Madam Fu was furious to death and looked to Old Madam Shao for help, but Old Madam Shao glared at her irritably and said nothing.
Today, Madam Fu’s attempt to use Nanny Zhang to stir up trouble had clearly angered this kid Shao Xun. Madam Fu was simply useless, messing up everything she handled.
When Second Master Fu, the second branch’s legitimate son Shao Yan, and the third branch’s members all arrived and saw that Nanny Zhang was present, they all looked displeased and uneasy.
Second Master Fu even couldn’t help putting on elder airs to scold Shao Xun, only to be rebuked with sarcasm by Shao Xun until they almost started a quarrel.
The moment Second Master Fu revealed an indignant expression as if he wanted to argue with Shao Xun, Nanny Zhang’s fierce gaze locked right onto him. It scared Second Master Fu into hurriedly beating a retreat.
Nanny Zhang didn’t care about anything else; if she felt someone was bullying her Young Master, she would rush forward to fight them to the death.
She was willing to resort to physical action, but which of the respectable Marquis Manor masters would be willing to resort to physical action in front of a crowd? It would be far too lacking in decorum! Servants and outsiders would laugh themselves to death as if watching a joke.
Besides, Nanny Zhang’s mind was not clear, but were their minds not clear either? To bicker and fuss with Nanny Zhang, what kind of people would they become?
Shao Xun supported Nanny Zhang to take her seat, and Lin Yulan, as his wife, naturally helped look after her by Nanny Zhang’s side. Old Madam Shao and the others partook of this evening meal with heavy, stifled hearts.
After all, who would want to share a table with someone mentally unstable?
Especially since Madam Fu had a guilty conscience and was terrified that Nanny Zhang might suddenly rise up and strike her, she was on tenterhooks the entire time.
Not a single word of the full stomach of pre-planned condescension and sarcasm dared to be uttered.
Throughout this evening meal, the only ones who ate well were Shao Xun, Lin Yulan, and Nanny Zhang.
Nanny Zhang was evidently extremely happy, smiling brightly as she looked at the Young Master and then at Lin Yulan, occasionally sweeping her gaze over the others—making everyone’s hair stand on end and tremble with fear.
After dinner, Old Madam Shao impatiently had Shao Xun and Lin Yulan send Nanny Zhang back.
“Nanny Zhang is getting on in years, and she’s in this sort of state. Hurry and send her back. Tell Youguijia and Xiaoping to be more attentive from now on, and don’t let her run around everywhere. If something were to happen, it would be hard to say.”
This was Old Madam Shao showing goodwill, implying that she would not let Madam Fu scheme against Nanny Zhang again in the future.
Shao Xun knew the wet nurse’s condition better than anyone else. He wasn’t afraid of trouble, but he was afraid that Madam Fu would be driven to desperation and harm the wet nurse. Stepping back and making mutual concessions wasn’t entirely unacceptable.
Shao Xun let out a cold laugh. “Old Madam is right. I’ll have people take good care of Nanny Zhang, and Second Aunt must also keep her servants in line so that they have nothing better to do than go provoking Youguijia and Xiaoping.”
Madam Fu was fit to burst with anger.
As Shao Xun and the others left, the members of the third branch also wisely and obediently took their leave.
Second Master Fu ungraciously scolded Madam Fu: “Why on earth did you go provoking that madwoman? She’s crazy—if she really kicks up a fuss, it doesn’t matter if she loses face, but do you not care about yours either?”
Old Madam Shao also blamed Madam Fu: “You truly accomplish nothing and ruin everything. I’ve said it long ago, don’t harbor ideas about that madwoman. Is our Marquis Manor a household that cannot accommodate a single mad old woman? If our reputation is ruined, let’s see how you—hmph!”
They had gone to great lengths to ruin Shao Xun’s reputation; if their own reputations were ruined as well, did they still want the peerage? Keep dreaming.
Moreover, that madwoman was Shao Xun’s reverse scale. If something really happened to her, who knew what kind of madness Shao Xun might unleash?
Madam Fu lowered her head, with no choice other than to listen to the reprimand, apologizing obediently before her mother-in-law while feeling utterly aggrieved in her heart. Today’s matter was something she had clearly discussed with her husband beforehand, and her husband had tacitly agreed. Now that it hadn’t worked out, everything was being blamed on her.
After leaving the Longevity Hall, Shao Xun smiled at Lin Yulan: “I didn’t expect the wet nurse to really like you so much. Thank you for looking after her tonight.”
