Madam Mu glared at An Taidi, anger burning in her eyes.
An Taidi’s expression changed slightly, and his brows drew together involuntarily.
He had already reached the door, intending to go look for his younger brother-in-law, but unexpectedly ran into Nanny Liu, who had come looking for him.
Naturally, he knew what Nanny Liu intended to do. He had originally planned to come over and reprimand Madam Mu.
Who would have thought that Madam Mu, who had always been as meek as a steamed bun, would actually dare speak to him like this?
He let out a cold snort, disgust filling his eyes.
As expected of a military general’s daughter—she had nothing but a pretty face and did not understand the slightest bit about showing consideration for her husband.
“What are you talking about? What woman doesn’t give birth to children? Why are you the only one making such a fuss?”
“Besides, isn’t it just giving birth to a child? What, do you feel wronged now?”
“Do you think Mother and I don’t feel sorry for you? Mother only asked Nanny Liu to take the child away and raise him because she feels sorry for you and is worried about your health.”
“And you? What did you do? Not only were you unwilling, you even humiliated Nanny Liu!”
An Taidi snorted. After a pause, his tone softened somewhat.
“Nanny Liu has been with the household for many years. Even if you don’t respect the monk, you should at least respect the Buddha. How could you treat her like that? Besides, she’s old. Couldn’t you show her a little consideration?”
An Taidi looked at Madam Mu in disappointment. His voice was full of reproach, as well as sorrow.
In the past, Madam Mu would probably already have begun reflecting on whether this was her fault.
But now, she was so furious she felt sick.
Her chest rose and fell violently. If she were not currently as weak as a kitten, she would have slapped this dog of a man to death.
When she had loved him, she could afford to be brainless.
But now, hadn’t her brain finally grown back?
【Hah, then she died early too. Couldn’t she have died sooner?】
That soft, babyish voice shook Madam Mu so badly that she nearly lost control. Fortunately, at this crucial moment, her daughter’s childish voice continued.
【Exactly. People born under one blanket can’t be two different kinds of people. You’re both shameless and utterly without decency!】
Mu Niannian babbled nonstop.
Madam Mu’s aching chest instantly felt several times more comfortable.
“Since Master also thinks Nanny Liu is old, it seems she is no longer capable of serving Mother properly. Why don’t we send her to the estate so she can get some rest?”
“Besides, I am the mistress, and she is a servant. Master, just look throughout the entire capital—whose servant would dare speak to her mistress that way?”
“The fact that I didn’t have her beaten to death or sold off immediately already counts as me taking her age into consideration!”
Madam Mu took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and calmly addressed An Taidi, who was looking at her with undisguised disgust.
An Taidi was struck speechless. This was the first time Madam Mu had ever retorted against him so sharply that he had no answer.
Mu Niannian had just been about to persuade her mother in her heart to say a few words to her maternal grandmother when her eyes suddenly lit up.
The Little Milk Dumpling’s babbling stopped altogether.
An Taidi’s face darkened with anger. Nanny Liu was his woman—how could he possibly send her to an estate?
Old? What did she mean, old?
Women were more flavorful when they were mature. What could this stupid woman possibly understand?
He was just about to speak when Madam Mu straightened her back and said coldly, “The family teachings of the General’s Residence are propriety, righteousness, a sense of honor and shame, kindness toward others, loyalty to the sovereign, and love of the country. What, does Master think the teachings of the General’s Residence are wrong?”
An Taidi’s expression immediately turned ugly, and the flesh on his face trembled faintly.
“You…”
An Taidi pointed at Madam Mu, unable to say anything for a moment.
“I’m here!”
Madam Mu answered. She raised her eyes to meet An Taidi’s gaze. He had already been feeling somewhat guilty, and now he felt even more so.
【Mother said that so well! It’s a pity that such a wonderful General’s Residence was eventually investigated for plotting against the imperial heir, and was framed by Dog Taidi for colluding with the enemy and committing treason. The entire family, young and old… It was utterly tragic…】
Thinking of the events she had seen, Mu Niannian felt terribly sorrowful. She had liked the Mu family of generals the most!
As Madam Mu listened to her daughter’s thoughts, she secretly clenched her fists. Her clear eyes were filled with icy resolve.
No matter what, she absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen to the Mu Family!
The atmosphere between them grew unnaturally tense. An Taidi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and irritation churned in his heart.
He was still anxious to go look for his younger brother-in-law and had no time to waste here.
Though he was impatient, his expression softened slightly, and he put on a helpless look.
“Lan’er, must you really be so calculating with your husband? I’m doing this for your own good. You don’t know how hard this has been for me—your father-in-law died in battle, and I’m utterly exhausted and miserable!”
An Taidi’s voice grew increasingly gentle as he reached out, attempting to pull Madam Mu into his embrace.
In the past, whenever An Taidi treated her so gently, Madam Mu would become obedient.
But Madam Mu dodged to the side, finding the man before her utterly filthy.
“Ah, I was only worried that what happened to your father would make you grieve, so I had Mother temporarily raise Little Fifth. Once your health improves, we can let Little Fifth return to you. How does that sound?”
An Taidi’s hand paused. His face held a hint of reproach and reluctance.
Madam Mu drew a deep breath before saying, “Since Mother is doing this for my own good, then let Little Fifth stay by my side.”
“All four of my sons are being raised by Mother, aren’t they? Is Master planning to take this child away from me as well?”
Madam Mu paused, and her gaze dimmed slightly. She had nearly said the wrong thing, but fortunately managed to stop herself in time.
Suppressing the hatred in her heart, she continued, “My father is gone, and my four sons are not by my side. Can’t Little Fifth stay with me either?”
Madam Mu stared at the man she had been married to for eighteen years, pain filling her eyes.
“You’re in poor health. You can’t even take care of yourself, so how can you take care of a child?”
An Taidi had originally been somewhat impatient, but at this he could not help becoming angry.
The final trace of expectation Madam Mu had held for An Taidi vanished completely.
This man was rotten to the core!
“Does Master also think the maids and older servants in my courtyard are useless? It doesn’t matter. I still have my dowry. I can simply buy a few more maids and servants to take care of both me and the child!”
Madam Mu now hid herself completely behind her cold exterior, her icy eyes fixed on An Taidi.
【Mother is mighty!】
Mu Niannian’s eyes shone, and her tiny fists clenched tightly.
“But you still have to arrange your father-in-law’s funeral!”
An Taidi’s brows knitted together as he finally managed to come up with an excuse.
Madam Mu’s expression darkened, and pain tore through her chest.
Her father had died in battle!
She had heard a maid and an older servant saying so when she had gotten up to use the chamber pot in the middle of the night.
If not for that, she would not have suffered fetal distress and gone into premature labor.
【Maternal Grandfather is perfectly fine! He hasn’t died at all. That old woman and the others deliberately had people say those things near Mother. They were the ones who caused Mother harm ahead of time!】
Mu Niannian puffed out her cheeks, shouting angrily in her heart.
“Let alone whether anything has actually happened to my father—it hasn’t even been confirmed yet. Even if my father truly died serving his country, the sons of the Mu family can take care of the funeral arrangements.”
“I don’t need to trouble myself over it as a married daughter. Besides, I haven’t set foot in the Mu Family for ten years!”