I looked at the women in the room and suddenly burst out laughing.
They were just like the sparrows caged up, decked out in gaudy feathers. They stared at the little bit of bird food in their delicate porcelain jars and thought that was their whole world.
"What are you laughing at?"
Si Xirui clearly adored Li Mingyue. Otherwise, she wouldn't have risked offending me, the fiancée of Si Jiangchen, to play the troublemaker. "Sister Mingyue even has gold bars. As long as you leave Nanjing, they're all yours."
Saying that, she moved another small box from under the tea table onto the table and emptied it out with a clatter. Sure enough, there were quite a few pieces of scattered gold and silver.
"That'll be enough for you to live on for a lifetime. Find a place in the countryside, buy a few acres of land, or open a small shop. Marry a man and live an easy life. Isn't that great?"
The Fourth Concubine also eyed me, raising her eyebrows.
"Ah!"
I nodded as if suddenly enlightened. "Do all of you covet the position of the mistress of the Si family?"
"It's not coveting. I'm going to be the mistress!"
Li Mingyue nodded.
"You can't be the mistress."
I looked at her with a beaming smile. "Let me put it this way. Even if you become the mistress, you'll just be a puppet. I think it's your mother who wants to be the mistress of the Si family!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhu Qing frowned.
"Two concubines, your master has never taken a new wife, but he's given you two the power to manage the household, right?"
I was actually quite good at sowing discord. "You're afraid that if I become the mistress, I'll take away your power. Aren't you afraid that Miss Mingyue's mother will steal your man too?"
"This..."
The Third and Fourth Concubines had been solely focused on how to trip me, the outsider, up so I wouldn't take away their power!
They only thought that Li Mingyue came to the Si family every day. They knew her well and thought they could handle her even if she married into the Si family.
But they'd forgotten about Qiu Zhuqing, the younger sister of the late mistress.
This Aunt Zhuqing was a very kind person. Since her elder sister's death, she'd come to the Si family from time to time to help out. Whenever the two concubines were in trouble, she'd reach out to help. She'd also bring them small gifts from time to time, making the two concubines of Si Cheng think that Qiu Zhuqing was gentle, harmless, and easy to get along with.
Most importantly, she had her own husband and wouldn't have any improper thoughts about Si Cheng.
The two of them never expected me to speak like this. The Third Concubine slapped her fan on the tea table with a clatter. "Miss Du, how can you talk nonsense? Auntie has a husband. How could she steal our master?"
"Right! Our master is Auntie's brother-in-law. How could she do something so immoral?"
The Fourth Concubine also chimed in.
"Really? Is Mrs. Qiu's husband still alive?"
I was truly quite surprised.
"What do you mean by that?"
Li Mingyue almost jumped at me, shouting, "Du Xinghe, how can you, a country bumpkin, be so vicious? Are you cursing my father?"
"Is your father still alive?"
I knew that asking such a question would invite a beating, but I'd indeed seen the ghost of an old man following Mrs. Qiu Zhuqing. The sight of the old man with blood oozing from his seven orifices made my hair stand on end even on this hot summer day.
Ever since Granny Bai had opened my third eye, I'd been seeing all sorts of strange things every day. Some of the dead looked horribly mutilated, while others looked just like ordinary people. They'd talk to me like living people. Sometimes I'd chat with thin air for quite a while until others looked at me like I was a monster. Only then would I come to my senses...
"You're asking for a beating!"
Li Mingyue was truly enraged. She raised her hand and aimed a slap at my face.
Since I'd asked such a question, I knew exactly how she'd react. I immediately reached out and grabbed Li Mingyue's wrist, then tossed her aside. I turned to the two concubines with strange expressions and asked, "May I ask if you two know Miss Li Mingyue's father?"
"Of course!"
The Third Concubine's eyebrows twitched. "Master Li is the most famous silk merchant in the nine southern provinces. He's always doted on his wife, right?"
Saying that, she glanced at the Fourth Concubine.
"He's an old man, quite thin, but his hair is black and very long..." I motioned with my fingers to the level of my shoulders. "It reaches here."
"How do you know?"
Before the two concubines could say anything, Li Mingyue let out a scream. "You've met my father? No wonder you're spreading rumors about him!"
"Silence!"
As soon as Li Mingyue spoke, Qiu Zhuqing stood up abruptly and pointed at Li Mingyue, shouting sternly, "Mingyue! Don't listen to her nonsense."
"Right! Master Li has been ill since last year. Where could Miss Du have met him?"
The Third Concubine's eyes darted around. Although she said so, her look at Qiu Zhuqing was rather thought-provoking.
"Right?"
She still tried to drag the Fourth Concubine in, as if seeking confirmation.
"Ah... Ah!!!"
The Fourth Concubine suddenly covered her chest, frowning and gasping for breath. "No... No good. My old ailment is acting up again."
"When did you... Uh!"
The Third Concubine reached out to support the Fourth Concubine but was pinched on the arm. She immediately changed her tune and said, "Why are you gasping again?"
"...It's so hot. My asthma has flared up again. Come with me to get my medicine!"
The Fourth Concubine gasped so hard that her face turned pale. She barely managed to stand up by holding onto the Third Concubine's arm. "Auntie, Miss Mingyue... I'm sorry..."
"Fourth Auntie, I've never heard that you have asthma!" Si Xirui beside them stared at her in surprise, her eyes wide open.
"Miss, how could you not know? The medicine is clearly in the medicine box in your study."
The Fourth Concubine reached out and grabbed Si Xirui's wrist. "You have to go and get it for me."
"I'm not going... I still have to help Sister Mingyue here!"
Si Xirui shouted as she struggled to break free from the Fourth Concubine's hand and then sat down on the sofa sulkily.
"Go quickly, Xirui. Your Fourth Auntie's health is more important!"
Although Qiu Zhuqing looked a bit stiff, she still forced a magnanimous smile and said, "Don't let your stubbornness delay her treatment!"
"Ah, Auntie is really kind... Miss, go quickly!"
The Fourth Concubine also bared her teeth, showing a smile uglier than crying. She reached out and pulled Si Xirui, who thought she was being a nuisance, up and staggered out of the room.
The door of the private room was then closed from the outside.
"You little slut!"
Now that there were only Qiu Zhuqing and her daughter and me left in the room, she finally dropped her gentle and virtuous act and cursed viciously, "Where did you learn what my husband looks like?"
"Li Jiuming..."
I suddenly looked behind Qiu Zhuqing and asked, "Tell me all your grievances. I'll be your mouthpiece!"