After Jiang Yinjin finished speaking, no one spoke for a moment, and an awkward silence fell over the hall.
Clearly, Jiang Yinjin wasn't very enthusiastic towards the Madam today... although she wasn't usually as enthusiastic as Shen Mianmian.
Ding felt uneasy—her daughter-in-law was diligently managing the business, while she, the matriarch, had been playing mahjong for days on end. How could she bear it? But… mahjong was just so much fun!
Reason told her that she should now wave her hand and say to Madam Shen: "That's enough for today. I'm busy, and you don't need to come tomorrow." That's the attitude a matriarch should have!
But... she really couldn't bear to leave. Her husband wasn't by her side, her son was engrossed in his books, and she lived alone all day long, except for the servants. She was so lonely!
The servants served her diligently, but spending twelve hours a day together, she even found out how many chickens the lowest-ranking maid in the main courtyard kept.
Companionship requires communication.
She knew everything about the main courtyard, from top to bottom. She could tell what the maids were going to say the moment they opened their mouths, so there was no need for them to communicate.
Everyone envied the Marquis of Anning for having only one wife and being devoted to her, but only she knew how boring her life was; she was truly living the life of a widow.
Now that she finally has Shen's mahjong, she's only been enjoying herself for three days. Is she going to have to go back to that life that was like living in a nunnery?
She... really couldn't bear to part with it!
She finally understood why her son disliked Jiang Yinjin but preferred this "skinny horse" (a nickname for a woman who is considered unattractive). Although the "skinny horse's" status was shameful, she was genuinely comfortable to be around.
He always accompanies her in a gentle and soft-spoken manner, and once he discovers that she has any thoughts, he tries his best to help her make amends and smooth things over.
Even the emperor's chief eunuch couldn't be more capable than this.
Ding opened her mouth, trying to force herself to say something harsh, but she couldn't utter a word.
Shen Mianmian was also worried—would Jiang Yinjin awaken the lady's ambition and make her focus on her career, and run to Jin Wang to curry favor?
No! She absolutely cannot let that happen!
He silently apologized to the female lead, saying, "I'm sorry, I have no intention of being your enemy. I'm only trying to protect myself. I want to go home, so I have no choice but to offend you!"
Then, Shen Mianmian raised her pitiful, green-tea-like face and said timidly, "Young Madam, I learned a game of chess from a traveling performer. Would you like to play together? I'll teach you; I guarantee it'll be fun."
Jiang Yinjin already despised Shen Shi, and now, in her anger, she could barely maintain her usual composure. She coldly said, "Thank you, Sister Shen, but I am the principal wife. A principal wife should act like a principal wife. How can I act like a concubine?"
Her good upbringing prevented her from using the term "skinny horse" as an insult in public; otherwise, she certainly would have used it.
Chen Mianmian blinked—Ah, this…playing mahjong makes one a concubine? Then wouldn't the madam have been a concubine for three days as well?
Should we try to save face for the lady? Should we help the female lead smooth things over?
Forget it, everyone here is a pro, and she's just a newbie. She shouldn't be cannon fodder; she should just stay put and be a coward.
Thinking of this, Chen Mianmian secretly shrank her neck, then looked down at her nose and started to slack off.
Ding's face stiffened, feeling both ashamed and angry.
Granny Li also gave Jiang Yinjin a disapproving look, thinking to herself, "Young Madam, how could you be so clever all your life but so foolish this time? Madam is human too, and humans all have a playful side. Aren't you offending Madam by doing this?"
The situation became even more awkward.
Jiang Yinjin began to regret her impulsiveness, cursing the skinny horse a thousand times over. But she knew it was too late to explain now; whatever she said would only add fuel to the fire. She should let things cool down.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yinjin stood up and said respectfully, "I will go back first. Leave the account books here. If you have any questions after you have read them, please have a servant call me here."
Ding nodded stiffly. "Go."
A short while later,
The young mistress left, but left behind an awkward situation.
Hanrong looked at her aunt with worry, sighing inwardly—her aunt was going to be in trouble this time, she would be accused of tempting the mistress to neglect her duties, even though her aunt meant well…
Shen Mianmian stood up and immediately knelt down, "Madam, I am guilty!"
Ding frowned. "What crime have you committed?"
"Because of my mahjong skills, the young mistress has misunderstood the madam. The madam is a noble lady from a high family, and both Granny Li and Hanrong are innocent and good people. It is a bad person like me who has corrupted you. So, no matter what, it is all my fault!"
Everyone was surprised.
Hanrong was extremely anxious—what was her aunt doing? Shouldn't she be distancing herself from the situation at this time? Why was she taking the blame upon herself?
Ding pursed her lips, staring at the woman kneeling on the ground, waiting for the woman to say something next.
People living in the backyards of high-class families are all too familiar with this kind of rhetoric.
First, retreat as a strategic move, proactively taking responsibility and disarming the other party. Then, explain the reasons for doing so.
However, after waiting for a while, the woman did not continue speaking.
Ding said, "Go on?"
Shen Mianmian asked, "May I ask, Madam, what else do I need to say? This...isn't this already an admission of error? Isn't it a guarantee for future behavior?"
Ding asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to explain why you brought the mahjong tiles?"
Shen Mianmian blinked. "This...does it even need an explanation? I brought this to make Madam happy, that's all. If I had to say what my purpose was...I originally planned to take this opportunity to win some silver, but Madam is having such good luck and her card skills are comparable to a gambling god, so I'm afraid I can't fulfill that wish."
Granny Li was both amused and exasperated, and couldn't help but remind her, "Aunt Chen, you said before that it was to help the young master show filial piety?"
"Oh, right!" Chen Mianmian nodded vigorously, "Granny Li has a keen eye, that's exactly it!"
Can't Chen Mianmian say these polite words?
What a joke! She can talk a better game than anyone else!
However, flattery only works when things are going well; it's the icing on the cake when things are going smoothly. But if things are going badly, flattery just becomes sophistry.
They're all old foxes, who wouldn't understand these things?
The best approach when things are going against you is to be sincere!
Sincerity is the ultimate weapon!
Of course, you don't have to be so realistic; you still have to act.
But then Chen Mianmian lowered her eyes and stammered, "I'm just a skinny horse, and I've never learned anything else from childhood except how to please others. Moreover, our lives depend on the moods of our master. If our master is happy, we can live; if our master is unhappy, he treats us like cats and dogs. I brought mahjong with no other intention than to please you, madam, and thus... to make my life a little better. But I never imagined... it's all my fault, all my fault!"
Everyone was surprised.
This was the first time that people heard the words "skinny horse" without contempt, only pity and heartache.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com