0p0 Chapter 49 Sending Clothes
Chapter 49 Sending Clothes
Aunt Chen and Tiger Girl were bent over on the kang (a heated brick bed) doing accounts.
Aunt Chen looked at the scattered items on the kang (a heated brick bed), all of which were things she had gotten back from Xu Biyun.
Tiger Girl, holding an account book, stared blankly as she counted on her fingers, "One times five equals five, two times five equals eight..."
Aunt Chen frowned and said, "Tiger Girl, do you understand the calculations? We need to check the accounts carefully. If anything is missing, I'll ask Xu Biyun for it."
Tiger Girl's face scrunched up as she rubbed her head.
"Oh, Master, please stop talking. I've overlooked another thing."
Qiao Qingshu saw that no one was at the door, so she walked straight in and saw the master and servant huddled together, doing something.
"Auntie, what are you busy with?"
Aunt Chen's back shuddered violently, and she shoved all the odds and ends on the kang (heated brick bed) into the quilt.
There were too many things, and two balls of yarn fell off, rolling tumbled to Qiao Qingshu's feet.
Aunt Chen hurriedly picked up the two balls of yarn, stuffed them into her sleeve, and looked at Qiao Qingshu with a nervous expression.
She felt a little flustered, afraid that Qiao Qingshu had come to punish her, as she had caused quite a commotion at Lanxiang Pavilion these past few days.
Seeing that Aunt Chen looked flustered, Qiao Qingshu just smiled and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). She reached under the quilt and pulled out a small painted ceramic teacup with a hundred butterflies on it, which she then played with in her hand.
"Don't worry, Auntie. These things were originally yours, so it's only right that you take them back. I'm not so unreasonable as to not understand this."
Aunt Chen, who had been nervously wringing her hands, finally felt relieved after hearing what Qiao Qingshu said.
She happily pulled up an embroidered stool and sat on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), then lifted the quilt and laughed.
"These are all worthless trinkets. Young lady, take whatever you like."
Aunt Chen has now realized that she should never go against the person in charge of the household.
Qiao Qingshu is now in charge of the household affairs and is favored by the old lady and the old master. It would be too foolish of her to offend her.
Qiao Qingshu put down the small painted ceramic teacup with butterflies in her hand and smiled.
“These are all your things, Auntie’s. How could I possibly accept them? Not only can I not accept your things, but I’m also going to send you things.”
With a gentle wave of his hand, Lin Dong walked in carrying a large red lacquered wooden box.
Aunt Chen was so startled that she immediately jumped up from the stool.
"Oh my goodness, this must be fabric from Jinlu Pavilion! Look at the stitching, the workmanship, and the embroidery—it's absolutely gorgeous!"
Jinlu Pavilion is the largest and most luxurious clothing store in the capital. It is a place where upper-class noblewomen have their clothes made, and ordinary people cannot enter even if they have money.
In previous years, Bai Shi and Xu Biyun had been seen passing through Jinlu Pavilion. The stitching, the workmanship, and the embroidery were truly of high quality.
Even a naive aunt like her knew that it was top-quality stuff, and she was quite envious for a while.
Aunt Chen dreamed of buying a dress from Jinlu Pavilion, but as a concubine, where would she find the spare money to spend so lavishly?
I didn't dare touch it with my hand, for fear of soiling the fine fabric.
Qiao Qingshu laughed and said,
“Aunt, these two padded jackets are a gift from me. And this men’s robe is for my Tai’er. The weather is getting colder and colder, so he needs a few warm clothes to get through the winter.”
Aunt Chen was overjoyed, turning to look at Qiao Qingshu with an incredulous expression.
"Young lady, did I hear that right? Is it really for me?"
Qiao Qingshu unfolded the soft satin jacket with chrysanthemum embroidery in the color of Xiangfei flowers and held it up in front of Aunt Chen.
"Of course they're for you, Auntie. They were all cut to your size. Auntie, please try them on and see if they fit."
Aunt Chen was a little uneasy and didn't dare to reach out and take it.
Qiao Qingshu sensed her thoughts and smiled,
“Aunt, looking back on what happened the other day, I realize that I was young and new to managing the household, and there were indeed some things I didn’t do well. Aunt Xu had already made enough money in her early years and wasn’t short of cash, and Aunt He had often received care from my mother. Only you have had a really hard time, and I didn’t consider that. It was my oversight.”
"I can't openly raise your monthly salary, but privately... that's why I made a few sets of clothes to give to you and Tai-ge'er. Please don't be angry with me, Aunt."
Aunt Chen's smile practically lit up her face as she listened, and she happily took the dress and started trying it on.
I thought to myself that this young lady is really nice. She is so thoughtful and knows how to care for others. She understands the difficulties that I, as a concubine, have. And now she is still so polite to me. Even though she scolded me a few days ago, I was willing to accept it!
He lost all guard and found Qiao Qingshu even more adorable and endearing; his feelings underwent a complete transformation in just a few days.
Aunt Chen, dressed in her new clothes, twirled around the room, her face beaming with joy.
Then Qiao Qingshu let out a soft sigh.
Aunt Chen quickly turned her head and asked,
"What's wrong, young lady? Why are you sighing? Did something happen? Tell your aunt, and I'll do everything I can to help you."
Qiao Qingshu shook her head and said,
"Alas, I just feel sorry for my aunt. She has been in my family for so many years, even earlier than Xu Biyun, and has given birth to a son and a daughter. Yet now she is living the most difficult life."
Qiao Qingshu glanced at Qiao Antai, who was playing with crickets outside, and continued,
"Logically, my Tai-ge should be the heir to the family, but now Aunt Xu is pregnant again. If she gives birth to a son, my Tai-ge's life will likely become even more difficult. A mother's status rises with her son's, and Aunt Xu's life will probably flourish again..."
“My mother is dead, and my father has said he will not remarry. After I get married, this family may very well become the property of Concubine Xu.”
He sighed again, waved his handkerchief, and said...
"Let's not talk about these things anymore, there's no point in hurting anyone's feelings."
Qiao Qingshu spoke calmly, but every word she uttered pierced Aunt Chen's ears like needles.
Qiao Qingshu changed the subject again, chatted for a few minutes, and then slowly left with her maid.
Aunt Chen was left behind with a complicated expression.
Aunt Chen lost the joy she had shown while trying on clothes, slowly sat down, and her eyes gradually turned cold.
She thought to herself that what Sister Shu said was absolutely right. Xu Biyun had enjoyed a good life for more than ten years. If she were to give birth to a boy now, where would Chen Xiangyu have a place in the Marquis's mansion?
Now that she and Xu Biyu have fallen out, if Xu Biyun really takes charge in the future, she will definitely torment and punish her!
Thinking about all this, Aunt Chen felt a chill run down her spine and was filled with lingering fear.
Nope!
We cannot let that wretched woman give birth to a son. Once the child is born, there will truly be no way to reverse the situation!
Aunt Chen suddenly realized that she had been focusing on trivial matters and losing sight of the bigger picture. What was the point of arguing with Xu Biyun over such petty gains? She would still be living a comfortable life. Only by seizing Xu Biyun's weakness could she truly trample this vile woman underfoot.