Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 53 The Jade Clan's Rare Flower

Ning Cuo escorted Shen Qing and the others back to the dock. The painted boat docked, and Du Zhong went to fetch the carriage.

"Jun Yue, San Lang, let's talk another day." Ning Cuo bid farewell to them, surrounded by a group of beauties.

Shen Yun returned the greeting with a cupped hand and politely accepted. At this moment, Du Zhong also led the carriage over.

With half an hour to go on the way back, Shen Qing was bored and couldn't help but recall that fleeting glimpse she had just caught. She counted on her fingers and realized that the original owner and Yu Jue were cousins, practically three thousand miles apart. She decided to tell Shen Che when she got back that since they were going to visit relatives, they should also take a stroll to the Yu State Duke's mansion.

Having this idea in mind, he took the opportunity to inquire about the Yu State Duke's mansion with Shen Yun, the all-knowing man of Yudu.

"Why is Sanlang asking this?"

"These are all relatives, right? Perhaps Dalang will pay a visit beforehand to find out more, so as not to be impolite or break any taboos."

Shen Yun thought about it and agreed. At least he needed to know the number of people in the host family so he could prepare a gift for the first meeting.

"Alas~ After my great-aunt passed away, the General's Mansion always needed someone to manage the household affairs. Soon after, he married a second wife, Zhou. Zhou was mean-spirited, and my uncle had a very difficult childhood. He relied entirely on the protection of the Mo family, who accompanied him as part of the dowry. Several times, he was in grave danger. Once, he inexplicably encountered bandits while traveling. The Mo family had their youngest son exchange clothes with my uncle, which saved my uncle's life."

"That youngest son of Steward Mo..."

Shen Yun said regretfully, "A six-year-old child was hacked to death with a flurry of blows."

Yet another loyal servant who swapped his own child; given the generational gap, Shen Qing found it difficult to judge such behavior.

"Later, the general returned to the court after a great victory and was granted the title of Duke. He then lived in Yudu for a long time. Only then did the Zhou family become much more subdued. At this time, some of the Shen family members also entered the court to serve as officials. They became more assertive and invited their uncle to the clan school to teach, making it impossible for the Zhou family to reach out to them."

"The Duke's mansion has been embroiled in many disputes over the selection of an heir. Zhou Shi herself has two sons, so naturally she'll be vying for the position. Although according to the rules, the eldest son should rightfully inherit the family business, but as you know..."

Perhaps out of respect for the elders, Shen Yun didn't elaborate too much, but Shen Qing understood that with a stepmother comes a stepfather.

"Although Duke Yu favored Lady Zhou, he could not disregard propriety and could not ignore the rules of etiquette. So the matter was delayed. Fortunately, Uncle inherited his great-aunt's good looks and was known as the handsome young man of Yudu at the time. He married the eldest daughter of the Fang family and secured his position as heir."

Shen Yun put it cryptically, but to put it bluntly, his uncle married a noblewoman by virtue of her beauty and became the heir by leveraging the influence of his wife's family. This could be considered a form of living off a woman.

"Young Master Yu has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. In that case, when you visit, you should pay attention to the preferences of the young master's wife."

Shen Yun shook his head, somewhat saddened. "The Crown Prince's wife had one son and two daughters. The eldest son, Yu Ze, whose courtesy name was Yan Qi, was eighteen years old. The eldest daughter was Aunt Yu Jue, whom I just met. Seven years ago, she died of premature birth and postpartum hemorrhage when she gave birth to her second daughter, Yu Mi. The Crown Prince was extremely grieved and vowed in front of all the mourners at the madam's funeral hall that he would never remarry. At that time, it caused a sensation in Yudu, and everyone praised the Crown Prince for his deep affection and loyalty."

Observing his unusual expression, Shen Qing asked, "Is there some hidden story behind this?"

"Well... my mother and Madam Fang are somewhat acquainted, and during a casual chat, she overheard some secrets that are best left unsaid to outsiders."

Shen Yun's mother is quite the social butterfly! Like mother, like son, no wonder Shen Yun has the potential to be a diplomat.

