The Marquis's Household

Xu Xi nodded. "Please go ahead, Madam."

Lady Zhu smiled, fine lines appearing on her well-maintained skin. She chided her, "You're still calling me Madam at a time like this? You should call me First Aunt."

"Yes, First Aunt." Xu Xi smiled again.

Seeing how straightforward she was, Lady Zhu felt even more appreciation and affection for her.

She said, "Let's start with your second branch. Your father's birth mother was Old Concubine Qin. She passed away some years ago. Besides your mother, Lady Wei, your father has two concubines, one surnamed Xue and the other Tao. Among those of your generation in the second branch, besides Sixth Miss Zhao Ruyu, you also have a twin brother, the household's Second Young Master, Zhao Jing'an..."

At this point, Lady Zhu glanced at Xu Xi with pity in her eyes.

Lady Wei had given birth to boy-and-girl twins. The boy had been all right, weighing four jin at birth, but the girl had been terribly frail, weighing only a little over three jin, and everyone had feared she would not survive. That was also why Lady Wei had taken Xu Xi to burn incense at a temple, hoping the child would live. Unexpectedly, she had been switched on the way.

Caring for twins was no easy matter. Even with wet nurses, there was still plenty to worry about. The two children were particularly underweight and weak, so they needed extra attention; the slightest lapse could cost them their lives.

A woman's position was secure only when she had a son, so everyone could understand Lady Wei devoting more of her attention to him. But both children were flesh that had fallen from her own body. On the surface, she treated her son and daughter equally, but behind the scenes, her treatment of them was as different as heaven and earth. That was what made everyone criticize her inwardly, thinking she had gone too far.

Lady Zhu continued, "You also have an older shu sister, Zhao Rurui, who is a month older than you. Her mother passed away, so Concubine Xue is raising her now."

Xu Xi nodded.

Lady Wei had probably harmed her health giving birth to the twins, for she had never become pregnant again. Zhao Yuanliang had taken several concubines, and they had conceived, but Zhao Rurui was the only child who had survived. Zhao Jing'an remained his only son. Zhao Rurui's birth mother was dead, and the two surviving concubines were childless. Xu Xi would not have believed there had been no scheming on Lady Wei's part, even if someone beat her to death.

The novel was a sweet romance and not very long. It focused on how Zhao Ruyu and the Marquis of Pingnan's second son met, fell in love, came to understand each other, and shared tender moments. Other characters received little description and were only mentioned in passing. So Xu Xi did not know why the domineering Lady Wei had allowed a concubine to bear a child before she did.

Still, Zhao Rurui had probably survived because she was a girl.

"The first branch has five children," Lady Zhu went on. "Your eldest sister, Zhao Ruyu, is nineteen this year, and your second sister, Zhao Ruzhu, is seventeen. Both are married. The First Young Master is Zhao Jingli, the heir to the marquisate. As it happens, he was born on the same day as you and Jing'an, only half a shichen earlier."

At this point, her face filled with emotion.

Back then, she and Lady Wei had both been heavily pregnant when their father-in-law died and their mother-in-law fell ill just before they were due to give birth. The household had to arrange a funeral and summon physicians and procure medicine for the old madam, while Zhao Yuanxun had to inherit the title. The entire household had been thrown into chaos.

Lady Wei had it easier: she only needed to weep before the mourning altar and occasionally pay her respects at the old madam's sickbed. Lady Zhu, as the eldest daughter-in-law and the new marchioness, could hardly concern herself only with her own affairs when Lady Wei was further along than she was and their third sister-in-law was too weak and incapable to take charge. She could only go about managing everything with her swollen belly.

As a result, she had gone into labor prematurely on the same day as Lady Wei and given birth to her son, Zhao Jingli. Fortunately, with the duke's blessing, both mother and son were safe. But by the time she was able to get out of bed a few days later, the household was already in a complete mess. The old madam had forced her sick body to hold on and directed their third sister-in-law in managing affairs. Lady Zhu had therefore been obliged to worry about the household even during her month of confinement.

Whenever she recalled that time, her heart still trembled with lingering fear.

"I gave birth to four children in all. Besides your eldest cousin, second cousin, and eldest male cousin, there's also the Third Young Master, Zhao Jingtai. He's eleven this year and impossibly naughty, getting into mischief all day long. If he does anything wrong, just assert yourself as his older sister and teach him a lesson. There's no need to stand on ceremony."

It was clear that Lady Zhu was a good mother. Whenever she spoke of her children, her face filled with maternal affection.

"Besides them, our branch also has one shu child, your third cousin Zhao Ruxin. She's half a year older than you."

Lady Zhu took a sip of tea and continued her introductions. "Your third uncle is also shu-born. His birth mother, Old Concubine Zheng, is still alive. Your third aunt's surname is Su, and she has a son and a daughter. Her son is eight, and his name is Zhao Jingning; her daughter is six, and her name is Zhao Rushan."

"You also have an eldest paternal aunt, the old madam's daughter, who married a newly successful jinshi of that year. Your eldest uncle-in-law is now a fourth-rank prefect elsewhere, and your eldest aunt went with him to his post. She hasn't returned in several years. Your youngest paternal aunt is shu-born and married a juren. They live in the west of the capital, so you'll see her at home during festivals and holidays."

Seeing that Lady Zhu seemed to have finished, Xu Xi rose and curtsied. "Thank you for explaining, First Aunt. I've remembered it all."

"Sit, quickly, sit down. We're family; there's no need for so much ceremony." Lady Zhu hurriedly beckoned her to sit.

Though she said that, she was increasingly pleased with Xu Xi.