“Old Madam, thanks to your foresight, father was able to become a renowned general, which gave us the Pingxi Marquis Manor’s vast estate and endless imperial favor… Those who came before planted trees so those who came after could enjoy their shade. Old Madam, you planted the tree, so we can enjoy the shade beneath it. Old Madam, all the ladies in the capital envy you—how could they possibly achieve what you have? They lack your foresight. Many only know how to spoil their children, raising them unable to recite literature or lift weapons in martial arts. How could such children shoulder great responsibilities? How could they preserve the family estate? How could they achieve merit and establish careers?”
After pausing briefly, Qin Shuying continued her flattery, essentially praising how remarkable Old Madam Liang was for molding Liang Yunshan into today’s pillar of talent, and how many old ladies in the capital envied Old Madam Liang’s good fortune…
The figure in Old Madam Liang’s mind became increasingly clear.
Suddenly, Old Madam Liang spoke: “Enough. You may go.”
Qin Shuying was slightly stunned. “Yes, your granddaughter-in-law takes her leave.”
As Qin Shuying withdrew, Old Madam Liang opened her eyes, her expression dark and her gaze fierce.
Just as Jinxiu was about to look over, Old Madam Liang immediately closed her eyes again.
Qin Shuying returned to Songtao Residence. After dismissing everyone else, only Ziteng remained by her side.
Qin Shuying had only told Ziteng about Old Madam Liang not being Liang Yunshan’s biological mother. Lu Ye, Hong Juan, and Nanny Fu didn’t know this, but they knew that Old Madam Liang greatly detested Liang Zhe and naturally wouldn’t like Qin Shuying either.
Ziteng looked at Qin Shuying expectantly. Qin Shuying smiled: “She indeed has secrets.”
When Liang Zhe returned and learned that Luo Meixiang had made Qin Shuying attend to Old Madam Liang, his expression immediately changed.
“Shuying, you’ve been wronged. But don’t worry—since Luo Meixiang is so enthusiastic, I certainly won’t let her enthusiasm go to waste.”
Qin Shuying didn’t know what method Liang Zhe planned to use to repay Luo Meixiang, but it certainly wouldn’t make things easy for her.
The next day was the day for Qin Shuying’s return visit to her natal family.
Qin Shuying rose early. Liang Zhe was already up on the arhat bed.
Seeing his handsome face, Qin Shuying blushed slightly and hurried to wash up.
She had been accustomed to doing things herself in her previous life, and had done her own washing at Yilan Garden. With no others in Songtao Residence, Qin Shuying maintained this habit.
When everything was ready, Liang Zhe was already sitting in the front hall, drinking hot tea, apparently waiting to go to Ning Garden together for morning greetings.
Qin Shuying still took the blue-curtained sedan chair, with Lu Ye accompanying her.
Since she had brought Lu Ye to the Pingxi Marquis Manor, she would give Lu Ye that dignity. Let Luo Meixiang point and gesture—she would ignore it and see what Luo Meixiang could do.
At Ning Garden.
Lady Meng was there with her son and two daughters. Luo Meixiang and Liang Qiong were absent. The Liang Jie brothers sat to one side drinking tea.
After Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe paid their respects, Old Madam Liang remained expressionless, showing neither pleasure nor anger.
Lady Meng was chatting with Old Madam Liang about the flowers in the garden, speaking enthusiastically and eloquently with great expertise.
Though Luo Meixiang managed the Pingxi Marquis Manor, Lady Meng also helped manage some affairs, including the flower garden.
Third Maiden kept her head down while Fourth Maiden’s eyes darted about. Seeing Qin Shuying enter, they called out together as they had yesterday: “Elder sister-in-law.”
Qin Shuying greeted them amicably and sat down nearby.
Speaking of which, she was the legitimate eldest daughter-in-law—she should be the one managing this household. She was fully qualified to sit down.
Old Madam Liang glanced at her. Yesterday she hadn’t been so impolite, having stood for quite a while, but today she actually found herself a place to sit.
