Chapter 18: Rightful Mistress

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“Not a trivial matter…” Madam Yin said faintly.

How could she watch a delicate girl like a flower bud being pushed into the fire?

Mama Zhao wanted to advise further, but a maid outside suddenly bowed and said, “Marquis!”

Then, the door curtain was lifted from outside.

A tall and sturdy figure strode in like a shooting star, it was Marquis Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan wore a sapphire blue bat-patterned robe, his hair neatly arranged, thick eyebrows and large eyes. His handsome face seemed covered with a layer of frost, clearly here to question and hold someone accountable.

The servants, at Madam Yin’s gesture, lowered their heads and withdrew, leaving only Mama Zhao by her side.

Xiao Yan raised his robe, sat on the bed with a commanding presence, and sternly asked Madam Yin, “Ru’er has always been respectful to you, never crossing the line. What did you mean by scolding her in front of mother today?!

Xiao Yan glared at Madam Yin with a stern expression.

“I just disciplined her a bit.” Madam Yin raised an eyebrow lightly, casting a fleeting glance at Xiao Yan.

The words that Concubine Cui spoke in front of the Madam were outrageous, like a prostitute. Madam Yin gave no face, scolded Concubine Cui as soon as she entered, and Concubine Cui left crying.

It seems she’s reporting to the Marquis.

Madam Yin elegantly adjusted her sleeve, a hint of anger in her expression, but her tone remained calm and steady, “Does the Marquis, in coming to question, know who Concubine Cui intends to give Yanfei to? Gao An, Eunuch Gao! A eunuch, is the Marquis willing?!”

Xiao Yan was momentarily speechless.

He also felt that this matter was inappropriate. Despite the current decline of the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence, it still held its dignity.

The daughter is of humble status, but she bears the surname “Xiao,” and he cannot afford to lose face in this matter.

Xiao Yan also reprimanded Concubine Cui, who replied with a sense of grievance, “Lord Marquis, the concubine doesn’t know what to do. I went to consult with Grand Madam… How dare the concubine make decisions without permission?”

“Ah, it’s all Yiniang’s fault.”

Compared to Concubine Cui’s sincere words, Xiao Yan felt that Madam Yin was full of thorns, always aggressive and sharp, lacking the gentle and graceful demeanor a woman should have.

Is Madam Yin now scolding him?

The anger in Xiao Yan’s chest rose steadily. He angrily slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups on it jump.

“Snap!”

Xiao Yan didn’t answer Madam Yin’s question but coldly said, “Yanfei is Ru’er’s daughter, and her affairs don’t concern you.”

“…” Madam Yin was momentarily stunned, squinting slightly.

This wasn’t the first time Xiao Yan had said this. Twelve years ago, he had uttered the same words.

Back then, Xiao Yanfei was only three years old, and Concubine Cui taught her to dance. Seeing the little girl’s body covered in bruises from the knocks, Madam Yin realized Concubine Cui’s intentions. Madam Yin thought it was inappropriate; women learning dance might be viewed as serving others with their looks and could easily be looked down upon.

She scolded Concubine Cui for this, and that evening, Xiao Yan came to her angrily, saying these words.

Thinking of this past event, Madam Yin’s gaze at Xiao Yan became more distant, and a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of her lips.

As if adding fuel to the fire, Xiao Yan became even angrier, his brows furrowed, eager to vent his pent-up frustration: “In any case, let Ru’er decide Yanfei’s affairs! You stay out of it!” 

“Don’t meddle where you don’t belong!”

Xiao Yan’s voice was as cold as if it could produce ice shards, his gaze fierce, leaving no room for doubt in his eyes and expression.

At this moment, he only wanted to suppress Madam Yin, making her realize that he was the true head of the household.

The temperature in the room plummeted suddenly, transitioning from the warmth of March to the chill of December, a biting cold wind blowing.

“Meddling in others’ affairs?” Yin Shi chuckled softly.

