In the main hall of Yifu Hall, sandalwood smoke curled upwards.
The Old Madam sat properly in the main seat, twisting a string of agarwood prayer beads in her hand. Her gaze fell on the younger generation in the hall, some sitting and some standing. Her face remained as calm as ever, but she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
A bad year.
It truly was a bad year.
Ever since the Old Marquis passed away, she had thoroughly cleaned up the noisy concubines he had left behind in the manor, selling those who needed to be sold and sending those who needed to be sent to temples. After that, she had enjoyed a few years of peace.
Every day she ate vegetarian food, worshipped Buddha, and cultivated her character. Life was peaceful and without any major changes, which suited her very well. She originally thought that if she could live this steadily until after her passing, she would be considered a blessed person.
Who knew that this year would be so restless!
First, the arranged marriage had such an incident—the heir and the Second Branch's original fiancée had an illicit affair, and they were caught red-handed, causing a huge uproar in the city. She was in Yifu Hall at the time, and when she heard the news, the string of the prayer beads in her hand snapped directly, scattering all over the floor.
She had lived for more than half her life, what kind of dirty things hadn't she seen?
But could other people's dirty things be the same as her own family's? This was the first time her own grandson had caused such a scandal.
The face of the Weiyuan Marquis Manor was almost completely lost by that disappointing thing!
The Old Madam's fingers twisted the prayer beads with slight force, her gaze sweeping over Pei Ciling, who was sitting properly on the lower left side.
He wore a dark blue brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, and had a handsome face. His sitting posture was upright, and he looked like a fine specimen of a man. But his eyes lacked some spirit and had a bit of indescribable blandness—like an eggplant that had been hit by frost, withered.
The Old Madam sighed again in her heart.
She was truly dissatisfied with passing the title of heir to Pei Ciling.
But what could be done?
There was a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. The First Branch only had this one son, so no matter how useless he was, she had to pinch her nose and accept it. She couldn't possibly bypass the legitimate son and pass the title to the illegitimate Second Branch, right?
That would truly be chaos.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, after the marriage exchange, the manor had been relatively quiet.
She raised her eyes and looked to the lower right side.
Pei Cijing was leaning against the back of his chair, looking boredly at the pillars in the hall, looking like an idle person who had nothing to do with it; Shen Ninghuan sat properly next to him, her eyebrows gentle and her manners dignified, whispering something to her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhou.
This granddaughter-in-law.
She was quite a character!
On the day of the marriage exchange, the Old Madam had noticed it.
Shen Ninghuan's gaze was upright, her actions were neither humble nor arrogant, and she knew when to advance and retreat. She wasn't like those frivolous women who climbed up the social ladder. Since marrying into the Second Branch, she had managed the Anle Residence in an orderly manner, got along well with Mrs. Zhou, and was genuinely good to Pei Cijing.
She heard that the Second Branch's lazy son was now starting to study hard and prepare for the imperial examinations.
This should all be Shen Ninghuan's credit.
The Old Madam twisted her prayer beads, her gaze sweeping over Shen Ningyue.
She stood behind Pei Ciling, wearing a pale lotus-colored jacket, with her head lowered, like a withered blade of grass.
A concubine.
A trace of coldness swept across the Old Madam's heart.
She refused to be a proper legal wife and insisted on degrading herself to become a concubine. Did she think she could fly up a branch by stealing her sister's marriage? Little did she know that in this Marquis Manor, a concubine couldn't even get a chair to sit on.
Short-sighted.
Extremely stupid.
The Old Madam withdrew her gaze, too lazy to look anymore.
The First Branch was able to manage their people, and no more trouble had occurred.
Although the heir was disappointing, he was at least obedient; that concubine couldn't make any waves either. As long as they maintained the status quo, and when the heir inherited the title in the future and married a proper legal wife, life could still go on.
The Old Madam originally thought that things could settle down again from now on.
Who knew—
Another big trouble fell from the sky!
A few days ago, the Empress secretly sent a letter through the Qin Duke Manor.
The letter was earnest, saying that there was a young lady named Cheng Lu, whose parents had passed away and who was weak and sickly. She needed to find a quiet place to recuperate. The Weiyuan Marquis Manor had a strict family tradition, and the Old Madam was kind. This person was also a distant relative of the Marquis Manor. If they could take in this cousin to stay for some time, the Qin Duke Manor would be extremely grateful.
At the end of the letter, a sentence was specially added: This matter is personally cared for by Her Majesty the Empress.
When the Old Madam finished reading the letter, she almost couldn't hold onto the prayer beads in her hand.
Her Majesty the Empress personally cared for it?
The Qin Duke Manor couldn't settle her themselves, and insisted on sending her to the Weiyuan Marquis Manor?
If it was truly an ordinary person who needed care, the Qin Duke Manor was such a big mansion, couldn't they spare a room? Why bother sending her to someone else's house?
And they insisted on saying she was a distant relative of the Marquis Manor?
