Yun Xiu stood somewhat nervously in the side hall of Qing Ping Xuan, reporting to Li Man Er about Old Madam Guo's visit with Madam Guo.
"Old Madam Guo examined everything very carefully. She not only looked closely at what Madam wore and used, but also checked if she had any injuries. Throughout the entire process, she was quite emotional but showed no signs of grief."
Li Man Er asked again, "Did she say anything?"
Yun Xiu recalled carefully, "She just seemed to let out a long sigh."
Li Man Er smiled, "Sister Yun Xiu, thank you. Zi Yan, bring what I prepared for Sister Yun Xiu."
Zi Yan brought over a sachet and pressed it into Yun Xiu's hand.
Yun Xiu quickly declined, "Young Lady, you shouldn't."
"What's there not to accept?" Li Man Er was unconcerned. "Doesn't everyone in this mansion know I'm rich? This isn't anything valuable, just things I don't want anymore. You can have it for fun."
"Good sister, our young lady is straightforward and admires you for your steadiness. Please take it."
Yun Xiu had no choice but to accept, curtsying, "Thank you, Young Lady, for your generosity."
"Generosity, what generosity?" Li Man Er said, "Sister, you speak so formally. In the future, when Grandmother lets you go, and you find someone, I'll even help with your dowry."
Yun Xiu lowered her head, as if shy.
Li Man Er giggled, "Good sister, I'm just teasing you. Grandmother can't do without you. You should go back quickly."
Yun Xiu curtsied again, "Then this servant will take my leave."
"Go!" Li Man Er had Zi Yan escort her out, then collapsed onto the couch, thinking of Old Madam Guo's sigh and couldn't help but laugh.
As soon as Zi Yan entered, she saw Li Man Er lying there laughing, her hair dishevelled, lightly sweating, and looking quite at ease.
"What are you laughing at, Young Lady?"
Lu Yi shook her head, "I don't know. She's been smiling since Sister Yun Xiu left."
Zi Yi had a maid fetch water and personally wrung out a towel, handing it to Li Man Er to wipe her sweat.
"Young Lady, what are you thinking about to be so happy?"
Li Man Er prompted her, "I'm laughing at how malicious Old Madam Guo's intentions are."
"Malicious?" Zi Yan was startled. "Is she planning to deal with you?"
"She'll definitely deal with us, but not now."
Lu Yi asked, somewhat confused, "Then what are you laughing about, Young Lady?"
"People's hearts are hidden. Madam is not her biological daughter. If it weren't for the intertwined interests of the two households, that old lady probably wouldn't even bother with superficial courtesies. Do you remember? From the moment I entered the room, all she talked about was the Guo family's young master, Guo Yong Zhang. Did she ever mention our Madam? Or want to see her granddaughter?"
The two maids shook their heads in unison. They just realized that throughout the entire visit, Old Madam Guo never mentioned the Heir or the second young lady. Even Madam was only brought up when she was about to leave.
"Do you think Old Madam Guo is quite concerned about Madam Guo?"
"Concerned? Not really?" Zi Yan said, "But she did go to see Madam and checked on her condition. From what Sister Yun Xiu said, she was afraid we were neglecting Madam, and she specifically checked if Madam had any injuries and if her clothes were clean."
Lu Yi also said, "After all, they aren't mother and daughter, and she's married into a relative's family. It's normal to be a bit worried and not show it, right?"
Neither of the maids had hit the mark.
Li Man Er shook her head, "Then what was she sighing about?"
"Perhaps she felt it was a pity that Madam is bedridden at such a young age?"
"No."
Lu Yi thought for a moment and then tried again, "Could it be that she felt if Madam falls ill, the shops would have to be returned to you, so she felt it was a shame?"
"You could say it's pity, and you could say it's a shame, but neither is for the reasons you two mentioned?"
Lu Yi and Zi Yan exchanged glances and asked in unison, "Then what is the reason?"
"What is the reason?"
Li Man Er played with the strands of hair that had fallen loose and thought for a moment before saying, "That old lady probably wished our Madam was injured. Think about it. If Madam is injured and her clothes smell, what does that indicate?"
Lu Yi answered without thinking, "It must be that the servants are negligent. When their mistress is sick, they become lazy."
"Perhaps Old Madam Guo would also think that the Marquis's household servants are opportunistic and deliberately mistreated Madam."
"Yes," Li Man Er said. "If that were the case, wouldn't Old Madam Guo have more leverage in negotiations? My daughter is sick, you didn't take good care of her, and you even let the servants bully her. With such a strong handle, she could at least get two shops in return."
Lu Yi and Zi Yan's eyes widened. Neither had considered this. So that old lady had this idea in mind. Truly, appearances can be deceiving. Looking at such a kind and benevolent person, how could her heart be so dark? Even though she was a concubine's daughter, she was still called her mother, and she actually hoped Madam would suffer, just to get two shops!
"What's not to see! What you see may not be the truth, and what you hear may not be false." Li Man Er recalled what Nanny Yu had said and couldn't help but add two entries to her mental notebook for Cui Shi.
As for the Ning family, it seemed she needed to contact them as well.
In a few more days. The priority now was to get the shops back. As for that Guo Yong Zhang, hehe, he needed a lesson.
No one knew where Li Man Er had taken Guo Yong Zhang. No one had seen him since he returned from Medicine King Temple. In reality, he was in her spatial dimension. With the nourishment of the dimension, the young man could survive perfectly well even without food or drink. It was practically letting him off too easy.
The next day, the Guo family sent over three thousand taels of silver notes.
Three thousand taels?
Madam Guo was so filial, and in all these years, she only gave her maternal family three thousand taels?
It wasn't a small sum, was it?
Li Man Er didn't have much concept of money, but she figured that these three thousand taels were probably most of the Guo family's savings. Perhaps they had scraped it together from various sources to send it.
The person who delivered the money was Guo Yong Zhang's mother, Madam Huang. At this moment, her face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Her heart was likely bleeding, and she probably wished she could rush over and slap Li Man Er a few times.
"Young Lady, we have delivered the money. Where is my son?"
Li Man Er was in no hurry and wouldn't be dictated by her rhythm!
"Only three thousand taels? This amount is incorrect." Li Man Er looked through the silver notes one by one. "Madam is a pure filial person. Even after marriage, she hasn't forgotten to support her maternal family. Over the years, you've received far more than three thousand taels."
Madam Huang gritted her teeth, "All the family's assets are here. We are sincere, Young Lady, don't be unreasonable."
"But I heard that your son is usually the most generous. He treats people to meals, frequents brothels, without batting an eye. Money flows like water. He even keeps actors and visits flower houses!" Li Man Er casually handed the silver notes to Nanny Wu, her expressionless face saying, "And now you tell me you have no money?"
Madam Huang became anxious, wiping her sweat incessantly with a handkerchief.
"Young Lady, to be honest, to gather these three thousand taels, we sold everything we could. It can be said that we gathered it with the strength of the entire family!" Madam Huang had no way to express her bitterness. "We truly cannot produce any more."