Yao Chenggu shoved the bank notes into his robes and grasped his pipe again, methodically packing it with tobacco. âIsnât our biggest problem now that the child in née Qinâs belly might not be Dafuâs?â
The shoe dropped and née Yao abruptly understood her fatherâs meaning.
âDad, you meanâ¦â She paled.
Yao Chenggu took a long pull on his pipe and narrowed his eyes, not following up further.
Née Yao sank into deep thought next to the heated platform. âIf Dafu finds out about thisâ¦â
âDonât you know how to handle things cleanly so he wonât find out? The girlâs child is of unknown origin and it would only be an eyesore if she delivered it. Since the Qins are a willful family and Dafu needs such a father-in-law, not to mention that the emperor decreed the marriageâ¦
âWe cannot divorce née Qin. Given the situation, we must ensure her cleanliness. A child can be had at any time. They can have more in the future.â
âBut⦠the girl is not yet eighteen. What if this impacts her health and she is no longer able to bear child?â
âIs Dafu never to take concubines?â
The more she looked upon her fatherâs benevolent expression, the more unswerving Née Yaoâs resolve became.
âYouâre right, dad. As a mother, I must be responsible toward my son. I cannot allow his bloodline to be sullied with doubt and suspicion. I will think of a way to handle this matter. Dad, youââ
âThe dowager madame has returned!â came a maidâs voice from the courtyard.
Née Yao immediately stopped talking and her mother shot through the door curtains half a breath later. Her brows were furrowed tight and she demanded as soon as she saw the two, âWhere are the bank notes?â
âMom.â Née Yao stood up.
Startled, Yao Chenggu was about to ask how née Ma knew them when his wife swiped his pipe with a quick gesture. She dumped the ashes in the spittoon, grasped the pipe with both hands, and broke it over her thigh. The jade mouthpiece and bronze pipe body split into two with a sharp crack.
Née Ma furiously threw the pieces to the ground. âTry smoking now, will you!â
âWhat in the heavens has gotten into you!â Yao Chenggu bounded to his feet.
Née Yao also drew close to calm the situation down. âMom, what are you doing?? Why have you suddenly broken dadâs pipeâ¦â
âShut up and get out of my way. On your knees!â Née Ma smashed her hand across née Yaoâs face and left a swollen red imprint.
Née Yao held her face and looked incredulously at the older woman. âMom, why did you hit me?!â
âBecause I need to! You damn chit with a crooked heart, wasnât I clear enough last time?! Look at what the two of you did today!â Née Ma pushed her daughter off to the side and pointed an accusatory finger at Yao Chenggu. âYao, I know what youâre plotting. Iâve spent decades with you and I know the shape of your sh*t when you twitch your leg!
âYou listen to me and you listen good! Donât even think about it and return the in-lawsâ silver as soon as possible, or donât blame me for what I do next!â
âYou damn woman!â Yao Chenggu slammed his hands on the table in a fit of rage. âThis is complete lunacy! Donât forget whoâs the head of the household!â
âHead of the household?? Do you want to say yourself? Hah! This is the princeâs residence with the men taking charge outside and the women ruling the inside. Dafu is the head of the household and the princess consort is the matriarch of the inner residenceâthatâs lass Yi!
âWho do you think you are?! Put away those base and dirty thoughts of yours! Iâve always lived a good and clean life, so to think that Iâd marry someone as crooked as you!â
âHow am I crooked?! I have Dafuâs best interests in mind and whatâs wrong about worrying that heâs raising another manâs child??â
âDafu isnât a fool, do you think he doesnât know if thatâs his child or not? Any other family would be overjoyed by the addition of a great grandchild and sharing a roof with their in-laws. But you two, you two are never satisfied!
âDo you know how much of her dowry the lass spent for Dafu on their aid mission?? If it wasnât for that silver, the emperor mightâve punished Dafu long ago! The venerable Sir Qin spent these days protecting and hiding us, how dare you turn around and demand three thousand silver from him?! Do you have a heart??â
âWhen did I demand that from him?? He gave it to me! And why did we have to go into hiding? Itâs because Dafu had to go find Qinâs dear daughter! Qin is supposed to protect us after that!â
âListen to that bullsh*t coming out of your rotten mouth! Do you not know why Yining was kidnapped? The Qins havenât taken us to task for that, but you carry yourself like this. Your blasted brains were kicked by a donkey!â Née Ma smashed her palm down in her fury and shattered the heated platform to pieces.
The platform cracked into multiple sections and its legs also broke. Compared to the thumps that Yao Chenggu had given it, née Ma was erupting in the full glories of yesteryear and didnât seem affected by old age at all. If her blows had landed on a person, she wouldâve at least broken bone.
Née Ma leveled a finger at her husbandâs nose. âNone of you Yaos are anything good! Your heart is crooked and so you raised a girl who knew nothing but to climb into her masterâs bed at a young age! Sheâs still a brat at forty and only knows how to vie with her daughter-in-law. What kind of heaven forsaken things are you two?!â
Beet red with humiliation, Yao Chenggu pointed at née Ma with shaking hands. He tried, but failed, to find the proper words and it was even more unthinkable to return his wifeâs blows. Heâd never won when it came to a contest of strength between the two.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Née Ma jerked him up by the collar and fished out the three bank notes.
âIâm going to return these and I warn you, donât think of getting up to no good! I just told Dafu that Iâll be moving to Pineheart Garden as soon as I pack my things. Iâll be staying with them until my great grandchild is born, so donât you think of doing anything or Iâll skin both of you alive!â