"Is the young lady going out?" Zi Qiao quickly followed and asked.

"Didn't Miaoxiang just make some white jade cakes? Let's pack a box and send it to Songheju!" Wei Shuwan said, stepping out of the room.

...

When Miaoxiang brought a box of white jade cakes to Songheju, two old women were sweeping the courtyard in the front yard.

Miaoxiang delivered the gift, explaining that it was a present from the Third Miss to the Old Madam. One of the old women took the bag of white jade cakes and said, "The Second Master and Second Madam are talking in the Old Madam's room right now. This old servant will take the cakes in later."

"But Mother, this white jade cake is still warm. It won't taste good if it gets cold. How about this, Mother, please put it on the stove to keep it warm by water, and then send it over to the Old Madam when she has some free time?"

The old woman nodded and said "okay," then took the food box and went to the kitchen.

Seeing her walk away, Miaoxiang went to another old woman and said with some difficulty, "Mother, when my young lady came to pay her respects to the old lady last time, she must have left one of her earrings in the backyard. Could you please take me to look for it?"

Since her mistress had lost her jewelry, the old woman naturally couldn't refuse to look for it. So she put down her work and led Miaoxiang to the backyard to search for it.

With the two old women in the front yard dismissed and no one around, Wei Shuwan and Ziqiao brazenly walked to the window of the old lady's room, quietly pushed the window open a crack, and began listening to the sounds coming from behind their own walls.

There was an old tree in front of the window, so the two of them were not conspicuous when they were close together, and even if someone passed by in the yard, they would not easily notice them.

Wei Shuwan quickly heard her father's voice:

"Mother, you've suffered with me these past few days. I wonder if you slept well last night?"

Sitting in the main seat, Madam Wei sighed softly, looking at Wei Zheng and Sun Lurong sitting to her left, with a look of a loving mother worried about her children: "My old bones are so old, even if I die in that prison, it won't be a pity. I'm just worried about you brothers, and those grandchildren..."

Hearing this, Sun Lurong's expression changed slightly. If she guessed correctly, the old lady would next speak on behalf of her eldest grandson, Wei Chengxu. After all, all the Wei family's children and grandchildren had been released unharmed after their ordeal in prison, and only Wei Chengxu was still in jail awaiting investigation and verification of evidence.

Wei Zheng seemed to have caught on to this, so he took advantage of the pause in Wei Wenshi's words and said, "Mother is already in poor health. She came to Shengjing to recuperate, and she is most afraid of damp and cold environments. Why don't I have someone invite a doctor over later to take a look? If there is anything wrong, Mother must tell me."

These words comforted Wei Wenshi. Yesterday's incident in court had caused a rift between her and her son, bringing their relationship to a freezing point. It was already remarkable that Wei Zheng did not hold a grudge and even showed concern for her.

As long as Wei Zheng still has filial piety towards him, then it will be much easier to handle whether he speaks on behalf of the eldest son or pleads for the eldest grandson.

Madam Wei shook her head and said considerately, "There's no need to call a doctor. We should be more frugal in the future. Although the Wei family is fine now, it's only because that pardon has spared you from punishment, not because the Emperor has investigated the truth and believes you are innocent!"

These words struck a chord with Wei Zheng, and he tossed and turned on his bed last night, unable to fall asleep, precisely because of this.

He seemed to have been pardoned by the emperor, but he was not cleared of his crimes at all. In the eyes of the emperor, officials and even the common people, he was still the culprit who embezzled the funds allocated by the court and caused the man-made disaster in Wu County!

However, these things have little to do with saving money; the Wei family is still the incredibly wealthy Wei family.

So Wei Zheng advised, "Mother, you don't need to worry too much. Just take good care of your health, and that will relieve my biggest worry. As for gold and silver, Mother, you don't need to worry at all. Although the Wei family has lost its reputation this time, its foundation is still there, so there is no need to be too frugal."

"How can we not be frugal? So many eyes are on our Wei family now. Every penny we spend is seen by them as dirty money embezzled!"

Wei Wenshi's words made sense, and Wei Zheng fell silent.

Sun Lurong pondered for a moment and said, "Mother is right. If the Wei family wants to change how outsiders perceive them, they need to do something to remedy the situation."

Wei Zheng turned to look at Sun Lurong: "You mean..."

"Just like many years ago, we will once again assist the imperial court in disaster relief!" Sun Lurong said firmly.