The Second Concubine was livid, but much more calculating than the Third Concubine.
Her daughter, Hua Mengshi smiled in an attempt to please Madam Hua, "Grandma, sister Qiyue is so filial. You are very lucky."
Madam Cheng agreed with a smile. "My Madam, Mengshi is right. Qiyue is finally sensible now. It indeed benefits our family, especially you. We apologize for our misunderstanding of Qiyue."
The Old Madam appeared to be calmed by their words and asked Hua Qiyue and Tianci to sit beside her, ignoring Madam Cheng's complaints about Qiyue's hiding of rare medicinal herbs.
Lvxin and Youshui looked at each other, confused. Was what happened to the Third Concubine and Hua Xiaoyi the show Hua Qiyue had told them to expect?
The Old Madam sat on the white jade couch carved with a dragon and phoenix. It was no surprise she picked the coolest couch during the mugginess of June.
Tianci timidly sat beside the Old Madame. At the sight of his scarred hands, she couldn't help expressing her sympathy for him. "I can't believe that there are people hard-hearted enough to abuse such a sweet child. Tianci, you can stay here and enjoy your days from now on. The Hua family will take good care of you."
Tianci gently nodded his head after timidly glancing at Qiyue.
"My child, you have suffered... but you appear to have brought luck to our family, and for that, I am grateful." The old Madam Hua took Tianci's hand in one hand and Qiyue's in the other.
Hua Qiyue gave a slight smile. Her grandmother clearly understood the value of the Long Reds.
Tianci's eyes came to rest on the watermelon brought into the room.
Madam Cheng said, "Ah, the watermelon. Mengshi had it sent out from the Sky City, a thousand miles away. The soil here is poor, so it is difficult for people to get sweet watermelon."
Hua Mengshi smiled softly as Madam Hua looked at her with praise.
Hua Qiyue fed Tianci a piece of watermelon. He happily bit into it and fixed his black eyes on her.
Then he turned his big clear eyes at Madam Hua and opened his mouth, but no words came out.
A mist quickly swept over Hua Qiyue's eyes.
Madam Hua said, "My child, don't be sad. He has you now; his good days are coming."
Hua Qiyue nodded her head silently, which made the old Madam Hua in a good mind and give Qiyue a piece of watermelon.
Hua Mengshi was so angry she almost threw up. But she couldn't do anything in front of Madame Hua, so she suppressed it.
When Hua Qiyue was enjoying the rare watermelon, Mr. Wang, the housekeeper arrived and asked Madam Hua whether she would take part in the charity held at Mercy Temple.
Mercy Temple was funded by donations, which allowed the monks to adopt orphans and sick children. It even got praise from the emperor.
Every year the temple would hold a charity event. As one of the capital's rich families, the Hua Mansion had participated every year.
"Of course! How could we say no to charity? It all goes to benefit future generations. Mr. Wang, I have decided to donate 5000 ounces of silver this year."
Madam Hua was always more generous when she was in a good mood.
Mr. Wang was amazed — that was five times Madam Hua's usual donation!
"Grandma, when I plant more Long Reds, we will get more money. How about donating 10,000 ounces of silver this year? I'll pay 5,000."
Looking at those dark eyes, Madam Hua was stunned, despite herself. Hua Qiyue had suddenly become so assertive.
"Great! Master Xuanji was right, Qiyue — you have, indeed, become mature. Adopting a son has taught you about human nature. Mr. Wang, please take orders from Lady Qiyue and donate 10,000 ounces of silver."
Mr. Wang smiled at Madam Cheng and said, "My Madam, please have the money ready as soon as possible. The donation activities start tomorrow, which means we have to set off this afternoon."
On hearing the words, Madam Cheng changed her face. She had taken charge of the account books and money for years, because she bore a boy for Hua's Mansion; and considering her cleverness and shrewdness, Madam Hua had allowed her to take charge of the accounts since the death of Hua Qiyue's mother.
