Chapter 116: Retribution Not Satisfied (Middle)

  The old lady saw these and suddenly felt dizzy, Rui Qing hurried to support her, she barely stood firm. Rui Qing softly comforted her for a while, but the old lady was still absent-minded, hastily walked into the west room, and secretly shed tears behind people's backs.

  She never expected to see another addition to the family in her lifetime, but unexpectedly, the eldest daughter-in-law who had been quiet for years became pregnant. Before anyone in the family could learn of the good news, the child was lost again. Thinking about the miserable state of the eldest daughter-in-law, whoever saw it would feel heartbroken.

  The old lady asked Rui Qing, "What's going on? How did you fall?"

  Rui Qing pursed her lips and carefully raised her eyes to look at the old lady, but didn't dare say anything.

  The old lady deliberately got angry and said, "What's wrong with you today? Can't this old woman use you anymore? Without these maidservants, I wouldn't be able to ask anything!" As she spoke, she was about to push Ruiqing away and go out.

  Rui Qing hastily knelt down, "I was afraid of upsetting the old lady, so I didn't dare to say it. I had someone investigate and they said...the first wife and the master were alone in the house talking, afterwards nobody knows what happened, but when the servants went in, the first wife was already lying on the ground."

  The old lady's heart tightened and she panted with a stuffy chest, thinking it was a natural disaster but it turned out to be.

  "Someone else will call the old master for me."

  Rui Qing didn't dare to be slow and helped the old lady sit down on one side before going out to instruct the little maid to invite the old master over.

  Tao Zheng'an saw Lang Zhong off and heard that the old lady had let him pass, so he hurriedly followed the maid into the side room.

  Tao Zheng'an stepped forward and saluted, carefully taking a glance at the old lady. He saw that she was frowning, her eyes standing on end, clearly enraged.

  Rui Qing saw this situation and hurriedly let the maids in the house retreat, closing the door quietly and going out herself.

  The old lady asked Tao Zheng'an directly, "You say what the eldest daughter-in-law did wrong, and let you treat them with such a heavy hand?"

  Tao Zheng'an's face was bitter. "Mother, son also has bitterness, outside to deal with those petty people's mouths and faces, back home she is again a lucky disaster"

  "It was an accident, I didn't mean to do anything to her, just a moment of anger and I wanted to shake off her hand, who knew it would kick her. My mother knows that my son is such a kind-hearted person, if she had known she was pregnant, I wouldn't have dared to do anything, let alone harm someone's life."

  The old lady thought of the five-tailed incident back then, but didn't say a word and just gave Tao Zheng'an a cold glance.

  Tao Zheng'an continued, "These days, my son has been troubled by Gu Ying's affairs, and she is urging me to let Yao Hua go. I told her to wait a bit, but she wouldn't listen and went to discuss with Shu Hua again. It's hard for me to be outside and worry about the family. I work hard outside for the sake of the family, but she doesn't understand me as a woman, and instead gives me trouble every day. Don't you know how difficult it is to be an official now? Can't even manage the affairs of the inner courtyard?"

  The old lady hummed, "So now it's all someone else's fault? I used to think you were a reasonable person, but after getting to know that Marquis Zhaoxin, you've changed into a different person. Your official position has risen, and your heart has also become cruel. There are some things I don't want to bring up with you, it's just that I'm looking at the difficulties you're in and not calculating with you. If I don't take care of this matter today, who knows what you'll do next."

  Tao Zheng'an hastily said: "When ants beat their fists in unison, the first chapter is to beat one's mother. If my son says so, he really has no way out." He then told him about Gu Ying's affair tonight, "I'm afraid that once Gu Ying enters the great prison and speaks wildly everywhere, his accomplices outside will take out my handwritten letter again, and at that time, it will be difficult for anyone to help."

  The old lady's expression was gloomy and uncertain, and it wasn't until after a long while that she said: "If it's really like this, then our family is indeed going to be plagued by great disaster." She raised her head and took a glance at Tao Zheng'an, "You'd better come with me to talk inside the house."

  The old lady took Tao Zhengan into the warm pavilion of Qianyi Residence, and after driving all the maids away, she quietly asked, "Tell me the truth, if both charges against you are true, what will happen?"

  Tao Zheng'an hung his head and said, "Being an official is out of the question now. As for the crime of alchemy, I don't know how the imperial court will punish it, whether it's severe or light. If it's severe, who knows, maybe I'll even lose my life. That Westerner back then was also executed without a verdict."

  The old lady said: "Even if Zhao Xin doesn't care, he won't let you go to your death. Besides, there are two young masters who can think of a way to get around it."

  If you really can't be an official, just go back home. There's still some ancestral property at home." After a pause, he said, "In the future, cultivating Hong Ge will also be the same."

