"How could it be useless? The General dotes on the eldest young lady the most. If she were to mention settling me properly to the General, he would surely agree."
Xiao Man put down her spoon and looked at Third Concubine seriously. Third Concubine felt a pang of nervousness under Xiao Man's gaze. "Does the eldest young lady not approve?"
"It makes no difference to me who becomes the mistress of the General's mansion," Xiao Man said, looking at Third Concubine. "Whether it's outsiders or people within the mansion, as long as the General's mansion is peaceful, it's all the same. Do you understand, Concubine?"
"If I become the mistress of the General's mansion, it will also be quite beneficial to the eldest young lady. She will be able to act more freely."
"Third Concubine, no matter who becomes the mistress of the General's mansion, it will not affect me." Xiao Man repeated, word for word. It was because she was Xiao Man, the legitimate eldest daughter of this General's mansion, and was deeply favored by her lord. No matter which woman sat in the position of the General's wife, she could not threaten her. After all, she was already an adult and would not be staying in the General's mansion for much longer. Anyone with a discerning eye would not cross her.
"But if I were the mistress, it would be adding flowers to the brocade."
Xiao Man had no interest in bickering with Third Concubine any further. "Third Concubine, if you have these thoughts, go and ask Father's opinion. If I were you, I would hurry and find Father. It will be too late otherwise."
"What does the eldest young lady mean?"
"It means that Father is already in the process of deciding. Third Concubine can still try to contend for it now. If you're late, you can only watch the new madam enter the household."
Third Concubine's heart skipped a beat. She thought of He Qingyi. For some reason, she always felt that the new madam of the General's mansion would be He Qingyi.
"Does the eldest young lady intend to help He Qingyi? Don't forget, she almost took your life!"
Xiao Man's expression turned slightly cold. "Third Concubine, you've been in the General's mansion for so many years, it's time you learned to be more composed."
Third Concubine's face turned pale with anger. Her daughter and she had served Xiao Man diligently, yet Xiao Man was unwilling to give her even the position of mistress. Why then should they remain loyal to Xiao Man?
"That He Qingyi is not easy to deal with. Eldest young lady, be careful lest you suffer a loss and have nowhere to cry." Third Concubine knew she couldn't persuade Xiao Man, so she stopped wasting her breath and turned to leave.
"Third Concubine." Yin Zhu called out to Third Concubine and handed her the food box on the table. "Your food box."
Third Concubine took it with anger, then left in a huff. She thought she was special to Xiao Man, but now she realized she was no different. Even though her daughter and she had thrown their lot in with Xiao Man, Xiao Man would not give them any special treatment.
Xiao Man's gaze passed through the window lattice, looking outside. Third Concubine left Shuiyue Small Abode quickly, her expression one of extreme displeasure. "Miss, should we clear this away?"
Xiao Man withdrew her gaze and looked at the bowl on the table. "Clear it away."
Yin Zhu took the bowl away, not asking any questions, nor saying much, diligently doing each task. Xiao Man's gaze fell on Yin Zhu, but in the end, she said nothing.
Ying Xue came in to attend to her. "Miss, there's news from Cangzhou. The Old Madam is critically ill."
Xiao Man picked up a book from the side and began to read it carefully. It was a miscellaneous work introducing the trade routes of the four kingdoms. It was written with great interest, and Xiao Man found it captivating. She felt the author was a talent who had long understood the importance of the four kingdoms' trade routes, but no one had agreed with his views.
"Is she truly ill?"
"The doctor has seen her. He said it's due to suppressed emotions affecting her heart, leading to her being bedridden. It is likely that the General will have to bring her back soon." Ying Xue said in a low voice. They had finally managed to send the Old Madam to Cangzhou, but after only a few days, she was causing trouble again and wanted to return. Ying Xue was unwilling from the bottom of her heart.
"No need to rush, let's wait and see," Xiao Man said gently. It would not be easy for the Old Madam to return to the capital. Father would not easily believe her. Moreover, if she were critically ill, she should be seeing a doctor. Returning to the imperial capital would be of no use. She was worried that this matter would be exploited by someone to attack the General's mansion.
"Additionally, He Ye has sent word back. Yun Qi seems to have changed its commander, but no one has seen the new commander's appearance. Yun Zhong City seems to be on the verge of unrest again."
"Changed commanders?" Xiao Man frowned. Yun Qi changing commanders at this time, who could it be? Who could possibly replace Xia Houying?
"Are there any clues about the new commander?"
"No, He Ye is speculating that the commander has changed based on the opponent's combat methods, but Xia Houying is still in Pingxi City."
A strange feeling flashed through Xiao Man's mind. Xia Houying was in Pingxi City, yet the commander had changed. Who could it be, someone who could even suppress Xia Houying? Could it be Murong Sheng Rui himself who had come?
Immediately, Xiao Man dismissed this notion. Murong Sheng Rui, as the ruler of a nation, how could he casually appear on the battlefield? It must be someone else. Who could this person be?
Third Concubine had been met with a cold shoulder by Xiao Man. She hadn't slept well all night and decided to take a gamble. The next morning, she went to probe Xiao Zhen.
Although she wanted to be the mistress of the General's mansion, she dared not be presumptuous in front of Xiao Zhen. Who would have thought that the very next morning, Xiao Zhen would send a matchmaker to the He family to propose marriage!
Third Concubine felt the world go dark. She was both angry and annoyed, but she dared not confront Xiao Zhen or his daughter. She could only scold the servants in her courtyard.
Xiao Xiang could not bear it. "What use is it for Concubine to scold them? This matter was decided by Father."
"What do you mean decided by your father? Yesterday, that He Qingyi came to see the eldest young lady, and today the General sent someone to the He family to propose marriage. If you say the eldest young lady had no involvement, I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death!" Third Concubine saw that the second young lady was calmly embroidering a screen and her anger surged. She rushed forward, knocked the screen to the ground, and stomped on it fiercely a few times.
"At a time like this, you're still in the mood to embroider a screen! Once He Qingyi enters the household, we mother and daughter will have no say in this General's mansion!" Third Concubine was both angry and annoyed. If only Xiao Xiang had paid more attention, the position of mistress would have been hers.
Xiao Xiang looked at the trampled screen on the ground, her brows slightly furrowed. "Concubine, this is the General's mansion, a prominent noble house in the imperial capital. Concubine, which noble family would allow a concubine to become the mistress?"
"Why can't a concubine be the mistress?" Third Concubine retorted. "Did I choose to be a concubine?"
"You may not wish it, but you are merely a concubine. Even if you weren't a concubine, you are just the daughter of a minor city official. To become the esteemed wife of a General, your status is not worthy first and foremost!"
Third Concubine slapped her. "I'm not worthy? How am I not worthy? Why can other young ladies become wives of wealthy families, while we can only be concubines? Were they born nobler than us?"
Xiao Xiang, having been hit, immediately had red eyes. "Why are you taking your anger out on me? Do you think I don't think you're worthy? It's Father and Eldest Sister who think you're not worthy. If you have the guts, go and make a scene in front of them."