Chapter 20: The New Concubine

The curtain at the doorway was lifted, and everyone's attention, including Ming Wei's, was drawn toward it.

A beautiful woman with a seductive figure and flirtatious charm in her eyes entered, flanked by two maids. Her peach-pink robe complemented her fair skin, and her slender waist looked delicate enough to be held in one hand.

Just as Ming Wei was wondering who this newcomer was, she heard several sharp gasps from Ming Rong and the others. Her brows furrowed slowly—was this someone she was supposed to know?

With that thought, Ming Wei studied the woman more carefully. Judging by her appearance, she looked more like a maid once taken in by Second Master...

“Greetings, Madam!” Though the woman’s demeanor was bold, her etiquette was flawless. She bowed respectfully to Second Madam and then stood to the side with poise.

Second Madam’s anger flared instantly.

She had just begun to relax after the Old Madam let the Linghua matter slide, when suddenly a maid was thrust into her courtyard! Said to be a “gift” for Second Master to take as a concubine. And of course, Second Master, utterly lacking in self-restraint despite already having several concubines and bed servants, took her in that very night!

Where was her dignity supposed to go?

“Looking all seductive and fluttery—what, you think you’re some kind of Xi Shi?” Second Madam, after all, came from a noble family and couldn’t stomach Yan Hong’s delicate and coquettish act. Her brows pinched together as she snapped, “Who do you think you’re putting on this show for?”

But Yan Hong didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by Second Madam’s anger. Instead, she responded with a sweet smile, “If Madam wishes to watch, then let her. I came to serve Master and Madam. If I can bring a smile to Madam’s face, it would be my greatest fortune!”

What arrogance!

Ming Wei was secretly startled. Aside from Concubine Wen, no one had ever dared to openly challenge Second Madam like this. Second Madam, always one to assert her authority, was not going to take this lying down!

Sure enough, her prediction was right. The teacup that Second Madam had been holding steadily was slammed down hard on the small table next to her rattan chair with a loud bang. Hot tea splashed out from the cup.

“What a shameless little tramp!” Second Madam was already in a foul mood. When Yan Hong had first been brought in the day before, she had seemed well-behaved and sensible. Who would have thought she’d be even more unruly than that wench Wen Rulan? “Who gave you permission to act so insolently in front of me!”

By right, with this conflict between Second Madam and a concubine, Ming Wei and the other girls should quietly excuse themselves. But knowing Second Madam’s temper, whoever made the first move might be used as a scapegoat.

Willing or not, the four sisters could only stay and “witness the battle.”

“Madam, I was personally bestowed by Old Madam to Second Master.” Yan Hong refused to back down and raised her arched brows. “If Madam finds me distasteful, you can simply send me back. Why go out of your way to humiliate me?”

So she really was a “gift” from Old Madam? Ming Wei was surprised. It seemed odd—but then she remembered the Linghua incident, and it made more sense.

The matriarch of the Chengping Marquis household wouldn’t let herself be slighted by Second Madam without a response. Just throwing a woman like this into her courtyard was enough to make Second Madam suffer. Ming Wei glanced again at Yan Hong, her expression unreadable, but inwardly she had already judged—this woman would not be easy to deal with.

Second Madam was livid. Yan Hong was clever-tongued and stood her ground. If it were any other concubine, Second Madam would have had a hundred ways to torment her. But this was Yan Hong—personally bestowed by the Old Madam!

You don’t hit a dog without considering its owner. This woman came from the Old Madam’s courtyard, and was even escorted over by her people, specifically for Second Master. If Second Madam dismissed her the very next day, who knew what people might say?

What’s more, this was clearly a move by Old Madam to show her displeasure and keep her in check. Second Madam glanced at the row of illegitimate daughters standing to the side, her eyes filled with fury and resentment. If Yan Hong could act this brazenly on her first day, wouldn’t she completely run wild if allowed to stay?

She couldn’t afford to let even a concubine walk all over her!

She had to teach this cheap woman a lesson.

“Kneel!” Second Madam decided to make an example of Yan Hong. She slammed her palm on the rosewood armrest of her chair, her voice sharp. “How outrageous! You think you can stand tall before me when you were bought for two taels of silver!”

That must have hurt! Ming Wei winced on her behalf. There were countless ways to vent anger—why do something that only hurt yourself?

As Ming Wei was lost in thought, Yan Hong refused to yield. Tears welled in her eyes as she began to sob, pulling out a handkerchief. Her pitiful weeping, so delicate and touching, even made Ming Wei feel a bit of sympathy.

