Chapter 59 Aunt Zhang
Aunt Zhang was leaning on the bed with her eyes squinting, as if she was about to fall asleep. She was chatting with Qing'er, who was sitting beside her embroidering:
"Master Jingyun actually met the old lady. What did they talk about?"
"I don't know. I heard that only the old lady and the secretary went to the abbot's room. You know the secretary's mouth is tight. She is also a favorite of the old lady. If she doesn't say anything, who dares to do anything to her?"
"That's true. This little bitch, relying on the old lady's protection, doesn't take us concubines and aunts seriously. She doesn't even think about how long the old lady can live. She's so arrogant at such a young age!"
"Let alone you, Madam. Even the First Madam gave her some leeway! I heard that after leaving the temple, the First Madam started asking about the meeting between the Old Madam and Master Jingyun, but she avoided her questions. Later, she simply followed the Old Madam closely, leaving her no chance to speak."
"Do you think that the strange recovery of Second Master's illness this time is related to Master Jingyun? The old lady went to burn incense before, and when she came back, she arranged for Second Master to get married. How could it be such a coincidence that the illness was cured immediately? This time, when he fulfilled his wish, he actually met Master Jingyun. This is a fate that many people could not obtain even if they held mountains of gold and silver and knelt at the door."
Qing'er thought for a moment and said:
"I don't think this matter is necessarily related to Master Jingyun. Haven't you heard that the old lady knelt outside Master Jingyun's door for more than an hour when she burned incense and made a wish, but she didn't see Master Jingyun. Getting married is definitely not the way Master Jingyun pointed out. Madam, think about it, if it's not really impossible, how could the old lady, with her status, be willing to kneel and beg the master? I think the old lady really has no other choice, so she thought of getting married, and the second master's recovery is just a coincidence."
"I always feel that Master Jingyun is weird and makes me feel uneasy."
"Madam, you must have been busy with the old lady's vows these past two days and you must be a little tired. Don't let your imagination run wild. I think what Master Jingyun and the old lady said may not be good things. I heard from the people who followed her that the old lady has not smiled or said a word since she came out of the abbot's room. She just told people to go back to the mansion."
After hearing this, Aunt Zhang suddenly opened her eyes and sat up:
"What did you say? The old lady was unhappy after meeting Master Jingyun. Will that happen..."
As they were talking, Shuang'er came in through the door curtain. The two people in the room looked at her at the same time. Shuang'er walked forward, bowed softly and said :
"Replying to Auntie, Master Jie is back and said he wants to see you. He is waiting outside the door."
"My brother? Why is he here at this time? Who is he with? Let him in."
"Master Jie is alone. I will go and tell him to come in."
Shuang'er had just reached the door when Aunt Zhang called her back:
"Tell Uncle Jie to wait in the hall and tell him I'll be right there."
Shuang'er hurriedly responded and walked out. Qing'er had already put down the work in her hands and was helping Aunt Zhang to wash and dress.
Holding Qing'er into the hall, Aunt Zhang saw her brother Zhang Jie whom she hadn't seen for almost half a year. Her eyes turned red and she asked:
"Brother, why are you back now? There's still some time before the old lady's birthday."
Master Jie glanced at Qing'er and said nothing. Aunt Zhang took two steps forward and sat down, then raised her eyes and told Qing'er:
"Go out and close the door. Stand guard at the door and don't let anyone in."
Qing'er quickly responded, turned around and walked out.
Aunt Zhang then looked at Zhang Jie and asked:
"Brother came back so suddenly this time, what happened?"
"It's all because of Yun'er. I figured Second Master should be done with it soon. I was afraid that after this happened, you two wouldn't have a plan and would suffer." Zhang Jie drank a sip of tea and said:
"Brother also said, isn't it said that the poison of red banana and ambergris has no cure? How did the Second Master get better? So much money was wasted in vain."
After Aunt Zhang finished speaking, she saw that Master Jie was silent, so she took a handkerchief and wiped her eyes:
"We deserve our miserable lives. Yun'er failed the exams time and again, and she keeps saying that she doesn't like being an official. Now she can't be the head of the family. How are we going to live in the future? In terms of appearance and family background, I am no worse than that bitch. The eldest master and I were childhood sweethearts. The eldest master once vowed to marry me as his principal wife, but his family came up with some bullshit ancestral precept that because I was born a concubine, I can only be a concubine. What else does that bitch have except her birth as a legitimate daughter? For so many years, she has been riding on my head and oppressing me. Why doesn't her son have to study as hard as Yun'er and can inherit the position of the next head of the family as soon as he is born? The eldest master once promised me that marrying her would only be a decoration and was married for the old lady to see. Look, now his son is about to become the head of the family. Which of the original promises has been fulfilled? It's no use just pampering me. They are all things that are done behind the scenes and cannot be seen in the light. How dare the eldest master treat me well in front of her? Why is my life so miserable!"
"Alright, alright, you women just like to talk nonsense. Your son is already so grown up, and you are not afraid of being laughed at. In the past, many people came to propose marriage to you as his wife, but you didn't even look at them. You followed the master desperately, saying that you would rather be a concubine as long as you could marry him. Your mother has advised you so many times, but did you listen? It's no use regretting it now!"
Aunt Zhang heard what her brother said and started to cry. Uncle Jie looked at her helplessly and said:
"Don't cry, I heard about this poison from a hermit in the south. Didn't you write to me a few days ago saying that the Second Master was dying? Is there really a cure for this poison? Have any extraordinary people come to the mansion to treat the Second Master during this period of time?"
"I was watching him the whole time, but I didn't see anyone come. Even the imperial physician said there was no hope, but he was cured just like that. Oh, by the way, I heard from the maid in the Second Master's room that the Second Madam liked red bananas, and she took the two pots we put in Aunt Zhang and Aunt Li's rooms. If you want to use this poison again in the future, I'm afraid it won't work. Do you think the Second Madam has some kind of magic and knows something?"
"This second wife is the legitimate daughter of the Li family."
"Besides her, who else would be willing to come and get married?"
"That's impossible. Master Li is just a businessman. I heard that he is vulgar and profit-driven. How can he raise a good daughter? I heard that she was spoiled and unruly before she got married. She must have heard that the Second Master liked Qixiang and was jealous of the two concubines, so she snatched her away. How could she, a woman in her teens, know all this?"
"That makes sense, but how did the Second Master get better?" Aunt Zhang frowned and thought.
"Now that things have come to this , don't worry about it, sister. I heard on my way back that the Second Master had become suspicious of his illness and was secretly investigating. You should be careful these days and don't let the old lady and the first wife find out anything. Yun'er is still young, and the first master loves you the most anyway. After this storm, we can slowly think of a way later. If it really doesn't work, we can fight for more property for Yun'er."
"What is Second Master investigating? How is he investigating? Will he find us? I have been feeling terrified these past two days. We can't keep that Second Mistress!"
