"grandmother!"

Before Shen Mingxi could finish her sentence, tears streamed down her face, and her cry of "Grandmother" was heartbreaking.

Madam Shen's expression changed drastically. Granny Tian quickly helped her up and gently advised, "Seventh Miss, please get up and talk to Madam Shen about what's wrong. You're only making her worry."

"No..." Shen Mingxi's voice was hoarse as she knelt at the old lady's feet, crying until her voice was hoarse, "Grandmother, I don't want to go to the palace anymore, please don't let your granddaughter go to the palace!"

She could only rely on the old lady to make decisions for her. No one in this family cared about her life or death. If the old lady didn't help her, no one could save her.

"absurd!"

The old lady frowned, her sharp gaze sweeping over the person lying on the ground. She sneered, "What grievance have you suffered? Did the Empress Dowager mistreat you, or did Princess Jiayuan beat you?"

Shen Mingxi's body trembled, and she looked at her grandmother in disbelief, her mind racing, wondering what the old lady meant by this.

"grandmother……"

Still unwilling to give up, she recounted her experiences in the palace, the Empress Dowager's attitude towards the Shen family, and the humiliation she suffered at the hands of Princess Jiayuan.

As the old lady listened, her expression grew even colder.

"You've been in the palace for so long, and this is all you know?"

Shen Mingxi was taken aback. A chill spread from the soles of her feet to her whole body, and she couldn't help but shiver. "My granddaughter is dull-witted."

She lowered her head, the light in her eyes gradually fading. If she still didn't understand what the old lady meant at this point, then she deserved to die.

"Alright, now that you know, go back and get some rest, and drink the ginger soup."

Granny Tian's eyes flickered slightly, and she looked at Shen Mingxi with a hint of pity. She thought that entering the palace to serve the Empress Dowager was a glorious thing, but who could know the bitterness behind it?

The life or death of the concubine's daughter is not important; what matters is the family's honor. The old lady would not offend the Empress Dowager or Princess Jiayuan for the sake of the Seventh Miss, nor would the Emperor disrupt the current balance of the court for the sake of the Shen family. It may seem like a small matter, but in reality, it is a matter that affects the whole situation and must be handled with utmost care.

Madam Lin waited for Shen Mingxi to return, but only Chunlan from the old lady's courtyard came. Madam Lin knew that Chunlan had accompanied Shen Mingxi to the palace. Seeing that she was alone, Madam Lin asked with displeasure, "Where is Seventh Miss?"

Chunlan curtsied and said respectfully, "Third Madam, Seventh Miss just returned from Shou'an Hall. The rain was too heavy, so the Old Madam instructed Seventh Miss to go back and wash up first, and to come and inquire about Madam's well-being later."

Since it was the old lady who gave the order, she naturally couldn't say anything. Just as she was about to ask a few questions about Shen Mingxi's situation in the palace, Chunlan spoke up: "The old lady requests that the third madam come over, saying that she has some questions for the third madam."

"Did they call me only?"

Chunlan must have said so, and that was the end of the story.

With the rain so heavy, neither of her sisters-in-law needed to go to Shou'an Hall, but instead summoned her. Lin looked at Granny Jiang with alarmed eyes. Granny Jiang was also on high alert, guessing that it might be because of what happened last night.

But when the time came, there was no escaping it. She smiled reassuringly at Madam Lin and said, "Third Madam, change your clothes and go. You go and inform the Old Madam first."

After sending Chunlan away, Madam Lin seemed to have all her strength drained away, and slumped into the armchair.

"Madam." Granny Jiang poured her a cup of tea, but Madam Lin grabbed her sleeve as if she were grasping at a straw. "Granny, what should we do? What should we do?!"

The old lady has always been strict in her management. If she really finds out that she was the one who did this, then she's finished! If she is divorced, her family will probably not give her a good look. Besides, her Zhang'er and Shu'er's marriages are not yet settled. If she is divorced by the Shen family, what will they do?

Granny Jiang couldn't help but sigh. Why did she only think of these things now? What was she doing when she sent people to ruin Liu's reputation?

Although she had always served Lin Shi and treated her like her own daughter, she did not approve of such behavior. As the principal wife, she had many ways to deal with a concubine. Was it necessary to resort to such underhanded methods?

Which of the Zhao or Gu families is like her?

"Madam, why don't you write a letter back first and invite Madam Lin to come to the mansion?"

That's all we can do now.

Lin nodded, and then seemed to find her pillar of support and regain some spirit.

When Chunlan returned to Shou'an Hall, the old lady was having lunch served by Granny Tian. Chunlan took two steps forward and whispered a few words in the old lady's ear.

The old lady said nothing and told her to leave.

It took half an hour for Madam Lin to arrive at Shou'an Hall. The old lady washed and rinsed her mouth, and upon hearing this, she only said that she was tired. Granny Tian then instructed the maid, "Please wait a moment, Third Madam. The old lady is taking a nap right now."

The maidservant went to inform Madam Lin, who quickly waved her hand and said with a smile, "It's alright. Since Mother is resting, it's only right that I wait a while."

After speaking, he stood for a while and realized that the maid had already left, and hadn't even invited her to sit and wait in the flower hall.

And so, Lin stood in the courtyard for a full hour. The rain stopped and the sun began to shine. Soon, the sun was blazing down on her, and her clothes were soaked with sweat, but Lin dared not utter a sound.

Hearing that Madam Lin had not left, Old Madam Shen's expression softened slightly, and she instructed a maid to invite her in.

*

In Cuixuan Residence, Xue Rong and a few others moved a chaise lounge to the courtyard. After the rain, the sun shone brightly, and Cuixuan Residence was blessed by two large trees, which kept it warm but not scorching.

Shen Mingzhuang lay on the couch while Manhuan washed her hair. The faint scent of soapberry carried a light fragrance. The wind blew through the green branches, causing the leaves to sway and the scattered gold fragments to dance, creating a sense of peaceful tranquility.

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