Chapter 557: Once and For All
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao continued, “Wouldn’t the family be in chaos after this? Concubine Qiu’s son can even be adopted under the first wife’s name and become an heir, enjoying the title of the legitimate son. Does Concubine Jiang still want to give birth in the future? She’s a legitimate concubine. If she gives birth to a son, will she also be adopted?”
She and the Xie family needed to agree to take over under her mother’s name. It concerned the interests of the entire Yu Clan, and it was something the entire Yu Clan was happy to see.
Even though Concubine Jiang was indignant, she could only swallow her anger and not dare to have any objections to this matter.
However, Madam Yang was only a second wife, so it was only up to Matriarch Yu Zongzheng to decide.
Concubine Jiang wouldn’t let it go so easily.
This was a chaotic situation. How could such a shrewd person like her grandmother do this?
Nanny Xu said casually, “Madam Yang has been sick for more than two years, and her condition has been recurring, but she hasn’t recovered. Now, even doctors don’t enter the residence often, and she’s also living a hard life. If Madam Yang passes away, what kind of person do you think Yu Zongzheng is more suited to marry into the residence as a second wife?”
Yu Youyao’s scalp tingled. “In the past few years, the court hasn’t been peaceful either. Even when he gets married, it has to be a stable relationship. Yu Zongzheng has already been married three times, so it will more or less affect his reputation.”
Although it was common for people in the court to marry three or even four times, it was undeniable that this matter was not good for a man’s reputation.
“Yu Zongzheng has two sons and three daughters. He has the eldest daughter of the first wife and the first son of the first wife. It’s fine if he has the first wife suppressing him, but there’s still a second and third wife. What’s this? A family with a similar family background won’t be very willing to marry their well-mannered daughter to his second wife’s son.”
“On the other hand, because of Madam Yang’s example, Yu Zongzheng is probably not very willing to marry another concubine’s daughter as his second wife. He would rather marry a legitimate daughter than a concubine’s daughter.”
Nanny Xu nodded. “That’s it.”
Yu Youyao’s expression became complicated. “Concubine Jiang’s family has farmers and scholars for generations. Official Jiang was born as a scholar and has a sixth-grade official position. It’s fairly important. Concubine Jiang is also the eldest daughter of the first wife in the family. After entering the residence, she has indeed been raised by the first wife. Grandmother has long planned to support Concubine Jiang as soon as Madam Yang leaves. Even if it’s out of consideration for Concubine Jiang’s face, it’s unlikely that Grandmother will accept Yu Shanming being adopted by Madam Yang.”
It was not uncommon for concubines to be promoted.
With Concubine Jiangs background, even if she was promoted, no one would say anything. It was probably not only the residence, but the entire capital knew about this very well.
No wonder Auntie Jiang was willing to marry her raised daughter into the Yu Residence as a concubine.
Previously, she had not thought about this because she had ignored Madam Yang’s life and death. Now that Nanny Xu had exposed it, everything became clear.
Nanny Xu sighed slightly. “Madam Yang has been sick all this time, so we can’t let her drag the family down. Your grandmother is old and there are many things that can’t be planned now. We can’t let you get involved. Concubine Jiang’s matter can be considered settled once and for all.”
With Old Madam Yu’s personality, if it weren’t for the fact that she really had no choice, she probably wouldn’t have become a concubine. Although it was common knowledge, it was not justifiable in terms of etiquette.
It was very difficult for Yu Youyao to say that something was wrong.
The Yu Residence was also a huge family business. Just the hundred people in the residence alone could not be left unattended.
The family’s businesses also needed someone to take care of them. There were still elders in the family who urgently needed filial piety and care. They could not lack people in charge for a day.
It was the same for every family.
There were even many families whose first wife was sick and had yet to die. They had already secretly searched for her replacement. Some families even had to personally choose a good replacement when their first wife was sick. When they died, they would welcome the newcomer into the residence.
Her husband had already done his best to mourn for his first wife for half a year and he was even praised.
No one would feel that something was amiss if he did mourn for his first wife for a day.
Back then, Yu Zongzheng welcomed Madam Yang into the residence. Wthin a hundred days, although there were some rumors in the capital about “romantic affairs”, no one felt that it was wrong.
At that time, her grandmother was sick and there was still a newborn baby at home waiting to be fed. The first wife had lost control of such a huge family business. Who was going to handle this matter?
However, Yu Youyao couldn’t agree with this. “I won’t get involved in family matters in the future.
Actually, after Concubine Jiang entered the residence, she had no longer interfered in the big and small matters of the residence.
If Concubine Jiang could handle it herself, she would handle it herself. There were also fewer and fewer things that Nanny Liu needed to handle.
She put more effort into the Graceful Heart Hall and the planting test.
After two years of management, the Graceful Heart Hall had already become more and more perfect. With her cousin’s help, Yu Youyao smoothly ran the Graceful Heart Hall in the North.
She chose a woman who was proficient in needlework embroidery to teach the women and children in the Graceful Heart Hall how to weave, embroider, tailor, print, incense, and so on.
On the one hand, she hoped that they would have a skill in the future and their lives would be better.
On the other hand, the Graceful Heart Hall would buy what they made based on the quality of the finished products. Then, they would sell it through the shops under Yu Youyao’s name. This was a win-win situation.
Every year, she would prepare a batch of cotton clothes for the North, and they were all made through their hands.
Unknowingly, March had arrived.
There was always a way out. After three months of drought, it finally rained heavily.
It had only rained for an hour, but it had also poured through the ground.
The commoners began to plant the spring seeds anxiously, afraid that they would miss the season, but also afraid that they would miss this spring rain.
Nanny Yue also seized the opportunity to quickly plant the sweet potatoes into the ground. With this timely rain, the sweet potatoes this year would almost be guaranteed.
After her cousin finished the fourth treatment, he could already support himself against the wall and walk a few steps. The recovery of his legs was far faster than Uncle Sun had expected.
However, Yu Youyao was not too happy.
She watched as the acupuncture process became more and more painful day by day. She watched as her cousin collapsed after practicing standing. Other than feeling heartache, she did not have any other thoughts.
The next morning, after Yu Youyao accompanied her cousin to perform acupuncture, she returned to the Jade Courtyard and went to the kitchen to make Eight Treasures Cake, Frankincense cream cake, and Guilinggao that she had copied from the Guilinggao recipe.
The Guilinggao had the effect of strengthening the body and nourishing the brain. It could also strengthen the kidneys and nourish the Qi. It tasted salty and fragrant, and her cousin liked it very much. The pastries that her cousin often ate were also made.
Although her cousin did not have a strong appetite, he did not get tired of eating the Eight Treasures Cake and the Frankincense cream cake for two to three years.
However, Yu Youyao was still very active in testing the making of other health-nourishing pastries, hoping to let her cousin try something new often.
After finishing the pastries, Yu Youyao returned to the house and changed her clothes again.
Xia Tao entered the house. “Young Miss, the results were released this morning..”
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