since the MC’s mother is the madam again after being to sick this implies that she married the MC’s father first (I’m not sure about the order of which he took in the others) but he favored Xiao more than the MC’s mom so she had more power (MC’s mom is sick so the father doesn’t spend much time with her so that would explain why she isn’t favored). in stories like these who ever is favored most has more power. also Xiao attained control of the upkeep after the MC’s mom voluntarily gave it to her after the we’re supposed to work together with that Xiao was able to control many things that the father wouldn’t.
I just remembered that in the first chapter the mom says she was the one who introduced concubine Xiao or something.... She thought that they had a good relationship, so she probably never fought against her and didn't mind giving her autority
I guess I am confusing this type of court with harem type, where wife with son will automatically take precedence and authority over other wives with daughters.
that’s not always the case with these type of stories in this The MC’s mother isn’t favored so it is hard for her daughter and son to be as well (this is a problem for the brother because it way be hard for him to become sole heir) . Which is why in the MC’s first life her brother dies i assume the father was upset but did not care enough because he probably already had another heir at the time.
I am a bit confused by court precedence order in MC family. While I understand that MC father's favorite concubine is Xiao, however based on rules on inheritance it shouldn't be. First MC mother is higher ranking and of more prestigious family (MC claims so in ch3),second she has a male child (MC brother), while concubine Xiao is obviously or lower rank and has no male child/heir. Yet not only MC father (because he is love smitten fool) gives more power and authority to Xiao but so does his mother (The Grandmother) giving Xiao control of upkeep of household. Why is that?