Filial Sons and Worthy Grandchildren

After the old madam fainted, the entire main room became as eerily quiet as a morgue before dawn.

The old madam usually commanded considerable respect and had no shortage of filial sons and worthy grandchildren around her. Whenever she had so much as a headache or fever, the entire courtyard would be packed with visitors.

Now that she had suddenly fainted, not a single person dared step forward to help.

Jian Chuyun, the old madam's favorite granddaughter, who could turn even eating a grape into a battle for the throne, seemed to have gone mute. She hugged her knees and hid behind Young Shi-shi.

Young Shi-shi also pushed her two concubine-born daughters in front of her, unwilling to take the lead.

Xue-shi of the third branch and her daughter, Jian Chuxia, clung to each other in terror.

These filial sons and worthy grandchildren, whom the old madam valued most, were now flustered and frantic, terrified of having anything to do with her.

Who among ordinary people didn't have a few secrets? Having them exposed to their faces would invite enough accusing fingers to poke straight through their spines.

Everyone present trembled with fear, barely able to protect themselves.

Jian Ruonan worried that the old madam might be frightened to death.

If the old madam died of fright, Jian Zhang would not only have to observe mourning; he might also be saddled with a reputation for being unfilial.

Most importantly, they couldn't eat meat during mourning. She couldn't endure the misery of a vegetarian diet.

Jian Ruonan held her fingers in an orchid gesture, her expression calm.

Back when she had been obsessed with Naruto, she had learned a few moves. She made several flashy hand signs, never expecting them to leave everyone so thoroughly bewildered.

[Why isn't anyone pleading for the old madam?!]

[Give me a way down, so I can quit while I'm ahead.]

[I'm hungry. I don't want to keep acting.]

Jian Zhang: "..."

Jian Zhang was a man capable of great things. He immediately pulled Min and Jian Xilu down to their knees. "Immortal, immortal, please forgive my mother! This disciple, Jian Zhang, is willing to abstain from meat and recite Buddhist prayers for a year in exchange for your forgiveness!!!"

Jian Xilu followed suit. "Immortal, immortal, please spare Grandmother! Please! I'm willing to copy Buddhist scriptures to atone for her sins, too!!"

Min also knelt and pleaded, "Immortal, this faithful woman is willing to copy the Diamond Sutra a hundred times in exchange for my mother-in-law's health!"

[My family is so kind!!! Even after being bullied by the old madam, they're still pleading for her. Boohoo!!!]

Jian Ruonan opened her fingers and gestured for them to rise. "Shi Yiqiao, for the sake of these filial sons and worthy grandchildren, I'll spare you this once."

With that, Jian Ruonan closed her eyes and fainted straight into Jian Zhang's arms with perfect accuracy.

System: [...]

Holding Jian Ruonan, Jian Zhang shouted, "Quickly, fetch a physician and have him see what's wrong with Mother?!"

Only then did a young maid run out to fetch a physician.

The main room immediately descended into the chaos of war. A serving woman promptly pressed the point above the old madam's upper lip, and before long, the old madam finally began to stir.

The first thing the old madam did upon stirring was look at Jian Ruonan. Only after seeing her lying in Jian Zhang's arms with her eyes closed did she feel safe enough to regain consciousness.

Not long after the old madam woke, Jian Ruonan woke as well.

She returned to being the sweet, adorable, innocent Fifth Miss of the Marquis's Estate. Tilting her head like a harmless little white rabbit, she asked, "Sister, what happened here at Grandmother's?"

Jian Xilu: "..."

You nearly frightened Grandmother to death.

"Don't worry, little sister. Grandmother just had a fright. Let's go back first and leave her to rest."

"Oh, how did Grandmother get frightened? Is it serious?" Jian Ruonan's face filled with sorrow. "As her granddaughter, I'm terribly worried."

She looked every inch the dutiful granddaughter ready to nurse the old madam through her illness.

"..."

Min said, "Nannan is so filial. Still, let's go back first."

With you here, the old madam might never recover.

The old madam dragged herself up despite her ailing body. "This old woman appreciates Nannan's filial devotion. You may all go back."

After the physician arrived, Jian Zhang took his wife and daughters back to Westglow Garden.

After all that commotion, none of them had eaten dinner yet. Jian Ruonan washed her face and hands and changed into clean clothes, and the maids promptly laid out the meal.

Zang Chun and Zang Qiu, who had accompanied them to Joy and Longevity Court, had also received a fright. Min let them rest and instructed Zang Dong and Zang Xia to attend them instead.

The four Zang Generation maids were Min's senior maids. There were also four Wen Generation maids who served as second-class maids, as well as young maids who did rough work in the courtyard and were not permitted inside.

According to her allotted provision, Jian Ruonan was entitled to two first-class maids and two second-class maids. Min planned to give her Zang Chun, while Jian Ruonan took the initiative to request Wen Xue.

That maid Wen Xue was an eye the old madam had planted in Westglow Garden.

Plucking out that eye rashly wouldn't be wise either. Jian Ruonan felt more at ease bringing her close, where she could watch her at all times.

"Since Nannan has taken a liking to Wen Xue, we'll promote her to first-class. Mother will find a few more maids for you," Min said.

Overjoyed at her promotion to first-class, Wen Xue hurriedly knelt and kowtowed to Jian Ruonan in thanks.

