Chapter 861: Each Mind Their Own Affairs

“What did you say? Su Shihang’s newly taken concubine is named Tong Zhaodi?”

Gu Taohua exclaimed in surprise upon hearing from Lu Yiner about the Su Family’s new concubine.

Lu Yiner nodded and said, “Yes, she’s from Ning City, and her parents and brother are here as well. They’re currently living in the servants’ quarters of the Su Mansion. I heard Aunt Tong was once married. I ran into Aunt Tong, and she has a bit of Sister Pandie’s resemblance. I found it quite a coincidence that Aunt Tong shares the Tong surname and is from Ning City, so I came to ask you about it.”

Tong Zhaodi, due to her fortune of being able to bear eight sons, was valued by Old Mrs. Su and raised to the status of an aunt upon entering the mansion.

Mrs. Lu was so angry that she vomited blood, truly vomited blood, and her maid was so scared she ran to the Lu Family’s meat shop to plead for Lu Yiner’s parents to visit the Su Mansion and check on their daughter.

Lu Yiner’s father softened for a moment and brought Lu Yiner to the Su Mansion.

That’s when Lu Yiner learned that Old Mrs. Su had taken a concubine for Su Shihang, and the concubine named Tong Zhaodi looked so familiar to her. Thus, she immediately ran to Gu Taohua to sync the news after leaving the Su Mansion.

“Hearing you say this, Aunt Tong is definitely Tong Zhaodi,” Gu Taohua clicked her tongue in admiration, “My uncle really has some brains, able to bring the divorced Tong Zhaodi to Shengjing to be given as a concubine to a second-rank official of the court.”

To further confirm Aunt Tong’s identity, as well as to satisfy her curiosity, Gu Taohua made a trip to the Su Mansion.

Old Mrs. Su had mixed emotions about Gu Taohua entering the Su Mansion for the first time since her marriage. She hoped Gu Taohua was here to reconcile with the Su Family, yet she was unhappy that Gu Taohua had the upper hand.

This trip wasn’t in vain for Gu Taohua as she saw Aunt Tong in the Su Mansion, who indeed was her cousin Tong Zhaodi.

Having her own cousin become Su Chengmin’s nominal stepmother was indeed quite dramatic.

“Taohua, what are you doing in the Su Mansion?”

Tong Zhaodi slightly lifted her head upon seeing Gu Taohua.

During her few days at the Su Mansion, she not only won Old Mrs. Su’s favor but also received kind treatment from Su Shihang, even outshining Mrs. Lu.

Moreover, she was already recognized as a concubine, just waiting to conceive and bear a son.

Tong Zhaodi was unaware that Gu Taohua had married, let alone knowing the relationship between Gu Taohua and the Su Family. Seeing Gu Taohua’s exceptional attire made her feel uncomfortable.

Gu Taohua had even managed to mingle among the nobles in Shengjing.

Though thinking about how Gu Taohua was still an unmarried woman with no prospects, while she had become the concubine of a second-rank court official, she felt slightly relieved.

“Presumptuous, this is our Eldest Young Madam,” Old Mrs. Su’s nanny scolded.

The nanny had been with Old Mrs. Su for many years, and regardless of how much the old lady valued Aunt Tong at the moment, before she had given birth to a son, she naturally couldn’t compare to the eldest grandson. Gu Taohua was the wife of the eldest grandson, and naturally, her status rose with the eldest grandson’s.

Tong Zhaodi’s pupils constricted upon learning Gu Taohua’s identity.

In her few days at the mansion, she had become quite familiar with the Su Family and knew the eldest son was the Commander of the Imperial Guard and deeply trusted by the emperor.

Su Shihang repeatedly sighed and lamented about this rebellious child.

Even the maids serving her privately told her that if she could bear a son like the eldest grandson, she would become the lady of the Su Mansion.

The accomplished eldest son had turned out to be Gu Taohua’s husband.

Gu Taohua smiled warmly at Tong Zhaodi and said, “Should I call you cousin or Aunt Tong? I think I’ll call you cousin. Each of us stands together with Chengmin.”

