Lady Hou's counterattack came swiftly.

The next day, when I went to Furongyuan to pay my respects, everything was fine until the old lady suddenly became difficult:

"Everyone says we're a family, and we can't even write the character 'pond' together, but some people just insist on stirring up trouble right under my nose. I don't know what they're really up to!"

The old woman squinted and tilted her head to look at them, a forced smile on her face. "Am I right, second son's wife?"

The surroundings were silent. Although Shen Xiwei did not understand what had happened, she was happy to watch the excitement since it was none of her business.

Chi Yue wore a gloating expression.

With such a huge accusation leveled against her, Madam Chi's face paled slightly, and she knelt down with a thud.

She remained relatively calm and didn't lose her composure. She forced a smile and looked up, saying, "Mother, what do you mean by that? Forgive me for not quite understanding, but where have I done anything wrong?"

The old lady embarrassed her in front of so many people; it's obvious that the Marquis's wife must have sown discord in her mind.

She couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

She had silently dedicated herself to the entire Ningyuan Marquis's mansion for so many years, yet she hadn't received a single word of recognition. All she got was something that rightfully belonged to her, and now she was being publicly humiliated and made to look bad!

With her mother-in-law kneeling, Shen Tangning naturally couldn't stand. She calmly knelt down as well, and when she caught a glimpse of the Marquis's arrogant expression, she couldn't help but find it amusing.

She was a person who cared about her reputation. Knowing that it was inconvenient for her to take action herself, she asked the old lady to make the decision. Filial piety came first, which naturally put her ahead of Madam Chi.

So she knew her behavior was shameless?

"Grandmother, please calm down. Mother-in-law has always been a considerate and unassuming person. There must be some misunderstanding here."

She looked up with a sincere expression, and her innocent look made Lady Hou's heart burn with inexplicable anger!

Lady Hou held the cup between her fingers and sighed with feigned difficulty: "This matter should not have been brought to Mother's attention, but I really have no other choice."

She glanced at Madam Chi with a nonchalant air, her tone extremely hypocritical, "Sister-in-law, as you know, Mother's health has never been very good. She needs to be nourished with expensive medicinal herbs and tonics all the time. But the household is currently in dire straits. It's fine for us younger generation to be frugal, but Mother is getting on in years. We can't let her suffer along with us, can we?"

Her words sounded high-sounding, but Shen Tangning instantly understood why the old lady was so furious. No matter how aloof a person may seem, they could never remain indifferent when their own interests were involved.

Not to mention that the old lady is not a magnanimous person. Although she no longer manages affairs, she will never allow her authority to be challenged!

Chi Yue deliberately clicked her tongue twice, her tone displeased: "Second Aunt, Second Sister-in-law, you've really done something wrong! If word gets out, everyone will point at my Second Uncle and call him unfilial!"

Shen Tangning glanced at her sideways and suddenly smiled.

The Lady of the Marquis doted on this daughter more than she raised her, and Chi Yue was raised to be naive and spoiled, so stupid that she was hardly the daughter of the Lady of the Marquis.

"Third sister, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Mother is also worried about Grandmother's health and is also considering the eldest son's family's financial difficulties. Yesterday, she discussed with me whether we should also cover Grandmother's monthly expenses."

Shen Tangning's casual remark about being short of money made Lady Hou's face turn ashen with anger!

The old lady was also a little embarrassed, and suddenly felt like she couldn't get off the stage. She cleared her throat and was about to speak when Shen Tangning said again, "It is only right and proper to be filial to the grandmother. The second branch will never shirk its duty. In addition, the father-in-law, like the Marquis and the heir, will have his entire monthly salary turned over to the public. We will not pay less than the amount due."

She paused, adding a hint of intrigue, "But the expenses for the young master's career advancement, and the expenses for my second sister's pregnancy, can't all be paid by our second branch of the family, can they?"