Feigning Illness

Lady Wei rushed to Concubine Wang's courtyard in a rage, only to find it empty. Upon learning that Concubine Wang had gone to the Old Madam's place, she was filled with resentment and hurried towards the Rongxi Hall, lifting her skirt as she did so.

If Matron Li were here, she might have advised her not to act impulsively and to wait in the courtyard for Concubine Wang to return. After all, Concubine Wang couldn't possibly live in the Rongxi Hall permanently. Even if she were a concubine from the second branch of the family, it wouldn't make sense for her to live in the old lady's courtyard.

However, Lady Wei was an extremely impulsive person by nature, easily agitated and angry. Over the years, Wei Qiu's rise in rank made her act even more recklessly, and her temperament became increasingly volatile.

Without any attempt to dissuade Matron Li, she rushed into the Rongxi Hall without a second thought, hastily bowed to the old lady, and asked, "I heard from the servants that Concubine Wang has come to visit you, old lady?" As she spoke, her gaze swept around the room.

The old lady was drinking bird's nest porridge when she heard this. She threw the spoon into the bowl and angrily said, "Is this the kind of upbringing the Wei Family has? Instead of serving their mother-in-law while she eats, they just barge in and start questioning her. Am I a prisoner in your family?"

Before Lady Wei could speak, he instructed Daimao, "Please ask the Second Madam to leave."

Matron Jin and Liuli immediately stepped forward to stop Lady Wei: "Second Madam, please wait outside. We can discuss this after the Old Madam has finished her meal."

Not seeing Concubine Wang inside, and too lazy to argue with the old lady, Lady Wei simply said, "I will handle our second branch's affairs myself; there's no need for you to worry, Madam. If Concubine Wang comes, please send her back for me."

Without waiting for the old lady to speak, he turned and left.

The old lady was so angry that she threw the bowl directly onto the table, making a loud clanging sound.

Hearing the noise behind her, Lady Wei didn't hesitate and went straight out the door. She looked around and then instructed Chunfen, "Go and see if that slut is hiding here."

Matron Jin was ostensibly there to escort Lady Wei, but in reality, she was worried about her and insisted on seeing her leave the courtyard before she felt at ease. She was currently standing behind Lady Wei.

Upon hearing this, her face darkened, and she said loudly, "Second Madam, this is the Old Madam's courtyard. You can't just search it as you please. Unless your father becomes the Emperor, you have no right to confiscate our Suiping Marquis's property."

She spoke loudly, hoping the old lady inside the house would hear her.

The old lady trembled with rage when she heard that Lady Wei dared to search her room.

But she was a shrewd and experienced woman. Although she didn't know if the commotion in the past few days was caused by her eldest daughter-in-law, she had some suspicions because one problem after another had arisen in just a few days, and they were all aimed at Lady Wei.

The replacement of an heir is a major taboo in a large family, but some people talk about it without any sense of the consequences.

If they were to punish the Lady Wei too harshly, even affecting Wei's father's official position, some people might say that the Marquis of Suiping's Residence was too ruthless and unkind.

After all, Lady Wei had given birth to a son for the Zhao Family, and Xu Xi, who was switched out, was doing just fine. Her crime didn't warrant death. At worst, they could send her to a temple to cultivate herself or simply divorce her. There was no need to put her to death or even implicate the Wei Family.

But the old lady knew that the Lady Wei, and indeed the Wei Family, were vengeful and held grudges.

Lady Wei didn't think she had done anything wrong; she only hated those who punished her. This woman was too crazy. Even if she were sent to a temple for spiritual practice or sent back to the Wei Family, as long as Wei Qiu remained in power, she would use any means to take revenge on the Marquis of Suiping's Residence. It was entirely possible that she would kill the old lady and the people of the eldest branch of the family, and that Zhao Jing'an would inherit the title.

Only when such a person dies can the Marquis of Suiping's Residence find peace.

If you want her dead, or even to bring down the Wei Family, you have to first establish a moral high ground and silence any outsiders.

The eldest daughter-in-law's intervention was likely for the same purpose.

With that thought in mind, the old lady immediately suppressed her anger and sat silently in the room.

Lady Wei naturally understood Matron Jin's intentions. Hearing how serious Jin Mama spoke, she felt a little guilty and planned to back down while the old lady was scolding her. After Jin Mama left the courtyard, she would send someone with money to bribe the maids in the old Concubine Wang was hiding. She also planned to have someone search the Tea Tasting Residence where Xu Xi was staying.

Anyway, she's determined to find and kill Concubine Wang. But there's no need for her to bear the charges that Matron Jin mentioned. Putting aside the matter of confiscating her property, the crime of disobedience alone is enough to make her suffer.

But the old lady inside remained silent! Had she chickened out?

Lady Wei immediately became smug.

Over the years, as her father's official position rose higher and higher, the old lady gradually yielded to her. As Lady Wei tested the limits step by step, she became increasingly smug and acted with more and more recklessness.

She interpreted the old lady's silence as a concession.

She gave Matron Jin a light snort and said coldly, "Matron Jin, as a servant, I advise you not to meddle too much, lest you hurt your old back."

Having served as the mistress and servant to the old lady for decades, Matron Jin knew that the old lady had once again yielded, since she had spoken so loudly and the old lady, who clearly heard her from inside the room, had not said a word.

She sighed inwardly, took a step back, and said nothing more.

Lady Wei became even more smug, looked at Chunfen, and scolded, "Why aren't you moving?"

Chunfen trembled and had to move to the front of the next room, peering through the window.

"If the door isn't locked, go in and take a look," Lady Wei added.

Chunfen had no choice. She knew this action was inappropriate, and that if things escalated, she might become Lady Wei's scapegoat and be punished, but she still had to do it.

The old lady and the first lady were kind and knew that it was not her fault. When they gave her the beating, they would not kill her, regardless of the number of strokes or the severity of the punishment.

But if she disobeys the Second Madam's orders and dares to oppose her, it won't just be a matter of being beaten with a board; she'll be sold off on her feet.

Given the second wife's ruthlessness, she would surely sell her to a brothel, the lowest kind of one at that. Many of her sisters have ended up like that before.

Unfortunately, they were children born to the second wife's concubines, and their indentures were in the second wife's hands. The second wife wanted to sell them, and the old lady and the first wife had no way to stop her.

Inside the room, while Lady Wei was talking to Chunfen, the old lady whispered to Daimao, "If I faint in a moment, you two go and tell Physician Shi that I had a stroke from anger, then go and call the First Madam."

The four Daya were all clever, capable, and quick-witted, which is why they were promoted to serve the old lady.

Daimao was also quite angry at Lady Wei's actions. Now, hearing the old lady's words, he knew that she was going to punish the second wife, and his eyes lit up. He nodded vigorously to show that he understood the old lady's meaning.

After seeing Lady Wei off, Liuli turned back and nodded knowingly.

Seeing this, the old lady leaned back in her chair, tilted her head, and closed her eyes.

Daimao and Liuli immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, Madam!"

Daimao cried out in a panic, "Quick, quick, go get the doctor! The old lady has fainted!"

"I'm going!" Liuli ran outside as fast as she could.