Her lips pressed down, her gaze gradually turning cold, as if coated with a layer of ice. She calmly questioned, “May I ask, Marquis, are you planning to favor your concubine and neglect your wife?”

“Cui is a concubine, half a servant. There’s a distinction between master and servant. Xiao Yanfei is a young miss in this house. Cui should address her as Miss. What right does a servant have to act as the mistress?”

“I am Xiao Yanfei’s mother. Without my permission, no one is allowed to have designs on her.”

(She’s claiming to be Yanfei’s mother bcs she’s the main wife)

“I am the rightful mistress of this house!”

The volume of the last sentence wasn’t loud, but it was resounding, each word seeming to strike heavily at Xiao Yan’s heart.

Xiao Yan felt a burning sensation on his face, rendered speechless by Madam Yin’s words.

His chest heaved violently, breath growing heavier, his face alternating between red, white, and purple.

Suddenly, he stood up, accidentally knocking over the tea cup on the table. Tea spilled, but he paid it no mind; his anger overwhelmed reason.

Looking down at Madam Yin, he didn’t hide the contempt in his eyes, addressing her directly, “Yin Wan, you’re just a merchant’s daughter. Yet you dare to put on airs as the Madam in front of me. Without me, you’re not even comparable to Ru’er!”

“Don’t forget what you relied on to marry into the Marquis’s residence!”

Xiao Yan left decisively, not even turning back, leaving only a resolute and indifferent back.

Tea spilled from the table, creating a mess alongside the rumpled bedding on the couch.

Madam Yin, sitting on the couch, turned pale, almost devoid of any color, her delicate frame trembling with anger.

“Madam,” Mama Zhao choked out, her call filled with concern for Madam Yin.

The Yin family was the wealthiest merchant family in the south, and in this generation, there was only one daughter in the Yin family. The Yin family had originally intended to arrange a marriage for her to secure an heir for the family business, carefully selecting a suitable match. However, when the fifteen-year-old Yin Wan accidentally fell into the water, she happened to be rescued by the heir of the Marquis of Wu’an, Xiao Yan. This incident occurred in front of many onlookers and tarnished Madam Yin’s reputation, leading to the cancellation of her arranged marriage.

Shortly thereafter, the Marquis himself came to seek a marriage alliance for his son, and Madam Yin entered the Marquis’s residence through a formal betrothal process.

Yin’s parents dearly loved their daughter and provided her with a substantial dowry, transporting half of the Yin family’s assets all the way from the south to the capital. It is said that when the first batch of dowry was carried into the Marquis’s residence, the last batch had just been unloaded from the docks, creating a grand and extravagant scene that almost shook the entire capital.

People quietly gossiped about how Yin Shi had used any means necessary to marry into the Marquis’s residence, as a mere merchant’s daughter becoming the Marquis’s wife was nothing short of a miracle.

“Madam,” Mama Zhao helped Madam Yin up from the bed, guiding her to a nearby chair, gently patting her back, and softly advising, “Miss is Concubine Cui’s own daughter, and if Concubine Cui doesn’t mind, why should you? This is not worth the trouble.”

“Moreover, the Third Young Master hasn’t been officially designated as the heir…”

Mama Zhao, feeling indignant on behalf of her mistress, was interrupted by Madam Yin: “Mama, even if Yanfei is not my biological child, I can’t bear to see a young girl’s life ruined like this.”

Madam Yin’s gaze was clear, her tone calm, and her posture unwavering.

She initially didn’t want to quarrel with the Marquis for the sake of her son’s future title, but she couldn’t overlook such a disgraceful matter!

Mama Zhao knew Madam Yin’s stubborn nature; once she made up her mind, no one could dissuade her.

Ah—

A complex sigh echoed in the room, followed by a silence.

Since Xiao Yan angrily left the main courtyard, the couple had been in a silent standoff for a full two days before he stepped back into the main courtyard again.

Not long after, the servants in the main courtyard heard the furious words of the Madam: “Get out!”

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Translated By: Allthingsfluff