  "Now that things have come to this point, don't be afraid. The current situation is turbulent, and taking a step back might not necessarily be a bad thing."

  Tao Zheng'an had long been accustomed to making a lot of money and enjoying the flattery of outsiders, so he was unwilling to return empty-handed. The old lady's words of advice fell on deaf ears as he just went through the motions.

  He can't end up like this after so many years in officialdom.

  The old lady said, "What I say you may not listen to, and you're not young anymore, so you should accumulate some blessings for yourself. Now that your wife is in this state, you should advise her gently and let her take good care of herself. No matter what she says to you, even if it's unreasonable, you must endure it and cannot afford to make her angry again."

  Tao Zheng'an nodded and accepted.

  The old lady ordered again, "Go to Sanmiao Hutong and invite your three younger siblings."

  Ronghua woke up in the morning and saw that there was no one beside her. Just as she was about to get up, Jinxiu had already brought water from outside.

  Ronghua glanced at Jinxiu, "Where is Master Hou?"

  Jinxiu smiled and said: "The lord has gone to court, and before he left, he instructed us not to disturb the lady's rest."

  "What time is it now?"

  Jinxiu went to get a clean shirt and said, "It's time."

  "How could she sleep so soundly?" "Has Master Hou eaten yet?"

  "Madam, don't worry, it's been used," Jinxiu said, going to look at Ronghua's clothes. Yesterday, she had prepared a red silk jacket for the madam, but today that jacket was nowhere to be seen in this pile of clothes. She imagined that the madam must have taken it out to use last night, and couldn't help but lower her head and smile secretly as she tidied up the bed. Then, she let the maids come in to attend to the madam's toilette.

  Because Chunyao and Jinxia took turns keeping watch at night, the two of them didn't dare to sleep deeply before dawn, and it wasn't like they were at home. Master Hou had to get up early for court, and after several days, both maids' eyes had red threads in them.

  Ronghua looked at Jinxiu in the mirror and said, "Starting from tomorrow, let Mugen, Hongying, and Hongyu take turns keeping watch at night too!"

  Jinxiu knew that Ronghua was concerned about them and nodded in agreement. Chunyao, however, looked at Hongying and Hongyu with some hesitation.

  Hongying and Hongyu exchanged a glance, then curved their lips into a smile.

  Ronghua took Mu Ge to pay respects to Old Madam and Madame.

  Hong Yu smiled and said to Hong Ying on the side: "Is the lady starting to trust us? As long as this continues, are we still afraid of not having a good future?"

  Hongying also smiled slightly, "Just starting to serve, mustn't be careless at all."

  Hong Yu said: "Sister, rest assured, I'm not a heartless person, I naturally understand."

  Chun Yao also pulled Jin Xiu to talk, "Mu Gen is fine, but can Hong Yu and Hong Ying be used? What if something goes wrong?"

  Jinxiu smiled and said: "In the house, only a few of us can take charge, so there's no need to ask who they want to use. Sister just needs to mention one or two things to them."

  Chun Yao still had a lot to say, but Jinxiu refused to continue the conversation. She couldn't bring it up again and could only reluctantly put aside her thoughts, going with Jinxiu to eat instead.

  As Run Ge's illness had not fully recovered, Old Lady let Xue Fu Ren, Er Fu Ren and Rong Hua stay at Chang Ning Bo Fu.

  Ronghua came out of the old lady's house, listening to Mrs. Xue's instructions all the way: "There must be many people going to the Ningbo funeral home to pay their respects. You're going there for the first time and many people won't know you, so think carefully before speaking or acting. If you don't know what to say, it's better not to speak."

  In short, it means letting her talk less. Mrs. Xue has always handled things in this way, standing by and not speaking much in any situation.

  After walking for a while, they were about to part ways and prepare separately. Since Mrs. Xue didn't mention the mourning gift money, Rong Hua asked: "How much mourning gift is suitable?"

  Madam Xue said: "The old lady's intention is that the 100 taels of silver for the family have already been allocated to me from the palace, and since we are somewhat related to the Changning Bo Mansion, let's take out another 50 taels."

  Ronghua said: "I don't know how much Second Aunt wants to take either."

  Mrs. Xue frowned, "We can't control others, as long as we take care of ourselves."

  Ronghua busily nodded and said, "Yes." Mrs. Xue didn't ask or hear anything, and the second house wouldn't care about how much gift money the main house would take. No wonder outsiders say that the second house of the Xue family is much stronger than the main house. It's imaginable that in these exchanges of gifts, the second house always had to suppress the main house by one head.

