“Fainted?” Old Madam Jiang stared at Old Madam Deng. Her right eye was covered with a white film, and when she stared at people this way, it made one’s heart grow cold with unease.

Old Madam Deng had been widowed young and had weathered many storms, so naturally, she wasn’t affected. She nodded affirmatively: “Yes, she fainted.”

Old Madam Jiang gave a cold laugh: “Heh, I don’t care whether she fainted or died—the Li residence cannot keep her!”

She again fixed those white-filmed eyes on Old Madam Deng, her mouth corners tightly pressed, making her nasolabial folds particularly deep: “Sister-in-law, I know you’re soft-hearted, but this kind of matter cannot be indulged. If Third Girl’s disappearance hadn’t been publicized, we could have made up some excuse about her dying of illness to cover it up. But it wasn’t concealed at the time, and the Li residence’s reputation has already been affected over the past days. Of course, over the years, there have been missing children from various residences in the capital. If it’s a girl, though it brings shame to the family name at the time, people gradually forget as time passes. But Third Girl should never, absolutely never have returned! Sister-in-law, she may be your granddaughter, but she’s not your only granddaughter! If she comes back alive and remains a young lady of the Li residence, how will the other young ladies marry in the future?”

Seeing Old Madam Deng remain silent, Old Madam Jiang said coldly: “As long as she stays in the residence for one day, others will gossip for one day, and our Li residence will never be able to hold up its head!”

Old Madam Deng still said nothing.

Old Madam Jiang was somewhat surprised and raised her eyebrows, peering at her with her good eye: “Sister-in-law, among all your granddaughters, didn’t you always like Third Girl the least? How is it you can’t bear to part with her now? If you can’t steel your heart, I’ll step forward to be the villain. No matter what, Third Girl cannot stay!”

Old Madam Jiang’s resolute attitude was exactly what Old Madam Deng had expected. After she finished venting her anger, Old Madam Deng finally explained: “I understand Village Lady’s concerns. That wretched child has indeed brought shame to the Li residence. However, the situation isn’t as bad as everyone thinks. Though she was abducted by human traffickers, she was rescued halfway by Divine Physician Li—”

“Divine Physician Li?”

“Yes, that very divine physician whom His Majesty personally praised with high acclaim.”

“How is this possible?” Old Madam Jiang found it hard to believe.

Old Madam Deng smiled: “Today it was Divine Physician Li himself who personally brought Third Girl back. The neighbors all saw it.”

“Could it not be someone impersonating him?” Old Madam Jiang still didn’t believe it.

“If it were impersonating someone else, that might be possible, but Village Lady, consider—what kind of person is Divine Physician Li? If someone dared to impersonate him, wouldn’t those all-knowing Jinlin Guards officials immediately arrest them?”

A person’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow. Brazenly impersonating a famous person carries risks.

Old Madam Jiang clearly understood this principle, and the fierce expression on her face softened somewhat.

Old Madam Deng’s heart relaxed slightly, and her tone became earnest: “Think about it—Divine Physician Li personally brought Third Girl back. If we then send Third Girl away, wouldn’t that displease the divine physician?”

This would be blatantly questioning the divine physician’s character—offending a divine physician would be extremely unwise.

As a member of the imperial clan, Old Madam Jiang had far more contact with imperial relatives and nobles than Old Madam Deng, and she understood more deeply the position Divine Physician Li held in the hearts of those distinguished people years ago.

She finally relented: “If that’s the case, let’s wait and see for now. In the future, Third Girl needn’t go to school anymore. You keep her confined to her courtyard and don’t let her come out to attract attention!”

Even if Third Girl was rescued by the divine physician, and they couldn’t immediately deal with her out of consideration for the divine physician’s face, the world’s eyes are sharp—Third Girl would never be able to marry in the future.

In Old Madam Jiang’s eyes, a young lady destined never to marry was no different from a discarded chess piece.

