RMBLCUCS – Chapter 28: A Fuss for Nothing
Upon learning that Xin An had already sent someone to fetch Steward Wu, Wang Shi felt even more assured of her sensibility. After suppressing the commotion in Spring Blossom Courtyard, she hurried to Spring Glory Hall. Although the Matriarch no longer handled household affairs, matters concerning the marquisate’s lineage naturally required her attention.
“Daughter-in-law suggests sending Xueyu to the estate in the outskirts of the capital as soon as possible. In a few months, rumors about the marquisate will subside. If the ancestors bless us and the eldest daughter-in-law conceives soon, the child in Xueyu’s womb will not be as conspicuous.”
“If she does not conceive soon, it will not delay you from having a great-grandchild.”
Nothing was more important than heirs. After some consideration, the Matriarch agreed but was only concerned that the Tao family might not take this lightly.
Wang Shi, however, was unconcerned. “The ones who should be upset about this matter are the Xin family.”
Had Tao Yiran screamed even once on the wedding night, things would not have turned out this way. Tang Mo had never had a personal maid serving him in this manner; in the end, this was his own choice. Even if the Xin family was displeased, they could only endure it.
The Matriarch nodded. “That’s true. Handle it as you see fit.”
At that moment, Tang Gang and Tang Rong, who had been summoned back by the servants, arrived reeking of alcohol. When they learned what had transpired, Tang Rong furrowed his brows and finally cupped his hands, bowing to Wang Shi. “Thank you, Mother, for handling everything.”
Wang Shi, who was always kind toward him, now looked displeased. “I inquired with the servants in Spring Blossom Courtyard and learned that you were already aware of Xueyu’s pregnancy. Not only did you instruct everyone to keep it a secret, but you also didn’t even inform us. While I understand that this matter should not be publicized at this time and that you were not entirely wrong in handling it, the laxity of your courtyard is unacceptable. How did Xueyu manage to make such a scene, letting everyone in the household know?”
“There are already rumors swirling outside about the marriage swap. If this matter adds to it, your father will inevitably be criticized by the censors for poor household management.”
Tang Gang also realized this issue. Tang Rong had no argument and could only admit his fault. Deep down, he resented Tao Yiran, believing that in his absence, she should have managed things better instead of allowing his mother to seize an opportunity to reprimand him.
Since things had come to this, the mess could only be left for Wang Shi to clean up. Seeing this, Wang Shi softened her expression and took the opportunity to praise Xin An. “I had thought she would harbor resentment and merely watch the drama unfold, but she instead prioritized the bigger picture. She went to Steward Wu before I did, instructing him to keep the household quiet, and yet she did not say a single extra word. That is truly commendable.”
The Matriarch had already been pleased with Xin An. This only made her even more satisfied. “She is sensible—it is a blessing for the second child.”
“Alright, you all should rest.”
The group took their leave. As soon as they stepped out of Spring Glory Hall, Tang Gang sternly reprimanded Tang Rong. In the past, he would never have pointed out Tang Rong’s faults in front of Wang Shi, but his recent behavior had been less than exemplary. As his father, he had to intervene.
What could Tang Rong say?
He could only take a deep breath and return to Spring Blossom Courtyard, where he first went to see Xueyu. She had initially thought he had come to comfort her, and she approached him pitifully, only to hear him speak coldly before she even got close. “I told you the grievance was only temporary. When the time was right, I would report the matter to Mother. Why did you have to bring it up to her yourself?”
“Just because you didn’t get to eat sour apricots?”
Xueyu dared not step closer. Instead, she wept quietly, expressing fears that she might not be able to keep the child, her words carrying unspoken implications.
This only further irritated Tang Rong. “If you truly feel unsafe here, then leave for the estate first thing in the morning. Do not return without my permission.”
With that, he turned to leave. Xueyu called after him, but he only slightly turned his head. “If you cannot keep your mouth shut, there will be no need for you to go to the estate. The child in your belly will not be kept either.”
An illegitimate child born before a legitimate heir would only be a stain on his reputation. Did she really think he would be fond of it?
Xueyu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. The Tang Rong before her was unfamiliar and terrifying, making her too afraid to say another word.
