Chapter 26: Waves

Chapter 26: Waves

Liang Yun left without lingering, his face dark as he turned and walked away.

This caused Madame Wei to grit her teeth in frustration, and she immediately began to scold the maids beside her: "I’ve always said she’s from a lowly background. What good is a somewhat respectable ancestor? A fatherless girl, lacking proper upbringing—Ji’er could have married anyone with his family status and looks, even a princess or a noblewoman. Yet she’s so sly and scheming. At such a young age, she had my son wrapped around her finger... And now, as soon as she entered the household, she first won the old madam’s favor, and then turned around and got the eldest to stand up for her—"

The maids could only try to comfort Madame Wei: "The old madam hopes for family harmony. The Duke happened to return home today and witnessed the situation. After all, she is his sister-in-law, so it’s only natural he wouldn’t stand idly by. One is your mother-in-law, and the other is your son—both are closer to you."

Madame Wei snorted and went quiet, but the words Liang Yun had spoken earlier made her sneer coldly.

Let Madam Ruan go? Send her back to her family to remarry? Leaving the third branch barren and desolate, without even the chance to adopt a child.

Who would want to send their child here? The third branch would truly be left heirless...

Even if they could use their influence to coerce someone, what kind of respectable family would agree to a posthumous marriage for Liang Ji?

Liang Yun is the eldest grandson, a high-ranking official, a duke, and the old madam’s darling. In the future, he would naturally wed a noblewoman from a prestigious family. Even Liang Zhi’s wife, whom she had always scorned, came from a family of officials who could provide him significant support.

If she were to truly send Madam Ruan away, the grand wedding would be followed by widespread condemnation from the capital, branding her as cruel. Where would she find another bride then?

Those lowly, impoverished families who sell their daughters—she would never entertain the idea.

After much thought, it seemed that the current situation might still be preferable to the alternatives!

Madame Wei leaned back on the bed, seething with anger and frustration, feeling utterly powerless. Her resentful gaze locked onto the autumn silk curtains before her, and she thought of her son’s younger brother when he was still alive. Finally, she muttered bitterly, "Why did my Ji’er have to die? Why him, and not the other…"

These words made the maids tremble with fear, and none dared to respond, pretending not to have heard.

Madame Wei continued to vent her anger, but before she could say much more, the maids from Rongshou Hall showed up at Zaoyuan. They said they had been sent by the old madam to summon Madame Wei.

Upon hearing this, Madame Wei’s resentment vanished instantly, and she anxiously asked the maids behind her, "What should I do? Madam Ruan caused such a scene today. The old madam must have heard about it and will surely scold me!"

Madame Wei’s guess was correct.

When the old madam heard about the commotion in the front courtyard, she was unusually furious. With a dark expression, she ordered Madame Wei to be brought before her.

Others informed her that Madame Wei had injured her back and couldn’t get up, but the old madam only coldly replied, "Even if she’s crippled or paralyzed, carry her here."

In the Liang family, important matters were usually kept away from the women, who were often left in the dark. But the old madam was an exception.

The old master had died early, leaving the young widow and her two sons, who were just starting their careers in the court. Many matters had to be handled by the old madam herself.

Later, when the eldest master passed away and Liang Yun faced his own troubles, the second master struggled alone in the court, and the Duke Mu’s household nearly collapsed, allowing the branch families to take advantage.

It was the old madam who rushed around, seeking help from relatives and turning the tide. Having weathered many storms, she naturally had a sharp eye.

The old madam had known about their involvement in the affairs of Hengzhou even before they returned to the estate.

The Liang family was standing on the edge of a precipice. In these turbulent times, one wrong step could be disastrous. Hedong was closely connected to Hengzhou, and with Hengzhou siding with the Xu rebels, the factions in the court were surely keeping a close eye on them.

She and the second master had worked through the night to suppress the matter, both for the sake of the current situation and for the family’s reputation. Since nothing major had happened, there was no need to bring it into the open.

But just as they had managed to keep it under wraps without a ripple, trouble had surfaced again—

Now, everyone in the court was eager to distance themselves from Hengzhou, avoiding any association with the matter.

Yet Madame Wei was so eager to drag the dirt onto herself—and onto her daughter-in-law!

What an idiot! Completely clueless...

The old lady lamented inwardly that she had been blind in the past, insisting on welcoming such a dimwit into the family.

"Do you want everyone to know that you are trying to push your daughter-in-law to suicide?"

She couldn't wait a moment longer and sent a maid to call for Madame Wei. As soon as Madame Wei arrived, the old lady, leaning on her cane, started scolding her.

Madame Wei felt a chill run down her spine and quickly responded with what she had just told Liang Yun: "I was just worried for a moment..."

"Worried? Is that what you call it?"

