Real Empress from a noble family

Although the Xin Family didn't hold the same high social rank as the Jiang Family, Xin Fubing's mother Jiang Tianhe was Sir Jibei's own daughter, the only one who survived into adulthood. So, she was the apple of Sir Jibei and his wife's eyes.

At present, she was in Guanzhou with her husband who took office there. However, what if she was reunited with her daughter one day and began to have some doubts about…

Madame Mi thought it over for two days but she still could not make her decision. Considering the deadline set by her father-in-law was coming, she then seized a chance to go back to her parents' home and ask her mother for help.

"Why do you fear? When your Madame Zhuang was in Jing City, she once even dared to beat Madame Dou's lady's maid to death in front of her," Old Madame of the Mi Family said at once after hearing her granddaughter's worry because she sympathized with her and meanwhile wanted to build a close relationship with the Jiang Family, "However, what did Marquess Qin do with her? Nowadays you have two sons and even grandsons. The Seventh Prince is outstanding among the princes and now he is preferred by Her Majesty. His wife will be Crown Princess and even the Empress in the future. What a fate beyond imagination! So, you're giving her a good offer! Will the Xin Family dare to punish you after they know it? As long as you insist in front of your parents-in-law that you just don't want her to waste her prime on the Ou Family's child, that's why you choose to lie!"

Madame Mi said with worry, "Although Xin Fubing is more docile than the Zhuang Family's and the Ou Family's daughters, she may tell the truth to her families… What if she says out her reluctance? Will our secret be disclosed?"

Madame of the Mi Family squinted, "If Ou Bicheng had a crush on her, they would have been engaged depending on that Madame Ou was Ou Bicheng's relative! So, it means that it's only wishful thinking that she has for Ou Bicheng and Lan'er has for her… Xin Fubing would never be given the chance to be the Empress if she was not born as the granddaughter of the Jiang Family! Since her parents are absent and her grandmother is too weak, no one can assist to provide advice to her now. Can't you even deal with a familiar girl with your experienced craft?"

Seeing her daughter was still hesitant, Madame heaved a sigh, "Silly child, do you think I persuade you only for Yinyin's sake? Don't you know that your father-in-law just stayed home those days? But Marquess Qin paid a visit! See? Matching Xin Fubing with the Seventh Prince has been agreed by Her Majesty and Marquess Qin, except your father-in-law! If you can get it done, you can not only help Yinyin get rid of one competitor but also satisfy Her Majesty and Marquess Qin's wish… You just can't miss the chance of killing two birds with one stone!"

Finally, Madame Mi was carried away by this speech. After she was back in the Jiang Family, she immediately sent for Xin Fubing and began to persuade her with patience!

Qiu Yelan had no idea about these things. At that moment, she was confused, "Why did Jiang Yadan marry those mistresses? If I hadn't seen with my own eyes, I would never believe that they would treat Madame Tao Junior in such a way! Oh! It's them, the two sons of mistresses! I don't remember their names. How arrogant they were! If they were in my hands, I would have…"

"My lady, the weather is too hot. Please drink some plum juice to cool down!" Mrs. Zhou interrupted her, presenting her with a glazed cup.

"It's sweet and sour. You drink some, too." Qiu Yelan realized that Caiqi and Caiying were still in the room with her. Although they were Jiang Yashuang's close maid, she was not sure whether they would keep secrets for her. If they started the rumor that she was fed up with her nephews so soon after she married into this family and wanted to interfere with Jiang Yadan's backyard affairs…

Qiu Yelan took the chance of plum juice to drop the topic. She mused a while, knocked the glazed cup with her finger, and said, "You leave us alone. I want to talk with Mrs. Zhou."

After Su He and the maids left, Mrs. Zhou indeed started to point out her improper remark, "Given your status now, you are not supposed to straightforwardly express your dislike for young masters born by the Eighth Young Master's mistresses."

"Alas! I feel sympathy for Madame Tao Junior!" Qiu Yelan said with a frown, "She is a fine lady of a venerable family. Although the Tao Family is on the decline, they once provided great support…"

"You're not supposed to say that!" Mrs. Zhou wore a bitter smile and gestured her to watch her tongue.

