News spread as if on wings, swiftly flying through the rear courtyards of the Sheng Residence.
"Is this true? The Marquise of Ningyuan… bestowed generous gifts on Wei Shi alone?" In Linxi Pavilion, Lin Qinshuang paused abruptly while placing a hairpin upon hearing the report from her trusted confidante Xue Niang. The lotus-patterned hairpin nearly pricked her scalp.
"Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! An exquisite white jade blessing bracelet and a package of tonic medicine brought from the capital! They say… they say it's for Madam Wei to nourish her health." Xue Niang lowered her voice, yet her tone carried a provocative edge. "Who would have thought that Madam Wei, usually so quiet and unassuming, would have such fortune to catch the Marquise's eye?"
"Fortune?" Lin Qinshuang sneered, slapping the hairpin heavily onto the dressing table with a crisp sound. "I think her seductive skills have improved! She must have deliberately put on that pitiful look under the corridor to win the Marquise's sympathy! What deep cunning! I truly underestimated that low-born wretch!" The more she spoke, the angrier she became. "I've worked tirelessly managing this household, serving the master diligently. When have I ever received such honor? How does she, a charmless, wooden block without favor, deserve it?!"
At this moment, Lin Qinshuang was furious. Her usually languid, half-reclining posture straightened instantly. Her fingertips trembled, and her jealousy-flushed appearance was exactly like a wild cat whose food had been snatched away—where was the delicate, willow-like frailty now? Her voice turned shrill. "That wretch must have deliberately seduced her! She's becoming more and more presumptuous! I'll go speak to the master right now! Such a shameless concubine who stirs up trouble and flaunts herself deserves proper discipline!"
After Sheng Hong returned to the residence, Lin Qinshuang, with pearly tears, invited him to Linxi Pavilion.
She did not directly complain about the gifts. Instead, she delicately dabbed her tears with a corner of her embroidered handkerchief and said mournfully, "Hong-lang, we had distinguished guests at home today, which is a great honor. But… but Sister Shuyi… Ah, perhaps I'm overthinking. She's usually timid, yet today she appeared before the Marquise's carriage, drawing special attention and receiving private, lavish gifts… I'm afraid, afraid that outsiders unaware of the circumstances might think our Sheng Family's inner quarters are disorderly, that our concubines lack propriety, and tarnish Hong-lang's official reputation for no reason…"
Her words, laced with barbs and evasion, successfully stirred Sheng Hong's suspicion and displeasure—he was inherently selfish and particularly valued his official reputation and dignity. Hearing this, he immediately frowned. "Is this true? Wei Shi is so unaware of propriety?!"
When Madam Wei was summoned to Shou'an Hall, she was pale with fright, unsure what undeserved calamity had befallen her now.
Sheng Hong, with a displeased expression, was about to question her when Old Madam Sheng, seated at the head, slowly set down her teacup. That faint clink sounded exceptionally clear in the silent hall, making Sheng Hong swallow the words on his lips. His eyes darted furtively toward Old Madam Sheng.
Just then, hurried footsteps accompanied by some commotion were heard outside. The curtain was lifted, and Wang Ruofu strode in briskly. She wore a plain, ink-black Hangzhou silk jacket, with only a sandalwood hairpin in her hair. A faint scent of incense from the temple still lingered about her—clearly, she had rushed over immediately upon returning from worship after hearing the news.
"Oh my! What's going on here? I just went to the temple for a bit, and the house is already this lively?" As soon as she entered, her eyes swiftly swept across the scene—her displeased mother-in-law, her embarrassed husband, Wei Shi trembling on her knees, and Lin Qinshuang, who, despite keeping her head lowered, could not conceal the jealousy and resentment in her expression.
She immediately understood the situation somewhat, especially after hearing her trusted maid whisper a quick report with fragmented phrases like "Marquise" and "rewarding Wei Shi." Instantly, her eagerness to stir up trouble and her feeling of "finally being able to outdo Lin Qinshuang" surged! She had finally seized an opportunity!
First, she properly paid her respects to the old lady: "Greetings, Mother. Your daughter-in-law has returned late."
