Hearing that Xie Fengran had returned, Xie Yi quickly looked up at his mother eagerly.
If this girl saw him kneeling here, he, as a father, would really lose all his face.
The old lady pretended not to notice his expression and said indifferently, "Get up!"
Xie Yi quickly stood up. Just then, Nanny Su's voice sounded in the courtyard, "Greetings to the eldest young lady."
"Don't be so polite, Nanny. Is grandmother here?"
"Yes, she is. Please come in, eldest young lady."
Nanny Su opened the door of the study and invited Xie Fengran in.
The old lady rarely set foot in the outer - courtyard study and would never even send Nanny Su out.
Obviously, her own father had done something stupid again, which had annoyed grandmother!
However, Xie Fengran looked straight ahead as if she had noticed nothing unusual. She thanked Nanny Su and walked in.
As soon as she entered the study, she saw the silver - haired and vigorous old lady sitting upright on the chair. She immediately knelt down and said, "Granddaughter pays respects to grandmother!"
The old lady was also a bit touched. She got up, helped Xie Fengran up, and stroked her hair. "You've been away for so many days this time. Grandmother really missed you."
"Granddaughter missed grandmother too."
Xie Yi watched the intimate interaction between the two generations of the family. He felt a bit neglected and was a bit embarrassed.
If it were Xie Yunxi here, she would definitely pay respects to him first. So he snorted heavily in displeasure.
Xie Fengran withdrew from the old lady's embrace. As if she had just noticed Xie Yi, she walked over and saluted, "Daughter pays respects to father."
Xie Yi responded with a grunt and sized Xie Fengran up and down.
He saw that she behaved gracefully, looked calm, and was extremely good - looking, bearing a seven - or eight - tenth resemblance to Lady Yun. But there was no trace of Lady Yun's aloofness on her. Instead, she had a unique gentle charm.
He had to admit that his mother had done a good job in raising her. He also had to admit that even though he doted on his second daughter, Xie Yunxi was no match for her elder sister.
Xie Fengran felt a bit creepy under Xie Yi's gaze. She quietly retreated to the old lady's side and started to tell some interesting things that had happened on the mountain.
"Chenghui is very attached to Zhuqing now. But Zhuqing is still young. How could she know how to take care of a child? Granddaughter thinks it's better to find a wet - nurse for Chenghui."
The old lady nodded. After thinking for a while, she asked, "There's no steward - nanny in your courtyard. Do you want to find one?"
Xie Fengran thought for a while and shook her head. "Lanfang and Liuyi are grown - up now. They should be trained for everything. Granddaughter thinks they can manage it first."
"Fine. You can make your own decisions about the affairs in your courtyard. But regarding the matter of finding a wet - nurse for Chenghui..."
"It's not difficult. The personnel affairs in the mansion have always been managed by the second sister - in - law. Just leave it to her." Xie Yi took over the conversation and kindly suggested.
In his opinion, such a trivial matter didn't need his mother to intervene personally.
"..." The old lady's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again. She even wanted to throw her walking stick at Xie Yi's face. "Since you've said that the personnel affairs in the mansion have always been managed by the second brother's wife, it's just right. You're not a man without a wife. It's time to sort out the matter of managing the mansion again."
"Mother, isn't the second sister - in - law doing a good job? Why do this?" Xie Yi was a bit reluctant. Over the years, the Western Courtyard had been in charge of the mansion. The second brother and his wife always followed his lead. No matter how much silver he took from the accounting room, his second sister - in - law never asked. If the power of managing the mansion fell into his mother's hands, he wouldn't be so comfortable.
"Shut up!" The old lady scolded him in disappointment. She said without any reservation, "The power of managing the mansion is in the hands of outsiders. Aren't you afraid that one day the Marquis Mansion will be emptied?"
Xie Yi shrank his neck. Remembering what he had just said, he immediately dared not say a word.
"Nanny He!" The old lady called out loudly and ordered, "Drag those villains who are stealing from the mansion and gossiping behind others' backs to me. Also, call the mistress and the second brother and his wife here!"
"Yes!"
Nanny He rubbed her hands eagerly and led a group of old women out of the study courtyard menacingly.
In the Western Courtyard, Uncle Xie always came to drink with Xie Yi because Xie Yi hadn't left the mansion in the past few days. But today, he was stopped by his wife before he even left the courtyard.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to see elder brother."
Uncle Xie was completely confused. He didn't understand why his wife had stopped him. Usually, she always encouraged him to visit elder brother often.
"Don't go today. You might spoil elder brother's good deed and make him angry with you."
Aunt Xie pulled him back, waved the maids away, sat down beside Uncle Xie, and whispered, "The place is watched very closely by the old lady. Concubine Yuan is very anxious now. It was me who advised her to plead with elder brother. I think they must have already consummated their relationship by now!"
"You..." Uncle Xie stared at his wife, gaping. "But that's the outer - courtyard study. If the old lady finds out, even elder brother won't get away with it."
Aunt Xie gave him a disdainful look and snorted. "Who doesn't know it's the outer - courtyard study? But they have no chance in the inner courtyard! Your sister - in - law has been trained. She's no longer that other - worldly woman. She also knows how to fight for favor. Men are always fond of new things. Concubine Yuan had no choice but to take this risk."
Uncle Xie didn't know what to say. He could only admonish his wife, "Stay away from the affairs in that courtyard. Why do you get involved with a concubine? You might catch the old lady's eye."
"What are you afraid of!" Aunt Xie looked down on Uncle Xie's timid look. "How many more years can that old hag live? Your sister - in - law is no match for Concubine Yuan in terms of scheming and means. Even elder brother dotes on Xie Yunxi. If I don't make friends with Concubine Yuan at this time, what will happen to us in the future?"
Uncle Xie's face darkened. He wanted to scold Aunt Xie, but he had to admit that she was right.
The more chaotic that courtyard was, the more beneficial it would be for them.
The couple had their own ulterior motives. They both wanted to see if Concubine Yuan could succeed this time.
But before long, Nanny He appeared at the courtyard gate.
Aunt Xie quickly welcomed her out. She always did a good job of showing respect to the people from Green Pine Courtyard.
But when she saw the menacing Nanny He, her heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and said, "What wind has blown you here today? Does the old lady have any instructions?"
Nanny He bowed respectfully and said with a solemn face, "The old lady invites you and the second master to go to the outer - courtyard study."
Aunt Xie looked at Nanny He's expression. A sense of uneasiness welled up in her heart. She recalled the recent events and felt that she hadn't done anything that would offend the old lady. So she stepped forward and quietly stuffed a bracelet into Nanny He's hand, whispering, "Please, Nanny, give me a hint. Did the old lady say what it was about?"
Nanny He took a step back. "Second lady, the old lady only said to invite you two. I'm just a servant. I dare not ask more."
A look of embarrassment flashed across Aunt Xie's face. She forced a laugh and said, "I've put you in a difficult position. But the master isn't here. What do you think, Nanny..."
"Then please go first, madam. I'll send someone to invite the second master!"