五月阁色婷婷丁香五月

Chapter 1015 Status Mattered

Madam Jiang was so terrified that her face drastically changed color. She pulled up the quilt to cover her head and screamed, “Pull the ribbon down! Throw it away!”

“Concubine Jiang, don’t squeak like that. I’m not tall enough to reach it, and I don’t dare to climb up high at such an old age. Just let it be. Are you hungry? You can take some food on the table. But if you don’t like it, there is nothing you can do but starve yourself. That’s all the food sent from your manor. I’ll take it all if you have no appetite.”

In the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, servants with a bit of dignity wouldn’t accept the cheap food on the table, which looked extremely poor and simple. Obviously, no one gave a damn about the meals for the former Madam of Marquis Xing. Of course, she was no longer the Madam of Marquis Xing but merely Concubine Jiang in disgrace.

“A concubine out of favor?” Zhao Xiran sat at the head of the bed with the same haggard look as Madam Jiang’s, though she looked more delicate and pitiful. When she heard this from the old maid beside her, she raised her head in surprise, her red-rimmed eyes landing on her husband sitting aside, and sobbed out in a soft voice. “Dear, how… how could this happen? She is our mother!”

“She hurt you both physically and mentally, but you are still… so considerate to her,” Shao Hua’an said agitatedly. How could he not get angry? The baby in Zhao Xiran’s belly came just at the right time. His father had told him that once the baby was born as a legitimate son, he would have more reasons to present in the memorial to the throne. With some manipulation behind the scenes, they were likely to get the title of the heir of a duke.

“She has done some awful things, but… but she is your mother after all. Even for your sake… I have to be filial to her.” Zhao Xiran burst into tears. Her baby was gone forever. How could she not feel a stabbing pain in her heart? Large teardrops ran down her cheeks as she touched her belly with trembling hands.

There was a baby there, her unborn baby. She knew she was pregnant, but she didn’t make the news public. It had never crossed her mind that Madam Jiang would suddenly do such a thing.

Seeing her crying in deep sorrow, Shao Hua’an felt a searing pain in his heart. The baby she lost was also his. He reached out to hold Zhao Xiran in his arms and patted her slender body gently, trying to comfort her. “The imperial physician said we are young and it’s not as severe as you’ve imaged. Don’t lose heart! Take good care of yourself and don’t worry about other things. Before long, we will have another baby!”

“But, even if we get another baby, it’s not the same. It’s not him!” Zhao Xiran cried her heart out and said in a hoarse voice.

How she wished she could hack Madam Jiang to pieces! However, she couldn’t. At least, she couldn’t revenge against her now, not now.

“I know, I know,” Shao Hua’an held her close to him and said softly.

After a long while, Zhao Xiran stopped crying and seemed to have made up her mind. She looked up and asked, “What about Mother?”

“What else can we do? She was punished by Empress Dowager’s imperial decree!” When it came to Madam Jiang, Shao Hua’an was full of anger.

Madam Jiang had been very bright and intelligent in his mind. Never had she made any mistakes. Whether it was managing the family or serving his father, she was a positive role model for others to follow. But it seemed that he had misjudged her. Such a mother was a disgrace, let alone she had lost her status as the principal wife.

Except for his mother, he had never heard any other Madams would fall from a legal wife to a concubine, a degrading concubine.

And above all, if his biological mother became a concubine, how does he handle his situation in the mansion? Would he be regarded as the eldest son of a concubine? If so, how could he have the confidence to compete for the position of the heir of a duke in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion?

For so many years, he strove with none as if he had never cared about the title of nobility. But in fact, how could he care nothing about it? It was just that he was not in a hurry. Anyway, the title would be his sooner or later. Why did he have to show a greedy look? It would make people undervalue him.

“Mother has been demoted to be a concubine, and an unfavored one. That brought you down to a concubine’s son. Even if we give birth to our child in the future, his status will be much lower…” While speaking, Zhao Xiran shed tears again. She was outspoken in her remarks. Since only her husband was with her in the room, she dared to bring up the matter directly.

“Indeed. With her current status, she will implicate us,” Shao Hua’an said nastily, “My sister is still in the Palace. When our mother fell from her position as a legal wife, it’s hard to say what hardships she is or will endure!”

Though talking to his wife, Shao Hua’an kept some things to himself. He knew about Shao Yanru’s secrets, and so did his father and grandmother. However, they kept her secrets from the other people.

Before everything was settled, no one could accurately predict the future. During this critical period, the more people talked, the more mistakes they would make, which would be more likely to cause a fatal disaster for their families. Anyway, it was best to be more cautious and meticulous than ever.

It would be easier for him to voice his thoughts in the name of Shao Yanru, his younger sister.

“Then… then what should we do? I heard the Empress Dowager wanted our father to marry another noble lady. If he marries someone from an aristocratic family and gives birth to a son, what should we do then, dear?” Zhao Xiran shivered a few times and thought of an even worse future.

The youngest son had a mother from a high-status family. Plus it was generally known that the youngest son of a family was usually the most favored. At that time, Shao Hua’an would have no way of winning the noble title.

