Chapter 14: Reflect on Your Mistakes at Home During the Mid-Autumn Banquet!

“Say no more. You are to stay home and reflect on your mistakes. From now on, the third branch will attend banquets in your place!” Before Madam Qin could finish speaking, Old Madam Tang cut her off.

“Mother…” Qin was on the verge of tears, wanting to protest, but Tang Ying tugged on her sleeve.

Unwillingly, Qin glanced at Tang Ying. How could she not attend such an important event as the Mid-Autumn Banquet?

Tang Ying subtly signaled to her to stay calm.

Qin took several deep breaths, finally suppressing the resentment and anger in her heart.

Tang Mi looked at Qin’s frustrated expression and felt a wave of satisfaction.

Not attending the Mid-Autumn Banquet this must sting more than losing control of the household, right? After all, others may not know who’s in charge of the household, but the entire capital will know she wasn’t at the banquet.

Old Madam Tang turned to Lin-shi: “I won’t go tomorrow. You take the girls. I don’t want a repeat of what happened at the Zhang family’s banquet.”

Hearing this veiled warning, Qin’s expression turned even more sour, and Tang Ying’s eyes flickered.

Lin-shi immediately bowed: “Mother, don’t worry. I will keep a close eye on them.”

Old Madam Tang nodded and waved her hand. “You may all go now. I’m tired.”

“Yes.”
Everyone took their leave.

Once they left Mingchun Courtyard, Qin turned on Lin-shi with a mocking sneer. “Even beggars have the dignity not to accept charity, yet some people are even worse than beggars!”

“Well, that’s still better than those who act like mad dogs when they’re cornered.” Lin-shi retorted without hesitation.

Qin was instantly enraged again, but there was nothing she could do to Lin-shi.

“We’ll see how long you stay smug!” Qin threw down her words in anger and left with a dramatic flick of her sleeve.

Tang Ying looked at Lin-shi apologetically and said on Qin’s behalf, “I’m sorry, Third Aunt. My mother didn’t mean that…”

Before she could finish, Lin-shi interrupted, “I won’t take it to heart.”

Tang Ying looked a bit awkward, bowed politely to Lin-shi, and followed Qin.

Once the two were gone, Lin-shi stepped forward and said to Tang Mi, “Don’t mind what she said just now, young lady.”

Tang Mi smiled. “As long as you’re not upset.”

“I’ve known what kind of person she is after all these years. If I took her words to heart, I’d only be making myself miserable,” Lin-shi replied. “I’m going back to check the account books now. Would you like to come with me?”

Tang Mi smiled wryly. “You must be joking, Third Aunt. I don’t understand account books. Better if you do it yourself. But if there’s anything you can’t decide, I’d be happy to help come up with ideas.”

Hearing this, Lin-shi chuckled and gave her a playful glance. “You grew up by the Old Madam’s side, who says you don’t understand this? You just don’t want to do it. Fine, I won’t bother you with the small things. We’ll discuss again when bigger matters arise.”

Tang Mi smiled without replying.

Lin-shi said goodbye and returned to her own courtyard.

Watching her back, Tang Mi’s eyes flickered slightly.

Though Lin-shi had her little schemes, her nature was still decent.

Unfortunately, her fate in the previous life had been quite tragic. Not only was she cast aside by Tang Sanbao, but she also ended up committing suicide by poison. Her two children didn’t end up much better than her or Feng’er.

“Miss, why didn’t you accept the household authority the Old Madam offered you? It was such a good opportunity!” Once everyone was gone, Ban Xia asked in confusion.

Tang Mi withdrew her thoughts, her eyes clear. “Grandmother has my best interests at heart. Naturally, I must consider hers in return.”

Ban Xia blinked, completely puzzled.

Tang Mi didn’t explain further.

She understood her grandmother’s intention in giving her the right to manage the household. First, she was coming of age soon and needed to learn. Second, her grandmother had always favored her, if it hadn’t been for Qin clinging to power, the role might have been hers long ago. Third, while the grandmother hadn’t mistreated the third branch, she still minded their concubine-born status and didn’t want them managing such major affairs.

However, even though the third branch was from a concubine, they were favored by her grandfather. She couldn’t let this matter divide her grandparents.

There was another reason, she didn’t want to become everyone’s target. If she took charge now, she would face not only the second branch but also the third.

If the authority was in the third branch’s hands, she could appear generous and possibly benefit as the “fisherman” between fighting parties. So, the household authority today must go to the third branch.

Crash! Bang!

Tang Ying had just arrived at the southern courtyard when she heard a series of crashing sounds from the main room. She quickly lifted the curtain and entered.

Crash! A jade bottle shattered right at her feet.

Qin, mid-tantrum, immediately calmed down when she saw she’d almost hit her daughter.

Tang Ying frowned slightly at the mess. “It’s just the Mid-Autumn Banquet. Why are you overreacting like this?”

Qin exploded at the remark. “Easy for you to say! Don’t be fooled by those madams pretending to be friendly. If they find out I can’t even attend the banquet, who knows how they’ll mock me behind my back!”

Her eyes turned red. “Especially after what happened to your sister. If I’m not there to defend her, who knows what they’ll say about her?”

The thought of her younger daughter’s ruined reputation broke Qin’s heart.

The moment she mentioned Tang Rong, Tang Ying became visibly annoyed. “Mother, if you still want to manage the household, you’d best stop bringing up Fourth Sister.”

“The seal and account books are already handed over. What’s there left to manage?” Qin snapped bitterly. Just mentioning the household duties made her even more upset.

She had overseen the household for over a decade, only to be mocked by that wench Lin-shi now.

Tang Ying’s eyes glinted. “Don’t worry, Mother. Third Aunt won’t hold onto that household power for long.”

Qin’s eyes immediately lit up. “What do you mean?”

Tang Ying sneered. “Didn’t you hear Grandmother say there mustn’t be any trouble during the Mid-Autumn Banquet? Now, imagine if something did happen to Tang Mi, would Third Aunt still get to keep control?”

Qin’s eyes sparkled instantly and leaned in close. “Do you have a plan?”