Chapter 18 Please Save Mother
Folding Willow Courtyard.
Wen Xueling was busy tidying up with others when she heard a commotion from the courtyard entrance.
She looked up and saw her grandmother, Shen Chaojun, who had been missing for over a year, walking in, dressed in luxurious brocade robes, supported by maids and old women.
In her previous life, the words “waste of money” and “little bastard” that her grandmother had hurled at her seemed to still echo in her ears.
Seeing the deep displeasure in her grandmother’s eyes, Wen Xueling knew that another enemy seeking trouble had arrived.
She glanced at the person next to Mu Qingyu, and Nanny Su nodded understandingly.
As soon as the mother and daughter arrived in the courtyard, they heard Shen Chaojun’s haughty voice, “Why are you two in the capital?”
Shen Chaojun had just returned from Fu’an Temple, where she had gone to pray for peace, when she heard about Mu Qingyu’s actions that morning.
From the day Mu Qingyu entered the household, Shen Chaojun had been very dissatisfied with her. Although she possessed beauty that could topple states, she lacked an illustrious family background and could not pave the way for her son’s future.
She recalled how, back then, her son was the top scholar who achieved triple success in the capital’s imperial examinations. How many noble ladies wanted to marry him?
If it weren’t for this woman being somewhat capable in bearing children, consecutively providing four male heirs for the Wen family, she would have long ago made her son divorce this orphan girl.
As for Wen Xueling, in her heart, she was not considered a male heir of their Wen family.
“After Grandmother disappeared, Mother and I searched painstakingly in Huaxi County for over a year, unable to eat or sleep peacefully. The neighbors all said that Grandmother must have been eaten by the black-hearted wild beasts in the mountains.”
“We then thought of coming to the capital to attend Father and brothers' funerals, but unexpectedly......”
Suppressing her disgust towards her grandmother, Wen Xueling rushed over and embraced her.
“That’s wonderful, Grandmother, you’re not dead!”
The aggressively approaching old lady looked exceptionally displeased after hearing her words, and was even knocked back several steps, almost falling.
She frowned and rebuked, “What are you talking about, ‘dead or not dead,’ in broad daylight? How inauspicious!”
Shen Chaojun forcefully pushed Wen Xueling away, then glared at Mu Qingyu, and led her maids and old women towards the room.
Seeing her daughter pushed, Mu Qingyu quickly helped her up, saying with distress, “Did it hurt?”
Wen Xueling shook her head, her peripheral vision scanning a corner by the courtyard gate.
The scene of “joyful tears meeting” just now was specifically staged for the spies her scumbag father had placed outside the courtyard.
She slowly walked to the courtyard entrance, closing off the prying gazes from outside.
The events that followed were suitable for listening, not watching.
Inside the room, Shen Chaojun sat in the main seat.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour tea.”
Seeing that the room, apart from tables and chairs, didn’t even have a decent decoration, and knowing that her son wasn’t attentive to her, she revealed a satisfied smile.
The old nanny whom Wen Jingshu had specifically hired to serve his own mother knew that Shen Chaojun disliked Mu Qingyu.
She faced Mu Qingyu, smiling skin but not flesh, “Our Old Madam said that none of the maids in this mansion serve as well as Madam Mu. This tea, it only tastes good when brewed by Madam Mu.”
The maids and old women who came with Shen Chaojun snickered along.
In the years after her mother’s death, Wen Xueling’s biggest regret was not protecting her when she was alive.
In this life, she would not allow anyone to bully her mother.
“We cannot brew this tea.”
Outside, there was a chilling wind, and inside the room, there was no warming stove. Wen Xueling picked up the fox fur coat, a gift from the Empress Dowager, from the chair and draped it over Mu Qingyu’s shoulders.
Mu Qingyu held her hand and said, “Ling’er, Mother isn’t cold. You wear this fox fur.”
“The room is cold and empty, and Mother’s body has just recovered, she cannot catch a cold. Didn’t Mother say she would always stay with Ling’er?”
Noticing the unease beneath her daughter’s sincerity in her eyes, Mu Qingyu let her tighten the ties of the fox fur.
Folding Willow Courtyard looked big, but upon entering, they found everything to be very simple.
Ever since Shen Chaojun came to the capital, she had never been so ignored. Her palm slammed heavily on the table.
