Wang Shi, who had been standing by the side watching the drama unfold in Madam Lu’s room, suddenly sneezed. The day was quite cold, and after being busy moving her mother-in-law, she had worked up a sweat. Perhaps she had caught a chill? She would have to instruct someone to brew some ginger soup to ward off the cold when she returned to her room.
Glancing up at the dejected Madam Bai, Wang Shi felt that watching such a good show was worth catching a chill.
A maid entered with the prepared medicine. Madam Lu glanced at Madam Bai, who immediately stepped forward to take the bowl and personally served Madam Lu the medicine.
Madam Bai felt stifled inside but had to maintain a respectful demeanor, diligently serving Madam Lu.
Wang Shi stood by with candied fruits. After Madam Lu finished her medicine, she immediately popped one into her mouth.
“It’s my second daughter-in-law who truly cares for this old woman,” Madam Lu praised Wang Shi, the bitterness in her mouth dispelled by the sweet and sour candied fruit.
“Mother toils for us unaccomplished children. Your daughter-in-law is foolish and cannot help, only in serving you can I manage. It is good that Mother does not dislike me,” Wang Shi said respectfully.
Madam Lu’s face showed a hint of a smile. “I know you are filial. However, with your eldest sister-in-law here to look after me, you are not needed. Go back to your room and rest. Oh, it’s cold today, give the kitchen some money and have them stew a bowl of milk custard for Yu Ge’er. Remember to ask them to add more honey beans; Yu Ge’er loves them.”
“Mother, you are unwell, you shouldn’t be worrying about Yu Ge’er,” Wang Shi said. “Eldest sister-in-law, Zheng Ge’er also works hard at his studies. Don’t worry, I will instruct the kitchen accordingly.”
Madam Bai wished she could tear Wang Shi’s face apart. “Let you be smug, let you be smug, you only got this one moment of good fortune, right?”
But she couldn’t. Although she was furious, she had to put on a grateful expression. “Sister-in-law, you are truly good to Zheng Ge’er.”
Leaving Madam Lu’s room, Wang Shi felt a knot of frustration loosen. Seeing Madam Bai’s discomfiture felt surprisingly good. Why hadn’t she discovered this before? It seemed she would have to use her brain more in the future and properly contend with Madam Bai.
In Longxiang Garden, several young ladies were discussing the matter of Madam Wang instructing Li Yu to apologize.
Li Rou leaned towards Madam Wang having a hidden agenda, while Li Nuan tended to believe Madam Wang was sincere.
“What Grandmother said at the end in Chaohui Hall, although it was a reprimand, it was also advice. Perhaps Second Aunt heard those words and had a sudden realization?” Qi Zhenzhen voiced her thoughts.
Li Nuan and Li Rou exchanged glances. If that were the case, wouldn’t it mean their future days would be better?
“Sister Nuan, Sister Rou, don’t say you don’t believe it, I don’t really believe my mother can change so suddenly. But the tutor also said, ‘To know one’s mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue.’ No matter what, let’s give my mother a chance to reform and see how she performs in the future. If she is still unkind to my two elder sisters, I won’t talk to her for a few days. She fears me ignoring her the most,” Li Yu said after thinking.
Her big eyes darted around, appearing clever.
Given Wang Shi’s previous disposition, raising a child like this was not only due to the tutor’s efforts but, more importantly, Li Yu’s good nature.
“Okay.” Li Nuan and Li Rou, not wanting to disappoint Li Yu, nodded in unison.
The little one pursed her lips and smiled, her large eyes curving into crescent moons, her joy overflowing.
“Miss, Qingmei, from the Second Madam’s side, has arrived,” Fei Xu came in to relay the message.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. Fei Xu turned and went out to bring her in.
Qingmei, carrying a food basket, respectfully greeted the young ladies in the room.
“Sister Qingmei, why are you here?” Li Yu asked.
“The weather is cold, so Madam asked me to use some money to get honey bean milk custard from the kitchen. I went to the outer courtyard just now, and the young servant there told me that Young Master had come to the back courtyard to find the young ladies. After I delivered the items for the Eldest Young Master, I came straight to Second Miss’s side,” Qingmei replied clearly.
After speaking, she opened the food basket and brought out the milk custard.
There were five bowls in total.
This meant Wang Shi had planned it all. She had guessed Li Yu would return to Longxiang Garden, so the milk custard was prepared just right.
Li Nuan and Li Rou were somewhat flattered. This was the first time they had received such treatment from Madam Wang.
“I love honey bean milk custard the most. Hmm, this bowl with the most honey beans must be mine. Sister Rou doesn’t really like sweet things, so this bowl with the fewest honey beans must be for Sister Rou. This bowl with preserved osmanthus on top must be for Sister Nuan. These two bowls without anything special are definitely for Sister Zhenzhen and Sister Xuanxuan,” Li Yu happily distributed the milk custard to everyone.
Qi Zhenzhen and Qi Xuanxuan didn’t have any particular feelings, but Li Nuan and Li Rou didn’t know how to describe their emotions.
“I need to return to report, so I won’t disturb the young ladies and Young Master,” Qingmei said, picking up the food basket and turning to leave.
“Qingmei,” Li Nuan called out.
Qingmei turned around. “Miss Nuan, do you have any instructions?”
“Please convey my thanks to Mother and tell her the milk custard was very delicious and that she went to a lot of trouble,” Li Nuan said.
“The milk custard was very delicious,” Li Rou added nonsensically.
Qi Zhenzhen and Qi Xuanxuan also politely expressed their gratitude, asking Qingmei to relay their thanks.
In the guest room, in Wang Shi’s chambers.
Qingmei conveyed everyone’s thanks to Wang Shi. Wang Shi was stunned for a moment. The two concubine daughters had always been respectful in front of her. To put it nicely, they were well-behaved; to put it not so nicely, they treated her like a fierce tiger. Now that they were expressing their gratitude to her, she felt unaccustomed, but this feeling didn’t seem bad. As for the two young ladies from the Marquis’s mansion, they had always been distant towards her. Although they were polite now, Wang Shi felt something was different.
Don’t ask her where the difference was; it was a feeling.
“Madam?” Qingmei softly called out, seeing Wang Shi in a daze.
“Qingmei, you’ve been with me for several years. Tell me, was I particularly bad to them before?” Wang Shi asked.
Qingmei’s heart trembled. She wasn’t sure what Wang Shi meant and replied hesitantly.
“You don’t need to be afraid, just tell me the truth. I won’t blame you for whatever you say,” Wang Shi encouraged her.
Even so, Qingmei dared not truly criticize Wang Shi’s shortcomings. She still had to serve Wang Shi in the future. Although her madam was very friendly now, women could be fickle, and who knew if she would revert to her old ways later? She would be in a terrible situation then.
“You are the legitimate wife, and the two young ladies are concubine daughters. You haven’t treated them badly. The attitude of other legitimate mothers towards concubine daughters is not necessarily better than yours. After all, they are not your own children, so how can you treat them like your own?” Qingmei said, choosing her words carefully.
Wang Shi smiled. “You girl, you usually look so honest, but now you’re quite clever. Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. I know in my heart how I treated them before. From now on, I will try my best to treat them as I treat Yu Ge’er.”