Chapter 2: Sisters-in-law

The main room in the elegant garden was quiet and peaceful, with the gauze curtain hanging low.

On the bed lay a woman about thirty years old, with dark eyebrows, fair skin that almost appeared translucent, likely a result of childbirth. Her lips were only slightly redder than her face, which looked pale.

In this era, thirty was considered an advanced age for childbirth. However, mother and child were both safe, and she had given birth to twins—one boy and one girl. The entire elegant garden was in celebration. The head maid and the servants were all pleased. The mistress had been married for fifteen years, and the couple had always been harmonious. Upon entering the household, she took charge of the family’s finances, and her mother-in-law was gentle and seldom intervened in household matters. While the sisters-in-law occasionally had their differences, they always gave their full support when needed. The family of the Xiao household was well-governed, and the inner courtyard was peaceful.

It was precisely because of this that Minister Tong had agreed to marry off his youngest daughter.

In the corridor, maids were either busy or standing still, and Granny Zhang, standing by the door, heard footsteps growing nearer.

“Greetings, Second Young Master, Third Young Master,” the servants all greeted in unison.

“How is Mother?”

“How is my sister?”

The two brothers asked at the same time.

“Ah, which should I answer first?” Granny Zhang, the wet nurse to the Tong family, had known the young masters since they were children, and was therefore very close to them.

The head maid, Qiaoyue, lifted the curtain and smiled. “Truly, a mother and her sons share a heart. Please come in, Masters. I will go and bring the Fifth Young Master and the young lady to see you, for Madam wants to see you!”

Seeing the little sister, Qiaoyue was a thoughtful maid, so she hurried off.

Once the baby in the swaddling clothes was placed on the bed, the family had gathered. The excited parents and the eager brothers all stood close, heads leaning toward each other.

The baby in the blue embroidered cloud-patterned blanket had dark, thick hair, reddish skin, and slightly swollen eyes. Her small mouth moved now and then, and her tiny hands and feet wiggled in the blanket. The other baby, wrapped in a red patterned blanket, was slightly smaller, with furrowed brows, lying quietly.

After greeting their mother and admiring the twins, the brothers reluctantly left.

“Yuer, you’ve worked hard, thank you.” The husband spoke, his voice full of gratitude. “Thank you for giving me children. Thank you for keeping our home together.”

Tong Mingyu glanced back with affection. “My dear, I should thank you as well, for treating me the same way for so many years. Thank you for giving me a warm and comfortable home.”

“Yuer, my father wants to personally name our daughter!” Xiao Jingkang helped his wife lie back on the bed, adjusting her blanket. The expression on his father’s face at that moment was something he had never seen before.

Tong Mingyu wasn’t surprised, though she thought there was a bit too much of a disparity in the treatment of the grandson and granddaughter. Those who knew might understand how much he loved his granddaughter, but for those who didn’t, they might think the grandson was an afterthought.

“In fact, I have an aunt…” Xiao Jingkang sat on the bed and slowly began, “Back then, my father and aunt were left to depend on each other, but as young children with nothing to their name, survival wasn’t easy. Later, my aunt sold herself to a wealthy family as a servant, just so that my father could live. But who could’ve known that my aunt was mistreated there? By the time my father heard the news, she was already on the brink of death.”

“My father tried desperately to rescue her, but alas, he was no match for the powerful forces. He was caught. My aunt, in desperation, was beaten and thrown out of the house. She didn’t survive long after that.”

“Later, my father went into the army?” Tong Mingyu was deeply moved.

“Yes, that’s why my father is doing this today…” Xiao Jingkang explained the full story, realizing his illiterate father might not have known how to articulate it.

Tong Mingyu didn’t respond to him but instead gently stroked her daughter’s face, murmuring, “My dear daughter, you are lucky. Your grandfather wants to personally name you.”

Can I refuse? Can I? The little one in the bed remained silent, not expecting to end up in this strange world, let alone as a small infant.