Tao Yiran was still shedding tears. When she saw Tang Rong, she turned away slightly. Naturally, Tang Rong stepped forward to comfort her, and though she was easy to console, Nanny Liu was not. “Today, Xueyu threw a hysterical fit, accusing the Young Madam of trying to harm her, all because the sour apricots arrived late. The Young Madam endured it only because she was mindful of the child in her womb. The Young Lord should show more understanding toward the Young Madam.”
After these words, whatever dissatisfaction Tang Rong had toward Tao Yiran dissipated, replaced by newfound tenderness. He then entrusted the discipline of his courtyard to Nanny Cai and scolded her for her negligence, leaving Nanny Cai feeling both chastised and resentful.
Tang Mo, as usual, returned home in the middle of the night. Xin An noticed that he became quite talkative when drunk. The moment he entered, he asked her if she was satisfied with how things were handled, if he had given her enough face, and then proceeded to mumble on endlessly. Xin An could not tolerate this drunken chatterbox any longer, so she called his pageboy, Lailai, to carry him to the adjacent room, finally finding peace.
Early the next morning, Chunyang rushed in excitedly to report, “Xueyu has already left for the estate.”
“A fuss for nothing. I thought she would cause more trouble.”
“The Young Madam of the main branch is sick again.”
As Chunyang helped Xin An dress for the morning greetings, she continued muttering, “This sickness will last at least a few days. No need to go pay respects again.”
She firmly believed that the Young Madam of the main branch was merely being lazy and simply wanted to avoid the morning greetings.
Xin An was not surprised at all. In Tao Yiran’s eyes, the Matriarch was nothing more than a nouveau riche whose muddy trouser cuffs had yet to be cleaned. As for her mother-in-law, she was merely a second wife, not her legitimate mother-in-law, so naturally, she was unwilling to serve her.
“Not going is just as well.”
As a girl from a merchant family, Xin An had to be proactive in making connections. With Tao Yiran out of the way, she had even more room to maneuver.
“Let’s go.”
After tidying up, she stepped out the door. At that moment, Tang Mo was still fast asleep. When Wang Shi saw her, a smile appeared in her eyes. “The second child is still sleeping?”
“He came back late last night, slurring his words. Thinking that he must have had a hard time, I didn’t wake him.”
Seeing that she was willing to be understanding of her son’s struggles, Wang Shi’s satisfaction was nearly overflowing. “Let him sleep a bit longer, then. Don’t blame him. If he does well, you’ll benefit too. You must have noticed his situation in the household. His father is biased, and he himself refuses to live an ordinary life. That’s why he has to fight for everything on his own. As his mother, I can’t openly favor him too much, so in the future, I’ll have to rely on you to help him share some of the burden.”
“I understand.”
The two of them never spoke too bluntly, yet they always seemed to think alike and act in unison. Both Wang Shi and Xin An found this quite gratifying.
Chatting and laughing, the two went to pay respects to the Matriarch. Upon hearing that Tao Yiran was unwell and unable to come, the Matriarch did not react much. In her view, if someone couldn’t bring her joy, there was no need for them to appear at all—better to avoid the annoyance of watching them eat while secretly disdaining their appetite.
“Send her some nourishing herbs later so she can recover properly. There’s no rush for her to come and pay respects. Her health is more important.”
Wang Shi nodded in agreement. Xin An stepped forward and coaxed the Matriarch into laughter, filling Spring Glory Hall with cheer early in the morning.
Translator’s Note:
Dear readers,
In this novel, we have encountered the term 姑姑 (Gūgu), which is traditionally used in noble households to refer to senior maids or female attendants. While Gūgu is sometimes transliterated directly, it is also commonly adapted in English translations as “Nanny”, aligning with Western conventions for readability.
For this reason, we have translated names like “Liu Gugu” as “Nanny Liu” and “Cai Gugu” as “Nanny Cai”. We have chosen not to translate it as “Mama” or “Momo”, as these terms use different Chinese characters (嬷嬷) and may imply a different hierarchy or role—though we have yet to find definitive sources on this distinction.
If you prefer the original transliteration to preserve cultural authenticity, we would love to hear your thoughts! Which do you prefer: “Nanny Liu” or “Liu Gugu”? Let us know in the comments!
Happy reading!
— Juju
While I prefer Nanny because of the connotations it carries in English as a person who oversees the well-being of another since childhood as a trusted servant, I have no objections to Gugu especially if it’s more accurate.