Chapter 43

At night, after serving the Old Lady to rest, Mr. and Mrs. Xu Qingtang returned to their own courtyard. Their faces were inevitably somewhat weary. As soon as they entered the room, they instructed the maid to close the door.

In the bedroom, a warm charcoal brazier burned, making the air as warm as spring. While personally helping her husband change his clothes, Xiao Shi couldn't help but say, "The Old Lady's fuss is completely unreasonable. How could the Third Young Master and his wife, who are so shrewd, be deceived by a few relatives? This is just causing a commotion during the New Year, disturbing the whole family."

Xu Qingtang frowned and said, "Mother's concerns are not without reason. The Third Young Master is easily swayed and inexperienced. His wife is not someone to be trifled with. If she secretly accepts bribes behind his back, wouldn't that be courting disaster?"

"Why let the Third Young Master take office then? It's clearly favoritism. Sometimes I really think you're not her biological son; she even won't let you take the scholar exams," Xiao Shi said unhappily, sitting down by the bed. "They enjoy the glory and prestige, but they leave all the unpleasant household chores to us. I'm not happy about it."

Xu Qingtang put his clothes behind the screen himself and said, "In recent years, the capital has been in a state of constant tension. For the sake of the family and ourselves, it's better not to take office. As for the Third Young Master, he was recommended by the Prince of Yan. Even the Old Man can't say much about it."

"For the family, for the family, when have you ever thought about us? You are content with a simple life, but it makes me unable to hold my head high," Xiao Shi grumbled in a huff.

"You should be content," Xu Qingtang smiled and hugged his wife. "The Old Lady lets you manage your courtyard like an iron bucket, impervious to needles and water. Are you still not satisfied? If it weren't for the Old Lady sending her two senior maids with the Third Young Master, do you think his wife would be so eager to go north?"

"That's my skill, not something new," Xiao Shi said with a smile, her face brightening as she spoke of her proudest achievement. She glanced at her husband, "I know you're unhappy, but don't just think about the maids at home. If you want to take a concubine, take a proper girl and bring her home in a sedan chair. What do you think?"

"Madam, spare me. I only have you in my heart," Xu Qingtang said, having long given up on that idea, and even if he hadn't, he wouldn't dare show any inclination.

"You know your place," Xiao Shi smiled in satisfaction, then said with a worried look, "Forget about the glory. We've already spent nearly ten thousand taels of silver on Wen Ge's wedding. Next, we need to prepare a dowry for Cu Tao, which will cost at least five thousand taels. Even with the land and property brought by the princess, the treasury is almost empty. Lüzhu's wedding is also imminent, and we need several thousand taels. Then there are the weddings of the two girls and their dowries. Even if these three children are of a lower rank, it will still cost us tens of thousands of taels. The most infuriating thing is that the eldest sister-in-law says she's too lazy to manage things, but she keeps a close eye on every penny. After all this, how much silver will be left in the family? What about our own children?"

Xu Qingtang said slowly, "They are all our children. We will do our best. I will find a way to get the money. Don't think about the Old Lady's savings."

"You're just being stubborn," Xiao Shi sighed. "When the Old Lady is gone, no one will remember your kindness. All the money we earn will go to others."

Xu Qingtang became impatient and said, "I've told you many times, the Xu family will never split."

Xiao Shi sneered, "Our Xiao clan has been a prominent family in the south for a thousand years, with many periods of prosperity. But now, it's all gone. The Xu family is obsessed with prosperity and wealth, but if the foundation is undermined, the whole family will be destroyed in an instant."

Xu Qingtang said seriously, "The Old Man has been shrewd all his life. In his later years, he has hidden in the house to avoid trouble. There will be no problem. The brothers are all content with their roles. As long as no one in the Xu family rebels, there will be no disaster."

"Alas," Xiao Shi said softly, "I wish we were just an ordinary family, so we wouldn't have to live in constant fear."

In the garden's embroidery pavilion, Xu Hao gently blew on the green tea in the white porcelain bowl. The refreshing tea aroma could calm the mind, but it couldn't calm him down.

