14 Sisters-in-Law

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Meng Yunshao felt unease brewing in her heart. Could it be that her meeting with Jiang Shizhou had already been exposed so quickly? But then she thought it over and found it unlikely; from the moment she met him to the time she returned, everything had happened in one continuous flow without a moment’s pause. Even if some busybody wanted to stir trouble, it wouldn’t be so swift. Yet if it was about her sneaking out to handle affairs for the shop, there was no need for such a big commotion either.

Meng Yunshao decided not to dwell on it further. Together with Su Yue, she followed Madam Chen and several female servants to the Qingli Courtyard. The two exchanged glances in silence, both puzzled.

Upon arrival, Meng Yunshao saw Lady Hou, Concubine Liu, Second Young Master He Zhiqi, his wife Lady Gongsun Yan, Fourth Young Master’s wife Yan Qiaoqian, and the unmarried He Qingxian all sitting solemnly in the hall. The atmosphere was grave.

Her heart fluttering, Meng Yunshao bowed respectfully to the gathered ladies.

Concubine Liu, the third wife of Lord Hou and the most favored at present, was slender and graceful, always elegantly dressed and adorned. She was known as the only woman in the household who, emboldened by Lord Hou’s affection, showed little respect towards Lady Hou.

Concubine Liu was the first to speak, her tone laced with a hint of derision: “Oh my, today you’re dressed so plainly. Such a waste of our Third Brother’s wife’s pretty face.”

Meng Yunshao replied politely, “I went out to handle some matters. Since they were not important, I dressed casually.”

Her words left room for ambiguity, subtly implying the matters were not of great significance, signaling her stance. If they were merely about business affairs, at least she could smooth things over.

Second Young Master’s wife, Lady Gongsun Yan, hearing the opening salvo, smiled and said, “Sister-in-law says ‘not important,’ yet she’s cleared herself of all blame. Taking money from the household funds to buy a shop for herself—is that not a serious matter?”

Relieved yet unsettled, Meng Yunshao realized that Lady Gongsun had discovered her purchase of the shop and was accusing her. At least this left room for explanation, far better than the scandal of her private meeting with an old acquaintance being exposed.

Second Young Master was the eldest son in the Hou household.

Back then, He Zhiyu’s birth mother and Concubine Shen both conceived one after the other. The birth mother gave birth to eldest daughter He Qingman, while Concubine Shen soon after gave birth to the second son, He Zhiqi.

At that time, Concubine Shen and Lord Hou were in mutual affection. He Zhiqi, as the eldest son, was showered with love and attention, regarded as the heir, while He Qingman and her mother were sidelined.

Lord Hou nurtured He Zhiqi carefully, hoping he would emulate his parents—distinguishing himself on the battlefield, bringing honor to the He family ancestors.

Yet as He Zhiqi grew, even the household stewards and tutors gradually realized: the second young master was not particularly gifted.

He was obedient and diligent, studying tirelessly, practicing martial skills from dawn to dusk, but lacked a certain sharpness—like a lock with six of seven keyholes sealed.

Lord Hou, after years of trying, finally gave up on raising him to greatness, even distancing himself from Concubine Shen, blaming her for taking him to the military camps during pregnancy, saying the soldiers’ shouts frightened and stunted the child’s brain development.

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Meanwhile, He Zhiyu, under the guidance of his official wife, blossomed, becoming a young man praised by all. Without much paternal favor, he earned the position of Crown Prince’s companion through his own talents.

Lord Hou then returned his focus to raising the legitimate heir. If not for this, the title of heir might never have gone to He Zhiyu.

Though He Zhiqi was mediocre in talent, he was fortunate in other ways.

His honest and steady character, combined with his status as the eldest son, led him to marry Lady Gongsun Yan, a cousin of the current Empress from the powerful Gongsun family.

However, Lady Gongsun considered herself superior due to her royal lineage and standing as the eldest legitimate daughter. If one were to be precise, she had married beneath her station.

In the Hou household, though the family showed respect due to her lineage, among the younger generation of women, Meng Yunshao held the highest status—not least because she was the official wife of the heir and held the household’s purse strings.

Lady Gongsun was resentful and watched Meng Yunshao closely, hoping to catch her in a mistake to take over household management and regain influence.

Meng Yunshao was well aware of Lady Gongsun’s intentions, and it was no secret.

Before Meng Yunshao could speak, Sixth Sister He Qingxian quickly interjected, “Second Sister-in-law, how can you slander her with empty accusations? Words without proof sully a person’s reputation!”

Since developing respect for Meng Yunshao after the last incident, He Qingxian had not changed even under Lady Hou’s reprimand and often visited Meng Yunshao for advice, growing quite close—almost like a younger sister to her.

Lady Hou scolded, “Qingxian! How can you not control your tongue?”

He Qingxian pouted but did not argue.

Turning to Meng Yunshao, Lady Hou asked, “Madam Meng, today Lady Gongsun accuses you of embezzling household funds to purchase a shop for yourself. Is this true?”

