Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Old Madam Su had heard the noise in the hall, but she had mixed feelings about Cheng Lingyan and didn't want to see her for the time being. The thought of how she had doted on her fake granddaughter, Cheng Lingyan, while Lu Baoer, who was most likely her biological granddaughter, had grown up in the countryside, married, and had to endure the bullying of those ladies in the imperial court, ached her heart uncontrollably.

Hearing that Cheng Lingyan was wronged, she felt a little bit sorry.

Old Madam Su sighed, feeling guilty. She asked someone to tell Madam Zhao to call Cheng Lingyan in.

When Cheng Lingyan heard the old lady summon her, she was only thinking about how to redeem herself from her loss. At this moment, she lifted the hem of her horse-faced skirt with a peacock pattern, her necklaces clacking, and she lifted the curtain to enter the room.

Upon seeing Old Madam Su, Cheng Lingyan said aggrievedly, "I didn't realize Grandmother was still asleep, and I rashly came up to the courtyard to disturb you and disturb your peace."

"It's okay." Old Madam Su still looked friendly. She waved to the little maid beside her and asked her to bring the round stool and hand it to Cheng Lingyan to sit on.

If it were usual, Madam Su would definitely ask her to sit with her on the Arhat couch, so why is she so distant today?
Cheng Lingyan was curious, but she didn't think much of it. She bravely complained to Madam Su, "Grandma, my maid Hongsu only knows that I love you the most, so she usually tells me if you have any activity. But today, she angered Madam Zhao and got slapped in public!"

Zhao Ma had just finished cleaning up and entered the room when she heard this complaint and sneered repeatedly. A lady of high rank would actually stand up for a lowly maid, humiliating her status for nothing. Zhao Ma stepped back. She was naturally not worried about being punished by Old Lady Su, but she also wanted to take this opportunity to clearly see Old Lady Su's attitude.

If she protected Cheng Lingyan, it would mean she still had some feelings for her, and Nanny Zhao would have to be more polite to her in the future. If Old Madam Su got angry, it would mean she had lost all respect for her. As a protector of her master, she naturally had to be wary of the cunning Cheng Lingyan, lest she be fooled again.

Hearing Cheng Lingyan's complaint, even Lu Baoer felt a little embarrassed. She had never wanted to get involved in other people's inner chamber affairs, but now that it was being talked about in front of her, she had to listen even if she didn't want to.

Lu Baoer sighed slowly, pinching a piece of Yurong Cake, covering it with a handkerchief in her other hand, and shoveling it into her mouth in small bites. As if she had something to do, she could stay out of it and ignore Cheng Lingyan's attacks.

Old Madam Su also felt that Cheng Lingyan was truly unruly. She had caused such a scene in public with guests present! However, was Cheng Lingyan's indifference to Lu Baoer due to her disdain for her, thinking she was just a country woman? That's why she dared to bring all the lawsuits to court?

Madam Su didn't avoid Lu Baoer because she treated her as her own granddaughter, but what about Cheng Lingyan? She must have looked down on Lu Baoer, so she didn't care.

Even the saintly Madam Su was furious at this thought. Her expression was rarely uneasy, and she looked at Cheng Lingyan and asked, "Lingyan, I have a question for you. Which servant in this courtyard dares to do something without the master's permission?"

Cheng Lingyan originally thought that Old Madam Su was saying that Hong Su was so audacious that she dared to pass on the information to her privately, but when she thought about it, she trembled all over again... The implication of Old Madam Su's words was clearly that: Madam Zhao dared to take it out on Hong Su because she was ordered by her!

But Cheng Lingyan refused to give in and used this matter to challenge Old Madam Su!
Cheng Lingyan thought that because of Madam Su's favor for her, she would protect her no matter what. Now she realized that Madam Su was not a foolish person. She also had her own bottom line, and Cheng Lingyan could not offend her unscrupulously.

Cheng Lingyan had been spoiled to the point of losing her mind over the years. She was afraid that Old Madam Su would dislike her and send her back to the Cheng family. So, she was quick to respond and immediately admitted defeat: "It was Lingyan who didn't understand the rules and allowed the servants of Shixiangyuan to do whatever they wanted! Hongsu did something wrong and should be punished. Why not send her away? That way, Shixiangyuan won't be disrupted by an ignorant servant."

Madam Su chuckled softly and asked her with a half-smile, "Have you really thought it through? Do you want to kick Hong Su out? She's the maid who grew up with you since you entered the Fu Mansion!"

"Yes! Since you have done something wrong, you must be punished!" What Cheng Lingyan was thinking was that Hong Su eavesdropped on what was happening in Old Madam Su's yard. Now that she was driven out, there was no one to pass on the message. Old Madam Su should trust her more, right?

Cheng Lingyan originally thought that this would please Old Madam Su, but she didn't expect that Old Madam Su would be even more disappointed in her.