After listening to his elder sister's intention to become a nun, Xu Hao was completely stunned. Looking at her increasingly haggard but still beautiful face, he finally nodded, "I agree."

"Are you out of your mind too?" Hongye was furious, her face turning pale.

Xu Hao ignored her and said, "My idea is for her to practice at home. After a year or two, when everyone's attention has waned, we can discuss her marriage again."

"Oh," Hongye immediately turned from anger to joy, clapping her hands and laughing, "I don't want her to marry so soon either. I'll have the servants build a Buddhist hall tomorrow."

"Why go to such lengths?" Xu Qinglian sighed.

Xu Hao said seriously, "It's necessary. You don't know what those monks and nuns do behind closed doors. They are as disgusting as they can be. The more peaceful the world, the more these people indulge in their desires. I can't let you practice in a nunnery outside."

"Fine, if I have Buddha in my heart, Buddha will be everywhere," Xu Qinglian nodded, agreeing.

Xu Hao breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He was really afraid that his sister's intention to become a nun was firm, which would be disastrous. Now it seemed that it was just a woman's unresolved worries. After Prince Zhu Gaozhi returned to his fief, he would convince his mother to find a good husband for his sister as soon as possible.

As the night watchman's call echoed outside, the night patrol woman came to urge them to close the doors. Xu Hao got up and walked to the courtyard entrance, where Qiuxiang was already waiting with a palace lantern.

Xu Hao tightened his cloak and said, "It's cold. Don't wait for me in the future. I can walk back myself."

"That's not possible. If you fall, I can't take the responsibility," Qiuxiang said.

Qiuxiang led the way carefully, and Qingwen, without hesitation, held Xu Hao's arm, keeping a close eye on the ground.

Xu Hao let them do as they pleased, smiling as he walked, "I've been doing this alone for half a year. I've gone to the toilet many times in the middle of the night without a candle, and I'm fine."

Just as he was boasting, he slipped and almost fell. Fortunately, Qingwen caught him in time, making Xu Hao lose face. The two maids didn't even have time to tease him, each supporting him with one hand.

Qiuxiang suddenly turned to the two little maids behind her and scolded, "Are you all blind? What are you here for? Go and tell your mother to take you home."

The two little maids immediately looked miserable. Xu Hao saw this and laughed, "It's not their fault. I was being careless."

"Don't plead for them. It's clearly their fault. A man shouldn't get involved in the affairs of his maids. It's not dignified," Qiuxiang said coldly, walking ahead without looking back.

Xu Hao looked at her in surprise, thinking that Qiuxiang had grown up in the past few days. With her own subordinates, she was no longer the naive girl she used to be.

It was best not to scold her in front of others to save her face. Xu Hao smiled and didn't say anything. When they returned to the Bamboo Courtyard, Mushuang had been waiting for a long time. Behind her were two old maids and two young maids around twelve years old.

With more people around, it was no wonder Qiuxiang had become stricter. But to dismiss someone over a small matter was a bit too much.

Xu Hao entered the room with a stern face, letting the three senior maids busy themselves. Mushuang, timid, never dared to speak up, while Qingwen, though bold, was smart and knew the whole story, so she remained silent.

Qiuxiang gave them a subtle look, and they wisely stepped aside. Qiuxiang approached and whispered, "Don't be angry. I was just scaring them. With you away, the house was without a master, and the subordinates were unruly. I needed to use your authority to keep them in line."

Xu Hao frowned and said, "Forget it. I'm a man, I have nothing to say. You decide."

Qiuxiang observed Xu Hao's face and whispered, "Are you really angry?"

"If even you don't listen, how can I not be angry?" Xu Hao smiled and tapped Qiuxiang's head, "I gave you face just now. Will anyone dare to disobey you now?"

"Hehe," Qiuxiang rubbed her forehead, which hurt, and laughed softly.

Xu Hao smiled and shook his head, thinking that human affairs were always a tangled mess, impossible to untangle. Sometimes, it was best to listen to Qiuxiang and not meddle.