When Qin Shi received the invitation from the Liu family, she hesitated over whom to bring.
Aside from herself, she could bring one more person with this kind of invitation.
"Madam, no matter how unfavorably you view Da Guniang, she is still your own flesh and blood," her maid advised. "Although Er Guniang has grown closer to you lately, she is ultimately Zhou Yiniang's daughter."
Over the years, Zhou Yiniang had taken advantage of her favored status in the Shen family to create numerous difficulties for Qin Shi.
They all disliked Zhou Yiniang.
Qin Shi shook her head with a bitter smile. "How can she be considered my own flesh and blood when she's become so close to Zhou Shi now?"
Rationally, she told herself that even if Mingyue had her flaws, she was still her own child. She should bring Mingyue to see the world, which would benefit her future marriage prospects.
But in reality, for some reason, she felt closer to Ming Tang.
Qin Shi felt troubled.
If she brought Mingyue, she feared Ming Tang would feel uncomfortable, especially since the Imperial Order she held had been obtained through Ming Tang's efforts.
If she brought Ming Tang, her relationship with her biological daughter would grow even more distant.
"Enough, I shouldn't cause myself more distress," Qin Shi resolved. "Qiuyue, go tell Ming Tang that in a few days, the Liu family…"
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Yu Momo entering from outside.
Yu Momo smiled and paid her respects. "Madam, Prince Rui has sent someone to deliver the Liu family's invitation to the young lady. You've received the Liu family's invitation too, haven't you?"
Qin Shi nodded, and the conflict in her heart instantly dissipated.
"This old servant comes with thick skin to ask Madam to provide funds for the young lady to have several new outfits made, so as not to disgrace the Shen family's reputation when the time comes," Yu Momo added.
Though Qin Shi had given Jinxiu Courtyard to Ming Tang to live in, she managed the girl's daily necessities and knew she had little silver.
So she came to ask Qin Shi for it.
Qin Shi inwardly scolded herself for her carelessness and immediately gave Yu Momo one hundred taels of silver. She also ordered tailors to come to the residence to take Shen Mingtang's measurements, adding extra money to rush the making of several outfits.
Now that Yu Momo understood the relationship between Qin Shi and Shen Mingtang, she viewed Qin Shi with increasing satisfaction.
After some thought, she reminded Qin Shi, "Madam now holds an Imperial Order and can request imperial physicians to attend to your health. Once you've recovered your health, it would be best to take back control of the household management."
Qin Shi had given birth to two children within three years, nearly dying during her second daughter's difficult delivery. Since then, her health had remained weak, and she had developed a cough.
Therefore, Shen Laofuren had taken the initiative to assume control of the Shen household's management to assist her. Now that Shen Laofuren had returned to the countryside to recuperate, the household authority had fallen into Zhou Yiniang's hands.
"Thank you for the reminder, Yu Momo," Qin Shi said, having thought the same.
Yu Momo couldn't help but speak up for Shen Mingtang. "This old servant serves Prince Rui. Having stayed with Er Guniang for several days, I've grown truly fond of this child. Zhou Shi privately beats and scolds her—the injuries on her body are too numerous to count. Yet she grits her teeth and endures, unwilling to tell others. I hope Madam can show more care for this child in the future."
"I know," Qin Shi murmured. "That child is pitiful."
Only when she saw the heartache in Qin Shi's eyes did she feel relieved.
Regardless of whether Qin Shi could acknowledge the child now, as long as Qin Shi had a kind heart, it was still a good thing.
After Yu Momo left, Qin Shi thought for a moment. "Go to my storeroom and find some good medicine. If there's none, purchase some outside. Also, bring three hundred taels of silver to Ming Tang…"
Qiuyue, who was standing nearby, responded affirmatively.
Yu Momo returned to Jinxiu Courtyard and reported back to Shen Mingtang, mentioning only that she had informed Qin Shi about the invitation card.
