Charcoal-roasted grandmother

Xu Rourou lowered her head. "Yes, Madam. Everything you said is right!"

She had been the first to speak up because she had no money to donate.

She had never considered that she might make Liu Wan lose face.

But the Marquis's Residence had not fallen into chaos just because she had taken the lead. Clearly, none of them wanted to donate.

Liu Wan had used moral blackmail, stirring resentment in everyone's hearts.

What did that have to do with her?

Liu Wan continued, "I know you feel wronged, but when you make your living in a grand household, the bird that sticks its head out gets shot. Kneel here until sunset. I'll have a matron take Huai Shan to the Fourth Master's courtyard."

Xu Rourou looked up. "Madam, Huai Shan can't be away from me..."

His skin condition could flare up.

If anyone discovered that the child had a hereditary family illness, it might arouse suspicion.

Besides, her elder brother had entered the Marquis's Residence too.

She could not possibly avoid seeing him.

"Wet nurse Xu!" Liu Wan sharpened her tone in warning. "Remember, you are only the young master's wet nurse, not his birth mother. Don't say such things again. The Marquis's Residence cannot afford to have you disgrace it!"

"What's more, he is the master, and you are the servant. He's still young, so it naturally creates the illusion that he cannot do without you. When he grows up, he will care about his dignity too and will not acknowledge you as his mother. Just fulfill your duties as they stand!"

Liu Wan's words.

They left Xu Rourou choking on her response. Her face flushed red, then pale. She bit down hard on her lips, seemingly trembling!

Liu Wan was right. Huai Shan would never acknowledge someone of her standing as his birth mother!

Why should that be!

She was Xie Jin'an's childhood sweetheart. She was her son's mother.

All she wanted was for their family of three to be reunited. How would that disgrace the Marquis's Residence?

The position Liu Wan occupied should have belonged to her.

She refused to accept it. With a cold laugh, she was just about to rise when a stern rebuke rang out from beyond the courtyard.

"Who are you accusing of neglecting her duties?"

Xu Rourou looked up and saw a woman blackened to a glossy sheen, her scorched hair piled atop her head like a chicken's nest.

Yet she wore sumptuous clothing and approached with a cold, stern expression.

Her fine clothes only made her disheveled, blackened face look even more wretched, but no one dared laugh.

Because that woman was Madam Li.

Wonderful!

As though she had spotted her savior, Xu Rourou rose from the ground and stumbled toward Madam Li.

Liu Wan's gaze was solemn.

"You are... Mother-in-law?"

"Hah! How fortunate that you still recognize me. Weren't you terribly disrespectful to me in the front hall earlier? Liu Wan, do you know that disrespecting your elders violates the seven grounds for divorce? I could easily have Jin'an divorce you!"

Madam Li sneered through gritted teeth.

Because of Liu Wan's orders, none of the maids or matrons had prepared anything for her to wash with.

Only after her personal maid and her niece Li Duoduo had someone summon a physician had she finally bathed, changed, and put on her own fine clothes again.

The swelling in her face had subsided, but for some reason, the ink would not wash off, even when she scrubbed her skin raw.

She had been so furious that she smashed up her courtyard. Unable to swallow this insult, she had come to confront Liu Wan.

She had not expected to find her reprimanding Xu Rourou.

[Mommy, Mommy, this black braised egg is your mother-in-law? She's so ugly! You couldn't find her at night even with a lantern.]

[She's absolutely rotten. Not only did she let Third Uncle defile Qing Da's daughter, she even suggested selling off Qing Da's entire family.]

[She's the one who planted a servant boy beside Second Brother and had him take Second Brother to use Happy Powder. Second Brother spent all day in a daze and didn't want to practice martial arts.]

[Then she framed Eldest Brother and let the male lead steal his scholarly honors. She's come back to the Marquis's Residence now to strip Mommy of her power and ruin Mommy's two adopted sons, all to make the male lead look good...]

[I'm so mad! She's the nastiest rotten old hag in the whole story. If I could talk, I'd make her so angry she'd start smoking!]

Little Wanwan was held to one side by a matron, her tiny hands clenched tightly into fists.

