Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Madam Chu had just lifted the teacup, before it reached her lips, she slightly furrowed her brows, then directly put it down, the bottom of the teacup touched the table, giving out a clear crisp sound, that harmonious scene over there came to a halt.

Madam Chu’s expression was faint, ignoring the reaction from that side, she calmly looked at the servant who had just served the tea: “Change the tea.”

That maidservant, perhaps a newcomer, her face suddenly changed, fearfully said, “Madam, forgive me, this slave will go at once.”

Luo Qian lowered her head and stepped aside, the Old Madam’s expression slightly cold. “The tea water of my Cirong Hall, already cannot enter Madam’s eyes anymore?”

Madam Chu lightly stroked the hairpin on her hair bun, slowly lifted her eyelids, met her gaze: “Mother, what words are you saying, it’s only the servant served the wrong tea, letting her change it is all, why must Mother be angry.”

Her calm tone caused dissatisfaction to rise in the Old Madam’s heart, a few days ago, news had just come, her Liu family’s nephew had lost his life in prison, the family letter sent in by her sister-in-law carried faint reproach and resentment, only made her feel her old face burn red.

At this moment seeing Madam Chu, she carried some anger to vent, even the words the Marquis had especially come to say earlier were all thrown behind her head, she sneered, “The Marquis Mansion has enjoyed noble days for so many years, even Bi Luo Chun, such famous tea, cannot enter your eyes, I do not know if it is this tea you are dissatisfied with, or that you are dissatisfied with this old body?”

A cap of unfilialness pressed down, Luo Yi’er’s gaze turned cold, one hand casually rested on the table, the rosewood table set off her fingertips even whiter, she lightly hooked the corner of her lips, at the end of her eyes faintly carrying some ridicule.

Back then when Madam Chu married into the Marquis Mansion, the Marquis Mansion was still in the hands of the Old Marquis, already gradually declining, how could it compare to the Chu clan at the height of its power?

Madam Chu marrying into the Marquis Mansion was already considered marrying low.

Marriage alliance, marriage alliance, was originally a knot tying two families together, the later rise of the Marquis Mansion, how could it be without connection to the Chu clan?

Now the Old Madam speaking of the noble days of the Marquis Mansion was indeed somewhat laughable.

Sure enough, after hearing the Old Madam’s words, Madam Chu lightly raised her head, looked toward the Old Madam with a half-smile: “I have always been like this since childhood, I did not expect, that now I instead must wrong myself?”

The Old Madam was choked, her expression immediately somewhat unsightly, everyone in the room all lowered their heads not daring to speak, the originally festive lively atmosphere quieted down.

At this time Luo Qian suddenly frowned and walked forward, standing by the Old Madam’s side, seemingly somewhat hesitant: “Mother, today is Grandmother’s birthday, you had better not anger Grandmother.”

Just now between the two elders’ confrontation, Luo Yi’er could not speak, but at this moment she looked at Luo Qian who came forward, laughter dyed at the bottom of her eyes, fingertips lightly tapped on the table then withdrew, unhurriedly smiling as she said, “I really do not know, when did a concubine-born daughter dare to reproach the mistress of the house for improper conduct?”

Her words revealed sharpness, without a trace of former gentleness, like a little beast whose territory had been invaded, firmly safeguarding Madam Chu’s interests, she lightly lifted her gaze, smiling faintly with undisguised mocking chill.

Luo Qian’s expression did not change, only frowned and said, “Third Sister, you have misunderstood my meaning, it’s only that Grandmother is old, I worry about Grandmother’s health that is all.”

The Old Madam coldly laughed twice: “Enough, Qian’er, you worrying about Grandmother does not mean others are like you having filial piety.”

Luo Qian looked around left and right, seemingly very helpless, let out a low sigh, retreated behind the Old Madam, in the place others could not see, she faintly hooked up the corner of her lips, lifted her head toward Luo Yi’er, only to see that person carelessly glanced at her, completely not placing her in mind, her expression halted, the handkerchief in her sleeve clenched tightly.

