"Mother, I have something I would like to discuss with you."
Qi Jingxuan swaggered up to Old Madam Qi. Since borrowing Qi Jingxuan's body, Ruan Yumu felt very happy.
"What is it? My son, please speak freely."
"Today we will be going to the Duke of Jing's mansion to propose marriage. To avoid gossip, Madam Qi in the back courtyard will be a concubine from now on. We should also not let people think that our Qi family treats people harshly, so as not to give people any reason to talk. After all, it is easier for us to control her if she is in the mansion."
“My son has grown up now and is thinking about things for the sake of the Qi family. Come, take a look at the gift list I prepared. Do you think there is anything we can add?”
"Let me see, the betrothal gift is five thousand taels of silver, two loads of betrothal cakes, seafood, coconuts, wine, tea, sesame, incense, gold bracelets... Mother, how about adding some more shops, making it twelve? The twelve-item betrothal gift list is complete, it seems Mother has put in a lot of effort."
Back when Qi Jingxuan married Ruan Yumu, he had nothing but a red sedan chair that carried him into the house. He was only allowed to enter through the main gate because Ruan Yumu's father had served Old Master Qi for many years.
Qi Jingxuan couldn't help but laugh at himself.
“My son, you have been fighting on the frontier for many years and do not know the daily necessities of life at home. The expenses of the mansion are huge. Twelve shops are absolutely not an option. How about four? I think the Duke of Jing’s mansion is honest and upright, so it is understandable.”
Old Madam Qi had no way to explain, as the family had long since run out of savings.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Qi Jingming had been in charge of the family finances for four years, so he naturally knew this.
“I was thinking that we shouldn’t mistreat the Duke of Jing, but since that’s the case, then let’s leave it at that! Mother, just arrange it as you see fit. There’s another matter. This backyard is too quiet. Why not add some sisters… I mean, add some wives and concubines, so that your son can continue the family line?”
Looking at her son, who had finally grown up, the mother said with loving eyes, "I will definitely arrange this for you. Now that you have returned in triumph, I will keep an eye on things. Let's talk about it after your wedding."
Qi Jingxuan nodded in satisfaction.
Yunxianglou
"Ruan Yumu, what's wrong with you today so early in the morning? Get up quickly, the clothes in the manor are waiting for you to wash. Don't miss lunch time, or I'll see what you do then."
"Lan Ling, Madam fell into the water yesterday and caught a cold. Please let her sleep a little longer."
"You're so delicate. The general is back. Who are you trying to impress with this act of suicidal behavior? The general is about to marry a new wife, and you, Ruan Yumu, are already a concubine. Now you're worthless. Do you think anyone can stand up for you? Get up and get to work. If you don't finish before noon, you won't get any food. And you, Ziling, aren't you worried about your daughter? Go work with her."
Early in the morning, Ruan Yumu felt an unbearable headache, and Lan Ling's chattering voice came from outside.
"Lan Ling is someone close to Mother. Could all of this be Mother's doing? Does Ruan Yu Mu do all this menial work at home? Even though the Qi family is not well-off, they still have plenty of cleaning ladies. How come it's her turn, a dignified concubine, to do it? That's impossible. How can Mother have two faces?"
Ruan Yumu was filled with doubt, unable to believe that her mother was such a vicious person.
"Madam, oh, Concubine, please get up quickly, Ziling will help you."
"Okay." After getting up, Ruan Yumu stared blankly at herself in the bronze mirror, then looked at the empty jewelry box in front of the dressing table. "Ziling, where are my jewelry?"
"Madam, have you really forgotten everything since you fell into the water? What jewelry do you have? You usually borrow jewelry from the old lady to attend banquets."
"What about my personal savings? I can't afford to buy myself some."
"Have you forgotten? The last time the general came home, you two had a huge fight, and since then, the household has stopped giving you your personal allowance."
Ruan Yumu's thoughts drifted back to half a year ago. After Qi Jingxuan returned home and they shared a room, Ruan Yumu did not want to have children and secretly drank contraceptive medicine. This was spread by malicious people as if the lady had an affair and refused to have a child for the general. In a fit of anger, the general cut off her private money.
"So you did it yourself. Haha."
Ruan Yumu couldn't help but sneer when he heard Zi Ling say that.
"Madam, please don't be like this. Ziling is scared. Let's go and get to work."
"Madam, the General has sent me to deliver a message to you. He says that the list of gifts for marrying Princess Jiang is here, and he would like you to take a look at it." Lan Ling looked at the list, wondering why the General had sent her here.
Ruan and Mu are both concubines now, and there's still the old lady in the mansion, so this is really unnecessary.
Ruan and Mu took the gift list and saw that it was densely packed with gifts. It seemed that they were still taking good care of their Meng'er.
"Thank you, you can go now!"
Seeing this, Zi Ling was indignant. "Miss, you're already facing difficulties in this backyard, and they're humiliating you like this! It's outrageous!"
Zi Ling was unaware that Ruan Yu Mu was no longer a young woman, and she never saw any sadness on her face.
For a moment, she had no idea what her daughter was thinking.
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