The master and maid looked at each other, both seeing confusion in each other’s eyes.
Yuewan said cluelessly, "Won’t the lady have to introduce Zhou Gu to our residence according to custom? Even if he doesn’t enter your courtyard, he should be introduced to which courtyard is yours, right?"
"That’s easy, just have someone point out a random courtyard to him and tell him it’s mine." Su Rong ordered Yuewan, "Go tell my mother, tell her to stop tidying up, I won’t be moving in."
In reality, she had once burned down her mother’s Nuanxiang Pavilion. The Madam was so furious that she moved her into a small courtyard. Not long after, maybe a month or so, the Madam allocated another courtyard for her. Afraid of being constantly under the Madam’s scrutiny, she never moved in. This enraged the Madam, who decided to leave her be.
Yuewan said in a soft voice, "Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?"
"Just tell my mother, the attitude of the Duke Residence is the Duke Residence’s business. We don’t know what Zhou Gu’s attitude is yet, so there’s no need to make such a fuss. Besides, what if Zhou Gu doesn’t like me? Our family doesn’t steal or rob, and my father isn’t corrupt, so there’s no need for us to go out of our way to please Zhou Gu, right?"
Yuewan thought that her young mistress was very reasonable and went on her way to deliver the message.
Upon hearing the message, the Madam was once again infuriated. She came to find Su Rong in person, and scolded her upon sight, "I didn’t interfere with your affairs before because I didn’t expect you to truly be able to marry into the Duke Residence. But now, the Duke Residence is very serious about this marriage, you must take it seriously as well. What attitude Zhou Gu has doesn’t affect how you should behave properly first."
Knowing that the servants wouldn’t dare to forcefully move Su Rong, the Madam decided to do it herself. She caught Su Rong by her wrist, her grip firm, and dragged her along. "Starting from today, you’ll live in my west-wing courtyard, you’re going to live there and learn from me about manners and house management. Even if it’s just pretense, I want you to act the part. Otherwise, I might as well drop dead."
Su Rong was taken aback by the seriousness of the Madam’s words. "Mother... Mother, are you threatening me with your own life? That’s...not okay, is it?"
"I’m serious. If you don’t listen to me, you’ll see if I dare to die or not." The Madam steeled herself, "Having tolerated all these years of your eccentricities because you called me ’mother’, isn’t it enough?"
Su Rong felt that it had indeed been more than enough. She quickly lost her temper, "Oh, you are truly a good mother."
The Madam huffed coldly, "Quit your sarcasm."
Su Rong countered, "I only spoke the truth."
Who else could be as great a mother as the Madam? Su Rong wondered in what past life her father had done good deeds to be able to marry the Madam. Without speaking of anything else, just the fact that all the concubines and their daughters in the residence were provided for and living comfortably, one could tell it was all due to her efforts.
Oh, such a virtuous mother made her feel embarrassed as a daughter. There was no way she could be as kind and forgiving. She was just a person who was bad to the core; it’s not that her mother hadn’t taught her well.
She followed her mother towards her courtyard, softly asking, "Mother, I never asked you, but did you have a special someone before you married father?"
The Madam paused, "What are you babbling about?"
"Ah, if you didn’t have a special someone, how did you let father bring woman after woman into our home? What’s more, you are so kind to his concubines and daughters." Su Rong was unable to understand, "I’ve watched you for so many years and haven’t been influenced at all. I heard that Zhou Gu was fighting over a woman with someone. I initially thought that the Duke Residence would undoubtedly break off the engagement, but I guessed wrong. However, even if his family doesn’t break off the engagement, I want to."
"Have you lost your mind?" The Madam stopped in her tracks, glaring at her, "It’s quite normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. Why should women make things hard for other women? Once they enter this door, they are family. If I can’t control your father, I shouldn’t take it out on others, right?"
"So, before marrying my father, did you or did you not have a lover?" Su Rong persistently asked.
The Madam was silent for a while, continuing to lead Su Rong towards their destination. After what felt like an eternity, the Madam finally answered just as Su Rong was starting to think she wouldn’t, "Yes."
Su Rong was enlightened. No wonder, which woman would ever be accepting to that extent, unless she didn’t love that man.
Immediately intrigued, she asked, "What about your heartthrob? Why did you marry my father?"
"He’s dead."
Unable to figure out whether the Madam was speaking the truth or not, Su Rong just went ahead and asked, "Are you serious or just saying?"
"I’m serious." The Madam paused for a moment before sighing, "He died after he broke off our engagement, on the way to marry the woman he was smitten with. He drowned trying to save a child who fell into the water. The child was saved, but he didn’t make it."
Su Rong was speechless.
"So, Su Rong, let me tell you, all these attachments and affections in the world, are they really that important? Staying alive is what’s truly important. Living well without being wronged is what’s truly important. Your father may be a lecher, but he provided me with a worry-free life and respect. In Jiangning, there was nobody more important than me. I was free to do as I pleased. Except for you, of course, there was nobody I feared. What could I possibly be unsatisfied with? It was much better than being engaged to a man since childhood, looking forward to marrying him and then suddenly finding out that he viewed me as a sister and loved another woman. He asked for my blessing to marry that woman. My heart was nearly shattered. I cried while giving him my blessing. But before my tears could dry, I heard that he had passed away. I couldn’t recover for an entire year. Then, one day, I heard that the woman he wanted to marry had married. It was a grand wedding with the bride’s makeup spanning ten miles. I thought that if she could marry and live happily, then why couldn’t I, as a woman who was rejected? So, I chose someone for myself as well, your father."
Su Rong was speechless.
"The old Duke placed great importance on this marriage. He was sincere about it and even waited for you to come of age. I don’t know how your mother arranged this marriage for you with the Duke Residence, but Su Rong, this was your mother’s last wish before her death. You must take it seriously. This was the best future and plan she was able to provide as your mother. Your father and I could not have arranged such a good marriage for you. You must pay attention to it."
Su Rong was a person who responded better to persuasion than pressure. She really disliked when people talked to her in this way. Instantly softened, she said, "Ugh, mother, this is really making me uncomfortable."
The Madam snorted with a mix of anger and amusement, "How about if I say it like this: our family has been stuck in Jiangning for more than a decade because your father failed his annual assessments. He couldn’t get promoted or go to the Capital City. We’re counting on you to marry into a higher class, so that you can lead the rise of our household. Also for your elder brother, when he one day enters the court, you are his support. Do you know that a marriage can change a family’s status?"
Su Rong was indeed more receptive to this, "I know, I know. Okay, okay, I will definitely hold onto the Duke Residence so that our family’s wealth and prosperity could reach the skies. Is that okay now?"
"Good. You should have this kind of determination," the Madam was satisfied, "It doesn’t matter if you’re still disoriented right now. I will supervise you and remind you every day."
Su Rong was silent.
Oh God, she’s doomed!
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