After Old Madam Deng took her leave, watching her departing figure, Old Madam Jiang shook her head and sneered coldly.

This Madam Deng was still terribly protective of her own, truly old and muddled!

Old Madam Deng had temporarily pacified Old Madam Jiang. Sighing quietly to herself, she returned to Qingsong Hall. Before she could even drink a sip of hot tea, she heard a maid report: “Old Madam, Second Madam requests an audience.”

Old Madam Deng frowned before saying, “Please invite Second Madam in.”

Soon, the pearl curtain was lifted, and a woman in her early thirties walked in.

Second Madam Liu was Old Madam Deng’s second daughter-in-law. Three years ago, when Second Master Li Guangshu was appointed to a post outside the capital, she had stayed in the residence with her pair of daughters. She was always someone with a quick tongue.

After entering and paying her respects, she poured a cup of tea and handed it to Old Madam Deng, saying: “Old Madam, this daughter-in-law heard that Third Miss has returned. I was truly shocked.”

“Didn’t you go to Yahe Courtyard?”

“I did, but eldest sister-in-law said Third Miss wasn’t feeling well and it wasn’t convenient to see people.” When saying “eldest sister-in-law,” Liu pursed her lips.

The eldest daughter-in-law of the West Residence, Lady He, was a second wife who was younger than her and even more muddle-headed. Liu had always looked down on her.

Old Madam Deng knew Liu’s attitude. However, being a second wife was difficult, and Lady He herself was incompetent. As the mother-in-law, she couldn’t possibly stand up for Lady He because of this.

Cough, cough—with Lady He’s temperament, it was already extremely tolerant of her not to join in stepping on her.

“Old Madam, you just returned from the East Residence, right? What did Village Lady say?” Liu had come to gather information.

Old Madam Deng acted as if she didn’t understand: “Village Lady? She thought Third Girl encountering a benefactor was truly fortunate.”

“That’s all?”

Old Madam Deng smiled: “Mm, I know you care about Third Girl as her aunt and feel sorry that she suffered. But we can’t spoil that wretched child too much either. Don’t send things like ginseng and bird’s nest. If you’re worried, just send some white fungus and royal jelly later.”

Liu nearly choked on her breath.

Who wanted to send ginseng and bird’s nest?

That cheap girl had lost her reputation and virtue, yet dared to return—if she had any backbone and sense, she should have quietly thrown herself in the river to keep things clean!

Usually, Old Madam Deng couldn’t stand Third Miss, so Liu never expected that after Li San experienced such a thing, the old lady would have this kind of attitude.

Could the old lady be possessed?

Liu said indignantly: “Old Madam, it’s true I feel sorry for Third Miss, but I feel even sorrier for Jiao’er and the others. None of the young ladies in our residence is married yet. Third Miss encountered that kind of thing, and our residence still has no resolution—what will the world think?”

After Liu finished speaking and saw no response from Old Madam Deng, she looked up to see Old Madam Deng sitting calmly with her eyes closed. Only after finishing the tea in her hands did she look at her meaningfully: “Madam Liu, you’re still young and don’t understand. The world’s opinions change too quickly.”

The world’s opinions—sometimes they’re important, sometimes they’re not worth a damn.

Having raised her two sons to adulthood, Old Madam Deng understood better than anyone that if you lived entirely according to worldly views, she would have died long ago.

She didn’t like Third Girl, but Third Girl was still a child. Even a divine physician who had met her by chance was willing to give Third Girl a way to live—could she, as the actual grandmother, take Third Girl’s life just because of worldly opinion?

If today she could demand Third Girl’s life because of worldly opinion, tomorrow whose life would she demand because of worldly opinion?

“But—” Liu couldn’t listen to any of this and wanted to say more, but then heard the sound of light, steady breathing from Old Madam Deng’s direction.

The old lady had fallen asleep so quickly!

Liu’s face turned iron-gray as she stormed out with flicking sleeves.