"The butler said helplessly, 'This... managing the household, I'm afraid even the concubines in the manor are not as capable as Madam.'
'The Fourth Concubine knows nothing about managing the household, she'll likely have to return the position soon. Madam has learned her lesson this time, and should pay more attention to Eldest Miss.'
'She'll pay attention?' Xiao Zhen sneered. How could Madam Yan pay attention to Man'er? She would only focus on her own daughter!
'Then should we hand it over to Concubine Lin or Third Concubine? If it's Concubine Lin, I'll send someone to bring Concubine Lin and Fourth Miss back.'
'No rush. Let's see. We'll make plans after Man'er's injuries have fully healed.' Xiao Zhen's expression was icy. He wondered if he should bring another person into the manor. This person would not only need to manage the household but also be capable of opposing Madam Yan.
Meanwhile.
As soon as Xiao Ling returned, she first went to the main courtyard to pay respects to the Old Madam, as the Old Madam was her backing in the manor.
Although her father doted on Xiao Man, he was often not at home. But in the inner court of this household, it was the Old Madam who had the final say.
'Grandmother, have another sip,' Xiao Ling said coaxingly, holding a bowl of medicinal soup.
'I don't want to drink it anymore, it's too bitter.'
'Good medicine tastes bitter. The doctor said that you are suffering from repressed emotions, and if this continues, it will be bad for your health. You should drink the medicine,' Xiao Ling persuaded the Old Madam in a gentle tone.
The Old Madam grasped Xiao Ling's hand with some relief, 'It's only you who is filial, coming to see this old woman as soon as you returned.'
'Grandmother, you speak too kindly. Your granddaughter cares for you, it's only right,' Xiao Ling said while feeding the Old Madam medicine.
The Old Madam sighed, 'I did hit Xiao Man a bit hard, but isn't Xiao Man fine now?'
Even though her mother had fainted, her son hadn't even come to see her. Clearly, he still resented her.
'Grandmother, Father is only acting this way because Eldest Sister has been wronged,' Xiao Ling said obediently. 'If Eldest Sister is no longer wronged, Father will naturally come to see you.'
The Old Madam's expression immediately turned displeased, 'She's not wronged? You didn't see how she acted in front of your father, completely lawless, treating her father like a servant, fanning him, feeding him... cough cough...'
'Grandmother, please don't be angry. Father has always doted on Eldest Sister and would grant her any request. I'll go and see Eldest Sister later and ask her to intercede with Grandmother.'
'Hmph, what? Is he going to ignore me forever? Don't go. If you go, she'll only become more arrogant.'
The Old Madam's anger towards Xiao Man grew. She felt that her son's indifference was definitely caused by Xiao Man's instigation. Otherwise, given her son's personality, how could he not have come to see her even when she fainted?
'Eldest Sister is just throwing a tantrum, she wouldn't deliberately prevent Father from seeing you,' Xiao Ling added fuel to the fire. 'Grandmother, finish your medicine quickly and rest well. Ling'er believes that Father will visit you soon.'
After the Old Madam finished her medicine and lay down to sleep, the Third Miss then left. Madam Xu saw the Third Miss off, and after watching her walk away, she turned back.
The Old Madam tossed and turned on the bed, unable to sleep. The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and the more resentful she became of Xiao Man. She immediately sat up.
'Old Madam, would you like some water?' Madam Zhou asked.
'No.' The Old Madam sighed. 'Did you tell the General that I fainted?'
Madam Zhou immediately looked at Madam Xu. Madam Xu brewed a cup of calming tea, 'Old Madam, please have some calming tea.'
The Old Madam took the teacup but didn't drink it. She asked again, 'Does the General really know that I fainted?'
'Yes, he did. When I went to invite Physician Ye, the General was also present. Eldest Miss even urged the General to come and see the Old Madam, but the General remained unmoved. Eldest Miss insisted on coming to see the Old Madam and was even reprimanded by the General, who forbade her from leaving.'
The Old Madam's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, 'She, she was that kind? I almost beat her to death!'
'Old Madam, Eldest Miss is your own granddaughter. In a family, are there any grudges that last overnight?' Madam Xu comforted the Old Madam, 'Madam also acted upon instigation to beat Eldest Miss to give an explanation to the Crown Prince. Now that the Crown Prince has come to apologize with gifts, Old Madam, you should also take a step back. Harmony within the family is the most important thing.'
The Old Madam frowned, 'The Crown Prince came?'
'He did, and brought many gifts. The General received him,' Madam Xu recounted. 'Speaking of which, Eldest Miss was not in the wrong this time. Miss Du insulted the General, calling him an ill-bred brute. If Eldest Miss hadn't gotten angry, I would have called Eldest Miss spineless!'
The Old Madam was taken aback, 'But you can't just rip out someone's tongue.'
'Old Madam, the one who ripped out Miss Du's tongue was His Highness Prince Qin. Miss Du slandered Prince Qin for favoritism and breaking the law. Who is Prince Qin? He is of noble status and holds military power. How could a young lady like her openly criticize him? It's already considered showing leniency that he didn't kill her on the spot.'
'Then what about her throwing her own sister into the lake?'
Madam Xu sighed, 'I investigated this matter. If Eldest Miss hadn't thrown Second Miss into the lake at that time, Second Miss's purity might have been exposed on the spot. This incident, someone is targeting our General's manor.'
The Old Madam's eyelids twitched. If Second Miss's purity was exposed on the spot, the General's manor would surely be ridiculed!
'So, she was protecting the General's manor?' the Old Madam asked disbelievingly, as Xiao Man had been the one to tarnish the General's manor for years.
Madam Xu knew that the Old Madam's dislike for Eldest Miss was not a matter of one or two days. It was due to Xiao Man's behavior over the years, coupled with the General's favoritism and the instigation of others in the manor, that she had come to intensely dislike Eldest Miss.
'Old Madam, Eldest Miss's temper is indeed a bit overbearing. Think carefully, over the years, Eldest Miss has had countless conflicts with people, but has she ever done anything wicked? Has she ever done anything that disgraces the family reputation?'
The Old Madam thought carefully. Xiao Man always had reasons for fighting people outside, and she only beat up bullies.
Although she was uneducated, she had never caused any trouble. Her biggest fault was perhaps frequently getting into fights.
'She doesn't just beat people outside, she also beats the servants in the manor!' the Old Madam snorted.
'Old Madam, why did Eldest Miss beat the servants in the manor?' Madam Xu asked persuasively. 'The maids in her courtyard were dismissed with double the money. Hong Yu betrayed her, and she even arranged for Hong Yu's burial. Do you think such a loyal and righteous Eldest Miss would be someone who unreasonably beats and scolds servants?'
'What's wrong with you today? Why are you always speaking up for Eldest Sister?' The Old Madam drank a mouthful of hot tea, looking at Madam Xu suspiciously."