If left unchecked, rumors spread like wildfire. Eventually, the gossip in the mansion reached the ears of Old Madam Su.
One morning, just as the old madam had gotten out of bed, she noticed Nanny Qian looking flustered and hesitant.
"Speak your mind!" the old madam snapped.
As the weather turned cold, Madam Jiang had a famous tailor make a luxurious coat lined with silver - fox fur especially for the old madam.
It had been delivered that very morning, and the old madam was so fond of it that she had someone help her put it on and spent a long time admiring herself in the large bronze mirror.
Madam Jiang always knew how to please the old madam. That was why the old madam hadn't been too harsh on her regarding the incident at the hunting ground.
She had simply given Madam Jiang a stern warning: Everything should be done in the best interests of the Prime Minister's Mansion!
As long as Madam Jiang didn't overstep her bounds, she would remain in charge of the mansion.
Seeing that the old madam was in a good mood, Nanny Qian stepped forward and whispered, "Normally, I wouldn't want to upset you, but the rumors in the mansion have become unbearable!"
Then, Nanny Qian told the old madam all the rumors that had been going around in the mansion in the past few days.
"What! It's really true!" The old madam's eyebrows knitted together, and her face darkened.
"I was afraid of making a mistake, so I checked it myself. It's absolutely true!"
The old madam sat down angrily. "Go and bring that girl to me!"
Her good mood from the morning had completely vanished.
Yun Xi had just been dragged out of bed by Yu Zhu. She was still complaining when she saw Nanny Qian walking in with a grim face.
Before Nanny Qian could say a word, Yun Xi asked cheerfully, "Did you come so early in the morning because the old madam's small kitchen has made something delicious and wants to invite me over?"
The old madam had endured a few years of hardship when she was young. So after her son became prosperous, she was very particular about the quality of life.
Yun Xi's mother had been considerate of the old madam's hard work and had a small kitchen built specifically for her. All the food, clothing, and daily necessities were the best in the mansion!
However, even so, the old madam still didn't like this merchant's daughter - in - law.
She still spent hundreds of taels on food every month.
Nanny Qian twitched her lips. She couldn't understand how the eldest young lady could be so calm when the whole mansion was buzzing with rumors!
"Eldest young lady, you're overthinking. The old madam doesn't want to invite you to dinner. She wants you to go and answer some questions."
Glancing at Yu Zhu, who looked worried, Nanny Qian sneered slightly. "Yu Zhu, you go with her too."
When Su Yun was alive, Yu Zhu had once offended Nanny Qian. So Nanny Qian had always held a grudge against her.
Seeing Yu Zhu looking so worried, Yun Xi smiled and squeezed her hand. "Let's go quickly. We don't want to miss breakfast."
"Okay." Yu Zhu nodded. Although she knew that her young lady had a plan, she couldn't help but feel worried.
When Yun Xi arrived at the living room in the old madam's courtyard, not only was the old madam sitting there, but also Madam Jiang and Yun Ni.
Yun Ni was sitting beside the old madam, massaging her back and legs while cooing, "Don't be angry, great - grandmother. It's not worth getting angry over that troublemaker!"
Madam Jiang frowned and scolded, "Yun Ni, don't talk nonsense! No matter how much trouble she causes, she is still your elder sister by birth! And don't forget your status..."
At the end, Madam Jiang's face darkened, and her voice was filled with sadness. Yun Ni immediately retorted, "What status do I have? Mother, I'm also Father's child, and so is Brother Qi! Why do we have to be inferior to her and act according to her wishes?"
"Yun Ni!" Madam Jiang pretended to hit her, but Yun Ni immediately shrank into the old madam's arms and said aggrievedly, "Great - grandmother, look at my mother! You said that I'm your favorite, just like Yun Xi. But mother always reminds me that I'm a concubine's daughter. I'm so sad..."
Saying that, she leaned on the old madam's shoulder and sobbed.
"Alright, alright, stop crying." The old madam was getting a headache from the noise. She gave Madam Jiang a reproachful look. "You really are! You're in charge of the whole Prime Minister's Mansion, and there's no other woman by Yun Sheng's side. Why are you saying these things to the child?"
The old madam had wanted her son to give Madam Jiang a proper title more than once, but her son was stubborn and refused.
Even she, as his mother, was helpless.
Scolded by the old madam, Madam Jiang looked aggrieved. "You're right, old madam. But we can't ignore it! Brother Qi is often laughed at in the academy. Although he's the only son of the Yun family, he's still a concubine's son."
Hearing that her precious grandson was being laughed at in the academy, the old madam's eyes widened in anger, and she slapped the table. "Who dares!"
Madam Jiang wiped her tears. "It's all my fault. I've dragged Brother Qi down. If only he had been born to the madam, he wouldn't have to suffer like this at such a young age."
The more the old madam heard, the angrier she became. "Don't mention that merchant woman in front of me!"
Madam Jiang, like them, had fallen from a noble family. She was a decent girl, and she had been engaged to the Yun family a long time ago.
If her son hadn't been bewitched, he would never have married that merchant woman!
Even after she was dead, her son still missed her and refused to give Madam Jiang a proper title. He only knew how to indulge that girl and let her cause trouble!
It was a disgrace to the Prime Minister's Mansion!
When Yun Xi walked in, she saw the old madam in a fit of rage, and the other two cold looks made her clearly feel once again:
They were a family.
And she was just an outsider they united against.
"What's going on? Everyone is sitting so neatly. Is this a stern inquisition?"
For some reason, at this moment, she even felt it was tiring to pretend.
So she simply decided to let it all go and be reckless.
"Rascal! Kneel down!" The old madam was already full of anger. Seeing Yun Xi's attitude, she immediately shouted angrily.
Glancing at the sneers on Madam Jiang and Yun Ni's lips, Yun Xi slightly raised her lips and said sweetly, "Unfortunately, I hurt my knee yesterday. I'll have to kowtow to you another day, grandmother."
Saying that, she limped and sat down on a chair under their shocked gazes.
"Did I say you could sit?" The old madam was so angry that she felt her dignity had been openly challenged.
"Can't I sit on the chair here, grandmother?" Yun Xi looked surprised. She glanced at Madam Jiang and Yun Ni and smiled. "It's okay. If aunt and Yun Ni can sit, I can too. I'm not picky."
Yun Xi changed the subject, and the old madam was so angry that she trembled all over, her head seemed to be on fire, and she banged her walking stick loudly. "Do you think I won't dare to punish you just because your father is backing you up!"
Yun Xi was stunned for a moment and said, "Of course not. You can punish me if you want. It's your right."
"However, grandmother, you've always been the most just and fair. I haven't done anything wrong, so you won't punish me without cause, right?"
The old madam had never liked her or her mother. Even if she served her respectfully, it was all in vain.
Since she had seen this clearly, Yun Xi no longer expected the old madam to look at her with respect.
However, if they wanted her to admit to a crime she hadn't committed,
She would never compromise!