Volume 1, Chapter 8: Don't Even Think About Touching What's Mine
Madam Xie certainly knew, for that maid was placed there by her own hand.
The smile at the corner of her mouth stiffened as she awkwardly released Jiang Yutang’s hand.
“But we can’t just let him carry on like this, can we?”
Jiang Yutang didn’t respond.
She obediently said, “Mother-in-law, please eat first. Don’t let your anger harm your health.”
Madam Xie was truly displeased now.
Did Jiang Yutang not understand human speech?
“Mother, my sister-in-law doesn’t even have the right to bear a child. Just yesterday evening, my elder brother drove her out of the study. They’ve already been sleeping apart. Can’t you see how much my brother dislikes her? What good can she possibly do?”
Xie Chaoyu sat beside Madam Xie. Seeing her mother refuse, she was inwardly annoyed and raised her voice in mockery, “You’d be better off saving those words for the newly arrived Yun Qianqian.”
The other women seated around the octagonal table were unaware of what had transpired between Xie Yihe and the woman in his chamber, so they were puzzled by Xie Chaoyu’s words.
Madam of the second branch was even more confused.
“Third Miss, what are you talking about?”
Xie Chaoyu had been waiting for someone to ask.
She looked at Jiang Yutang with schadenfreude and tore open a painful old wound in public.
“I only found out these past few days that the person my brother truly wants to marry is Yun Qianqian. That’s why my sister-in-law isn’t allowed to get pregnant—they even made her drink contraceptive soup.”
Upon hearing this, everyone cast stunned glances at Jiang Yutang.
No wonder she had taken so many medicines over the years without any effect on her womb. It turned out the heir had his heart set elsewhere and forbade her from conceiving.
They had all thought that Jiang Yutang, as the main wife, was living in glory. Who would have thought that before her own husband, she was not even as favored as a concubine…
After the meal, there was much to discuss.
“You girl, why must you say everything out loud?”
Madam Xie pretended to stop her but did not deny Xie Chaoyu’s words.
Xie Chaoyu’s face was brimming with pride. “Mother, you know I’ve always been straightforward and can’t keep secrets.”
The mother and daughter’s exchange made the second madam’s heart ache with regret for speaking out, which had brought shame upon Jiang Yutang.
She looked toward Jiang Yutang and comforted her, “A Tang, don’t think too much. You’re the legitimate wife of the heir. Sooner or later, he will let you conceive.”
But alas…
No matter how much the second madam tried to save face for Jiang Yutang, it could not change the reality.
Xie Chaoyu’s words also reminded Madam Xie of Yun Qianqian from the Pear Blossom Courtyard.
Xie Yihe was indifferent toward Jiang Yutang but highly valued this Yun Qianqian who had appeared out of nowhere.
Yun Qianqian had entered the Duke’s mansion as a daughter of a notable family, protected as if she were the apple of their eye, with no one allowed to disturb her. Even her meals were delivered separately.
If Yun Qianqian hadn't taken the initiative to pay respects, they probably would never have seen her face.
Madam Xie seized the opportunity to admonish Jiang Yutang.
A strange gleam flashed in her eyes as she said deliberately, “I believe Qianqian likes osmanthus cakes. Send the plate on the table to her.”
Spring Peach, waiting outside, changed her expression upon hearing this.
She hurried in to remind them, “Madam, this osmanthus cake was what our young madam specially asked for yesterday, and I queued up to buy it.”
“Ah, this belongs to A Tang?”
Madam Xie feigned surprise and turned to smile, “A Tang has always been sensible; she wouldn’t mind a small plate of cakes, would she?”
Spring Peach frowned.
She wanted to say more but was stopped by a look from Jiang Yutang.
Jiang Yutang put down her chopsticks and asked slowly, “Mother, do you really like Yun Qianqian?”
“I am quite pleased with her,” Madam Xie replied, seeing Jiang Yutang was hooked.
“Qianqian is clever and quick-witted, exceptionally bright, understanding everything at once. Though only a distant relative, Yihe keeps her close in mind. It’s possible that one day she will be brought into the family and become your sister.”
“Yun Qianqian is the one my brother likes. She is certainly more pleasing to the eye than some who don’t know their place…”
Xie Chaoyu thought for a moment and added, “Once she’s in the household, united with my brother as husband and wife, together with my sister-in-law managing the household and serving you, Mother, then the Duke’s mansion will truly be harmonious and beautiful.”
Husband and wife united—so Jiang Yutang was destined to be nothing more than a beast of burden?
The second madam could hardly listen any longer.
But since her husband was a concubine-born with a low rank, she had little influence and could not speak for Jiang Yutang.
Jiang Yutang, however, remained composed in the face of these remarks.
She nodded and calmly said, “Just so, I have something to say today.”
She looked at Madam Xie and said with poise, “Mother, you were unwell before, which is why I temporarily took charge of the household. Now that you have recovered, I will return the authority over the household affairs to you. From now on, I will no longer interfere with the household’s matters.”
The room fell silent at these words. The women exchanged bewildered glances.
What did she mean? She no longer wished to be the lady of the house?
Impossible.
For the heir’s wife, Jiang Yutang’s only presence in Xie Yihe’s eyes was as the manager of the household.
If Jiang Yutang stopped managing the Duke’s mansion, she would be utterly erased from Xie Yihe’s world.
Madam Xie was momentarily stunned.
She knew well the drawbacks of managing the household and quickly suppressed her emotions, smiling as she said, “A Tang, Yihe often praises your management skills before me. If you suddenly quit now, I fear he will be displeased.”
Jiang Yutang smiled ironically at the falsehood.
“Is that so?”
Madam Xie felt a twinge of guilt and cleared her throat.
“My health is not fully restored yet. Besides, everyone has been quite satisfied with your management these past three years. It’s better for you to continue.”
A hint of sarcasm gleamed in Jiang Yutang’s eyes.
Everyone was satisfied because she had been injecting money to cover expenses, wasn’t it?
The old matriarch and the second branch were fine, but the main expenses fell on the first branch—gifts for her father-in-law’s official connections, Madam Xie’s endless stream of tonics, Xie Chaoyu’s gold and silver jewelry, and her incompetent younger uncle who indulged in drinking, gambling, and debauchery.
The Duke’s mansion’s expenses had reached over one hundred thousand taels in these three years.
If not for the steady income under Jiang Yutang’s name, how could they have sustained it?
She had once deeply loved Xie Yihe and regarded the power as her honor and support, devoting herself without complaint to this entire family.
Now…
She planned to divorce and no longer be the fool who footed the bill!
“Mother, you are unwell, but there are many with good health.”
Jiang Yutang’s resolve was firm, her eyes cold.
“Didn’t you just praise Yun Qianqian as intelligent and quick to understand? Since she will enter the family sooner or later and has gained your favor, I believe she won’t fail to learn even this small matter. And if not…”
She paused and looked at Xie Chaoyu.
“There’s also Sister Yu. She cares so much about the household and has keen insight. I’m sure she will do better than I.”
Madam Xie’s face darkened. “Such a large household cannot be changed suddenly. Besides, Sister Yu has never managed affairs before.”
“Every matron from a noble family has started this way.”
Jiang Yutang replied steadily.
Then she pushed back her chair and stood up.
“Very well, I will have the accounts sent over shortly.”
Ignoring Madam Xie’s displeasure, Jiang Yutang looked at Spring Peach and instructed, “Send this osmanthus cake to the Dream Garden. Whoever wants it can go buy it themselves.”
Even a clay figurine has some earthly nature.
Her things, even a small plate of cakes, no one else could touch.