Chapter 116 Reply
However, Madam Xiao, who was usually gentle and kind, completely changed her demeanor at this moment.
Her lips were pursed, and the mockery on her face deeply stung Xiao Su.
"Without my permission, she will remain a mistress forever, a mistress who cannot be seen in the light of day. If you still want to give her a proper status, think it over and talk to me properly."
Her back was so straight, as if she was using all her strength to refuse to be inferior to anyone, and her proud gaze made Xiao Su feel as if he had returned to more than twenty years ago.
Lin Hui, who was known as the most beautiful woman in the capital, was willing to marry him, a scholar with an uncertain future. He was deeply moved and promised to treat her well for the rest of his life and never take a concubine.
But just a few years later, Yan Niang secretly approached him, complained to him, and hoped that he could take her in for a while.
Originally, their relationship was based on affection but remained within the bounds of propriety, but that night... in the end, he was the one who wronged Lin Hui, and he and Yan Niang had Yu Yao.
Yan Niang avoided him for almost eight months afterward, and only then did he finally realize something was wrong.
After finally finding her, they discovered that Yan Niang was cutting her wrists, claiming that she was sorry to him and Lin Hui and was preparing to die along with her unborn child.
He hurriedly rescued Yan Niang, who cried her heart out in his arms, saying that they would never see each other again, but how could he bear to let his woman and child die like this?
At that time, Lin Yuefu was still alive, and his two sons with Lin Hui were still young. He could not risk turning against the Lin family by bringing Yan Niang into the mansion, so he had no choice but to rent another house in the suburbs of Beijing for Yan Niang to live in.
In order to appease Yan Niang and prevent her from taking her own life, he gritted his teeth and agreed to switch Yu Yao and Yu Xuan.
However, something unexpected happened with the midwife. Instead of being sent to Yan Niang, Yu Xuan was sold to someone else because of Yan Niang's greed.
Xiao Su was both shocked and furious, but seeing Yan Niang's guilt and Yu Yao's lovely appearance, he knew that making a big fuss about finding her would only escalate the situation and make things difficult to handle. So he could only pretend that he didn't have a daughter named Yu Xuan and focus on treating Yu Yao well.
Who would have thought that Yu Xuan would be found, and that she was in the home of an ordinary family in the capital, right under their noses.
He shifted all the blame onto the midwife from back then, absolving himself of any responsibility, and Lin Hui didn't notice anything amiss.
Now that things have come to this, it's all a result of unforeseen circumstances. He can't defend himself, but admitting everything is ultimately a bad idea. He needs some time to think things through.
"Fine, we've been married for over twenty years, and I don't want to cause chaos at home. Since you insist on not agreeing, I won't force you."
Xiao Su's back slumped slightly, and his gaze toward Lin Hui seemed filled with utter disappointment.
Even though she knew he was just putting on an act, Lin Hui still felt a pang of anxiety.
Is it really worth it for Xiao Su to treat a mistress like this?
Did he think that as long as he looked at her with that seemingly compromising but actually blaming gaze, she would back down and let that woman into the house?
Lin Hui felt a tightness in her chest from her own speculation, but she didn't want to show weakness in front of Xiao Su, so she still sneered:
"Whatever you say, sir. I'm tired. Would you like to sleep in the study or in Elm Lane tonight? Please make your choice."
"Mama Li, come and see the master out."
Li's mother, standing outside the door, almost thought she had misheard.
Why did the master and mistress argue for so long but still end up parting on bad terms?
She didn't dare to delay and quickly went inside, looking at Xiao Su with some difficulty.
"Very well, Madam, remember what you said today."
Before leaving, Xiao Su uttered a harsh remark, but Madam Xiao remained seated as if she hadn't heard it.
Xiao Su flicked his sleeve and stormed off in a huff.
Standing beside Madam Xiao, Li's mother sighed:
"Madam, why are you going to such lengths? It's just a trinket... Since Master is reluctant to part with it, you must at least pretend to be magnanimous."
"If we take a step back today, we'll take a giant step back in the future. I never thought that after so many years of sharing a bed with him, at his advanced age, he would still cause such a mess. It's truly a joke."
Madam Xiao made a few self-deprecating remarks, then, as if remembering something, turned her head and whispered instructions to Mama Li:
"Go outside and find a female doctor, someone with a trustworthy reputation, and don't tell anyone."
Mrs. Li was taken aback, but immediately agreed and went out to handle the matter herself.
Butler Xiao waited at the door for a long time, but only saw Li Mama being called in. Inside, the two masters had a disagreement, and the master even stormed off.
He hesitated for a long time, but finally took the letter and went to the master's study.
"Sir, this is a letter from the old lady in Jiangnan. Would you like to take a look at it now?"
He tentatively handed over half of the letter, and Xiao Su, who was reading official documents, frowned, looked up, and took it with some impatience.
When she was young, Madam Xiao was a famous woman in Jiangnan. Although Master Xiao was poor, his household was lively. At its peak, he had dozens of concubines and children.
Madam Xiao fought with them for most of her life, and it wasn't until after Old Master Xiao passed away that she finally managed to get rid of all the concubines and illegitimate children.
But perhaps because he had lost his will to live, his energy was not as good as before.
In the past, he was still quite healthy and clear-headed, with several close grandsons in the capital and Xiao Yuyao taking care of him. However, after returning to his old house in Jiangnan, he gradually became confused.
Old Madam Xiao's memory had been somewhat impaired since the beginning of the year; sometimes she couldn't even recognize the maids around her, and her replies to Xiao Su's letters were often nonsensical.
But the old lady was very stubborn and refused to admit that she was senile. She refused to let the maid write for her and insisted on writing the letter to her son herself.
Xiao Su worked quickly, unfolding the letter. He thought he would see another incomprehensible letter, but to his surprise, the handwriting was clean and clear, just like the handwriting of Old Madam Xiao a few years ago.
He read a few more lines, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
Butler Xiao saw this and secretly thought to himself that things were not going well.
Is Madam Xiao sending some kind of strange talisman again, just like before?
"Nonsense! Even if the two children are adopted siblings, with so many years of sibling affection between them, how can they get married!"
Xiao Su slammed the letter onto the table, causing the pen holder on the long table to shake.
My mother is really getting old; how could she come up with such an idea?
There is absolutely no way Yuyao will marry Xiao Jue!
However, there is another thing my mother mentioned that I can consider.
Madam Xiao wanted Xiao Yuxuan to return to her hometown in Jiangnan.
The two matters reached Madam Xiao's ears in no time.
"You mean the master doesn't agree to let Yuyao and Juege get married?"
Madam Xiao's chest pounded, as if she had missed some information.
"Exactly."
Butler Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Hmph, Jue-ge'er endured so many beatings from him just to marry Yu-yao, and now he's been impeached and demoted by the Dai family. Yet his father just disagrees with him and sits back and does nothing."
"In my opinion, Yuyao and Juege should get married. The two children have grown up together since they were little. They were siblings before, and they will be husband and wife in the future. What's wrong with that?"
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