The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 338: 182 Merciful Mother (Second Watch)

Xiao Liulang wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Gu Jiao left in a great mood, even humming a tune as she washed the dishes.

The following day.

Xiao Liulang and Xiaojingkong went to the Guozijian to study.

Gu Xiaoshun ate quickly, and Gu Yan ate less. Both of them had already left with their book bags.

Xiao Liulang didn’t give a second thought to the disqualification document written by Zheng Siye. He was too familiar with the rules of the Guozijian. Zheng Siye could intimidate others, but not him. A real disqualification document required the dean’s signature.

It’s worth mentioning that after Zheng Siye’s incident of bullying students and bribery, his dean signature stamp was confiscated by His Majesty.

Zheng Siye’s real plan was definitely to intimidate Xiao Liulang, trying to get Xiao Liulang and Xiaojingkong to leave voluntarily. Then, he would claim that they had left school on their own accord when reporting to the authorities.

Xiao Liulang delivered Xiaojingkong to the front door of the elementary school: “No causing trouble today.”

Xiaojingkong rolled his eyes: “What about tomorrow?”

Xiao Liulang: “….”

Is being a grown-up all about worrying?

“Go to class now!” Xiao Liulang said sternly.

“Oh.” Xiaojingkong, holding his school bag, trudged off.

“Hold on.” Xiao Liulang called out to him, “Hand me the rocks in your pocket.”

Xiaojingkong seriously replied, “Little Shitou said it wanted to attend class today.”

Xiao Liulang, expressionless, asked, “Does the slingshot want to attend class too?”

Xiaojingkong choked. How did you know I brought a slingshot? I hid it so well!

Xiao Liulang: Hehe, you thought you could fool me twice?

In the end, Xiao Liulang successfully confiscated Xiaojingkong’s equipment.

Xiaojingkong held his school bag, his head drooped as he trudged onwards, sighing along the way.

Sigh.

…this is hard.

Xiao Liulang looked at the slingshot in his hand, twitched his mouth. The little guy was getting more and more clever as he grew up.

First, he had been angered by His Majesty, this scoundrel, and then scared by the Marquis of Xuanping, this god of death. Zheng Siye was genuinely sick and would not be capable of creating havoc for at least a month.

The January snow had lessened compared to December, but the weather was not yet warm.

Madam Yao sat in the Warm Pavilion making clothes for Gu Jiao. Gu Jiao had grown taller again. Perhaps, had been malnourished before and was now catching up.

Madam Yao did not like to make oversized clothes for her daughter. They had to be just right. That’s why, after one or two months, the clothes would no longer fit.

“Where is the gold thread that the old lady sent?” Madam Yao asked the housemaid.

Recently, Madam Yao was very much appreciated by the Old Lady Gu. Old Lady Gu had given her a lot of wonderful gifts.

Obviously, Old Lady Gu did this not because she liked Madam Yao, but because she enjoyed the servile manner in which Madam Yao treated her. Especially Madam Yao’s massage skills were amazing, and her pastries were delicious too.

“Ah? I remember putting it in the basket.” The housemaid searched in the embroidery basket.

Madam Yao said, “If you can’t find it, use the silver thread. I’ll embroider the cloud pattern first.”

As people become older, their memory deteriorates. The housemaid had been rather forgetful recently.

The housemaid handed the silver thread to Madam Yao.

Madam Yao threaded the needle, just about to start when a young maid outside lifted the curtain, “Madam, the Old Lady has asked you to come to the Songhe Court.”

Madam Yao put down her needle and thread, “Noted. Tell her I will be right there.”

“Yes!” The young maid left.

The housemaid felt empathy for her, “You just got back from Songhe Court. It’s too exhausting.”

Madam Yao smiled gently, “What’s so exhausting about it? I’m just doing my duty as a daughter-in-law in front of her. Every daughter-in-law does it. Speaking of hardship, who has had more hardship than Jiaojiao?”

The housemaid had no retort.

The young lady really had a hard life, she was mentally ill for some years, was bullied by the unscrupulous Gu Family in her hometown, though she later recovered from her illness. But at home, her husband and four others were studying and not making any money. She didn’t ask for a single penny from the Marquis Residence and earned everything by herself.

“Alright, go to Songhe Court. Don’t keep the old lady waiting.” Madam Yao tidied up the half-completed dress for her daughter, put on a cloak, and left for Songhe Court.

When she reached Songhe Court, she found Madam Ling was also present.

Madam Ling did not look well.

“Mother.” Madam Yao paid respects to Old Lady Gu.

Aunt Ling rose to her feet with a smile, bowing to Lady Yao, “Madam.”

Madam Yao nodded her head in response.

Seeing Madam Yao giving Aunt Ling such respect, the Old Madam Gu felt gratified and ordered that tea be served to Madam Yao.

