410: Performance (4 updates)
She went to the door to welcome the old lady.
Since the year she had helped Madam Wan retrieve the management rights and caught the old lady embezzling Marquis Weiyuan’s silver to aid her parental family, the old lady had hardly come out except during the New Year and other festivals.
The Marquis’ wife never mentioned the past, but she knew that the old lady held a grudge against her, though she couldn’t do anything about it.
The Crown Princess, Madam Wan, indeed lived up to expectations. Once she had the management rights, she organized the marquisate so well that, even if the family fortune had not doubled, all expenses were regulated strictly by the book. No one could expect any exceptions, and if they wanted to eat or drink better, they would have to pay out of their own pocket.
Because of this, the concubines devoted more of their energy to pleasing the marquis, and they dared not cause trouble in the presence of the Marquis’ wife or the Crown Princess. After all, the Marquis’ wife was known for her decisiveness and efficiency, and the Crown Princess was not someone to be taken lightly.
The Marquis’ wife went to the door to welcome the old lady with full respect.
The old lady glanced at her once.
And her heart skipped a beat.
How long had it been since they last saw each other, and yet her complexion looked so good.
Even Marquis Weiyuan took a moment to take it in.
“Now that the old lady and the marquis have arrived, let’s go and start the feast!”
“Mm!”
As for Liang Shuyue.
The Marquis’ wife didn’t ask, nor did anyone else dare to.
The seating arrangement was quite intriguing. The Marquis’ wife was protective of her own, shielding her three sons and two daughters-in-law, and her grandchildren were the apples of her eye, whom she guarded even more. She chatted and laughed with her sons and daughters-in-law, not requiring them to serve her, with tasks such as adding dishes left to the maids. Setting rules was out of the question. Thus, the relationship with her daughters-in-law was excellent, her three sons were filial, and her grandchildren need not be mentioned. Even for Xie Hanhan, the Marquis’ wife was protective. At this table, the marquis and the old lady seemed like outsiders.
Marquis Weiyuan looked towards the Marquis’ wife several times, noticing that she only focused on her meal, occasionally calling the maids to serve the three children, not deeming it necessary to even glance at him.
“…”
He waited and waited until the New Year’s Eve dinner was almost over, but the Marquis’ wife never initiated a conversation with him.
It was always like this.
He would never get her to look back at him, never wait long enough for her to show concern or ask him a question.
Ever since Nuannuan’s disappearance, she had stopped giving him any smiles, and he was no longer able to sleep in the main courtyard.
There was no longer a place for him in her bedchamber.
Marquis Weiyuan held back and waited until he finally said, “Minmin, come to your grandfather!”
“…”
Xie Minmin looked up, confused at Marquis Weiyuan.
The grandmother had been ill before and was afraid of transmitting her illness to them, so she seldom saw them, but they knew their grandmother loved them dearly.
Now that grandmother was getting better, of course, she wanted to be close to her grandmother.
And the grandfather…
Hearing this, the Marquis’ wife gave Marquis Weiyuan a slight glance.
Marquis Weiyuan immediately sat up straight, instinctively lightening his breath.
Thinking the Marquis’ wife would say something, but she didn’t speak a word and turned her head to say to Xie Minmin, “Your grandfather is calling you over to give you lucky money. Go on!”
Xie Minmin smiled and quickly pulled her two brothers along.
Marquis Weiyuan had indeed prepared lucky money for the three children, but this year he was exceptionally generous.
Each received a manor, a shop, and ten thousand taels of silver.
The old lady watched, nearly losing her breath in anger.
But what could she do if her son wanted to give those gifts?
“Marquis, what’s gotten into you today?” the Marquis’ wife asked softly.
Even the concubines turned their heads to look over.
The illegitimate sons and daughters had even redder eyes.
All in their teens, with an authoritative elder brother above them, a formidable mother, and a Crown Princess sister-in-law who was very resourceful, they had no choice but to behave and not act recklessly.
Chapter 412