NFBE Chapter 59 Bad News from Southern Xinjiang
Chapter 59 Bad News from Southern Xinjiang
Fang Xiangfu —
"Where did Erlang go?"
The person asking the question was Madam Zheng, the matriarch of the Fang family.
"Young master accompanied Lady Yu to distribute porridge in the southern city," the servant replied respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's expression immediately changed. She waved her hand irritably, and the servant, with great tact, withdrew.
The old nanny who served Zheng was also an old woman. Seeing Zheng's behavior, she dared to ask, "Why is the mistress unhappy?"
Granny Liu was her dowry maid, and Madam Zheng didn't hide anything from her, saying angrily, "Yu Jue is such a short-tempered child, donating all his dowry at the slightest sign of trouble!"
Granny Liu advised, "It's just a little bit of money; Miss Jue certainly won't donate anything important."
"It's not that I'm after my sister-in-law's money, but with her way of doing things, how can I feel at ease letting her run Erlang's household? Erlang is completely clueless about household affairs, how will we manage in the future?"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he waved his fan loudly.
Granny Liu was helpless. She knew that the mistress of the house was unwilling to let Yu Jue become her daughter-in-law, but the marriage was arranged by the Grand Madam. Out of filial piety, she could only grit her teeth and accept it.
“I told you long ago that like mother, like son, and look, she’s just as clueless as I thought. Back then, my sister-in-law even planned for my eldest son to marry Yu Jue, but luckily I saw through her intentions and preemptively betrothed a girl from the Wang family. To appease her, my mother-in-law wanted my second son to marry Yu Jue, but she still didn’t think much of him!”
Granny Liu knew about this. No matter how much the Grand Madam loved her daughter, she knew what kind of person her daughter was. She didn't dare let the child she raised become the matriarch, so she arranged for the Second Prince to marry her, at least that way the Second Prince wouldn't bully his cousin.
However, Fang Wan was proud and arrogant. She disliked that Erlangjun was the second son and could not inherit the family line. She felt that the Fang family looked down on her and even made a scene at her parents' home before leaving in anger. When Jue Niangzi was seven years old, she began to teach her how to handle household affairs and vowed to cultivate her into a wife of the family head.
The marriage between Erlangjun and Jue Niangzi was arranged by the Grand Madam out of love for her granddaughter after Fang Wan passed away.
Granny Liu comforted her, "Miss Jue began managing the household at the age of nine. She has a good reputation and will surely be able to help Second Master manage the household affairs well."
"Knowledge is enough for social interactions. People who are too talented are often aloof and intolerant of even the slightest flaw. Such people don't live a good life, just like their mother."
Perhaps mentioning Fang Wan reminded Zheng of old grievances. She had long harbored resentment towards her sister-in-law. "Back then, my sister-in-law died in childbirth. My mother-in-law forced me and my husband to go to the Duke of Yu's mansion to demand an explanation. She even forced the young master of Yu to swear an oath in the mourning hall. Just thinking about it makes me feel ashamed."
In Zheng's opinion, Fang Wan's untimely death was entirely her own doing. If Aunt Mo had really had a problem, Madam Fang, who loved her daughter dearly, could have turned the Yu Guogong Mansion upside down.
When the wet nurse who accompanied Fang Wan to the dowry returned to the mansion, she reported that Fang Wan had been living in the Yu State Duke's mansion. At the time of her marriage, the Yu State Duke did not have a single concubine by his side. Even the concubine Mo at that time, according to the examination by the wet nurse, was still a virgin.
Five or six years after Fang Wan's marriage, the inner courtyard was quiet and peaceful, and Prince Yu treated her with great respect. It wasn't until Yu Jue was three years old that he proposed to take Aunt Mo as a concubine.
Fang Wan was unhappy at the time and almost sold Mo Yiniang off. Yu Shizi had no choice but to hide her in the outer residence, and the stalemate lasted for a long time. It was Fang Taifu who couldn't stand it and stepped in to mediate, telling Fang Wan to be more magnanimous, that a mere concubine couldn't cause any trouble.
