Old Madam Deng’s teacup trembled in her hand, nearly spilling the tea.
“What happened?” The old lady had seen her share of storms after all, so she steadied her teacup and asked.
The servant woman wore a strange expression as she wiped her face: “Second Madam and Second Master started fighting.”
“What?” Old Madam Deng thought she had misheard and forcibly restrained the urge to dig her ears.
Ever since learning that the second son was returning to the capital for his official report, his wife had been in high spirits every day. Early this morning she had run out to wait for him and couldn’t be stopped. How was it that after finally waiting for him to arrive, the couple had started fighting?
“Didn’t the eldest master try to stop them?” Old Madam Deng asked while walking outside.
The servant woman’s expression became even stranger: “The eldest master did try to stop them, but couldn’t. He was accidentally injured by the Second Madam instead. The eldest master got angry and joined Second Madam in beating up Second Master. Now all three are engaged in a brawl at the gate…”
“What, the eldest master was injured?” He Shi immediately stood up and lifted her foot to go outside. “No, I must go take a look!”
Old Madam Deng’s face turned iron-blue: “Eldest daughter-in-law, you stop right there! It’s snowing outside. What if you slip and fall again?”
He Shi’s steps slowed.
Old Madam Deng took the opportunity to give Qiao Zhao a meaningful look: “Third girl, stay here and sit with your mother.” After speaking, she lifted her foot and walked toward the gate.
He Shi rubbed her belly and began pondering: “Zhaozhao, why did your Second Aunt start fighting with your Second Uncle? It’s one thing for them to fight, but they even accidentally injured your father. How annoying!”
Qiao Zhao had heard that women with child often had strange temperaments, so she naturally went along with He Shi: “Mother, don’t worry. Second Aunt is a woman after all – how much strength could she have?”
He Shi tugged at her handkerchief: “Your father too – how could he let someone beat him up? If I had been there, it would have been better…”
He Shi’s regretful expression made Qiao Zhao both laugh and cry: What was with Mother’s regretful expression about not joining the battle?
While comforting He Shi, Qiao Zhao looked toward the gate. Soon, she saw a group of people approaching.
Walking at the front was Old Madam Deng.
The old lady strode with the wind, one hand gripping her eldest son Li Guangwen’s ear, the other gripping her second son Li Guangshu’s ear.
Qiao Zhao helped He Shi stand up, her gaze quickly sweeping over Li Guangshu.
Compared to her father’s jade-like refined appearance, this Second Uncle, who had almost no impression in young Miss Li Zhao’s memory, looked much more weathered. His thick black eyebrows, tightly pressed lip line, and the short beard on his chin all made him appear more mature and steady than his elder brother.
Qiao Zhao’s gaze moved further back to Second Madam Liu Shi, whose hair was disheveled.
On Liu Shi’s left and right were Fourth Miss Li Yan and Sixth Miss Li Chan. The two young ladies were frightened, their expressions panicked, and tears were streaming.
Further back…
Qiao Zhao’s eyes contracted.
The people further back were quite intriguing.
A young woman with a married woman’s hairstyle held a child of about two or three years old in her arms. The child was adorable, with large, grape-like black eyes curiously looking around.
The young woman’s beauty made Qiao Zhao secretly surprised.
She had thought Princess Zhenzhen was already a stunning beauty, but unexpectedly, this young woman was no less beautiful. Because she was in the prime of her youth, she had a mature, rich charm that the still somewhat naive Princess Zhenzhen lacked.
Qiao Zhao’s heart inexplicably sank.
With such beauty, the West Residence would probably not be peaceful in the future.
She coldly observed the woman and discovered that despite entering such an environment as the Li residence for the first time, the woman showed no signs of awkwardness. She simply stood gently and obediently behind the others holding the child, with a kind of serene beauty.
“All of you kneel!” Old Madam Deng sat down in the grand chair and, with one cold shout, interrupted Qiao Zhao’s contemplation.
