Madam Yang was completely confused. She looked around and saw that the maids from the Prime Minister's residence were about ten feet away from them.

She asked, "You mean the Empress Dowager?"

Aunt Chen whispered, "It's the Empress."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, she's so young, could she be ill?"

Aunt Chen nodded. "Someone from the palace came to deliver a message yesterday, but I don't know the specifics. The First Madam cried a lot last night and went to the palace early this morning."

Madam Yang understood; no wonder it was Aunt Chen who came out to greet her.

The First Madam, relying on her daughter being the Empress, often set rules for the concubines in the mansion, which made Concubine Chen resentful.

When the Empress was mentioned, there was no trace of sadness on her face; in fact, there seemed to be a hint of schadenfreude, though upon closer inspection, it was as if there was none.

As they spoke, they entered the second hanging flower gate.

Madam Yang and Aunt Chen were whispering to each other in front, while Jiang Jiaojiao followed behind, occasionally glancing up to survey the layout of the courtyard.

Pavilions, terraces, rockeries, waterside pavilions, and exotic flowers and plants dot the landscape amidst green pines and cypresses.

In the covered walkway, there is a bonsai pot placed every two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters).

They are truly a family of nobles and meritorious officials for generations.

With its upturned eaves and beaded curtains, the building exudes luxury in every detail.

The mansion was enormous; the garden alone occupied more than half the size of the Minister's residence.

Aunt Chen and Madam Yang had almost finished their conversation when she suddenly remembered that there was a girl following behind her.

She stopped and turned around. "You're Miss Jiang the Second? Seeing your mother, you were so happy you forgot that Miss Jiang the Second was here too."

Jiang Jiaojiao gave Aunt Chen a faint smile.

Madam Yang continued, "The musician in our household is busy today, so I had Jiao'er accompany me."

"Miss Jiang is twenty years old this year, isn't she? Why is she still learning the zither? When Madam Jiang sees the Old Madam later, could she ask her for a nanny from the palace to take back with her?"

Yang originally intended to show off that her daughter was good at music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

As a result, his plan backfired, and he was rendered speechless for a long time by Aunt Chen's words.

Jiang Jiaojiao understood what Aunt Chen meant. She had just heard that a concubine had come to receive her and her daughter, so Jiang Jiaojiao did not bow to Aunt Chen.

Is Aunt Chen implying indirectly that she doesn't know the rules?

"Aunt Chen, you don't know this, but whether it's playing the zither or painting, there's no end to learning. If you don't practice for three days, you'll become rusty. My daughter's zither teacher is over thirty and still keeps learning. What's so strange about that?"

When a younger person implied that she was ignorant, Aunt Chen's face immediately turned ugly.

Hmph! Just because she's a concubine's daughter and suddenly she's a legitimate daughter, she actually thinks she's a talented woman.

"We've arrived. The old lady is inside. Please come in." Aunt Chen gestured towards the courtyard in front of her.

“Aunt Chen, you…” Madam Yang hadn’t expected that Aunt Chen had no intention of going in with her at all.

"This maid can accompany you inside. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer," said Aunt Chen, turning and leaving with the maid from her room.

The mother and daughter looked at each other in disbelief. Even the concubine in the Prime Minister's mansion was so arrogant.

The maids of the Prime Minister's residence quickly helped Aunt Chen to smooth things over, "The First Madam went to the palace today, and Aunt Chen is taking care of all the big and small matters in the mansion. Please don't worry too much. There are many people and many things to do in the mansion, and Aunt Chen is also working hard."

Yang then came to her senses. It turned out that Consort Chen was the most favored person in the Prime Minister's eyes, no wonder she didn't take her, the wife of the Minister, seriously.

She asked Granny Qu and Caiyan to wait outside the courtyard.

The mother and daughter followed the maid into an exquisite courtyard.

"May the old lady be blessed with good health and happiness." Before they could even see the old lady sitting at the head of the table, Madam Yang and Jiang Jiaojiao bowed in greeting.

Madam Wei received the two in the flower hall.

Madam Wei came from a noble family. Although she had a full head of silver hair, her hair was meticulously styled with pearls and hairpins, and she exuded an air of nobility.

His deeply lined face exuded an imposing presence without anger, and his pair of old eyes, though not very clear, gleamed with a sharp light.

The interior furnishings were dazzlingly luxurious.

"Are you Madam Jiang? I'm old and my eyesight isn't good. Please take a seat."

The old woman beside Madam Wanwei quickly stepped forward and led the two to their seats.

A maidservant brought out tea and pastries.

"Madam looks quite well. I think you still look young." As soon as Madam Yang's buttocks touched the armchair, she showered her with compliments.

Flattery will get you everywhere, and Yang's words indeed made Old Madam Wei beam with joy.

"Is that Miss Jiang sitting down there? She really looks like Madam Jiang, with delicate features. Who is she betrothed to?"

Jiang Jiaojiao leaned forward slightly shyly, "Thank you for your praise, Madam. I am but a humble girl, still unmarried."

Madam Wei smiled and praised, "She is a filial daughter who wants to stay at home to accompany her parents for a few more years."

Old Madam Wei had no idea how old a girl from the Minister's mansion was; she was just saying a few polite words.

"Madam, you may not know this, but my second daughter has been of marriageable age for many years. Perhaps it's just not the right time yet," Madam Yang said tactfully.

Madam Wei's sharp eyes swept across Jiang Jiaojiao's face before she changed the subject.

"I have to thank your Lord Jiang for arriving in time that day, otherwise my old bones would have been scared to death."

"Madam is joking. Everyone in the capital knows that you come from a noble family, are resolute and decisive, and act swiftly. A few commoners are nothing to frighten you."

"It's just that the old lady's peace and quiet was disturbed by the lowly people, so she felt a little uncomfortable."

Madam Wei was very pleased to hear this, and said with a smile to the old woman beside her, "Look at Madam Jiang, she truly lives up to her title as the wife of a high-ranking official. Look how much she praises this old woman."

The old woman standing to the side glanced at Madam Yang, then turned to look at Old Madam Wei with a fawning smile. "This old servant thinks Madam Jiang is right. Old Madam, what storms haven't you weathered? How could you be alarmed by commoners? It's just that so many commoners entering the mansion is very unlucky."

Having spent so much time with the nobleman, the old woman completely forgot that she was a slave. In terms of social status, she was even lower than a commoner.

Jiang Jiaojiao wanted to chime in, but she was afraid that talking too much would make her seem less virtuous, so she sat quietly, smiling as she watched everyone chat and laugh.

To others, her appearance was dignified, gentle, and even a little obedient.

Seeing this, Old Madam Wei thought to herself, "Although this Second Miss Jiang is not as good as the First Miss Jiang, she is still a pretty girl from a modest family."

If she were still a concubine's daughter, it would be appropriate to betroth her to the eldest grandson as a favored concubine.

Now that Yang has been elevated to the status of a second wife, and her illegitimate daughter has become a legitimate daughter, it wouldn't be bad to marry her off to the child of his second son.

With a warm smile on her face, Madam Wei was secretly considering which grandson from the second wife's family would be suitable to marry her off.

The grandsons of the second branch of the Wei family were not as talented as those of the first branch. However, due to their connection with the Empress, their adult grandsons all held positions in the imperial court, making them a family of high status.

After exchanging pleasantries and chatting for a while, Madam Yang got up to take her leave. Old Madam Wei politely invited her to stay for a meal, but Madam Yang dared not actually stay.

The mother and daughter stood up and bowed again.

"grandmother."

A clear, melodious male voice came from the doorway.