“Go ask why Meixiang still hasn’t come.”
Hearing Lady Meng speak for quite a while with no sign of stopping, Old Madam Liang urged Mujin.
Mujin agreed and went out.
After quite a while, Liang Qiong entered with a displeased expression. After paying her respects, she said: “Great-grandmother, father and mother said they cannot accompany great-grandmother for the meal this morning.”
Old Madam Liang noticed Mujin following behind with a strange expression and understood. She said: “Then we won’t wait for them. Let’s eat first.”
Qin Shuying consciously stood behind Old Madam Liang to attend to her meal.
Throughout the process, Mujin had no opportunity to report privately to Old Madam Liang. Old Madam Liang calmly finished eating, set down her chopsticks, and told Qin Shuying she needn’t attend to her further. Only then did Qin Shuying begin eating.
Throughout this entire process, Liang Zhe’s expression was grim. Despite Qin Shuying repeatedly signaling him with her eyes, he maintained his sour face.
Finally finishing the meal, everyone took their leave. Qin Shuying didn’t take the blue-curtained sedan chair but walked back to Songtao Residence with Liang Zhe.
Only then did Liang Zhe smile coldly: “Shuying, this daily morning greeting ritual needs to be abolished.”
Qin Shuying disagreed: “Ziyu, you needn’t feel wronged on my behalf. In others’ eyes, being able to attend to the old madam’s meals shows filial piety and indicates receiving her favor. I must go out for social obligations, so leaving a good impression on others is necessary. You already know about yesterday’s incident, don’t you? If I don’t interact with the old madam, I won’t be able to discover many things.”
“Shuying, you’ve truly been wronged.”
She had originally said she was here to help him—what was there to feel wronged about?
Qin Shuying smiled charmingly: “Ziyu, what did you do that made her not even come for morning greetings today?”
Liang Zhe’s expression finally improved somewhat: “Nothing much—I just had one of father’s concubines brought into the manor.”
Qin Shuying thought for a moment: “This concubine—could she be someone father brought back from the border? With children?”
Liang Zhe laughed heartily: “You truly understand me, Shuying!”
Qin Shuying joked: “Ziyu now has people at his disposal and can grasp many of father’s affairs at any time.”
Liang Zhe nodded: “These past few months, with greatly increased manpower, many things have become much smoother. When father was at the border, he rescued a woman—let’s call her Madam Yue, as the border people do. Madam Yue bore father a pair of dragon-phoenix twins who are now six years old. Father is very fond of them. So he brought them back to the capital this time.”
Liang Yunshan was somewhat henpecked and didn’t dare let Madam Yue and her children make an appearance. Liang Zhe helped him make this decision, finding a way to let Madam Yue decide. She entered the Marquis Manor yesterday evening with the pair of children.
Now Luo Meixiang couldn’t avoid knowing even if she wanted to.
Luo Meixiang wanted to appear virtuous and magnanimous, but discovering how much Liang Yunshan treasured that pair of twins, her heart condition flared up, causing her excruciating pain all night.
So this morning, Luo Meixiang didn’t come to pay morning respects to Old Madam Liang.
Liang Yunshan, feeling both guilty and somewhat afraid, needed to placate Luo Meixiang, so naturally he didn’t come either.
“Since she cares so much about me, as her son, how could I not care about father in return? Not just Madam Yue—there will be many more ladies entering the manor successively to help her care for father and share her burdens.”
“Many?”
Qin Shuying’s eyes widened. What did “many” mean?
Liang Zhe cleared his throat, his expression serious: “A distinguished Super First Rank Pingxi Marquis having three wives and four concubines is perfectly normal. Currently, besides Luo Meixiang, father only has those few elderly concubines in the rear courtyard—how is that adequate? He should take at least three or four more concubines to spread branches and leaves for the Pingxi Marquis Manor.”
Qin Shuying looked at him and burst into laughter.