"Well, anyway, although Madame Tao Junior is not a beauty, who else can be so womanly virtuous like her? In front of me, mistresses in ritually improper clothing came to ask her for things awarded by Her Majesty and Madame. Are they worthy to use? Under such a circumstance, Madame Tao Junior put on a smile to satisfy them without a trace of impatience!" Qiu Yelan snorted, "Especially the two… the nephews. They wanted the bracelets on Madame Tao Junior's wrists and they dared to rob it off! Madame Tao Junior didn't expect this and she was in pain due to their rudeness. But they wouldn't stop. How cruel! People who don't know them will definitely regard them as robbers!"

She rubbed her forehead because of a headache, "I once thought Jiang Yadan is not reliable. But I didn't expect his backyard could be in such chaos!"

Mrs. Zhou was about to say something when Qiu Yelan got mad again. She patted the table and said angrily, "Madame Tao Junior is too weak! I mourn for her unfortunate but I'm angry at her cowardice!"

"You wrong Madame Tao Junior." Mrs. Zhou knew she could be willful sometimes, but in general, she was willing to take advice. So, she heaved a sigh and said straightforwardly, "You know well that the Tao Family cannot be Madame Tao Junior's back-up now. Reversely, that family now depends on Madame and Madame Tao Junior speaking for them to support their descendants! That's why Madame Tao Junior feels inferior in front of the Eighth Young Master. What's more, do you think being tough can tame his nature?"

Qiu Yelan recalled that once she was cornered by Qiu Jinglan who used a fake name "Ruan Qingyan". She has a twitch on the corner of her mouth, "That person…" She felt great pressure to deal with him although she didn't give a thought to morals. As for expecting the mild Madame Tao Junior to tame him, she confessed it was impossible.

"So, Madame Tao Junior can do nothing but endure." Mrs. Zhou pursed her lips, "Since there is no other person here, please forgive me to say that given the glory of the Jiang Family today and the Eighth Young Master's temper, will the Jiang Family punish him severely even if he punches Madame Tao Junior in a rage?"

Qiu Yelan sneered, "At the time of last year or so, Jiang Yashuang told me that the Jiang Family tightened its rules. Descendants could no longer be let off after a reprimand. Then I asked him how to tighten. He answered 'at least two reprimands'!"

"That explains!" Mrs. Zhou sighed, "Madame Tao Junior is at least the daughter of the Tao Family and the daughter-in-law of our family's fourth branch. It's impossible for her to be bullied easily. Only because she can't handle the Eighth Young Master! Those mistresses then rely on him to be arrogant…"

Sighing for Madame Tao Junior was not Mrs. Zhou's purpose. She now got down to business, "So you must seize Jiang Yashuang's heart! I still remember the prescription from Madame of the Ruan Family when the Princess got married. But it can only be used in the second half of the year. At that time, I will teach you how… To ensure you give birth to a boy once and for all!"

"…" Qiu Yelan didn't expect utterly that a second before the topic was sighing for Madame Tao Junior's misfortune and later it turned to "giving birth to a boy once and for all". She was dumbfounded for a while and then she said with embarrassment, "Mrs. Zhou, isn't it too early to say this?"

It was the body of a 16-year-old woman, OK? To be more biologically exact, it was 15… Thinking about giving birth now…

"Haven't you realized now why Madame Tao Junior comes to such a pass and the ultimate reason behind?" Mrs. Zhou said solemnly, "It's not because she's not beautiful enough, neither she receives no affection from her husband… The ultimate reason is she has no son!"

Before Qiu Yelan could reply, Mrs. Zhou began her long speech, "We once made some inquiries and learned why your mother-in-law, Madame Zhuang was so arrogant and bossy in the past but still keeps her position as Madame Zhuang? She even sold Jiang Yazhu's mother! That's because she gave birth to two boys and a girl. For the sake of descendants, the Old Master had to tolerate her!"

"As for the Madame, she is excellent in family status and birth and she is Her Majesty's mother. But the Seventh Old Master passed away too early. Although she brings up Jiang Yashuang, who is too young now, the Madame doesn't have a say in important issues. As a result, the Madame can't help Madame Tao Junior too much even if she wants to!"

"If Her Majesty can have a son apart from one princess, will there be a competition for Crown Prince? A trueborn prince is endowed to live in the East Palace!"