Lady Gongsun added, “Some days ago, my maid Deng Rui noticed your close maid Su Yue bought a storefront for you, and now she’s searching for a prosperous shop. Surely, you must have misappropriated household funds, thinking no one would notice.”

Meng Yunshao replied with humility, “Madam Hou, absolutely not. Today I did go out to purchase a shop on South Market Street, but all the money I used came from my dowry and leftover monthly allowances. Not a single coin of the household funds was touched. I ask Madam’s fair judgment.”

Lady Gongsun sneered, “You say you didn’t, but South Market Street is a prime location. How much dowry could a low-born adopted daughter like you have to afford such a purchase? Do you have proof it’s your own money?”

Meng Yunshao smiled faintly. “Whoever accuses must prove their claim. If you casually slander me, you should produce clear evidence of my embezzlement. Demanding that I list every dowry item and monthly expense just to prove my innocence is degrading—and would encourage this household’s habit of arbitrary slander.”

Lady Hou said, “Madam Meng is right. Lady Gongsun, if you make baseless accusations, I will not let you off today.”

Lady Gongsun, who usually found Meng Yunshao compliant, was caught off guard by her sharp retort. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Rest assured, Madam Hou, I have evidence.” Then she called for three servants.

Three appeared: Zhang, the steward in charge of the storeroom; He Chong, a doorman who received guests; and Xiang Mo, a young female servant from Meng Yunshao’s quarters.

Xiang Mo, young and inexperienced, was frightened by the confrontation and immediately began to cry, “What is this about? My mistress has done nothing wrong!”

Lady Gongsun smiled coldly, “Xiang Mo, don’t be afraid. We only ask you to speak the truth. If your mistress is truly upright, there’s no problem. You told my maid Deng Rui that after the welcome feast, you saw your mistress carrying two zitan wood long boxes and a gilt multi-treasure square box into the inner room. Is this true?”

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Xiang Mo sobbed, “I thought she was a friend but never expected to be trapped like this. I only said my mistress took them, not that she stole anything!”

Lady Gongsun chuckled softly, “That’s enough.” Then she turned to Zhang and He Chong. “You two speak.”

He Chong, the doorman, was the nephew of the steward who was dismissed for bullying Su Yue and long sought revenge against Meng Yunshao. He was eager to speak, “I saw those items on the day of the welcome feast. One zitan wood box was a gift from Minister Mo, another from Minister Liang of the Ministry of War, and the last from a finely dressed steward of unknown identity.”

Feigning curiosity, Lady Gongsun asked, “These boxes are precious. It’s understandable the sister-in-law took them to her quarters to look at them. But do you know if they were later returned to the storeroom?”

Zhang, an honest man, replied, “I am in charge of the household storeroom and was on duty that day. I did not see these items returned. As to whether they were placed elsewhere by the lady of the house, I cannot say and dare not speak without certainty.”

Lady Gongsun sneered, “Where else would they be but in her own room?” Then she said to Meng Yunshao, “Sister-in-law, why not bring the account books and we’ll check together where these precious items went?”

Meng Yunshao sighed and said to Su Yue, “Fetch some people and bring all the account books here.”

Lady Gongsun smiled incredulously, “Why summon more people? Even if you called Lord Hou and the heir, you couldn’t conjure anything from those books. I have already scrutinized them thoroughly—there is no sign of these items.”

Meng Yunshao merely smiled without reply.

Su Yue obeyed and returned shortly, carrying a large stack of ledgers, followed by two young female servants with more.

They placed over thirty ledgers neatly before them.

Lady Gongsun frowned upon seeing this.

Unperturbed, Meng Yunshao took out four volumes and said to Lady Hou, “Madam, please examine these. These four volumes record the accounts from my grandmother’s side. As a princess, she lived by strict rules regarding her expenses, so she maintained a separate account pool. One of the zitan wood boxes contained Master Yan’s heirloom painting 'Thousand Birds,' which my grandmother liked and stored in her small treasury. It is recorded in these volumes.”

Lady Hou took the books and casually flipped through them. “Such meticulous records, impressive.”

Lady Gongsun was stunned, having never expected this. Still not resigned, she asked, “What about the others?”

Meng Yunshao produced another ledger. “This one, too, Madam Hou, please see. The other zitan box contained Master Wu’s calligraphy piece ‘Ascending the Jade Tower.’ As gifts between relatives, it was sent to the Gongsun family. I also prepared a gold hairpin for Fourth Sister-in-law and two strands of Southern Continent pearls for Eldest Sister’s husband’s family. All other items are duly recorded.”

Lady Hou smiled, “You are truly the one I chose.”

Meng Yunshao turned to Lady Gongsun with a gentle smile. “Sister-in-law, are you unaware that the zitan wood boxes were sent to your home?”

Lady Gongsun’s face paled, speechless.

After a moment, she demanded, “And what about the gilt box? Tell me! I refuse to believe that someone of your humble origins could not be tempted by these treasures.”

Meng Yunshao replied calmly, “That third item, indeed, is not recorded.”