Chapter 28: Taking a Second Wife

"Is this true?"

"Yes, Miss. It is all over the capital. They say that the eldest granddaughter of Imperial Physician Xiao, the second young mistress of the Wu family, went into labor early. It was a difficult birth, and although she gave birth to a daughter and managed to save her own life, she will never be able to bear children again." The maid, Qin'er, spoke with indignation. "The eldest Miss Xiao is already in such a miserable state, and yet that young lady from the Wu family still curses her, calling her a jinx."

"That wretch! I want to see what kind of 'good fortune' she has and what kind of decent family she could ever marry into!"

Hearing the gossip from the nurse and the maid, Qiu Yan cut a flower from its stem in frustration. "Watch how I deal with her."

"Miss..."

They were all young ladies of noble houses. It did not seem right for a young lady to take such matters into her own hands; what if it ruined her own reputation?

"Don't worry, I know what I am doing," Qiu Yan replied. "When Nuan Nuan left the capital, she entrusted Sister Yu to my care. How can I sit idly by while she is being bullied?"

"Miss..."

"I will go find Mother. We will visit the Wu residence tomorrow to see Sister Yu."

"But," the wet nurse interrupted, "our household has never had any association with the Wu residence."

It was often said that like attracted like. The inner chambers of the Wu household were in total disarray; Lady Qiu had never engaged in conversation with the second-wife, Lady Wu, and at most, they would merely nod to each other upon meeting.

"I am not going to see Lady Wu; I am going to visit Sister Yu."

"Miss, it would be better to wait until the 'Three-Day Bath' ceremony for the baby."

"The 'Three-Day Bath'?"

"Yes. Three days after a baby is born, a bathing ceremony is held. Relatives and friends gather to offer blessings for the infant. This is called the 'Three-Day Bath,' or the 'Three-Morning Bathing of the Child.' The purpose is twofold: first, to wash away impurities and ward off misfortune; second, to pray for good luck and prosperity," the nurse explained. "During the ceremony, there is also the custom of 'adding to the basin' where guests contribute gifts. If you are going, you should prepare these things early."

"And what does 'adding to the basin' mean?"

"The ceremony is conducted by a midwife..." The nurse provided a detailed explanation, leaving Qiu Yan exclaiming at how many rules there were.

"The arrival of a new family member is a joyous occasion, so it should be festive."

"Very well, we shall add a gold bracelet when the time comes."

"Yes, this old servant will go and prepare it."

What Qiu Yan did not know was that while the nurse spoke of the new arrival as a joyous occasion, the reality in the Wu household was quite the opposite. When the second-wife, Lady Wu, heard that a daughter had been born, she could not hide her smirk.

A daughter was fine. The eldest young mistress had already given birth to two daughters, and the second young mistress had just added another. This Wu household would surely be inherited by the child she was carrying in her own womb.

It was hers, and it wouldn't be going anywhere!

In Master Wu's study, he sighed as he looked at his second son.

"The Xiao woman has suffered internal damage; let her recover properly," Master Wu said. "You must study hard to earn a official title, and later, I will have your mother find you a noble concubine."

"Father, a child born to a concubine would be a secondary son," the second young master objected. "I do not want my son to carry the status of a secondary son from the moment he is born."

He had watched the secondary sons and daughters in the household with a cold eye; none of them lived easy lives.

"Once the child is born, we can have him adopted into the Xiao woman's name. Won't he then be a legitimate son?"

"Father, why must it be into the Xiao woman's name? The Xiao household has been raided and exiled. Having such an in-law might hinder my future prospects. People at the academy already point fingers at me; if it weren't for the fact that she was pregnant, I would have divorced her long ago."

"You..." Master Wu paused, realizing his son had a point. He had been careless.

"Then tell me, what would you have me do?"

"I want to ask Mother to help me find a noble young lady to bring into the house as an equal wife. The children born to her would not need to be adopted, and the affairs of the Xiao family would not affect their future."

"Do as you wish."

Master Wu felt that he must truly be getting old. His son seemed quite clever; this plan was a case of killing two birds with one stone.

The inner courtyard of the Wu mansion had always been like a sieve. Within less than an hour, news of the second young master's plan to take an equal wife reached the ears of Nurse Zhou.

"Nurse, we must keep this from her," Mo Lan and Jian Lan said, furious. "They truly have no conscience. Is it not enough that our mistress has suffered so much? Do they want to drive her to her grave?"

"You girls, you say you want me to stop them, but you must learn to hold your tongues," Nurse Zhou sighed. These so-called prominent families were truly devoid of humanity.

When the second young master asked Lady Wu to help him find an equal wife, she was surprised but immediately agreed. Once he left, her face twisted into a triumphant smile.

"Look at that. This is the fine son born to the first wife. Not only did he take a maid to his bed while in mourning, but he also despises his legitimate wife for giving birth to a daughter and is now arranging to take an equal wife."

"My Lady, are you really going to find one for him?"

"Find one? Others would laugh the Wu family to scorn. No family that understands propriety would ever consider the Wu family as in-laws," Lady Wu said. "However, this matter should be made known to everyone."

Once the wind was blown, whether she actually did it or not was entirely up to her whim. In any case, she would not be satisfied until she had ruined them.

Look, a handle delivered right to her door—it would be a waste not to use it.

Xiao Chunyu was watching her sleeping daughter. The baby changed every day, almost unrecognizable after three days. Looking at the fair, delicate infant, she could not help but kiss her.

"Second Young Mistress, Lady Qiu and Miss Qiu are here to attend the Three-Day Bath ceremony."

"Who?"

"The Qiu household, Miss Qiu," Mo Lan replied. "Miss Qiu and the Second Miss are good friends, don't you remember?"

"Oh, is it little sister Qiu Yan?" Xiao Chunyu said. "Quick, help me freshen up. I must go and meet Lady Qiu and Miss Qiu."

"You need not get up."

Unexpectedly, Lady Qiu and her daughter had already been led in by the servants.

"Sister Yu, you are in your postpartum month; you must not get up. If you catch a draft, you will suffer from the cold."

"Lady Qiu, Miss Qiu, thank you both so much for coming to see me."

The Wu household had shown no intention of holding the Three-Day Bath ceremony, and because her own family was not in the capital, she had not given the matter much thought. To have guests arrive so unexpectedly moved her deeply, and tears began to stream down her face.

"You poor child," Lady Qiu noticed at a glance that Xiao Chunyu had suffered much grievance in the Wu household. Rumors had spread that the Wu young lady cursed her, and that the second young master was seeking an equal wife. Being a woman herself, and putting herself in Chunyu's shoes, she realized that this life was truly unbearable.

As a mother herself, her heart ached. "Yan'er and Nuan Nuan are good sisters, and you are naturally their dear sister. We are all one family, so it is only right that we come to see you. Please, stop crying. It is not good to shed tears during your confinement."

"Yes, I am just happy." Despite the bitterness and grievance in her heart, her words carried a different meaning.

Those without the support of their maiden family did not even dare to cry aloud.

"Sister Yu, have you agreed to the Second Young Master taking an equal wife?"

What?

The Second Young Master was taking an equal wife?

Chunyu froze in place. When did this happen? Was he truly going to take another wife?