"Madam, someone is coming from our hometown of Youyang." Qiu Ling (later the housekeeper) came in to deliver the message. Madam Xu Wen (Minglan's grandmother, Old Lady Sheng), the eldest lady of the second branch of the Sheng family, was watching her son memorize his homework. When she heard the news, she ordered someone to wait in the flower hall.

Xu Wen, the second wife, walked in and saw a spirited young man. He bowed respectfully and then presented her with a red-lacquered letter. Xu Wen put the letter aside and asked, "How is the first wife these days?"

Liu Gui replied respectfully, "Madam, the eldest lady has always been kind, but she is very concerned about you."

Xu Wen thought of her sister-in-law and said with a smile, "Okay, you go down and rest first, Qiu Ling will watch and enjoy."

Liu Gui said in embarrassment, "Madam, the eldest lady asked me to ask you one more question after you finish reading the letter."

Xu Wen was a little surprised, and waved her hand to let Qiu Ling take Liu Gui to the trailhead to rest for a while.

Xu Wen spent half an hour reading the three thin sheets of paper before asking Qiu Ling to call Liu Gui over. Xu Wen asked Liu Gui, "What does the Madam want to ask?"

Liu Gui bowed and replied, "The eldest lady asked me to ask you on her behalf. If it were you, what would you do?"

Xu Wen pinched her brows and said in a vague voice, "If it were me, I would definitely deal with that person in front of him."

Liu Gui smiled and said, "The eldest lady asked me to tell you something. If someone dies, they will never forget them. If someone becomes uglier over the next three to five years, they will start to feel disgusted with them."

Xu Wen lowered her head, a gloomy expression on her face. She nodded and then asked, "Madam, do you have anything else to say?"

Liu Gui shook his head and replied, "Madam, there are no more."

After Liu Gui left, Xu Wen sat back in her chair, dazed. A cup of tea later, Qiu Ling came in, rubbing Xu Wen's temples and tentatively asking, "Miss, is there something wrong?"

Xu Wen handed the letter to Qiu Ling. After a while, Qiu Ling said anxiously, "How could the eldest wife of the first house and the eldest daughter both meet such a scoundrel? What do you think, eldest daughter?"

Xu Wen said, "As a lady from a distinguished family, I've seen enough of the powerful and wealthy, who lust after beautiful women and are easily disliked by the old. I felt a deep dislike for him. The third place winner was so talented and virtuous that he didn't get involved with women, which is why I considered him a good man. I didn't expect it wasn't that he didn't want to get involved with women, but that when he was down, he had no interest in getting involved with women. Once he was successful, he became arrogant and brought home a beautiful concubine less than three months after our marriage."

Xu Wen stared at the flickering candlelight absentmindedly and continued, "When I was still waiting to be married, I often visited the palace to receive instruction from Empress Jing'an. Empress Jing'an was beautiful and intelligent, and throughout her years in the palace, she never disdained to fight with the other concubines. For years, I've been shouting and shouting to stop Sheng Huairen from taking concubines, but how did I ever hurt those women? Aren't they all well-fed and well-fed, and all those who conceived gave birth safely?"

"Empress Jing'an, because of her compassion for women and her sincerity, was repeatedly plotted against. Two of her sons died, and her daughter was abducted. She subsequently became disheartened and reclusive. I, too, grew weary of the inner court's affairs, and I too sought to live my own life behind closed doors. I considered myself proud and strong-willed, disdaining the infighting, but I was wrong. Who could have imagined that Concubine Hong, who treated me like a sister, was actually my husband's beloved. Whenever he wanted to take in a new woman, she'd instigate a quarrel between me and him. I bore the blame and his displeasure, while she, on the other hand, was quite good. Comparing me to her, she became even more favored by my husband, enjoying the perfect balance.

Seeing Xu Wen's sorrowful expression, Qiu Ling couldn't help but offer her comfort. That bitch, a bitch who was always pretending to be weak, not only seduced men but also came to the young lady to beg for mercy. Qiu Ling wanted to scratch that bitch's face.