“Madam, how can you say such things!” Yan Hong cried as she clearly enunciated every word. “I am the daughter of a decent family, and I have served faithfully at Old Madam’s side for years. Out of concern for Second Master, Old Madam bestowed me upon him and told me to serve him well! Are you saying Old Madam chose poorly?”

That stung. Second Madam felt it like a blow to the chest.

Forget composure—as the legal wife, she was trembling with rage. She grabbed the teacup beside her and hurled it to the floor. It shattered into fragments against the stone tiles, and the steaming tea splashed everywhere.

Ming Wei was standing close and caught some of the spray on the satin hem of her cloud-patterned skirt.

The sharp crack of porcelain hitting the floor felt like it echoed in all the daughters' hearts. Ming Rong and the others instantly fell silent, even their breathing becoming cautious.

Before Second Madam could say more, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Ming Wei listened closely—it sounded like a man approaching...

Clearly, Yan Hong noticed too. But instead of continuing to argue, she suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thud, ignoring the tea stains on her new skirt. Her kneeling was crisp and resolute.

“I beg Madam for mercy! It was my fault—I angered Madam!” Her tone made a complete turn, now respectful and humble, like a delicate flower swaying in the cold wind. “Please, just tell me what I did wrong. I’ll change! Just don’t send me away!”

Second Madam frowned deeply, caught off guard by the sudden shift.

“Look at what you’ve done! Is this how the mistress of the second branch ought to behave?” The embroidered curtain at the door was flung aside, revealing Second Master’s grim face.

He hadn’t even visited when Ming Wei was gravely ill, yet now, for a newly arrived concubine, he made a grand entrance.

No wonder she had knelt so readily… Ming Wei nodded inwardly. She had called in reinforcements.

“You scold me over a lowly concubine?” Second Madam didn’t catch the main issue at all. Trembling with fury, she latched onto his attitude. “Do you still consider me the mistress of this household?”

“Yan Hong just came in yesterday, and this morning she rushed over to pay her respects to you!” Second Master had felt a little guilty before, but seeing Second Madam acting like a shrew extinguished all that. He sneered, “She’s someone from Mother’s courtyard, and you dare treat her like this?”

Second Madam was speechless with rage. And Yan Hong, ever the opportunist, jumped in with a sobbing plea, “Master, please don’t be angry with Madam over me—it’s not worth it!”

Ming Wei noted just how cunning Yan Hong truly was. She didn’t even stand up but instead shuffled on her knees over the stone floor toward Second Master, crying pitifully.

“If you and Madam fall out because of me, then even in death, I would bear the blame!”

Second Madam was most infuriated by that pretentious, fragile vixen act. She snapped, unable to control her words, “Then go die already! What’s the point of all this sobbing!”

“I only ask to see Old Madam one more time, to serve her again before I die. Let me kneel and pay respects—at least let me fulfill our mistress-servant bond!” Yan Hong wasn’t fazed in the slightest. She looked up with fierce resolve. “If Madam grants me that, I would be grateful even in the afterlife!”

Before she even finished, she began kowtowing to Second Madam.

“Don’t say such things!” Second Master, never one to resist the charms of a beautiful concubine, was deeply moved. He gently tried to soothe Yan Hong with soft words, his demeanor full of affection.

“She may as well die now!” Yan Hong began to cry again, though this time it was different—not a loud, wailing mess, but delicate and restrained. Her tears fell endlessly as she bit her pink lip, full of silent grievance.

With this performance, Yan Hong made herself out to be tragically wronged, while Second Madam appeared unreasonable and jealous.

And it worked.

Second Master, completely ignoring Second Madam now, helped Yan Hong up tenderly while whispering sweet reassurances. Thinking of how she had shyly served him last night, and now faced scolding and threats, his heart burned with anger. In his eyes, Second Madam was nothing more than a jealous shrew. He was determined to stand up for his beautiful concubine.

But Second Madam was equally furious.

Yan Hong’s manipulative words had completely twisted the situation and seduced Second Master, who now disregarded her, his legal wife, all to defend a concubine!

Tension in the room was at its peak, about to explode.

Ming Wei and the other girls did everything they could to blend into the background, wishing they could turn into one of the porcelain pieces on the shelves—anything not to be noticed. They knew very well: in this kind of storm, whoever moved first became cannon fodder.

In that eerie, suffocating silence, Ming Rong suddenly spoke.

“Seventh Sister, are you feeling unwell?”

All eyes immediately turned to Ming Wei.