The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Two flower sticks.

Duke Ying Mansion, Madam Lu and Madam Xiao Liao returned to the mansion and first went to the main courtyard to pay respects to Madam Qi.

”Sister-in-law, looking at the posture of the third sister-in-law, she’s pregnant again, isn’t she? She won’t even eat pears, and she has to hold the maid’s hand just to take a step, acting so cautiously, afraid of falling.” Madam Xiao Liao said to Madam Lu.

Madam Lu looked at her in surprise: ”Is that true? The third sister-in-law hasn’t sent any message back, and I haven’t noticed her movements either.”

Madam Xiao Liao rolled her eyes, pretending ignorance, who in this mansion isn’t astute?

”If the third sister-in-law is pregnant, that would be good news. After all, what happened last year was unpleasant for everyone. Being pregnant again now is somewhat comforting.” Madam Lu said with a smile.

Madam Xiao Liao pouted but didn’t continue the conversation.

Madam Lu glanced over with the corner of her eye, revealing a trace of mockery and sarcasm underneath.

Madam Qi was engaged in her routine wellness activities with the help of the maid using moxa, and seeing the two daughters-in-law coming to pay respects together, allowed them in.

Madam Lu and Madam Xiao Liao went inside, had their cloaks removed by the maids, and from a distance, first paid respects to Madam Qi. They then warmed themselves beside the charcoal stove covered with a cloth inscribed with ’Five Fortunes Holding Longevity’, before approaching Madam Qi.

”Back already. How are the health of Song Family’s old Madam and my in-laws?” Madam Qi asked while stretching out her hand for the maid to trim her nails.

Madam Lu stepped forward, smiling and bending her knee, said: ”In reply to mother, the old Madam and my mother-in-law are well. It’s been some time since I’ve seen the old Madam, and she seems to have lost weight, but her spirits are still good.”

”Hmm, what about Song?”

Madam Xiao Liao wanted to say something, but Madam Lu spoke first: ”The third sister-in-law is also well, in high spirits. Speaking of which, there was a little incident when I saw the third sister-in-law at the Song Family’s old Madam’s place.”

”Oh?”

Madam Xiao Liao’s heart skipped a beat, just about to change the subject when she saw Madam Lu looking over, smiling and asking: ”Mother, don’t you think the second sister-in-law seems slightly different?”

Madam Qi raised her eyebrows, surveyed Madam Xiao Liao from head to toe, squinted slightly, and said: ”Indeed, different. This outfit of yours I haven’t seen before, is it cloud brocade? The style is novel, the pattern is nice, but it fits you a bit tightly. You might want to loosen it at the waist.”

Madam Xiao Liao blushed, feeling somewhat awkward.

Madam Qi then asked: ”Where did this come from? Are we using cloud brocade for the winter clothes this year?”

This question was directed at Madam Lu.

Madam Lu smiled and shook her head: ”Mother, this is actually the second Madam of the Song Mansion’s outfit. It’s because one of the old Madam’s maids accidentally spilled water on the sister-in-law, causing her to change clothes, and she was quite annoyed about it.”

She narrated the water-spilling incident as a joke, openly adding fuel to the fire.

Madam Qi’s eyelid twitched erratically, glancing at Madam Xiao Liao, who lowered her head in guilt, not daring to speak.

”Just a set of clothes. Later, Lu send someone to deliver two bolts of cloud brocade to the Song’s second Madam. Take it from my storage, otherwise, people might mistakenly think our grand Duke Mansion is so stingy, lacking even a set of cloud brocade clothing.” Madam Qi said suppressing her anger.

Madam Xiao Liao’s face turned purple with embarrassment.

Madam Lu agreed, saying: ”There’s no need to use mother’s private storage. I have two bolts of cloud brocade in my dowry, we can take from there, and mother’s can stay for making clothes.”

Madam Qi was not inclined to argue and praised her with a few words, then allowed her to return to her quarters: ”An’er studies hard, don’t forget to make more nourishing food for him.”

”Yes.”

Madam Lu wisely paid respects and withdrew.

Once she departed, Madam Qi gestured, and the maids exited in a line, leaving only her trusted nurse by her side.

”Kneel down!”