Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The moment we received that thousand-tael banknote, Mother and I decided to go on an extravagant eating and shopping spree.
The marquis’s estate was enormous, but after several days I had already grown bored with it. Back on the farm, there was a whole grove of osmanthus trees. I could climb them, trap wild rabbits, or lead the servants’ children in games of generals and armies.
I had once spent every day longing to return to the family estate. Now that I was here, I found it unbearably dull.
I had to sit perfectly straight and weigh every word three times before speaking. Sometimes I wanted to tell Mother, “This place is boring. I want to go back to the farm.”
Then I would see the gleaming banknotes and the chicken, duck, fish, and meat served at every meal.
No. I could not leave.
It had taken me long enough to trade my rural registration for a place among the capital’s elite. Countless people could only dream of such fortune. Had I become some wild boar incapable of appreciating fine grain?
As for Mother, she had spent the past few days dripping in gold and silver, lost in decadent bliss.
She used to call the Marchioness an “old locust” behind her back. Now every other word out of her mouth was “dear Sister.”
Eleven thousand taels was more than enough to purchase the loyalty of a mother and son.
What was dignity compared to money?
Thank you, Marchioness. You are wonderful.
We never made it to the shops, because the Marchioness’s children returned home.
Her son was my elder brother, and her daughter my little sister.
That was fine. They probably would not care for an illegitimate child like me, so Mother and I could simply stay out of their way. Eleven thousand taels would last us a lifetime.
But then the Marchioness sent a servant with a message.
“The Young Master and Young Miss return today. Madam requests that the Second Young Master and his mother dine in the main hall tonight.”
Mother frowned at me.
“Do you think the Marchioness held back because her son was away? Now that he’s home, she’ll finally show her claws.”
As she spoke, she pulled every banknote from beneath the jewelry box.
“No. I need a new hiding place.”
She paced around the room like a headless fly, clutching the money.
“I knew that old locust was up to no good. Tonight, while we’re at dinner, she’ll pretend some money has gone missing. Then she’ll have the perfect excuse to search our rooms.”
Mother gritted her teeth.
“How vicious. Truly, nothing is more poisonous than a woman’s heart.”
Mother, did you hear yourself?
I had never visited any other great household. But if the Marchioness were truly that sort of person, she had had plenty of opportunities to put on a performance from our first day here.
I had expected her to make Mother kneel for hours during the formal greeting.
She had not.
I had expected her to force Mother to attend her every day, then torment her in secret until she had nowhere to complain.
She had not.
Perhaps the Marchioness simply wanted her children to meet us.
After all, we would all be living beneath the same roof from now on.