Upon hearing Ning Chunlin's words, Madam Sun paused involuntarily, her hand holding the chopsticks still. She had no intention of provoking Chen Guixiang today, but Chen Guixiang kept trying to make amends by blaming her.
Thinking that Ning Chunlin's attitude towards her was bad, Sun glared at Chen Guixiang, then dared not say anything more and just lowered her head to eat.
Seeing that the table had quieted down, the princess felt a little calmer. When she turned her head and saw Ning Wan and Ning Zhao eating very obediently, she felt even more at ease. As expected of the children of the Prince Jing's mansion, their temperament was indeed different.
Looking down, one could see Ning Huaizhi with a serious expression. This child really resembled the prince when he was young, except that he didn't seem to have the same fiery temper as the prince, perhaps due to his living environment.
As the princess was lost in thought, she heard Chen Guixiang, who was sitting below, speak again.
“Your Highness, I think my daughter-in-law is very much to your liking right now, but we can’t let them stay in the palace at such a young age and become parasites. I think Your Highness should not think of our kindness and let my son and daughter-in-law leave the palace as soon as possible to support themselves.”
The princess didn't immediately realize who Chen Guixiang was referring to as her daughter-in-law. It wasn't until she turned and met Jiang Yuwei's ambiguous smile that she understood.
Chen Guixiang wanted her to drive Ning Huaizhi and Jiang Yuwei out so that her son could stay in the mansion and be his eldest son in peace.
The princess unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks, then composed herself, looked at Chen Guixiang, and smiled faintly.
“I really like Yuwei, and we get along very well. I was unwell this time, and I am very grateful to Yuwei for helping me take care of myself. Otherwise, I am afraid I would not have made it this far.”
As the princess spoke, she glanced at Consort Lin, who was sitting beside her eating with her head down. She clearly saw Consort Lin's expression change before continuing:
“Yuwei, she is definitely not a parasite in this mansion if she stays here. I can’t do without her right now. Granny Chen, why are you in such a hurry to get your son and daughter-in-law out of the mansion?”
After the princess finished asking her question, everyone at the table looked at Chen Guixiang. Logically speaking, Ning Huaizhi was Chen Guixiang's own son, and she should be hoping that her son and daughter-in-law would live a good life.
The fact that the Prince's Mansion is willing to take in their family is something many people would be eager to do, but Chen Guixiang is doing the opposite, leaving everyone somewhat puzzled.
Sun knew that Chen Guixiang was a scheming and opportunistic person. Her words just now seemed to come from the heart and were not just polite words. As a result, Sun was also a little confused about what Chen Guixiang was thinking.
However, Madam Sun would not let this opportunity pass, and followed Chen Guixiang's words, saying:
"Presumably, Granny Chen was also afraid that her son and daughter-in-law would always stay at the mansion and not leave, which would become a habit and eventually lead to nothing."
Madam Sun glanced at Jiang Yuwei and continued:
"Although Madam Jiang did not support the two elderly people when they were in Ningjia Village, General Ning is still Granny Chen's son. It is understandable for a mother to think of her son."
Chen Guixiang nodded hurriedly when she heard what Sun said:
"Yes, Madam is right. That's exactly what I think. I'm just a peasant and I can't really explain any profound truths, but I'm doing this all for Huaizhi's sake. They don't even know how to be considerate of me."
Jiang Yuwei chuckled.
"Mother-in-law probably doesn't know yet, but now Huaizhi has become a general. He earned his official title through his own efforts. The Emperor has also approved a house for us, but it hasn't been repaired yet, so we can't live there for the time being. We will move out once the house is finished."
Upon hearing this, Chen Guixiang's eyes widened in surprise.
"What do you mean, what did you say, that he could actually become a general?"
As she spoke, Chen Guixiang seemed to have thought of something and turned to look at Madam Sun.
"The General Ning you just mentioned, are you referring to Huai Zhi?"
Mrs. Sun nodded.
Chen Guixiang looked at Ning Huaizhi in shock, speechless for a long time.
Jiang Yuwei sneered upon seeing this.
"Mother-in-law keeps saying it's for the good of us, but now I see you don't seem very happy about this news. Huaizhi has become a general, aren't you happy about that?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Guixiang snapped out of her daze, glanced awkwardly at everyone at the table, and then gave a few dry laughs.
"Ha, ha, haha, I, I'm happy, of course I'm happy, my son is successful, how could I not be happy?"
Sun smiled and said:
"I think Granny Chen is afraid that her son will ignore you after he becomes successful. After all, you, General Ning, are known in the village for being henpecked. If Madam Jiang doesn't allow him to get close to you, you probably won't be able to enjoy the blessings of your son."
Ning Huaizhi's face stiffened upon hearing Sun's words. The thing he had been worried about might be about to spread from the Prince's mansion today, since rumors are spread by word of mouth.
Now that someone like Mr. Sun, who likes to distort the truth, has come forward as a firsthand witness to recount the events, it will likely make the rumors seem even more believable.
Thinking this through, Ning Huaizhi couldn't help but give Sun a cold look.
Jiang Yuwei knew what Ning Huaizhi was worried about, so she smiled and said, "It's understandable that she can't enjoy the blessings of having a son. After all, she has raised the eldest young master as her own son since he was a child, while our Huaizhi is more like her adopted son."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei glanced at the silent old man Ning and continued:
“Not only did he get all the dirty and tiring chores at home, but when the local government came to recruit soldiers, my mother-in-law was afraid that the recruiters would come and take away the eldest son, so she deliberately handed Ning Huaizhi over.”
Then, Jiang Yuwei looked at Ning Zhao and Ning Wan and said:
"It's one thing for us to send Huaizhi to the army, but we also deliberately mistreat his two children. When I married into the Ning family, my two children had already been starved to the point of being unrecognizable by the First Madam and my mother-in-law. Their clothes were tattered, and even their shoes were worn-out shoes that had been worn for several years."
As Jiang Yuwei spoke, she reached out and touched Ning Wan's head, saying with heartache:
"Your two children have become timid and cowardly because of your suppression. They are afraid to sit at the table to eat. At such a young age, they not only have to do the dirty and tiring work at home, but also have to endure your beatings and scoldings every day. Occasionally, you even have to send the two children to sleep in the chicken coop or pigsty."
As Jiang Yuwei spoke, she looked up at Chen Guixiang and Madam Sun, and said coldly:
"I ask you, what right does such a mother-in-law have to enjoy the blessings of her son?"
After Jiang Yuwei finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of the people at the table were quite interesting.
Sun and Chen Guixiang exchanged a glance, their faces flushing as they retorted:
"Stop talking nonsense!"
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