Inside the gently swaying carriage, Zhao Changting looked disapprovingly at Old Madam seated in the main seat.
Old Madam leaned to the right to avoid his gaze, but even when she couldn’t see him, she still felt as if needles were pricking her back—because she knew he was watching her, had been watching her all along, with a face full of disapproval, as if looking at an unreasonable child!
Old Madam couldn’t bear it any longer and abruptly turned back to face him: “What exactly do you want to say? Just say it, don’t look at me like that—it makes me uncomfortable all over!”
Zhao Changting: “Grandmother…”
But as soon as Zhao Changting spoke, Old Madam interrupted him again: “Alright, don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it.”
Zhao Changting fell silent for a moment: “…Then why did you ask me to speak?”
Old Madam: “Who told you to keep looking at me like that? It gives me the creeps.”
Zhao Changting sighed helplessly: “Grandmother, what you did was truly…”
“I did nothing wrong!” Old Madam cut him off once more. “Seven years ago, I wanted to do this. If it weren’t for that old hag Peng, how could you have gone to the bitter, cold lands of Mobei at such a young age and suffered so much?”
“Seven years ago, I held back for your sake and A Zhi’s, for your eldest uncle and Old Master Tang, for the long-standing friendship between our families and the Tang Family. But you don’t know how deeply this has troubled me all these years!”
“She already made one grave mistake, and I spared her. But what does she do? She tries to scheme against you again, and she can’t even control her foolish daughter-in-law from plotting against Ah Hui. Slapping her twice today was too lenient!”
Zhao Changting could only reply helplessly: “You are merely the Houfu Laofuren, but she is the Guogong Mansion’s Old Madam.”
Not to mention that taking direct action like this was unbecoming of their status, from the Changping Marquisate to the Dingguo Duke’s Mansion—even though the current Duke is your eldest uncle, not Peng’s own son—your maternal grandfather is still alive, and Peng, as the Guogong Mansion’s Old Madam, still holds some influence. If she were to lodge a complaint, the Gongli might even issue a reprimand.
Old Madam, however, showed no fear at all, saying only: “Could she really lodge a complaint against me?”
Zhao Changting: “What if she does?”
Old Madam: “Then at worst, I’d just get scolded by the Gongli. It won’t cost me a piece of flesh, and I still slapped her twice—I came out ahead!”
Finally, Zhao Changting voiced the question in his heart: “Grandmother, what exactly is so good about that Zhuang Hui? A Zhi is just a child, easily fooled—that’s understandable. But even you are like this. What kind of bewitching potion has she given you?”
Old Madam was instantly angered by the question, but looking at Zhao Changting’s earnest face, she wondered: Could he possibly think that I stormed into the Tang Family only for Ah Hui’s sake, and not for his?
Old Madam felt no guilt—she truly did it for both of them.
But she had confidence that Zhuang Hui would believe her, yet she wasn’t so sure her grandson, separated from her for seven years, would.
So she could only suppress her anger and explain: “It wasn’t just for her sake; it was also for yours.”
“Mm.” Zhao Changting responded faintly, waiting for her to continue.
His reaction left Old Madam uncertain whether he believed her or not, so she lowered her voice and continued explaining that she hadn’t been bewitched: “This morning, when Ah Hui returned home, I took off her outer robe to check…”
“Grandmother.” Zhao Changting slightly raised his voice, reminding Old Madam that such words were inappropriate.
Old Madam patted him lightly and said, “What are you in such a hurry for? This is something you can listen to, and besides, she’s your sister too. Since I’ve already said it, there’s no need for you to avoid it.”
Zhao Changting felt inexplicably uncomfortable for some reason: “…After all, she’s not my real sister.”
Old Madam patted him again: “That’s a heartless thing to say. The trouble she’s in today is all because of you.” She added, “Although she hasn’t changed her surname, I’ve watched her grow up, and she’s no different from my own granddaughter. This time, she suffered because of you, so you should at least feel a little gratitude toward her.”
Zhao Changting neither agreed nor disagreed.
But in his heart, he thought that although he had wanted to do it himself, he had already avenged her.
He had already repaid the debt he owed her.
Seeing that he remained silent, Old Madam thought he had taken her words to heart and continued with the topic she hadn’t finished earlier: “When I took off her outer clothes to look, one of her shoulders was red and swollen, the other bruised. Her arms, palms, and both legs were covered in bruises and scrapes. It was truly a shocking sight.”
“She was also raised by Madame Zhuang with endless pampering and affection. In all her years, she had never suffered so many injuries or endured such great injustice. But do you know what she said?”
Zhao Changting’s mind wandered. He wondered if Zhuang Hui’s red and swollen shoulder was from when he grabbed her as she was about to fall off the wall.
He remembered clearly that he hadn’t used much force.
Old Madam, however, didn’t notice his distraction and continued, “She said it was fine, it didn’t hurt, not at all. I said it was all my fault for asking her to keep an eye on Tang Wanying, causing her to suffer today. But she said the one who did wrong was someone else, so how could it be my fault?”
