Chapter 135 If something goes wrong, I hope the old lady will give me some advice, otherwise...
Cui Lingyin felt a little uncomfortable, knowing that Qi Shaozhang must have kept such disrespect in his heart. Even though he showed generosity and understanding at this time, and even spoke to comfort her and save her dignity, his attitude made Cui Lingyin feel that he was too thoughtful, and she became even more uneasy.
Before she could think any more, the maid standing in the corridor opened the curtain and said with a smile, "Second Aunt, Second Uncle, please come in quickly. The old lady has been waiting for you since early this morning."
The same words as those spoken by the gatehouse maid were spoken again at this time. Thinking of the indifference she had received on the way to the mansion and the lack of any liveliness or festivity, Cui Lingyin felt that the words were particularly harsh, but she could only follow Qi Shaozhang and walk in.
The room was filled with the scent of frankincense. Old Madam Zhai, wearing a maroon jacket embroidered with longevity patterns and with her hair neatly combed, sat upright on a soft couch. Second Madam Bian and Third Madam Gao were accompanying her, but there was no sign of First Madam Qi.
Cui Lingyin felt that it was a little strange. Although she was from the second branch of the family, her aunt Qi was the marquis' wife and was in charge of the household expenses. As a married aunt who had returned home, she should help with the management. Why didn't she even show up at this moment?
Madam Zhai seemed to read her thoughts. After she and Qi Shaozhang came forward to pay their respects, she explained, "Your aunt has caught a cold, and she's worried she'll pass it on to you youngsters, so she won't be here today. The Cui and Qi families are already closely related, and I think your aunt is just thinking of you. Don't worry."
Cui Lingyin wasn't stupid. Even if she had some doubts in her heart and felt embarrassed when she heard her grandmother say this, she wouldn't show any displeasure on the spot. Instead, she smiled and said to Madam Zhai, "Grandma, what you said is reasonable. My aunt is also our aunt. Our two families are closely related, so there should be no formalities no matter how you look at it. My aunt and I are so thoughtful of us young people. How could we be bothered by this?"
Her words surprised Old Lady Zhai, who couldn't help but look up to her. She felt that her illegitimate granddaughter hadn't been particularly outstanding in her time at the mansion, aside from being well-behaved and cautious. She had initially instructed Concubine Wen to plot against Yan's reputation, but that had forced Old Lady Zhai to arrange a marriage for her into the Qi family. She had assumed that her granddaughter would resent herself and feel forced to marry down, but now, after hearing her words, she felt that her granddaughter had become more insightful and articulate after becoming a Qi family wife.
It can be seen that people need to learn from their mistakes and see their own significance.
Madam Zhai smiled and asked the two to sit down, and the maid brought tea and snacks.
As the legal mother, Bian also smiled and chatted with Cui Lingyin and Qi Shaozhang.
Gao would interject from time to time, making the atmosphere a bit more lively.
Cui Lingyan and Lu Bingzhi were still nowhere to be found, and Cui Lingyin felt a little uneasy. After a long while, she couldn't help but ask, "Why haven't Third Sister and the Crown Prince arrived yet? Could something have happened on the way and delayed them? Should Grandmother send someone to check on them?"
As soon as she asked this, the lively atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet and a little awkward.
Bian explained, "Look at me, I forgot to tell you, Yin, that Madam Dou of the Duke of Wei's mansion is feeling unwell today. Yan has only been married into the mansion for a few months, so it's not easy for her to leave. I can only ask Yin and Shaozhang to be more patient. After all, we are all family relatives and we are all in the capital. We can see each other anytime we want in the future."
No matter how hard Cui Lingyin tried to pretend she didn't mind, the smile on her face froze for a moment. After a while, she finally spoke, "Yes, of course, Madam Dou's health is more important. Don't worry, mother. Yin'er won't blame my third sister for such a small matter."
She meant what she said. Although she felt that Cui Lingyan was probably finding an excuse not to attend the return banquet, as the saying goes, the situation is stronger than the person, and she could not blame Cui Lingyan for her current status.
Now that things have come to this, it is natural to appear harmonious on the surface.
