It had been one day since the second branch was punished by kneeling at the ancestral hall.

Chun Zhi returned after gathering information, smiling as she said to Madam Chen, “Madam, yesterday the second master and Young Master Hui were brought back after being carried.”

Chun Tao was even more excited.

“Deserved! They should be punished for bullying our first branch again. It’s still a lighter punishment than they deserve.”

The first branch currently had the Emperor’s favor, and they just hoped Madam wouldn’t be as foolish as before, always giving in to the second branch.

Madam Chen showed no major reaction after hearing this.

“By the way,” Chun Zhi slapped her head, almost forgetting the big news.

“Word from the front yard says the Old Madam is coming back today.”

The Old Madam was the second wife of the Duke, though she held the rank of a concubine, she enjoyed the treatment of a primary wife.

She was also the biological mother of Jiang Qisheng from the second branch.

As for why she wasn’t given the position of primary wife, it was because, when the Duke married Jiang Fengyuan’s mother, her family forced him to swear that he would only have one primary wife in his lifetime.

To keep his word, the Duke only gave her the rank of a concubine.

Madam Chen still respected the Old Madam.

She remembered when the Chen family was in trouble, she knelt outside the Duke’s door for an entire day. It was the Old Madam who convinced the Duke to see her.

Since then, she had sent many gifts.

Regardless, she still had to go out and welcome her.

“Chun Zhi, help me change.”

Old Madam?

Jiang Yuanxi thought for a long time and finally recalled who this person was.

[This is serious, Mother. This old woman is kind on the outside but cruel at heart. All the money you gave her, she used it to hire killers.]

Madam Chen’s face stiffened.

Killers?

[Let me think… The people she had killed were my maternal family. Mother might not know, but the Duke and the Old Madam helped the Chen family back then.]

Madam Chen: Could it not be so?

If it hadn’t been for the Duke pleading with the Emperor, her parents would not have survived.

[My mother was deceived. Someone else was behind the plea.]

[Mother doesn’t know that my maternal family was framed, and that both the Duke and the Old Madam were involved.]

Madam Chen’s body went limp.

Back then, when she was pregnant, her parents, in order to prevent her from worrying, instructed the General to keep her in the house for a long time before her exile.

By the time she found out, the matter had already been decided.

After learning the truth, she knelt in her father-in-law’s study for three days, with the General accompanying her.

She only begged the Duke to save the Chen family.

She had barely survived those difficult times, and now she was told that her parents had been framed.

The ones who caused harm to them were the Duke and the Old Madam—how could she not hate them?

She forced herself to hold back tears, not wanting to cry in front of her daughter.

Seeing Madam Chen lost in thought, Chun Zhi called, “Madam?”

Half-dressed, why was Madam in a daze?

Madam Chen snapped out of her thoughts and quickly took off her outer robe.

“I won’t go!”

The two maids exchanged confused glances.

On occasions like this, Madam always went to greet people.

Why was it different today?

Madam Chen lay down on the bed. “No matter who comes today, just say I’m asleep.”

She would not go out to welcome the Old Madam—impossible!

Meanwhile, the second branch welcomed the Old Madam back to Cangwu Courtyard with smiles.

With the Old Madam back, Wu Cui Rou felt more confident.

She lovingly linked arms with the Old Madam. “Mother, you’re finally back. Hui’er has missed you.”

The Old Madam smiled. “After eating vegetarian food and reciting Buddhist prayers for a year, I still feel happiest when my children and grandchildren gather around.”

The Old Madam glanced at the crowd. “Why haven’t the first branch and Qisheng arrived?”

Wu Cui Rou finally found an opportunity to complain.

“Mother, my sister-in-law only gave birth to a daughter, and the first branch has been promoted and now has to manage the household, so they’re probably too busy. Unlike your son and grandson, who had the time to kneel in the ancestral hall.”

The Old Madam frowned upon hearing this.

Wu Cui Rou went on to describe the events, adding her own embellishments, seemingly sympathetic toward the first branch, but in reality, she was trying to portray the first branch as bullying the second branch.

The Old Madam understood her intentions.

She sent someone to investigate, and the findings were completely different from what Wu Cui Rou had said.

However, no matter what, Madam Chen hadn’t gone out to greet her today.

It was as if she didn’t even regard her as a mother-in-law.

“Go ask her to come out. Tell her I want to see her.”

Soon, a maid entered, but there was no one behind her.

“The Old Madam, the first branch’s maid said Madam won’t see anyone.”

The Old Madam was furious. “Tell her to come, or she can forget about recognizing me as her mother-in-law!”

The maid had no choice but to go again, and fortunately, this time, Madam Chen came.

Madam Chen entered, holding Jiang Yuanxi in her arms.

“Your daughter-in-law greets the Old Madam.” Madam Chen gave a slight bow.

The Old Madam leisurely drank tea, adopting an attitude of a senior.

Wu Cui Rou watched this scene with glee, suppressing her laughter.

When she didn’t hear a response, Madam Chen understood that the Old Madam was trying to assert her authority.

In the past, she would have immediately knelt, apologized repeatedly, said nice things until the Old Madam was pleased, and then presented silver notes or treasures.

But now, all Madam Chen felt when she saw the Old Madam was hatred, though she hid it well.

She stood up on her own, coughed into her hand, and then found a seat to sit down.

“Mother, forgive me. I was planning to go out and greet you, but I was worried that my illness would trouble you, so I didn’t.”

“Ever since giving birth to Yuanxi, my health has been deteriorating. I’m sure you can understand how I feel, cough, cough.”

Her delicate appearance made Wu Cui Rou clutch her handkerchief tighter.