Chapter 79 The Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law

Seeing her come in, people in the hall stood up to welcome her.

Sheng Lanzi was particularly attentive, and he poured a cup of tea for Madam Feng, asking with extreme caution, “Did they leave? Why did they come here?”

He was awkward when asking this question. After all, the reason why Senior Master Sheng didn’t call him in to talk was that he expected that people in Yamen would come, so there must be a man handling this. However, he threw the tough issue to his sister-in-law. There was no doubt that no matter what Madam Feng did, she would offend her in-laws.

Fortunately, although Madam Feng looked serious, she said calmly without complaints, “It’s a little troublesome. When my husband comes out, we discuss it!”

Sheng Lanzi was shocked and said, “Troublesome?”

Although, in his view, it was troublesome to tell Yamen what to do. Judging by Madam Feng’s tone, she didn’t worry about offending her father-in-law or mother-in-law. It seemed that there was an unforeseen event.

However, Madam Feng noticed that many juniors were here, so she didn’t reply. Taking a sip of tea, she frowned and thought of methods.

Seeing this, Sheng Lanzi didn’t disturb her thinking and stopped speaking.

However, Sheng Weiqiao thought of what Baoyue said in the morning. When her Third Uncle stopped speaking, she walked near her mother and whispered, “Mother, yesterday, you and Sister Rao…”

“How was Weirao this morning? Was she awake?” Sheng Weiqiao was stopped by Madam Feng just starting speaking, “Have you gone to visit her before coming here?”

“I’ve visited Sister Rao earlier, and she was not awake. Doctor Hang said that it’s good to let her sleep till this afternoon so that she can recover and be refreshed.” Sheng Weiqiao said, “When I visited Sister Rao, her maid said…”

“Since Weirao is okay now, we can talk about it later!” Madam Feng squinted. Patting on the back of his daughter’s hand, she interrupted her again, “People here are waiting for the message of your grandfather!”

Sheng Weiqiao noticed her mother’s deliberate evading and was very puzzled, but she didn’t insist on the topic. Saying yes, she walked aside and stood with Gongsun Yingjiang.

When there was only one elder Sheng Lanzi, because others were juniors, who were young, some were whispering in the parlor.

Since Madam Feng came, people became quiet. That didn’t mean that Madam Feng was a fierce woman. All people of Sheng Family knew that Senior Master liked the eldest branch more, so family members of the branch had a higher status. When she came in with bad facial expressions, they were afraid of annoying her, so they were all in silence.

Therefore, people of the parlor could hear the sound of a needle falling on the ground. There was also an awkward atmosphere.

However, Madam Feng did not mean to break the atmosphere. She just sat there, frowning and thinking, as if she hadn’t felt the awkwardness. Others, including Sheng Lanzi, felt that it was not appropriate to say anything at the moment. They just stared at ornaments, vases, or teacups.

After a while, there was a sound from outside. It was Sheng Lanci and the other two who left from Senior Master Sheng’s room.

“Did people from Yamen come just now? What about Bai Family?” Sheng Lanci was the first one to come to the parlor. Nodding his head, he raised the robe and sat on the seat of honor, saying, “I guess they have come here…. What did they say?”

Sheng Lanzi glanced at Madam Feng with embarrassment, “People of Bai Family haven’t come yet, while people of Yamen have come here. At that time, I did not feel good, so I asked my sister-in-law to cope with them.”

“I’m waiting for you to come out to tell you this!” Hearing this, Sheng Lanci knew his brother’s mind. His peaceful facial expressions changed, and he looked terrible at the moment!

Fortunately, Madam Feng helped to affect a compromise promptly, “Let’s talk about father first. How is father? Children have been waiting for the whole morning here, so we should give them the message.”

Sheng Lanci said with no facial expressions, “Father is fine. He was just at an old age. Doctor Hang suggested that he should take a rest on the bed for a few days. The diet should also be light.”

Madam Feng looked around, “Do you have any other questions?”

The hidden meaning was that they could go back.

Since the two eldest grandchildren of Sheng Family, Sheng Shuihe and Sheng Weide, followed Sheng Lanci to visit Senior Master Sheng, and Sheng Weiqiao was older than other juniors. Her brothers and sisters were all silent, with heads lowering. She replied, “No. Should we pay respects to grandfather tomorrow?”

Madam Feng nodded and said, “Tell your grandmother the message. She must be worried now.”

She was reminding her daughter not to forget Old Madam Ming since she was in Jinxue House.

Sheng Weiqiao showed her agreement. They were driven away to the west yard to visit Old Madam Ming, who was also ill.

Old Madam Ming looked ten years older after one night with poor spirits. Hearing that the grandchildren come to pay their respects, eyes lighting up, she asked in a hurry, “ Weirao came here too?”

Madam Xiao, who was standing in front of the bed, was stunned and thought quickly, and then said with a smile, “Weirao passed out yesterday, and it seems that she hasn’t woken up yet!”

“Even if she wakes up, she will not visit me!” The light in Old Madam Ming’s eyes dimmed instantly. She sobbed, “She must hate me!”

Madam Xiao replied, “Don’t think like that! Yesterday, my second sister-in-law died, so people were in a bad mood. Weirao is only twelve years old. You shouldn’t feel bad about what a child said. After a few days, she will know her mistake and beg your pardon by kowtowing. Don’t worry about that!”