Qi Shaozhang did not show any displeasure or concern, but instead acted understanding.
When Bian looked at the couple, she felt for the first time that Cui Lingyin and Qi Shaozhang were really a good match. Qi Shaozhang was originally just a young master of the Qi family who came from a small place and was a bit aloof. But now, after coming to Beijing for a few months, he has restrained his aloofness and learned to judge the situation.
Bian was satisfied and thought that it was good that she was sensible and knew how to judge the situation. If Madam Wu caused any trouble again in the future, she could find a way to ask Qi Shaozhang, her own grandson, to take action and send the person back to the south, so as to avoid causing trouble for the Marquis's Mansion.
Madam Zhai had gone to bed late last night, and after talking for a while, she felt a little tired. She put down her teacup and said to Cui Lingyin with a smile, "Go sit with your aunt." Then she instructed Bian, "Take Shaozhang to Shensi's study. Men are more comfortable talking there. Let's have lunch together."
After saying this, Madam Zhai supported Daimao's hand and stood up and went into the inner room.
Qi Shaozhang nodded to Cui Lingyin and followed Bian to the study in the front yard.
Cui Lingyin went to the courtyard where Madam Wen lived with mixed feelings.
As soon as she entered the house, she couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, what happened in the mansion? Why didn't Sister Yan and the Prince come back to attend my return banquet today, and my aunt also claimed to be sick and didn't show up? How can my daughter hold her head up high in the Qi family? When I get back, Old Madam Wu will be so angry, thinking that my daughter can't even earn this little face in the Marquis' Mansion."
Cui Lingyin's eyes were red from anxiety. She had been suppressing her discomfort just now, but now that she saw Madam Wen, she no longer had to force herself and dared to reveal her true emotions.
Madam Wen wiped her daughter's tears with a handkerchief, her heart filled with sorrow. She said bitterly, "It's not that you haven't earned this respectability. No matter how much respectability you have, it can't withstand Madam Wu taking advantage of her status as an elder to offend someone she shouldn't have."
Cui Lingyin was stunned when she heard this, and then she quickly understood what Madam Wen meant.
She couldn't help but say aloud, "I thought I asked Aunt to tell Third Sister about Qiu Zhi, and Third Sister would remember this favor. Now it seems that I overestimated my own importance. If Third Sister remembered this favor, why would she embarrass me at the return banquet? If she and the Prince came and let the people in the capital know, they would look up to me in the eyes of the Duke of Weiguo in the future. No one would dare to bully me at banquets in the future and talk about the past. But Third Sister and the Prince didn't show up today. If the news got out, I don't know how those people would privately speculate that we cousins are not on good terms, and think of ways to humiliate me to please Third Sister, the Prince's wife."
"Fortunately, I found an excuse. Otherwise, I would be even more upset."
Cui Lingyin frowned and added with a hint of suspicion, "Given Third Sister's personality, she shouldn't embarrass me like this. I know her a little bit, and she wouldn't treat me like this because of what happened before. Otherwise, she wouldn't have given me such a beautiful set of pearl headwear when I got married."
"Although I had some grudges against her in the past, I do admire her character. She's not the type to use her power to embarrass me."
Madam Wen heard this and sighed, "I know Third Young Lady's temper, but things in the world are so coincidental. Yesterday, the Old Madam heard from somewhere that Qi and Old Madam Wu were behind Qiu Zhi's actions, and she got really angry. I heard they even got physical. The First Madam didn't show up today because the red marks on her face haven't faded yet, and it would be even more embarrassing if she did. If she did, she would have to make this matter public, which would be even more embarrassing and she wouldn't be able to back down."
"I think that the news probably reached the Duke of Wei's Mansion because there are so many people in our mansion who spread rumors. The Third Young Lady is now the Crown Prince's wife and represents the reputation of the Duke of Wei's Mansion. So she used the excuse that Old Madam Dou was not feeling well and didn't come. Although I understand, I still feel that the Third Young Lady is so respected in the Duke's Mansion. If she had cared more about you, her cousin, and was willing to bring Prince Lu here, you would have had some respect in the capital in the future."
