Chapter 134 Demanding Returns, Nan Ke Gets a Slap in the Face (Third Update, Please Vote)
With her eyes closed, tears streamed down her face as she choked back sobs, unable to speak any further.
Li Nanke held He Shi in her small arms and said loudly, "I won't allow Grandmother to say anything discouraging. Grandmother will live to be a hundred years old."
“Yes, Mother-in-law,” Song Yi echoed. “The doctor said that if you take good care of yourself, you’ll be fine.”
Madam He sighed, remaining silent.
Li Mu's eyes instantly reddened.
"Mother, please don't say that. I promise you, I... I will think about this matter carefully."
"real?"
He opened her eyes and stared at him intently.
Li Mu hesitated for a moment, then nodded seriously.
He let out a long breath.
Li Nanke witnessed this scene and sighed silently.
Last time, Grandmother forced Father to agree to become a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue in the same way, but Father was unhappy and unwilling from the bottom of his heart, which is why he bribed Lord Jiang to sign in on his behalf.
This time, even if his father agrees, he doesn't like it, and who knows what he might do.
We need to find a way to change Father's mind.
She fell into deep thought, troubled.
Just then, Sun's mother's voice came from outside.
"The second young mistress has arrived."
Li Mu quickly got up from the bedside, turned his back, and wiped his eyes.
He Shi also took the handkerchief handed to her by Song Yi, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and adjusted the expression on her face.
Madam Sun lifted the curtain and entered, her gaze sweeping over the faces of everyone in the room before she smiled and curtsied.
"I heard that my mother-in-law wasn't feeling well, so I came to check on her. Has she taken her medicine?"
She put on a concerned expression and walked to He's bedside.
He gave a faint, smirk.
"I've already taken my medicine; it was brewed for me by my sister-in-law herself."
Sun's face stiffened slightly, then she smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, doing everything so personally makes me, as your younger brother's wife, seem unfilial."
If Mother-in-law doesn't mind, then I, your daughter-in-law, can stay in the main courtyard tonight to take care of you."
He waved his hand.
“With Grandma Sun here, you don’t need to. You still have two children, Zhenxuan and Youyou, to take care of.”
Sun was just mentioning it casually; she didn't genuinely intend to serve He.
Hearing what Madam He said, they immediately went along with it.
"Thank you for your understanding, Mother-in-law. It's getting cold now. Youyou is doing well, but Zhenxuan always kicks off the covers at night."
The daughter-in-law didn't dare to sleep soundly at night, getting up three or four times a night to check on her.
He frowned slightly.
Li Nanke feigned curiosity and asked, "Don't my cousin's maids and nannies keep watch at night? Why does my second aunt have to get up?"
Sun's face stiffened, and she awkwardly smoothed a stray hair at her temple.
He sighed, "It's all because those nannies and maids aren't doing their job properly. That's why Zhenxuan caught a cold last night."
This morning she woke up with an upset stomach and a fever. Her daughter-in-law wouldn't be only now coming to take care of her if it weren't for wanting to look after her.
Upon hearing that Li Zhenxuan had caught a cold, Madam He immediately asked with concern, "Has a doctor been called? How is Zhenxuan now?"
Sun said, "I called the doctor, and he said it was because I caught a chill at night. He prescribed some medicine and told me to rest for a couple of days."
But Zhenxuan is a stubborn child; he refuses to take his medicine properly and insists on eating bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin instead.
Sun looked helpless. "I just wanted to ask my mother-in-law for some bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin that His Majesty had bestowed upon me."
The concern on Madam He's face faded, and her gaze fell heavily on Madam Sun's face.
Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Madam Sun retorted, "I've heard it all, Mother-in-law. She gave half of the bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin that His Majesty bestowed upon her to my sister-in-law."
They are both daughters-in-law, but Zhenxuan is the only heir of the Marquis's mansion and your only grandson. You can't possibly be so stingy as to not even give him a bite of bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin, can you?