“Several days later, her father might be sentenced to death.” Old Madam Ming said with sobs, “I don’t know who she is like in terms of character. Why is she so cruel? He is her father!”

Madam Xiao said with a forced smile, “Don’t think like this. Your grandchildren are out of the door. Weiqiao led them here. Will you see them?”

She smiled reluctantly, although Madam Xiao was not close with Madam Bai, both of them were wives of her sons. Madam Bai drowned in a small pond shallower than the height of a man. People of Sheng Family, including Old Madam Ming, suspected that Sheng Lansi was the murderer. Old Madam still showed her partiality to her son. Madam Xiao could understand.

However, she would harbor the grudge.

After all, she was also Old Madam Ming’s daughter-in-law. She was lucky. Although Sheng Lanzi was timid with poor ability, he was not as ruthless as Sheng Lansi.

Otherwise, Madam Xiao would have the same ending as Madam Bai. Hearing Old Madam Ming complain that Sheng Weirao was a fierce woman, Madam Xiao couldn’t echo, changing the topic.

“I am in no mood to see them at the moment.” Old Madam Ming sighed and said, “You tell the servants to let them go with an excuse!”

Madam Xiao said yes. Old Madam added, “Send someone to Yamen to ask about the case…. It was dark when Lansi was sent to jail last night. He went there with no luggage. At night, he didn’t have a quilt. Nobody was in charge of things of the second branch at the moment, and Yinlu was busy. You and Lanzi pick up something and order one to send it to the jail.”

“I heard there is a quilt in the cell.” Madam Xiao knew her mother-in-law hinted that they should save him from being sentenced. She didn’t mean to make Sheng Lansi die, while Senior Master Sheng had made the decision. Even Old Madam Ming dared not to oppose him in public. She now made the third branch to do that. Once Senior Master Sheng knew, he would punish the third branch.

Sheng Lansi was just the brother-in-law of Madam Xiao instead of her brother. Of course, she was reluctant. However, she couldn’t refuse directly, so she said, “We get along well with Yamen. They wouldn’t make Second Brother feel aggrieved.”

Old Madam Ming glanced at her, “Is Lansi accustomed to the quilt in Yamen?!”

Madam Xiao couldn’t reply to her. Thinking up an excuse, she stood up and said, “I would tell Weiqiao and others to go back, lest the children feel anxious or misunderstand!”

Sheng Weiqiao and others all knew that their grandfather and grandmother were considering nothing but the death of Madam Bai, so they were not surprised that Old Madam Ming didn’t see them.

They inquired Madam Xiao about the conditions of Old Madam Ming and went out of the Jinxue House in twos and threes.

Sheng Weiqiao planned to lead Gongsun Yingjiang to Zhuying Mini Villa to take care of Sheng Weirao, while Sheng Weiwu walked near them, hoping to go together.

“You can’t make noise to annoy Sister Rao after arriving, okay?” Sheng Weiqiao agreed upon her continuous begging. She was afraid that the noisy kid would affect Sheng Weirao to take a rest, so she repeated again and again, “Otherwise, I would tell Yingjiang to lead you to Qiongpa House!”

Sheng Weiwu raised her hands and promised, “I am a quiet person! How could it be possible to annoy Third Sister!”

They returned to Zhuying Mini Villa. Baoli was near the bed to take care of her. Seeing Sheng Weiqiao come in, she stood up and gave a salute.

Sheng Weiqiao asked in a low voice, “How is Sister Rao?”

“She has been sleeping since Second Miss left.” Bao Li said respectfully, “Just as Doctor Hang said, she might sleep until the afternoon.”

Sheng Weiqiao walked as quiet as a mouse and looked at her. Sheng Weirao was having a sound sleep. After sleeping for a long time, her pale face turned red, making her long and thick eyelashes more prominent.

However, she was not in a peaceful state. Scars on her forehead and face indicated what she had experienced.

Sheng Weiqiao sighed silently and led Gongsun Yingjiang and Sheng Weiwu out of the door.

The seven-year-old Sheng Weiwu didn’t know the experience of her Third Sister after she was captured. She only knew a little about what happened in Jinxue House yesterday. The version she knew was: Second Aunt drowned, and Third Sister fainted because of sorrow.

Rare to play with Sheng Weirao, she had limited good feelings toward Madam Bai. Therefore, Sheng Weiwu’s emotions were barely affected.

When in the house, she showed her care about her because Sheng Weiqiao had serious facial expressions. Getting out of the door and sitting in the house, maids served them smoothies, and she laughed and had fun with Gongsun Yingjiang while eating, forgetting what happened to Sheng Weirao.

However, Sheng Weiqiao couldn’t feel as relaxed as her cousin. She talked to her niece and cousin perfunctorily, thinking about what would happen after Madam Bai’s death, especially what Madam Feng said to Sheng Weirao last night. Why people of Yamen looked serious today? Fortunately, the doubt did not last long before it was answered.

Maybe, Sheng Lanci and Madam Feng hoped that the siblings could be in harmony, or they were just too busy. It was Sheng Shuihe instead of Madam Feng that explained everything to her!