The Old Madam couldn't bear to hear anyone say anything bad about Lu Xiang. She glared angrily at Yao, but she too, was also puzzled by Lu Xiang's attitude. After all, ever since Madam Liu and her daughter entered the manor, she, who had never liked to be close to anyone, became very close to Lu Mingzhu. She had even talked about how nice Madam Liu is to her.
Lu Xiang looked at the old lady guiltily and said, "Grandmother, that was insensitive of me in the past. I've calmed down and thought about it carefully these few days when I was sick. I can't tarnish Father's reputation."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Old Madam asked.
Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu stared at Lu Xiang without blinking. They pretended to be calm, but in their hearts, they wanted to cut Lu Xiang a thousand times over already.
Lu Xiang pursed her lips and said, "If nothing goes wrong, Father will be transferred back to the capital next year. There are many pairs of eyes watching him. If word gets out that our family is in chaos, I'm afraid there will be trouble… So Grandmother, can I call her Aunt Liu?" After all, Madam Liu was a mistress and was kept outside of their family for so many years.
The old lady looked at Lu Xiang in surprise. She thought to herself that this child was quite sensitive.
The Old Madam had more or less guessed that the reason why her son hadn't given Madam Liu the status of a concubine after bringing her back home, was that he wanted to make her his legitimate wife. Even the Third Lass knew that it would be fodder for their political enemies if a mistress were to enter their family and to be given the status of a concubine out of the blue. What's more, if her son were to make a mistress as his legitimate wife, wouldn't that simply be inviting trouble for himself?
Therefore, if her son did not mention it, she would pretend that she did not know anything.
"Your father didn't do a good job in this matter. Madam Liu has been in the manor for so long, so it's indeed time to give her a proper status. Otherwise, our family rules would be broken if she does not have any status, and yet remains in the family." The Old Madam said as she stroked Lu Xiang's head.
The Third Lass had become sensible! Today, she was also obviously much closer to her. The Old Madam was very gratified.
Lu Xiang rubbed against the old lady's hand and her heart ached slightly.
She had just endeared herself a little more to her grandmother, but her grandmother immediately doted on her so much more. In the past, she thought that her grandmother was cold, serious and difficult to get along with. She was simply blind to everything.
Concubine Yao looked at the warm scene of a loving grandmother and granddaughter playing out in front of her. Her expression kept changing as if she had seen a ghost.
She had been in the family for so many years that she thought she had figured out everyone's temperament. The Old Madam treated her grandchildren very well, but Lu Xiang was the one she doted on the most. However, Lu Xiang had never been willing to be close to the Old Madam. What was going on today?
Also, the words that she spoke earlier and her gaze made her feel that she has seen through her.
Concubine Yao gave Madam Liu a look before standing up and bowed to Old Madam, "Old Madam, I still have something on. I'll take my leave first."
Madam Liu said, "I will also take my leave now."
The old lady looked at Lu Xiang, who was leaning against her. She was in a good mood as she waved her hand. "Go ahead."
She wanted to have a good talk with her granddaughter. No one should disturb her.
After leaving Fuyuan Hall, Concubine Yao and Madam Liu walked side by side. The former asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"
Madam Liu's heart was filled with anger. When she heard her question, she scolded angrily, "Who knows what that little b*tch is up to today."
Concubine Yao glared at her. "Control yourself. It's not easy for you to enter the manor. Don't let your previous efforts go to waste. Isn't she on good terms with Mingzhu?" As she spoke, she looked at Lu Mingzhu.
"I don't know either." Lu Mingzhu frowned. "Did the fever fry her brain?"
Concubine Yao was speechless. You're the one who had your brain fried by fever," she thought.
Didn't you see how logical her words were with the Old Madam? She knew how to please the Old Madam. She was clearly smarter than before.
"No matter what, Mingzhu, you have to be more careful. Don't let your emotions affect your decisions. Only by roping in Lu Xiang will you be able to gain a foothold in the manor fast. There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with her in the future," Concubine Yao instructed.
