Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 481

On that day, the little maid beside Chun Xing approached as usual, requesting tonic soup. It was almost summer, and the kitchen radiated heat like a stove. The chef, growing impatient, grumbled more than once about Concubine Chun’s frequent demands beyond the three regular meals.

Madam Lu Yuanqi, recently married, received a bit more leniency—those around her would add a little extra when ordering meals. In contrast, the master was notably less patient with Chun Xing’s requests. Seeing Aunt Jiang tending to the fire by the stove, he assigned her the task of stewing the tonic.

After two or three quarters of an hour, a cup of red dates, longan, and lotus seed soup, known for nourishing qi and blood, was ready. The food boxes in Duke Lu’s Mansion were all solid wood, making them quite heavy. The little maid mentioned the difficulty of carrying them.

Aunt Jiang offered to help with the delivery. Her quiet and reserved demeanor made the little maid quite pleased.

Later, the supplement reached Chun Xing. The little maid, busy with various tasks, had a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. While wiping away the sweat, she complained about the kitchen chef’s reluctance to prepare orders, insisting on delegating the task to others each time.

Chun Xing, abiding by her role as a concubine, did not exceed the usual requests. The little maid, indignant, received no response to her grievances from Chun Xing.

She sipped the soup and remarked, “It’s typical for large families to be this way—worshiping the strong and suppressing the weak. Compared to Lu Yuanqi, who can spend money lavishly, I must bide my time.”

The little maid muttered, “If only you could give birth to a young son before Madam, no one would dare to bully us again.”

At this, Chun Xing frowned, touching her belly for a prolonged moment without uttering a word.

In the two months before Lu Yuanqi arrived, Feng Yuan spent nearly every day in her room. During that time, many, like the little girl before her, likely assumed she would soon be pregnant. However, over two months later, there was no sign of her stomach showing any changes.

Since Lu Yuanqi’s arrival, she had distributed a considerable amount of gold and silver, from Mrs. Qin down to the servant girl, silencing any potential criticisms. Feng Yuan, too, spent much of his time with Lu Yuanqi, visiting Chun Xing only once every few days. Consequently, her days grew increasingly challenging.

In the paddock, a strained relationship had already formed between Chun Xing and the embarrassed Lu Yuanqi.

The thought of Lu Yuanqi having a son before her sent a shiver down Chun Xing’s spine, especially when she recalled the disdainful look in the girl’s eyes.

Observing Aunt Jiang standing nearby, Chun Xing realized the woman’s presence had gone unnoticed for a while. She swiftly adjusted her expression, scolding the little maid for being too talkative and daring to gossip about the master.

The little maid muttered inwardly, questioning the need to cover anything in front of such a person who couldn’t even get close to the master.

However, observing Chun Xing’s genuine annoyance, the little girl refrained from saying more and quickly apologized.

Aunt Jiang, feeling embarrassed, explained, “This old slave simply wanted to prevent Miss Tao from running around, so I came to take the food box back with me.”

Chun Xing offered a kind smile and said, “It’s part of her duties.”

After finishing the supplements, Chun Xing placed the bowl back into the food box. Although Aunt Jiang picked up the box, she didn’t immediately leave. Chun Xing encouraged her to speak directly, and Aunt Jiang requested, “I would like to go out today and attend to some matters with my son. Madam, could you make it easier for me?”

While Chun Xing held no significant authority in the backyard, she did have some influence over minor matters such as granting the servants a half-day leave.

Understanding the servant girl’s attentiveness, Chun Xing appreciated the opportunity to show some kindness, considering it a welcome change from the current atmosphere of isolation. 

After a while, Xiao Tao returned, commenting, “”Auntie Jiang was kind enough to assist. But when I inquired about her plans for the half-day leave, she suddenly changed her demeanor, hesitating to share, and appeared a bit secretive…”

Knowing that Xiao Tao couldn’t keep things to herself, Chun Xing confidently used her for such inquiries. Initially not concerned about Aunt Jiang’s actions, the term “secretive” caught her attention. Might Aunt Jiang be involved in something deceptive, using her seemingly honest appearance to mislead others?

Unable to go out herself, Chun Xing instructed Xiao Tao to inquire with the other servants in the house. Soon, she discovered that Mrs. Jiang had no relatives except for a son who had served in the army. He suffered a serious injury, lived in Shuiyun Village as a farmer with his wife, and wasn’t particularly capable. On this aspect, Mrs. Jiang hadn’t lied. The question remained: What was making her act so secretive?