Why didn't she know?
There was something going on here!
Thinking carefully again—
The recent major event related to the Empress, wasn't it the death of the Ninth Prince from illness?
Although the Old Madam had never met the Ninth Prince, she had heard some rumors, saying that he was extremely handsome, looking more like a princess than a princess, and had a soft temperament, unlike the other princes who were martial.
He had just died a few days ago, and now a cousin was sent over.
And her surname was Cheng?
Cheng Lu.
Cheng Lu.
The Old Madam closed her eyes and slowly twisted the prayer beads.
She remembered some old matters.
When the Old Marquis was still alive, he had once mentioned to her: The Empress in the palace was a person with her own ideas. She looked gentle, but was actually strong. If anything touched her reverse scale, she could poke a hole in the sky. The person the Empress arranged with such care—
Besides the Ninth Prince she had raised by her side since childhood, who else could it be?
And there was another suspicious point, why let the Ninth Prince enter the manor as a woman... The Old Madam's fingers twisting the prayer beads paused.
Could it be.
The Ninth Prince was originally a woman?
This thought was too shocking, so shocking that the Old Madam herself couldn't quite believe it.
But thinking carefully, if it wasn't so, why fake death? Why change names? Why live in someone else's manor as a woman?
If he truly was a prince, no matter how weak his body was, he was still of noble birth. The Empress could openly raise him, who could say anything?
Unless—
This "prince" couldn't be a prince at all.
The Old Madam opened her eyes, her gaze as calm as water. She had probably guessed the truth, but guessing was one thing, how to handle this matter still needed careful consideration.
The favor of the Qin Duke Manor couldn't be pushed away.
The Qin Duke Manor and the Marquis Manor had a life-and-death friendship. If it weren't for the Duke's promotion, the Old Marquis wouldn't have been able to go from a personal guard to a general, and then from a general repeatedly achieving military merits to obtaining a title. Also, back then on the battlefield, the Old Marquis was saved by the Duke of the Qin family.
Although this philandering old man was dead.
But this favor.
The Weiyuan Marquis Manor had to repay.
Moreover, a matter personally arranged by the Empress, the Marquis Manor didn't have the room to refuse. Not to mention they were just sending a "cousin" to recuperate, even if they sent an ancestor to be worshipped, they had to accept it.
They could only try to settle her as properly as possible.
But how to settle her?
According to the rules, this matter should be handed over to the First Branch.
The Old Madam's gaze fell to the left.
The Weiyuan Marquis Pei Fucheng sat properly in the upper seat, with a majestic face, showing no expression; the Marquis's wife, Mrs. Li, sat next to him, with an appropriate smile on her face.
Further down were Pei Ciling, and Shen Ningyue standing behind him.
The Old Madam twisted her prayer beads.
If this was handed over to the First Branch...
That disappointing heir, I'm truly afraid he might be driven by lust. What if he sees the Ninth Prince—regardless of whether they are male or female now—finds them beautiful, and entertains inappropriate thoughts...
The Old Madam's gaze darkened slightly.
Shen Ningyue was still standing there. The Old Madam knew perfectly well how she had hooked the heir back then, but these things went both ways. If the heir had been upright himself, how could he have...
Inappropriate.
Entrusting this to the First Branch was completely inappropriate!
The Old Madam shifted her gaze to the right.
Pei Fugui was holding a teacup, a smile on his round face, chuckling over who knew what. Madam Zhou sat beside him, holding Shen Ninghuan's hand, her features radiating maternal love.
Further back were Pei Cijing and Shen Ninghuan.
Pei Cijing still wore his usual lazy expression, leaning back against his chair, thoroughly bored. Shen Ninghuan sat properly by his side, her expression gentle and composed.
The Old Madam's gaze paused on Shen Ninghuan.
This granddaughter-in-law was someone she could trust.
She was smart.
She acted with a proper sense of proportion.
What was rare was her upright character. Judging from her behavior since marrying into the family, she was capable of handling responsibilities. If that Cousin were entrusted to the Second Branch...
The Old Madam slowly fingered her prayer beads.
Madam Zhou had a soft and agreeable temperament, Pei Fugui was an honest and kind man, and though Pei Cijing was lazy, he wasn't a troublemaker. With Shen Ninghuan managing the household, they would definitely settle the person properly.
Most importantly, the young couple, Pei Cijing and Shen Ninghuan, had an excellent relationship, as sweet as honey mixed with oil.
If that Cousin went to live with the Second Branch, no matter how beautiful she was, she wouldn't be a hindrance. No one would harbor inappropriate thoughts toward her.
The Old Madam made her decision.
She raised her eyes, sweeping her gaze over everyone in the hall, and spoke slowly, I called you all here today because there is a matter I need to announce.
The hall fell silent as everyone looked toward the head seat.