Madam Liu smiled apologetically and replied, "Sister is right. We will remember it."
However, when Concubine Yao separated from her, her expression darkened and her eyes were filled with malice.
"You're telling me what to do. Why don't you take a look at yourself…" She had been in the manor for more than 10 years and did not have a single child. Finally, she managed to give birth to the youngest son of the Lu family, but the son did not gain the master's love. What right did she have to be arrogant in front of her?
Lu Mingzhu held her mother's hand and sneered, "Aunt Yao is relying on her past kindness to Mother to manipulate us."
"Her? When I become the legitimate wife, the first thing that I'll do is to chase her and her son out of the residence." She had yet to give birth to a son, so all the sons borne by the other concubines in the residence were obstacles for them mother and daughter.
Lu Mingzhu turned smug as she thought about how she was about to become the legitimate daughter of the Lu family. However, she quickly said in a worried tone, "But Mother, if Lu Xiang speaks nonsense to Old Madam, it will be very disadvantageous for us."
"Don't worry, Lu Xiang is just a little girl. What can she do? If you work hard to please her, won't she listen to you? Besides, as long as your father's heart is with us, there won't be any problems." Madam Liu patted her hand comfortingly.
These words were meant for Lu Mingzhu, but they were also what Madam Liu comforted herself with in her heart.
She was truly in love with the Master and the feeling was mutual. It was not something that any woman in the residence could compare to.
Thus, when Lu Guoping returned to the manor in the evening, Madam Liu cried and complained about her grievances.
How could this be?
How could he not stand up for the woman he loved when she was wronged?
…
Lu Xiang accompanied Old Madam for the entire day. She also slept on Old Madam's bed during her afternoon nap. Looking at her obedient and sweet granddaughter, Old Madam could not stop smiling. When Old Madam was happy, the entire Fuyuan Hall was filled with joy. At night, Nanny Wen personally cooked a few good dishes.
"Here, eat more." Seeing that Lu Xiang liked to eat braised pork trotter, the old lady picked some for her.
Lu Xiang ate happily. "Thank you, Grandmother."
Actually, she did not like to eat greasy food. After all, she was the daughter of the magistrate and had an elite status in Yangning City. As such, the more exquisite and beautiful the food she ate is, the more it would present her as someone with an elite status. However, in her previous life, when she was imprisoned by Xiao Muheng, the only things she ate were leftovers or rotten food.
After suffering such a miserable treatment, how could Lu Xiang let her stomach suffer again? Naturally, she would eat whatever was delicious and satisfy her appetite first.
Seeing that she had eaten more than half of the sauced trotter dish, Nanny Wen quickly stopped Old Madam. "Old Madam, Third Miss has just recovered from her illness. It's not good for her health to eat too much."
The old lady was stunned. "Yes, yes, you're right." Then, she turned to pick at another dish for Lu Xiang. She ate very little from the beginning to the end of the dinner.
"Grandmother, don't just focus on me. You should eat too." Lu Xiang tore off a drumstick with her bare hands and placed it in the Old Madam's bowl. Nanny Wen was stunned by her bold actions.
This… was this still the Third Miss that she knew, the one who smiled without showing her teeth and always had proper manners?
The old lady was so immersed in the joy of her granddaughter picking up food for her that she could not see anything else.
Just as the atmosphere was warm and harmonious, Lu Youping rushed in angrily and casually cupped his hands at the old madam as a form of greeting. "Mother." Then, he glared at Lu Xiang and reprimanded her, "Xiangxiang, why did you disrespect Madam Liu today? As a junior, is this how you should treat your elders? I've always taught you to be virtuous, respectful, and dignified like a legitimate daughter, but look at what you have done. You're rude and aggressive. If word gets out, outsiders will only say that I, Lu, don't know how to teach my daughter. Are you trying to embarrass me…"