Legend of Concubine’s Daughter Minglan - Chapter 223

223. Dealing with a Series of Disgusting Things (2)
Translator: Iris
Cuiwei truly was right about Wang Wu’s wife. The latter was a clever woman indeed.

Wang Wu’s wife was capable of doing her job well and sparing the time to pick quarrels with Mama Lai. Moreover, she could also handle those conflicts appropriately. Some sensible servants in the mansion gradually changed their attitude too. Before they had tried their best to avoid Mama Lai, now they decided not to tolerate this woman. Every time Mama Lai created a disturbance, there would be a bunch of people sneering at Mama Lai together. Most of the time, they would mention Mama Lai’s husband who was addicted to alcohol and gambling, her daughter who had married to a useless old fat man, and other endless jokes about Mama Lai.

Every time Mama Lai heard of that, she would tremble with anger. However, she could do anything about it since she was outnumbered by her enemies even if she got Mama Diao as her helper. She had tried to roar and cry, but her voice had been drown out. She had tried to fight them, but she had only ended up in a mess with her hair dishevelled and her face getting dirty. What’s more, Mama Lai was an aged woman after all. Most of the time, Mama Lai only became purple with rage and choked with her hands and feet shivering.

Every time something like that happened, Minglan would let everyone know that she had invited good doctors for Mama Lai and bought the medicine of the best quality which cost a great amount of money. After that, Minglan would scolded the other servants who had quarreled with Mama Lai and gave some modest punishments to the servants who had gone too far as a kindly warning.

Once Mama Lai got better, she would experience the cases mentioned above again.

The third time Minglan came to give obeisance to Old Madam Qin, the latter couldn’t help but ask, “How’s Mama Lai doing in your mansion?”

“Great.” Minglan gave out a beaming smile and said, “Mama Lai has worked for you before. I trust her a lot.”

“But I have heard that… she always wrangles with others, is that true?” Old Madam Qin hesitated and asked.

Minglan smiled and answered, “Who told you that?! Mama Lai was only being strict to the maids. Sometimes she would scold them with a few harsh words. That’s all.” After saying that, Minglan suddenly added, “But, there really is something happening to Mama Lai.”

With Old Madam Qin’s eyes brightened right away, she said calmly, “What happened?”

Minglan said in a low voice worriedly, “I haven’t taken good care of Mama Lai. I always asked her to manage lots of thing regardless how old she is. That must be the reason why she got sick. I have already invited doctors for her for twice. The first time I invited Zhang Shiji, the famous doctor from Tawny Lily Clinic. The second time Little Madam Zheng introduced doctor Li Chong to me. Both doctors said that Mama Lai was worn out by the heavy load of jobs, not to mention those maids have annoyed her. Alas… How could they do that to Mama Lai? If anything happens to her, I, I’ll be too ashamed to face you, Old Madam.” Minglan kept apologizing in a low voice.

A shocked look flashed across Old Madam Qin’s face. In the meantime, Madam Shao tried to comfort Minglan who still seemed in self-accusation, “Sister-in-law, don’t take it too personally. I know the two doctors you have just mentioned about, they are all great doctors. Mama Lai really is a lucky enough to have you as her madam. What’s more, all the Mamas in charge have suffered wrong more or less. I have also been bullied by those servants before, even though my mother-in-law has taken good care of me and my sisters-in-law have done me lots of favors.”

Old Madam Qin smiled with a kind look, saying, “Your sister-in-law is right. Don’t take it too personally.” After Old Madam Qin had consoled Minglan with nice words, she asked tentatively, “If you find Mama Lai a useless servant, I can send you a few more…”

“Please don’t say that!” Minglan put on a delighted look and pretended to be angry while joking, “I have so many helpers now. Rong, Hongxiao and Qiuning never trouble me. Those Mamas have already helped me for almost two months. No matter how useless I am, I should already be able to manage those affairs. How can I ask for anything or anyone from you?! Others might assume that I haven’t been taught well in my parent’s family! That’ll be so embarrassed for me!”

“My sweet girl!” Old Madam Qin who seemed to be amused by Minglan’s words couldn’t help but point to Minglan while laughing. Madam Shao also smiled with her hands covering her mouth. Zhu shi was the one who gave out the happiest laughter, however she kept glancing at Old Madam Qin the whole time.

