Taking another concubine?
Upon hearing this, Qiao'er, one of Qin Sheng's two maids, almost couldn't help but speak up, but luckily Emerald secretly pinched her arm.
"Taking a concubine?" Qin Sheng was also somewhat surprised, and she subconsciously looked at Yin Wenxiao.
He appeared perfectly calm, as if he already knew beforehand. It turned out that the three of them, mother and son (or daughter), had discussed it together and were simply informing her.
Xuemei asked, "I wonder if the old lady has someone she has in mind?"
Madam Yin said, "Shi Mama's niece Yu Rou has been serving me for quite some time now, and I think she's a very good girl."
Qin Sheng felt a chill run down her spine.
Whether in her past life or this one, she knew that Yu Rou was unwilling to become Yin Wenxiao's concubine.
Qin Sheng wanted to change her tragic fate in her previous life, but... is it still impossible to change it?
Seeing Qin Sheng's unpleasant expression, Yin Wenxuan assumed she was displeased and immediately asked, "What's wrong? Does your sister-in-law not want to?"
"For a man, having multiple wives and concubines is a matter of course. Sister-in-law, you should be more magnanimous."
Qin Sheng glanced over indifferently: "You're quite generous, auntie. Why don't you arrange a few concubines for your son-in-law?"
In her previous life, Yin Wenxuan, because her husband entered the Ministry of Revenue, made friends with noble ladies in the capital and frequently visited various mansions.
But with so much interaction, some secrets inevitably come to light.
For example, when he was in office, his son-in-law Zhang Jin had a concubine, but later his wife accused her of some crime and beat her to death.
Qin Sheng heard all of this during a small gathering with several close female friends. They spoke of it in great detail, but it was unclear whether it was true or false.
"What do you mean by that?" Yin Wenxuan was displeased, but Old Madam Yin held her wrist down. "Alright, just say less."
She then turned to Qin Sheng and asked, "You've met Yu Rou quite a few times, what do you think of her?"
What else could she possibly think?
Qin Sheng said, "Since you have already discussed it with the Earl, of course I have no objection."
“However—” Qin Sheng pursed his lips, “Given past experience, we still need to properly ask Yu Rou what she thinks. If she’s willing, that’s great; if not…”
“Why wouldn’t she agree?” Yin Wenxuan sneered. “Which of the maids in this mansion wouldn’t want to be Wenxiao’s concubine? But if you think Yu Rou is unsuitable, I think the two maids beside you are quite suitable.”
Both Jade and Qiao'er were taken aback.
To make them the Earl's concubines?
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Old Madam Yin glared at her daughter. "This is at least for your brother to take a concubine, why are you making such a fuss?"
They didn't give her any face at all.
Yin Wenxuan didn't necessarily want to interfere in her brother's room affairs; she was just annoyed that Qin Sheng had refused to help Zijin become an apprentice, and she wanted to take the opportunity to make things difficult for her.
Madam Yin then looked at Qin Sheng: "What do you think?"
Qin Sheng said, "I think that since the purpose of taking a concubine is to clear the Lord’s name of 'stealing other men’s wives,' the most important thing about this concubine is that she is willing and cannot be someone from our household."
"..."
After hearing what she said, Madam Yin actually found it to make a lot of sense.
"But where can we find a suitable girl who is also willing to be Wenxiao's concubine in such a short time?"
Yin Wenxuan's eyes darted around as she picked up her teacup and drank.
Xuemei observed the lady and her aunt discreetly. She was quick-witted and soon understood what was going on.
What the lady said makes a lot of sense.
But to say these things in front of the aunt is to openly... give the aunt the opportunity to plant people in the Yin family.
really.
A few days after that day, the old lady had someone summon Qin Sheng over, saying that her aunt had found a girl outside. She was a bit older, but her family background was decent. Because her parents had passed away, she had been ostracized and bullied by the people in the clan. After hearing what her aunt had said, she was very willing to come to the Yin family as a concubine.
When Qin Sheng asked about the girl's background, Madam Yin said she was a cousin from her son-in-law's maternal grandfather's side, and was nineteen years old this year.
Xuemei found out too.
She came to Qin Sheng to sound him out.
"That's strange indeed. This is the first time I've ever seen a sister put people in her brother's courtyard."
Qin Sheng said calmly, "What's so strange about that?"
Madam's attitude towards both her and the one at Mingyuexuan has always been cold and indifferent, and Xuemei has long been used to it.
Xuemei always had a feeling that the lady seemed indifferent to the matter of the Earl.
She seemed completely indifferent to how many concubines the Earl took or who they were.
Xuemei said awkwardly, "But Madam, you've only been married for less than a year, and the Earl has already taken three concubines. If a new concubine comes in, then—"
Are you afraid that if your new concubine has a child, she'll take away some of your child's affection?
"..."
Xuemei chuckled awkwardly, "That's not what I meant. I just felt that you, Madam, have had it tough too..."
Although she hadn't been in the household for long, she was different from Ye Jiaoniang. If she had to choose a patron besides the Earl, Xuemei would choose the Madam.
only……
The lady didn't seem very keen on being her backer.
Moreover, Xue Mei also noticed that the lady was very cold to everyone in the mansion.
...
The news that the household was going to have a new concubine spread quickly, but at this moment, news came from Qin Sheng's family that Madam Qin was ill.
Madam Qin had been suffering from headaches for some time. In previous years, she could manage by taking medicine early on, but this year, for some reason, her headaches flared up as soon as the weather started to get cold.
The weather has been gloomy for the past few days, and even the most skilled doctor in the capital couldn't cure Madam Qin's illness at the Qin residence.
Qin Sheng heard that two imperial physicians from the palace had also gone, but he didn't know the specifics of their situation.
She had someone write a letter and send it to the Qin family, but perhaps because her mother was ill and her father and elder brother were too busy, she waited for two days without receiving a reply.
Qin Sheng couldn't wait any longer, so he sent someone to inform Songliu Courtyard before returning to the Qin residence with Qiao'er and Emerald.
When Madam Yin heard that Madam Qin was ill and that Qin Sheng wanted to go back to visit her, she subconsciously asked Granny Shi, "Where is Wenxiao?"
Granny Shi had no idea. She only said, "He probably went out. I heard that the young master has been visiting the young master's place these past two days."
Madam Yin immediately frowned. "Go and have someone call him back right away. Tell him that his mother-in-law is sick and Qin Sheng has gone back to her parents' home to visit her. Tell him to go there as soon as possible."
This is a golden opportunity to shine, so Wenxiao must seize it!
"This old servant will go right away!" Granny Shi knew the seriousness of the matter and immediately got up and went out.
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