Chapter 297: Chapter 111: Asking for Help Chapter 297: Chapter 111: Asking for Help Zhuang Ruolan drank the Bird’s Nest Porridge that Cai Yun brought. At five months into her pregnancy, she was quite visibly showing and needed assistance while walking. According to the experienced old nanny, it was beneficial to walk around after eating to ease labor. Therefore, after finishing the porridge, Zhuang Ruolan ambled around the courtyard with Cai Yun’s support.
After the old nanny returned, she handed the letter to Ruo Lan.
Ruo Lan, helped by Cai Yun, had walked for a while, feeling so soreness in her legs. She let Cai Yun help her into the house to sit down and asked, “Besides this letter, did Cousin Miss say anything else?”
The old nanny shook her head and replied, “Cousin Miss just asked to deliver this letter to Old Master, and said nothing else, also ntioning she’s doing quite well in the Lian Mansion. However…”
Anxious, Cai Yun interjected, “Just speak up if there’s sothing; don’t beat around the bush.” She disliked maids and nannies who spoke in half-truths, which was annoying.
The old nanny recounted what she heard from a maid in the Lanxi Courtyard, “I heard from Lanxi Courtyard’s maid that Cousin Miss isn’t doing well in the Lian Mansion. The maid said that the Procurent departnt sent poor quality vegetables to Miss, with cabbage leaves full of bugs; and what’s worse is the kitchen sent spoiled breakfast to Miss. I wondered if it was true since Cousin Miss herself said she’s doing well, so I’m not sure if the maid’s words were the truth or lies.”
Upon hearing this, Ruo Lan frowned deeply. Receiving poor vegetables was not a big deal since the servants would often curry favor with those above and step on those below; but serving spoiled food to Yueyao was too excessive.
Zhuang Ruolan felt the room was a bit stuffy.
Cai Yun watched her mistress silently, recalling how she had just comnted on the weather being neither too cold nor too warm, just perfect. Now she was finding it stuffy; her mistress was indeed peculiar.
After so thought, Zhuang Ruolan asked, “Cai Yun, do you think the words of Lanxi Courtyard’s maid are true?” Zhuang Ruolan didn’t think Lady Mo would be so excessive.
Cai Yun thought for a while before saying, “The people at Lian Mansion certainly are neglecting Cousin Miss. But it’s impossible that they would send spoiled food to Cousin Miss since she’s not without backing; if Old Master finds out and brings Miss back to the Duke Mansion, Lian Mansion would lose face.”
Zhuang Ruolan also felt half-belief regarding the matter and had no intention of telling her father-in-law or husband about it. If Yueyao truly couldn’t stand it at the Lian family, she would bring it up on her own. Since she said there were no issues, it ant that it had not reached a point where she needed help. Zhuang Ruolan was just very curious, and asked, “Why would Eldest Lady Lian act this way toward a child? Does Eldest Lady Lian have any grievance against Great Aunt?” Her stepmother had used the sa tactics; but Lady Mo was not her stepmother, and to treat Yueyao this way could only be because of a major grievance with Great Aunt; otherwise, it made no sense.
Cai Yi entered the room and overheard their conversation, sharing the information she inadvertently learned, “Young Madam, Eldest Lady Lian and Second Madam have always been at odds. It is said that it started due to dowry issues; Eldest Lady Lian had sixty-four dowries carried in, whereas our Great Aunt had one hundred twenty-eight.”
Madam Ma had overshadowed Lady Mo with her dowry, becoming a joke within the Lian Mansion. She had outdone Lady Mo even before entering the family; after her arrival, favored by Old Madam, she completely suppressed Lady Mo. Madam Ma was also beloved by her husband, making Lady Mo envious in all but matters of offspring.
Ruo Lan exclaid in surprise, “Impossible, isn’t it? I heard Great Aunt is a wise and capable person! She could not do sothing so irresponsible.”
Ruo Lan, who was raised in Duke Mansion, knew that unless the wives who joined later on were of higher status, their dowries would be less. No sane person would allow their dowry to surpass that of their sister-in-law, as this would clearly incite hatred and start hostilities even before they officially joined the family. If what Cai Yi said was true, Ruo Lan was skeptical about the claims of Great Aunt’s wisdom by the mansion’s folks. Was such an act indicative of wisdom? Only a fool would do such a thing.
Cai Yun shook her head and said, “Granny Liu ntioned that Great Aunt had tried to persuade Old Lady many tis, warning that such actions would ensure discord with her sisters-in-law. Great Aunt suggested a public dowry of forty-eight carriages would suffice, hiding the rest, but Old Madam disagreed, insisting on one hundred twenty-eight. Who knew whether Old Madam was becoming senile at the ti.”
Ruo Lan fell silent; she was relieved that Old Great Lady was no longer around. If she were, it would have given her a headache too. Choosing to marry into a family without a mother-in-law was indeed the wisest decision.
In a low voice, Cai Yun said, “Speaking of which, Third Young Lady had previously supported Eldest Young Master in dealing with Lady Cheng. She is quite clever herself, yet her actions are incomprehensible.” It was either ruining her own reputation or suffering in silence, which was truly baffling.
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