“And how did it related to the marriage of the Fourth Sister of the Third Branch? I don’t understand.”
These few words instantly turned the eyes of the entire Third Branch toward Madam Wei, their gazes now brimming with fury.
It was indeed her scheme—deliberately elevating the Fifth Branch while humiliating the Third one .
The Third Old Madam and Erlang’s wife, who usually maintained cordial relations with her, now looked ready to pounce and scratch Madam Wei’s face anytime.
The people of the Fifth Branch, however, remained silent. After all, they were no fools.
If this matter could be pinned onto Madam Wei and Du Jingyi and her husband, then the Fifth Branch would stand to benefit. Naturally, they would leave no room for the Third Branch to maneuver.
Madam Wei, realizing she had become the target, cried out in grievance, tears welling in her eyes.
“Fifth Uncle, did you not come to us yourself, asking that we go to Prince Min’s Palace to propose marriage for Qi Niang? How has it suddenly become my husband and me who are pushing this matter for her? This is a grave injustice!”
Hearing this, Shang Wulang’s heart sank.
He had originally received the news from outside sources. Now it seemed the Third Branch had gotten wind of it as well.
It was simply that they had approached the Eldest Uncle and Aunt earlier, giving themselves a head start.
Thus, whether the East Courtyard wanted to push the matter onto the West Courtyard, or the West onto the East, it was a hot potato no one wished to handle.
In the end, it was the Fifth Old Master who, with his usual bluster and cunning, managed to shove the burden away.
Like a mad dog, he roared, berating Duke Shang and his wife:
“Stop spewing nonsense! Just tell me—are you siding with us or with the Third Branch? Make it clear today! Otherwise, no one will leave this room!”
He had always been a scoundrel. When his elder brother lived, he could still be restrained. But with the old Duke Shang gone, and Shang Yukuan weak and pliant, the inner residence had fallen under the sway of Madam Gu, then the eldest daughter-in-law Madam Liu, and now Madam Wei.
Over the decades, his temper had grown ever more ungovernable.
Each time Du Jingyi saw him speak, it was as though some madness had seized him. At the slightest displeasure, he would bellow louder than anyone else, exploding like a firecracker at the smallest spark.
No one wished to cross him, and over time this bred arrogance. Believing everyone feared him, he became ever more overbearing.
Du Jingyi stood aside, her heart growing cold as she looked upon Duke Shang and Madam Wei.
They had raised this jackal together so let them deal with it themselves. She would not step forward and risk accusations of bullying her elders.
Even though the Daxing Dynasty was still young, it had its laws and codes of propriety. Why should she allow such filth to be heaped upon her name without cause?
So she kept silent, merely watching the spectacle.
As expected, after being scolded by the Fifth Old Master, even the usually mild-tempered Duke Shang’s expression grew dark.
“Fifth Uncle, this is too much! You yourself came to us, asking that we deliver your message to King Min’s Mansion. I refused, yet you pressed the matter. Later, you went to Liu liang and his wife, demanding they take charge for Seventh Sister. If this were a proper marriage, it would be one thing. But to propose her as a concubine, and now have the two branches squabbling like fishwives in the streets for this —what a disgrace?”
Today, perhaps, he truly tasted the bitterness of raising a tiger only for it to turn and rend him.That is the reason Duke Shang such things which is totally out of his character.
Ordinarily, the two families joined hands to suppress others. But now, over the position of a concubine in King Min’s household, they were tearing each other apart.
His carefully arranged birthday banquet lay in ruins, and his anger boiled. Yet years of indulgence had eroded his authority. So neither side took him seriously; as his words carried no weight.
The Third Old Madam even snorted, raising her chin with disdain.
“My nephew, you make it sound easy. Your eldest branch covets the titles and splendor, but when it comes to dirty work, you push it upon us. If there were any better choice, do you think we would willingly send our Fourth daughter as a concubine? And again it is the shameless Fifth Branch! They dare to throw away a good girl just to curry favor with an old man!”
In one breath, she managed to offend both households.
Duke Shang and his wife’s faces darkened, while the Fifth Branch exploded in fury.
“Who are you calling shameless?”
The Fifth Old Master could brawl with three men at once, but against Erlang’s sharp-tongued wife, he was outmatched. Panic or no, she would never lose in a shouting match.
“Whoever admits it is shameless! If Qi Niang is so desperate for men, why send her to the old King ? Better pack her off to Mianxiang Tower ( A renowned brothel) at least there she’ll have someone warming her bed every night!”
Hearing these words Yingtao and Lizhu hurried to shield Du Jingyi, stepping quietly aside. Though they came from humble families, they had never witnessed such a vulgar spectacle. Even the shrews in the village fields could not scold each other like this!
And here it was, unfolding in the famous Duke’s mansion.
“You wretch, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
This time it was the Fifth Old Lady who sprang forward. Though she was never especially affectionate toward her granddaughter Qi Niang, to hear her so vilely insulted was still intolerable.
Rolling up her sleeves, she charged towards the third branch once again.
The courtyard had already been smashed apart—would the main hall now be reduced to the same chaos?
At last, Madam Wei lost all patience. She snapped at Mama Jiao:
“Restrain them all! Whoever dares to resist, bind them and send them to the yamen! Tell Lord Yang they are disturbing the Duke’s health and must be punished!”
“Yes, Madam!”
A great many servants who depended on Madam Wei’s favor rushed in from outside.
Two or three stood before each person, their fierce expressions leaving no doubt they meant business.
The Third and Fifth Branches quailed, caught off guard by Madam Wei’s sudden ruthlessness.
The eggs they had once abandoned had, on this day, hardened into stones striking back at them.
Du Jingyi’s lips curved in a cold sneer. Pretending to be a Bodhisattva, were you? It seems your piety was never that deep.
She glanced at Yingtao. With a subtle movement of her hand, a fine white powder drifted out, landing—by chance—near Shang Wulang.
At once, his body itched unbearably. Yet surrounded as he was, how could he scratch? He clenched his teeth and endured.
The room fell into uneasy silence, none daring to speak further.
But the Fifth Old Master, fearless as ever, stiffened his neck and barked at Madam Wei:
“I don’t believe it—you’d dare send me to the magistrate? Today I’ll show you what it means when the barefoot have no fear of those wearing shoes!”
With that, he seized the medicine bottle beside him and smashed it to the ground.
His eyes bloodshot, as he lunged at Madam Wei.
The old maidservant standing in front of her screamed, trying to block him, but was struck aside like a rag doll.
Though aged, his strength was still formidable.
Madam Wei was nearly frightened senseless by his sudden madness. Beside her, Shang Yukuan had already shrunk into a corner, head buried in his arms.