The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 572 - 539: Schemes (Second Update)
The ceremony of the new daughter-in-law serving tea was disrupted by Xu Jia’s opening remarks, leaving the whole room awkward.
Tang Yuan’s stiff face had not yet relaxed.
What Mrs. Qiao thought as she sized up Xu Jia was unknown.
Tang Wenji, seeing no one else speaking, handed the prepared red envelope to his daughter-in-law and made some perfunctory remarks.
Mrs. Qiao, coming back to her senses, also handed her red envelope to the maid accompanying her to give it to Xu Jia.
Amidst the awkwardness, the father-in-law Tang Wenji stood up and left under the excuse of having something to do.
However, Mrs. Qiao couldn’t abandon the situation as men could; she coughed into her silk handkerchief, about to speak, but was preempted by her son.
Tang Yuan, predicting that Xu Jia wouldn’t leave without an explanation, called the steward in with a sullen face, "Bring in the servants spreading rumors, each is to be punished with thirty strokes."
Since last night, he had felt his newlywed wife’s words were often targeted, not knowing if she had noticed something.
If he couldn’t meet her expectations today by making an example to secure her position, who knew what trouble might arise later on.
The steward left and shortly after returned with the servants who had pointed and whispered about Xu Jia, two of whom were actually rough servants from the main courtyard.
While they weren’t close aides, they were still from his courtyard, and being punished so would inevitably lose face.
Mrs. Qiao looked at Tang Yuan, "Isn’t thirty strokes too severe? It’s not really a life-threatening matter. I understand you want to support the new bride, but if blood is shed on the first day, it might breed resentment among the servants."
Tang Yuan feigned difficulty, his gaze falling on Xu Jia.
Xu Jia sneered.
What a well-coordinated mother and son, throwing the problem back at her with just a few words. If she insisted on the punishment, she’d appear unforgiving and intolerant, breeding discontent and deceit among the servants. But if she mercifully forgave those same servants, it would be akin to admitting their mockery and ridicule of her, making her seem weak and easily manipulated, and she’d lose authority and status in the Tang Family.
Sipping her tea slowly, Xu Jia said nonchalantly, "They insulted the face of the second master; whether it’s worth the thirty strokes, the second master can decide for himself. I have no place to interfere."
Isn’t this just mutual shirking? Who can’t play this game?
Just as Xu Jia finished speaking, she saw Tang Yuan’s face darken further, his brows tightly knit as he declared harshly, "Add twenty more strokes!"
Even Mrs. Qiao was frightened by her son’s imposing demeanor today, forgetting to drink her tea, forgetting what she was going to say, completely stupefied.
It wasn’t until the screams of the punished servants outside reached her that she snapped back to reality.
With fifty strokes, those elderly and frail servants were already lifeless, dragged out in a bloodied mess.
Xu Jia remained unfazed, her face calm as she lowered her gaze.
Though it was clearly trouble she had stirred up, she acted as if it had nothing to do with her until the end, making Mrs. Qiao glare at her secretly, wishing she could crush the teacup in her hand.
Defeated at the outset, her attempt to suppress Xu Jia backfired, and Mrs. Qiao felt a surge of anger, tired of looking at Xu Jia, motioning for the two to leave.
Xu Jia slowly stood, paid her respects, and left with Tang Yuan, the two walking along the shaded path back to Zilan Courtyard.
Tang Yuan had thought that since this woman caused such chaos in the main courtyard just after entering the residence, she should at least give him some explanation, but she had no intention of opening her mouth, looking completely at ease.
He had intended to marry a puppet he could easily manipulate to pave the way for Qingyu, not a domineering mistress of the house.
Thinking of this, Tang Yuan couldn’t help but wonder if Qingyu had misjudged, or if he had married the wrong person.
Xu Family’s Xu Jia was completely different from how Qingyu described. She was not only not soft and malleable but bristling with thorns, sharp-tongued and eloquent.
The more he thought about it, the worse Tang Yuan’s expression became, his gaze icy as he looked at Xu Jia, "Are you satisfied with such a grand entrance on your first day, Second Madam?"
Xu Jia returned a feigned smile, "Oh, is Second Master blaming me?"
As her words fell, Xu Jia saw regret in his eyes; he regretted marrying her.
Now you regret it? Haven’t you heard the saying, it’s easy to invite a god, but difficult to send one away?
Xu Jia replied calmly, "I’m doing this all for your sake, Second Master."
Tang Yuan apparently did not appreciate the gesture and still wore a stern expression.
