After hearing Song Xia's words, Liu Fangniang felt powerless for the entire day. Especially after hearing that Zhou Yuqing had woken up, she was even more incredulous, as if struck by lightning.
Song Xia glanced at her coldly: "What, are you disappointed to hear that my Yuqing is better?"
Liu Fangniang said in a trembling voice, "This concubine dares not."
"Hmph! I know that many people in this manor are hoping for something to happen to my Yu-ge'er, but with me here, I will never let that happen."
Liu Fangniang went to Hanhui Courtyard with Song Xia. When she heard from Physician Zhang that Zhou Yuqing was fine and just needed to rest, her heart sank to the bottom.
She actually survived again. How come Zhou Yuqing is so lucky?
The only thing that comforted her was that Zhou Yuqing was still very thin, and her energy and spirit were much worse than her brother Shu'er's.
Judging by the days, Brother Shu should be back soon, right?
Zhou Yuqing didn't even glance at Liu Fangniang. Disciplining concubines was her right as the principal wife. Besides, Liu Fangniang had caused her mother a lot of grievances in the past. Now that her mother no longer required her to study, it was good that she could focus on managing the household. Life in this huge mansion was unsatisfactory, so she needed to find something to do to distract herself.
"Mother, don't worry, at least this time the coma lasted shorter than last time."
"You're still joking with your mother." Song Xia smiled faintly, but she was indeed much more at ease. This was the second time she had taken the medicine, and the time it took for her to fall asleep and digest was indeed much shorter. Next month, the time would be even shorter, and Yuqing's health would show obvious improvement.
"I wasn't joking with you, Mother. Don't you know your own body? I feel much better this time."
Liu Fangniang sneered inwardly. Feeling good? With your body? You're delusional. Keep fooling your mother. When you die, Song Xia will be in even more pain.
"You've slept for two days. I know you can't sleep either, but you're not allowed to study. Go out and walk around in the yard more often."
"Can I draw instead?"
“Sure, let’s see. Your aunt said last time that Master Ye will be returning to Beijing soon, and we can ask him to teach you right away.”
Zhou Yuqing was very excited. He had been looking forward to this for a month. Originally, Master Ye was supposed to return to Beijing long ago after receiving his aunt's letter, but he was delayed for half a month because he met a friend who invited him along the way.
Although Master Ye had not yet arrived in person, his letter had already arrived, praising him repeatedly and telling him not to become a disciple but to focus on waiting for someone to return.
This was the second time Zhou Yuqing had received such straightforward praise. The last time was when her aunt praised her. But this time was different from the last time. After all, Master Ye was already a well-known figure, and even His Majesty highly praised him.
Song Xia understood her son's excitement and exhilaration. Her son had been too repressed in the mansion all along, not only because of her own pressure, but also because of Zhou Yongli's attacks. He was the eldest son of the legitimate wife, but his younger half-brother was more outstanding than him. How could he not be anxious?
But Song Xia said that her son was no less capable than Zhou Shuqing; it was just that her son was in poor health and had too much psychological burden, which delayed the progress.
Her son hasn't fully figured it out yet, but she has. Life is just too short, so naturally, one should live as easily as possible.
People like Zhou Shuqing need to forge their own future, which is why they need to work hard, but their sons don't.
She herself was already a county princess, and didn't need her son to earn her status and reputation. As for her son, he had no worries about the family business, and his future was secured by his father. He could simply ask His Majesty for a leisurely public post in the future. As for their descendants...
According to Song Xia's thinking, it's fine not to have children. If they do have children, they can make other plans. Why worry so far ahead?
Song Xia spoke softly and gently, and Zhou Yuqing nodded with a gentle expression, while Liu Fangniang was completely lost in thought.
Master Ye? What Master Ye? What is he here to teach Zhou Yuqing?
She was filled with doubt and uncertainty. It would be impossible for her not to worry at all. After so many years, she didn't want Yu Ge'er to be threatened in the slightest.
My heart ached as if it were being tickled, but I could only wait until evening to seek answers from Zhou Yongli.
After serving Song Xia for a day, Liu Fangniang was exhausted when she returned home. However, when she saw the unfamiliar people at the courtyard gate, her face turned even more pale. She counted the number of people and found that there were less than half of them.
The palace maids led everyone from Qinyaxuan in bowing to her: "Greetings, Aunt. From now on, we will serve you."
"Has Madam made arrangements for you?"
"Yes, Auntie. According to the rules, from now on, I, A-Yue, and A-Xing will serve you. The other four will be responsible for cleaning this Qinya Pavilion."
There were only seven in total, and only four of them served her. How could Liu Fangniang tolerate this?
“My Qinyaxuan used to have a full twenty people.”
“In the past, the number of concubines exceeded the standard, but now it must be changed. The number of palace maids and eunuchs serving the concubines in the palace is no more than twenty.”
Although the old woman's tone was calm when she said this, Aunt Liu felt that she heard contempt in her voice, as if she was being told that she, a concubine, could not be compared with the concubines in the palace.
But is there any comparison? Her Qinyaxuan is so big, how can four people manage it properly? And what about serving her? Before, she had dedicated people to wash her feet and tie her hair, but from now on, including this old nanny, there will only be three of them?
Who will cook bird's nest for her? Who will manage her finances?
Thinking of what she had accumulated over the years, Liu Fangniang was startled. Could it be that these three had already figured it out? If Song Xia found out, wouldn't Song Xia be envious?
Seemingly knowing what she was thinking, the old nanny added, "Don't worry, Madam. Before you returned, we didn't touch anything in Qinyaxuan. The keys to all the boxes are here during the handover."
Liu Fangniang quickly put it away and said sternly, "From now on, no one is allowed to touch my chest without my permission."
The old nanny and her attendants responded, "Yes, madam. May madam wash up now?"
"Hmm." They behaved themselves so well that Liu Fangniang had nowhere to vent her anger, and she was even more afraid that if she lost her temper and said something she shouldn't have, Song Xia would find out.
After a long day of hard work, Liu Fangniang felt extremely uncomfortable and uneasy, especially since she had to put on an act even back in her own courtyard.
Finally, just as she was about to explode, Zhou Yongli arrived.
She rushed towards him as if he were her savior: "Yonglang..."
"Why do you look so haggard?" Zhou Yongli asked with heartache when he saw tears in her eyes.
Liu Fangniang looked at the nanny and maid standing there, but dared not openly apply eye drops.
Zhou Yongli finally realized something was wrong: "I've never seen any of the maids in this courtyard before?"
Liu Fangniang forced a stiff smile: "It was arranged by the madam. She said that Yingjie and I had no manners in our courtyard, which caused Yonglang to be reprimanded, so she changed us."
Sure enough, Zhou Yongli frowned deeply: "What does this have to do with you? Not a single one was left? Aren't you finding it very difficult to use?"
Liu Fangniang just silently shed tears, saying nothing, which made Zhou Yongli even angrier.
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