Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Your Eyes Needed Washing

“Good. I was worried Eldest Sister had lost her head and Mother had followed along. Luckily, Mother, you understood what was right.” Sheng Zhi Wan spoke as she found a chair and sat down. “But Eldest Sister talked without thinking, so she still needed a lesson. Otherwise, one day she would not be able to hold her tongue and would invite disaster. I think making her kneel in the ancestral hall was a good method.”

“Sheng Zhi Wan, don’t go too far!” Qi Fei Yan clenched her fists, her face full of hate.

“Too far?” Sheng Zhi Wan looked surprised as she asked Madam Cui, “Mother, she spoke carelessly about the Imperial House and guessed at His Majesty’s intentions. Do you really think making Eldest Sister kneel in the ancestral hall is too far?”

Madam Cui said nothing.

Under her sleeves, Madam Cui’s hands squeezed together so hard they nearly shook. But when she met Sheng Zhi Wan’s half-smiling gaze, what could she say? With Qi Fei Yan staring at her in disbelief, Madam Cui forced herself to grit her teeth and say, “Of course it isn’t too far. Eldest girl spoke wrongly today, so she can go… kneel in the ancestral hall until dinner time.”

After she said it, Madam Cui only felt her chest tighten until she could barely breathe.

“Mother? Mother! How could you listen to her?”

“I won’t go. You’re the one who told me to go…” Qi Fei Yan struggled as she was dragged farther away, her voice fading.

Sheng Zhi Wan seemed not to hear that last sentence. A smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She waved for a maid to pour her a cup of tea, then took a small sip.

It was fine Fu Yuan Chang Tea Cake. Just these few leaves alone could equal half a month’s expenses for an ordinary household. It was obvious Madam Cui spent Sheng Zhi Wan’s money with real generosity. She demanded high standards in food, clothing, housing, and travel, and even the tea had to look impressive.

Sheng Zhi Wan set the cup down.

Madam Cui stared at her, eyes locked, but Sheng Zhi Wan did not care at all.

“Right. When I came in, I think I heard Mother talking about the household authority.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s tone stayed calm. “When I first married in, Mother said your health was poor, so I took over temporarily. But what you said just now also made sense. How could I, a daughter-in-law, control everything in the Duke residence?”

As she spoke, she gestured. Ting Lan placed the account books and two strings of keys on the table.

“The accounts and keys for every courtyard are here. The silver I used to subsidize the residence these past two years is also recorded item by item. Before, while Mother was ill, it wasn’t convenient for me to say anything. But now the Heir Apparent has returned, and he earned military merit and rewards. If word got out that the Duke residence relied on a daughter-in-law’s dowry to cover its expenses, it would damage his reputation. So when his reward arrives, return the silver I advanced.”

What did she mean?

She would stop managing the inner quarters, and she wanted the money repaid?

At that moment, Madam Cui finally could not keep up her expression. In a rush of anger, her blood surged and she stood up. “Sheng Zhi Wan, what do you mean? We’re family. Why divide yours and mine? Is it worth making this much trouble over a concubine?”

“That’s right, Heir’s Wife.” Concubine Ping hurried to support Madam Cui. “Look at the men outside. Which one doesn’t have three wives and four concubines? Our residence is already considered excellent. The Heir Apparent didn’t do it on purpose. He was only set up by someone. If you can’t even tolerate this, your heart is far too small!”

The Duke residence had two concubines, Concubine Lian and Concubine Ping. Concubine Lian looked charming and had a lush figure. Though she also had no offspring, Duke Qi favored her more.

Concubine Ping was not as good as her, so she worked harder to please Madam Cui. The things Madam Cui did not want to say and could not say were all spoken by Concubine Ping instead.

In the past, Concubine Ping had often used Madam Cui’s influence to scold and lecture Sheng Zhi Wan. Sheng Zhi Wan endured it for Qi Shu Xian’s sake.

But now-

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her hand and threw the remaining tea straight onto Concubine Ping’s face.

It hit without being off by even a bit. Tea leaves stuck to Concubine Ping’s forehead.

Concubine Ping shrieked at once.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression did not change. “Concubine Ping’s eyes really needed washing. You couldn’t even tell who was above and who was below.”

“You-you…” Concubine Ping’s chest heaved as she raised her hand.

But Sheng Zhi Wan only smiled and looked at her. Her dark eyes were quiet and cold. That thin thread of chill made Concubine Ping jolt, and she lowered the hand that had been pointing.

Sheng Zhi Wan mocked her in her heart. A foolish thing that bullied the weak and feared the strong. A mere concubine dared act as Madam Cui’s spearhead. No wonder, in her previous life, Concubine Ping did not even know how she died.

Madam Cui had been hoping Concubine Ping would slap Sheng Zhi Wan hard across the face. She never expected her to be so useless.

Madam Cui glared viciously at Concubine Ping. “Hurry up and step back.”

Then Madam Cui forced down her anger and looked coldly at Sheng Zhi Wan. “Everything should stop at moderation. If you keep this up, aren’t you afraid Shu Xian will completely loathe you?”

Madam Cui truly felt she was doing this for Sheng Zhi Wan’s own good. These past two years, Sheng Zhi Wan had been respectful and filial toward her. Madam Cui’s health was poor and she needed medicine, and Sheng Zhi Wan had personally brewed and delivered it every day.

“Madam, you’re sincerely thinking for her, but she might not appreciate it!” Concubine Ping said resentfully.

“Enough. This isn’t a place for you to interrupt.” Madam Cui scolded her.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not be bothered watching the two of them sing the same tune. She had already said what she came to say, so she stood up. “Mother, don’t forget to repay the expenses I covered for the Duke residence these past two years. Oh, and also the jewelry, hair ornaments, rare editions, books, calligraphy, and paintings that you, Father, Eldest Sister, Second Sister, and Second Brother borrowed from me. Remember to return those too.”

She bit down hard on the words “borrow” and “return.”

Madam Cui had already been forcing her anger down, but those words sent it shooting straight into her skull. It felt like a vein behind her forehead was twitching. Her vision darkened in waves, the room spinning.

Luckily, Concubine Lian stood beside her. Seeing something was wrong, she hurried to hold Madam Cui up.