"Had she followed my arrangements obediently, she would have been married and had children by now. Even if she had a less-than-ideal marriage, she would at least be alive. How could she have ended up severely injured, unconscious, and on the brink of death?" Old Madam Xiao's expression was inscrutable, a single turbid tear sliding from the corner of her eye. "Do you truly think I've become senile?"
Granny Xu looked at the old madam in shock. Did the old madam know what she was doing? Was someone forcing her? But as the Grand Madam of the Protector General's Mansion, her status was noble; who would dare force her?
The old madam's expression grew dim. "Actually, when that child schemed against me, I was quite happy. She finally started using her head. But alas, she doesn't have half the ruthlessness of her brother. If she had even half his cruelty, I wouldn't be this worried."
"Old Madam, this servant does not understand."
"There are some people whom even our General's Mansion cannot afford to offend," Old Madam Xiao sighed. "Let's not dwell on the past. She's already in this state, and talking about it is useless. All I can do is protect the General's Mansion with all my might."
"Old Madam, to scheme with a tiger is no different from seeking one's own demise."
The old madam was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "Do I not know that scheming with a tiger leads to no good end? But I have no choice. For the sake of protecting the General's Mansion, for the sake of protecting my son!"
"Old Madam..." Granny Xu didn't know how to respond. If she persuaded, the old madam would think she was right. If she didn't, the old madam would become completely estranged from the people in the General's Mansion.
Silence lingered for a long time. As they neared the General's Mansion, Granny Xu hesitantly asked, "Old Madam, do you deeply despise the Eldest Young Lady?"
A complex glint flickered in the old madam's eyes. She clearly remembered the moment her son returned to the General's Mansion holding the infant Xiao Man. The soft, cuddly little bundle was incredibly lovable. What impressed her even more were Xiao Zhen's words: "Mother, this child is my life. There must be no mistakes!"
He, a grown man, learned to care for a child, always keeping her by his side. But he didn't realize that while he doted on his daughter, he was also revealing to others that this daughter was his weakness.
She watched Xiao Man grow, from babbling to calling her Grandma. The old madam felt joy in her heart. Even when Xiao Man was mischievous and prone to trouble, she couldn't bear to hit her.
The old madam raised her head, forcing back the tears in her eyes. "What's the use of saying all that now? She's in this state, and no matter how much we say, she won't wake up."
"Old Madam, let us return to Cangzhou," Granny Xu said worriedly. The Imperial Capital harbored too many dangers. The old madam was also estranged from the General. If something were to happen, the General might not protect her.
"I cannot return to Cangzhou," the old madam stated decisively. "If I hadn't left the Imperial Capital for Cangzhou back then, the General's Mansion wouldn't be in this state today."
"Old Madam!" Granny Xu sounded anxious. "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. It's time for you to enjoy your old age."
The old madam gave a bitter smile. "No matter how old they are, in my eyes, they are still children. It's only right that he resents me. If there were a better way, I wouldn't do this."
The carriage slowly came to a halt. Old Madam Xiao immediately composed her expression, the helplessness vanishing, replaced by a blank stare. With Granny Xu's support, she returned to her courtyard.
He Qingyi stood at the second gate, watching the old madam return to the main courtyard. "She went to the palace again today. The old madam and the Empress Dowager have a very good relationship."
"Madam, you've forgotten. Old Madam Xiao and our Old Madam were also very close back then. Now they're almost enemies," the wet nurse reminded He Qingyi. Old Madam Xiao was no easy person to deal with. If she could harm her own granddaughter, she would likely be even more ruthless to outsiders.
"I just don't understand what she's seeking," He Qingyi mused. Old Madam Xiao came from a scholarly family and was once a knowledgeable and virtuous young lady. Why, in her old age, did she do such foolish things, alienating her children and grandchildren? What good did it do her?
If she wanted control of the household, she easily returned that authority to He Qingyi. If she wanted to control the General's Mansion, she mostly stayed out of affairs. He Qingyi truly couldn't fathom what she was trying to achieve.
He Qingyi wasn't one to dwell on things. If she couldn't figure something out, she set it aside. She turned to attend to the affairs of the pharmacy. She planned to open one and was currently looking at properties. In a place as expensive as the Imperial Capital, finding a good location was not easy.
He Qingyi had viewed several places and was dissatisfied. Just as she was about to leave, she encountered an old acquaintance. Though they had only met a few times, He Qingyi knew this person belonged to Xiao Man.
"Madam Xiao."
"Patriarch Shangguan."
"I heard Madam is looking at shops. I happen to have a few properties for transfer. Is Madam interested in taking a look?" Shangguan Jin's tone was unhurried and his demeanor calm, devoid of any subservience.
"In that case, I shall trouble Patriarch Shangguan."
Shangguan Jin immediately led He Qingyi to a place Xiao Man had chosen. It had been prepared by Xiao Man for He Qingyi long ago, waiting for He Qingyi's return from Jiang Prefecture as a reward.
He Qingyi looked at the spacious shop, three floors high. The layout inside was clearly that of a pharmacy. As He Qingyi walked in, the paint on the pillars was still vibrant, indicating recent renovation.
"Do you like it?" a familiar voice called from the second floor.
He Qingyi looked up and saw an unfamiliar man standing on the second floor, smiling at her. She looked at Shangguan Jin beside her with some confusion.
Shangguan Jin seemed resigned. "You're always like this. Who would recognize you?"
"Mother, I apologize. I had to disguise myself to hide my identity."
He Qingyi couldn't help but sigh. Xiao Man's disguise skills were truly masterful. Even she couldn't discern the truth, let alone those who didn't know her well.
"Thank you, Miss."
Xiao Man came down from the second floor and walked He Qingyi through the entire shop. "Considering Mother's great reputation, many people will seek treatment from you. To prevent Mother from getting too tired and overwhelmed, you can hire a few highly respected old doctors to attend to patients."
He Qingyi smiled. "I want to invite you to attend to patients."
"Mother, please spare me," Xiao Man chuckled. "With my temperament, I can't sit here and see patients every day."
He Qingyi covered her mouth and smiled. "Then you'll have to introduce me to some reliable doctors."
"Mother comes from a family of imperial physicians. Don't you have enough connections in this regard? If you invite those retired imperial physicians, I'm sure you can persuade them."