"It is said that the Crown Prince's wife met Consort Mo while strolling in the garden. No one knows what happened, but both of them gave birth prematurely on the same day. The Fang family came to demand an explanation, and the Crown Prince made this vow to protect Consort Mo."

"Aunt Mo?" Shen Qing felt the surname sounded familiar. "What's her relationship with that Steward Mo?"

"She is the daughter of Steward Mo. She grew up with the young master. The young master's wife gave birth to two children and then took her in as a concubine five years later. She has a daughter who should be nine years old now. She injured her body when she gave birth to her son and has no more children."

No wonder Prince Yu wanted to protect her; she was his childhood sweetheart, to whom he owed a life. In Shen Qing's mind, a melodramatic plot unfolded: a scumbag man favoring his concubine and destroying his wife.

"Prime Minister Fang just made the heir swear an oath and that was it? He didn't punish Consort Mo?" Shen Qing was a little puzzled; this shouldn't be the case.

"The Crown Prince's wife's dowry maid was also present at the time and confirmed that the Crown Prince was just taking a walk with Concubine Mo. When the Crown Prince's wife saw this, she was so angry that she went into premature labor. The Crown Prince did not lay a hand on her or say anything."

"Ziyue, to kill someone, you have to destroy their spirit. There's no need for any real action, like a provocative look." He's acted in too many family dramas; what kind of tricks hasn't he seen?

Shen Yun thought about it and felt that it made a lot of sense. He continued, "But after all, Aunt Mo did not leave any evidence, and the young master also made a vow to protect the interests of the lady's three children. The Fang family cannot force them too much. In the end, the three children still have to rely on the young master's protection."

That's true. Since things are beyond repair, we should strive for the greatest benefit. One concubine is no threat, but if Prince Yu remarries, his three children will have a legitimate mother, and the children born to the second wife will also be legitimate sons.

"So, now Consort Mo is in charge of Prince Yu's household?" That's too good a life for her; she's not the mistress of the house, but she's better than one.

“Aunt Mo was well-behaved and never overstepped her bounds. After the Crown Prince’s wife passed away, Aunt Jue, who was nine years old at the time, began to manage the affairs of the courtyard and took on the responsibility of supervising her brother and raising her sister.”

Shen Qing's eyes widened. Wow, amazing! But why should a little girl be in charge of all this?

“Aunt Jue was intelligent from a young age, and the Crown Prince’s wife also raised her to be a wife of the clan. She began to learn how to handle daily affairs at the age of seven.”

Genius! Even at his age, he can't understand the ledger Li Su gave him.

"Uncle Ze is lazy by nature, easygoing and fat. He gains weight even from drinking water. The young master is busy with his duties and official business. The Duchess Zhou is unlikely to care. Aunt Mo has no right to manage him, and the servants in the mansion dare not manage him either. Only Aunt Jue dares to urge him to practice martial arts and control his diet. After all, Yu is a military general and will inherit military power in the future."

"Did Yu Yanqi finally lose weight?"

"Uncle Ze has become a nimble fat man."

"Ahem~" Shen Qing covered up her uncontrollable laughter, "Does she have to take care of newborn babies too? There are always wet nurses to take care of them."

"Alas, this is yet another lawsuit. When Aunt Mi was a month old, the Taoist priest Tianyi came to her door and predicted that she was destined to be a lone star, and that none of her close relatives would have a good end. At that time, Duke Yu wanted to send her to a Taoist temple."

Holy crap! Another charlatan!

"Upon hearing this, Aunt Jue dragged her long sword all the way to the main hall to argue with the Taoist priest, saying that she was willing to take herself as a warning and would live and eat with her sister from now on. If her sister really brought misfortune to her relatives, she, as the closest person, would definitely be the first to die. It would not be too late to send her sister away then."

Fortunately, Aunt Mi is now seven years old and nothing has happened to her.

Shen Qing's eyes filled with admiration; he really wanted to be friends with such an extraordinary woman.

"Whoa!" The carriage came to a stop.

"Dalangjun!"

Shen Qing heard Du Zhong's excited shouts.