To say that this was entirely the Third Young Master's fault wouldn't be entirely true. But he certainly did something disgusting in an attempt to please someone.
Lady Hou was celebrating her birthday, and her niece took the opportunity to deliver a gift and go out for a stroll.
As a result, the maid beside her twisted her ankle halfway there and, in a moment of carelessness, fell into the flower bushes next to her.
The clothes were also dirty, so the old lady's head maid, Kouqi, hurriedly took the little maid to change them.
The one who fell was a third-class maid, who had changed her clothes and was serving outside the flower hall.
The little girl was still a bit shaken after falling and embarrassing herself, so Kouqi handed her over to the maidservants outside to play with.
A group of third-class maids were chatting and playing around her. The female relatives were served by nannies and head maids inside.
Coincidentally, the third and fourth young masters from the Second Master's household came to deliver congratulatory gifts and saw a group of young maids.
They didn't rush in. They saw a pretty young girl sitting in the middle, a new face, and thought they'd go over and tease her a bit.
"Fourth brother, look at this girl's dimples, they look quite like yours when you smile."
The fourth young master was only 10 years old, a time when he was disliked by both people and dogs. Hearing this out of curiosity, he went up and tried to grab the little girl to see her laugh.
The lady's maternal family, the Chen family, was a renowned noble family with strict rules and regulations. Her father was a scholar of the Duanming Hall.
Never having seen such reckless behavior before, the little girl hurriedly lowered her head and was about to kneel down to pay her respects and avoid the situation.
Before the fourth young master could do anything, the third young master, Gu Ting, was already indignant. He scoffed and grabbed the little girl's face.
Hearing Xiu Hui crying outside, Chen Linlang gestured to go out and take a look. Not only her nanny, but also the old lady and the madam went out.
She saw this scene as soon as she came out. Old Granny Chen was so angry she almost fell backward, her face dark with rage.
Seeing someone arrive, the third young master awkwardly let go of her hand, muttering that the girl was impolite.
"Xiu Hui, shut up!"
Before the other two matrons could speak up to smooth things over, Chen's matron spoke coldly.
"Why aren't you apologizing to the two young masters? How can you be so rude! If you're so disrespectful, why don't you just die already!"
These were harsh words, and the group of maids and servants were speechless with embarrassment. They couldn't bring themselves to say anything to smooth things over.
The little girl quickly knelt down again, but before she could speak, she couldn't stop her sobbing because of her young age.
"Shut up, shut up, and get out with Xunrui!" After saying that, he bowed to the main hall.
“This little girl is sharp-tongued and doesn’t understand the words of the sages. If she stays here to reply, I’m afraid she’ll lose all her shame. She’ll truly be a silver-tongued and shameless person!”
The two young masters were understanding! It's a shame to let such a lowly brat tarnish the Chen family's reputation!
Before the two young masters could even reply, Granny Lu, who was standing next to the old lady, quickly chimed in, giving them a way out.
"It's not like that. She's just a little girl, it's normal for her to hold back her anger. Kouqi, go and take your sister to wash up."
Finally, Granny Hua, who was next to the Lady Hou, Kouqi from the Old Madam's side, and Xunrui from Chen Linlang's side, all went down with their maids.
When the third young master heard that they were guests from outside, his face turned pale instantly. He was both scared and angry!
The old woman just now wasn't actually scolding that girl named Xiu Hui; she was subtly criticizing him. How could you not tell?
He could tell from the tone of the words that the guest was an important person, and he should have bowed and apologized, since he had just been rude and had falsely accused the maid.
But she really couldn't swallow this insult. She was just a maid, yet she was being insulted so rudely! So she lowered her head and pretended to be dead.
The fourth young master was also taken aback by the old woman's harsh words and stood there dumbfounded.
Seeing their reaction, the old woman didn't say anything more. She nodded calmly to Granny Lu and went back to serve them.
Inwardly, Granny Lu cursed the two young masters for being such blockheads, but outwardly she respectfully accepted their congratulatory gifts and politely saw them off.
Upon entering the room, they found the old lady's face was indeed so gloomy it could drip water, while the eldest wife, unable to lash out, also remained expressionless.
Chen Linlang, on the other hand, had a smile on her face and was slowly eating the food that Granny Hua had put on her plate.
The second wife smiled obsequiously, "As expected of a daughter raised in a noble and scholarly family, her demeanor is truly impeccable. What a fine young lady!"
Chen Linlang stood up and thanked her. Taking this opportunity, the second madam quickly went around her and put her own red jade and gold hair ornament on Chen Linlang's head.
This was her dowry jewelry, which she rarely wore, but would bring out to make a good impression on important occasions.
If I give it away like this, the jewelry won't be a complete set, and my heart aches with pain.
Once her birthday was over, the old lady personally took Linlang's hand and saw her off!
Upon returning, he ordered the third and fourth young masters to stay at home, while he himself studied etiquette in the courtyard. He was to report back when he had finished studying.
Then he mentioned that she wouldn't be discharged from the hospital! Even the Second Master got caught up in the gossip and wanted to plead for her, but was scolded by the Old Marquis.
The news caused quite a stir, and the two men were confined to their homes like girls!
Within a single night, the whole story spread throughout the entire household.
The second wife was also being reprimanded. "How could you allow such rumors to spread everywhere? Isn't Gu Yan your own son?!"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Jin felt a damp mist rise uncontrollably before her eyes, and her heart ached as if she had swallowed several kilograms of bitter herbs.
How can she manage it? Rumors are flying everywhere. The First Madam must be furious. No matter what anyone in the manor says or doesn't say, people are watching her closely to see if she is a proper Lady of the Marquis.
She was a illegitimate daughter-in-law who had clung to the family for many years without ever separating from her husband, and she even had to be careful about what she received when she got her salary, firewood, or charcoal.
How could she possibly manage this? But she still felt sorry for her son, so she packed another box of ginseng and deer antler.
“My sister-in-law usually likes to eat a nourishing stew, so please send this over.”
The second master looked it over carefully; it contained almost all the good medicinal herbs that had been collected in the storeroom over the past few years.
This box alone would cost two or three thousand taels of silver. After a pause, he felt a little reluctant to part with it.
"Forget it, these two wretches, it's good to let them suffer a bit, so they won't be so arrogant when they go out into the world and end up suffering a great loss!"
Seeing that he was worried about the money, the second wife almost wrung out her handkerchief. Her face hardened with frost, and she ignored him, lifting the curtain and going out on her own.
The second master touched his nose. This woman!
After they went out, Zheng sent two old women to deliver the medicinal herbs, while she followed closely behind.
"Sister-in-law, I really didn't know that Yan-ge could be so stupid. He could do such a stupid thing just because someone instigated him."
To be honest, I hate her to the core too!
But the child is growing up, and if we continue to confine him like this, his bad reputation will spread far and wide, and our second branch of the family will be finished. Jing-ge'er is only interested in wielding swords and knives.
You know perfectly well that person's wolfish ambitions. Regardless of whether they have the ability, they're disgusting like fleas.
He deserved to die, but my sister-in-law never wanted to be a burden on my son.
The second wife cried so hard that she soaked two handkerchiefs with tears.
I had already decided before I came that rather than being vague and ambiguous, I should just be frank.
Her sister-in-law was a decisive and efficient person; her roundabout ways were actually annoying.
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