Speaking of this, Old Madam’s heart ached and softened.
After all, everyone has a heart of flesh and blood. She hadn’t liked Zhuang Hui from the very beginning, since she wasn’t her real granddaughter.
But the girl genuinely treated A Zhi as her own sister, cherishing and doting on her.
She also respected and honored her, an old woman like herself.
And she was like a flower bud, a beautiful young girl whose smile could brighten anyone’s mood. How could she not grow fond of her?
“She also said you helped her get revenge, and your father beat Tang Jinnian. She felt so relieved and kept comforting me, telling me not to take it to heart.” Old Madam sighed, “But the one who should have been comforted was clearly her…”
After hearing Old Madam’s words, Zhao Changting’s view of Zhuang Hui also changed somewhat. It turned out it wasn’t some bewitching charm, but a mouth as sweet as honey, coaxing his grandmother until she couldn’t tell east from west.
Still, he didn’t say anything more, because he too felt that Zhuang Hui was quite sensible.
Even if it was an act, to maintain it consistently for so many years—that was her skill.
Upon returning home, Zhao Changting personally escorted Old Madam back to Fushou Hall. Since neither of them had eaten lunch yet, they decided to stay and eat together. But just as he was about to leave after the meal, he saw Zhao Jingzhi rushing over with a panicked expression.
Seeing this, Zhao Changting naturally couldn’t leave.
He stopped her and asked with a serious expression, “What’s wrong, A Zhi? What happened?”
Zhuang Hui had only said not to tell Zhuang Mingxiang. If she could tell Grandmother, then Big Brother could naturally know too.
So Zhao Jingzhi dismissed the servants and urgently said, “Sister Hui had a nightmare during her afternoon nap! She woke up screaming from the dream, sweating profusely!”
“A nightmare? Was she frightened?” Old Madam worriedly stood up.
Zhao Jingzhi: “It must be. Even after waking up, it took her a while to come back to her senses. And, Grandmother, Sister Hui said she wants a maid or matron who knows martial arts, and she suggested I get one too. Do you think she’s been traumatized by what happened?”
“Definitely. Any young girl who goes through something like that would be frightened and left with scars.” Old Madam’s tone turned cold, feeling she hadn’t done enough when hitting Madam Peng earlier—too light and too few strikes.
“She must have one. She’s right—A Zhi, you should get one too. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Who knows if other families might also have despicable people like the Tang Family’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law!” If, by any chance, there were, and one careless move led to harm, a lifetime would truly be ruined.
Old Madam couldn’t sit still any longer: “No, I must go see her.”
Zhao Jingzhi quickly nodded: “Mm!”
She was feeling frightened herself and couldn’t tell Zhuang Mingxiang. It was good that Grandmother would go with her to see Sister Hui.
But Zhao Changting reached out to stop Old Madam: “Grandmother, you’ve just returned home and only finished your meal.”
Rushing to the Tang Family for Zhuang Hui’s sake, venting anger, hitting people—she hadn’t even had a chance to sit and rest since returning home, and now she was worrying about Zhuang Hui again. Even if Zhuang Hui were his own sister, Zhao Changting would find it inappropriate, let alone since she wasn’t.
It was too exhausting for an elder.
Besides, was Zhuang Hui really so frightened that she had nightmares?
Considering her bravery and performance at the Tang Family, along with Zhuang Mingxiang’s identical red-eyed accusations, Zhao Changting was skeptical. From what he had seen today, Zhuang Hui didn’t seem as delicate as he had originally thought.
Old Madam pushed Zhao Changting’s hand away: “I know she’s not your real sister, but can’t you just…”
She couldn’t bring herself to say harsh words to her grandson, so she stopped and glared instead.
Zhao Changting: “If you go to see her with such fanfare right after returning home, what the servants think is secondary—what will Madam think? Might she worry that something is wrong? If she gets anxious or upset and it harms her health, what then?”
Zhao Jingzhi: “Oh, right. Sister Hui specifically told me not to tell Mother about her nightmares.”
“That child is just too considerate.” Old Madam sighed, feeling conflicted. “But if I don’t go see her…”
Zhao Changting interrupted her: “Let me go with A Zhi instead! Didn’t you say I should remember her kindness? Then I’ll go see her on your behalf, and I’ll handle the matter of the maid too. That should count as repaying her favor, right?”
Among family, why calculate things so clearly?
And if everything is calculated so clearly, where is the affection left?
Old Madam sighed, thinking that Zhao Changting didn’t like Zhuang Hui probably because he hadn’t spent enough time with her and didn’t know her character. So, because Zhuang Hui was brought into the household by Zhuang Mingxiang, he held a bias and disliked her.
That child Zhuang Hui—once you spend time with her, it’s impossible not to like her.
Old Madam genuinely regarded Zhuang Hui as a granddaughter, and because Zhuang Hui spent all her time playing with Zhao Jingzhi and now learning etiquette and manners together, she had somewhat unconsciously overlooked Zhuang Hui’s age.