A dark mass of people knelt on the ground. Qiao Zhao, who remained standing, instantly became the most conspicuous person. Even Second Master Li Guangshu couldn’t help but look at her.
Qiao Zhao released He Shi’s arm and silently knelt as well.
“Third girl, you haven’t made Grandmother angry like these useless scoundrels, so why are you kneeling? Get up!”
Old Madam Deng’s voice was slightly heavy, containing anger. Qiao Zhao sensibly stood up and silently retreated to stand behind He Shi.
Old Madam Deng looked at her two sons with a stern face: “You two beasts, fighting at the family gate during New Year – aren’t you ashamed?”
Li Guangwen looked indignant and quite aggrieved: “Mother, your son was just trying to break up the fight!”
It’s just that in the process of breaking it up, he ended up throwing punches, too. But Second Brother was so infuriating – what could he do?
Old Madam Deng’s temple veins twitched. Her gaze passed over her eldest son to look at Li Guangshu.
Li Guangshu’s performance was much more composed than his elder brother’s. He kowtowed solidly to Old Madam Deng several times, saying: “Mother, your unfilial son has returned. How is your health, honored mother?”
Looking down at her second son, whose face was scratched, Old Madam Deng rolled her eyes and said coldly: “Thanks to you, this old woman who won’t die is still alive.”
“Mother—”
Old Madam Deng slapped the table: “If I had known you were such a scoundrel, you shouldn’t have come back at all, causing me trouble during the New Year! Tell me, what’s the deal with the people behind you?”
Li Guangshu turned his head, his expression and tone unconsciously softening: “Bing Niang, come quickly and pay respects to the old madam.”
Bing Niang immediately knelt forward several steps and kowtowed to Old Madam Deng while holding the young child: “This humble concubine greets the old madam.”
Old Madam Deng’s lips were tightly pressed as she sized up Bing Niang.
Li Guangshu smiled ingratiatingly: “Mother, this is a virtuous concubine your son took in Lingnan, called Bing Niang. This is your grandson Hao Ge’er, three years old this year.”
As he spoke, he reached out to stroke Hao Ge’er’s head and said gently: “Hao Ge’er, call Grandmother—”
Hao Ge’er was young after all, and seeing so many strangers made him uneasy. He turned and buried himself in Bing Niang’s arms without speaking.
“Nanny Rong, take Bing Niang and Hao Ge’er down to rest.” Old Madam Deng spoke indifferently.
After Bing Niang and her son withdrew, Old Madam Deng looked at Second Madam Liu Shi and sighed: “Second daughter-in-law, get up and sit. What matters couldn’t be discussed properly? Did fighting in front of your two daughters and all the younger generation solve anything?”
Perhaps the old lady’s expressionless face when facing Hao Ge’er gave Liu Shi a trace of comfort. Liu Shi, whose face had been pale as a ghost since entering the room, finally didn’t collapse and silently got up to walk toward her seat.
The usually forthright person now walked as if each step weighed a thousand pounds, as if she needed to use all her strength just to drag her body forward.
A flash of pity passed through Qiao Zhao’s eyes. Looking at Second Master Li Guangshu again, she was thoughtful.
This Second Uncle was appointed as the Governor of Lingnan!
No wonder she didn’t know – young Miss Li Zhao probably hadn’t cared about such things and had no memory of it. With so many things she needed to attend to, she naturally wouldn’t think to inquire about this.
“Fourth girl, Sixth girl, come stand with your mother.”
Li Yan pulled her younger sister Li Chan to stand up and, following Qiao Zhao’s example, stood behind Liu Shi.
“Eldest son, you get up too.”
Li Guangwen immediately scrambled up, snorted coldly at Li Guangshu, and sat down beside He Shi.
For a moment, only Li Guangshu remained kneeling on the ground.
Feeling quite embarrassed, he called out: “Mother—”
The old lady took a quick step forward and directly slapped Li Guangshu across the face.