Bai shi and Wang shi were a bit at a loss. They understood that the old madam's mention of the younger generation referred to them.
"What are you two still standing there for? Aren't you going to find someone to move your mother-in-law back? Do you want her to be cared for here in my Chaohuitang? I do have space, but as you heard, the household physician said she absolutely cannot be agitated again. If she stays here and wakes up, she'll likely get angry again," the old madam said slowly.
Bai shi and Wang shi had no confidence facing the old madam, so they obediently arranged for people to move Lu shi.
"You two had better remember what the household physician just said and take good care of your elder sister-in-law. Don't let her get angry again. Also, don't think I don't know what you're plotting." The old madam decided to be blunt. "Bai shi, don't tell me you're still harboring ill intentions at this time, trying to fight for things for Qing丫头. You, as a mother, know best what kind of girl Qing丫头 is. A good girl, and you've raised her askew. Wang shi, Nuan丫头 and Rou丫头 are both good. They call you mother. If you treat them sincerely, you will benefit in the future. Yu ge'er is only six this year, and he is intelligent and sensible. It's a good thing that he is close to his two half-sisters. When Nuan jie'er and Rou tou become engaged in the future, they will be a help to Yu ge'er. Why can't you understand this? If you continue like this, I will write home and have them find a reliable person to take care of Yu ge'er. As a man, the most important thing is his vision. Following you, I fear he won't develop a broad vision."
After speaking, she waved her hand, signaling them to leave.
Even after returning to their residence, Wang shi was still somewhat dazed, her mind constantly replaying the old madam's words.
Setting aside Rou丫头, Nuan丫头 was already engaged, and it was an excellent match. Although the other party was from a merchant family, they were backed by the foremost figure in the entire Da Feng. In such a situation, what difference did it make whether one was an official or not? Yu ge'er had always been close to Li Nuan. If Yu ge'er's future needed assistance, wouldn't Li Nuan help?
Although she was resentful that Tang shi had captured Li Su's heart solely for herself, for her son's future...
Wang shi tightened her fists under her sleeves. Their branch was not the eldest branch; they would not inherit the Li family's estate in the future. Whatever they wanted, they had to fight for themselves. Currently, Li Su was staying in the capital, and it was rumored that the Qian family was helping him. Whether he would be an official posted outside or a capital official, in any case, his future prospects were far better than those in the Li family in Yun Gui.
As for Tang shi...
Her glory was earned by her daughter. It was useless for her to be envious.
Before, she had always clung to her mother-in-law, all for the sake of her mother-in-law being more lenient to the second branch during the family division and giving them more things.
Now that the second branch's good days were approaching, and they could achieve a better future than the entire Li family, she should plan carefully.
"Sister-in-law, what are you spacing out for? Lend a hand," Bai shi urged with a frown.
Wang shi came back to her senses and helped settle Lu shi.
"What does Auntie mean?" Bai shi sat down at the table, pouring herself a cup of cool tea. After all this busyness, she was sweating even in the cold weather, and her heart felt very agitated.
Wang shi also sat down beside her, lowering her head slightly. "Elder sister-in-law is always so smart, how could she not understand Auntie's meaning? I, your sister-in-law, am foolish and still hope that Elder sister-in-law can tell me what Auntie means."
Bai shi's lips curved imperceptibly. This sister-in-law always listened to her mother-in-law the most. Now that her mother-in-law was ill, she was naturally at a loss.
Bai shi snorted, "Grand-auntie doesn't favor us now, but she favors your two concubine daughters. Mother is now in this state, and it's inseparable from them. Sister-in-law, you should think about how you're going to explain things to Mother after she recovers."
Wang shi's brows furrowed, and she appeared bewildered.
"You think about it slowly. I'll go back to my room first. I'll come back when the medicine is ready." After speaking, Bai shi got up and left.
Wang shi watched Bai shi's retreating figure. This elder sister-in-law had always looked down on her, always acting like the future mistress of the Li family. She was truly fed up.
"Qing Mei, go to the front courtyard later and find Yu ge'er. Tell him to go find his two sisters and apologize on my behalf," Wang shi said after thinking. "Make sure to remember not to let anyone else hear you when you speak."
Qing Mei was very confused. Usually, when her mistress sent her to deliver messages, she told the young master to stay away from the two young ladies. What had stimulated her today? Or what scheme was she hatching?
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up," Wang shi urged.
"Hurry up and do what?" Lu shi, who was lying on the bed, woke up.
Wang shi quickly went forward to help her, placing several soft pillows behind her to make her lean more comfortably.
"I asked Qing Mei to go see Yu ge'er and see if he's been naughty and caused trouble for the Marquis's mansion," Wang shi said calmly.
Lu shi let out an "Oh." Wang shi gave Qing Mei a meaningful glance, and Qing Mei hurried away.
"What's wrong with me? Wasn't I just in Chaohuitang?" Lu shi asked with a frown.
Wang shi recounted everything the household physician had said to Lu shi. "Mother, you don't know, I was scared to death just now. Please don't get angry again in the future. As for the younger generation's future, children and grandchildren have their own destinies. You can't always be the one running around for them. Elder sister-in-law is always capable. Qing jie'er will be fine with her. The most important thing now is for you to recover your health."
Her words were so sincere that Lu shi was actually a little moved.
"Alas," Lu shi sighed heavily. "Do you think I don't want to enjoy life? But look, one by one, they are all disappointing. Take Qing丫头, for example. She had such a good marriage, but it inexplicably disappeared, and she even incurred the resentment of the Prince of Qin's mansion. If I don't find a reliable family for her to rely on, how will she live in the future?"
In the past, Wang shi would not have thought much of Lu shi saying this.
Now that she intended to mend relations with the two concubine daughters, hearing these words made her feel a little uneasy.
That marriage was never Qing丫头's. The Marquis's mansion already had someone engaged. How could they be so confident that the marriage was meant for Qing丫头 by Madam Qin? Marriage between two families was not something Madam Qin could decide alone. If it succeeded, Madam Qin would be doing the Li family a great favor. If it failed, Madam Qin would suffer no harm. She didn't know why her shrewd mother-in-law hadn't understood this point.
Furthermore, with Li Qing's character, even if this incident hadn't happened, and she hadn't incurred the resentment of the Prince of Qin's mansion, it would still be difficult for her to find a good family due to her character. After all, good families were not blind. Compared to this, the two concubine daughters of their second branch were truly excellent.
"Where is your elder sister-in-law?" Lu shi asked after not receiving a response from Wang shi for a long time. Seeing that her second daughter-in-law was actually spacing out, she felt displeased. Such a lack of perception was probably why her second son's thoughts were always drawn to Tang shi.