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Shen Lantang's voice was sharp and her expression stern. The more she spoke, the harsher she became, until she was practically pressing for a confession.

Madam Xie had already dismissed the servants. Only one old attendant remained in the room with her. She knew that if this matter was not settled today, it would cause endless trouble in the future. Lowering her voice, she demanded:

"Nanny Feng, what exactly did you say to Hongwen?"

"This old servant, this old servant..."

"This old servant only told the young master that the young madam was not his birth mother, and that he should stay on his guard so he wouldn't come to harm."

"You're talk—"

"Half truth, half lie. You've really mastered the art of talking. If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I might have believed you."

Shen Lantang picked at her ear.

Madam Xie turned away from Shen Lantang and glared at Nanny Feng. "Is that really all?!"

"..."

From the side, Shen Lantang said softly, "Though you're now a servant of the Xie Family, you spent years with the Zheng Family and came here as part of Madam Zheng's dowry. Everyone still sees you as a servant of the Zheng Family. Everything you say and do reflects on their reputation."

Nanny Feng's back abruptly stiffened. Her curled fingers slowly relaxed.

"This old servant did tell the young master that, since the young madam was not his birth mother, she was bound to have other intentions. I told him to be wary of her at every turn. I also said she would have children of her own someday and would surely help them push him aside. I wanted him to understand that he mustn't think of her as his mother."

Madam Xie had braced herself, but she was still furious. Her finger trembled as she shouted:

"How has the Xie Family ever mistreated you, that you would spread lies and drive them apart like this!"

As Shen Lantang had said, the relationship between a child and his mother affected more than the two of them. It shaped the bond between generations. More than one perfectly good household had been thrown into turmoil by discord between mother and son. That was why prominent families insisted that a child's legitimate mother come from a respected family and conduct herself properly, so she could keep petty schemers in check. Who would have thought that mother and son would be getting along well, only for such a grave problem to arise with the servant closest to them!

"What has the Xie Family ever done to wrong you, that you would go to such lengths to turn mother and son against each other, leave the child without his parents' love, and rob this household of peace!"

By the end, she was almost too breathless to speak.

Madam Xie was forthright and fair, and she had always commanded respect in the household. Even Nanny Feng had never defied her. Hearing her furious rebuke now, Nanny Feng looked ashamed.

"This old servant was led astray and lost her judgment. I know I was wrong!"

Shen Lantang had not done all this today to help Nanny Feng unburden her heart. She was about to speak when Madam Xie raised a hand to stop her.

"Lantang, leave this to me."

After what had happened last time, Shen Lantang did have some faith in her mother-in-law. At those words, she thought:

Then I'll trust you this once.

Madam Xie's eyelid twitched.

Shen Lantang went into the inner room. Madam Xie dismissed the old attendant, leaving only Nanny Feng kneeling silently on the floor, her thin back trembling.

Madam Xie looked at her, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

"Nanny Feng, there's no one here but the two of us. Tell me why you did this."

Nanny Feng kept her head down and said nothing.

Madam Xie's disappointment deepened. Nanny Feng had been Fang Hua's wet nurse, and mistress and servant had been deeply attached. Fang Hua had died after bearing the Xie Family an heir. The family had felt both grateful and guilty toward her, so they had taken special care of the old servants she left behind. They had entrusted Nanny Feng with every detail of Xie Hongwen's daily care as a sign of their trust. Who would have thought that trust would nearly bring disaster upon them?

If Shen Lantang had not exposed Nanny Feng today, then once Xie Hongwen came to see his stepmother as an enemy, this household would never know peace again.

"When Fang Hua passed away, she left behind only Hongwen and a few old servants like you. I was afraid he might not be properly cared for, so I entrusted his upbringing entirely to you. Later, when Hongwen turned three and was no longer an uncomprehending infant, we took another wife into the Xie Family. Xie Jin needed a wife, and Hongwen needed a mother's care and affection."

"When choosing her, we considered the young child in our household. His new mother could not be a girl of fifteen or sixteen; we feared she might not yet be mature enough to shoulder a mother's responsibilities. But by eighteen or nineteen, most daughters of official families already had suitable matches. The Xie Family could not possibly break up someone else's marriage. After searching carefully, we finally settled on a daughter of the Shen Family."

"With the standing of the Xie Family, we could have chosen from any number of fine young women. Yet we chose the daughter of a low-ranking official, largely for Hongwen's sake. Do you acknowledge that?"

Nanny Feng bowed her head deeply to the floor. "This old servant understands the master and madam's painstaking intentions!"

Madam Xie was unmoved. She continued:

"The Xie Family married Shen Lantang into this household in large part so she would care for the young child. She was told as much before she entered. Since coming here, she may not have been especially attentive to Hongwen, but she has respected the bond between you and your young master at every turn and never interfered in your affairs. However you chose to raise Hongwen, however close you were to him, did she ever say a word against it?"

"Has she ever stinted on Hongwen's food or clothing? Has she treated him kindly as his mother? Has she conducted herself with grace and propriety before outsiders?"

"She has met every expectation the Xie Family had of her as a wife. Yet as a wife of the Xie Family, she deserves respect and support. Have you given her that? Have we not wronged her in this?"

Faced with Madam Xie's relentless account and stern questions, Nanny Feng was too guilty to speak.

"Most importantly—" Deep displeasure entered Madam Xie's gaze.

"Today, Lantang could have rebuked you in front of Hongwen. Instead, she had him taken away first and only then confronted you. Why do you think she did that?"

Those words struck Nanny Feng like a bolt from the blue, jolting her awake!

"Because she feared that what happened today would hurt Hongwen. She feared he would see the ugly side of the nurse he had relied on and trusted since childhood. She feared it would wound his young heart, and that he would remember this scene so clearly it would return to him in nightmares, night after night."

"She has considered Hongwen at every turn. Now think about what you have done. Nanny Feng, what do you have to say for yourself—"

"This old servant was wrong!!"

Rankings

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Time-Travel and Rebirth Romance

Devoted Love

Jiang Ciyu

Mind Reading

Laid-Back Life