The old lady also felt relieved.
That's why she has to protect her two children even more!
"Prepare pen and ink." The old lady rose from the soft couch and, supported by Granny Xu, walked to the table in the side room. "I want to send a letter to Consort Chen."
Granny Xu dared not neglect her duties and personally laid out the paper and ground the ink.
After blowing the ink off the letter, the old lady sealed it herself and handed it to Granny Xu.
"Be very careful and don't let unrelated people notice."
******
Rongshantang.
After dinner, Mingwei and Mingxi were accompanying the old lady for a walk in the yard to help her digest.
"My second sister said she has a big mat made of ice silkworm silk, a tribute from the Western Regions. It's extremely cool even in the hottest days of summer," Mingwei said excitedly about the things she was going to bring. "I'm taking it with me this time; I want to sleep in the same room as my second sister!"
"Grandmother, why don't you come with us too!" Mingwei suddenly suggested. "My second sister and I will stay with you and rest!"
The old lady shook her head with amusement, a hint of playfulness in her gentle tone. "I'm getting old, not like you young girls, I can't stand it. Besides, I know you were just pretending to invite me, and you're definitely not happy that I disturbed your sisters' private conversation!"
Mingwei smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "Grandmother—" After saying that, she looked at Mingqian with her eyes, her plea for help very obvious.
When Mingxi saw this, she didn't defend Mingwei, but just smiled with her lips pursed.
The old lady looked at this and that, and immediately felt satisfied.
However, the warm atmosphere between the three of them was quickly broken. Dongmei walked in hurriedly from the door and whispered, "Grandma, Second Madam has come to pay her respects!"
Why do you come to pay your respects morning and evening?
Mingwei frowned upon hearing this, feeling somewhat uneasy. The old lady had never paid much attention to these concubine's wives, nor did she force them to follow any rules. Summer days are long and it was just as the lanterns were being lit, and ever since the old lady had given the second wife a good scolding, she rarely dared to go to the old lady's courtyard to cause trouble.
They're coming to our door so eagerly, it probably doesn't mean anything good!
The old lady was clearly surprised. After a moment of contemplation, she asked Dongmei to invite the second wife in and told Mingwei and Mingqian to return to the side courtyard.
Mingwei was taken away by Mingqian, full of doubts, and was still secretly guessing the second wife's purpose.
"Your daughter-in-law greets Mother!" The second wife's expression was unusually respectful today, and her smile carried an unsettling hint of obsequiousness.
The old lady was much colder in response to the second wife's enthusiasm. She simply responded with a nod and then remained silent.
"Isn't Seventh Sister serving the Old Madam?" Second Madam said solicitously, "If she's wrong, just discipline her. As the saying goes, jade must be carved to become a gem..."
The old lady interrupted the second wife with a cold expression. "Seventh Girl is the most sensible, and she and Second Girl are very close. You are only Seventh Girl's aunt now. If you continue to talk nonsense like this, I won't stand for it!"
The second wife nodded awkwardly.
Actually, she knew the old lady's attitude from the moment she entered the courtyard and didn't see Mingwei or Mingqian; the old lady wanted to completely sever her ties with Mingwei. The second wife was well aware that the old lady disliked her, but thinking of the man's tempting offer, she couldn't help but be tempted.
“You’re right!” The second wife stepped forward, unusually obedient, and said, “You’re right, I’ve learned my lesson.”
Her humble manner made it difficult for the old lady to lash out, so she had no choice but to ignore her.
"My daughter-in-law has raised Seventh Girl for over ten years, and her feelings for her run deep. She can't let go of her for a while." Seeing that the old lady ignored her, the second wife still shamelessly said, "It's understandable that she can't let go for a while. Please forgive her." As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes.
Seeing that the old lady remained unmoved, the second wife could no longer contain herself.
"My daughter-in-law went back to the Duke of Ying's mansion today." She raised her face, not bothering to keep anyone in suspense, and said with great pride, "You'll never guess who I met—it was Princess Deguang! Princess Deguang's husband and my sister-in-law are related by blood. He came to our Duke of Ying's mansion today, and when he saw me, he only said that Consort Shu is very fond of our seventh daughter—"
Before the second wife could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the old lady. The old lady's face darkened, and she asked sternly, "Did you go back on your own, or did your family send a letter asking you to return?"
The second wife was stunned.
She had assumed the old lady would be greatly surprised and then ask more questions out of interest, but she never expected such a question!
"It was my eldest sister-in-law who sent the message..." The second wife dared not lie to the old lady anymore, and her voice gradually weakened. "But Princess Deguang told my daughter-in-law that Consort Shu wants Seventh Girl to be the concubine of Prince Cheng's heir! This is an immense honor!" At this point, the second wife suddenly gained confidence: "You love Seventh Girl the most, so you must want her to have a bright future!"
"Given Seven's status, she already has a future that's already quite remarkable—"
"Shut up!" The old woman trembled with rage. She roared, "Ignorant fool, what do you know! Don't say such nonsense again, get out!"
The second wife was extremely surprised, clearly not expecting the old lady to oppose it so strongly.
Overwhelmed by the old lady's imposing manner, she weakly murmured, "Princess Deguang said she wants to see Mingwei tomorrow, and I... I agreed..."
The old lady showed no mercy, her gaze sharp, as if she could see right into the second wife's heart.
"I've already said that Seventh Girl's affairs have nothing to do with you anymore!"
******
Outside the Qingliang Hall.
After hesitating for a long time, Consort Chen finally made up her mind.
She beckoned to the young eunuch in red who was standing by.
"Please inform His Majesty on my behalf." Consort Chen's voice was not loud, but it was firm. "I have important matters to discuss with His Majesty."
*******************The following is supplementary content from January 8th******************
The next morning, the old lady took Mingwei and Mingqian out early.
When the second wife arrived in a fit of rage, the three generations of the family had already left the Chengping Marquis's residence. Even if the old lady hadn't left, she wouldn't have dared to forcefully stop her.