The Third Madam's Bad Reputation

'Aiyah…'

Now she understood. The reason why Third Madam decided to end her life on her wedding day must be jealousy. She might have found out that the Second Madam was pregnant around the time of her wedding day, and it was too late to back out or maybe she did not want to back out, she was just jealous and heartbroken. Then again, she married into the household knowing that the general already had two wives. What was so unnatural when they got pregnant? Aiyah… this Third Madam was an unreasonable child, blinded by love and jealousy… Xiao Yue was the unlucky fool to have to start off with such a bad reputation.

Xiao Yue rose from her seat and bowed toT both madams.

"This one has been unreasonable, causing both elder sisters to be worried. I will behave from now on."

First Madam smiled brightly at her. Second Madam looked elated.

First Madam extended a hand at the Second Madam, who grasped it immediately.

"See, Second Sister? I told you that Third Sister is not that unreasonable. She was maybe overwhelmed by the wedding procession, so she became a little emotional. You have nothing to worry about. Go back and rest."

"Yes, Elder Sister."

Second Madam gave the First Madam a little bow, Xiao Yue a smile, and then left with her maids. What followed was a pleasant chat about the weather, the beautiful flowers at First Madam's magnificent garden, and then the latest assortment of accessories that the King sent to Long Zhao Xue's household after the successful siege over the Xi'an Tribe as an additional reward. Her tribe. The accessories were hand-made by her tribe and were kept as treasures handed down from generation to generation. Xiao Yue's face darkened.

Xiao Yue found out that she was revived within days after her death. Long Zhao Xue completed the siege and went home to get married, only to find his third wife hanging herself on the wedding night. Then Xiao Yue came to possess her body. Heh.

Although Xiao Yue knew by then that it was because the pitiful Third Madam held such intensive love for her husband, she could not help but feel happy that Long Zhao Xue lost a woman in his harem. Served him right!

The visit ended after a shichen or so, full of irrelevant chitchat between the two women. To Xiao Yue, the main reason why she was even invited that afternoon was to clear the uncomfortable atmosphere between the Third Madam and the Second Madam. Apparently, everyone and their mothers were aware of Third Madam's jealousy. After she made sure that both madams knew that she was over it, for whatever reason, Xiao Yue was ready to start with a new chapter. Before sending her off, First Madam had something else to tell her. She took Xiao Yue by the elbow and whispered into her ear.

"Third Sister, things are often not as it seems. You are now part of this household. I hope you can keep your mouth shut, just like the rest of us."

Xiao Yue's jaw dropped at the harsh words. First Madam quickly adopted her usual friendly expression after uttering her last message, smiling ever so brightly at Xiao Yue as if she had not said anything drastic.

"See you soon, Third Sister."

Xiao Yue nodded and bowed.

All the way back to her own residence, Xiao Yue wondered about the meaning behind the First Madam's words. Well, she seemed to keep a good relationship with the Second Madam, not bursting into jealousy at all upon the Second Madam's pregnancy although she herself, in her own words, "had not been blessed with a child". What exactly was often not as it seemed? What was it that she should keep her mouth shut about? These questions kept her busy for a while, but since she had no way to find out, she quickly forgot about it and did not pursue the matter further.

A few days passed, and life did not give her any more surprises. A mild snowstorm covered the whole area with a thick layer of snow. All the ladies were advised not to venture outside for a while for fear of catching a cold. Xiao Yue thus enjoyed relaxing days inside her manor, without care of what was happening outside.

After marrying into the general's household, it was customary for the newly-wedded couple to visit the palace to greet the King, but the circumstance of the wedding was quite well-known even to the king himself, so he might not expect them to come, and Long Zhao Xue himself neither grasped the initiative to conduct the visit nor bothered to come to visit the Third Madam's residence to check on her health personally.

Xiao Yue was not very much bothered by this fact compared to her maids, who grew increasingly unhappy at how their madam was not favored although she was the newest addition to the family. After all, they just got married! And although the wife tried to commit suicide, she was now at her best behavior, so why would the general not give her a second chance?? They had not even consummated the wedding!

It turned out that if their mistress did not receive the master's favor, the maids get bullied by their peers. Yu Fen was a senior maid. She was used to this kind of household politics since Third Madam's father also had two wives, but her juniors were not. They often came to her bawling and whining, because some maids from the First Madam's or Second Madam's residence had said something mean or done something excessive again just to make their life more difficult. Even getting resources was becoming increasingly difficult because first priority was given to either First Madam as the main wife or the Second Madam who was pregnant with General Long's first child.

One day when Xiao Yue was relaxing on a fluffy divan with a thick quilt and a book, the maids and servants all came to kneel in front of their Lady to ask for help.

"You want me to do… what???"

Xiao Yue thought she misheard, but she did not.

"We beg the Third Madam to please take the initiative to visit General Long the next time he comes back home!" they begged in unison.