The old lady surveyed everyone in the room, took a small sip of tea, and in that blink of an eye, a multitude of emotions flashed through her mind.

In this secluded mansion, the comings and goings are always the same old things. The girls' daily squabbles and attempts to stand out are all harmless and ordinary matters.

However, these young ladies were usually disciplined by their governesses, so even if they acted tough or fierce, nothing would happen that would damage their reputation.

Such behavior as beating and scolding maids would be impossible in a family like the Shen family. After all, if word got out, people wouldn't say that the third young lady of the Shen family didn't know the rules, but that the Shen family had bad family traditions, and all the sisters would be implicated.

The kind-faced old lady instructed the maidservant beside her to serve tea and snacks to the three ladies and young ladies. She then said with a smile, "This pre-Qingming Longjing tea was brought back from Mingsheng Lake by Fourth Aunt through someone. There are only three catties in total. If you like it, you can ask Granny Tian to pack some for you when you go back."

The three ladies all looked overjoyed and thanked them with smiles.

This was a gift from the old lady, and everyone had to accept it even if they didn't like it, since the old lady disliked the younger generation being too opinionated.

Even the First Madam Zhao wouldn't dare say much at a time like this.

The Lin family's house was not lacking in good things, but she also knew that the Mingqian Longjing tea from Mingsheng Lake was hard to come by, so she naturally had to keep it.

"Our fourth aunt should be going back to Beijing to visit her family next month, right?"

Second Madam Gu pursed her lips and smiled very kindly.

"It's about time. Every year when it's time to drink pre-Qingming Longjing tea, Fourth Aunt should be returning to the capital."

Lin smiled and echoed her sentiment.

Of the three sisters-in-law, Gu and Lin were close, and the two often covered for each other, which made Zhao feel alienated.

The old lady naturally knew that her daughter was coming back to visit her family. Listening to everyone's chatter, she didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. They had been here for so long, and Lin hadn't mentioned Shen Mingshu hitting someone today. Did she think she was too old and her eyesight and hearing were failing?

After a while, she looked at the Third Miss Shen Mingshu, who was unusually quiet today.

Noticing her grandmother's gaze, Shen Mingshu involuntarily tightened her grip on the handkerchief, digging her nails into her palm before loosening her grip, but she dared not look into the old lady's eyes.

"Ms. Lin, is Ming Shu feeling unwell today?"

When the old lady suddenly called out her name, both Lin and her daughter Shen Mingshu froze at the same time. The smile on Lin's face instantly faded, and she glanced awkwardly at Shen Mingshu, her hands trembling slightly.

It seems this matter can no longer be brushed aside.

Lin felt a pang of sadness and found it difficult to speak.

Actually, this wouldn't be considered a big deal in her maternal family. It's just that the Shen family has strict rules. In the Lin family, let alone slapping a maid twice, even beating her to death wouldn't be a big deal. Even concubines and illegitimate daughters don't have many good scratches.

However, she was still afraid of her mother-in-law, who came from a noble family; the oppressive aura emanating from her every move made it hard for her to breathe.

“It’s my fault. Ming Shu has been feeling unwell lately, but I didn’t take it to heart. Today, she was contradicted by a maid in the Ninth Miss’s room, and she impulsively hit the maid. I have already given her a good scolding and will not allow her to be so reckless in the future.”