"A Ruan marrying into your family is a blessing! If I were you, I would treat her with love and care! Not throw your weight around as the mother-in-law all day long. You were a clueless daughter-in-law yourself, what gives you the right to act high and mighty? Shame on you!"

The old lady scolded mercilessly and even issued a final warning: "If you act foolishly again, you can pack your bags and go back to your parents. Our Liang family has no place for someone like you!"

Madame Wei, red-faced and in shock, didn't dare argue. She could only leave in tears with the servants' coaxing.

As soon as Madame Wei left, the old lady's usually highly regarded nanny, Jiang, couldn't help but speak up: "Old lady, you were so angry today that you might not have noticed how harsh your words were. Madame might take it personally..."

This was already putting it mildly.

The old lady, still fuming, snorted coldly: "I was already going easy on her. Does she really think I don't see or hear anything these days? She has repeatedly pushed my buttons. She is a good girl from a good family, willing to marry into our family even after Ji'er passed away! But she, instead of comforting her, treats her with suspicion."

Madame Wei's recent actions were shameful, and the old lady was too embarrassed to talk about them.

Originally, even before Ying Shi had entered the family, Madame Wei had already started scheming. She had prepared a group of beautiful maids, intending to force her daughter-in-law to make them concubines as soon as she entered the family.

Before she could finish her plan, Liang Ji suddenly died, and Madame Wei, without any reason, fired all the servants and guards from Liang Ji's courtyard the day Ying Shi arrived.

Madame Wei was the matriarch, and her every move set the standard. On the day the new daughter-in-law entered the family, the matriarch dismissed the servants. What would others think? They might speculate that the newly entered Third Madam was a flirtatious woman who had done something outrageous, prompting her mother-in-law to dismiss the servants on the very day!

These were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law by blood, and they should not create such a mess.

Nanny Jiang could only advise: "Madame's heart is not bad."

The old lady gave a sarcastic smile. In the past, she had always been mindful of her daughter-in-law's face and never spoke harshly, but today she was so angry that she didn't hold back at all: "Her heart is not bad? She's just foolish. Each generation is worse than the last. When I was young, which of my sisters-in-law was like them now?"

This made Nanny Jiang laugh, "You've said it all, good and bad! Didn't you previously praise that it's not good for daughters-in-law to be too clever and capable, saying that it would be better for the eldest son to marry a capable wife. The other daughters-in-law should be more muddle-headed, so that in the future, they wouldn't have other thoughts and the family would remain harmonious."

That's why Nanny Jiang was so good with words. With one sentence, she gently calmed the old lady's anger.

This was indeed the old lady's original intention.

Marrying a naturally dull and family-less granddaughter-in-law was all for the harmony of the entire family.

The old lady's expression softened a bit, "I don't know what kind of strong temperament Ji'er's wife has. She used to seem so gentle, but today she was silent and wanted to die..."

Nanny Jiang had quite a good impression of Ying Shi and sighed, "Even though she was gentle, there are times when she is pushed too far. As the saying goes, even a rabbit will bite when cornered. A woman's chastity cannot be doubted. Third Madam is just a pitiful person."

The old lady asked again, "I heard that Yun'er personally saved her?"

Nanny Jiang replied, "Indeed. The eldest son even sent people to escort Third Madam back, saying they should keep a close eye on her to prevent her from having any more suicidal thoughts. The eldest son is a thoughtful child..."

The old lady had always been worried about this usually cold and indifferent grandson, worried about his coldness and his reluctance to marry. What should be done?

Now, hearing that he could take care of others, she felt a lot of comfort.

"I've known him since he was a child, and I've always known that although he appears cold, his heart is the softest. Now he knows how to take care of his family."

As she spoke, she grew worried again: "My nephew wrote that he’ll bring my grandnephews from my maternal family for my birthday celebration. By then, we need to settle things quickly..."

The Liang family’s lineage is thin. With Ji'er gone and Liang Yun childless—if war breaks out again, Liang Yun will have to go, given the Liang family’s feud with the Xu family.

If something happens, our line will end.

This time, even if my eldest grandson objects, he must marry.

Feelings grow over time; they don’t matter at first.

The priority is to have her great-grandchild born soon.

She really hopes Liang Yun will have several children. Though she loves Liang Zhi, she’s selfish—he’s not her biological grandson. If Liang Yun has children sooner, she could let A Ruan raise one boy—a win-win.

The old lady knew exactly what Jiang Momo meant. Madam Ruan is pitiful—orphaned young, then married into the family to live as Ji'er’s widow... she’s suffered enough.

She needs a child to rely on, to secure her future.

Liang Yun’s child is clearly the best option.

We need to settle this now; no more delays...

...

After repeated rainstorms, the sky slowly darkened.

Outside, the cold moon hung silently, its shadow swaying in the wind, bringing an unusual summer chill.

The ice blocks were gone, but the room wasn’t stuffy.

