Chapter 111 Difficult Childbirth
"Sigh, I heard it's due to a lack of personal morality. We don't know the specifics, but it's definitely not something good."
The chatter of the common people easily reached the sedan chair.
Bihui was somewhat smug:
“Young lady, look, those people have finally seen and heard clearly and know who the real good people are.”
"It's just following the crowd; the common people don't care who is a talented woman or who is a villain."
Bi Sui nodded, finding it reasonable, but then smiled and said, "But I was still very happy to hear them say those things!"
Xiao Yuxuan couldn't help but laugh as well.
"This Fifth Miss Xiao is truly beautiful. I wonder how she compares to Fourth Miss Xiao? I haven't seen her yet!"
The onlookers then began a heated discussion about the appearances of the two young ladies from the Xiao family.
Xiao Yuxuan, who was already drifting further and further away, did not hear any of this.
"What's this?"
The golden flowers, adorning Xiao Yuxuan's elegantly dressed hair, were quite eye-catching, and Madam Xiao immediately noticed their awkwardness.
"The Princess and the teachers have shown their favor and decided to allow Yuxuan to graduate from Yuxiu Academy, and have specially awarded her the hairpin flower."
Xiao Yuxuan gently touched the flowers, displaying a calm demeanor, unmoved by external gains or losses.
She did not regret not being able to study at the girls' school in the capital, nor was she complacent about being allowed to graduate after only one month of study.
But it was precisely this nonchalant attitude that aroused some dissatisfaction in Madam Xiao's heart.
"Heh, no wonder you caught the princess's eye. You managed to graduate even after dropping out halfway through your studies. Yuyao studied longer than you and was better than you, but... sigh, that's just everyone's fate!"
She sighed helplessly.
Bi Sui glanced at her young mistress, couldn't help but take half a step forward, kneel down, and explain:
"Madam, you are wise. The young lady graduated with excellent grades in all five subjects: etiquette, music, archery, calligraphy, and mathematics. That is why the Princess and the teachers made an exception to allow her to graduate. It was not just because of the Princess's favor."
Madam Xiao's regretful expression froze. She looked at Bi Sui, her eyes revealing a hint of inexplicable annoyance.
"How dare you interrupt when your master is speaking? You ill-mannered girl! Fifty slaps!"
"Mother!"
"lady!"
Xiao Yuxuan and Li's mother spoke at the same time.
"Mother must be unwell, which is why she is so upset. In that case, Yuxuan will not disturb her rest any longer and will go back to pack her things."
She glanced one last time at Madam Xiao, who sat calmly in the hall, her eyes filled with undisguised disappointment.
After Xiao Yuxuan finished speaking, she forcefully took Bihui away, and the punishment of fifty slaps was naturally dropped.
Madam Xiao slammed her hand on the table, her chest aching with anger.
"Fine, fine, they've all learned to defy me! I thought she'd learned her lesson, but it turns out she's just changing her methods to annoy me!"
Li's mother sighed softly, but before she could utter any words of comfort, she heard Madam Xiao say angrily:
"Look at her like that! She's just a personal maid, can't I punish her?! As the mistress of the Xiao family, can't I discipline a maidservant who serves my daughter!"
Finally, Li's mother couldn't hold back any longer and said:
“Madam, Fifth Miss is still young. She gained the approval of the Princess and the teachers of the girls’ school. The first thing she did after wearing the gold flower was to come and pay her respects to you. Wasn’t she hoping to get your approval and reward? But who knew that you would criticize her and sigh and feel sorry for Fourth Miss? Of course, Fifth Miss feels wronged!”
"This old servant saw it all clearly. If you hadn't been going to punish Bihui, Fifth Miss probably wouldn't have thrown such a tantrum!"
After Li's mother finished speaking, Madam Xiao's anger dissipated.
At that moment, she felt both bitter and aching.
Yes, what happened to her just now? Was she bewitched?
How could you say such a thing?
"I... I wasn't in such a hurry, Yuyao..."
"lady!"
Li's mother was quite disappointed in her daughter. Even now, doesn't the lady understand?
The fourth daughter is no longer of any use.
Where in the capital can a girl who has been expelled from the girls' school find a good marriage? Unless she marries far away and then sees how her future husband fares, the fourth daughter's future is definitely not as bright as that of the fifth daughter, who is the legitimate daughter.
How could you not understand such a simple truth, Madam?
"I just feel so sorry for Yuyao..."
As Madam Xiao spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.
Seeing Madam Xiao's appearance, Li Mama thought of what Mu Jin had told her and almost blurted it out impulsively.
But she bit her tongue tightly, not daring to relax for a moment.
Not yet.
Since Madam's health is so poor, we absolutely must not say anything like that to upset her.
What the lady needs now is no longer her husband's lifelong, exclusive love; what she needs is peace and tranquility in the home and successful children.
What do I care about concubines, mistresses, or illegitimate children? Even if they were, she could make them disappear without a trace.
After Madam Xiao had gone to bed, Li Mama steeled herself and finally instructed her maid to go to Elm Lane.
The mistress named Yan Niang is already eight months pregnant, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she could give birth at any time in the next month or so.
The Xiao family has no shortage of children, and there are plenty of people to inherit the family business that Minister Xiao built up.
The three young masters and two young ladies, while not necessarily outstanding individuals, are certainly far superior to the young masters and ladies of other prestigious families.
As for those alluring mistresses, they're fine as playthings, but if they dare to have children and affect the status of the madam and the young masters and ladies, Madam Li will be the first to object!
That night, a house in Lane 22 of Elm Tree Lane was brightly lit. Two maids and servants went in and out, carrying basins of horrifying bloody water, their expressions anxious.
They have urgently contacted several doctors in the neighborhood who specialize in difficult gynecological cases to come to the home. The family is experiencing a difficult childbirth and postpartum hemorrhage, and it looks like both mother and child are about to die.
Why hasn't the master returned yet?
Madam Xiao looked at the table full of food, her eyes straining towards the door, and then she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Today, Xiao Su sent word that he would be home for dinner, so she had a table full of delicious dishes prepared.
But it was already completely dark, and Xiao Su hadn't returned, nor had any news come from the front.
Standing beside her, Li's mother quietly poured her a cup of herbal tea.
"Madam, why don't you have your meal first? Judging from the situation, the master might have been urgently summoned to the palace by the Emperor. If we wait any longer, the food will get cold."
"Even so, there shouldn't be a single message coming back... Could something have happened?"
Li's mother remained unmoved by the eight winds:
"What could be wrong? Those court affairs are the most troublesome. Madam, don't worry about it. I'll go and ask about it myself later. Madam, please have your meal."
Madam Xiao felt uneasy and resentful, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.
However, she knew that worrying wouldn't help, so she listened to Li's mother's advice and started eating.
"Oh well……"
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