How heartless could a master be who wouldn't even protect a maid who'd been with her for over a decade? Previously, Cheng Lingyan had stood up for the maid, and while she'd been angry, she'd simply felt Cheng Lingyan was too soft-hearted, protecting even a maid. This was pure kindness, regardless of status, and not a sin.

But now... Madam Su knew Cheng Lingyan was just trying to use Hong Su. Who would dare follow a master who didn't even protect her own servants? How would she manage her servants after she married? This way, she'd only have a bunch of hypocritical servants, and wouldn't even be able to cultivate a single trusted maid!

How did she raise Cheng Lingyan to be like this? She is obviously a lovely girl, but her heart is so vicious!

"Well, then, kick her out." Old Madam Su sighed, unwilling to say more. Cheng Lingyan thought the old lady's anger had subsided, and she couldn't help but glance at Lu Bao'er, who was about her own age, but had a bun. Lu Bao'er was dressed elegantly, not at all like a rustic country woman, and she was astonished.

She approached Madam Su and asked flatteringly, "Who is this lady?"

Madam Su then turned her gaze back to Lu Baoer and said, "This is Madam Xie. I liked her the moment I saw her. If you have time today, please invite her to visit your home."

Cheng Lingyan nodded to Lu Baoer and said hello. Even if she looked down on Lu Baoer in her heart, she didn't dare show it in front of Madam Su.

Cheng Lingyan, after all, had grown up in Madam Su's care and was a beloved figure in her heart. Her comments were making Madam Su burst into laughter. Lu Baoer, a quiet talker with no family, watched the grandparents and grandchildren enjoying their happy family life with a touch of envy.

Lu Baoer stayed for nearly two hours and was about to return home. Before leaving, Old Madam Su asked Madam Zhao to go to her storehouse and get a pair of white jade qilins, saying they were for Lu Baoer.

Cheng Lingyan was surprised. This was Old Madam Su's dowry. She had wanted it before, but had tried every way to get it but failed. How could it be given to Lu Baoer?
She felt an indescribable pain in her heart, muttering: "Giving this white jade qilin to her means it's also given to someone in the Su family! Why give it to an outsider? It's better to keep the wealth within the family, so shouldn't he think of her first?"

Cheng Lingyan couldn't help herself and threw herself on Madam Su's lap, saying coquettishly, "Grandma, you're so partial! You actually gave these white jade unicorns to Madam Xie. I wanted them before, but you refused to give them to me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere became awkward for no reason. Lu Baoer didn't want to accept such a gift! She didn't know what white jade and green jade were. Aren't they all hard stones? Anyway, she wasn't going to wear it on her body, and it would just be thrown in the warehouse to collect dust.

She didn't want to accept this hot potato, so she tried to smooth things over by saying, "I'm embarrassed to accept such a generous gift. Coming to the old lady's house today and eating the Jade Face Cake, which I've never seen before, has broadened my horizons. I won't dare take anything more. These rewards are too valuable. Every time I come here, she takes something from the old lady. I'm afraid to come next time!"

Lu Baoer's words were amusing, and Old Madam Su lamented that Lu Jin had indeed raised her well. Only a family with a clean and honest family tradition could produce such a girl who wasn't obsessed with wealth. Compared to Cheng Lingyan... Old Madam Su sighed heavily again.

She said, "Madam Xie, please keep this pair of white jade Qilins! I also have a pair of jade Ruyi in my storeroom. You can give those to Ling Yan."

How could a jade ruyi be as valuable as a white jade qilin? Cheng Lingyan thought this in her heart, but she didn't dare to say it out loud. She met Madam Su's cold eyes and immediately shrank her head, not daring to say anything more.

Lu Baoer received the gift and was helped back into the carriage by the old nanny.

After all this back and forth, they returned to Xie's residence in the evening. The warm yellow sunset shone on the bluestone tiles, bringing a sense of desolation.

The sun was shining brightly today, and the snow had melted. The ground was slippery, and the night was windy. When Lu Baoer arrived at the mansion, Xie Junling was already sitting at the table, ready for her to eat.

"Why don't you eat first, husband?"

"I'm not hungry. I was just waiting for you to come back." Xie Junling stood up and took off her cloak to keep her warm. He took her hand and led her to sit down. "Don't rush to wash up. Eat first."

"If I don't wash up and am so dusty, and if I drop ashes on the dish, won't my husband be angry?" Lu Baoer seemed to have thought of a very funny scene and laughed out loud with her hands covering her lips.

She was so adorable when she was laughing secretly. Xie Junling felt a little helpless, but he also childishly replied, "I'm not worried about you getting dusty, but I'm worried that with all the powder on your face, you'll be laughing so hard that it'll scatter all over the table."

Is this saying that she loves to wear makeup every day? Her skin is fair and smooth even without makeup, so she doesn't use too much makeup! Xie Junling was obviously talking nonsense! Lu Baoer was a little angry, eating with a stern face, and ignored him until the end!

(End of this chapter)