"As for Empress Dowager Gu, she received much affection but if she hadn't given birth to the Emperor, the position of the Empress Dowager could be a reverie to her regardless of the affection she received…"

Qiu Yelan circled her head and shouted in pain, "Got it! Got it! Got it!"

"In conclusion, the most important thing for you now is not to sigh for Madame Tao Junior, but to take lessons from her and give birth to a clever and healthy young master as soon as possible!" Wearing a serious look, Mrs. Zhou persuaded in a sophisticated way, "Only when you have your own child, and if he can inherit the intelligence from Yashuang and your brother… At that time, all families have to endure you even if you lord over others if only you're not going to cross the red line!"

"Let's discuss it later. Now let's focus on Madame Tao Junior!" Qiu Yelan said, who was collapsed on the table, "According to what you said, if only Madame Tao Junior could have a son, she would not be in such a dilemma now?"

Although Mrs. Zhou was not satisfied that she cared only about Madame Tao Junior and neglected her own situation, she still remarked, "That's true! The Jiang Family has so many descendants but a trueborn is a trueborn. If Madame Tao Junior had had her own son, would other mistresses dare to bully her? A non-trueborn son is even not worth mentioning. Otherwise, if the trueborn son succeeds, he will have it coming to him."

"I wonder if it is because Madame Tao Junior's health problem or Jiang Yadan accompanies her too few times at night." Qiu Yelan said to herself and then Mrs. Zhou interrupted her, "Young Madame! You are not supposed to say that. It's forbidden for a sister-in-law to interfere with her brother-in-law's backyard affairs. And it's even worse to interfere with eldest uncle's backyard affairs! Even though you deeply sympathize with Madame Tao Junior, you can never lend a hand to her in such things… You can at most send her some prescriptions for her health!"

"Madame Tao Junior is not too poor to send for a doctor. The prescription… Do I really need to send her?" Qiu Yelan rolled up her eyes and said, "Mrs. Zhou, don't think I like to interfere with others' business. Don't you know that grandmother adores Madame Tao Junior? My grandmother is Her Majesty's mother. Isn't it important to win her affection?"

Mrs. Zhou didn't think so, "Her Majesty also needs to listen to Old Master. Jiang Yashuang is his favorite grandson. If you can soon give birth to a son…"

"I don't know how to talk to you!" Qiu Yelan had no choice but to change the topic, "Right, has the wrapper for Grandmother's bamboo flute from He Shuijin been finished?"

She admired what He Shuijin did. He Shuijin spent money and efforts looking for the bamboo flute to win Madame Tao's affection but she didn't prepare the accessories for the bamboo flute when it was used to play or be kept. Deliberately, she divided the tasks among sisters-in-law when presenting that bamboo flute. So Qiu Yelan got the task to make a wrapper for the bamboo flute as a matter of convenience.

In this way, she won the spotlight as well as let sisters-in-law join in so they wouldn't envy her.

"Almost," Mrs. Zhou said in a hurry, "I get to know that Old Master's favorite pattern is complicated and I need to make it more delicate so it won't be finished before tomorrow afternoon."

"Take it to me after it is finished." Qiu Yelan gave a nod, "I guess Sheng Shishui has finished her task but I hear she hasn't brought that to Grandmother. Is she waiting for me?"

Mrs. Zhou twitched the corner of her mouth, "Her task is only making a string bag, at most with a jade decoration. How simple! It can't be the equivalency of ours."

"Simple as her task is, He Shuijin is not a simple person by giving us the two tasks!" Qiu Yelan said calmly, "We all know Sheng Shishui is from a humble family. Although she marries up and the Lu Family, as well as the Sheng Family, prepare as much dowry as they can, her dowry still cannot be compared with others'. So, He Shuijin gives the simplest and cost-saving task to her while the most complicated one to me because Old Princess and Mother gave me bountiful dowry, not to mention even my brother gave me silver notes worthy of four hundred thousand taels."

"No matter she is simple or not, you are the one the Madame wants to give her preference." Mrs. Zhou squinted, "So you have to work hard to give birth to a trueborn son as soon as possible!"

"…!" Qiu Yelan swallowed her helplessness and said with no expression, "Jiang Yashuang is coming back soon. I go to the kitchen to add another cuisine for him!"