After sharing a body with her husband

Although she outwardly agreed, Shang Lingjun felt something was off. She wasn't confident enough to think she was universally loved, so why was Song Yunyi being so warm and friendly to her?

Logically speaking, since Song Yunyi's sister-in-law is Xie Ruoqiu, and she has a good relationship with Xie Ruoqiu, she should also follow Xie Ruoqiu's preferences and hate her.

Especially since Huo Chuan exposed Xie Ruoqiu's scheme in public that day, causing the Song family to lose face.

But Song Yunyi remained as if nothing had happened.

This is why Shang Lingjun found it strange.

No matter what she thought, she still had to keep up the laughter and chatter as she saw the guests off.

As they reached a corner of a long corridor, Song Yunyi suddenly stopped. She took Shang Lingjun's hand affectionately and naturally, and said apologetically:

"I'm sorry, Auntie. I didn't have the heart to say it in front of the old lady. That day... it was indeed my third sister-in-law's fault. She was just confused for a moment and was joking with you. After being scolded by the old lady, she realized her mistake."

I'm on your side, Auntie. I even said a few words to Third Sister-in-law when I got home. Today, I'm here firstly to send you this invitation, and secondly, to apologize to you privately.

I truly like you, Auntie. The thought of you becoming distant from me because of my sister-in-law makes me incredibly sad.

Hearing Song Yunyi's sincere apology, Shang Lingjun's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, and she smiled:

"What are you saying? Qiu-jie is Qiu-jie, and you are you. When I met you at the spring banquet that day, I even told my mother-in-law that I liked the personality of Miss Song Liu. My mother-in-law always praises you, saying that you are gentle and virtuous, a rare lady in Shengjing."

Hearing Shang Lingjun say this, Song Yunyi felt relieved.

"You flatter me, Madam. When we go to the tea plantation, I will definitely host a feast to entertain my aunt. I only hope to become close friends with her!"

"It is my honor."

After seeing Song Yunyi off, Shang Lingjun rubbed her stiff face and turned back.

[Chuan Chuan, what do you think of Song Yunyi?]

It seems you have something to say.

Huo Chuancai refused to answer that difficult question.

Shang Lingjun shrugged.

[Perhaps it's a woman's intuition, but I don't like her. She and Xie Ruoqiu seemed so close at the spring banquet, but just now, to curry favor with me, she said she was on my side. Clearly, she's a hypocrite.]

I still prefer associating with straightforward people. Who cares if she saved Xie Yan'an? What does it have to do with me? I have no reason to be grateful to her!

Moreover, Shang Lingjun remembered that when they were in the pavilion, she didn't want to drink plum juice, but Song Yunyi persuaded her with a smile, and she ended up drinking plum wine instead.

Shang Lingjun quickened her pace. Just now, Old Madam Wei had told her to go straight back to Rongfu Pavilion, so it seemed that she still had something to say to her.

Back at Rongfu Pavilion, Granny Qiu was brewing tea for Old Madam Wei. Shang Lingjun stepped forward and naturally took the tea from her, pouring it for Old Madam Wei.

"Mother-in-law, Miss Song has already passed away."

Old Madam Wei raised her eyes and looked at her calmly, "You don't want to go to the banquet at the tea plantation?"

Shang Lingjun was surprised, not expecting that Old Madam Wei had seen through it. She shook her head, then hesitated before nodding.

"Replying to Mother-in-law, I feel that going or not going is optional. Rather than going out, I would prefer to stay at home with you and Uncle Qi. However, I think you have a point. Going to the tea plantation to relax is fine."

Old Madam Wei slowly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said:

"Ati, do you know why I sent you?"

Shang Lingjun thought for a moment, then hesitated before speaking:

"Does my mother-in-law want me to make more of a name for myself in the capital and network with the wives of officials?"

Old Madam Wei's tone was calm.

"Not only that, you are still young. Your elders and your older brother and sister-in-law will take care of your friendships with other families. You just need to stay by your sister-in-law's side. You don't need to make any special connections."

Shang Lingjun pursed her lips slightly, her expression thoughtful. If not to make friends, then why?

Since it's a tea plantation event organized by the Earl of Weide's mansion, then it must be related to the Earl of Weide's mansion.

Who are the people in the Earl of Weide's mansion?

Xie Ruoqiu.

Xie Ruoqiu is the daughter-in-law of the Earl's Mansion. If we talk about the deepest connection between the Xie family and the Earl's Mansion, it is Xie Ruoqiu.

"Is it because of Xie Ruoqiu?" Shang Lingjun asked softly.

Old Madam Wei smiled, then nodded, composed herself, and said calmly:

"That day she tried to scheme against you with plum wine. If one attempt failed, she'll surely come up with another. She's got some nerve. This time, the two of them will accompany you to give her a warning. If she doesn't want to live peacefully in the Earl's mansion anymore, she can interfere in her family's affairs."

Shang Lingjun looked at Mother Liang and Granny Qiu, and the two of them simultaneously lowered their eyes and nodded to Shang Lingjun.

These two elderly women accompanied her on this trip.

Then there's no need to worry.

Actually, she didn't want to go because she didn't want to meet Xie Ruoqiu again. She hated the feeling of being schemed against and getting into trouble as soon as she went out. It was better to stay at home in peace and quiet.

It turns out that Old Madam Wei was still thinking about that matter; she was protecting her.

Shang Lingjun was deeply moved.

……

After Shang Lingjun left, Granny Qiu asked:

"Old Madam, if you want to warn Miss Qiu, just send someone to the Earl's mansion under the pretext of delivering something and saying a few words to her. Why make a mere maid like Seventh Madam deal with it all by herself?"

Old Madam Wei waved her hand.

"If I do everything for her, how can she learn and grow? Let her handle this little thing herself. With you all looking after her, as long as nothing goes wrong, it's fine."

Granny Qiu and Granny Liang exchanged a glance. So, the old lady wanted to train the seventh wife.

Old Madam Wei slowly took a sip of tea and said:

"I'm going to have a son adopted by the seventh branch of the family, not just so that Yan-ge'er will have a complete family while he's alive, but also because you all know about the properties under Yan-ge'er's name..."

In the first few years, Xie Yan'an was lucky; the barren mountain he casually bought turned out to be a jade mine.

It was a large mine, but Old Madam Wei was afraid that the huge wealth would cause trouble, so she only claimed it to be a small jade mine. But even just being a small jade mine was enough to make people envious.

Jade is a highly profitable commodity.

If the Xie family hadn't had a solid foundation in Shengjing, and if Master Xie hadn't been a high-ranking official of the third rank, the jade mine would have been seized long ago.

For the past few years, Old Madam Wei has been in charge of managing the jade mine. Before Xie Yan'an's accident, he also frequently visited the mine.

It's no exaggeration to say that the profits from the jade mine business alone, even just from the underground operations, far exceed the entire Xie family's annual income in a single month!

This property belongs to the Seven Houses!

Old Madam Wei always harbored doubts, suspecting that Xie Yan'an's fall off the cliff was not an accident, but a man-made disaster!

However, no matter how hard she investigated, she couldn't find even the slightest clue.

Everywhere you look, it's clear that it was indeed just an accident.

That's why she gave up.

Since Xie Yan'an's incident, Old Madam Wei has completely taken control of the jade mining industry, not allowing any of the other branches of the Xie family to get a piece of it, not even her own eldest son...