What do you think?

Li Shiyue smiled slightly, but there was no smile in her eyes. Without giving Aunt Yang a chance to speak, she turned to look at Madam Chengen: "We came today because we heard that Aqing is ill? Is it convenient for us to go and see her?"

Yu Guangzhong caught a glimpse of Aunt Yang's frustrated expression; she was angry but dared not speak up. Seeing that Madam Chengen had no intention of speaking up for her, the old lady's lips were pursed, and her eyes darted around, as if she were plotting something wicked.

Originally, Li Shiyue did not intend to speak so directly and wanted to wait for the Lady of Chengen to speak. However, this old lady came straight to the Rongguo Mansion. If she continued to hold back, she would be handing over the Rongguo Mansion's face to be trampled on.

Perhaps sensing that Li Shiyue was not someone to be trifled with, Aunt Yang kept her mouth shut and didn't say anything.

"Of course it's convenient. Come with me, and please wait here for a moment, Aunt."

It wasn't that the Duchess of Cheng'en didn't want to take her along; it was simply that the old lady had difficulty walking.

"What illness? She's just trying to shirk her duties. She had a little girl, but she doesn't want to have a husband to carry on the family line, so she's just pretending to be lazy—"

Before Aunt Yang could finish speaking, she looked up and met Li Shiyue's sidelong glance. She was startled and didn't finish her sentence.

Li Shiyue was following Madam Chengen from the flower hall to the inner courtyard when she heard Aunt Yang's words.

She slightly turned her head, glancing coldly at Aunt Yang, her eyes seeming to reveal a sharp blade as she looked in Aunt Yang's direction.

Seeing that Aunt Yang had stopped moving, he followed the steps of Lady Cheng'en. It wasn't that he didn't want to stand up for Xu Lingqing; he had already humiliated Aunt Yang earlier, and seeing Xu Lingqing was the most important thing now.

Xu Lingqing and Yang Yan's courtyards were not close, but the courtyards were quite spacious. As soon as you walked in, you could see Xu Lingqing sitting on a wooden couch, wearing a robe.

Wearing a headband, her hair was casually tied up, and her complexion and lips did not look good; they were bloodless and pale.

The wet nurse beside her was holding her daughter, who was also premature and looked very light in her swaddling clothes.

Seeing Li Shiyue and Zhang Shi enter, Xu Lingqing seemed not surprised at all. He smiled and watched the two sit down, saying, "Sisters-in-law, did you run into anyone?"

"I met her. This Aunt Yang is such a snob. No wonder you suffered so much at her hands. My aunt was so worried when she found out."

Li Shiyue ignored Zhang's hesitant gaze and directly recounted what had happened before.

"Don't worry, we're here to support you. If Yang Yan can't protect his wife and children, he can pack his things and come back to the Xu family with us. That's what my husband is planning to do today."

Seeing that Li Shiyue spoke so directly, Zhang Shi didn't hide anything either. She looked at the Lady of Chengen and said, "It's not that I have any opinion about the Chengen Mansion, it's just that the child is still young, and Aqing's health needs to be carefully maintained."

"As you know, as long as Aunt Yang is in the Chengen Duke's Mansion, Aqing and Yang Yan will never have a moment's peace. When Aunt Yang goes back, Aqing and Yang Yan will just come back."

"Our Xu family's point is that our daughter absolutely cannot bear such an injustice. Besides, the Yang family and the Xu family have already promised that they will not let Aqing suffer any injustice. We also remember your kindness in sending someone to ask for help, but the Cheng'en Duke's Mansion cannot wrong Aqing and the newborn child."

Li Shiyue did not stop him, but looked at the silent Xu Lingqing.

Xu Lingqing initially showed no reaction, remaining calm as they entered without surprise. However, after hearing Zhang Shi and Li Shiyue's words, she lowered her head to cover her red and moist eyes.

Li Shiyue sighed softly, never expecting that such an intelligent person as Xu Lingqing would suffer such an injustice in the Chengen Duke's mansion.

"What did Yang Yan say?"

Xu Lingqing raised her head, a hint of relief in her eyes as she mentioned Yang Yan: "He listens to me. When he's on duty outside, he worries about me and my daughter every day, afraid that my great-aunt will call me over to stand in the rules again."

Lady Chengen looked at Xu Lingqing with heartache and sighed deeply: "You all saw it just now. To be honest, my aunt is of a higher generation; she is the aunt of the Duke."

Even with the eldest patriarch's branch of the family, out of courtesy, neither the Duke nor I could say anything to my aunt, and we were powerless to protect A-Qing and her daughter.

"We couldn't stand it anymore, but we had no choice but to swallow our pride and go to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion to look for her. If we keep it a secret, just look at Aqing's current state; it's probably not good for her recovery."

"If the Xu family is willing, let Qilang accompany Aqing and her daughter to the Xu family first. After a few days, we will find a way to send Aunt back, and then Qilang will bring Aqing and her daughter back."

If Aqing doesn't want to stay, then she can stay at home, but we'll have to find another way. We can't just leave Aqing the same as before."

Lady Chengen looked embarrassed. She had no choice. This aunt was of a higher generation and was also unforgiving. Today, she was frightened by Li Shiyue's identity. If Li Shiyue left, she would probably torment her even more.

Rather than watching the two families become enemies, it's better to resolve them one by one.

“It’s fine for Yang Yan and A Qing to stay at the Xu family’s house. But if Yang’s great-aunt doesn’t leave, won’t the three of them never be able to return to their own home? That’s not a solution.”

Li Shiyue looked at Xu Lingqing, thought for a moment and said, "Since we are going to send Aunt Yang back, and she has been here for quite some time, why not send her back to her hometown to reunite with her children in three days, so that she can make it in time for the New Year."

"For the next three days, let Yang Yan accompany A Qing and the child back to the Xu family to have a short reunion with their parents. When we came, my aunt was still talking about how much she missed A Qing and her husband."

Lady Cheng'en clapped her hands. "Yes, why didn't I think of that reason?" she exclaimed. "The end of the year is just around the corner. Sending them away provides a suitable excuse, and we don't have to worry about the Cheng'en Duke's mansion becoming the subject of gossip."

Having made the decision, Zhang packed her things and left with her people. She also told Yang Yan to go directly to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion after her shift.

As soon as Li Shiyue came out, Aunt Yang, having somehow gotten wind of the news, was helped along quickly to meet her.

"You you you you—"

Aunt Yang pointed at Li Shiyue, seemingly too angry to speak because she had walked too fast.

Li Shiyue watched coldly as Aunt Yang's gaze fell on Xu Lingqing, who was being helped out, with wide eyes. She gently pushed away Aunt Yang's finger that was pointing at her.

“I respect you as an elder, but you are only an elder of the Yang family. I am a county princess personally appointed by the government, and I am the wife of the heir of a first-class duke’s mansion. If you dare to point fingers again, then let’s see if the Cheng’en Duke’s mansion can protect an old woman like you.”

“The women of the Xu family are not to be bullied by just anyone.”