Chapter 14
The First Madam’s expression had already returned to calm. She looked as dignified and elegant as ever as she coldly rebuked Nanny Lin: “I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this, so I specifically entrusted it to you! I told you again and again to hurry and deliver the new clothes! Is this how you do your job? Weiyang is the Third Miss of our Li family, the daughter of the Chancellor! How could you people treat her so neglectfully? Look at her clothes! What kind of sense does it make to let her go out dressed like this? You’re clearly trying to sow discord between mother and daughter, so people will revile me, her mother, for being cruel to her!”
Li Weiyang listened with a respectful expression, though she laughed coldly to herself. As expected of the First Madam—every word was aimed to wound. Li Weiyang could have said the same things herself, but doing so would have made the First Madam lose face in front of everyone. Coming from the First Madam, however, it meant shifting all the blame onto Nanny Lin.
Nanny Lin immediately caught on. She knelt and wept as she admitted her fault, claiming she had been careless for a moment, that the clothes had been made long ago but she had never sent anyone to deliver them, and that it was all her failure in carrying out her duties. She inwardly regretted it. Though the First Madam had ordered clothes made for Third Miss, Nanny Lin knew it had only been for show. The First Madam was still unhappy about Eldest Miss having been implicated last time—how could she really have had anything made for Li Weiyang? She had probably been waiting for Li Weiyang to come beg her these past few days. Who could have guessed she would take the matter straight to Old Madam?
This Third Miss seemed soft and pliant, but in truth she was a thorny one! And clever, too! If she were a little less sharp, she would have gone to the First Madam to seek justice and only humiliated herself. Instead, she had waited until Second Branch was here and brought the matter before Old Madam. This time, the First Madam had no choice but to swallow her anger!
“Why are you still standing there? Apologize to Third Miss!” Li Changle reprimanded her.
Li Changle was beautiful, and her manner of speaking was gentle and amiable. But to Li Weiyang, she sounded unbearably false and hateful. Li Weiyang was not like Li Changxi and the others. They did everything they could to curry favor with the First Madam, hoping she would find them good marriages one day. But Li Weiyang knew all too well that the First Madam would sell them off one by one, turning them into stepping stones for Li Changle!
After putting on a show, Nanny Lin came forward, knelt before Li Weiyang, and apologized: “Third Miss, this servant was careless and caused you to suffer. I’ll have someone deliver your new clothes right away. I promise they’ll be to your liking.”
Li Weiyang seemed startled and quickly took a step back. She looked at the First Madam. “Mother, this... actually...” She spoke very slowly, as though she meant to plead for Nanny Lin, but the words never quite came out.
The First Madam replied warmly, “Weiyang, don’t worry. I’ll see to everything. If anyone in the household neglects you again, I’ll deal with these lazy servants for you!”
Li Weiyang curtsied gratefully. “Thank you, Mother. I’ll leave everything to you.” But she knew perfectly well that after what had happened today, no one would dare slight her openly—at least for the time being!
Madam Meng studied Li Weiyang for a moment, then beckoned to her. “Come here, child.”
Li Weiyang walked over. Madam Meng gestured to Nanny Luo with a smile. “You’ve been here for a month now. I have something to give you.”
Nanny Luo understood. Before long, she brought out a small carved box. Inside was an array of jewelry. Li Changxi glanced over and spotted the crabapple blossom hairpin she had been asking Madam Meng for. Its carving was exquisite, the petals translucent and gleaming, and it was worth a fortune. She had pestered Old Madam for it countless times, but Old Madam had never given in. And now she was giving it to Li Weiyang! Li Changxi’s eyes filled with jealousy as she glared at Li Weiyang, as if she could bore a hole right through her.
Li Weiyang was surprised, too. She had never expected Old Madam to give her this box. A rush of warmth welled up inside her. Old Madam was clearly telling everyone that she cared about Li Weiyang, her granddaughter!