…

“They didn’t quarrel at all?” Madam Xuan (Sister Xuan-in-law) asked that in a low voice.

A married young woman approached to her and said, “Not only haven’t they quarreled with each other, I even heard laughter coming through from that room. It seems they are getting pretty well with each other.”

Madam Xuan looked at the closed door and windows and exhaled deeply. Then she praised, “This sister-in-law of mine truly is impressive. My aunt has run into her opponent this time. If Mama Tian didn’t tell me what has happened in there secretly, I would assume that there really isn’t anything happening between them.”

It seemed that the young woman had run too fast, now she kept wiping the sweats on her forehead while saying softly, “The people in Cheng Manor keep a strict watch on that place. It’s so hard to inquiry something about that mansion. Luckily you detected that something’s weird about Mama Lai’s needing for doctors and ordered someone to ask Mama Tian.”

“My sister-in-law is too prudent. It doesn’t matter even if there are rumors spreading out.” Madam Xuan smiled with her eyes squinted, “After all the things she has done, everyone out there are praising her as a kind woman who treats the old servant great!”

“If I were Mama Lai, I would offend Second Madam Ye openly! Better than being bullied like this. I heard Mama Lai did have apologized to Second Madam Ye, but the latter only answered her perfunctorily!” The young woman said that.

“You don’t understand! This thing cannot be said openly.” Madam Xuan goggled at the young woman and said with a smile, “You think Mama Lai could cry out her grievances in Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion? You think she could say that Second Madam Ye was irritated because she had suggested to make a schedule for the madam and concubine in Gu’s family to sleep with Second Master Ye in turn? Also, you think she could accuse her madam of inciting others to bullying her? Ha ha, once Mama Lai said that, she would only bring shame to herself.”

“My dear madam, please explain for me.” The young woman asked that wonderingly.

Madam Xuan said in a lower voice, “Just think, which family in our mansion has ever made that schedule? For example, First Madam Yang, who lives like a widow, she wants that schedule. But I doubt her husband would agree with that.” Madam Xuan felt that she had laughed too loudly, then she covered her mouth and said in a soft voice, “My mother-in-law, the Fifth Old Madam, is already an aged woman. How to make a schedule like that for her and all those old concubines who are out of favor by their husbands? If Mama Lai speaks her plan in public, is that schedule likely to be taken seriously? If that plan really is carried out, those women would be overjoyed, but it will also cause a stir in our family!”

“I see. Madam, you are so wise!” The young woman cast an admiring glance at Madam Xuan, seeming to be educated. Then she curried favor with the latter, “Even if you make that schedule, your husband wouldn’t sleep with anyone except you!”

Madam Xuan, with her face melt in smile, felt very comfortable hearing those words and said, “Besides, now my sister-in-law and her husband are still deeply attracted to each other like all those newly married couples. Even so, Mama Lai still dared to pick a quarrel my sister-in-law. If Mama Lai dares to speak nonsense again, others won’t criticize Second Madam Ye and will only blame Mama Lai for bullying the weak. After all, Mama Lai didn’t give that advice to all the madams in Marquis Ningyuan’s mansion except for a new madam. Now, Minglan hasn’t even given birth to a son, Mama Lai has already suggested to let Second Master Ye sleep with his concubine! Once Mama Lai’s suggestion is known to all, my aunt would be unable to excuse herself. Ha ha, after all, Mama Lai was sent to Cheng Manor by my aunt. Now that Mama Lai hasn’t said anything, my aunt has to watch my sister-in-law acting like a kind madam and gaining a good reputation.”

The young woman laughed with Madam Xuan and said, “So, Mama Lai is finished?”

“If she’s clever enough, she’ll keep a low key and never show up again. Perhaps this thing will be over then. Otherwise, haha, hasn’t my sister-in-law said, ‘As long as Mama Lai doesn’t make any huge mistake, she would be ‘respected’ all the time since she was sent by Old Madam’.”

The young woman nodded constantly and began to flatter Madam Xuan. After Madam Xuan enjoyed enough of the compliments, she murmured, “… My aunt’s plan fell through this time. I don’t know how my sister-in-law would deal with her husband’s concubines.”