MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 57

Glossary

·Cai Mama (蔡妈妈): A stewardess in charge of repairs.

·Zhao Mama (赵嬷嬷): Sixth Madame Gu's personal maid.

·Bai Que (白雀): A maidservant serving Zhao Niangzi.

·Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis brought back.

·Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's loyal maidservant.

·Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Gu Jinghui's mother.

·Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The male protagonist, Marquis Gu.

·Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, Marquise of the household.

·Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): Wife of the sixth son, Gu Jingjun.

·Zi He (紫荷): Another maidservant previously assigned to Zhao Niangzi.

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Chapter 57: Someone Must Be Scheming

There are only two masters in the Marquis household.

One is the Marquis, the other is Sixth Master.

Who did Bai Que want to become a concubine for?

Cai Mama was a bit confused. Weren't the mansion rumors saying that after the Marquis married his wife, he would take Zhao Niangzi? How did Bai Que come into the picture? Had Bai Que hooked up with the philandering Sixth Master???

The stewardess with a large mole by her mouth said, "Oh, you still don't know? Before, both Bai Que and Zi He were assigned by Old Madame to serve 'that one,' but Zi He wasn't liked and was squeezed out. Bai Que and 'that one' call each other sisters. Bai Que's parents even said she was going to become a concubine along with 'that one.' Don't you get it? After all, 'that one' has had children; she wants an ally to help her win favor... cough."

Cai Mama was shocked: "It can be like that? Who does she think she is? Who does she think the Marquis is?"

It was truly absurd.

"Just being presumptuous! Haven't even tasted the bee's honey, but already flying up to the sky."

"Exactly! Always saying outside that she's the mother of the Marquis's two children, one might think the twins are our Marquis's children. Bai Que also put on airs in front of us, as if she were already half a mistress. So funny, now she's fallen hard, lost all face and dignity."

A group of stewardesses gathered together, talking animatedly, as if they had long disliked Zhao Niangzi, yet they were also the ones who flattered her the most. Cai Mama smiled and asked, "Are you all contributing shares?"

"Naturally, but we don't dare contribute much. Our families don't have much money. Whether we prosper depends on fate; just earning a little is fine."

"Yes, yes, just like you, we don't dare buy too much."

Cai Mama asked, "Didn't the Madame say this pepper business might also result in a loss?"

"She did, so it depends on whether we have the luck for wealth."

Cai Mama nodded.

These people saw that the Marquise had gained the Marquis's favor and wanted to curry favor, not caring whether this bit of silver made a profit or loss.

The pot shouldn't call the kettle black.

Initially, she too had sought a better master because Sixth Madame Gu was harsh.

Zhao Mama swept back in like a whirlwind and asked, "Have you decided? How much are you investing?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Of course, the same as you, investing fifty taels is good. We don't dare invest more; we're just following Sixth Madame to try."

"Yes, yes, following your example."

Zhao Mama raised her chin high and said with a smile, "The Marquise, having just arrived, dares to undertake such a big business. She must have a plan in mind. I also haven't saved much silver, otherwise I would invest more."

"Yes, yes, yes, Zhao Mama is right."

But no one took it seriously; they invested what they intended to.

Cai Mama didn't speak, just listened quietly.

As long as she wasn't excluded, why say more and annoy people?

Zhao Mama stood for a moment and said, "Ah, so busy every day, still have to go to Fengxuan Pavilion for Sixth Madame. I won't chat with you all anymore."

"The capable have more to do. Is Zhao Mama going to see Bai Que?"

"What's there to see about Bai Que? She's a servant like us. I'm going to see Zhao Niangzi. I heard she's been sick for a few days, didn't call a physician, and is worse today. Old Madame has already sent for a physician. I'm just going to see how Zhao Niangzi is doing."

Everyone exchanged meaningful glances.

Before, when Zhao Niangzi was sick, Sixth Madame Gu would definitely visit personally. This time, she only sent Zhao Mama to take a look. It was clear this Zhao Niangzi's schemes were really about to fail.

