.

After that, she also arranged a good marriage for her niece from her own clan.

After that, Zhan Xingzhuo moved Zhou Zhining out of the Duke's mansion, and she stopped "visiting relatives" as often.

During holidays and festivals, when Yao Qingling returned to her parents' home, her aunt would openly say that she was useless, unable to hold onto a man's heart, and that she was letting him be led by the nose by other women, and that she couldn't even protect her own future.

Yao Qingling still remembered the last time she returned to the Marquis's residence, her aunt angrily scolded her: "The Marquis's residence can't rely on you!"

"Aunt, what brings you to the new residence today?" Yao Qingling interrupted Madam Ma's incessant chatter.

Seeing her cold and indifferent attitude, Ma's lips twitched; she wasn't too happy either.

But the Duke's mansion suddenly sent a maid to the mansion, saying that Yao Qingling was ill and asking them to come and visit her.

Madam Ma had heard some rumors circulating outside and understood what the old woman meant. She had come to warn Yao Qingling not to let jealousy cause the man to lose interest in her.

Ma abandoned her concerned demeanor, sat upright, and began to lecture in a serious manner.

“Qingling, as you know, your father has been gone for ten years. The glory of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion is long gone. Fortunately, our Yao family has the protection of our ancestors. Your marriage into the Duke’s mansion will allow the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion to still be respected and not be forgotten.”

"But all this is just superficial glamour. Second Master had a falling out with the Duke's Mansion, and you, his wife, didn't help him. Instead, you told him to go back to his place and even got into a fight with him."

"He pawned his jade pendant, making people laugh at him for not being able to support his wife; he even went to the government office for a maid. What wife would do such shameless things? People say you shouldn't wash your dirty linen in public, are you afraid others won't know about your family's shameful deeds?"

"The Grand Princess of Deyang isn't angry with you; it's because she's a good mother-in-law and tolerant of you. You're so lucky yet you don't know how good you have it, and you still have the nerve to put on airs..."

Ma then spoke at length, but not a single word of it was pleasant to hear.

She said she was tired, took a sip of the tea that Madam Lu handed her to moisten her throat, glanced at the meek Madam Lu, and used her eldest daughter-in-law as a positive example: "Look at your sister-in-law, how gentle and obedient she is. She serves her mother-in-law and her husband perfectly. Your eldest brother has also taken a concubine, and all of them live in peace, producing offspring for the Yao family."

“I think you should find a concubine for the Second Master. He has more things to do and won’t be able to take care of that sworn sister.”

Tao Ye wanted to roll her eyes when she heard that.

They only thought of herself, not a single thing about the young lady, and they didn't even ask about the grievances she had suffered.

They only treated the young lady as a useful tool, relying on her to obtain more benefits from the Duke's mansion.

Tao Ye recognized the mugwort cake and peach blossom cake at a glance; they were from Yong Chun Zhai, just so-so, far inferior to those from Yu Long Zhai.

And the gifts she sent were all quite ordinary; but the return gifts she took were several times more expensive, and she wouldn't even accept anything that wasn't good.

If we're talking about shamelessness, who can be more shameless than her?

Only the young lady remained untainted by the mud, and I didn't follow her example.

When Madam Ma mentioned having children, she glanced at Qingling's belly and said, "You've been married for three years and haven't given Second Master a child yet. Is there a problem? Have you seen a doctor?"

She paused for a moment, then said, "I'll mention it to the Grand Princess later and ask her to find a physician from the Imperial Hospital to examine you."

Look, the money saved has gone all the way to the Grand Princess, and she's even earned a good reputation for "caring and loving her."

Yao Qingling suddenly clutched her chest and gagged. Madam Ma's eyes widened: "Hey, isn't it already pregnant? Look at my mouth, it's been blessed—"

Before she could finish speaking, Taoye immediately interrupted, "Madam, Miss is not pregnant. She caught a cold and is feeling unwell."

Mrs. Ma looked embarrassed and disappointed: "She's not pregnant? Then we still need to see a doctor..." Her expression turned serious, "If a woman doesn't bear children, it gives her husband's family an excuse to divorce her. And if you add another jealous trait to that, isn't that—"

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that if Yao Qingling continued to cause trouble, it would only be a matter of time before Zhan Xingzhuo divorced her.

"Qingling, you absolutely must not be divorced. The Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion is counting on you. If you are divorced, the entire capital will laugh at the mansion, and even your deceased parents will be laughed at."

Yao Qingling looked at Madam Ma coldly: "What if I want to go back to the Marquis's residence?"

She didn't directly mention divorce, and Madam Ma didn't understand at first, thinking that she was just like the other young ladies, throwing a tantrum and going back to her parents' home.

Madam Ma resolutely refused to allow her to return to the Marquis's residence.

"...We don't want to offend the Duke's mansion. Besides, if you go back to the Marquis's mansion and the Second Master doesn't come to pick you up, you'll have to leave in a sorry state, and you'll lose face."

"If you leave, you might make room for someone else, so don't be foolish."

Yao Qingling looked at Madam Ma's constantly opening and closing lips, her calculating face revealing her deep scheming nature, and felt utterly exhausted.

If it weren't for the need for a place to register her household after the divorce, she really wouldn't want to return to the Marquis's mansion.

She began, "I didn't mean going back to the Marquis's residence for a short stay, I meant—"

She was about to ask for a divorce, but was interrupted.

"Oh, Second Master is back." When Madam Ma saw Zhan Xingzhuo return, her expression immediately changed. She looked at Zhan Xingzhuo with a dignified, smiling, and loving expression.

Yao Qingling: "..."

Her face paled further.

Zhan Xingzhuo has always looked down on the Hou family. Even when he argues with Yao Qingling, he still subconsciously sides with Qingling.

Upon seeing Madam Ma, he gave a curt "hmm" and greeted her.

He glanced at Qingling, then, as if struck by a thought, suddenly invited Madam Ma to stay for lunch.

Mr. Ma naturally readily agreed.

During the meal, Zhan Xingzhu casually brought up the topic of performance evaluation for officials.

Although he was a fifth-rank official, he held an important position, with great power despite his low rank. Moreover, the Minister valued him highly, and although he was only appointed as a secretary, he was already privately referred to as Vice Minister Zhan by everyone in the Ministry of Personnel.

The assessment of Yao's two sons was also conducted by the Ministry of Personnel, which was under his jurisdiction.

Ma said many good things about her son, and kicked Lu under the table. Lu then said that her husband was tired and overworked.

Yao Qingling understood perfectly. Zhan Xingzhuo was implying to her that the future of the Marquis's mansion was in his hands, and that she should obey him.

After lunch, Zhan Xingzhuo personally instructed his servants to prepare gifts, and Madam Ma left satisfied with the gifts.

Zhan Xingzhuo turned around, looked at Qing Ling, whose face was pale, and squeezed her hand: "I treated your family well, so don't be angry anymore, okay?"

He added, "Seeing that you're not feeling well, I'll take you to Yongning Temple tomorrow to pray for blessings, have a vegetarian meal, and get some fresh air."