"Your mother-in-law is being so aggressive. Does she intend to pick a fight with a junior?" Qi Tianming's smile vanished, his tone turning cold.
Aggressive? Princess Consort Qin was taken aback that Qi Tianming would speak to her in such a manner!
"It's not good for a Marquis to dote on juniors so much," Princess Consort Qin said impolitely.
"Zhenzhen is my daughter. What's wrong with doting on her? Besides, doesn't your mother also dote on her daughter? To the point where you still manage everything, big or small, even after she's married?" Qi Tianming curved his lips, speaking with a hint of mockery.
"What do you mean by that?" Princess Consort Qin was angered.
"I mean nothing, only that your mother-in-law is meddling a bit too much. After all, your daughter is now the Madam of the Marquis's mansion, with so many people watching below! This way, her authority is undermined!" Qi Tianming said indifferently.
The implication was that this was the Marquis's mansion, and the Princess Consort's reach was too long.
Qi Zhenzhen stood to the side, her head lowered. She felt a sense of relief at her adoptive father's words. Her adoptive father clearly didn't want to be subservient as he had been before.
"You! You!" Princess Consort Qin's face was contorted with rage. "Are you accusing me?"
"This son-in-law dares not, I am merely speaking the truth. If your mother doesn't believe me, she can send someone out to inquire. Which mother-in-law still interferes in her son-in-law's household affairs?" Qi Tianming decided to speak his mind openly.
All along, Qi Tianming had shown great respect to Princess Consort Qin, complying with all her requests. Never had he acted like this before. Thus, Princess Consort Qin found it difficult to accept! Her entire being, consumed by anger, twisted her features, completely abandoning the demeanor of a noble lady.
"Has the Marquis grown too proud? Does he no longer regard our Prince's Mansion with respect?" Princess Consort Qin gritted her teeth and squeezed out the sentence.
"Your mother-in-law, you misunderstand. This son-in-law has always held his father-in-law and mother-in-law in high regard. You are elders, and as a junior, I naturally respect and value you," Qi Tianming said earnestly.
Princess Consort Qin's chest heaved violently. How could she not understand the underlying meaning of Qi Tianming's words? From now on, the Marquis's mansion would treat the Prince's Mansion as juniors treat elders, and nothing more.
"Father, how can you speak to Grandmother like that? It was thanks to Grandmother's presence here during Mother's confinement that we avoided chaos," Qi Mingzhu couldn't help but interject, her gaze flicking towards Qi Zhenzhen as she spoke.
Qi Tianming's face darkened. "Don't you see I'm speaking with your grandmother? Where have your manners gone?"
When elders are speaking, juniors should not interrupt without permission.
Qi Mingzhu's face turned pale instantly. She was somewhat at a loss facing Qi Tianming's sternness.
"Your grandmother is ill. Have you gone to visit her?" Qi Tianming added.
"Daughter, daughter has visited," Qi Mingzhu said, feeling a little guilty. She had visited, taken a glance, and left.
"Visited? As the legitimate daughter of my Marquis's mansion, and the direct granddaughter of your grandmother, with me away on duty and your mother in confinement, you merely visited?" Qi Tianming's tone grew sterner, a look of disappointment on his face.
"As for Mother..."
"Isn't your mother being attended to by your grandmother?" Qi Tianming glanced at Princess Consort Qin and said.
Qi Mingzhu mumbled, "I, I..."
Could she say that her grandmother usually didn't favor her as a granddaughter, and she didn't feel close enough to her grandmother to care for her, and therefore hadn't stayed by her side?