In the end, Fang Wan set rules for Aunt Mo: she was not allowed to leave Qingyu Pavilion unless necessary, and Prince Yu had to spend twenty-five days a month with her.
Yu Shizi agreed and treated her as before. Mo Yiniang also followed the rules and paid her respects morning and evening, being humble and submissive. Even so, when Fang Wan saw Yu Shizi helping Mo Yiniang, who was nine months pregnant, to take a walk in the garden, she was so angry that she threatened to miscarry.
Madam Fang also questioned Granny Yan carefully about whether Aunt Mo had said anything provocative or even made any eye contact with her, but there was no truth to it; the woman hadn't even looked in her direction.
Granny Yan also asked Fang Wan why she was angry. On her deathbed, Fang Wan told her that Yu Qi's gaze towards her was always one of respect for his principal wife, and never the kind of love he showed to Aunt Mo.
After hearing this, Madam Fang remained silent for a long time. Madam Zheng, who was also present at the time, was also speechless. Fang Wan was no longer a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. Her son was already over ten years old. She had a stable position, held an official title, and was respected by her husband. He spent more than twenty days a month with her. She had both face and substance. What was there for you to worry about regarding love?
She never seemed to dwell on the old grudges between her lord and Qiao Xiyin, the mother of the current Marquis of Weiyun.
Granny Yan said that Fang Wan had said before her death, "From love comes sorrow, from love comes fear. If one is free from love, there is neither sorrow nor fear. Brother Xiao, I regret it very much."
Upon hearing this, Madam Fang was overcome with grief, beating her chest and crying out in injustice!
Zheng was both amused and annoyed, but she dared not show it on her face, raising her sleeve to cover herself, while inwardly she felt a chill run down her spine.
Back when Fang Wan was still a young lady, the Fang family originally intended to arrange a marriage between her and the royal family, marrying her to Prince Yu, Xiao Zhun. The two had known each other since childhood, and she had no objections. However, at the Lantern Festival, she met the handsome young man and fell in love with him for the rest of her life.
After returning, she insisted on marrying Yuqi, pursuing so-called love and refusing to form an alliance. At that time, the Fang family had already made a private agreement with Prince Yu, exchanged tokens, and even discussed the date for a formal marriage proposal. However, Fang Wan suddenly pulled this stunt.
Madam Fang scolded her for not saying so sooner, and for never respecting her wishes in the family.
Fang Wan said, "If we hadn't met, it wouldn't have mattered who I married. But now that we've met, there's no way I can settle for less."
Prince Yu was a true gentleman. Although he loved Fang Wan, he did not want to force her. He took the initiative to return the token and did not make the matter public. Even though he was sad, he wished Fang Wan happiness.
Since his own daughter was not up to par, Old Master Fang could no longer insist. Although he looked down on the newly risen nobles, he reluctantly accepted it, thinking that military power was of utmost importance in chaotic times.
Zheng felt that Fang Wan was lucky enough in her life. She was born into the Fang family and her parents treated her like a precious jewel. Why did she have to act so recklessly?
For families like theirs, marriage is essentially an exchange of interests between two families, leaving them no choice but to accept it. Talking about love is simply ridiculous.
It was already a rare privilege for Fang Wan to meet Xiao Zhun, who loved her, but she didn't want him. So be it. Being able to marry the person she loved, and for him to give her the dignity and respect due to a legitimate wife, was already a blessing. But to insist that he share the same thoughts as her was too greedy.
So although Fang Wan was renowned for her talent when she was young, Zheng always felt that she had a problem with her brain and wondered how good her daughter could be.
Just as Zheng was complaining, an urgent military report arrived at the palace from the south, stating that the Southern Hebei army had invaded the border city, the Duke of Yu's command was ineffective and the entire front had collapsed, and the Crown Prince had been attacked and his fate was still unknown.
Emperor Yu was furious and ordered the Duke of Yu to defend the southern border to the death and not to retreat even one more city. He also ordered the Duke of Liang to lead 80,000 troops to reinforce the area and dispatched General Nie to search for the whereabouts of the Crown Prince.