She bared her gums at Madam Li.

This woman was so blackened, yet still so fierce.

Noticing the baby's scrutinizing gaze, Madam Li glared at her.

Little bastard!

So detestable.

Liu Wan stepped in front of her daughter. "Mother-in-law, you said nothing in the front hall earlier, and Jin'an never mentioned you. With you looking like this, it's only natural that I didn't recognize you. What brings you here?"

"What brings me here?"

Madam Li sneered and raised the list in her hand. "This was your idea, wasn't it? You know perfectly well that the Marquis's Residence is strapped for money, yet you proposed this anyway. Are you trying to use the Marquis's Residence to build your own reputation?"

"Let me tell you, don't even dream of it. Never mind my objections. Go and ask everyone in this household-is there a single person who agrees?"

"Liu Wan, how have you been managing this household all these years? The once-glorious Marquis's Residence can barely keep up appearances now!"

Madam Li tore the list in her hands to shreds!

After that furious tirade, she stood in the sunlight, so angry that faint wisps of smoke actually rose from her head.

[Wow, the rotten old hag is smoking! Mother, look! Has Grandpa Sun mistaken her for a lump of charcoal?]

[I'm curious. If she gets angry enough to explode, will Grandma start throwing sparks?]

[Ah, I really want to see a charcoal-roasted Grandmother!]

Liu Wan's solemn composure shattered in an instant.

Unable to suppress the smile at her lips, she asked Madam Li, "Does the entire Marquis's Residence oppose this?"

"Of course! What nonsense!"

Madam Li was nearly mad with rage, and the smoke rising from her head grew thicker!

That mocking smile on Liu Wan's lips stabbed at her eyes!

No matter what, she could not let Liu Wan go through with this!

She would strip her of her authority over the household too. Then they would see whether she could still act so arrogantly!

Having received her answer, Liu Wan smiled faintly. "Very well. Then the Marquis's Residence won't take part. Mother-in-law, is there anything else?"

She did not believe Madam Li had come merely to reject her proposal!

Madam Li raised her chin. "In the five years you've managed this household, the Marquis's Residence has declined to this state. Starting today, you need no longer oversee its domestic affairs. Hand over the storeroom keys and the Matriarch's Jade Pendant!"

Liu Wan pursed her lips. "As it happens, I'm still weak after giving birth. Thank you, Mother-in-law, for taking these matters off my hands!"

"My health is poor, and I cannot stand the wind. I'll have Pan Chun deliver everything to your courtyard shortly!"

With that, she gave a few quiet instructions, turned, and shut the door.

Bang!

"You! How dare you treat me like this! Liu Wan!"

Seeing Liu Wan shut the door in her face, Madam Li stamped her feet in fury, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she clenched her teeth!

"M-Madam, your head!"

"It's on fire!"

"Ah! Someone put out the fire!"

The maids shrieked.

Madam Li felt a searing heat on her head. She reached up to touch it, only to snatch her hand back from the burn!

Her hair!

Her hair!

The lightning strike had already left it looking like a tangle of weeds. Now that it was burning too, she probably would not have any left.

She covered her face and screamed, crying for someone to put out the fire!

"Madam! There's no water in the vat in the Eldest Madam's courtyard!"

"Heavens, heavens! It's completely out of control!"

"What do we do, Madam?"

Madam Li's scalp was already scorching, and they were asking her what to do?

The courtyard instantly erupted into chaos, chickens flying and dogs leaping. Holding Little Wanwan, Liu Wan went to the window to watch, and mother and daughter let out astonished exclamations. "Wow!"

[There really is such a thing as a charcoal-roasted Grandmother.]

"Back! Back to my courtyard! Hurry!" Madam Li shouted, covering her face and screaming!

A matron carrying Xie Huaishan followed behind Madam Li, repeatedly crying that this was terrible, simply terrible!

As she ran, she shouted, "Heavens, why is the child crying again? Good Lord!"

Suddenly, the matron's hand touched something wet. Young Master Huai Shan had peed!

Wonderful! Madam's hair could be saved!