Chapter 437 - 436: Stingy (Monthly Pass 630+)

Chapter 437: Chapter 436: Stingy (Monthly Pass 630+)

Mrs. Lu comforted Mrs. Xu repeatedly, saying, "These words, Third Sister-in-law, it’s best to keep them in your heart and not mention them in front of the Old Madam."

Mrs. Xu wasn’t clueless; upon hearing this, she understood immediately and nodded, "I understand, I’m not Yuan Jing."

Without any evidence, relying only on imagination, going before Madam Wu and speaking nonsense is something only Mu Yuanjing would do.

Firstly, she always spoke and acted carelessly; secondly, she is Madam Wu’s own daughter.

Even if Madam Wu treats her daughters-in-law well, daughters-in-law and daughters are different.

There are some words that a daughter-in-law absolutely cannot say.

Even if one day, Madam Wu were to ask Mrs. Lu about this matter, and even though Mrs. Lu is favored by the Old Madam, she cannot rashly agree with Mu Yuanjing’s opinions and claim certainty. That would only backfire.

The only way is to speak a few heartfelt words, consider Madam Wu’s perspective, and then express herself ambiguously, leaving the rest for Madam Wu to ponder.

Madam Wu is a wise person and will slowly understand the hints.

Besides, there’s also Nanny Shan.

It’s better to have words come from Nanny Shan’s mouth than from the mouths of the daughters-in-law.

Mrs. Xu glanced around and asked softly, "What did Eldest Sister-in-law say about it?"

Mrs. Lu pressed her lips together, "I mentioned a bit to Eldest Sister-in-law, she’s able to figure it out on her own."

Mrs. Xu nodded, her gaze sharp, "If they want to stir up trouble, I don’t believe that by uniting our families, he can control us completely!

You’re right, I can’t go to Lindong to find Lian Kang, I have to wait for them to return to the capital, and under the Old Madam’s watchful eye, I want to see how bold they are to act against us!"

Seeing Mrs. Xu angry but not losing her sense, Mrs. Lu felt much reassured and said, "Third Sister-in-law, during these days, you must ensure you eat and sleep well, and wait for Lian Kang and the others to return."

Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Lu discussed for a long time, and in Baijie Hall, Madam Wu finished her breakfast.

Mrs. Zhou quietly observed; Madam Wu’s complexion didn’t look good, not sure if it was from shedding so many tears yesterday or having something on her mind, causing her not to rest well.

After exiting, Mrs. Zhou pulled aside Nanny Shan to ask a few questions.

Nanny Shan gave a bitter smile, the words turned in her throat several times, ultimately saying, "The Old Madam, being of age, didn’t sleep well at night and ended up talking with me about the times when the young master was a child.

She recalled and cried over the good child who disappeared back then out of the blue, causing her endless worry.

She never expected in this lifetime for him to return, thought he’d be preyed upon by wolves on those winter nights in the Northern Border, and lost all chance of survival.

Now, miraculously, he has survived and returned."

Mrs. Zhou nodded, she understood Madam Wu’s intention.

Madam Wu surely spoke to Nanny Shan about Mu Yuanjing last night. Many things had never been given thought before, nor was anyone willing to break the silence on them.

And Mu Yuanjing, not afraid to speak words that might hurt Madam Wu, looks on happily from below as the Marquis Mansion bustles above, so she dares to speak.

With Mu Yuanjing’s words preceding, coupled with news of Mu Liankang, it’s hard for Madam Wu not to speculate further.

This surely troubles the Old Ancestor earnestly.

Unable to believe, unwilling to believe, and not wanting to consider it, yet these thoughts forced their way into her mind relentlessly, urging contemplation.

Mrs. Zhou went to the flower hall for the meeting; after organizing the household’s inner affairs completely, she called in Yun Qi to hand him the letters.

Yun Qi, meticulous and aware of the extraordinary contents of these letters, chose a secluded spot for the handover instead of sending Ming Liu to Willow Tree Alley.

Ming Liu, eager to rush back to Lindong, mounted his horse after receiving the letters.

Yun Qi quickly held him back, "How has Madam been in Lindong these days? Tell me a couple of things about her, my wife’s anxious to know."

"If she wants to know, why doesn’t she ask herself?" Ming Liu glanced at Yun Qi.

Yun Qi smiled, "She’s at home minding the child; you don’t know, that little troublemaker cries like thunder echoes down the alley if he can’t find his mother."

Ming Liu laughed heartily, "Come off it, isn’t it because today’s sunny, you couldn’t bear to let your wife out? Stop making excuses."

Being seen through by Ming Liu, Yun Qi wasn’t annoyed, after all, caring for one’s wife isn’t disgraceful.

"Didn’t our lord take Changping Marquis down?" Ming Liu said, "At that time, our lord led the soldiers back to Xuancheng, the eldest uncle of Madam’s family surrounded the Elder Mansion, and when the inside and outside were surrounded, they captured that group of private soldiers. Unexpectedly, some evildoers entered the government office, poured oil, and set fire to the room where Madam and the women and children of the government office were, and wielded knives to harm people.

Madam knocked the thug unconscious on the spot; that thug burned to death before Madam, scaring her into shock for half a day.

It wasn’t until our lord arrived that she was calmed down."

At first, Yun Qi found it exciting, but the more he listened, the more terrifying it became, his face whitening involuntarily.

Madam and the Du family’s women and children were almost harmed by thugs; Madam witnessed a thug burned to death, leaving her terrified—how could he tell Jin Ling this?

The moment he finishes speaking, Jin Ling would demand to go to Lindong to serve Madam right away.

Even if she didn’t go, she’d have nightmares at night.

Yun Qi glanced at Ming Liu, "You want me to tell her this?"

"What’s wrong with that? Madam is fine now." Ming Liu said, then spurred his horse and ran off, ignoring Yun Qi.

Yun Qi, his two legs no match for four hooves, was only left fuming.

Clearly, this was Ming Liu’s revenge for making him wear women’s clothes yesterday, teasing him deliberately.

"Stingy!" Yun Qi muttered, rubbing his head, and returned to Willow Tree Alley.

At the end of July in Shanyu Pass, the day heat left one sweating profusely, while night gradually turned cold.

Mu Lianxiao had been busy these days with his brother Mu Liankang, both living in the military camp, leaving only Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke, the two sisters-in-law, with the children in the small town.

Zhuang Ke hadn’t learned needlework; it wasn’t customary at the Oasis, but seeing Du Yunluo embroider sachets for Mu Lianxiao and make knots for Brother Yan, she became interested.

Du Yunluo taught her embroidery and knot making, while Zhuang Ke spoke of life outside the pass.

Singing, dancing, drinking horse milk wine, and riding camels across the desert—a life entirely different from that inside the pass—left the maids and old ladies indoors astonished.

"In our place, although free, life isn’t prosperous; we rely on the chief intercepting merchant caravans, trading goods in the city for food," Zhuang Ke said, "Ancient Meili City, I have never been, but I’ve heard the people there are quite distant to those of us living on the oasis. When I was little, I asked my father, and he said power struggles and profits are the same everywhere."

Du Yunluo pressed her lips; for such words, Zhuang Ke’s father must not be from an ordinary family. Had he tired of the competitive life to wander the world, or did he lose in the power struggle and had to flee to a distant place?