Nanny Liu finally understood the bitterness the young master had felt yesterday—it was the kind of suffering you couldn’t speak of, and even if you did, no one would believe you.
Madam Meng was about to rise when she thought of something and sat back down. She called out to the servants outside, “Have her wait under the corridor first, let her learn some discipline.”
This was Chu Yun’s first time paying respects to her since marrying into the family, and Madam Meng intended to put her in her place from the start.
After saying this, Madam Meng removed the hairpins from her head one by one, rummaged through her jewelry box, and began dressing up again.
Seeing Nanny Liu’s troubled expression beside her, Madam Meng said lightly, “What are you standing there for? Don’t forget the ‘matter’ we have to attend to later.”
Nanny Liu instantly perked up as if injected with adrenaline. That’s right, how could she have forgotten the main task!
Once the truth comes to light later, let’s see how much arrogance that little wretch will have left!
Nanny Liu’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “This old servant will go prepare right away!”
Although the weather was beginning to warm up, the mornings were still chilly. Xie Zhaoshen was left waiting in Songhe Courtyard, feeling the cold wind seep into her neck.
It was already quite late, and seeing the door still tightly shut, Xie Zhaoshen asked directly, “How much longer?”
The maid from Songhe Courtyard was just as haughty as Nanny Liu. “Madam is still dressing, Young Mistress. Please wait a little longer.”
Xie Zhaoshen didn’t indulge her. She turned around decisively and started to leave, startling the maid, who hurriedly blocked her way. “Isn’t Young Mistress here to pay respects? How can you leave before your mother-in-law has even risen?”
Xie Zhaoshen replied, “I’m not here to pay respects. I’m here to collect a debt. Since she’s still in bed, I’ll come back in the afternoon.”
The maid was confused, unsure what kind of debt she was talking about. But Nanny Liu had given orders not to let the Young Mistress leave so easily, so she continued to block the way.
The commotion outside wasn’t quiet, and Madam Meng frowned when she heard it. Remembering what she had planned for later, she decided to forgo teaching discipline and ordered the door to be opened to welcome Xie Zhaoshen inside.
When Xie Zhaoshen entered, she saw a composed-looking woman sitting upright in the main seat. She assumed this was Chu Yun’s aunt.
Once Xie Zhaoshen stood still, Madam Meng glanced at the maid brewing tea nearby. “You may leave. This is my daughter-in-law’s first time paying respects to me after her marriage. Naturally, the tea should be brewed by her own hands to show her filial piety.”
The tea-brewing maid silently stepped aside, making room for Xie Zhaoshen.
With so many maids in the room, she insisted on having her sickly daughter-in-law brew the tea. Moreover, there was no chair prepared by the tea table, forcing the person brewing the tea to hunch over to perform the task. It was clear this was a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.
Zhaixing stood worriedly beside Xie Zhaoshen. The young lady had been acting so unusually these past two days, and with Madam Meng’s repeated attempts to put her in her place, it was hard to predict how the young lady would react.
Surprisingly, Xie Zhaoshen didn’t say much. She walked directly to the tea table, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to begin.
Madam Meng carefully observed the face that bore a slight resemblance to her own, momentarily lost in memories of the past.
Her relationship with Chu Yun’s mother had been quite good. Chu Yun’s mother was the legitimate daughter of the family, while she was born to a concubine. Fortunately, the main wife was kind, and the legitimate elder sister was gentle. Although she didn’t enjoy the same luxuries as her elder sister, her life with her mother wasn’t too difficult.
In their youth, she hadn’t felt much difference between herself and her legitimate elder sister. It was only when it came time for marriage that she realized the gap between them.
Her elder sister had married the illustrious Grand Tutor Chu, while she could only wed a lowly sixth-rank official like Meng Xiaozhang. In earlier years, she endured much hardship accompanying him on his provincial postings. Once Meng Xiaozhang gained some success, he eagerly took concubines, producing one illegitimate child after another, increasingly disregarding her.
When Chu Yun first arrived, Madam Meng genuinely wished to treat this niece better. But Meng Xiaozhang constantly complained about the need for political connections, insisting that without money to grease palms, his promotions would suffer.
Where would the money come from?
Naturally, it was most convenient to extract it from Chu Yun—a wealthy young lady living under their roof.
After the first time came countless others.
Each time she obtained money from Chu Yun, Meng Xiaozhang would stay in her chambers, treating her and Meng Zhuo more kindly. Both she and Meng Xiaozhang tasted the sweetness, and their greed grew.
But gradually, Chu Yun began making excuses and resisting. Meng Xiaozhang grew deeply dissatisfied, and even his attitude toward her and Meng Zhuo soured, as he spent every night in his concubines’ quarters.
Madam Meng thought of her elder sister—who, despite failing to bear a son, still enjoyed Grand Tutor Chu’s favor.
Yet she, after years of toiling for the Meng Family, couldn’t even earn her husband’s basic respect. Though her elder sister was now dead, the resentment in her heart grew stronger, leading to her scheme to push Chu Yun into the water.
Watching the daughter her elder sister had cherished and doted upon now bowing her head, humbly preparing tea for her, Madam Meng’s lips curled slightly, a hidden sense of satisfaction welling up inside.
After decades, she had finally surpassed her elder sister.
Yet in the next moment, the smile on Madam Meng’s face began to crack, piece by piece.
Beside the tea table, the tea set clattered in Xie Zhaoshen’s hands. While pouring hot water, Xie Zhaoshen lost her grip, sending scalding water flying straight toward Madam Meng.
Though the tea didn’t splash onto Madam Meng, it gave her a real fright.
As the teacup shattered on the floor, Madam Meng let out a startled scream, nearly stumbling.
Nanny Liu hurried over to support her, while Xie Zhaoshen, the culprit, shook her hand innocently. “Oh dear, this water was too hot. I lost my grip and accidentally spilled it.”
Madam Meng, still shaken, glared at Xie Zhaoshen. “How dare you!”
Xie Zhaoshen straightened her expression and turned to a maid nearby. “How dare you! Knowing I was to serve the daughter-in-law’s tea, you prepared water this hot—were you trying to scald my mother-in-law to death?”
The maid responsible for the water was utterly bewildered. Looking around helplessly, she knelt on the floor. “Forgive me, Madam, Young Mistress.”
Madam Meng’s chest heaved with anger. Recalling Nanny Liu’s words, she looked at this niece again—truly, she had changed!
No doubt she was growing bold because General Xie was about to arrive, giving her someone to rely on!
Madam Meng clenched her jaw, ready to erupt, but Nanny Liu gave a soft cough, restoring her composure.
Madam Meng took a deep breath and stiffly resumed her seat. “It’s fine.”
Xie Zhaoshen clattered the tea set again before finally presenting the tea. Madam Meng took a sip and nearly spat it out.
The tea was bitter and astringent. Had the leaves not been prepared earlier, she would have thought it was aged tea stored for over a decade.
Fuming inwardly, Madam Meng forced a kindly expression. “Now that you’ve entered the Meng Family, you are one of us. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask your mother-in-law.”
It was originally a polite remark, but who would have thought Xie Zhaoshen took it seriously: “Since my mother-in-law cares for me so much, I’ll speak frankly.”
Madam Meng replied, “Speak freely.”
Xie Zhaoshen took out a list from his sleeve: “Previously, Meng Mansion borrowed a total of sixty-three thousand seven hundred taels of silver from me, along with silks, satins, gold, silver, and jade artifacts, amounting to over eighty thousand taels. I’d like to ask, Madam, when this money can be repaid?”