Upon returning, Er Xi eagerly recounted the attitudes of the people at the Duke Protector's mansion to Qi Zhen Zhen.
"Miss, that old madam clearly doesn't favor you. You know, she's already so old, what hasn't she experienced? In today's situation, regardless of her attitude towards you, since we made a special trip to return the gifts, she would have to show happiness whether she liked it or not. I never expected her to say such things! And that cousin, not only does she live in the mansion without proper standing, but she also dictates things, truly considering herself a mistress of the Duke Protector's mansion? What she said, at first glance, seemed harmless, but upon careful consideration, it was clearly an attempt to sow discord!" Er Xi said indignantly. "The Duchess is much better. Miss, you didn't see how ugly the old madam and the others looked after the Duchess spoke. Fei Xu and I immediately followed the Duchess and took all those items to Lánzhī Courtyard where the Duchess resides. Those items were all meticulously prepared by Miss, so they wouldn't benefit them!" Da Feng Novel Network.
From Gu Sinian's accounts, Qi Zhen Zhen had some understanding of her future mother-in-law.
She was virtuous and generous, and got along very well with the old Duchess.
Now it seemed that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law likely had a rift over Gu Sinian's marriage.
Madam Da Qin's attitude was the same as Gu Sinian's; what her son favored, she also favored.
As for the old madam, Qi Zhen Zhen understood that she favored the cousin the young man had brought back, Xu Miaoniang, about whom Gu Sinian had specifically written. And that Xu Miaoniang clearly harbored resentment towards her, Qi Zhen Zhen, who was already engaged to Gu Sinian. Otherwise, she wouldn't have said such things.
"Miss, I find that Xu Miaoniang very familiar," Fei Xu suddenly said.
Upon hearing her, Er Xi also tapped her head. "If Fei Xu sister hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have thought much of it, just that Xu Miaoniang was too ordinary-looking, making her seem familiar."
Qi Zhen Zhen was a bit puzzled. She was sure they had never been to the Duke Protector's mansion before, so how could they find Xu Miaoniang, who lived there, familiar?
"Miss, do you remember when we were in Xinghua Village a while ago, a master and two servants came to stay at our home? I think that Xu Miaoniang resembles the master from that day! Although one was dressed as a man and the other as a woman. Even though her features were disguised, the difference wasn't significant," Fei Xu said after thinking.
"Yes, yes, Fei Xu sister is right," Er Xi nodded vigorously. "Although she deliberately made her voice rough that day, the tone of her speech was the same."
Qi Zhen Zhen pondered. If that were the case, Xu Miaoniang's intentions were truly deep. When she and Gu Sinian went to Xinghua Village, Xu Miaoniang had used the excuse of gathering herbs to follow them. Although she only came in for a cup of tea, who could guarantee she wasn't monitoring their actions from the surroundings? Or perhaps she had ulterior motives all along!
Regardless, Qi Zhen Zhen could confirm that Xu Miaoniang harbored hostility towards her, and it was likely they would clash in the future.
Qi Zhen Zhen suddenly found it amusing. She had felt some sympathy for Xu Miaoniang earlier, thinking the young lady was rather pitiful. It turned out it was all her own wishful thinking.
"Whether we've met her before or not, we now know that young lady is hostile towards me, your Miss," Qi Zhen Zhen pursed her lips. "From now on, when we go there, you two just need to be vigilant."
She had never been one to provoke trouble, but she was certainly not someone who wouldn't fight back when bullied. Moreover, one of the agreements between her and Gu Sinian was to stand in front of Gu Sinian's beloved, so there was nothing to complain about or feel wronged about.