  Ronghua went back to carefully calculate, when she married into the palace, the aunt who managed the silver money in the palace had already come and gone. The marquis's salary and allowance were mostly left in the palace, and a small portion was left in the long house. The official position's annual salary was 39 taels, plus an additional 204 taels that she had to hand over completely. These silvers sounded like a lot, but after attending several grand ceremonies, they would be drained. According to Madame Xue's meaning, this time's gift money didn't need her to pay out, probably because the marquis and the Changning Bo Fu had a shallow relationship, in the future when encountering those who had dealings with the marquis, Madame Xue should let her take care of the gifts herself.

  It's really "not knowing the price of rice and firewood when not being the master". When she was at home, every month she only received two taels of silver, apart from things she needed to buy herself, food and clothing were all provided by her family. As for social etiquette and gift-giving, she wouldn't even bother with those. During the time she lived in a different province, she and her aunt waited for the monthly allowance sent by their family, and they didn't have to deal with these social niceties either, so life was still manageable.

  Ronghua thought for a while and still wanted to find a way to take charge of the dowry estate she brought, relying solely on Xue Mingrui's salary was definitely not enough to make ends meet.

  Entering the inner chamber, Ronghua called Hongyu to attend to her as she changed into a plain dress, then followed Lady Xue and Second Lady to the residence of Duke Changning.

  In front of the Changning Bo Mansion, white lanterns were hung. Carriages and sedan chairs came and went without stopping. Ronghua got out of the carriage and helped down Mrs. Xue and Second Mistress from the carriage. The servants presented sacrificial offerings. Mrs. Xue, Second Mistress, and Ronghua went forward to pay their respects. Changning Bo's wife, Madame Chu, and Changning Bo's heir hastily came forward to return the courtesy.

  "Madam, you must take care of your body and mourn in moderation, that's the best way."

  Chu's eyes were red as she spoke politely, "Thank you, Lady An Guo Gong. Please go and rest in the back!"

  Madam Xue stepped forward, "I saw the elder madam just a few days ago," she said, tears falling down, "I told her that coming to such a good household in the manor was a blessing."

  "Grandma is still smiling. I never thought she...” said while tightly holding onto Chu Shi's hand, Chu Shi's fingers also tightened, sobbing out loud, “Who knew she left so early, poor my little grandson just landed and already lost his mother.”

  Madam Xue also shed tears, then turned around and called Rong Hua over, "This is our young madam, you've met her before, she's a soft-hearted child."

  It was actually Madame Xue who formally introduced her to Madame Changning, and with the enthusiastic Madame Xue by her side, Madame Xue became a mere accompaniment.

  Chu Shi looked at Rong Hua, who hastily stepped forward and bowed. He also said a few words to Chu Shi, who nodded and called out, "Good child." His gaze remained on the second lady's face, as if reluctant to part with her.

  Rong Hua Zheng stared at Mrs. Xue Er, while Chang Ning Bo Shizi welcomed the guests from Jin Ning Bo's family back. After taking a glance at Rong Hua, he immediately revealed an unusual expression and couldn't help but take several more glances.

  Ronghua felt the gaze of Changning Bose's son. She slightly furrowed her brow, and Changning Bose's son's eyes were strange, making people feel uncomfortable.

  Changning Bo Fu was about to welcome other guests. Mrs. Xue, the second lady and Ronghua went to the backyard to sit with the female guests who had arrived.

  Madam Xue seemed to be familiar with many of the female guests, either chatting with one or sitting down with another for a chat. Madam Xue only recognized a few madams and took Hong Yu over to greet everyone.

  Ronghua smiled and stepped forward to greet them, and was surrounded by people coming and going, all of whom were praising her.

  Ronghua looked around but didn't see anyone from the Tao family arrive, and neither did Mrs. Cai and Shuhua.

  Madam Xue called her over again and introduced her to Lady Dingnan Gao.

  Madam Gao didn't stare at her like the other madams, but instead warmly pulled her over, "She's about the same age as my little Liu, after a few days I'll invite you and Madam Xiao to our house, so everyone can get together."

  Madam Xue also smiled and said: "It's I who should be inviting you, madam."

  It seems that Mrs. Ding Nanbo is really willing to get along with Mrs. Xue.

  Rong Hua had just spoken with Madame Gao when he heard a voice behind him say: "So the wife of Marquis Wu Mu is here."

  Ronghua turned around and saw Zhao Erniang Liu pulling over a expressionless Shuhua.

  Ronghua smiled and was about to go up to pay her respects, but Liu Shi hastily reached out to grab her, saying: "This won't do, madam. As you now have an imperial edict on your person, it's we who should be paying our respects."

  Ronghua said: "Second Madam, what are you talking about?" As he spoke, he went closer and called Shuhua again, "Sister."

  Shu Hua's expression relaxed slightly, and she forced a smile. She took a closer look at Rong Hua's attire, then pulled at her own clothes, seemingly not quite adapting to Rong Hua's current status.