ng Qianqian nodded.
Shopkeeper Liu chuckled and backed out.
Madam Lu paused and said to Jade Lotus, "Jade Lotus, go to the carriage and fetch a cloak."
"Yes, Madam."
Jade Lotus went out.
ng Qianqian could tell Madam Lu had deliberately sent Jade Lotus away, likely to speak with her in private.
Madam Lu said, "Qianqian, regarding your great-grandmother, I don’t believe I’ve ever brought it up with you."
ng Qianqian asked, "What about her?"
Madam Lu sighed and said, "Your great-grandmother has endured a hard life. She dedicated herself to the Lu Family for her entire life. Fortunately, she t you, soone who treats her as if she were your own great-grandmother and shows her such filial piety, so her old age isn’t so lonely after all."
ng Qianqian sensed there was more behind Madam Lu’s words but remained calm and said, "Great-grandmother is surrounded by children and grandchildren. Even without , she still has Master Lu and Lu Lingxiao to care for her."
Madam Lu sighed again, her expression complicated as she explained, "My father-in-law is not the Old Madam’s biological son. He is an illegitimate child. The Old Madam had a son once, but he passed away early."
ng Qianqian suddenly understood.
So it turned out that the old man from the Lu Family who had gone to You State to scam a marriage wasn’t the direct son of her great-grandmother.
She always wondered—how could such a kind-hearted great-grandmother have given birth to a scoundrel who swindled and cheated everywhere?
Cheating the ng Family’s money, lending money at high interest to harm others—he didn’t inherit an ounce of her great-grandmother’s kindness.
What a pity for her great-grandmother’s child.
If he had survived, he would surely have grown into a man of great integrity.
Truly, they say good people don’t live long, while troublemakers linger for centuries.
Madam Lu lanted, "The pain of losing a child cuts to the bone. Your great-grandmother’s mory fading these days may not be such a bad thing. I can tell you truly care for her. It’s different with the Lu Family. They show filial piety to the Old Madam because the Supre Emperor values her. But if one day the Supre Emperor were to... pass, the Old Madam’s days won’t be as peaceful."
ng Qianqian didn’t find Madam Lu’s words exaggerated at all—this was exactly the kind of thing the Lu Family would do.
ng Qianqian said, "I will take good care of Great-grandmother."
Madam Lu held ng Qianqian’s hand. "With you looking after her, I can be at ease."
As they talked, Tan’er dragged a young attendant upstairs and kicked him into the room. "Sister, I caught him! He’s the one who did it!"
The attendant fell flat on his face, dirtied his mouth, and imdiately looked at ng Qianqian and Madam Lu. He hastily kowtowed to both. "Please spare , noble ladies! I didn’t do it on purpose! I’m just a tavern attendant. While wiping the table, I accidentally knocked over the brazier, nearly causing harm to you. I deserve to die!"
Tan’er snapped fiercely, "If you deserve to die, then let help you out, N!"
"rcy! rcy—"
The attendant was terrified, trembling and pleading.
Madam Lu said, "Forget it, let him go."
Tan’er was stunned. "Let him go?"
Tan’er looked at ng Qianqian.
ng Qianqian said, "Let him go."
"Count yourself lucky, N!"
Tan’er kicked the man out of the room.
Madam Lu turned to ng Qianqian. "It’s getting late. You should head back soon. If your great-grandmother doesn’t see you, she might start looking for you."
"Alright."
ng Qianqian agreed.
As if rembering sothing, Madam Lu gently reminded, "What I just told you, don’t bring it up to your great-grandmother. She’s already forgotten, and there’s no need to upset her again."
ng Qianqian nodded. "Alright, I understand."
-
After parting from Madam Lu, ng Qianqian went with Tan’er to buy candied hawthorns.
When they arrived back at the residence, Steward Cen hurried over, panting heavily. "Young Madam, you’re finally back..."
ng Qianqian asked, "Did sothing happen?"
Steward Cen clutched his old back, struggling to catch his breath. "Two pieces of news: one good, one bad."
ng Qianqian said, "Start with the good news."
Steward Cen replied, "Princess Wanping has returned to the capital."
ng Qianqian let out a soft "hmm." "My husband in action—always different. And the bad news?"
Steward Cen looked anxious. "Young Master Ji is missing."
ng Qianqian: "Missing, as in—?"
Steward Cen sighed. "The Grand Commander already brought him back to the residence. But the mont Young Master Ji heard he’s to beco a Prince Consort, he got so scared he imdiately ran away—"
ng Qianqian let out a relieved laugh. "I was wondering what it was about. Ji Li, co out."
Steward Cen froze in surprise, looking around.
Tan’er, munching on her candied hawthorn, also looked around in curiosity. "Where’s the chicken?"
ng Qianqian said coolly, "I’ll count to three. If you don’t co out, I’ll plaster every street and alley with posters of your naked, moonlit–"
Ji Li slid into the room, flustered and enraged. "Little Yin Hu! Shut your mouth around this Commander Guard—"
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