Now that Zhao Changting had offered to go see her, and because Old Madam felt guilty about what had happened to Zhuang Hui today, she hoped Zhao Changting would also come to see Zhuang Hui as a real sister. So, she agreed immediately.
“Alright, then you go. If there’s anything unusual about her, remember to come and tell me.” She instructed Zhao Changting.
Zhao Changting agreed and left with Zhao Jingzhi.
In the afternoon, the sky began to darken, with clusters of dark clouds gathering on the horizon, looking as if rain was imminent.
On the way, Zhao Jingzhi asked curiously, “Where did Grandmother go? And when did you return?”
Away from Old Madam’s presence, Zhao Changting was much more casual, his tone relaxed as he replied, “She went to the Tang Family. I came back with her.”
“To the Tang Family?” Zhao Jingzhi exclaimed in surprise. “What did Grandmother go there for?”
Zhao Changting replied, “What else? To slap Peng Shi in the face, all to seek justice for your Sister Hui.”
Zhao Jingzhi widened her eyes, her expression filled with admiration. “Grandmother is truly amazing!”
“Heh…” Zhao Changting chuckled ambiguously.
Only then did Zhao Jingzhi catch the nuance—her elder brother had once again said “your Sister Hui.”
Hmm, she still remembered the time Pei Zizhao visited their home, when her brother had said, “Yes, I’m not worthy of your Sister Hui.”
How sarcastic.
Zhao Jingzhi pouted unhappily, holding back for a moment before finally speaking up, “Elder Brother, speak properly. Other times it’s fine, but today Sister Hui was almost bullied because of you, and she was so frightened she had a nightmare.”
Zhao Changting replied, “Isn’t that why I’m here to see her? And I even promised to find her a maid skilled in martial arts.”
Well, that was true!
Zhao Jingzhi nodded, once again persuaded by Zhao Changting.
They soon arrived at Lanyuan. If they were biological siblings, even at this age, when the younger sister was unwell, the elder brother could at least wait in the outer hall, even if he couldn’t enter the inner chambers, and exchange a few words.
But Zhuang Hui was not his biological sister, so Zhao Changting stopped in the courtyard, asking Zhao Jingzhi to relay the message.
Lanyuan was a small yet exquisite courtyard. Perhaps to match the name of the courtyard, some orchids were planted within—though they were all ordinary, inexpensive varieties.
After all, this was a young lady’s courtyard, and she wasn’t his biological sister. Zhao Changting only glanced around casually before withdrawing his gaze. Just then, he felt a slight coolness on his face. Looking up, he realized it had started to drizzle.
A little rain didn’t bother him, but A Zhi had been inside for a while—why hadn’t Zhuang Hui come out yet?
Was she so frightened by a nightmare that she couldn’t even get up?
Zhao Changting had never quite believed that Zhuang Hui was so frightened she had nightmares, and now he frowned slightly in displeasure.
In that short span of time, the light drizzle turned into heavy raindrops, pattering down as the rain grew noticeably stronger.
Yingtáo looked at the rain and helplessly glanced back at the still-quiet Upper Chamber before hurrying from the corridor into the courtyard. “Young Master, it’s raining. Please come to the corridor to take shelter.”
Zhao Changting glanced at the sky and stepped onto the veranda.
Author’s Note: Continuing to give out small red envelopes.
Also, tomorrow’s update will be moved to the evening due to placement on the featured list, so everyone can check before bed.
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Recommending my new book, Marrying His Elder Brother (Rebirth), which you can find in my column.
Synopsis:
As soon as Cheng Shuning was reborn, she was threatened by her former brother-in-law, the stern and unreadable Zhou Congqian: “Leave him, and I can give you whatever you want.”
Remembering how, in her previous life, when the Cheng Family was convicted and imprisoned, her husband Zhou Conglian not only ignored her plight but even demoted her to a concubine and married another, while it was her brother-in-law Zhou Congqian who extended a helping hand and saved her entire family—
This time, Cheng Shuning didn’t stubbornly refuse as she had in her past life. Instead, she replied, “Really? Then I want you.”
For two lifetimes, it was the first time she had seen a man show shock and disbelief on his face.
But in the end, he still nodded, his tone laced with sarcasm: “You can only be a concubine.”
He was the heir to a marquis’s household, while she was the daughter of a minor seventh-rank official. The chasm in their status was too vast to cross—she truly could not become his wife.
But Cheng Shuning said, “Better to be an outside residence. That way, we won’t be under the same roof, causing unrest in your household.”
Once again, she saw the man’s stunned expression. After a moment of silence, he still agreed.
So Cheng Shuning kept her word. She severed ties with Zhou Conglian and instead became Zhou Congqian’s outside residence.
Originally, she thought she would first become his outside residence to placate him for a couple of years. Once he rescued her mother and younger brother, she would leave him, and her family could live peacefully on their own.
Little did she know that in less than two years, the man went from looking down on her from a lofty position to kneeling by her side, holding her hand and begging her to stay—to become his lawfully wedded wife.