Qi Tianming looked deeply at Madam Qin, "Thank you, Madam. It's getting late. We can go first thing tomorrow morning."
"As you wish, Marquis," Madam Qin replied softly.
Qi Tianming went directly from Madam Qin's to Chaohui Hall and told the Old Madam about the affairs at the manor without any concealment.
"The manor reported that Madam Yun fled with people?" The Old Madam looked astonished, as if she couldn't quite believe it.
"I tested Madam Qin, and she showed no panic at all. Her demeanor suggested that Madam Yun's escape had nothing to do with her. I initially thought she might have secretly arranged for someone to act, but now it seems that's not the case," Qi Tianming frowned slightly. "But Madam Yun is gentle and was raised pampered by the Yun family. How could she have such resolve? To flee, she must be an escaping concubine..."
An escaping concubine, once caught, could be beaten, scolded, or even executed without anyone saying a word.
After her initial shock, the Old Madam understood. For someone like Madam Yun to flee could only mean one thing: she couldn't bear life at the manor any longer. Madam Qin might not have directly harmed Madam Yun and her son, but the people at the manor were all her subordinates. Knowing that Madam Yun and her son were not favored by the Marquis's wife, they naturally treated them however they pleased. With the manor so far away, even if the household investigated, they could claim they were acting out of loyalty to the Marquis's wife, thus pleasing Madam Qin and earning the reputation of loyal servants. What a profitable arrangement.
"Speculation is useless. Tomorrow, Nanny Fang will also accompany us. We'll ask everything that needs to be asked, and make sure Nanny Qin doesn't collude with others to change their stories," the Old Madam said, rubbing her forehead. These matters truly gave her no peace.
Qi Tianming looked grateful, "It's all my incompetence, causing you to worry for me."
The Old Madam waved her hand, "You are my son, who else should I worry about if not you? Besides, this Marquis's manor is the culmination of your father's efforts, and I must guard it for him. You are a good child in every way, except in matters of affection, where you are too indecisive. You must remember that you are the head of the household. everyone in the Marquis's manor relies on you for their livelihood. You should not hide your authority when it is needed. Although the affairs of the inner court are managed by the main wife, if the main wife is incompetent, you should guide her more, lest you make a fool of yourself."
Qi Tianming stood before the Old Madam, his head bowed, listening to her lecture.
"I understand, son. I will never be so foolish again," Qi Tianming replied respectfully.
"Enough. I know you've been working hard outside. I'll help your wife with some of the inner court matters," the Old Madam sighed.
Qi Tianming quickly expressed his thanks, "Thank you for your trouble, Mother."
The Old Madam leaned back against a bolster, squinting her eyes. She waved to Nanny Fang, who understood. "Marquis, the Old Madam is tired. You didn't rest well last night either, so you should go back and rest quickly."
After Qi Tianming left, the Old Madam opened her eyes. "He's just like his father. Possessing great ability, yet repeatedly making mistakes in matters of women. I was against Madam Yun entering the household from the start, but he fought tooth and nail, forcing the matter. He neglected the main wife and spent his days with Madam Yun. Yet Madam Yun never even offered a smile, and the foolish boy was content to be met with cold indifference. Madam Yun was also fortunate, first giving birth to Zhenzhen, and then a son for the household. My initial displeasure gradually subsided, but I forgot that women are prone to jealousy. The main wife had no legitimate son, but a concubine did. How could Madam Qin remain patient? At the time, I also thought of tempering Madam Yun's spirit and reminding her of her place. Unexpectedly, Madam Qin actually drove her out."
Nanny Fang stood with her head bowed, listening to the Old Madam. She had been by the Old Madam's side since she was a teenager. Back then, the Old Madam was a bright and charming young girl, happily married to the late Marquis. But what happened? The late Marquis already had a favored concubine, waiting for the Old Madam to enter and serve tea before being promoted to a concubine. Even a pampered girl, no matter how knowledgeable or magnanimous, could not remain calm in such a situation. The affection between husband and wife was thus destroyed. She eventually became disheartened, focusing solely on raising her son and being confined to the inner court as the Marquis's wife.
Therefore, the Old Madam disliked Concubine Yun and sympathized with Madam Qin.
Unaware of the events at the Changping Marquis's manor, Madam Yun and her son were happily trying on new clothes.
"Is this color too bright?" Madam Yun was somewhat flustered. "And, and..."
She was a concubine; how could she openly wear bright red?
The clothes fit well and looked beautiful, but they were not in accordance with the rules.
"Mother, here, you are Mother to me and Yi Ge'er. You are not a concubine. What's wrong with wearing bright red?" Qi Zhenzhen was unconcerned. "Besides, it's the New Year, and everything should be festive. Ask Yi Ge'er, don't you think Mother looks beautiful in this?"
Qi Yi immediately chimed in, "Mother, you look like a peony fairy in this outfit."
Praised by her children like this, Madam Yun struggled for a moment before saying anything more about not following the rules.
"Yi Ge'er's two outfits are wonderful." Madam Yun looked at the young boy in his straight-cut robes, his demeanor elegant, her eyes filled with smiles.
Madam Yu knocked and entered. Seeing the mother and son in their new clothes, she was stunned, her eyes filled with amazement. "I knew you were beautiful, Sister, but I never imagined you could be this beautiful. Even as a woman, I can't take my eyes off you. And Zhenzhen, you usually wear simple colors, but today you're wearing bright colors, and you look truly beautiful. Yi Ge'er, in this outfit, you look like a young master from a noble family."
Madam Yun's face flushed, and she chided Madam Yu, "Sister, your compliments make my ears feel hot."
"It's not praise, it's just the truth. With you all dressed like this, who would say you are from the countryside? Even the noble ladies and young ladies in the city can't compare," Madam Yu said earnestly. "It also depends on who wears it. I certainly can't carry off this style."
"We're only wearing these for the New Year. If we wore such flamboyant clothes every day, people might laugh," Madam Yun said, inviting Madam Yu to sit. "Don't you like the fabric Mingyue bought for you?"
A hint of joy appeared in Madam Yu's eyes. "This child. She has a little money and doesn't save it, she doesn't know what to do with herself. She bought fabric, two sets for each person. She's so carefree, it's too attention-grabbing, and yet she doesn't realize it. Alas, I've raised my daughter to be too naive. If she were as worldly as Zhenzhen, I wouldn't worry so much. While innocence and cheerfulness are good, people must grow up. Being too naive will lead to much suffering."
With that, Madam Yu sighed deeply.
Every family has its own difficulties. The Song village head's family, in the eyes of outsiders, was considered a rare harmonious family. But what outsiders saw was only the surface. As for the inside, there were constant bumps and bruises.