Cui Lingyin was stunned after hearing this, and only then did she understand what was going on.
Thinking about how this matter was instigated by Old Madam Wu and her aunt Qi, and now that the news has spread, Cui Lingyan missed her and told her about their plan, so it was not a good time to return home.
I'm afraid my grandmother, Madam Zhai, thinks the same, which is why the house is so deserted today, without any sense of festivity.
I think after this incident, my grandmother has a worse impression of Old Madam Wu and the Qi family, and she looks down on the Qi family even more.
Cui Lingyin's face flushed and paled for a long time before she choked back tears and said, "It's come to this. I was thinking of telling Third Sister earlier. As long as Qiu Zhi didn't succeed and didn't hook up with Lu Bingzhi, this matter would be over. I was relieved that Qiu Zhi was betrayed, thinking that Third Sister wouldn't bear a grudge against me no matter what."
"I never thought that no matter how hard I tried to hide, I couldn't escape. Who asked the Qi family to have such an old lady who is always causing trouble?"
Cui Lingyin no longer had the good mood she should have been in when she returned home. She turned her head to look out the window, a hint of bitterness revealed between her brows.
Madam Wen did not dare to tell her daughter that the old lady had sent someone to send a banquet to Madam Liu in order to disgust Qi, for fear that it would make her daughter even more upset.
She forced a smile and said comfortingly, "Fortunately, it was Old Madam Wu and Madam Qi who caused the trouble, not you and Shao Zhang. When you go back, even if Old Madam Wu is unhappy, she won't find fault with you, her granddaughter-in-law."
"Tell me, are you doing well in the Qi family? Is your mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhan, easy to get along with? Is Shaozhang close to you? Have you ever been wronged by him saying one thing to your face and another behind your back because of what happened before?"
Every word that Madam Wen said expressed her concern for her daughter Cui Lingyin. Cui Lingyin did not feel annoyed at all. Instead, she felt that by returning home, she finally found someone who truly cared about her.
Sure enough, the aunt's status was humble and she was not worthy of being on the stage in the eyes of those people, but no matter what, the aunt was the one in the world who was willing to protect her with her life.
Not wanting to worry Concubine Wen, Cui Lingyin suppressed her discomfort and spoke with a hint of shyness, "My mother-in-law, remembering my stepmother's kindness in finding a way to send my husband to the Imperial College, hasn't made things difficult for me. As for my husband, he's not as aloof as he was before at the Marquis' Mansion. He treats me with consideration. Just now, I was embarrassed in Xilan Courtyard, but my husband didn't get angry. Instead, he comforted me. I'm content with him being this way."
After hearing this, Madam Wen felt relieved. She was afraid that the Marquis' Mansion would embarrass her son-in-law today, and that he would hold a grudge and take his anger out on Yin.
Although the incident was caused by Old Madam Wu, men never look for faults in themselves, and the new bride, Yin Yatou, is always easier to control.
Fortunately, Qi Shaozhang still remembered how he entered the Imperial College, and it would be even more embarrassing if he didn't call Yin the girl.
While Madam Wen was talking to Cui Lingyin, in Cuiwei Courtyard, Mrs. Qi was sitting on a soft couch with an unpleasant look on her face.
When Nanny Jiang was driven out of the Marquis' Mansion, she didn't plead for mercy. Now, although the maids serving in Cuiwei Courtyard didn't dare to say it, they probably felt in their hearts that she was really ungrateful to Nanny Jiang for her service over the years if she didn't plead for mercy.
Qi ignored the thoughts of her servants and listened to the maid reporting that the old lady had asked the kitchen to prepare a special feast for Concubine Liu, saying that she wanted Concubine Liu to share in the joy of her aunt's return. She also said that after Concubine Liu gave birth to a son, the Jade Courtyard would be cleaned up for her to live in. She didn't say anything for a long time, just sat on the soft couch and looked out the window.
