Chapter 2694: Ill from Anger
2694 Ill from Anger While reprimanding Mu Jingfeng for reaching the peak of cultivation, they found themselves unable to resist the urge to confront her directly and offer a reprimanding lecture.
On the following day, Madam Consort Mu fell ill, her night plagued by sleeplessness. She remained confined to the side room of Liujin Court, where she weakly reclined against the divan, seeking some respite.
By her side, the wet nurse, an elderly maid named Qiu, attentively cared for her. The sorrow in Qiu's eyes was evident; having witnessed the Consort's struggles throughout the years, her heart ached. Now, faced with yet another setback, she couldn't help but wonder how much suffering the Consort was concealing within.
...
"Madam," Conglu rushed into the room in an agitated state. Unable to contain her emotions, she burst out, "That young woman is outside once again. She kneels there, begging for forgiveness. Shall I instruct Baihui to dismiss her?"
Madam Consort Mu raised her gaze and responded with a weary tone, "Bring her in."
"Madam," Conglu protested, stomping her feet in frustration.
The Consort was remarkable in many aspects, barring her excessive benevolence. This aspect was usually tolerated by the seasoned concubines. With the exception of Concubine Huang, who bore the fourth daughter, Mu Rouyi, the other three concubines were childless and had no grounds for arrogance.
The remaining two concubines naturally yielded to the esteemed Consort due to their lower status.
Yet, the present situation was different. The newcomer, Qiong'er, brought back from outside by the Master, defied the norms.
Qiong'er was merely 17 or 18 years old, boasting delicate and refined features. Most significantly, she had already given birth to the Master's daughter.
Yesterday, the Master named the child Mu Rouxue—an offspring born from his concubine.
Recalling this fueled Conglu's anger even further. She couldn't fathom why her Madam was enduring all this.
/What justified the audacity of this mistress? Was it solely due to the Master's favor she enjoyed?/ Mu Qingya's brows carried a shadow of melancholy. She let out a soft sigh and spoke, "As long as Master is pleased. If I had brought this matter to light earlier, we wouldn't be facing such complications now."
Her irritation stemmed not merely from Mu Jingfeng's entanglement with an outside concubine due to his peak cultivation, but because he had kept it concealed from her, leading to a predicament with no easy resolution.
She had long recognized Mu Jingfeng's exceptional qualities—his intellect, his gifted abilities, and his sentimentality.
Being an ordinary individual with limited cultivation capabilities, she held her position as the lady of the household primarily due to Mu Jingfeng's trust and affection for her.
How could she dare to utter any other wishes? Her heart's desire was for her beloved husband to remain by her side for years to come.
Everything else paled in significance; her husband's contentment was paramount.
Conglu was on the verge of bursting into tears witnessing the extent to which the Consort was sacrificing for the greater good. This only fueled her resentment toward the white-dressed woman kneeling outside the door.
/If not for that woman, would the Consort be so unwell that she couldn't even rise from bed today?/
Yuan Qiong'er entered the room, her presence as delicate as a fluttering white petal. Upon seeing Madam Consort Mu, she promptly knelt with a soft thud, tears streaming down her face as she repented.
Madam Consort Mu had no intention of engaging in a confrontation with a concubine, but she was in no mood for offering solace either.
After rousing her from her thoughts, she simply advised Yuan Qiong'er to remain composed within the household before dismissing her with an air of indifference.
Exiting the chambers of Liujin Court, Yuan Qiong'er's countenance contorted with anger.
Recollections of her kneeling outside the other woman's residence at dawn flooded her mind. She had humbled herself, seeking compromise in order to foster peaceful coexistence.
Little did she anticipate such a cold reception from the other party.
/If only she had foreseen this, she would have refrained from kneeling at that woman's doorstep so early in the morning./
As the memory of Mu Qingya's haughty demeanor resurfaced, Yuan Qiong'er felt a piercing ache throughout her body.
/What if Mu Qingya held the position of the household's mistress? She radiated condescension. Even if Yuan Qiong'er didn't vie for the mantou, she felt compelled to stand tall, ensuring Mu Qingya would rue her indifference in times past./