The parents of Bai Jinxiu’s five maids hated Marquis Zhongyong’s wife even more viciously, but intimidated by her power, they could only stand timidly to one side, heads lowered, not daring to speak.

Marquis Zhongyong’s wife, Jiang Shi, brought lavish gifts and made a grand show of arriving at Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, claiming she came to pay respects to the Grand Princess and also wanted to take Bai Jinxiu back to the marquis’s mansion for care.

Second Madam Liu Shi was unwilling to see Marquis Zhongyong’s wife Jiang Shi, so she had Heir’s Wife Dong Shi handle it while she stayed firmly in Qingzhu Pavilion, accompanying the injured Bai Jinxiu.

When Marquis Zhongyong’s wife entered, no master came to receive her. Instead, she was invited in by rough servants from Duke Zhenguo’s mansion. Although she had come to humble herself, being treated so dismissively still bred resentment. Unable to hide her emotions, she displayed the malice in her heart on her face, calculating how to vent this resentment when news returned of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s men all perishing.

Nanny Wu supported Jiang Shi as they walked into Duke Zhenguo’s mansion, pursing her lips: “This Duke’s mansion is too neglectful of Madam.”

Perhaps hearing Nanny Wu’s voice her grievances, Jiang Shi’s emotions calmed instead. She smiled and said: “Yesterday you were still advising me—how is it that today you’re the one losing composure? After all, Bai Jinxiu is my daughter-in-law. If Duke’s mansion gives me no face, can I give Bai Jinxiu a good face? As long as I can take Bai Jinxiu back to the mansion today and prevent Qin Lang from moving out of Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion, the Marquis’s dignity will look better! Anyway, the days are still long… let’s just watch.”

“Madam is wise!” Nanny Wu smiled flatteringly, supporting Jiang Shi as they walked toward the inner quarters.

Nanny Wu had followed Jiang Shi for so many years and understood her temperament too well. If she hadn’t complained just now, when Jiang Shi met Duke Zhenguo’s heir’s wife later, she probably wouldn’t be able to hide her fire. By speaking first to complain… letting Jiang Shi turn around to comfort her, Jiang Shi would feel she was magnanimous and deep-minded, the most capable person under heaven, thus able to steady herself and hide her emotions in her heart.

Just as they walked through Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s ornamental gate, Jiang Shi saw the steward nanny from Duke Zhenguo’s Heir’s Wife, Dong Shi, standing there. Seeing Jiang Shi approach, Nanny Qin smiled and curtsied: “Greetings to Marquis’s Wife. The Grand Princess just sent a maid over saying she’s feeling unwell today and won’t see Marquis’s Wife! Second Madam is busy caring for our Second Miss and won’t come either. Our Heir’s Wife and First Miss and Third Miss are waiting for Marquis’s Wife, so she sent me to escort you.”

Hearing that First Miss Bai was also there, Nanny Wu’s old face twitched, her heart filled with fear. That First Miss Bai had been on the battlefield and truly seen blood and killed people!

Jiang Shi’s expression also wasn’t good. The Grand Princess not seeing her was one thing, but what was Liu Shi putting on airs about, thinking to lord it over her?!

Although having the heir’s wife receive her wasn’t exactly humiliating, that First Miss Bai had no manners at all. She appeared gentle and courteous… but spoke with murderous intent. That day at their marquis mansion’s entrance, even their Marquis was left speechless by her retorts. Having Jiang Shi meet her… how could Jiang Shi not feel panicked?!

Unhappy as she was inwardly, on the surface, Jiang Shi still had to put on the appearance of an elder: “First Miss Bai is weak in body—why isn’t she resting properly? This makes my heart uneasy.”

Nanny Qin led the way in front. Hearing Jiang Shi criticize Bai Qingyan’s health, she rolled her eyes inwardly but showed nothing on the surface, not responding and just straightening her spine to lead the way.

