Min had no time for idle chatter. She pulled her elder daughter over to help reassure her younger daughter. "Don't worry. Mother will choose carefully for you. If you don't like him, I won't force you. And if you suffer any mistreatment after you marry, your father will get justice for you."
"Mother will find good families for both of you," Min said gently. "I promise you sisters will both be satisfied."
Jian Xilu blushed and lowered her eyes, covering the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief, leaving only a hint of bashfulness visible.
Jian Ruonan showed none of a young girl's coyness. She raised her eyelids dispiritedly and asked in a small voice, "Mother, is this family you found for my sister really a good one?"
Min: !!
She had almost forgotten that her purpose in visiting the Duke of Pingguo Residence today was to inquire about Gao Yang.
Min gritted her teeth. "If it isn't, we'll find another."
Jian Ruonan: !!
Can we just switch like that?
Mother is so fierce! Motherhood makes a woman strong!
Min: "..."
To gather information, Min had given her young maid plenty of snacks and silk flowers as soon as they entered the residence, then sent her off to play with the young maids of the Duke of Pingguo Residence.
The senior maids attending the mistress of a household were usually tight-lipped and loyal, but the little maids were different. They were easily impressed, easily bought, and loose-tongued, making it very easy to draw information out of them.
Besides, the little maids usually knew something of whatever gossip was circulating.
Just then, the young maid returned. Min called her over and asked, "What did you find out?"
The young maid tilted her head up. "The second young master has a very good reputation in the household. He rarely makes things difficult for the servants, and he's generous, too. He doesn't have any personal maids, either. He moved to the outer courtyard when he turned ten, and manservants attend to his daily needs. The maids would fight tooth and nail for a chance to serve in his courtyard."
The maids and older serving women of the Duke of Pingguo Residence had nothing but praise for Gao Yang.
Min glanced at Jian Ruonan. Could Nannan's information have been wrong?
How could there not be a single bad word about him? They knew we were coming today, so the maids and serving women must have been warned long ago not to talk out of turn.
Min considered it carefully and felt that Nannan had a point.
The young maid continued, "The second young master keeps himself very pure. A little maid tried to climb into his bed before, and he kicked her right off. The next day, the maid who tried to get into his bed was sold. The second young master said that keeping girls with improper intentions in the household would corrupt its morals. Also, he never gets handsy with the maids."
Speaking of her household's future eldest son-in-law, the young maid shared in the pride.
Min nodded at this as well.
That Gao Yang doesn't like maids because he thinks they aren't worthy of his status as the second son of the Duke's Mansion!
Min: "..."
The young maid said, "The second young master really is wonderful!"
Wonderful, my foot! One of his mistresses is about to give birth today!
Let me see where he is... holy shit, he's waiting outside while his mistress gives birth!
He's in a house in Pagoda Tree Alley!
Min: !!
No wonder Gao Yang had not come to pay his respects during her visit to the Duke's Mansion today. The Duke's Madam had even said he was on duty.
As a woman confined to domestic affairs, she had no way of knowing whether Gao Yang was actually on duty.
The most pressing thing was to go to Pagoda Tree Alley and confirm it.
Jian Ruonan was also thinking about how to get her mother and sister to Pagoda Tree Alley. Ideally, her sister would catch Gao Yang with his mistress.
In Great Xia, having a firstborn son by a woman other than one's wife was no laughing matter. If her sister married him, she would become the laughingstock of the entire capital.
Besides, all three mistresses were pregnant. It would be best to call off this marriage. If her sister only found out after marrying him, was she supposed to get a divorce?
With my sister's looks and character, she can't be ruined by that rotten cucumber Gao Yang, with his sanctimonious facade.
Jian Ruonan felt that, despite being a salted fish who wanted nothing more than to laze around, she had worried herself sick over this family.
Jian Xilu blinked. She thought she understood what "rotten cucumber" meant now...
Jian Ruonan racked her brains and finally found an excuse. "Mother, I just heard there's a pastry shop near Pagoda Tree Alley with especially delicious treats. Shall we go buy some to try?"
She would get them to Pagoda Tree Alley first, then play it by ear.
Jian Xilu added, "Perfect timing. I ordered a pair of gold bracelets for you at a jewelry shop nearby. You can go see whether you like the design. If you don't, I'll have the craftsman melt them down and remake them."
*!!*
Gold bracelets?!
Jian Ruonan thanked her softly. "Thank you, Sister. I'll like anything you give me."
Now that's a true sister! She gives gold right off the bat!!!
I love gold, gold loves me, gold and I will never part!
Sister, let me snuggle you!!
Jian Xilu: "..."
After hearing so much, she had grown used to it.
The three had agreed on their plan and were about to leave when a servant came to report that Jian Zhang had arrived to fetch them.
Min took her two daughters to bid the Duke's Madam farewell. The Duke's Madam held Jian Xilu's hand and praised her. "The eldest young lady grows more outstanding by the day. That rascal of mine is getting far more than he deserves."
Don't worry, he won't get anything. We're going to catch him cheating right now!
Min: "..."
Jian Xilu thought, My little sister is right.
"The fifth young lady is a clever girl, too. You certainly know how to raise daughters, my dear. The young ladies of the Marquis's Estate are each more lovely than the last." The Duke's Madam took out a gold hairpin as a first-meeting gift for Jian Ruonan. "Madam Jian, why not stay a little longer? I'll send someone to the government office to hurry that rascal home so he can pay his respects to you. Just yesterday, he was telling me how long it had been since he last saw Xilu."
Why bother hurrying him? You could chase him until nightfall and he still wouldn't come back. That precious son of yours is out there waiting for his mistress to give birth to a son!
Huh, doesn't the Duke's Madam already know? Why is she putting on this phony act?!
Like rotten mother, like rotten son!
Min: "..."
Her daughter's inner voice was far too blunt. Min gritted her teeth and rubbed her temples, barely managing to keep her expression composed.
Beside her, Jian Xilu was struggling painfully to hold back her laughter.
Something that should have been disheartening always became amusing in her little sister's hands.
Min replied perfunctorily, "There will be plenty of chances to meet in the future. His duties come first."
Then, turning a thought over in her mind, she suddenly added, "We're going to Pagoda Tree Alley to take care of something."
The Duke's Madam's expression stiffened slightly. "What are you going to Pagoda Tree Alley for, my dear?"
Min had been watching the Duke's Madam's expression closely. Hearing the unnatural note in her voice now all but confirmed the matter, and her heart went cold.
Xilu's engagement had to be broken off.
Before you continue