Luo Yi’er still intended to speak, but the Old Madam directly cut her off, “What, Yi’er thinks Grandmother’s words are wrong?”

Luo Yi’er held the handkerchief, let out a light laugh, not the least bit afraid of her words, lifted her gaze with a faint smile and said, “Today is Grandmother’s birthday, Yi’er originally should not speak too much, only I must also correct the places in Grandmother’s words that are not right.”

The Old Madam’s expression grew colder and colder, she hooked her lips, slowly spoke, “Mother has managed the Marquis Mansion for many years, filial to Grandmother, never once neglectful, today I do not know how it is that I have received Grandmother’s evaluation of unfilial.”

“If Grandmother has any dissatisfaction, could you please speak it clearly, so that Mother and Yi’er may correct in time, Grandmother, do you not agree?”

Madam Chu forced up the corner of her lips, in the depths of her eyes seemed to flash a trace of sadness and sorrow, putting on a forced smile: “Enough, Yi’er, do not say more, Mother always has her reasoning.”

The smile on Luo Yi’er’s face also gradually disappeared, the past kindness the Old Madam had shown her, she did not forget, only if she had to choose, she would surely protect Madam Chu.

Her white fingertips tightly pinched the handkerchief, her eyes slightly reddened, within them seemed to hold countless grievance, her voice extremely light, extremely soft, carrying a bit of worry and heartache:

“Yi’er also does not wish Grandmother to have even a trace of unhappiness, only hopes to do better, if Yi’er’s words have been at fault, may Grandmother not blame.”

The Old Madam looked at the two echoing one another, with a look as if being bullied, in her heart she was angered until it hurt, bullied?
In this Mansion was there still anyone who dared bully them?

“You two…” She suddenly slapped the table and stood up, so angry she clutched her chest taking deep breaths, one hand stretched out, trembling as she pointed at them: “Insolence!”

Guan-Momo quickly stepped forward to support her, wanting to turn and say something, yet upon seeing Madam Chu’s indifferent glance, she awkwardly dared not speak more, lowered her head, patting the Old Madam’s back.

These servants, clearer than the masters.

Madam Chu had managed the Marquis Mansion for decades, her network and prestige in the Mansion already deeply rooted, even if the Old Madam harbored thoughts of returning to power, how could it be so easy?

If Madam Chu were not favored it would be one thing, but the Marquis respected her, valued her.

Even last time, the Old Madam only cold-shouldered her a few days, during that time when state affairs were busy, the Marquis still made time, entered Cirong Hall and talked with the Old Madam for quite a while, unwilling to let her suffer even that slight grievance—what then could the Old Madam do to Madam Chu?

All the more, both young masters were already of age and bore heavy posts in the court, the only legitimate young lady was already promised into the imperial family, even possibly to become the most noble of women, Madam Chu was long no longer someone the Old Madam could easily manipulate.

Even when Madam Chu had just married in at the beginning, the Old Madam did not dare make things difficult for her, how much less now?

In truth, Guan-Momo for the Old Madam’s irrational behavior these days, faintly disapproved, only she was but a servant, what she could do was no more than persuasion, only, when people grow old, they start clinging to the past, all the more when it was her natal family’s only nephew—she too did not know how she should advise.

At the side, Luo Qian also promptly stepped forward, worriedly supporting her other arm, lowering her head not daring to say much.

Seeing the Old Madam like this, Luo Yi’er naturally could no longer remain seated, she too stood up, wanting to go support the Old Madam, yet was flung off by the Old Madam in one motion. Her movement froze in place, fingertips lightly trembling as she slowly withdrew.

She seemed to have been hurt, lips tightly pressed, eyelashes trembling again and again, gradually dampened, gathering into a tear, rolling down from her jade-like cheek.

She suddenly lifted her skirt hem and knelt down, with a trace of sob in her voice: “Grandmother, please do not harm your body with anger, whatever dissatisfaction you have, just vent it all on Yi’er.”