At that moment, Li Weiyang was truly grateful to Old Madam. Old Madam had not blamed her for what she had done; instead, she was indirectly standing up for her. Li Weiyang said nothing more. She knelt and kowtowed deeply to Old Madam. “Thank you, Old Madam. I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life.”
With just that one sentence, Madam Meng knew Li Weiyang had understood her meaning. A faint smile crossed her face.
The First Madam’s expression stiffened beyond measure. Seeing it, Madam Wen smiled to herself. She was always glad to do anything that might upset the First Madam, so she immediately pulled a solid-gold phoenix hairpin from her hair and pressed it into Weiyang’s hand. “Here, this is from your Second Aunt. Take it, good girl.”
Li Weiyang accepted it with an embarrassed look. When she glanced at the First Madam, she saw that the woman’s face had turned green with anger. But this time, her fury was aimed not at Li Weiyang, but at Madam Wen, who only smiled more broadly, completely unbothered.
Li Changle had recovered her composure and gave a light cough. The First Madam immediately caught on. Looking straight at Li Weiyang, she put on an air of generous indifference and smiled affectionately. “Come here, dear girl! I’ve had a gift ready for you for ages. I’ll give it to you today as well.”
The First Madam had given Li Weiyang a few ornaments before, things that looked valuable but were actually useless. Now that Old Madam had set a precedent, and Madam Wen had already goaded her, she had no choice but to put on a show.
With so many eyes watching, the First Madam had to suppress her anger. She pulled a pair of white jade bangles from her wrist and reluctantly slipped them onto Li Weiyang’s. “These are fine pieces from the palace of the previous dynasty. Keep them safe.”
Li Weiyang had once been an empress; she could recognize gold and jade at a glance. The First Madam hadn’t lied this time—the gift really was valuable. She smiled faintly. “Thank you, Mother.”
The First Madam’s mouth nearly twisted with anger, but she forced a smile. “What are you thanking me for? You silly girl!”
Li Changxi glared with such resentment that her eyes seemed venomous. A trace of sarcasm touched her lips. “Weiyang, you’ve struck it rich! Mother was saving those bangles for Big Sister, but today she’s given them to you!”
Li Weiyang heard this and immediately looked embarrassed as she started to take them off. “Is that so? Then I can’t accept them!”
The First Madam couldn’t let her take them off. She shot Li Changxi a furious glare, then turned back and put on a warm smile as she patted Li Weiyang’s hand. “Silly child, you’re just as dear to me. What’s wrong with my giving them to you? Take them, or you’ll seem petty!”
Seeing how completely contrary to her true feelings the First Madam was, Li Weiyang felt quite pleased. But aloud, she kept saying, “Then thank you, Mother!”
Li Changxi glared in bitter resentment, while Li Changle calmly turned her gaze toward the silver-inlaid bronze incense burner beneath the window, decorated with chased lotus petals and pearls. She thought to herself that Fifth Sister was a concubine-born daughter, after all. Mother had raised her for so long, yet she still didn’t know how to comport herself. What was a pair of bangles worth? Old Madam had clearly given Li Weiyang face today. How could Mother possibly oppose her? That would only give Second Branch a chance to laugh at them!
As Li Weiyang was leaving, Nanny Luo caught up with her in the corridor and smiled. “Third Miss, Old Madam said she’d like you to come here every day to brew tea for her. Would you have time?”
Li Weiyang quickly replied, “Nanny Luo, what are you saying? It’s only right that I show filial devotion to Old Madam.”
Seeing how sensible she was, Nanny Luo smiled faintly. Old Madam’s favor had not been misplaced; Third Miss was a sensible girl.
When Li Weiyang returned to her room and opened the box Old Madam had given her, she discovered another compartment at the bottom. She lifted the red silk and found ten gleaming silver ingots inside.
Ziyan cried out in surprise, almost too stunned to speak.
Li Weiyang’s hand stopped. All those ornaments were worthless as far as she was concerned: she couldn’t sell them or use them to reward the servants. Silver was what mattered most. Old Madam knew perfectly well that Li Weiyang had staged a scene today, yet she had secretly given her silver... Why?