Mother-in-law, don't you think you're being too biased?
Madam He was so angry that her face turned ashen.
Song Yi wanted to say something, opened her mouth, but couldn't refute it.
After all, her mother-in-law did indeed give her half of the bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin.
Li Mu frowned as he looked at Madam Sun, seemingly seeing her like this for the first time.
Li Nanke jumped off the bed, looked up at Sun Shi with a smile.
"Second Aunt, Grandmother did indeed give half of the bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin to my mother."
A look of anger crossed Madam Sun's face. "See, I told you your grandmother was biased..."
Li Nanke interrupted her directly, "But my mother also gave my grandmother two hundred taels of silver, which was used to buy bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin."
My mother said that the bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin were gifts from His Majesty to my grandmother for conditioning her body. As a junior, it would be unfilial of her to accept them directly.
"My second aunt wants to give my cousin Zhenxuan bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin, so let's exchange them for two hundred taels of silver."
Sun's expression changed, and her voice became sharp.
Two hundred taels? Who are you trying to fool?
Madam He coughed lightly, "Ke'er is right, your sister-in-law did give me money to buy those bird's nests and donkey-hide gelatin."
"If you'd like, I'll provide the same amount; you can buy it with silver."
"I!"
Sun opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't bear to part with the money, so she gritted her teeth and shut up.
Seeing her standing there motionless with a dark face, Madam He frowned impatiently.
"Is there anything else?"
Sun rolled her eyes and then looked at Song Yi with a smirk.
"Bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin are one thing, but I can't compare to my sister-in-law's wealth. I heard that she hired a tutor for Ke'er to teach her the ways of business."
Our Youyou is also a daughter of the Marquis's family. When I was in charge of the household, I treated Ke'er and Youyou equally.
Why is it that now that my sister-in-law is in charge of the household, her approach to the girls' education has become biased? She's hired a tutor, but only teaches Ke'er, while our Youyou isn't allowed to learn..."
Her eyes welled up with tears of grievance. "Even if I have offended my sister-in-law in some way, she can punish me as she pleases. Why take it out on a child?"
Song Yi frowned.
"I don't."
Sun's eyes lit up.
"So that means Youyou can go and learn too?"
Song Yi looked at Li Nanke with a troubled expression.
Although she claimed to the outside world that Mr. Huang was invited by her, in reality, it was Ke'er who invited him herself, and this Mr. Huang was actually a man of King Xuan.
She really didn't dare to make the decision on her own.
Li Nanke pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile.
“Okay, Second Aunt, let Youyou come with me to learn from Master Huang tomorrow. We’ll start at 7 AM every day and study for one hour.”
Sun couldn't help but reveal a victorious smile.
Although we didn't get the bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin, it's still a good thing that our daughter can study with Li Nanke.
Mrs. Sun left happily.
Li Mu asked Song Yi with a puzzled look.
"When did you hire a business tutor for Ke'er? Why should a girl learn business? Wouldn't it be better to learn calligraphy and painting from me?"
Song Yi tugged at him.
"I'll explain this to you in detail when we get back."
Li Mu then moved closer to Li Nanke, smiling ingratiatingly with a hint of coaxing.
"Ke'er, would you like to learn calligraphy and painting from your father? Your father can guarantee to be the best teacher in the world."
Without hesitation, Li Nanke crossed his arms in front of his chest, making a large X shape.
Her little face was resolute. "I don't want to learn."
She has many things to learn, but definitely not music, chess, calligraphy, or painting.
During the seven years I spent in the brothel in my dream, I learned so much about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting that I almost threw up.
Li Mu was hurt by his daughter's firm attitude, but he refused to give up and was determined to try to persuade his daughter to study with him.
The next morning, just as Zisu finished changing Li Nanke's dressing, the maid from the second household arrived with Li Xinyou.
Zisu looked indignant.
"Are you really willing to let the second daughter study under Mr. Huang?"
Li Nanke revealed a mysterious smile.
"Of course, but..."
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