Madam Yao sat down, and a maid presented her with a cup of hot tea.

After taking a sip, Madam Yao asked Old Madam Gu, “Did you summon me for any specific reason, Mother?”

Old Madam Gu shifted her gaze to Aunt Ling.

Aunt Ling smiled and said, “Actually, I asked for your presence, Madam. I have a favor to ask.”

Madam Yao eyed Aunt Ling skeptically, “What is it?”

Aunt Ling took a handkerchief, covering her mouth and nose as she coughed, and wheezed out, “Isn’t it the first month of the year? The day after tomorrow is the death anniversary of the late Madam. I usually handle everything, but I caught a cold recently and it hasn’t gotten better. I’m not worried about my illness, but I fear messing up the late Madam’s memorial service.”

Madam Yao said, “So, you want me to do it?”

Aunt Ling coughed a few more times, then said, “Madam was good friends with my sister before she married into the manor. I think if you were to take care of it, my sister wouldn’t blame you, even from beyond the grave.”

Madam Yao almost laughed.

Did Aunt Ling not know about the reputation she has been carrying all these years? The late Madam probably thought she was the one who caused her death, right?

Was she going to worship the late Madam without fearing that the coffin lid might suddenly flip over?

Old Madam Gu actually agreed. It was puzzling what she was thinking.

Aunt Ling looked surprised and said, “Madam, you’re not refusing to worship my sister, are you?”

Madam Yao replied, “How could that be the case? I’m just worried that the late Madam doesn’t want to see me. The three young masters have frequently complained to her tomb about me being their cruel stepmother. She probably holds a deep grudge against me. I’m afraid that if I go, she can’t rest peacefully in the netherworld.”

Old Madam Gu’s eyebrows knitted together.

Aunt Ling glanced at Old Madam Gu and awkwardly laughed, saying to Madam Yao, “It’s exactly because there’s a misunderstanding, that Madam should go to my sister’s grave to explain things to her.”

She spoke as if the late Madam could actually hear her.

Old Madam Gu hadn’t spoken a word of disagreement from the start, and it seemed that Aunt Ling had already persuaded her beforehand. To resist further would be pointless.

Madam Yao shifted subtly in her chair and bowed slightly towards Old Madam Gu, saying, “if Mother doesn’t disagree, then I will take up this task. However, as it is my first time worshiping the late Madam and I only have a day and a half to prepare, I worry there might be oversights. Could Mother ask Aunt Ling to guide me more?”

Such a humble manner caused Old Madam Gu to be utterly pleased.@@novelbin@@

Moreover, this daughter-in-law was right, there were less than two days left.

Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but look towards Aunt Ling and say, “You’ve been sick for more than a day or two! Why didn’t you prepare for both possibilities sooner!”

Aunt Ling never expected Madam Yao’s casual statement would subtly shift the blame and make Old Madam Gu dissatisfied with her.

If things were laid out so clearly and something went wrong, it would be difficult to let Madam Yao shoulder all the blame.

However, she was lucky.

Aunt Ling lifted her tea cup, dipped her head and drank a sip of tea before saying softly, “Madam, perhaps you should come to my room, and I can explain to you in detail about the offerings for the memorial.”

Madam Yao stood up.

A maid whispered, “Madam, do you dare to go?”

Madam Yao replied in a low voice, “She took me from under the watchful eyes of the Old Madam. If something goes wrong, it’s all her responsibility.”

The maid thought about it and agreed.

Madam Yao went to Aunt Ling’s room.

Old Madam Gu wasn’t completely reassured about the situation. She feared that Aunt Ling, due to her illness, might confuse matters, so she sent her trusted maid to accompany them.

Old Madam Gu merely detests Madam Yao and wants to give her a hard time, but she wouldn’t actually harm her. Therefore, with Old Madam’s trusted maid there, Madam Yao wasn’t worried about any tricks from Aunt Ling.

However, Madam Yao still kept her guard up. She did not believe that Aunt Ling could be so generous.

Aunt Ling took out a box and said, “Here is the key to the storeroom. The offerings for the memorial are all inside. I’ve prepared the horse carriage and servants you’ll need. You just have to go early the day after tomorrow.”

“Do they agree?” Madam Yao was referring to the three young masters of the Gu family.

Aunt Ling nodded with a smile, “Yes, I’ve discussed it with them.”

This was even more strange.

Those three have always believed that she killed their mother. They hate her so much that they wish to kill her themselves. How could they agree to her observing their mother’s death anniversary?

During the night, she ordered her trusted maid to check all the items Aunt Ling gave her. The offerings weren’t poisoned, the money offerings weren’t tampered with, the carriage wheels were fine, and the carriage driver was a reliable person from their residence.

There were no problems at all.

Was she overthinking? Was Aunt Ling really so kind-hearted?