Madam Jiang leaned against the tree trunk, her long nails breaking into pieces as she exerted force.

If anyone disrespects her, they shouldn’t blame her for being merciless!

Finally, the sound of a carriage and the commotion of people was heard outside. Madam Jiang suppressed her anger and put on a worried look as she hurried out: "Husband, husband!"

The people from the Tong Mansion had already left. Madam Jiang lifted the curtain of the carriage, immediately struck by a strong smell of alcohol. She covered her nose with a handkerchief, squinting to see Jiang Shilin lying inside as if in a coma, his clothes covered in vomit. His embarrassing state caused her suppressed anger to flare up instantly. She frowned, turning to Madam Mei and Madam He, saying: "Why are you standing there? Help him inside!"

The two concubines pointed at themselves in disbelief: "Us?"

Madam Jiang’s face darkened: "Who else could it be? Hurry up." Saying this, she didn’t even glance at Old Madam Jiang, heading towards the inner courtyard: "Take him to the study!"

Old Madam Jiang, feeling sorry for her son, was instantly angered by Madam Jiang’s lack of regard for her son, shouting: "What kind of attitude is this? He’s your husband, is this how you attend to him? You let those two take him inside and to the study? You are unfit to be his wife."

Madam Jiang stopped abruptly, looking at Old Madam Jiang with a half-smile: "I think you are muddled with age. Don’t you know whether I’m his wife or not?"

Old Madam Jiang was speechless by her words, pointing at Madam Jiang and cursing: "You wretch! You dare to even curse your mother-in-law, what a disgrace!" With that, she covered her eyes with a handkerchief, crying as she leaned over Jiang Shilin: "Oh, my son, wake up! Look at your good wife, she even curses your mother..." Tears streamed down as she sobbed.

Madam Mei glanced at Old Madam Jiang, then at Madam Jiang, before going over to support Old Madam Jiang, softly advising: "Mother, please stop crying, you must take care of yourself."

Slap!

Before Madam Mei finished speaking, she felt a pain in her face. She covered her face and turned to see Madam Jiang looking at her with a mocking smile, coldly saying: "What did you call her? Mother? Who do you think you are, huh?"

"You?" Everyone was stunned, Madam Mei looking at her in disbelief.

"Unconvinced?" Madam Jiang pointed at Madam He standing nearby: "Beat her until she realizes her mistake." Madam He was trembling with fear, taking a step back. Madam Jiang squinted her eyes sarcastically: "Think carefully, in this house, I am the mistress. Whether you stay or leave depends on my mood. If I’m displeased with feeding two freeloading concubines, how do you think I’ll handle it?"

Madam He trembled again, hesitating as she approached Madam Mei.

"Sister He." Madam Mei stared at Madam He, who at the moment was full of panic and unease. Madam Mei turned to Old Madam Jiang, calling: "Mother, save me."

Old Madam Jiang finally reacted, slapping the wall of the carriage, glaring at Madam Jiang: "Do you have no respect for the law? You dare punish concubines in front of your mother-in-law, who are you trying to shame? This is an insult to me."

"Mother." Turning around, Madam Jiang looked at Old Madam Jiang in panic: "You misunderstand. How dare I show you disrespect!" Then she turned, her expression changing, saying to Madam He: "Beat her!"

Madam He trembled, raising her hand and slapping Madam Mei.

Madam Mei’s ears buzzed. Before she had time to recover, she received another slap. Furious, Madam Mei’s eyes turned red. She, too, started hitting Madam He, grabbing her hair, the two began to brawl, right at the main gate, in front of the household servants...

"Stop, stop it right now!" Old Madam Jiang, trembling with anger, clung to Nanny Li: "Ma, you wretch, you wretch!"

Madam Jiang’s gaze was icy, devoid of any warmth. She looked at Old Madam Jiang, saying: "I’m a wretch? Don’t forget, Mother, I come from a noble family, learning palace etiquette since childhood. How could I be a wretch?" Then leaning closer to Old Madam Jiang, she whispered: "If I am a wretch, it’s because you all drove me to it!"

With that, she laughed heartily, not bothering to glance at Jiang Shilin, and amid the fierce brawling, cursing, and wailing, happily returned to the courtyard.

Old Madam Jiang, leaning on her cane, cried bitterly: "What misfortune, what misfortune for this family!" With that, she hit Madam Mei and Madam He with her stick, cursing: "You two fools, useless creatures!" Then recalling how, since Madam He’s miscarriage, none of the women in the house had conceived, she shouted: "After all these years, not a single one of you has conceived." If only a son were born, it might suppress Madam Jiang’s arrogance.

Madam Mei and Madam He, now both with bloody scratches on their faces, stopped fighting in disgrace, each rushing back to their own quarters with the maids and servants.

Old Madam Jiang, supporting her unconscious son, felt utterly wronged, cursing loudly!

Xiqiu was accompanying the Grand Dowager, chatting with her. She mentioned Xiao Yanzheng, asking: "I wonder how Second Sister is doing over there. Mother, have you sent Nanny over to check these past few days?"

"She went yesterday." The Grand Dowager chuckled: "The pregnancy is four months along, and her belly is quite noticeable. Furthermore, she eats well, consuming quite a lot at each meal..." The Grand Dowager laughed, shaking her head, adding: "Her husband should control her a bit; later, if she eats too much, it might be difficult to give birth."

Xiqiu listened with a light smile: "Her husband is eager to hold her in the palm of his hand. If she wants to eat, he wouldn’t dream of stopping her." Speaking of him, Pang Guibin was really good to Xiao Yanzheng. Ever since the elders returned to Guangxi, and for the past two years Xiao Yanzheng has been having children and resting after childbirth, it’s said that he, a man, takes care of the children even more proficiently than the nannies do. Many colleagues at court mock him, but he doesn’t care, eagerly returning home every day after work, playing with Qin, and spending time with Xiao Yanzheng without a hint of impatience.

Speaking of her son-in-law, the Grand Dowager seemed very satisfied, nodding: "This child, I truly never misjudged him."

Xiqiu covered her mouth and laughed, glancing across at the First Madam. The First Madam, holding Zhi, was whispering to him. Hearing the conversation, she looked up and said: "Indeed, Mother always has a keen eye for people."

The Grand Dowager chuckled but gradually became more restrained.

Worried about the Grand Dowager staying indoors too much for her health, Xiqiu instructed Ziwei: "Accompany her for a morning walk in the courtyard. She could also visit Old Madam Lou; it’s better than staying inside constantly."

Ziwei complied.

Zhi accompanied the Grand Dowager, while Xiqiu and the First Madam stood together. Xiqiu quietly asked: "I heard Second Young Master Tang got engaged to Ruan Pingrong?"