Lin Yulan smiled: “This is what your concubine ought to do; the Marquis needn’t be so courteous.”
Shao Xun gave a light laugh. Given the wet nurse’s condition, not everyone could do as she had done. No one was willing to spend time with a madwoman; if they hadn’t gone too far, he wouldn’t have deliberately brought the wet nurse along to disgust them and knock some sense into them. He thoroughly disliked the way they looked at the wet nurse and their attitude toward her.
“You head back first; I’ll take the wet nurse back first.”
“Alright, take care on your way, Marquis.”
Watching Shao Xun support Nanny Zhang away into the distance, Lin Yulan led Xiao Qu and Cailian back to the Chunhui Courtyard.
Before long, Shao Xun returned, and after washing up, the two of them went back to the bedroom.
“This master has no patience for anyone standing night watch. You may all withdraw!”
“Yes…”
Lin Yulan was more than happy for this. With no one on night watch, the two of them as a fake couple didn’t need to be on guard.
On the point of being a fake couple, the two of them shared a tacit understanding. Evidently, neither was interested in the other.
“Right, Marquis, in a couple of days we return to visit my family…”
Shao Xun replied without hesitation: “I will naturally go with you. As for the return gifts, you needn’t worry; Second Aunt will prepare them properly.”
Everyone knew that the Martial Might Marquis Manor was managed by the second branch. If any mistakes were made in the return gifts, it would be Madam Fu and the second branch losing face.
The second branch was putting all their effort into establishing a good reputation in high-society circles to build momentum for seizing the peerage; they wouldn’t let slipups happen in such matters.
Lin Yulan’s brows relaxed, and she smiled and nodded, saying very well.
Since the second branch cared about their reputation, that made things much easier to handle.
What she feared most was actually a reckless madwoman like Lin Yuwei, or a ruthless person of crushing status behind closed doors like Madam Gu who could act with total impunity.
The two chatted for a bit longer, then retired to rest just as they had the night before.
Lin Yulan originally wanted to proactively offer to switch with Shao Xun, letting him sleep on the bed while she went to sleep on the daybed behind the partition of the second room. On second thought, she abandoned the idea.
In this lifetime, she didn’t want to be so virtuous anymore.
The towering canopy bed was wide, large, and soft; she didn’t want to give it up.
If she didn’t want to, then she simply wouldn’t.
Shao Xun actually wanted to sleep on the bed as well, as that daybed was truly a bit narrow and short, making it hard for his long arms and legs to stretch out.
Unfortunately, this virtuous wife of his had completely no intention of yielding, and he hadn’t the face to bring it up either.
Never mind, she would just have to make do.
The next morning, after the two of them finished breakfast, Shao Xun went out.
In the outer study, Shao Xun finished reading the letter submitted by the secret guard Shao Yi and felt immensely pleased in his heart.
Throwing the letter into the incense burner and watching the wisp of blue smoke rise, Shao Xun said, “My uncle’s letter says they have found the medicinal herbs to detoxify the wet nurse, and my third cousin and cousin-sister will soon set out for the capital, bringing them along at the same time!”
Shao Yi was overjoyed: “Really? That’s wonderful! The Young Master can finally rest assured!”
Shao Xun also wore a face full of smiles and continued, “How are matters in the Ministry of Revenue going? Has the Ministry of War been quietly managed?”
Shao Yi smiled: “Rest assured, Young Master. The Ministry of Revenue is still a bit short, but the Ministry of War has already been connected; there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Shao Xun nodded: “Don’t let up. Also, dispatch two people to keep an eye out for my third cousin and cousin-sister. The capital is not like the northern border; the sooner we pick them up, the sooner we can rest easy.”
“Yes.”
Lin Yulan went to the Longevity Hall to pay her respects to the Old Madam.
Old Madam Shao was clearly very unhappy about the events of the family banquet last night and had vented her anger somewhat onto Lin Yulan. Her expression was rather lukewarm as she only laughed and chatted with her granddaughters, intentionally leaving Lin Yulan hanging.
Lin Yulan didn’t care.
Besides, she wasn’t the only one left hanging; there was also the Third Young Miss, Shao Zhiyun.
Although Shao Zhiyun was a legitimate daughter, her father was born of a concubine. Before Old Madam Shao, she likewise held no status whatsoever and could not compare with the two young misses of the second branch.