When Gui Niang saw Ying Shi brought back safely by the maids, she almost collapsed in relief.

Her words turned to tears as she hugged Ying Shi: "My dear! Where did you go? No matter what, you shouldn’t think of ending your life! We’ve been searching all afternoon. Do you want to kill me with worry?"

Ying Shi had been soaked in the rain all afternoon, hiding in a cave. Her clothes were wet, then dry, then wet again.

Now, walking back, she was soaked again, as if she could be wrung out.

Her nose was stuffed, making it hard to breathe, and she felt awful.

But the maids who brought her back stayed. Even as Gui Niang helped her undress and dried her hair, they didn’t leave.

Ying Shi was nearly half-naked, and Gui Niang rushed to prepare her bath, but the maids stayed—as if they meant to watch her bathe.

Though Ying Shi had grown thicker-skinned lately, being stared at by strangers was too much. She clutched her undergarments and shyly said, "I’m fine now, you can go."

Gui Niang got it and shielded Ying Shi, urging them to go.

But the two maids said, "The Duke ordered us to stay by the lady’s side, never leaving her."

Ying Shi knew she was in trouble; this time, it was hard to talk her way out.

She had just managed to get rid of Madame Wei’s spies and had enjoyed a few carefree days with her maids and nannies, and now Liang Yun’s people were here?

But at the moment, she was utterly exhausted.

Having been tense all day and wearing wet clothes, Ying Shi felt completely out of sorts within just a short while after returning to Zhoujin Garden.

She couldn’t even eat dinner that night, initially feeling a strange sourness in her teeth and then realizing she had no strength. Ying Shi forced down a few sips of soup before feeling completely drained and going to bed.

The more she slept, the hotter she felt.

Her chest was constricted, and her head ached...

She was very thirsty, calling for Chun Lan and Xiang Yao, but no sound came out.

Dreams and reality seemed separated by a barrier, her throat felt paralyzed, unable to make any sound.

Ying Shi fought to pry her eyes open, using all her strength to get up and fetch some water herself, but her body felt like a rag doll, her head was so heavy she couldn’t lift it.

Her feet felt like they were sinking into cotton.

With a heavy thud, she toppled straight off the bed.

At the sound of the crash, Gui Niang quickly woke the sleeping Xiang Yao and Chun Lan, and the three rushed into the inner room to painstakingly hoist Ying Shi back into bed, rushed to call the house physician to examine her.

Late at night, Zhoujin Garden was ablaze with activity that lasted through the night.

Occupied with writing prescriptions and gathering herbs.

Before the medicinal brew reached Ying Shi, she was already retching violently.

Her last coherent thought couldn’t help but regret not listening to Liang Yun.

Liang Yun had told her to return early, saying that being soaked in the rain, if she didn’t change into dry clothes, she might fall ill.

At that time, she had silently cursed Liang Yun for his ominous words.

Now, it had come true.

She was feverish, yet soaked in a cold sweat.

Lying there, eyes shut tight, she couldn’t help but recall the despair she felt before her previous death. Wasn’t it just like this...

"This is unbearable... Am I dying again?"

...

The maids sent by Liang Yun couldn’t quite grasp what was happening in the pavilion and hurried back in a panic.

They had been instructed by the Duke to carefully look after the Third Madam, to watch her every move closely.

Though not explicitly stated, the two also understood the Duke’s implied meaning. They were afraid that the Third Madam might feel desperate again at night and attempt suicide.

During the day, with people watching, suicide would be difficult.

But at night, in the dark, if one truly intended to end their life, it would be too late to save them!

Just now, from outside the door, they didn’t hear clearly, only faintly hearing the maids shouting something about death and calling for the house physician.

The two were too scared to listen further, one continued to keep watch, while the other hurried back to Liang Yun’s courtyard to report.

"It’s awful! The Third Madam is in bad shape again, they’ve even called for the house physician..."

The hushed whispers of the servant woman at the door did not wake Zhang Ping, who was dead to the world, but it did rouse Liang Yun.

Liang Yun slipped on a long robe and stepped out.

...

The women's quarters were tastefully decorated.

Unlike the rest of the Liang residence, which was solemn and majestic.

From a gilded beast-head incense burner, tendrils of pale green smoke curled gently.

Through the partially drawn bead curtains, moonlight streamed through the window, casting light on the partly drawn pink silk curtains, faintly revealing the delicate figure within.

The air was thick with heat and moisture.

In her sleep, Ying Shi's brows were tightly knit, her cheeks flushed a deep red like a peach. Her dark hair, slick with sweat, clung to her pale, delicate neck.

She seemed to have a blocked nose, her breath weak, like the small beast crouching on the incense burner, each breath causing her chest to heave heavily, panting.

Gui Niang clenched her teeth, having tried every method but still unable to get the medicine into Ying Shi's mouth.

"What are we going to do? She just can't swallow it..."