Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Auntie Ling relayed Madame Qiao's message to Concubine Du and Qiao Kou, who understood what was expected of them – to give Qiao Xuan a hard time and mock her.
Once Auntie Ling had left, the mother and the daughter exchanged an irritated glance between them.
For one thing, they were very frustrated that Qiao Xuan's husband had advanced to the next level and even the Old Master had begun to take notice of them. Qiao Xuan had suddenly become an important figure in the family,
For another, they were frustrated that Madame Qiao was putting them in a difficult position by asking them to give Qiao Xuan trouble. They were unsure if this would really impress the Old Master?
However, they also knew that refusing to comply with Madame Qiao's wishes could have negative consequences for them. They depended on her for their livelihood, and they didn't want to risk falling out of her favor.
It was a dilemma for them.
But Madame Qiao had given them an order, and they couldn't just pretend to be sick to get out of it. Madame Qiao would not have accepted their absence.
"Mom, They're treating us like tools,"
Qiao Kou gritted her teeth, feeling a burning hatred for Madame Qiao and Qiao Wei that surpassed even her feelings towards Qiao Xuan. She became even more determined to sabotage Qiao Wei's marriage.
Concubine Du sneered in agreement. "We're just like servants, tools for their entertainment!"
Qiao Kou cried. "l am also dad's daughter…"
Concubine Du let out a deep sigh of relief. "So you have to find a good husband, and only in this way, will you be able to overthrow the situation you are in now."
So, they knew they had to tread carefully around Madame Qiao for the time being.
Offending her could mean risking their chances of finding a good husband and potentially causing themselves more trouble.
The reason Qiao Xuan was able to rise to her current position was pure luck. No one had expected it to happen, and her success cannot be replicated. If it were to happen again, Concubine Du could not guarantee that her own daughter would have the same stroke of luck.
Perhaps it was premature to rely on luck for success.
After all, Shao Yunduan was merely a Recommended Man and not particularly significant.
Concubine Du was not willing to take any chances and risk her daughter's future.
"Leave it to me, forget about it."
Qiao Kou nodded, agreeing with her mother's decision.
In truth, Qiao Kou was not bothered by Madame Qiao's opinions of her.
She knew that their father would soon return to the capital, and he would not allow Madame Qiao to arrange a marriage for her at this time.
Qiao Kou was determined to ruin Qiao Wei's marriage when they returned to the capital.
She had never relied on Madame Qiao to find her a good match, so she wasn't concerned about offending her.
However, she also knew that it was best not to provoke Madame Qiao in case their life got worse.
As the family was still making their own plans, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan unexpectedly arrived at the door.
Madame Qiao sneered upon hearing the news, "The couple really knows when to come. We have misjudged them before!"
Auntie Ling had not yet finished tidying up the courtyard at this moment.
Officer Qiao was pleased with the timing of their visit.
It could only mean one thing – Shao Yunduan was trying to curry favor with him, otherwise he wouldn't have been so eager to see him.
This time, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan were warmly welcomed by Officer Qiao. He patted Shao Yunduan on the back, engaging in friendly conversation as if they were close family.
Shao Yunduan adopted a humble attitude mixed with a respectful tone, indicating that he had not informed his father-in-law about his participation in the exams because he was afraid of failing..