The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

"So if the young master is healthy, he should get married and have children as soon as possible," the eldest uncle continued.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Yes! The young master should indeed marry soon, and taking a few concubines wouldn't be bad either!"

"Madam, when we go back we'll ask you if there's a suitable woman."

If a woman from their family could enter the Duke's mansion and gain the favor of the heir, they would surely reap the rewards in the future. They had previously heard that Pei Shiyuan was seriously ill and lamented that the Pei family's only hope was about to be lost.

The clan elders sat close together, chatting in twos and threes, oblivious to the presence of the Qian family.

"His great-uncle," Qian said, stepping forward to speak.

The eldest uncle turned his face away to talk to someone else, ignoring Qian.

Qian talked to them about adoption, which sounded reasonable, but she didn't mention that the heir's health was good enough to have children. Her malicious intentions were evident.

The old lady had already started arranging a marriage for the young master, and he almost missed out on a good opportunity.

"Then I'll have to trouble you all." The old lady gave a meaningful smile.

The elders of the Pei family, led by the eldest uncle, were not foolish. As long as they told the truth and showed the Qian family the benefits, they would not allow the Qian family to manipulate them.

"You're too kind, Madam. The matter concerning the young master concerns the Pei family, and we will certainly do our best."

The clan elders all expressed their opinions.

Ignoring her, Ms. Qian angrily sat back down.

She gave each clan elder one hundred taels of silver, plus six gifts, to eight families in total, spending no less than two thousand taels.

As a result, when they heard that Lady Cui was going to arrange a marriage for the heir, they immediately changed their attitude and ignored her.

A bunch of snobbish, petty people.

The more Qian thought about it, the angrier she became, her anger reaching its peak.

"Heng-ge'er is here!" The old lady smiled and waved to the door, where Luo Qingyan and Madam Xu helped Heng-ge'er in.

Qian raised her angry eyes. What are they doing here?

Xu is usually compliant and taciturn. Since the adoption failed, is she here to laugh at her with Hengge?

"Madam." Heng-ge'er opened his little arms and rushed into the old lady's arms. Madam Qian reached out to stop him, but Heng-ge'er dodged away.

"This child."

Ms. Qian muttered something in an annoyed tone.

"Mother." Madam Xu bowed gracefully to Madam Qian.

"Get up." Madam Qian rolled her eyes, looking disgusted. Useless thing, she didn't know how to help her figure out how to adopt Heng Ge'er, she was relying on Madam Qian all by herself.

"Mrs. Xu, Qingyan, please sit here."

The old lady gave her a look, and a servant brought a chair and placed it close to her lower side.

Everyone immediately understood the implication.

Seeing her daughter-in-law, Xu, sitting close to the old lady, Qian was so angry that she gritted her teeth.

She still didn't scold enough. She said that Xu Shi was brainless, and that she usually wouldn't say a word when she was scolded, and that she was still unconvinced.

Cui was clearly trying to ostracize her. Didn't Xu understand? Didn't she know which side to stand on? She just sat wherever she was told to. She was so stubborn.

It's unfortunate that Heng Ge'er has such a mother.

The clan elders were all men, and Qian Shi sat alone at the end, looking rather short.

Hengge'er got down from the old lady's arms and ran to Xu Shi.

Madam Xu picked up Hengge and placed him on her lap.

The old lady coughed lightly and began, "There is something we need to discuss today."

The clan elders raised their heads to face the old lady, listening attentively.

"Although the Duke's mansion has two branches, they are still one family. The Second Madam's desire to adopt Heng-ge'er is also for the sake of the Duke's mansion's future. However, since the Heir Apparent's health has improved, there is no need to mention the adoption again."

"Since we are family, Second Madam, there are some things I have to say, and it's for the good of the Duke's Mansion."

"Sister, speak! What is it? No need to beat around the bush." ​​Madam Qian stared at the old lady, wanting to see what Cui was up to.

