At that time, her father was still serving as an official in the capital, yet Xu Shi dared to treat her that way.

Before long, her father resigned from office due to illness and returned to their hometown. Xu Shi became even less favorable toward her.

Fortunately, Dong Shi was no fool. She kept a low profile and acted humbly, and the Old Madam was reasonable, often supporting her.

Later, when she gave birth to Shuo’er, she finally established a firm foothold in the Qin residence.

Qin Kaile subsequently took more concubines and elevated more mistresses. Dong Shi no longer had leisure to feel sad or distressed. She employed every skill at her disposal to maneuver around them while properly raising her pair of children.

Returning to the capital, she surprisingly felt no attachment to Qin Kaile whatsoever.

As long as she maintained her position as the legitimate wife and had her children by her side, it didn’t matter whom Qin Kaile favored.

Now was the time for her to plan for her children’s future.

Only in the capital could she select a good marriage for her daughter, and only here could her son’s studies advance further.

Speaking of which, she should thank Qin Shuying for this. If Qin Shuying hadn’t been causing such a commotion in the capital, she would never have dreamed of returning here.

Therefore, after returning, she paid close attention to Qin Shuying’s every move. When Qin Weiyan spoke out of turn, she didn’t stop her, simply watching how Qin Shuying would respond, so she would know how to deal with her in the future.

From what she could see now, Qin Shuying was also ruthless, and with the Old Madam’s support, as long as it didn’t involve her own affairs, Dong Shi was determined not to provoke her.

“Nanny, let’s never speak of past matters again. In five days, there will be the Hairpin Flower Banquet at Princess Imperial’s residence. Go see if everything has been prepared properly. This is my first banquet since returning to the capital – there absolutely cannot be any mistakes.”

Nanny Zu said: “This old servant will go immediately.”

Princess Imperial was the Emperor’s own sister.

Princess Imperial’s residence held a Hairpin Flower Banquet every year at the turn of spring and summer, generally inviting the female family members of officials ranked third grade and above to attend. This was a grand event in the capital, and noble ladies all took it very seriously.

Those who received invitations considered it an honor.

At the Lu residence.

Lu Changju looked at the jewelry the maids had laid out and flew into a rage: “What old things are these? You dare let me wear them to the banquet? How ugly, how ugly!”

The maids didn’t dare speak.

“Where is sister-in-law? What did she say? She knows I’m going out to a banquet, yet she doesn’t prepare properly, just bringing out last year’s things to brush me off. What does she mean by this?”

A maid stammered: “First Madam, she, she… this servant… this servant…”

“What’s there to be afraid of saying? I ask you one question and you stammer and stutter – what a useless thing!”

The maid gathered her courage and said: “First Madam said that the residence is strapped for money now and asks First Miss to be more frugal. The household expenses are getting worse each day, I fear, I fear…”

“Smack!”

Lu Changju threw a teacup: “Nonsense! She’s talking nonsense, and you dare repeat nonsense!”

The maid quickly knelt down and sadly picked up the broken pieces of the teacup, lamenting: “First Miss, this teacup is also registered in the inventory. If one breaks, another must be replaced. When the time comes to request it, we’ll inevitably have to look at First Madam’s expression.”

Lu Changju was furious beyond measure. She raised her hand and threw the teapot as well: “She wouldn’t dare!”

The maid lunged forward to catch the teapot but couldn’t reach it. The teapot also shattered into pieces.

The maid cried out in distress: “First Miss, this, this teapot is worth three taels of silver. This, what a pity! First Madam will surely be angry. What can we do?”

Lu Changju roared: “First Madam, First Madam – where is First Madam now? I’m going to ask her whether she’ll buy me new jewelry or not!”

The maid shrank her neck and said with a mournful face: “First Madam has gone to tailor new clothes for Young Master.”

“What? So she spends money freely on him but won’t let us spend any?”

…

The maid returned to her quarters and heard others discussing: “Monthly wages have been delayed for two months now. When will they be paid?”

The maid said: “Yes, exactly! In my opinion, our monthly wages aren’t much. The bird’s nest porridge Old Madam drinks every morning, the new jewelry First Miss has made… if they saved a little, it would be more than enough for all of us.”

“Sigh, my mother is counting on my monthly wage this month to buy medicine.”

…

The maid sighed and said: “Have you heard? Seventh Miss from the Qin residence gives her maids very generous rewards.”

“You mean that Seventh Miss who came last time?”

The maid said: “Exactly! Fifty taels of silver per person!”

“What? Is, is this true?”

The maid said: “It’s absolutely true. If you don’t believe it, go ask around. All the servants in the Qin residence know about it.”

“Fifty taels! I, I could never save that much in my lifetime.”

The maid said: “Exactly! Now I get five hundred wen per month, only six taels per year. It would take nearly ten years to earn fifty taels!”

“Sister, even you are like this – we’re even more pitiful!”

“Yes, sister!”

The maid left the room and slipped to the back door, where Aunt Lu was waiting for her.

“Have you properly handled what that person instructed?”

The maid said: “It’s all handled.”

Aunt Lu said: “We can’t be blamed for this. If she weren’t withholding monthly wages, who would bother with such things? My whole family is waiting for me to put food on the table – we can’t just starve to death. Besides, everything I said was the truth, not a single false word.”

Aunt Lu nodded and asked: “How much did they give you?”

The maid hesitated and said: “Twenty taels.”

Aunt Lu didn’t believe her: “Even to me you won’t tell the truth? You serve by First Miss’s side – how could it be so little? That person is generous with money. Don’t try to fool me.”

The maid smiled ingratiatingly: “I’m just a maid and can’t do much. This money is already quite enough. But Aunt, you probably got over a hundred taels.”

Aunt Lu couldn’t suppress her laughter, full of pride: “You little minx, how dare you talk nonsense. I’ll tear your mouth apart. Go, go, get out of here.”

The maid left with a giggle.

Aunt Lu’s smile lingered as she returned home.

Her family didn’t live in the Lu residence but in the alley behind it. That area housed servants from the wealthy families on this street, as well as poor relatives like herself.

By rights, as the Lu residence’s legitimate aunt, she could perfectly well live in the residence.

But sister-in-law wouldn’t allow it, calling her a penniless wretch.

If sister-in-law let her move in, Mei Niang’s marriage prospects would certainly improve.

But sister-in-law simply wouldn’t allow it, saying that letting them move in would bring shame to Lu Changxuan’s face.

Tomorrow was when the Daoist master would come to perform the ritual. Qin Feifei had found a Daoist temple and sought out a master.

Following that person’s instructions, Aunt Lu gave the Daoist woman one hundred taels of silver, telling her she need only do such and such tomorrow.

Thinking of her daughter’s marriage prospects, Aunt Lu dismissed any trace of guilt she might have felt.

Besides, ever since the former madam died, she herself often had nightmares. Having the Daoist woman say the house was haunted wasn’t exactly false. Hadn’t Changxuan lost his position?

Aunt Lu wasn’t entirely clear what “suspension pending investigation” meant, but she knew that Lu Changxuan wasn’t going to the yamen now.

Since he wasn’t going to the yamen anymore, didn’t that mean he’d lost his position?