Hua's Mansion had always been paid tribute, plus it ran a cloth shop which earned money every day. This had led to Madam Cheng giving a great deal of money to her parents' family from time to time in private. When they'd found she didn't have permission to do so, they blackmailed her — if she stopped giving them money, they'd tell Madam Hua.
On top of that, she'd been embezzling money to fund Qi Art training and enhancement drugs for her children.
Even with the 5,000 ounces of silver from the sale of the Long Reds in her pocket, there was only 3,000 in the treasury.
Maybe she could pawn her jewelry to make up the difference.
"Could you spare me some more time to arrange it?" Madam Cheng said quickly with a smile.
Madam Hua wasn't happy with this.
In her opinion, a donation was a very important event, because money may come and go quickly, but virtue, luck, and reputation take time to build. And once the reputation was ruined, it was very difficult to win it back again.
"Madam Cheng, what's wrong with you? 10,000 is far less than what's in the treasury.
Besides, we will get more money after Qiyue sells her Long Reds. We should accumulate merits, so don't be mean with the money. We can earn more of it."
Hua Qiyue cleaned the watermelon juice around Tianci's mouth, seemingly unaware of the conversation around her. Tianci looked around and then lay down on the couch to play with the Buddha beads she had given him.
Hua Qiyue stood up and offered madam Hua half a cup of scented tea in a respectful way.
"Grandma, please calm down and enjoy some scented tea. Only half a cup — the doctor must have told you that old people should not drink too much tea."
Madam Hua grimaced. She enjoyed her tea, and Hua Mengshi had acquired this specially for her. But she knew Qiyue was right, so she nodded and gracefully accepted the cup.
Meanwhile, Madam Cheng had realized she couldn't hide the money situation any longer.
She flopped to her knees. "There are only 3,000 ounces of silver in the treasury. It is all my fault. I… I used to help Qianming and Mengshi improve their Qi Art."
Madam Hua cast a cold eye on Madam Cheng.
Hua Mengshi quickly knelt down to intercede on her mother behalf.
All the servants shook with fear. Everything was happening so quickly, and no one knew how Madam Hua might react, or who she would take out her displeasure on.
Mr. Wang also knelt down, and said, "My Madam, I'm guilty, too..."
Lady Qiyue's words from the Cuihua Court, mere minutes ago, rang in his ears.
"Mr. Wang, if you play by my rules, there will be more money in it for you, otherwise, you will be charged with theft. My grandmother will listen to me — just you watch."
"How dare you embezzle money from the treasury! Madam Cheng, this is a crime against the whole family! Especially to me, who entrusted you with such responsibility.
Am I dead to you or something?" Old Madam thumped on the desk.
Tianci jumped, startled. Hua Qiyue quickly grabbed him into her arms and gave him a comforting pat on the back.
Lvxin and Youshui were delighted. It turned out that this was the show Lady Qiyue had been talking about.
In the old days, they had always been bullied by the Second Concubine. Lady Qiyue was always bruised, as well. But no one dared to speak a word in front of the Old Madame.
Seeing Madam Cheng crying on the floor in front of Madam Hua was incredibly satisfying.
"My Madam, please spare my life... For my love for my children, please forgive me, My Madam!" Madam Cheng was frightened and her bowels had turned to water.
Hua Mengshi's eyes turned red and begged for mercy. "Dear grandma, please don't be so angry. My mother was possessed and lost her head..." Hua Mengshi implored in low tones.
She noticed Hua Qiyue sitting calmly, patting Tianci's back gently, and her eyes were so cold that Hua Mengshi even shivered.
"Your mother may be possessed. But have you also lost your head? Don't you know how much it takes to buy drugs? Qi Art requires time and experience to make gradual progress. Seeking a quick success is like seeking a quick death. You two disappoint me!" the Old Madam shouted. She was not a Qi Artist herself, but she still knew a few things.
Qi Artists spend time improving their ability. Drugs could improve the user's ability, but only at the risk of harming one's meridian, triggering pain, paralysis, or even death.
"My Madam, please don't blame Mengshi. It is all my fault... I lost my head. My Madam, please punish me severely."