Zhao Mama hurried to Fengxuan Pavilion. The pavilion was filled with the sound of crying.

"What's going on?"

Because she shared the same surname as Zhao Niangzi, Zhao Mama was closer to her than others. As soon as she entered, she asked, "Why are you crying like this?"

Zhao Niangzi, her face flushed red, lay listlessly against the pillow, her voice hoarse, "It's Zhao Mama. Please sit. Bai Que is crying bitterly, and no one can console her. I'm also thinking of ways to comfort her."

Zhao Mama twitched the corner of her mouth disapprovingly and said, "You are the mistress, Bai Que is the servant. She caused the trouble, and you still have to find ways to comfort her? You are truly too kind."

Zhao Niangzi sighed: "My comfort is useless anyway, just wasted effort."

Bai Que had gone to Wutong Yuan for her sake. If she didn't pacify her now, the hearts of the maids and matrons below would grow cold, and who would work for her in the future?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

But she couldn't say that.

Zhao Mama also knew and said, "Crying is useless. The Marquis ordered her to leave. Old Madame won't contradict the Marquis for her sake. She can only leave. If there's a chance in the future, maybe she can return."

"It would be best if she could return."

Zhao Niangzi had a high fever and felt somewhat dizzy, her eyelids drooping listlessly.

Zhao Mama said, "You should drink your medicine and rest quickly. If a minor illness drags into a major one, it will be troublesome."

Zhao Niangzi sighed, disheartened, and said, "My health is failing. Let it ruin itself. Anyway, I'm just disliked."

Zhao Mama laughed and said, "As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood (meaning: as long as one is alive, there is hope). This time, the Marquis sending people away was just an accident. Who let the Marquise be so formidable? If you truly can't bear to part with Bai Que, why not think of a way to beg the Marquis? Even if the Marquis doesn't consider your face, he should consider the two young masters."

Zhao Niangzi's moist eyes suddenly lit up.

Like lightning splitting the dark night.

Seeing she understood, Zhao Mama said with a smile, "Rest well and recover. As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood. Sixth Madame knows you're sick and wishes she could come see you immediately, but she's been tied up with matters these past two days."

Zhao Niangzi said gratefully, "I remember Sixth Madame's kindness to us orphans and widows in my heart."

Zhao Mama came out and went to find Bai Que. She asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Bai Que had been standing under the sun and fainted upon seeing Sixth Madame Gu. Both sides knew perfectly well it was just a pretext.

Bai Que blew her nose, her eyes red and swollen, sobbing intermittently, "A bit better. Thank Sixth Madame for sending me back and calling a physician for me. It's just that in the future, Bai Que won't be able to repay Sixth Madame's kindness. I won't be able to stay in the Marquis household much longer."

The Marquis had ordered her to leave.

Rong Mama had already sent Xiao Hong to see her. Bai Que knew Rong Mama's meaning: after she recovered, she should go bid farewell to Old Madame Gu. Old Madame was kind-hearted and would probably give her something, preserving their master-servant relationship.

But what she wanted wasn't just that little something.

Zhao Mama said, "This matter is also due to your lack of foresight. Sixth Madame happened to meet you and, not knowing the situation, saw you fainted and even asked the Marquise about it, saying that you had, after all, served Old Madame and had more face than others, so why did it come to this?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Bai Que stopped her tears.

"How did the Marquise speak to the Marquis? She actually made the Marquis angry with me and wants to drive me out."

She refused to believe the Marquis could be so heartless to her.

Someone must be scheming behind this.

Zhao Mama said meaningfully, "The Marquise said she didn't even know who you were and didn't know you were standing outside refusing to leave. When Sixth Madame asked, she questioned the maid named Hongye beside her. That maid is sharp-tongued and publicly made Sixth Madame lose face."

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: check out my other work— The Marquis’s Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus and Rebirth as the Matriarch of a Noble Family (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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