Chapter 126

Apart from her height, Madam Zheng's skin was neither dark nor particularly fair. Zheng Wanru's complexion, though, was lovely.

Madam Xie was still turning that over in her mind when Madam Zheng picked up her cup with her left hand. At the same moment, Shen Lantang screamed inwardly:

"Left-handed! Madam Zheng really is left-handed!"

Being left-handed isn't necessarily hereditary, but if one parent is left-handed and the child is too, there's a good chance it runs in the family!

The more I look, the more alike they seem. Shen Lantang could not help following that thought further.

My guess might be wrong. But if it's right, so many things would make sense.

Madam Li made Zheng Qingyu carry his own water, scolded him in public, and even made him wear old clothes with patches, yet she spent hundreds of taels of silver on a hair ornament for someone else's child. Could a mother really be that harsh to her son?

Madam Xie cried out silently. What? Madam Li made Zheng Qingyu carry water and wear old clothes? Patched clothes?

No. There can't possibly be a mother like that!

Whatever else might be said of Madam Xie, she knew several times more than Shen Lantang about wives, concubines, and children in a household. What birth mother would deliberately mistreat her son when the family had the means to provide for him? A concubine least of all: her comfort and status depended entirely on her son. If he spent his days chasing pleasure, she might steel herself to scold him. But Zheng Qingyu was a good boy. How could Madam Li bear to beat and scold him, let alone dress him in rags? Wouldn't that only turn him against her?

At first, Madam Xie had been shocked and uncertain, afraid to seriously