“Father won’t marry another person!” Shao Hua’an shook his head with certainty. “Even if he remarries and gives birth to a son, he will be younger than Hao’er. Then the situation will be more unfavorable to father.”

“Although it’ll be a disadvantage, it may happen!” Zhao Xiran thought otherwise.

They were certainly talking about the title of nobility. Shao Yuanhao was younger than Shao Hua’an, so it was appropriate for the latter to inherit the title. But things might change when the youngest legitimate son appeared.

“Sweetheart, I can forgive our mother, and I will also fulfill my filial duty to her. She was not in good condition, and after spending so many anxious days in the Yuhui Nunnery, she became a little abnormal. In my mind, she didn’t mean to hit me.” Zhao Xiran reached out her hand to sway Shao Hua’an’s sleeve while pleading.

“You… are willing to pardon her for doing so?” Shao Hua’an asked a little hesitantly.

“For you, there’s nothing I can’t bear.” Zhao Xiran lowered her head, tears falling again. Her pitiful look made Shao Hua’an’s heart ache again.

He had indeed taken a fancy to Zhao Xiran; otherwise, he wouldn’t have postponed it until now because this marriage wouldn’t work. Seeing her aggrieved and sad look, he felt sorry for her in his heart. Thus, he reached out and gently patted her on the back. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you down. Everything will be yours when the time comes. If my mother is in poor health, just keep her in our mansion!”

He meant Madam Jiang would have no chance to put on airs as a mighty mother-in-law before her and to order Zhao Xiran to do what she wanted.

When Shao Hua’an got the title of nobility of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, Zhao Xiran would be the master of the inner courtyard, and even Madam Jiang could only stand by.

“I… I don’t care about the status as long as you are fine!” Zhao Xiran said softly with tears in her eyes.

“But Empress Dowager’s imperial edict…” Shao Hua’an was full of worries. The current situation was too tricky. Even if his father did not marry another lady in the near future, it would not be easy for his mother to become a wife.

“She can’t become a legal wife, but she may be a secondary legal wife. As long as she isn’t a concubine, you can still become a legitimate son.” Zhao Xiran suggested.

What happened to Madam Jiang was not a big deal in their eyes. However, because of her misfortune, Shao Hua’an could no longer enjoy his previous high status as a legitimate son. This was the most annoying thing for them.

“My father doesn’t dare to disobey Empress Dowager’s order!” Shao Hua’an frowned and shook his head.

“If there is a great contribution, can it be done?” Zhao Xiran suddenly asked abruptly. Shao Hua’an nodded at first, then shook his head with a bitter smile and said, “It’s not easy to have a great achievement to my mother’s credit!”

They needed to do something great enough to get a big reward from the Empress Dowager, the Empress, or the Emperor. How challenging could the mission be? It was hard to imagine what a great thing should be done in order to get a bright future.

However, when thinking of Shao Yanru, Shao Hua’an hesitated and said, “Maybe we can wait a little longer.”

If Shao Yanru gained power in a few more years, Madam Jiang could still get a fresh start and regain her status, of course, on the premise that Marquis Xing hadn’t remarried yet.

Originally, Shao Hua’an didn’t think his father would marry another woman, but now he felt less certain about that. If his father intended to marry again, it would be bad.

Could there be a crown prince in a few years? Could his sister win the crown prince’s favor to help him? Everything was uncertain.

It was quiet in the room. The couple hugged each other, but they had different thoughts.

“First Young Master, First Young Madam, the Prince Chen’s Mansion has sent some people here!” A young servant girl reported outside the room.

Her voice woke up the two people hugging each other inside. Shao Hua’an stood up, lifted his robe, and sat down on the wide chair aside.

Zhao Xiran leaned back a little and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. After she calmed down, she nodded at Shao Hua’an.

“Come in!” Shao Hua’an said lightly.

The door curtain was lifted, and Nanny Yu came in with a few servant girls. Zhao Xiran’s trusted servant girls also came in and stood by the bed. Just now, when the couple was talking, they drove them out.

“Greetings, First Young Master! Greetings, First Young Madam!” Nanny Yu stepped forward to greet the two of them.

Shao Hua’an waved his hand, stood up, and said to Zhao Xiran, “I have something to talk to my father, so I’m leaving now!”

“Take care, dear!” Zhao Xiran nodded. The following things must be all internal affairs, so Shao Hua’an didn’t have to stay.

After Shao Hua’an left, Nanny Yu asked several servant girls behind her to step forward with trays. On each tray, there are some medicinal herbs.

“First Young Madam, my master isn’t in good health, and it’s inconvenient for her to come over. So, she specially told me to send you some tonics for you to nourish your body,” Nanny Yu said.

“Please say thanks to your master for me. How is she? I should have visited her but considering my current situation…” Zhao Xiran said in a choked voice, and her eyes turned bloodshot again.

Nanny Yu hurriedly said, “My master knows you have suffered recently. You’d better take good care of yourself and don’t have to worry about anything else.”

“Please send my gratitude to Her Highness!” Zhao Xiran was moved and said. Suddenly, with a flick of the eyes, she caught something on the tray carried by the last servant girl and was petrified on the spot…