Time Is Slow - Chapter 24
“She fainted?” Old Madam Jiang stared at Old Madam Deng. A white cataract clouded her right pupil, making her gaze unsettling.
Old Madam Deng had been widowed at a young age and had weathered many storms, so she remained unfazed. She nodded firmly.
“Yes, she fainted.”
Old Madam Jiang sneered.
“Hmph, whether she fainted or died, she cannot stay in the Li household!”
She fixed her cataract-clouded eyes on Old Madam Deng again, her lips pressed tightly together, the deep wrinkles around her mouth accentuating her severity.
“Sister-in-law, I know you have a soft heart, but this is not something we can be lenient about. The third girl went missing. If the matter hadn’t spread, we could have just claimed she died of illness and covered it up. But unfortunately, word got out, and the Li family’s reputation has already suffered. Of course, over the years, many noble families in the capital have lost children. If it’s a girl, the disgrace might taint the family’s name for a while, but eventually, people forget. However, what the third girl should never have done was return! Sister-in-law, she is indeed your granddaughter, but she is not your only granddaughter! If she stays in the Li household as a proper young lady, how will the other girls ever get married?”
Seeing that Old Madam Deng remained silent, Old Madam Jiang continued coldly, “As long as she stays in the household, people will continue to talk, and the Li family will never be able to hold its head high again!”
Old Madam Deng still did not speak.
Old Madam Jiang raised an eyebrow in surprise, eyeing her with her good eye.
“Sister-in-law, you’ve never liked the third girl. Are you really reluctant to let her go now? If you can’t harden your heart, I will do it for you. No matter what, the third girl cannot stay!”
Old Madam Jiang’s firm stance did not surprise Madam Deng.
Once she finished her outburst, Old Madam Deng finally explained, “I understand your concerns, and yes, that disgraceful child has indeed brought shame to the Li family. But the situation is not as dire as it seems. Though she was kidnapped by human traffickers, she was rescued midway by Divine Doctor Li—”
“Divine Doctor Li?”
“Yes, the very same Divine Doctor Li whom His Majesty once praised personally.”
“This is impossible!” Old Madam Jiang was incredulous.
Old Madam Deng smiled.
“It was Divine Doctor Li himself who brought the third girl back today. The whole neighborhood saw it.”
“Could it be an imposter?” Old Madam Jiang still did not believe it.
“If it were anyone else, perhaps there’s a chance that they’re an impostor. However, think about it. Divine Doctor Li is a man of great reputation. If someone dared to impersonate him, wouldn’t the all-knowing Jin Lin Guards arrest them on the spot?”
A renowned name carried great weight, and openly impersonating such a figure was extremely risky.
Old Madam Jiang understood this principle. The ruthless glint in her expression softened slightly.
Sensing a slight opening, Old Madam Deng spoke sincerely, “Think about it. If Divine Doctor Li personally delivered the third girl back, yet we immediately sent her away, wouldn’t that displease him?”
Doubting the integrity of such a revered doctor would be foolish. Offending a divine doctor was even more unwise.
As a woman of noble birth, Old Madam Jiang had far more interactions with the people from the imperial family than Old Madam Deng. She was well aware of the high regard those esteemed figures held for Divine Doctor Li.
At last, she relented.
“If that’s the case, we’ll wait and see. From now on, the third girl need not attend school. Keep her confined to her courtyard and out of sight!”
Even if she had been saved by Divine Doctor Li and could not be cast out immediately due to his involvement, the world would not forget. The third girl would never be able to marry.
To Old Madam Jiang, an unmarriageable girl was as useless as a discarded chess piece.
After Old Madam Deng took her leave, Old Madam Jiang watched her retreating figure, shaking her head with a cold smile.
“That Deng woman is still far too protective. Utterly foolish.”
Old Madam Deng had temporarily pacified Old Madam Jiang, but she let out a silent sigh. She had barely taken a sip of tea upon returning to Qingsong Hall when a servant girl arrived with a message.
“Madam, the Second Madam requests an audience.”
Old Madam Deng furrowed her brows before responding, “Let her in.”
Before long, the beaded curtain lifted, and a woman in her early thirties stepped inside.
Second Madam Liu was Old Madam Deng’s second daughter-in-law. Three years ago, when her husband, Second Master Li Guangshu, was assigned to an outpost, she had remained in the household with their two daughters. She was known for her sharp tongue.
After greeting her mother-in-law, Madam Liu personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Old Madam Deng before speaking.
“Mother, I was quite shocked to hear that Third Miss has returned.”
“You didn’t visit Yahe Courtyard?”
“I did. But Eldest Sister-in-law said Third Miss wasn’t feeling well and was unavailable to meet.”
At the mention of “Eldest Sister-in-law,” Madam Liu curled her lips in disdain.
The eldest daughter-in-law of the western branch, Madam He, was a second wife who was younger than Madam Liu and completely oblivious to the happenings around her. Madam Liu had never held her in high regard.
Old Madam Deng understood the way how Madam Liu thinks. However, being a second wife was difficult, and since Madam He herself was incompetent, as the mother-in-law, it wasn’t her place to stand up for Madam He.
Ahem. With Madam He’s personality, the fact that Old Madam Deng hadn’t stepped on her while she was down was already an act of great mercy.
“Old Madam, you’ve just returned from the Eastern Courtyard, haven’t you? What did the Lady of the Household say?” Madam Liu had clearly come to gather information.
Old Madam Deng feigned ignorance.
“The Lady of the Household? She said that the third girl was lucky to have encountered a benefactor.”
“That’s all?”
Old Madam Deng smiled pleasantly.
“Oh, I know you, as her aunt, are concerned about her and feel sorry for the hardships she’s endured. But we mustn’t spoil that little troublemaker too much. No need to send ginseng or bird’s nest. If you really must, a little white fungus and honey should suffice.”
Madam Liu nearly choked on her own breath.
Who wanted to send ginseng or bird’s nest?
That wretched girl had already lost her reputation, yet she still had the audacity to return! If she had any sense of shame or dignity, she would have quietly thrown herself into the river and ended it cleanly!
Normally, Old Madam Deng had little patience for the third girl. Madam Liu never imagined that after such a scandal, the old lady would react this way.
Had she been possessed?
Frustrated, Madam Liu said, “Old Madam, I do care about Third Miss, but I care even more about Jiaojiao and the other girls. None of our family’s daughters have married yet. If we don’t address what happened to Third Miss, how will the world view us?”
After speaking, she waited for a response. When none came, she looked up to see Old Madam Deng sitting there leisurely, eyes half-closed. Only after finishing her tea did she look at Madam Liu with a meaningful gaze.
“Madam Liu, you’re still young. You don’t understand. Public opinion… changes too quickly.”
Public opinion could be important, but at times, it was worth less than dog crap.
Old Madam Deng had raised two sons on her own and understood better than anyone that if she lived only by the world’s judgment, she wouldn’t have survived this long.
She didn’t like the third girl, but she was still just a child. Even a passing divine physician had been willing to give the girl a chance to live. As her own grandmother, should she really condemn her to death just for the sake of public opinion?
If today she was willing to sacrifice the third girl for public perception, then who would be next tomorrow?
“But—” Madam Liu was unwilling to back down and was about to argue further when she suddenly heard the soft sound of steady breathing from Old Madam Deng’s direction.
The old lady had fallen asleep just like that!
Madam Liu’s face turned dark with fury. She flicked her sleeves and stormed out.