Tianliangyuan

Chapter 52 One concubine is not worthy?

Fang Dazhuang came from a poor family with little wealth, and he only managed to bring his family to the capital a few years ago.

Before Fang Dazhuang joined the army, he had married a wife in his hometown and had returned home several times to visit his family. By the time he brought his wife over, they already had two sons.

Fang Dazhuang was transferred to General Song's command at the time, and in order to win him over, General Song directly offered to marry his daughter to him.

However, Fang Dazhuang directly stated that he now has a wife and children, and that his wife takes care of his parents and raises his younger siblings at home, so he would never abandon his wife and children.

However, General Song was unwilling to give up such a good opportunity, so he simply married his illegitimate daughter to him as a concubine.

Fang Dazhuang originally didn't even want this concubine, but because he got drunk and had an intimate relationship with the concubine's daughter, he had no choice but to take her in.

Fang Dazhuang always felt guilty towards his wife because he had taken such a pampered young lady as a concubine.

After bringing his family to the capital, he tried his best to coax his wife, wanting her to know that he wasn't the kind of person who would turn his back on his family once he became successful.

Fang Dazhuang's wife was just an ordinary countrywoman. She was illiterate and had never learned any rules or etiquette. When she first arrived in the capital, she made quite a few embarrassing mistakes. Even a concubine in the mansion could boss her around.

It was only later, when Wang Ruolan couldn't stand it anymore, that she took the person with her and often gave him pointers.

Perhaps because of this, it was tantamount to indirectly offending General Song.

Wang Ruolan and Xu Han were naturally not afraid of General Song, after all, they were both confident, and it was truly undignified for a concubine to climb over the wife.

Fang Dazhuang only served under General Song for two years before Xu Han arranged for him to be transferred back to his own command. This way, Fang Dazhuang no longer had to worry about saving face for General Song.

Fang Dazhuang's wife, Li, was not used to it at first, but after a few years, she has improved a lot.

After hearing Xu Han's words, Fang Dazhuang told Madam Fan that very evening about going to the Marquis's residence to seek advice.

The Fan family knew that their family was poor. Although they had land bestowed by the emperor and some benefits that Fang Dazhuang had earned, they still needed a long-term source of income if they wanted to live in the capital for a long time.

Living off past savings will inevitably lead to the family's ruin sooner or later.

This is the main reason why Aunt Song has always maintained a high status in the mansion.

Because of her good family background, although she was a concubine's daughter, she was still a proper daughter of an official family, and she brought a considerable dowry when she married into the Fang family.

Madam Fan was not the kind of person who held grudges, and she also knew that in wealthy and powerful families, which man didn't have several women in his courtyard?

Therefore, Madam Fan was always very polite to this Aunt Song.

It wasn't until she arrived at the Marquis of Anxin's residence and saw the dignified and noble Madam Xu with her own eyes that she realized what a true noblewoman was like.

Upon learning that Madam Fan was going to visit the Marquis's residence, Aunt Song naturally rushed out to follow.

Madam Fan was slightly displeased: "I can go by myself. You should stay home and take care of Sanlang."

A year after entering the household, Concubine Song gave birth to a son born out of wedlock, the third son in the family.

Aunt Song was very dissatisfied, always feeling that Fan was just a lowly peasant woman and had no right to be above her.

But she couldn't be resentful; she had a proper marriage certificate and was recognized as a daughter-in-law by her parents-in-law.

But that doesn't stop Aunt Song from causing trouble for Madam Fan!

Whenever Fan Shi attended a banquet, she would definitely try to show her face.

Unless it's a very high-profile banquet, concubines are not allowed to visit.

Otherwise, Aunt Song would only go even further.

Aunt Song was not in a hurry when she heard this. She smiled and said, "Sister, you don't know. The Song family and the Marquis's mansion have always had a good relationship. Moreover, I haven't seen Sister Wang for a while. It is only right that I go over to pay my respects and have a chat."

This places herself in a position of being like a sister to Wang Ruolan.

Madam Fan knew what she was thinking, but she ignored her and let her go if she wanted to. She wasn't the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, so how could she stop her?

The two of them went in separate carriages.

The maidservant beside Madam Fan blurted out, "Madam, are you just going to let Aunt Song make such a scene? And what did she mean by what she just said? She was clearly trying to put you down!"

"What else can we do? Her father is General Song. Although our master's official position is not low now, he still has no real power base. I remember the master saying more than once that if it weren't for the Marquis's help, he would probably have been schemed against by the Song family again."

The maid's face puffed up with anger: "Hmph! They call themselves a prestigious family, how could they be like this!"

Madam Fan smiled good-naturedly: "Alright, let's not talk about her anymore. I was thinking about how to ask Sister Wang for advice on how to make money when we get to the Marquis's residence later."

Wang Ruolan and Xu Zhaozhao were taking inventory in the storeroom. Xu Junting was going to marry a county princess, so the standards couldn't be too low, but they couldn't surpass Xu Junan's either. Therefore, Wang Ruolan dared not be careless about any detail.

When Wang Ruolan heard the servant's report, she found it strange: "Why did your aunt bring that concubine with her today?"

Xu Zhaozhao chuckled: "Mother, Aunt Fan has been in the capital for several years now, and you know her personality. I'm afraid that Song insisted on coming along, and she couldn't refuse."

Wang Ruolan frowned: "This Song woman is too outrageous! Since she's been chosen as a concubine, she should fulfill the duties of one. What's with trying to steal the spotlight from the mistress? The Song family should teach her a lesson!"

Xu Zhaozhao laughed and said, "The Song family is probably happy to see Auntie suffer setbacks everywhere. I think General Song is quite magnanimous. But you are the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, it's unreasonable to let you entertain a subordinate's concubine!"

That makes sense.

But we can't be too blunt about it.

Madam Fan and Consort Song were waiting in a side hall when a maid came to deliver a message.

"Greetings to Madam Fang."

"Please don't stand on ceremony, Sister Wang. Are you busy? I've come in a hurry. If you're not free, I'll come another day."

"Reporting to Madam Fang, my lady requests that you come to the inner courtyard for a talk. As for this guest, my lady is not at liberty to entertain him at the moment, please leave."

Aunt Song's face froze, as if a colorful painting had been overturned, it was quite a sight!

If this were at the Fang residence, Aunt Song would certainly have questioned her.

But this was the Marquis's residence, and she dared not.

Let alone her, even if her father came, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly in the Marquis's mansion.

And so, Aunt Song slunk away. Of course, before leaving, she didn't forget to turn back and glare fiercely at the gate of the Marquis of Anxin's mansion, as if to say, "I'll tear this mansion down in the future!"

Wang Ruolan had no idea what Aunt Song was thinking; she was nothing more than an insignificant ant, whom she didn't care about at all.

When Fan learned that Xu Zhaozhao had actually been managing Xiangpiaopiao all along, she was so shocked that she was speechless!

"Sister, you're not lying to me? It really was your niece's doing?"