A few days before giving birth, Qin Feifei had Nanny Wu relay a message to her, asking if she could speak with Qin Shuying about sharing some of the red sugar business with Xu Shi. So later in the palace, Xu Shi had brought it up so blatantly, but after the incident occurred, Qin Yongtao had severely reprimanded her, and naturally Xu Shi never mentioned it again.
But during that conversation between Xu Shi and Nanny Wu, Xu Shi had asked a few more questions. Since Nanny Wu had only been sent to Qin Feifei’s side by Xu Shi last year, she naturally told Xu Shi everything about the Lu residence’s affairs.
She said that now the Lu residence, having lost its brown sugar source, had seen its finances plummet, with their savings nearly depleted. Qin Feifei had thought it over and could only reduce the household staff somewhat and cut daily expenses. But she had barely begun when Old Madam Lu scolded her bloody.
Old Madam Lu had said, “This old woman was widowed at a young age and finally helped Changxuan become an official in the imperial city. Now instead of enjoying good fortune, you want this old woman to live in poverty? What are your intentions?”
“Since you’ve become a daughter-in-law, you should manage household affairs, serve your parents-in-law, assist your husband and educate children—that’s the proper way!”
These were the nicer words—there were even harsher ones that Nanny Wu couldn’t bring herself to repeat to Xu Shi.
Xu Shi was stunned, never expecting Old Madam Lu to be such a person, actually not giving the Qin residence any face, and even with Qin Feifei pregnant, showing no consideration.
How could she know that although Xu Shi wasn’t from a distinguished family, she was still an official family’s daughter who had grown up learning and interacting with official family women? Everyone had to maintain decorum, grace, and nobility—all spoke and acted according to proper rules.
But who was Old Madam Lu? She was a small-town merchant’s daughter who had mixed with common folk since childhood. Later she married a scholar who was single-mindedly focused on taking the imperial examinations, leaving the household to be supported by Old Madam Lu.
Her husband did pass the county-level examination, but just two years after finally holding his head high, the scholar kicked the bucket and died, leaving behind four orphans and a widow—Lu Changju was only one year old then.
Old Madam Lu had to raise her children while managing the livelihood. Having suffered hardships and needing to maintain the household, she naturally became fierce and straightforward. Moreover, having succeeded in everything along the way, she considered herself superior to others and had little good feeling toward these official family young ladies.
She looked down on Qin Yaoyao, and how could she take Qin Feifei seriously either? Just because she was pregnant, she acted like she was the most precious woman in the world—as if other women had never been pregnant!
Back then, when she herself was six months pregnant, she still managed household affairs, constantly traveling between the shop and the backyard home, selling goods and carrying merchandise—seventy or eighty-pound bundles she would hoist on her back and walk away.
Her son was accomplished, she was skilled in human relations, and with her son’s success, whether servants or relatives, no one could catch her eye.
Even her own sister-in-law she ordered around, and Qin Feifei had been married once before. In the eyes of Old Madam Lu, who prided herself on chaste widowhood, Qin Feifei was not the daughter-in-law she wanted.
If not for her son’s infatuation with Qin Feifei, Old Madam Lu would have liked her even less.
Qin Shuying understood immediately.
Evil people have evil people to grind them down—since Qin Feifei insisted on marrying into the Lu family, this was what she deserved.
Even with Qin Yaoyao’s devoted service to Old Madam Lu—personally handling everything, morning greetings and evening reports, serving her meals and sleep, fanning her in hot weather, washing her feet in cold weather—Old Madam Lu was only slightly satisfied.
Even so, when Qin Yaoyao’s “scandal” occurred, Old Madam Lu unhesitatingly abandoned her, showing no mercy even to Feng’er, her own grandson.
Qin Feifei could neither carry burdens on her shoulders nor bear weight in her hands, constantly clinging to Lu Changxuan. How could Old Madam Lu, who prided herself as a chaste and virtuous woman, approve of such behavior?
Old Madam Lu was shrewd with age—how could she not understand the implications in Xu Shi’s words? Her earlier happiness dissipated somewhat, and she immediately said, “In-law Madam, the child is a member of our Lu family, and naturally the Lu family will treasure him like an eyeball. In-law Madam can rest completely assured. Someone, go bring the young master out for the ladies to see and add some good fortune.”
She didn’t even mention Qin Feifei.
Xu Shi felt increasingly displeased but couldn’t express it, especially since Old Madam Lu’s words were reasonable and proper.
But in her heart, she regretted it to death.
Initially, seeing Lu Changxuan as a talented and handsome man, young with a bright future, and deeply devoted to Qin Feifei—since Qin Feifei was already a widow, Lu Changxuan was naturally the best choice.
But she hadn’t expected such an unreasonable mother-in-law. Not only did she not treasure Qin Feifei, but even she herself, a third-rank titled lady, had been demoted in Old Madam Lu’s eyes.
Old Madam Lu naturally knew about Lu Changxuan and Qin Feifei’s secret affair, so she had categorized Qin Feifei among those who didn’t observe proper wifely virtue.
Toward Qin Feifei’s mother, Old Madam Lu harbored additional suspicion and didn’t give much respect to this official lady—it was truly infuriating!
Madam Zhao said, “I wonder if the young master looks more like Master Lu or more like Madam Lu? Master Lu is heroic and spirited, Madam Lu is learned and reasonable—the young master will surely be even more intelligent and extraordinary in the future.”
This was what an official lady should say.
The gloom in Xu Shi’s heart cleared somewhat as she said, “I’ll borrow Madam’s auspicious words. I hear Madam’s eldest son is gaining experience in Quan’an County and is quite valued by Magistrate Hu—truly young and promising!”
“With Young Master Qin as a shining example, how could my son deserve the words ‘young and promising’? Madam mustn’t jest. Young Master Qin has served for three years with remarkable achievements—he’s the one who’s truly young and promising!”
Xu Shi had just been snubbed by Old Madam Lu, so hearing Madam Zhao’s words was soothing to her heart, and she conversed even more warmly with Madam Zhao.
Old Madam Lu listened, only smiling—smiling meaningfully.
Xu Shi felt annoyed in her heart.
What Old Madam Lu was thinking was roughly this: whether Young Master Qin or Young Master Zhao, they both had their fathers’ connections. Their current abilities were nothing special. Her own son Lu Changxuan, without any ancestral protection, had reached today’s position at such a young age purely through his own abilities—that was real capability.
But Old Madam Lu wasn’t completely ignorant—her son’s current achievements did have some relationship with the Qin family, though how much was hard to say. But she was stubborn and obstinate, naturally unwilling to appear inferior before Xu Shi.
Sure enough, after Xu Shi and Madam Zhao exchanged a few more words, Old Madam Lu couldn’t restrain herself and interrupted their conversation, saying, “Send someone to hurry them up—why hasn’t the child been brought out yet? When my Changxuan was that age, he wasn’t so delicate—we’d say we were going out, and the next moment we’d wrap him in a blanket and go.”
Xu Shi’s breath caught in her throat, almost unable to continue breathing. A meaningful smile curved Madam Zhao’s lips.
Qin Shuying’s thick eyelashes lowered, concealing the mockery in her eyes.
The Lu residence wasn’t large, and though separated by courtyards, it wasn’t far. The baby was quickly brought by the wet nurse, and everyone gathered around to look, with auspicious words flowing endlessly.
All of Old Madam Lu’s words had been meant to provoke Xu Shi, but toward this grandson, she wasn’t displeased—seeing her grandson, her face naturally filled with smiles.
Qin Shuying stood behind the crowd, glancing at the child from afar before lowering her eyelids.
Feng’er…