But she was merely a servant who also needed dignity. This dignity was something she gave herself, but it also required the masters to be willing to grant it to her. She glanced at Old Madam Chen, whose brow was tightly furrowed, and smiled softly along with Chen Mingyu’s words: “Miss Qing is probably feeling sorrowful about the broken engagement and is upset. I didn’t see her when I went.”
Old Madam Chen’s brow furrowed even tighter. Not a single person in the third branch gave her peace of mind. Just a few days ago, when she saw Third Master Chen running about everywhere for Old Master’s affairs, she had felt somewhat pleased and her view of the third branch had improved slightly. Now the third branch was already showing her attitude again? What was this about—did they think Qing girl’s broken engagement was caused by being implicated by Old Master? Or did they think that now that Old Master Chen wasn’t home anyway, they simply wouldn’t put her, the legitimate mother, in their eyes? Whichever reason it was made Old Madam Chen furious. She laughed coldly and reached out to stroke Chen Mingyu’s hair: “Don’t worry yourself. Your grandmother won’t die just because one or two people don’t come to pay respects. If they think they can rebel, it’s still far too early. Your grandfather hasn’t died yet either.”
These words were somewhat improper. Even Huazhi didn’t dare listen further. She lowered her head and obediently retreated two steps, exchanging glances with the maids serving in the room. In an instant, she led all the maids out completely.
Chen Mingyu reached out and grasped Old Madam Chen’s hand. She couldn’t quite explain why, when things had reached this point, she still had the mind to be jealous of those who weren’t as anxious as she was, still wanted to sow discord against them. But perhaps she was just someone who by nature couldn’t bear to see others fare better than herself. Thinking this, she smiled self-mockingly and nodded to Old Madam Chen: “I understand, Grandmother. I just feel Third Uncle is still somewhat too carefree. Grandfather has encountered such a major incident, even Elder Brother has started running around outside daily to cultivate connections, yet Third Uncle can still sleep at such a time…” She turned her words and began speaking up for Third Master instead: “Perhaps it’s because he’s been too exhausted lately.”
Exhausted? Just as Chen Mingyu said, even the eldest grandson who had always been idle and lived off ancestral merit at home had begun to handle proper business, yet this uncle of his still had the leisure to sleep. Old Madam Chen’s gaze darkened, and her dissatisfaction with the third branch rose another level.
However, the third branch had never counted for much in her eyes anyway. Whether they were good or not, it was all the same. She actually didn’t care much about what they thought. After a momentary flash of anger, she set it aside and, grasping Chen Mingyu’s hand, looked at her intently: “Why aren’t you going to the palace anymore?”
Chen Mingyu’s heart felt even more sour and uncomfortable. She too wanted to enter the palace more often to curry favor with the Empress, but in the current situation, how could she continue to brazenly enter and exit Qingning Palace? The Chen family had always been closely associated with the Eastern Palace. Now that the Chen family had met with disaster, if she still constantly frequented Qingning Palace, not only would others become suspicious, even the Empress would probably be displeased with them. She lowered her head and explained her reasons for not going.
Old Madam Chen smiled with satisfaction: “That you can think of this point shows you’ve truly made progress.” What she feared most was that Chen Mingyu wouldn’t grow. Now Chen Mingyu was finally gradually learning to connect the affairs of the court and the inner quarters in her thinking. This was good. She stroked her granddaughter’s hair with an affection entirely different from when she looked at Chen Mingqing: “You needn’t feel sad about not being able to go. It will pass soon. Once all these matters have passed, His Highness will also have more or less returned to court…”
Chen Mingyu’s heart still held some unease: “Although Prince Dongping is the one supervising, Imperial Censor Tao and the others are biting so fiercely—won’t there be complications?”
Old Madam Chen’s smile was meaningful: “So what if there are?” She paused, then continued: “Your grandfather never received any silver at all. It’s just that he was somewhat close to Lu Bingyuan—just because of this they want to convict him? Never mind that Prince Dongping is supervising, even if Imperial Censor Tao were supervising himself, would he dare convict your grandfather simply for valuing talent?!”
Chen Mingyu had often listened to the advisors and guests discussing this matter in the hidden chamber of the study these past days. She knew her family was watertight—Grandfather hadn’t received even half a wen. Just this one point alone meant they couldn’t splash dirty water on him. Of course, having been an official for so many years, it was impossible for the family not to have money of unclear origin. But Elder Chen had long since prepared for this, having sent the silver back to the clan in their ancestral home early on. He didn’t even use money houses. Where could these people investigate?
Ginger is spicier when old. Moreover, just as those gentlemen said, her grandfather had so many disciples in the court. Chen Mingyu’s anxious heart gradually relaxed somewhat. She nodded and said to Old Madam: “But His Highness is together with Song Chuyi in Jinzhong. I heard that because he’s recovering from injury, he even moved directly into the Cui residence…”
They had already been very close, and now living in the same place wouldn’t it be even more convenient for them to cultivate their rapport? Chen Mingyu asked herself whether she could ignore Song Chuyi’s affairs and maintain equanimity—she truly couldn’t, because the Crown Prince was too good to Song Chuyi. That time at the hunting grounds… A light worry gathered between her brows. Sitting beside Old Madam Chen, she let out a heavy sigh. She couldn’t help but harbor hostility toward Song Chuyi. The tacit understanding between her and the Crown Prince truly alarmed her, and her friendship with the Crown Prince made her feel both vigilant and disgusted.
Old Madam Chen looked at her. Song Chuyi had nearly become her obsession. No matter what happened, she had to give Song Chuyi extra thought, making Song Chuyi into her absolute imaginary enemy. This was not a good thing.
She was just thinking about analyzing the stakes in this matter with her granddaughter when she heard Huazhi outside the curtain reporting: “Old Madam, Third Master and Third Madam have arrived.”
They came fairly quickly. It seemed Third Master Chen’s sleep wasn’t very deep. Old Madam Chen mockingly curved her lips and said coolly: “Show them in.”
Third Master Chen and Third Madam Chen entered the room one after the other. Both had reddened eyes. After they finished their greetings and Chen Mingyu also rose to greet Third Master and Third Madam, Old Madam Chen raised her brows in surprise: “What’s this about? Didn’t you say you had retired to bed? How is it you slept until your eyes turned completely red?”
Third Master Chen lowered his head. He could hear the contempt and faint mockery in Old Madam Chen’s words. He hadn’t paid much attention before, but thinking about it now, his wife and daughter endured such cold words full of hidden barbs and humiliation every day. Until it happened to oneself, one never knew how unbearably uncomfortable the disdain and disgust carried in those words were.
He looked at the floor. After a very long time, he finally raised his head to look at Old Madam Chen: “Old Madam, this unfilial son wishes to divide the family.”