Regardless of whether he wanted to hear it or not, Xu Jia continued, "The Old Master is a great scholar of the age, having written numerous famous works, with disciples all over. Over the years, he has been traveling abroad, promoting academic pursuits, making the Tang Family one of the most renowned literary families in Great Chu, highly esteemed. In such a prominent family, even the slightest trace of dirt is intolerable, for once uncovered, it won’t just damage someone’s individual interests but the entire Tang family clan. Second Master, do not underestimate the power of those wagging tongues today; a three-inch tongue can cause harm to a seven-foot body. Today they can tear down your face, causing you disgrace; tomorrow they might very well throw the entire Tang family’s reputation to the streets for all to trample upon."
Tang Yuan focused on the phrase "In such a prominent family, even the slightest trace of dirt is intolerable," feeling a chill at the heart, sweating profusely, completely forgetting to question why Xu Jia, a woman from a military family, possessed such foresight and wisdom.
By the time he came to his senses, Xu Jia had already walked away, leaving only a faint lingering fragrance in the air.
He stood bewildered for a moment, intending to return to the study, when he saw a small figure staggering toward him from a distance, calling out, "Second Uncle."
The soft voice melted his heart.
Tang Yuan’s previously gloomy eyes instantly softened, a smile spreading across his face, asking, "Yongyong, why have you come?"
Tang Yong pouted with grievance, "Second Uncle said he would come to accompany Yongyong last night, but he never did. The nanny said Second Uncle has married a new bride, so Second Uncle must not want Yongyong and Mother anymore."
Upon hearing this, Tang Yuan’s expression changed slightly, he quickly glanced around and seeing no one passing by, leaned down, put his finger to his lips as a gesture for silence, whispered, "Those words earlier, don’t repeat them casually in the future, got it? Or Second Uncle will send you somewhere else right now, and you’ll never see me again."
Tang Yong was scared, his eyes welling up with tears, quickly promising he wouldn’t dare.
Only then did Tang Yuan smile broadly, asking whether he had eaten breakfast, instructing the kitchen to prepare if not.
While speaking, the uncle and nephew arrived at the study, where Tang Yuan lifted his little nephew onto his lap, picking up a threadbound book intending to teach him reading.
Just then, his trusted servant reported that someone had come from the outer manor.
Tang Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, warmly instructing Tang Yong to sit still, and went out.
The visitor was the capable maid Yuan Yang from Jiang Qingyu’s side, wearing a veiled hat, light gauze covering her face, making it hard for others to recognize her.
Yuan Yang didn’t stay long, handing over the things entrusted by her mistress to Tang Yuan and then departing.
Tang Yuan returned to the study, opened the square wooden box, revealing a redwood comb on beige silk cloth inside.
When he had given this comb to Jiang Qingyu back then, she asked its meaning, and he said it represented longing.
Now that Qingyu sent the comb to him instead of returning it, its meaning was evident.
Tang Yuan felt guilty, having originally promised to meet Qingyu last night, but the Xu Family had caused a stir over a sheet, accusing him of "favoring the new over the old," which distracted him from keeping the promise.
After looking at the redwood comb for a while, Tang Yuan discarded Xu Jia’s previous words from his mind, determined to find a way to let Qingyu change her identity and marry into the family soon.
Xu Jia created such a commotion on the first day, causing the courtyard maids and matrons to dare not treat her lightly, each stepping forth to pledge loyalty, hoping to make a mark in front of the second mistress. A rough matron secretly reported to Xu Jia that Second Master had just gone outside the side door to see a woman wearing a veiled hat.
The rough matron didn’t recognize the woman, but Xu Jia could guess without needing to see: it was Jiang Qingyu’s head maid, Yuan Yang.
Yuan Yang often disguised herself when running errands for Jiang Qingyu.
This time, choosing the day after Tang Yuan’s wedding to come was presumably because Tang Yuan didn’t, as he did in a past life, leave his bride on the wedding night to see her at the outer manor, so Jiang Qingyu panicked.
Not sure whether to praise Jiang Qingyu’s ingenuity or scorn the Tang family brothers for being fooled by the same woman.
Years ago, Tang Yuan suffered a severe illness, and Jiang Qingyu was to marry in to avert the misfortune. At the time, Tang Yuan’s elder brother Tang Xiao was the one who welcomed the bride. Jiang Qingyu was unwilling to spend her life as a widow upon entering the Tang Family and, seeing Tang Xiao’s handsome demeanor, devised a plan to consummate with him. When Tang Xiao awoke from his drunken state and realized the grievous mistake, he had to assume responsibility for Jiang Qingyu.
Later, Tang Yuan’s health gradually improved, he began attending imperial examinations.
Jiang Qingyu saw that he was not only handsome but also gifted and promising, so she found an opportunity to secretly inform Tang Yuan that she had been forced at the time, having no choice but to become Tang Xiao’s woman.
Tang Yuan not only believed her but began to pity her more; even while Tang Xiao was alive, the two exchanged glances, and after Tang Xiao’s death became even more brazen, with Jiang Qingyu moving to the outer manor under the pretext of mourning for Tang Xiao to facilitate secret meetings.