Without waiting for anyone else to react, she turned to Sheng Hong, her voice involuntarily rising a few notches with exaggerated surprise: "Husband, you're here too? What major event has happened that warrants such a grand fuss? I vaguely heard earlier that a distinguished guest visited the mansion today? And it was the Marquise of Ningyuan, such an esteemed personage? Oh my, this is truly an immense honor! It must be due to your esteemed virtue, Mother, that we have such good fortune!" After flattering the old lady, she shifted her tone, her eyes glancing toward Lin Qinshuang with pointed meaning: "This is an excellent matter, so why do I sense… someone has displeased Mother and Husband? Could it be that someone is narrow-minded, unable to bear seeing others prosper, and offended the esteemed guest? Or perhaps… stirred up trouble out of jealousy over trivial matters?" Though she did not name anyone, her gaze and tone clearly directed the accusation at Lin Qinshuang.
The old lady gave her a faint glance but did not respond. Her eyes slowly swept over everyone present before finally settling on Lin Qinshuang: "The Marquise's visit today was out of respect for this old woman's humble reputation. Rewarding Wei Shi was an act of kindness by the Marquise, meant to accumulate blessings and virtue for her own child. How is it that, in the eyes of some, such an immense honor has become a crime?"
Lin Qinshuang felt a chill in her heart under that gaze and quickly lowered her head, smoothing a strand of hair by her temple as she spoke guiltily: "This humble concubine wouldn't dare…"
"Wouldn't dare?" The old lady's voice was not loud, but each word carried immense weight. "I think you dare quite a lot! All day long, instead of thinking about how to bring harmony to the household, you only engage in gossip, spread rumors, and sow discord! Is it because the Sheng Family has been too peaceful and stable lately that you must stir up trouble to satisfy yourself?"
Wang Ruofu listened with great delight, unable to suppress a hint of smugness on her face. She quickly covered the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief to barely hold back her smile, but she did not forget to glare fiercely at Lin Qinshuang, as if saying, "See? Mother sees everything clearly!"
The old lady then turned to Sheng Hong, her tone filled with pain and disappointment: "Hong'er! As the head of the family and an official of the court, you fail to investigate and understand matters clearly, listening only to biased words and believing them. Just because of a few words from a woman, you suspect and reprimand your own family? Where is your discernment? Where is your sense of responsibility! Is the family tradition of our Sheng Family to mistreat the weak and indulge concubines?!"
These words, spoken with resounding force, made Sheng Hong flush with shame and break into a cold sweat. He hurriedly stood up and clasped his hands in apology: "Mother, please calm your anger! It was my foolishness, my negligence!"
"Utterly foolish!" Old Madam Sheng's anger had yet to subside, her sandalwood cane striking the ground heavily. "Today, I shall set a rule! The Marquise's reward to Wei Shi is Wei Shi's fortune, and more importantly, the Sheng Family's honor! Should anyone dare to gossip, stir up trouble, or show the slightest disrespect or withhold anything from Wei Shi—" Her gaze, cold as ice, swept over Lin Qinshuang and Xue Niang. "No matter who it is, they shall face the family discipline without leniency!"
Wang Ruofu felt a surge of pride and relief, her entire body at ease, and she nearly exclaimed aloud, "Mother is wise!" Finally, the arrogance of these petty individuals had been crushed!
The storm subsided abruptly under Old Madam Sheng's thunderous intervention.
Lin Qinshuang, humiliated and disgraced, was reprimanded and sent back to Linxi Pavilion, claiming illness and refusing to emerge. Xue Niang was publicly rebuked, her dignity shattered. Sheng Hong, aware of his own fault, spent several consecutive nights in his study.
The white jade bracelet and tonics were personally delivered to Madam Wei's courtyard by Mama Fang, who stood by Old Madam Sheng's side, clearly conveying the old madam's instructions in front of everyone. Madam Wei held the sudden "generous reward" as if it were a hot potato, her heart filled with unease and confusion, yet faintly sensing a long-lost warmth of being noticed. She bowed respectfully in the direction of Shou'an Hall.
Inside Shou'an Hall, candlelight flickered.
Mama Fang, gently massaging Old Madam Sheng's legs, sighed softly. "The Marquise's casual act of kindness is like a stone thrown into still water, stirring up these ripples." Old Madam Sheng, resting with her eyes closed, replied calmly, "Water too clear breeds no fish, yet water too murky is no good either. A warning is necessary to remind some of their place." She paused, her mind flashing to those clear yet overly tranquil eyes. "But who knows… whether this is the beginning of fortune or misfortune."