The Old Madam’s movement slightly paused, looking at her reddened eyes, within her gaze unconcealed worry, at the bottom of her eyes a bit of hesitation.

Her nephew from her natal family was indeed close, yet kneeling before her was also her legitimate granddaughter, raised dearly and doted on by her side.

Seeing her crying appearance at this moment, she also felt somewhat unable to bear it.

In her heart she actually knew, this legitimate granddaughter had always been precious, today’s tea was not deliberately chosen by Madam Chu to oppose her, but rather because she could not bear to let this legitimate granddaughter suffer even the least grievance.

She had loved this granddaughter for so many years, how could she not know her preferences.

Though she was old, her heart was not blind. When the tea was brought up today, she already knew whose trick it was.

Only, her heart ultimately held anger, so she went along with it to make a fuss. She thought to make things difficult for Madam Chu, yet forgot Madam Chu was the very mother of her own legitimate granddaughter.

Bitterness rose in her heart. That nephew of her natal family, though indeed had many faults, yet he was still the nephew who every year on her birthday affectionately called her “Aunt”!

Now, because of one memorial from her daughter-in-law’s family, he lost his life. She had lived all the way to old age, only to let her natal family resent her.
Some understood Madam Chu’s difficulties, yet who understood her?

Today was her birthday, in past years at this time, the whole Liu family would already have arrived at the Mansion, chatting and laughing with her in this Cirong Hall.

But today, the Liu family was nowhere to be seen for long. No matter how many faults the Liu family had, it was still the place that raised her from childhood.

Others might look down on the Liu family, but she could not!
The Marquis Mansion could not!

She leaned on Guan-Momo, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening, looking at the deadlock filling the room, she took a deep breath, expelling the murkiness in her heart.

Her eyes were also slightly damp, she slowly straightened up, looking at Luo Yi’er kneeling on the ground.

Just at this moment, some commotion came from outside—it was Luo Qiheng and Luo Qiyan who had arrived.

As soon as they entered, they saw this scene, immediately somewhat bewildered and confused, yet there was no time to think of anything. Luo Qiheng quickly stepped forward to support the Old Madam, taking Luo Qian’s place.

Luo Qian, pushed aside by his movement, staggered back a bit unsteadily, holding onto a chair to stand firm. Biyu behind her hurriedly supported her, her expression slightly stiff and cold, she steadied herself on her own, lowered her head and remained silent.

Luo Qiheng furrowed his brows: “What is going on? Grandmother, if Yi’er has made you unhappy, Heng’er will apologize to you on her behalf, please calm your anger.”

Although he knew Luo Yi’er was not such a reckless person, yet in such a situation, he could not speak against the Old Madam, he could only coax. While speaking, he gave Luo Qiyan a meaningful glance.

On the other side, Luo Qiyan also helped Luo Yi’er up. Luo Yi’er’s beautiful brows knitted, her eyes cast down with tears falling, clinging tightly against him.

Luo Qiyan looked at her, suppressed the trace of heartache in his eyes, and toward the Old Madam, said with concern, “Indeed, Grandmother, today is your birthday, please don’t be angry anymore.”

With the two of them stepping in, the Old Madam, who had already wavered somewhat because of Luo Yi’er, could no longer make a scene.

After all, the one she wanted to make things difficult for was their birth mother. She was not foolish enough to compare herself with Madam Chu in the place she held in their hearts.

Following Luo Qiheng’s support, she sat down: “Enough.”

Luo Yi’er dabbed at her slightly reddened eyes with the handkerchief, the Old Madam saw, felt uneasy inside, somewhat awkwardly turned her head aside, and ordered the servants: “Why aren’t you quickly bringing some water.”

Although Luo Qiheng and Luo Qiyan did not know what had happened, at this moment they could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere inside the room gradually eased. At the back, Luo Qian, who had kept her head lowered the whole time, tightly clenched her handkerchief.

She lifted her head, glanced at Luo Yi’er who had turned away to wash up, and in her eyes there was even more coldness.