Luo Meixiang was greatly shocked. The turn of events had been too sudden for her to fully grasp what had happened.

With Liang Yunshan speaking this way, she almost instinctively opened her mouth: “Your Lordship, the marquis mansion has its rules…”

But Qin Shuying acted as if she hadn’t heard her words and began speaking on her own: “Madam, I heard there’s a rumor spreading in the mansion about the mansion’s rules. Madam…”

Luo Meixiang’s eyes flashed sharply, nearly blazing with fury.

Always talking about rules, always discussing rules—the biggest rule violation in the Marquis of Pingxi’s mansion was the matter of requesting heir ennoblement.

Seeing Luo Meixiang suffer a setback, Old Madam Liang spoke up: “Shuying, just listen to your father and sit down to eat. His Lordship is right—when family members talk too much about rules, it creates distance.”

Qin Shuying sat down in her seat. “Thank you, Old Madam.”

Old Madam Liang put down her chopsticks, took the towel handed to her by a maid, and wiped her hands. She appeared casual yet kind: “You child, you’re just too serious. I’m your grandmother, yet you’re so respectful every day that people might think I’m making you suffer. In the future, this habit should be changed.”

In front of Liang Yunshan, Old Madam Liang had always appeared cold and distant, rarely scolding anyone.

When she spoke like this, Liang Yunshan’s expression changed.

Previously, Zhao Wanniang had been just like this—respectful and deferential before Old Madam, and when he was present, Zhao Wanniang would appear somewhat anxious and uneasy.

Later he learned that Zhao Wanniang was purely acting, playing the role of a weak person and scapegoat, trying to win his sympathy.

In reality, when he wasn’t present, Zhao Wanniang showed no respect for his mother whatsoever—angrily scolding and berating her, not putting Old Madam Liang in her eyes at all.

Sure enough, Zhao Wanniang had done such shameless things—absolutely disgraceful!

Now was Qin Shuying going to repeat the same old tricks?

Liang Yunshan’s expression suddenly became sharp and severe: “Ziyu’s wife, without rules there can be no order. From now on, you will continue to serve Old Madam during meals!”

Liang Zhe had been looking at Qin Shuying, but hearing these words, his head suddenly turned toward Liang Yunshan, his eyes blazing with fury: “Father…”

Almost as soon as Liang Zhe’s words came out, Qin Shuying also spoke: “Father, you’re absolutely right. Ziyu, you also think Father is right, don’t you?”

Liang Zhe’s fists clenched tightly under the table, but meeting Qin Shuying’s gentle gaze and remembering her repeated instructions, he endured again and again. His chest rose and fell violently, but he ultimately swallowed his words.

Everyone could see Liang Zhe’s anger and unwillingness.

Liang Qiong was as happy as drinking iced water on a June day, wanting to sing a little tune.

Liang Jie and Liang Yuan exchanged glances, also very pleased—this was for making Liang Zhe show off at the martial training ground, making them look like weaklings in comparison.

Facing Qin Shuying’s words, Liang Yunshan coldly snorted, which counted as acknowledgment.

Qin Shuying stood up again and ladled a bowl of soup for Old Madam Liang—this was her second time ladling this yam soup.

Old Madam Liang seemed completely unaware that anything was amiss and said nothing. Luo Meixiang naturally noticed as well, but she also said nothing, instead giving meaningful looks to the Meng family.

The dramatic turn of events had been too exciting; the Meng family hadn’t recovered yet. When Luo Meixiang sent her this meaningful look, she was still in a daze.

It was Si Niang who understood Luo Meixiang’s signal and spoke up: “Elder Sister-in-law, Grandmother just drank the yam soup. Why are you ladling more for her?”

Instantly, everyone in the room focused their attention on Qin Shuying again.

Qin Shuying showed no embarrassment or panic, but asked Si Niang with apparent puzzlement: “Si Niang, what’s improper about this?”

“Of course it’s improper! Old Madam already drank some—if you ladle more, how can she drink it all?”

“Si Niang, how do you know Old Madam can’t drink it?”