Fingering her prayer beads, the Old Madam said in a steady tone, This child, Cheng Lu, is the descendant of a distant cousin who went to the battlefield with the late Marquis. The elders of the two families shared a life-and-death bond back then. Now that her family has fallen on hard times, she is the only one left. She was born weak and prone to illness, so she has come to the capital to seek medical treatment and seek refuge in our manor.
She paused, her calm gaze sweeping over the crowd.
From now on, she will reside in our manor long-term. Everyone in the household must treat her well and absolutely must not neglect her.
Everyone agreed in unison.
The Old Madam nodded in satisfaction.
She was about to continue when she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of the lower right side—Pei Cijing and Shen Ninghuan seemed to exchange a glance by tacit agreement.
It seemed they had guessed something?
In fact, the moment they heard the name, the two realized that the cousin coming to the Marquis's manor was actually the Ninth Prince!
After all, they were both privy to the Ninth Prince's secret. The name Cheng Lu naturally sounded familiar to them—coupled with the fact that the news of the Ninth Prince's death from illness had spread throughout the capital.
They had even been guessing where the Ninth Prince would be placed.
As a result...
However, both were smart people.
Smart people knew what to say and what not to say.
Pei Cijing and Shen Ninghuan merely exchanged a glance and made no further movements.
The Old Madam withdrew her gaze and continued, Miss Cheng is weak and needs to recuperate in peace. The courtyard in the Second Branch is spacious and quieter, so you will be responsible for settling and taking care of her.
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall shifted subtly.
The Marchioness, Madam Li, was slightly taken aback and instinctively wanted to say something, but the Marquis of Weiyuan, Pei Fucheng, beside her, gently patted the back of her hand.
The movement was light, but it was enough to make her swallow the words that had reached her lips.
In the Marquis's manor, no one had the right to question a decision already made by the Old Madam.
They only needed to execute it!
Madam Li pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and said no more.
The Old Madam took in this scene, scoffing slightly in her heart.
It wasn't that she didn't know the thoughts of her eldest daughter-in-law. The First Branch was the primary lineage, and according to the rules, they should indeed be the ones to handle such matters. But rules were rules, and reality was reality.
Given the identity of that Cousin, did she dare place her in the First Branch?
She did not dare.
Madam Li was shallow but heavy-hearted. If she were really allowed to handle this matter, who knew what kind of mess she would make. And her son, Pei Ciling, was a muddle-headed fool. What if...
The Old Madam stopped dwelling on it and only looked to the right.
Pei Fugui was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, Rest assured, Mother. Your son will certainly do his utmost to take care of Miss Cheng and will absolutely not let her suffer the slightest grievance. I will treat her—I will treat her like my own daughter!
He spoke sincerely, his round face full of earnestness.
The Old Madam looked at him, her gaze softening slightly.
This child.
She had raised him single-handedly.
Back then, the old Marquis's concubine had given birth to him and passed away a few years later. Although she was not his biological mother, she had never mistreated him. She had raised him by her side since he was young, taught him the rules, gave him dignity, and let him grow up safely to adulthood.
This child's temperament took after his mother's—honest and simple-minded, with no great abilities. He knew he didn't have much ability himself, so he didn't try to make a name for himself in his official career, content to safely be a wealthy idler.
It could be considered knowing his own limits!
If one were to speak of his merits.
It was probably his sincerity toward others.
When he said he would treat her like his own daughter, he truly would treat her like his own daughter.
The Old Madam nodded slightly. That is for the best.
Only—
Like his own daughter?
A subtle feeling flashed through the Old Madam's heart.
Oh, Second Son, Second Son, do you know that the one you want to treat as your own daughter was the Ninth Prince just a few days ago? In terms of status, in terms of seniority, in terms of... you're probably not qualified to be their father.
However, she naturally wouldn't say these words out loud.
The Old Madam fingered her prayer beads and was about to give a few more instructions when a maid's announcement came from outside the door, Old Madam, the Cousin has arrived.
Everyone in the hall looked up.
The Old Madam nodded slightly. Let her come in. Since everyone is here today, it's a good time to meet and get to know each other.
The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.
A moment later, a figure slowly entered through the door.
Dressed in a goose-yellow skirt, with a slender figure and light, slow steps. Her face was covered by a thin veil, hiding most of her features, revealing only a pair of eyes—crystal clear, like a mountain spring, almost excessively pure. She walked slowly, every step revealing a cautiousness, as if she were adapting to something.
Reaching the center of the hall, she stopped and gracefully bowed toward the head seat, Cheng Lu greets the Old Madam.
Her voice was light and clear, carrying a somewhat deliberately lowered softness.
The Old Madam looked at her with deep eyes.
Those brows and eyes, that figure, the unconscious nobility revealed in her movements... Even though she had changed into women's clothing, even though she deliberately restrained herself, how could the bearing cultivated in the palace since childhood be compared to that of an ordinary young lady?
The Old Madam fingered her prayer beads.
Indeed.
She had guessed right.
Rise. The Old Madam's voice was steady, betraying no anomaly. From now on, you are in your own home. There is no need for excessive formality.
