Duke Shenxiu's residence, Old Madam Nie's courtyard.
Old madam Nie drank one last spoon of the soup before setting her spoon down and signalling the maids standing by her left to clear the table. She had only eaten a little from each plate.
She leaned back on her seat and drank a cup of clear tea to rinse her mouth while the maids cleared up the table.
Her brow twitched slightly as her gaze fell on her daughter-in-law. She tilted her head and stared at the younger woman.
She had been surprised when her maid reported that the Duchess requested to join her for lunch. The two of them had never been close that just tolerated each other.
"You do not have to keep the old woman company, Fu Shi. You must have a lot to do as you prepare for Xiao Yong's birthday," she passed the cup to her maid when she was done.
"I am never too busy to spend time with you, mother," Duchess Fu replied with a smile.