Si Niang pouted: “Of course she can’t drink it all—this is just common sense. Do I even need to say it?”

“That’s not necessarily true. This soup is made so well—fresh, delicious, and smooth. If it were me drinking it, I could have three more bowls.”

Si Niang was speechless with anger.

Old Madam Liang spoke again: “Enough, stop arguing. It’s just drinking soup. Since Shuying ladled it for me, even if I’m stuffed and can’t drink anymore, I must drink it—this is Shuying’s filial piety.”

Qin Shuying smiled sweetly: “Si Niang, see what I told you? Old Madam can drink it. You usually accompany Old Madam during meals but don’t pay attention at all.”

Si Niang glared at Qin Shuying. Didn’t you hear the undertone in Old Madam’s words? Old Madam doesn’t want to drink it at all!

Except for Qin Shuying, everyone seemed to understand, looking at Qin Shuying in shock.

Was she really foolish or pretending?

How dare she?

Liang Yunshan naturally understood as well. He slammed the table and angrily scolded: “Ziyu’s wife, you’re unwilling to serve Old Madam properly, aren’t you?”

Liang Zhe shot up from his seat: “Marquis of Pingxi!”

Swords drawn, ready to strike!

When Liang Yunshan scolded her, Qin Shuying had already directed her gaze to Liang Zhe. She stared at him, signaling him to remain calm, while smiling and saying: “Please calm your anger, Father. Your daughter-in-law doesn’t understand what Father means. Please explain clearly.”

Qin Shuying’s gentle words instantly calmed much of Liang Zhe’s anxious fury. He kept breathing deeply—don’t get angry, don’t get angry. Once he got angry, all these despicable people in the room would be satisfied!

Liang Yunshan pointed at Old Madam Liang’s bowl: “With a table full of dishes, why do you keep ladling only this yam soup for Old Madam again and again? You’re deliberately trying to stuff Old Madam—is your filial piety all fake?”

Qin Shuying still wore a smile, gentle as spring breeze, but when she opened her mouth, her speech had quickened, speaking with three times the speed of a normal person, delivering a long string of words with extreme fluency and clarity: “Father, your daughter-in-law heard that due to the great earthquake, Her Majesty the Empress has been vegetarian for one hundred days, donating countless money and grain. The palace ladies have also reduced expenses, and His Majesty had their heartfelt intentions sent to the disaster areas to comfort the victims. The hundred days haven’t passed yet, and all the noble ladies throughout the capital are eating tables full of vegetarian dishes and bland food. Even on the day Ziyu and I married, though Madam said she wanted to hold a grand ceremony, Ziyu also put thought into the ingredients, keeping things as simple as possible. Today’s meal looks quite plain, but actually has great significance. Father, please look—the fish fins alone are worth a thousand gold pieces, not to mention the terrapin which is even harder to obtain. Among the people there’s a saying: ‘One terrapin is worth half a house.’ And this phoenix liver five-flavor soup requires three months of preparation using precious wild pheasant liver, combined with elk bone broth, not to mention other precious medicinal ingredients. This single dish alone costs twenty taels of silver—enough to feed a family of four disaster victims for two years. Such extravagance, Father—how did the previous dynasty fall? Surely Father hasn’t forgotten!”

During the previous dynasty, the mother of General Feng Zilong had eaten extravagantly during the previous dynasty’s Empress Dowager’s mourning period. When this was reported to the emperor, he was furious and sent people to the general’s mansion to rebuke her, stripping Feng Zilong’s mother of her official title.

Old Madam Feng couldn’t bear this loss of status and cried and made scenes daily, demanding that Feng Zilong get her title restored.

Feng Zilong was a filial son and reluctantly brought this up with the previous emperor. The emperor was even more furious—not only did he refuse to restore Old Madam Feng’s title, he demoted Feng Zilong three ranks.

Old Madam Feng was outraged and forced her son to rebel. Though the previous dynasty fell into turmoil and the royal family scattered, Feng Zilong gained nothing from it—he was soon beheaded and his entire clan exterminated.

Then came decades of warfare before the Great Zhou was finally established.