I'm already a concubine, who wants to fight with you?

Chapter 126 The old lady of the Hou Mansion

Fu Yu received the New Year's money and smiled so hard that her eyebrows and eyes were squeezed together.

"Thank you girl!"

Yuan San opened the red envelope and took a look. He was also quite surprised. "So generous?"

Xie Fei's eyes sparkled. "Next year, no, this year, if the shop I opened with Lady Shui makes a profit, I'll give you a bigger one by the end of the year!"

But for now, let’s just get through the New Year’s greetings first.

The carriage soon arrived at the Marquis' Mansion. Xie Fei got off and glanced at the building.

It is not as grand as the mansion of the eldest wife, and it looks more like a place for retirement and seclusion.

There were many carriages parked at the door. Perhaps the children and grandchildren from each family had come back to pay New Year's greetings, causing some congestion.

Only Su Lu came with Xie Fei today. They introduced their names at the door and the servants quickly invited them in.

Along the way, Su Lu whispered, "You don't have to go in when you pay New Year's greetings later, just kowtow outside."

Xie Fei couldn't ask for more.

When we arrived outside the old lady's courtyard, we heard laughter from inside. It was probably the women from each room who had come over in advance to wish each other a happy new year and were chatting inside.

The maids were standing in the yard, all of them were solemn and stern, no one dared to look around or make any noise.

Xie Fei stood in the middle of the yard and bowed in the snow.

"Fourth House Xie, on behalf of our master and queen, has come to wish the old lady a happy new year."

The laughter in the room suddenly stopped, and only an old and vicissitudes voice was heard saying: "Is it Brother Yuan'er's concubine who is here? Quick, ask her to come in, it's cold outside!"

The door opened and an old woman came out, inviting Xie Fei in to talk.

Su Lu was waiting outside, and Xie Fei went into the house alone.

Different from the old lady’s cold Buddhist temple, the old lady’s residence is more luxurious and wealthy, and very humane.

At this moment, the house was as warm as spring. The women from various mansions were sitting in the pavilion. Madam Zheng from the main house and another middle-aged woman were standing on either side of the old lady.

Xie Fei couldn't name the other young women except Ban Sihui.

She kowtowed again and said some words of congratulations, which made the old lady smile so much that she couldn't stop. She said that she was a good and pitiful child.

There was no way to leave, so Xie Fei was left behind to chat with the female relatives.

During the conversation, Xie Fei gradually recognized the person.

Sitting on the right side of the old lady, the woman, who was probably in her thirties, was the mistress of the fifth room.

Just as Yuan San said, although she was the old lady's biological daughter-in-law, she seemed particularly unfamiliar, and her body movements showed some repulsion. She was not even as close to her as the second and third wives.

But the old lady didn't care at all. She still had a kind face and pulled her daughter-in-law to ask her all kinds of questions.

From sons to grandchildren, and from daily life to officialdom, he asked every detail, fearing that the young people would miss something and cause disaster.

Because the old lady was kind, the younger generations felt much more relaxed, and they talked and laughed, and made some jokes, and no one got angry.

Xie Fei is not a very sociable person, but when necessary, he can pretend to be familiar.

She talked to the women around her, modest but not humble, easy-going but measured, and soon became friends with the women she was not familiar with. However, Ban Sihui was alone, sulking, and the more she looked at Xie Fei, the more she disliked him. She wanted to interrupt from time to time, but she never found the opportunity.

When Mrs. Zheng mentioned that Shanbao was injured before and it was thanks to Xie Fei's help, even the old lady felt thrilled and kept shouting "Amitabha".

The second wife rubbed her chest and said, "This is really God's blessing. If the Xie family's child hadn't been there, Shanbao would have been in great danger."

Just as Madam Zheng was about to reply, Ban Sihui said in dissatisfaction, "Second aunt, you are exaggerating. Shanbao was not seriously injured that day. It's all the fault of the imperial physician for exaggerating and making a big deal out of it."

She rolled her eyes at Xie Fei and said coldly, "Some people are not that powerful. They are just lucky. They are so arrogant. Aren't they afraid of being laughed at?"

Everyone's faces froze slightly, and Mrs. Zheng showed a look of disgust from the moment she opened her mouth.

"Sihui," Madam Zheng said calmly, "Go to the kitchen with Hongluo to see how the banquet is being prepared."

Ban Sihui wanted to speak, but another younger girl stood up, took her hand and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, let's go."

Ban Sihui was somewhat dissatisfied. She shook off Pei Hongluo's hand and left angrily.

Pei Hongluo was the daughter of the second wife. She was generous by nature and did not bother with Ban Sihui. She just bowed to her elders and left.

Because of Ban Sihui's words, Mrs. Zheng couldn't hold back her expression and smiled at Xie Fei.

"There are some new plum blossoms in the flower hall. They are treasures from foreign lands. Go and take a look with them. If you think they are beautiful, pick a few and put them in a vase. The whole house will be filled with fragrance."

Xie Fei stood up and said, "I'd better obey your command."

The other young women were also very considerate and walked away with Xie Fei, chatting and laughing.

When only a few elders were left in the room, the old lady's previously pleasant face darkened a little.

Mrs. Zheng and her sisters-in-law immediately knelt down, not daring to raise their heads.

The old lady took a sip of tea and said coldly, "I didn't think highly of your daughter-in-law from the beginning. She is shallow and ostentatious, stupid and brainless, and easily influenced. Once someone instigates her, she will be led around like a dog from beginning to end."

Mrs. Zheng had cold sweat on her forehead and whispered, "My daughter-in-law has taught me many times, but it's really hard to correct me."

The old lady said, "If you can't correct it, then change someone. Your son will inherit the title in the future. If the mistress of a marquisate is so stupid and superficial, and is used by someone with ulterior motives, I don't know how much disaster will be waiting for my Anyuan Marquisate!"

Mrs. Zheng was so embarrassed that she closed her eyes.

The other three women didn't dare to speak either. They all knelt behind Mrs. Zheng, sweating profusely.

The kindness in the old lady's eyes was obscured by a shadow, revealing a viciousness and cruelty different from usual.

She continued, "Shanbao is your first grandson that you have been waiting for so long. But her family threw Shanbao away. They tried to cover it up at the time and dared not admit it. Later, they also refused to admit their mistakes. You let this behavior go?"

Madam Zheng bowed her head and said, "Grandfather, please don't be angry. At that time, I did want Honglang to divorce his wife. But Honglang cherishes the relationship between us for many years, and she has given birth to four children. This..."

"Being soft-hearted will only lead to endless troubles!" The old lady slammed the table and shouted angrily, "With her current behavior, do you still expect her to change? In the future, your three granddaughters and one grandson will be influenced by her and taught to behave improperly!"

Mrs. Zheng didn't dare to speak again and just lowered her head to listen to the lecture.

The old lady looked at her daughter-in-law with disappointment and said, "Ever since her family fell into poverty, you have helped them financially and cleaned up many messes for them, openly or secretly. That's all.

But not only is her family not grateful, their appetite is getting bigger and bigger. Who in the Ban family doesn't complain about the New Year gifts you send, thinking that you don't give enough and are not presentable? You are working hard but getting no thanks, do you still want to continue to cover the cost?"

(End of this chapter)