After an unknown amount of time, a maid dared to step forward and report, "Madam, the second young lady and the second uncle have arrived at the mansion. They first went to pay their respects to the old lady. Now the second young lady has gone to Madam Wen's place, and the second uncle has gone to the study in the front yard to talk to Master Shensi."
The maid hesitated for a moment, then asked speculatively, "If the uncle and aunt are kind enough, they could at least pay their respects to Madam through the screen. Madam, should we prepare some gifts?"
When Qi heard her say this, she knew what she was thinking and wanted to save her face.
But she, the wife of a marquis, had long lost her dignity. Ever since the old lady hit her in the face with the jade Buddhist beads, she had no face left.
Not to mention, the Marquis had assaulted her before because of Concubine Liu, so what dignity did she have left now?
Qi's face was full of fatigue. After a while, she seemed to regain her spirits and asked, "Have Miss Yan and the Prince arrived?"
Hearing her ask this, the maid's face looked a little strange.
Qi felt embarrassed. Thinking about why the old lady got angry with her yesterday, she thought that the news had probably spread throughout the entire Ningshou Marquis Mansion, and her face felt hot.
The maidservant didn't dare to laugh at her, and whispered back, "Birou has come and reported to the old lady that Madam Dou from the Duke of Weiguo's mansion is feeling unwell, and the Crown Prince's wife has to stay at the mansion to take care of her. She won't be coming to attend the return banquet today."
When Qi heard this, she was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, her whole body became shorter, revealing her unconcealable fragility and loneliness.
Qi said, "She must have known about it, that's why she didn't come. She wanted to embarrass the Qi family and me as their mother."
"But I didn't do it on purpose. The prince can't have only her as his legal wife. Now she's monopolizing his favor, but when she gets pregnant, there will always be inconveniences. Can't he not have someone new by his side? I made this arrangement out of genuine consideration for her. Qiu Zhi will definitely remember her duty and won't dare compete with her for the prince's favor."
Qi was talking to herself, looking a little bit possessed.
Seeing this, the maid didn't dare to interrupt, let alone step forward to comfort her. She just sighed softly in her heart.
Madam is truly too soft-hearted. Why did she listen to Old Madam Wu? If she could ease the relationship with the Crown Prince's wife, even the old lady, her mother-in-law, wouldn't easily embarrass her. She would always have to consider the Crown Prince's wife's thoughts.
Now that it's like this, to be disrespectful, it's all your own fault.
Seeing the lady like this, the maid just bowed and retreated.
Qi sat alone, looking completely drained of energy and as if she had aged several years in an instant.
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps were heard outside, and a maid came in to report, "Madam, the second uncle and aunt are here to pay their respects. They said that since Madam is ill and is concerned about the health of the younger generation, we, as the younger generation, should be grateful. However, as a younger generation, we must come and pay our respects, even if it is just a few words through the screen to make us feel at ease."
Qi subconsciously put down the hand on her cheek and said a few words to Cui Lingyin and Qi Shaozhang across the screen.
He also ordered the maid to bring two gifts to the two people.
After the two men left, Qi not only didn't feel relieved, but instead felt like she was being laughed at by the younger generation. How could Yin and Shao Zhang not know about such a big thing? Just now, when they greeted her and talked to her through the screen, I wonder what they were thinking of her, the elder.
Especially Shaozhang, I wonder what he thinks of his aunt?
At noon, the old lady had someone arrange a banquet in the pavilion. Everyone was having lunch when suddenly a nanny wearing a Hangzhou silk jacket came forward hurriedly, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Madam Zhai frowned and asked, "But what happened? Just tell me what you want to say."
The nanny glanced at Qi Shaozhang. Cui Lingyin, who was sitting next to him, suddenly had a bad feeling. Something flashed through her mind, but before she could open her mouth, she heard the nanny say, "To answer the old lady, a pregnant woman just knelt at the door of the Marquis's mansion. She said she was the one who served Young Master Qi when he was a child in the south. I'm afraid something might happen to her if she kneels for too long, and I can't persuade her to stop. So I had to bravely come here and report this to the old lady. I hope the old lady can give me some advice, otherwise having someone kneeling at the door will attract criticism and give rise to countless speculations."
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