The last scene in her mind had been on the rooftop of her office building, her parents urging her to marry, office rivalries… feeling overwhelmed and wishing she could leave all of it behind… Then…

She was so tired. Forget it, she thought. Since she’s here, she would accept it. Tomorrow is another day.

In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere of the elegant garden, at the current Qing Garden, things were quite different.

The Xiao family’s estate had originally been a three-courtyard residence. After the title of General was conferred, the Emperor allocated a neighboring courtyard to General Xiao. The Old Madam found that space inadequate, so she ordered an expansion. If it weren’t for the sons continuously advising her, she might have had a ten or twelve-courtyard mansion built.

If the Elegant Garden was refined and grand, with flourishing trees, then the Qing Garden was delicate and exquisite, with carved railings and jade tiles.

The sunlight shone through the gaps in the poolside pavilion and the odd-shaped rocks, casting beautiful shadows that made the scenery even more breathtaking.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful the view was, it didn’t seem to catch the interest of the person standing there.

In the corridor, a stunning young woman in a rose-red gown, one hand resting on her maid’s arm and the other supporting her swollen belly, looked to be seven or eight months pregnant. Behind her, a dozen or more maids and elderly servants followed.

“Madam, please rest for a while. You’re not tired, but the baby is!” Liu Granny had no choice but to speak up as she saw the lack of response from the others. Madam was too stubborn to rest!

“I can’t sit still. I feel suffocated,” the young woman paused and then continued walking.

Could she not feel suffocated? Two pregnant women—one had just given birth to a girl, and the other had to marry into a merchant family. Who would want that for the General’s heir? If it were any other family, there might be some debate, but not in the Xiao family. The Old Madam had connections with the royal merchant families, and who would dare disagree? The Fang family, who had saved the Xiao household, had made a request, and the family had no choice but to agree.

The second wife, Li Jiaoying, was the eldest daughter of the Ministry of Revenue’s assistant minister, Li Yuan.

The way the Xiao family arranged marriages was quite interesting. The eldest son married the youngest daughter, who was sharp and competent, managing the household with ease. The second son married the eldest daughter, who was spoiled and unskilled in managing household matters—she left everything to her sister-in-law. The third daughter-in-law, Yuan Yutong, came from a military family. Her husband won her through several rounds of competitions, and she never concerned herself with household matters, returning home very rarely. The youngest son, being the last to marry, was still unmarried at nineteen.

“I guess you’ll be here. How long have you been walking?” Xiao Jingtai looked at his wife and helplessly shook his head.

The visitor was Xiao Jingtai, the second son of the family, broad-shouldered and tall, a handsome and imposing figure, with the demeanor of a general. He now served as the deputy commander of the capital.

“I can’t sit in the room. What if I have a son? What will A-Lang do?” Li Jiaoying was almost in tears, feeling anxious.

“Don’t worry, I’m here. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think that you were unhappy about your elder sister-in-law giving birth to twins,” Xiao Jingtai teased.

“No, no, I’m happy! I’ve seen them. The babies are a bit small, but mother said they will be fine once they’re nurtured. I’ve sent lots of herbs to her—ginseng, deer antler…” Li Jiaoying started listing the remedies she had sent.

Xiao Jingtai was successful in diverting the topic. He signaled to the servants, who helped his wife toward the room.

It was time to discuss matters with his father. The Xiao family was not ungrateful, but this situation was too suspicious. A businessman had saved a family with guards, and only his mother would believe such a tale. He had investigated Fang Yufu—he was an opportunist, someone who would only use the Xiao family to further his own position. Once he was entangled with such a person, it would be difficult to break free.

The older generation might have reconciled their differences, but the younger generation would certainly surpass the previous one. When General Xiao returned from the battlefield, he was already twenty-seven, and only just starting to establish himself. It wasn’t easy for him to marry into a good family—no reputable families would even acknowledge him. The civil officials disliked him, and the military officials avoided him. In the end, he married the daughter of the Qin family, a family of royal merchants.

Now, with General Xiao holding a second-rank position, his descendants were thriving. There was no reason for him to associate with an unworthy merchant family now.

Xiao Jingtai decided to have a serious conversation with his father and elder brother.