Old Mrs. Su was shocked to learn of the relationship between Aunt Tong and Gu Taohua, but after the shock, she felt joyful. With this layer of relationship, there would be no worry about Gu Taohua not being close to the Su Mansion.

“Since they are family, they should come in the same door. Since the granddaughter-in-law and Aunt Tong are cousins, they should visit each other more frequently.”

Old Mrs. Su thought to herself, with the Gu Family’s current flourishing, Gu Jingzhe having become Champion Scholar, and Tong Huaqiong’s shop expanding to the border with daily profits, if Aunt Tong could truly bear eight sons, promoting her to an official wife was not impossible.

Relying on Aunt Tong’s connections, she wouldn’t worry about keeping the eldest grandson and his wife close.

However, Old Mrs. Su was destined to be disappointed.

“Old lady, Aunt Tong and I are from two different families. My mother and my uncle’s family have severed ties, and as my mother’s biological daughter, I shouldn’t go against her decision. So Aunt Tong is Aunt Tong, and I am myself. To show respect, I’ll call her cousin, but there’s no need for further contact.”

“I came today not to create a cousinly relationship with Aunt Tong, but to inform the old lady that we don’t have much relationship.”

Gu Taohua refused to maintain a false cousinly status with Tong Zhaodi, straightforwardly blocking Tong Zhaodi’s intention to use the Gu Family as a backing.

Having finished speaking, Gu Taohua turned and left.

Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang, upon learning that Gu Taohua had come, hurriedly rushed over, wanting to boast about their daughter’s entry into the Su Mansion before this ‘old maid’. However, they only saw the blurry silhouette of Gu Taohua.

“Taohua left because she saw you married well?” Mrs. Wang asked Tong Zhaodi.

Tong Zhaodi said dejectedly, “Gu Taohua is now the wife of the Su Mansion’s eldest son, her status higher than mine.”

Mrs. Wang and Tong Fusheng exchanged glances.

Gu Taohua was eager to share with Tong Huaqiong the news about Tong Zhaodi becoming Su Shihang’s concubine, and she headed straight to the Gu Family upon leaving the Su Mansion.

This news left Tong Huaqiong stunned.

The Gu Family members were equally shocked by the revelation of Tong Zhaodi entering the Su Mansion as a concubine.

“Didn’t Zhaodi already marry? How could she become Su Shihang’s concubine?” After a long while, Chen Sufen asked.

Gu Taohua explained, “I heard from Lu Yiner that Tong Zhaodi divorced Wu Musheng. My uncle climbed up through a steward from the Su Mansion in Ning City, who served as an intermediary to send Tong Zhaodi to the Su Mansion as a concubine.”

Liu Yueer remarked, “Uncle truly has some capability.”

Tong Pandi sighed bitterly and said, “My father wishes he could squeeze the oil out of Zhaodi and me, first pushing me into the Wu Family’s pit of fire, from which I jumped out, then pushing Zhaodi into that pit. When the Wu Family fell through, he pulled Zhaodi out and pushed her into another pit. I’m waiting to see him get his retribution.”

And then added, “But it’s a pity for Zhaodi.”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Zhaodi now isn’t worthy of sympathy. You grew up together, you tried to pull her out, she had a chance to climb up, but she chose to let your father push her into the pit. So, there’s always something resentful about pitiful people. Do you believe that now as the Su Mansion’s concubine, she not only doesn’t feel ashamed but thinks it’s quite glorious.”

Tong Huaqiong wasn’t wrong.

Two days later, Tong Huaqiong hosted a grand banquet to celebrate Gu Jingzhe’s official entrance into the government.

She didn’t send invitations to the Su Family, yet Old Mrs. Su still brought Tong Zhaodi to attend.

Tong Fusheng, Mrs. Wang, and Tong Zhijie wanted to establish connections but were refused by Old Mrs. Su. She had inquired and found out Tong Huaqiong and Tong Fusheng had severed their sibling relationship, fearing Tong Fusheng would ruin her chances of renewing ties with the Gu Family.

Not only that, but Old Mrs. Su also drove Tong Fusheng’s family of three out of the Su Mansion to fend for themselves.

“Aunt.”

Tong Huaqiong was busy receiving guests when Tong Zhaodi cautiously approached.