Chapter 549 (1/2)
What Is Considered a Good Confidante
In truth, when it came to a large family in Da Shun, the maidservant that accompanies the head wife when coming over will often end up sleeping with the husband unless he truly does not desire that. Making decisions like this was for the sake of maintaining one’s standing in the family because a man bringing in concubines was extraordinarily common; therefore, rather than having someone else compete against the head wife for favor, it would be better to just send one’s own maidservant over. This way, she can act as a supervisor.
But madam Lu did not think that way. This person would rather a woman that she did not know enter the manor and compete for favor. In the worst-case scenario, she would just deal with them as they came. But her own maidservant was no good. She thought that it was disgusting. In the past, magistrate Lu had brought up the idea of taking the maidservant in, but she was unwilling and began to treat the maidservant coldly. She even though of sending the maidservant out of the manor, but that servant knew how to hide, and she knew how to deal with people. She focused entirely on currying favor and that matter was gradually forgotten; however, who knew that the matter was premeditated. They were merely leaving home, yet they were able to do such a debauched thing on this boat.
The more madam Lu thought, the angrier she became. In anger, she began to pound the deck.
Feng Yu Heng walked toward her while pulling out a pastry from her sleeve. Holding a small plate in her hand, she walked over and gently said: “Madam Lu, don’t get angry. Be careful not to harm your health.” She then placed the plate on the ground and continued: “Our young madam knows that madam likes eating these pastries and especially sent this servant to bring some over.”
Madam Lu was startled and looked up at Feng Yu Heng with a strange look. She then looked at the pastry in her hand and asked in confusion: “Your young madam? Who is that? Who said that I like to eat this sort of thing? I never eat pastries. The thing that I hate eating the most are pastries!”
“Huh?” Feng Yu Heng revealed a surprised expression, “It was lord magistrate that said it! During the day, we were bringing pastries to our young master and young madam. This was seen by magistrate Lu, and he said that madam likes eating them and wanted to buy some from us. Our young madam saw that he valued his wife and decided to give him a plate!”
“What?” Madam Lu heard this and gritted her teeth, “Damn, when have I ever liked eating pastries? From the day that I married him, he’s known that I don’t eat pastries, I…” She suddenly paused, as her expression became even more frosty, “The one that likes eating pastries is that slut. That slut loves eating snacks the most. Lu Qing Shen was trying to get pastries for that slut!” The more madam Lu said, the angrier she became, slapping away the pastry in Feng Yu Heng’s hand, “Scram! Take these disgusting things away from me.” While saying this, she kicked away the pastry that had fallen to the ground. With just a few kicks, she sent it into the river.
Feng Yu Heng sneered to herself. Sure enough, oh, sure enough, she had used this pastry to try and get a feel for madam Lu. If she truly liked eating them, she would use this opportunity to get closer. If madam Lu did not like eating them, it made it clear that the pastry during the day was for the sake of that servant. She just happened to be standing on the same side of the battle, as she felt an inhuman disdain toward that servant.
“Madam must not get angry. It’s not worth getting angry at someone that has already become fish food.” She pushed the madam that was about to go and settle a debt with magistrate Lu back down then sighed toward the angry face, saying: “It can’t be helped that madam is angry. That servant was too bold, actually daring to set her sights on the master. This sort of thing is the most irritating. Not to mention taking action against a madam, the one that she acted against was her own madam. It’s a shame that she still had the gall to remain at madam’s side. This servant truly feels that madam has been treated unfairly.”
That’s why it’s said that when a woman suffered a grievance like this, the one that they needed was not some rational person that would make chicken noodle soup for her soul. What they needed was an unreasonable confidante who would condemn that disgusting man and cheap whore with her. Feng Yu Heng had successfully grasped madam Lu’s desires. With just a few words, she found great success. She just saw madam Lu nod and say: “What you said is right. If she wants to have unclear relations with the other servants, I can act as though I did not see anything, but the one that she cannot touch is my husband. She can touch others, but only he is off limits. I would feel disgusted.”
Once madam Lu began to open up, she could not stop talking. Starting when she was in her maternal home, that servant had taken care of her. She treated that servant like a sister. When it came time for her to marry out of the family, that maidservant cried and begged for her to not leave her behind, thus she brought the maidservant along with her. The feeling of being betrayed by a sister left her feeling extremely disappointed. Madam Lu said: “Why is it that this type of person would want to be a concubine? Does she not understand? It would be better to be a normal wife of a small residence than to be the concubine of a large residence! Concubines are even worse off than servants. A servant just needs to properly do her job, and they will receive rewards from their masters. They have food to eat and clothes to wear, and there is even reward money. But for a concubine, even if they don’t do anything, their existence alone will cause the head wife to feel irritated. And once the head wife is irritated, that anger will be vented on them.”
Feng Yu Heng sighed to herself. Although madam Lu did not have much in terms of appearance, and her character was not very refined, she was quite clear on this matter. Her analysis was indeed accurate. Unfortunately, in this sort of era, how many people could understand this reasoning?
She gently patted the back of the madam’s hand and said to her: “Madam has thought it through clearly. How could a mere servant understand it. That servant made her own bed and had to sleep in it, which led to her being thrown into the river to feed the fishes. From this day forward, madam has gotten rid of a hidden danger from her side.”
Madam Lu snorted coldly, “That is indeed the case. It’s just a pity. If I had known earlier that this would happen, I would have brought an extra servant.” Speaking to this point, the anger that she felt had finally begun to diminish. Looking again at Feng Yu Heng, she could not help but say: “You really have clear reasoning for a servant. You also know well how to chat with a master. Just now, you said something about a young madam. Who is your young madam?”
Feng Yu Heng told her: “Our young madam is the daughter-in-law of prime minister Fung.” Upon saying this, she sighed and said: “Just the same, she is also living in a large residence. Everyone has experiences that are hard to talk about. In truth, young madam is not enjoying days as blissful as others may believe.”