Jiang Shi found herself rebuffed and waved her handkerchief, saying no more.

Nanny Qin led Jiang Shi into the room, but Dong Shi didn’t come out to greet her. Upon entering, she saw Dong Shi, Bai Qingyan, and Bai Jintong chatting and laughing. The neglect was obvious, immediately making her furious.

“I came at an inconvenient time today. I wanted to pay respects to the Grand Princess, but she’s feeling unwell! Even my in-laws can’t get away from caring for Jinxiu!” Jiang Shi entered with a beaming smile.

Hearing these sarcastic words, Dong Shi’s phoenix eyes turned toward Jiang Shi. Remembering Fifth Miss Bai Jinzhi’s account of how this Jiang Shi had used Bai Qingyan’s health and age to mock her that day at Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion, her heart already harbored hatred for Jiang Shi, so she gave no pleasant expression.

Dong Shi took out her handkerchief and pressed her lips, looking at Jiang Shi with a stern face: “From the Marquis’s Wife’s words, it seems my mother’s illness came at the wrong time, specifically falling ill when you came. My second sister-in-law also lacks sense, not coming to meet such an esteemed Marquis’s Wife as yourself, instead insisting on caring for her dying daughter.”

Jiang Shi’s throat caught, having her face thrown back at her, unable to maintain her smile any longer.

Dong Shi had a reputation for virtue and gentleness, always being a model among clan wives. But Bai Qingyan knew her mother had always been formidable and protective. Dong Shi could be magnanimous and tolerant about other matters, but if anyone bullied her children, Dong Shi feared nothing.

Propriety still had to be observed by Bai Qingyan and Bai Jintong, so they rose and cursorily performed a greeting to Jiang Shi.

After Bai Qingyan took her seat, she smiled and asked: “Did Marquis’s Wife come to our door today specifically to make our entire Duke Zhenguo’s mansion formally receive you at the main entrance to show off your noble status? Immediately upon entering, you fire off accusations like bullets against my grandmother and second aunt?!”

Hearing Bai Qingyan speak, Jiang Shi immediately felt nervous, probably still frightened by Bai Qingyan from that day at Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion entrance.

Jiang Shi’s palms were sweaty. Before coming, she knew today was different from before—their Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion had been caught in wrongdoing and had to swallow their pride and humble themselves to first let Duke Zhenguo’s mansion vent their anger. But Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s Dong Shi and First Miss Bai spoke too hatefully.

Jiang Shi’s nails nearly snapped from clenching before she yielded: “How would I dare accuse the Grand Princess!”

“So Marquis’s Wife means to blame my second aunt instead…” Bai Jintong immediately turned cold. “I thought Marquis’s Wife came today to apologize, but it turns out you came to demand justice!”

Jiang Shi was naturally petty-minded and felt that even a concubine-born brat from Duke’s mansion dared throw attitude in her face, immediately darkening: “Even a concubine-born girl dares yell at me! Dong Shi, won’t you control this? If word spreads, aren’t you afraid others will question Duke’s mansion’s upbringing?!”

Dong Shi heavily set down her teacup, glaring at Jiang Shi with displeasure: “Marquis’s Wife should worry more about what others say of your marquis’s mansion’s upbringing! Your two legitimate daughters merely had conflicts with their new sister-in-law, yet they immediately tried to harm her life! Marquis’s Wife also reached into her daughter-in-law’s dowry, selling her daughter-in-law’s dowry maids while she lay seriously injured and unconscious. This matter has spread throughout the capital, with all the noble families using it as a laughingstock for conversation! Instead of considering how to restore your marquis mansion’s reputation, Marquis’s Wife dares to come to our Duke Zhenguo’s mansion to lecture about upbringing—what enormous face you have!”

Dong Shi’s words thoroughly trampled Jiang Shi’s dignity into the mud.

“You!” Jiang Shi’s chest heaved violently, trembling with rage and unable to say a word.