Chapter 42: Transfer of Power

Right now, there was a strong possibility that the entire Junior Minister's Manor might reconcile with the Lu family. If the Second Young Miss were carrying a child, it would serve as a most advantageous condition for them. However, if she were to state this intention so bluntly, Madam Guo would inevitably berate her. Therefore, she quickly adjusted her expression, put on a look of deep concern, and stepped forward.

"This concubine pays her respects to Madam."

"What are you doing here?" Madam Guo's tone was thoroughly unpleasant. After all, the master had been sleeping in her chambers these past few days, and the two women were far from seeing eye to eye.

Hearing this, Concubine Zhao took a few steps forward, then presented the box containing the tally plates and keys, saying with a sorrowful expression,

"These past few days, the master has been bedridden recovering from his injuries, and there are countless trivial matters here at the Second Young Miss's quarters. Moreover, the Old Madam has fallen ill, leaving not a single person in the household to take charge. Thus, the master instructed me to temporarily take over the management. Yet, a concubine like me, who has never seen the world, how could she possibly handle these inner courtyard affairs properly? Having made mistakes one after another, I have already been rebuked by the master several times. After much deliberation, I believe it is best to hand these duties back to Madam for her management. This concubine will focus solely on tending to the master's health."

Although Madam Guo did not know what was happening outside, she was by no means foolish. Once a person has tasted the flavor of power, how many are willing to let go? There had to be a hidden motive behind Concubine Zhao's actions. With this thought in mind, she narrowed her eyes and asked suspiciously,

"Is that so? Even if you don't know how, the head steward is still in the house. He is an old servant who has served the master for a long time. With him assisting you, what is there for you to worry about? Concubine Zhao, could it be that you have some ulterior motives and are trying to use me to take the blame!"

Concubine Zhao lowered her head, revealing a trace of panic. This matter had to be handed over to ensure her own survival, but Madam Guo was far too cautious to have guessed it right off the bat?

Swallowing hard, she dropped to her knees before Madam Guo.

"Madam, please discern the truth. The head steward knows everything that has happened in the house these past few days; if you don't believe me, you can summon him and ask. Dealing with the head steward is not difficult, but what is difficult is commanding awe among the servants. A concubine of shallow background like myself, how could I possibly order about the senior servants of the manor? One by one, seeing that I am young and lacking in influence, they outwardly address me as Concubine while covertly delaying and ignoring every instruction I give. I have a thin skin and know I am unwelcome, so I dare not cling to such high branches, lest I fall and suffer a painful crash. If the household is mismanaged and the master grows angry, wouldn't I be exhausting myself for nothing?"

This speech sounded far more sincere than her previous words. Madam Guo believed about three parts of it. Wasn't Concubine Zhao's current predicament identical to her own when she had first married into the family? Although the previous mistress had passed away, those stubborn old servants constantly threw old rules, old styles, and old arrangements in her face, binding her so tightly that she could barely make a move. It wasn't until she gave birth to the Second Young Miss that she finally mustered the strength and energy to purge those people and gradually replace them with her own trusted staff, making the courtyard much easier to govern.

Presently, Concubine Zhao lacked proper status as the first reason, and lacked sufficient time to consolidate her position as the second. She had presumably run into a few stubborn obstacles, which was why she had developed the urge to retreat. Besides, what was a concubine after all? Wasn't she just hoping to secure the master's favor? If she kept making mistakes and incurred the master's displeasure, wouldn't the losses outweigh the gains?

Thinking of this, her wariness lessened somewhat. Looking at Concubine Zhao, she asked, "Does the master know that you are coming to transfer the authority today?"

This question hit the crucial point. If this had merely been Concubine Zhao's own decision, Madam Guo would never have accepted it. However, Concubine Zhao replied with a feigned, awkward smile,

"It was precisely the master who instructed this concubine to bring them, saying it would be best for Madam to take on the burden."

Hearing this, Madam Guo completely relaxed. After all, they shared the pillow; she never would have imagined this could be a calculation devised by her own husband. Therefore, after offering a few words of reprimand to Concubine Zhao, she said,

"Since it was the master's order, I shall accept them. Go back and tell the master to simply focus on recovering his health; he need not worry about matters at home."

"Yes, yes, this concubine will go right away."

Having rid herself of this hot potato, Concubine Zhao's heart finally settled. As she turned to leave, she glanced at the bowl of medicine, hesitated, and said,

"This concubine knows she shouldn't speak out of turn, but there are some things Madam might not realize. If a woman with a weak constitution drinks too many cooling medicines, it will leave behind root ailments that affect her future childbearing. This concubine once had a sister who became barren precisely for this reason. This concubine does not mean to curse the Second Young Miss, but it is best to consider the future consequences of everything. This concubine takes her leave."

Her words made Madam Guo's hand tremble involuntarily. Although the medicine currently being fed was not strictly a contraceptive, she knew that any medicine capable of preventing pregnancy would inevitably harm a woman's fundamental health, which was why she had been so hesitant and undecided. Hearing Concubine Zhao speak thus, she turned her head with a conflicted heart to look at the Second Young Miss, who lay half-awake on the bed, feeling an unspeakable bitterness. If she had known things would come to this, why act as she did in the beginning? Yet, if Madam Guo were the type to engage in introspection, she would not have favored one child over the other for so many years.

Staring at the tally plates and keys, a profound sense of resentment surged in her heart toward the Lu family mother and son, as well as the peacefully tranquil Verdant Brocade Courtyard. Why should they be able to rest easy while the Azure Cloud Courtyard suffered in such misery? Since they were sisters all the same, shouldn't they share both good times and bad?

Now that the household tally plates and keys were back in her hands, once she had some free time, she would most certainly settle accounts with the Lu family mother and son and the eldest young miss of the Verdant Brocade Courtyard!

Adjusting her expression once more, she put on a look of maternal distress, returned to Chi Guiying's side, and began feeding her spoonful by spoonful.

The heatwaves gradually encroached, and the Ghost Festival was fast approaching. Yet the Lu family mother and son were still locked away in the firewood room at the back courtyard, living a life of utter misery these past days. Regardless of how things had been before, they could at least barely fill their stomachs, and drinking water required no begging. But now, the gate-guarding matrons had grown increasingly vicious; they could not even get enough to eat, let alone receive any kind of proper care. If not for Lu Yi's relatively robust constitution, he probably wouldn't have survived that bout of high fever.

His lips were severely chapped, and his entire body was drained of strength. Because his clothes covered the wound, it was impossible to tell its exact condition, but whenever Mother Lu drew close, she could faintly catch a foul, rotting smell. Needless to say, the wound was undoubtedly worsening by the day.

Yet, seeing her son in such a state, she dared not say too much. She could only offer warm words of comfort, "Shaotong, do not be afraid. We have been away from home for so long; eventually, some clues will come to light. I refuse to believe that this Junior Minister's Manor can actually lock us up until we die! Once we get out, you'll see—we will surely have your sister go before His Majesty to denounce them!"

At this moment, Mother Lu had no inkling that her daughter was already with child, nor that an opportunity for the Lu family's resurgence had arrived. Thus, she could only speak such words in her heart, hoping they would provide a shred of solace.

Lu Yi hurt everywhere, though he had long since grown numb to the pain after so many days. Therefore, listening to his mother's "well-intentioned lies," he could only lift a weak, helpless smile, praying that such torment would end soon.