"Then I will say it: Madam Xu has already given birth to two sons, so it is time for the Second Madam to hand over the management of the household affairs to Madam Xu."

The old lady spoke seriously, a sharp glint in her eyes.

"Hand over the management of the household?" Madam Qian gripped the chair armrests, her fingertips turning white. Madam Cui was senile; she had actually listened to Luo Qingyan's instigation and was now asking her to hand over the management of the household. Absolutely not! "Sister, I also want to have some peace and quiet, but Madam Xu has been married into the family for many years and hasn't shown any ability to manage the household or accounts."

Madam Qian glared at Madam Xu, her eyes warning her not to speak carelessly; if you're brainless, then don't speak.

The old lady chuckled softly: "You should give Xu a chance to train."

"I can manage the household and keep accounts."

A soft voice came from behind, and everyone looked to see it was Madam Xu.

Xu remained calm and composed, but only Luo Qingyan noticed that her fingertips were tightly gripping her sleeve.

"Hehe, Qian, look at yourself. You've been hiding Xu for so many years, exhausting yourself. It's time for you to take a break," the old lady said with a smile. She could tell that Xu had been suppressed by Qian, and it took her a lot of courage to say those words.

Xu was once a bright and beautiful young woman, but after seven years of marriage into the second wife's household, she had been worn down and lost all her spirit. But now she had no choice but to stand up, not for herself, but also for her two sons.

Her husband, Pei Xu, was indulging in his concubines and cared nothing for her or the affairs of the household, squandering countless sums of money every year.

Her father-in-law, Pei Wenyue, didn't have much money and was controlled by her mother-in-law, Qian Shi.

Her mother-in-law had always said that the family's income was insufficient to cover expenses, but given the scale of the Pei family's business, she didn't believe it and had long suspected there was a problem.

Before she got married, under her mother's guidance, she learned how to manage the household affairs. For a period of time, she was in charge of the household affairs. No doubt, she could manage the second wife's accounts.

"Sister, this is a matter for the second branch of the family. I will teach Xu Shi slowly." Madam Qian raised her eyebrows, telling Madam Cui not to interfere in her affairs.

"There's no time like the present, let's do it today!" the old lady said slowly, glancing at the clan elders below who were nodding in agreement, and she felt a bit more confident.

"Mrs. Qian, you should have handed over the management of the household to Mrs. Xu long ago. You can't keep putting it off," said the eldest uncle. Mrs. Qian had come to deliver gifts a couple of days ago to discuss the adoption. Afterward, he also inquired about the situation of the second branch of the family.

For many years, Ms. Qian has been supporting her family's business, yet she claims that the second wife's income is insufficient to cover expenses.

They sensed something was amiss, but the immediate matter of the adoption was of utmost importance. Pei Wen didn't mention the small amount of money Qian Shi was secretly keeping, and they didn't want to be the first to interfere.

But now that the old lady has brought it to the forefront, they'll see what the problem is.

The prosperity of the Pei family requires everyone's joint efforts to maintain.

"I won't pay." Madam Qian's angry gaze swept over the Pei family elders. They took my money and gifts, but didn't say a word in her defense.

She just stared at you, seeing how you could have the nerve.

"Mrs. Qian, the money and gifts you sent the other day were for the adoption. Now that the adoption is over, have someone return the money and gifts," the eldest uncle said.

"Yeah, yeah," the others echoed.

"Then I'd like to trouble the elders to stay at the mansion for a few more days and observe Xu's abilities and the accounts of the second branch of the family. They are all members of the Pei clan, so if you have any good suggestions, please give them to the younger generation." The old lady said with a smile.

"I hope the elders will offer you their guidance." Madam Xu rose and curtsied.

Everyone nodded with satisfaction. This Xu woman looked a bit frail, but she was quite dignified and polite. They would see how she was doing in the next couple of days.

We cannot allow the Qian family to keep sending money to them.