“Presumptuous! How dare you speak to your grandmother like that!”
Wen Xueling ignored her roaring and helped Mu Qingyu sit down on the chair.
Mu Qingyu had seen how much her daughter’s personality had changed recently. Seeing the tense veins on her daughter’s hand while she was still smiling, Mu Qingyu felt a surge of tenderness.
She gently covered her daughter’s hand, softly saying, “Ling’er, just do whatever you want. Mother will protect you.”
The frozen frost in Wen Xueling’s heart slowly began to crack under the impetus of Mu Qingyu’s words.
This past month with her mother felt like a dream, making her anxious and uneasy.
Fearing that she would wake up one day and her mother would be gone.
But even if it was a dream, she would not allow anyone to disrespect her mother!
“Tangchun, Tangxia, please escort these nannies to the courtyard and explain thoroughly why Folding Willow Courtyard has no tea.”
The two maids exchanged glances, loosened their wrists, and made cracking sounds.
“What are you doing?! We are people from the Old Madam's courtyard! Hurry up and let go!”
Their response was the greeting of the Tang sisters’ fists.
They remembered Wen Xueling’s instructions: when hitting someone, hit them in places where bruises won’t show, but where the pain will be a hundred times worse.
“As for Grandmother, your granddaughter will personally explain.”
Seeing her pull a wooden hairpin from her bun and advancing step by step, Shen Chaojun felt fear in her heart, “Wen Xueling, what are you going to do?!”
Another courtyard in the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Hearing that the old lady had gone to Folding Willow Courtyard and had reprimanded Mu Qingyu and Wen Xueling, the woman’s action of feeding fish paused slightly, her eyes filled with satisfaction and triumph.
She raised an eyebrow: “Do you know what to do?”
The butler bowed respectfully, “Yes, this servant will immediately send someone to report to the Prime Minister, and will certainly give Madam a satisfactory explanation.”
Little did he know, a dead end awaited him.
Wen Jin’an on the side revealed a satisfied smile, saying happily, “Mother, you still have the best methods. You knew to call that old woman back.”
“What’s the meaning of a person biting a dog? A dog biting a dog is much more interesting.”
The sky was getting dark.
Wailing sounds filled Folding Willow Courtyard.
Wen Jingshu had just returned from the palace, his furrowed brow revealing his inner vexation. Hearing that something had happened again in the mansion, he directly ordered someone to kick open the door of Folding Willow Courtyard.
The courtyard was a mess, with maids and old women sprawled all over the ground.
“Grandmother, please don’t hit anymore.”
As Wen Jingshu entered the room, a teacup flew past him. Before he could dodge, a fragile figure lunged forward in front of him.
Bang! The teacup hit the floor.
“Qingyu!” Wen Jingshu hurriedly supported the person in his arms.
Mu Qingyu’s fair forehead immediately split open with a cut.
She leaned soft as boneless in the man’s embrace, a weak yet beautiful smile gracing her lips, “Husband, it’s good that you are fine.”
After saying that, she fainted in his arms, according to the scenario discussed with her daughter.
Wen Jingshu urgently said, “Quick! Find a doctor!”
Just then, Shen Chaojun, waving the dagger in her hand, fiercely rushed towards Mu Qingyu.
The guards accompanying Wen Jingshu quickly stopped her actions.
Wen Xueling, her smoke-gray silk dress covered in bloodstains, lay pale on the ground, sobbing, “Father, please save Mother. Grandmother is about to beat her to death!”
After speaking, she too fainted.
Today, the streets and alleys of the capital were truly bustling with excitement.
Everyone was discussing the affairs of the Prime Minister’s Estate.
“Did you hear? The Prime Minister just welcomed his original wife into the household this morning with the rites of a principal wife, and as soon as the mother and daughter entered, they were given a hard time by the steward, who wouldn’t give them lunch.”
“This poor mother and daughter were beaten half to death by their grandmother, who had faked her death to enjoy life in the capital, and they haven’t been saved yet.”
“Oh my, how could such an upright and public-minded Prime Minister end up with such a mother?”
A black carriage weaved through the bustling market.
Inside the curtain, those eyes that seemed to discern people’s hearts faintly scanned the several men in the crowd who were inciting public anger, a knowing dark glint in their depths.
She really is......troublesome.
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