Jian Ruonan rewarded her with a small piece of silver and sent her away.

The meal was already laid out. Plucking out eyes could wait. Heaven was vast and earth was vast, but eating mattered most.

Five dishes and a soup stood on the table. One was tender lamb liver stir-fried with celery. The liver was exceptionally soft and silky, and paired with the tender green celery, it was a feast of color, aroma, and flavor.

There was also chicken-foot soup with Solomon's seal, which supposedly enhanced one's beauty.

Another dish was tofu-skin parcels, made by wrapping assorted fillings in tofu skin and steaming them. Jian Ruonan had seen this dish in a famous classic novel. Now that she had the good fortune to encounter it, she simply had to savor it properly.

Besides those three hot dishes, there were two cold dishes: a plate of braised pig's trotters and a plate of roasted venison, along with a plate of stir-fried greens.

Min had someone place the pig's trotters in front of Jian Ruonan. "Nan Nan, these are your favorite."

Jian Ruonan froze. When had she ever said she liked pig's trotters? Still, they looked quite good. She supposed she could grudgingly eat a few.

After all that commotion, all four family members were hungry. Min and Jian Xilu held their bowls and ate in small bites. Even the simple act of eating was pleasing to watch.

Being young, Jian Ruonan ate with rather more abandon.

The three women ate meat, while Jian Zhang alone kept eating greens with his rice.

Jian Ruonan asked, "Father, aren't you eating any meat?"

Jian Zhang set down his bowl and chopsticks and rubbed his temples. "Father must abstain from meat for a year to pray for your grandmother's blessings."

Looking at the table full of meat dishes, he felt a little regretful. Why hadn't he chosen to copy scriptures? Why had he chosen to abstain from meat?

Eating vegetarian food for a whole year would truly test his resolve.

Min gave Jian Zhang a sympathetic glance and hastily ordered a maid to bring a plate of pastries.

Jian Ruonan blinked. She hadn't expected her father to be so honest that he would actually abstain from meat.

Still, this was good. Once word of her father's filial devotion spread, the old madam could no longer use filial duty to hold him down.

Using the serving chopsticks, Jian Zhang picked up several pieces of venison, roasted crisp outside and tender within, and placed them in Jian Ruonan's bowl. "Father can't eat it, so Nannan should have more."

"Nan Nan, would you like to come to the office with Father tomorrow?" Jian Zhang adored Jian Ruonan now. How was his youngest daughter so clever? Had she been a boy, he would have devoted every effort to grooming her as his successor.

How had such a precious daughter ended up being switched?

He had already sent people to find Madam Zhou. Once she was found, he would make her pay!

With meat in her mouth, Jian Ruonan asked, "Can you just play wherever you like at the Ministry of Justice Office?"

Jian Zhang said, "With Father taking you, you can go wherever you like." As it happened, the office had several thorny cases, and his superior had demanded that they be closed within the next few days. He still had no leads whatsoever.

Perhaps taking Nannan there would let him slice through those cases like a blade through bamboo.

Min and Jian Xilu were both stunned. When Brother Yuan and Teng had been curious about the Ministry of Justice Office as children, Jian Zhang had never offered to take them for a look. Now he was volunteering to take her, which showed how highly he valued Jian Ruonan.

Jian Ruonan was a little tempted.

But she had heard that her father had to rise during the hour of the tiger to attend court. She could sleep a little longer, but she would still have to get up at the start of the hour of the dragon. Jian Ruonan immediately abandoned the idea.

[Getting me up at seven in the morning-is he really my own father?!]

[I can't endure the misery of getting up early!]

Jian Zhang: "..."

"How about getting up at the start of Si Hour? I'll send someone to fetch you then."

Si Hour was nine in the morning. Jian Ruonan reluctantly agreed.

Jian Xilu: "..."

All of us siblings get up during the hour of the rabbit every day. Little sister is this lazy, and rather than reprimand her, Father actually coaxes her?!

What an eye-opener!

Min smiled. "Xilu gets up during the hour of the rabbit every day to practice the zither. Once your teacher arrives, Nannan will have to get up early to study, too."

Jian Ruonan hurriedly said, "Father already promised I could get up at the start of Si Hour!"

[Father, hurry up and keep your wife in line!!]

Min: "..."

She's clearly so clever, so why is she this lazy?

Jian Xilu chuckled on the side. Her little sister really was so entertaining. "Little sister is still growing. Let her sleep a little longer."

[Sister is the one who treats me best. Sister, snuggles.]

Min: ??

Letting her sleep a little longer makes someone good to her?

She compromised. "All right. Studying after you've had enough sleep will work just as well."

Jian Xilu suddenly remembered that they had only eaten half the melon of gossip. "Father, what did the immortal mean earlier about Grandmother and the Groom?"

Although she looked at Jian Zhang, she kept her attention on Jian Ruonan.

Jian Zhang and Min also pricked up their ears.

Only then did Jian Ruonan remember that she had spilled only half the gossip before the old madam fainted.

[The old madam is pretty crafty. What perfect timing for a faint! Otherwise, the whole family would know her secret. She caught her athlete's foot from the Groom, too.]

[The old madam's favorite thing is the Groom's pair of big feet!]

Jian Zhang: !!

Min: !!

Jian Xilu: !!