She took out the hundred taels of silver given by Qin Shi and asked, "If the young lady doesn't have any maids she likes, why don't we call a matchmaker to buy a few?"
Or perhaps they could transfer a few from the Rui Wang Residence, she thought.
Qin Shi had also provided five or six maids, but Shen Mingtang hadn't kept any of them by her side, so Yu Momo guessed she didn't like them.
When it came to maids, it was best to choose ones that caught her own eye.
"Momo, I want a maid from Zhou Yiniang's courtyard, named Hua Sui," Shen Mingtang didn't hide it from her. "I lived in Zhou Yiniang's courtyard since I was young. Zhou Yiniang despised me, and the servants followed her example. Only Hua Sui treated me well in secret."
Hua Sui was a rough work maid in Zhou Yiniang's courtyard.
Sometimes, when Zhou Yiniang intentionally starved her, Hua Sui would secretly toss her steamed buns or buns, or when she was beaten, Hua Sui would sneak in to apply medicine for her.
Fortunately, Hua Sui's kindness was done privately; otherwise, if Zhou Yiniang found out, she might have used it to threaten her.
But then again, trying to get someone from Zhou Yiniang's hands wasn't an easy task.
Yu Momo understood. "Then let's wait a little longer."
Within just an hour, Qiuyue came to Shen Mingtang's place.
Seeing that she had brought silver again, Shen Mingtang hurriedly declined.
"Please take this silver, Miss Qiuyue, and buy some medicine to nourish Mother's health," Shen Mingtang said softly. "I noticed her cough has been much worse this year."
Qiuyue looked at her, feeling much warmer inside.
No wonder Madam was close to the Second Daughter. Over the years, while Madam's health had been poor, the Eldest Daughter had never asked about it once, yet the Second Daughter immediately noticed that Madam's cough was particularly severe this year.
"Madam is already taking medicine," Qiuyue said, her attitude much gentler.
By the afternoon, the seamstress arrived at the residence, first taking Shen Mingtang's measurements for clothes, then going to Xiaoxiang Courtyard to measure Shen Mingyue.
Shen Mingtang didn't think Shen Mingyue would refuse to go.
After all, in Qin Shi's eyes, Shen Mingyue was her biological daughter. Even if there was a rift between mother and daughter, Qin Shi wouldn't be so hard-hearted as to completely neglect her daughter.
Qin Shi's soft heart was both her virtue and her weakness.
In the blink of an eye, the day to visit the Liu family arrived.
Shen Mingtang went to Qin Shi's courtyard early, had breakfast with her, and then followed her out.
Shen Mingyue was already waiting by the carriage.
The three of them remained silent throughout the journey.
Upon arriving at the Liu family, Shen Mingtang stayed close to Qin Shi without missing a step, going to pay respects to Liu Laofuren.
Liu Laofuren held her hand and praised her a few times, then took off a bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her. "What a good child."
As a top-ranking Imperial Order holder in the court and the Empress's biological grandmother, her praise set the trend.
The other madams also gathered around, pulling Shen Mingtang and praising her repeatedly.
When Shen Mingtang finally managed to extricate herself, she realized that Shen Mingyue and Qin Shi were no longer in the room.
Her heart sank.
Shen Mingtang stopped a maid and asked, "Have you seen where Madam Shen went?"
The maid pointed in a direction. "Madam Shen accidentally had her clothes splashed with tea earlier and went to the guest room to change."
Shen Mingtang immediately headed that way.
She walked hurriedly along the corridor and, before she could avoid them, noticed a group of elegantly dressed young ladies approaching from the opposite direction.
"Whose young lady is this? Why does she look so unfamiliar?" someone asked in a delicate voice.
Others recognized Shen Mingtang, "Some days ago, a concubine-born daughter from Shen Jia took a sword for Prince Rui. Judging by her appearance, it seems to be her—called Shen Mingtang, I believe."