12dz Chapter 103 Grandmother Fainted
Chapter 103 Grandmother Fainted
Not long after, the Third Prince was sent down to inspect the dam construction projects and grain storage issues in the Jiangnan region on behalf of the Emperor.
With the Third Prince away from the capital, Gu Hanjiao no longer thought about meeting Xiao Yuheng. Just then, Gu Ziming delivered a shop, so she began to busy herself with her own affairs, while also learning how to manage the household affairs from Wang Ruyan.
Recently, Gu Hanjiao hasn't been visiting the old lady as frequently, but Wang Ruyan hasn't missed her daily morning and evening greetings.
As for Madam Gu, her health has been deteriorating for some reason. The doctor came to examine her but couldn't figure out what was wrong. He just said that she was probably getting old and her energy and appetite weren't as good as before. He told the family to pay attention to her health.
Wang Ruyan used the excuse of Old Madam Gu's poor health to offer to take care of her mother-in-law. This gesture made Gu Ziming's expression soften, and he spoke to her more gently. However, Gu Ziming still did not return to the main courtyard. Wang Ruyan sent people to deliver food or to inquire, but she could not find out the reason. Some said that the master was sleeping in the study, some said that the master was out and had not yet returned, and some said that he went back to the back courtyard and went to Li Yiniang's room and would not come out.
In short, since the dowry incident, Gu Ziming has never touched Wang Ruyan again, let alone sat down with her for a proper conversation.
While feeling sad, Wang Ruyan didn't forget to put the matter of bringing Gu Qingwan back to the mansion on the agenda. After all, if Gu Qingwan were brought back, the matter of making up for the dowry might be postponed, or even better, Gu Qingwan might simply give up her dowry.
Madam Gu was in good spirits that day, and Wang Ruyan brought in a bowl of bird's nest soup.
"Mother is up. Your daughter-in-law has just stewed a bowl of bird's nest with rock sugar for you. Please eat it while it's hot."
These past two days, Madam Gu has been served by Wang Ruyan and doesn't seem to dislike her as much as before, but she still doesn't like her very much. Although she won't scold her anymore, she doesn't give Wang Ruyan any kind looks either.
When Madam Gu saw that the bird's nest served wasn't as good as before, she slammed the bowl onto the tray: "What? Is this old woman about to die? Even if I'm about to die, can't I still enjoy a good bowl of bird's nest!"
“This… Mother…”
"Hmph, I thought you'd changed for the better, but I didn't expect you to still be so shabby. You're even skimping on my food! Where's Gu Ziming? Call him over here. I want to ask him if he'd rather I just die right now so you can save money on food!"
"Mother, please calm down, Mother, please calm down." Wang Ruyan quickly knelt down.
Xue Niang, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore and knelt down, saying, "Madam, you have misunderstood Madam. It was the eldest young lady who emptied our mansion."
"What!" Upon hearing that the mansion had been completely emptied, Old Madam Gu immediately became agitated: "How could it be completely emptied? Tell me quickly!"
Wang Ruyan then got up, looking somewhat embarrassed, as if she didn't know how to say it.
The old lady was so anxious that she kept slapping the bed board and said, "What is it that you can't say? You are useless and can't protect the house. They even ransacked your home. I know all this and you didn't tell me. Are you really planning to make me take my son and grandson to sleep on the streets?"
"Mother, please calm down. Your daughter-in-law will tell you everything."
Wang Ruyan sat down beside Old Madam Gu's bed and embellished the story of that day. After listening, Old Madam Gu was so angry that she threw her pillow far away. Judging from her posture, anyone who didn't know better would think that the old lady had been faking her illness.
"That little wolf cub, that heartless bastard! Her mother entered my Gu family, so not only is her dowry taken, but she herself belongs to the Gu family. What business is it of their Ning family! Even if the dowry was given to Jiao'er, that's only right. Jiao'er is a prince's consort, and what is she? Does she deserve those good things? Go, send someone to get those things back for me and put them in my courtyard. Let's see if she dares to touch them!"
Wang Ruyan rolled her eyes, then turned her head and said with some difficulty, "Mother doesn't know that not only can we not get it back, but she also wants us to make up for all the money we've spent over the years that we can't find. If we can't make up for it, she wants us to pay for it with money."
"What! I think she's gone too far!" Old Madam Gu angrily pinched Wang Ruyan's arm hard: "You're useless too! She said she wanted to move out, and you just let her? I told you long ago to leave it here with me. I'm practically on my deathbed, and I'll leave it all to your children! You good-for-nothing, you're utterly useless!"
Wang Ruyan's eyes welled with tears from the pain. She cursed the old woman inwardly, "You've used plenty of these things, how can you blame me?" To free her arm, she quickly knelt down: "Mother, it's my fault for being useless, but Miss is the legitimate daughter of the late Madam, and she has the Ningguo Duke's mansion as her backing. Even though I'm the legal wife now, Miss has never respected me. I have no say in her affairs, and besides, there's Master around..."
"Hmph, I told you that promoting a concubine to the position of wife is neither respectable nor proper. But Xiu'er just wouldn't listen and insisted on doing it her own way. Now look what's happened. Not only are people talking about her behind her back every day, but she can't even manage the inner quarters of the house. Isn't this just adding to her worries?"
Hearing Madam Gu start scolding her again for being a concubine, Wang Ruyan was so angry that she dug her fingernails into her palms.
Seeing Wang Ruyan kneeling there with her head down, Old Madam Gu said, "Go, go and call that little wolf cub Gu Qingwan back to me!"
"Mother, what should I call her?"
"Do I need to teach you this? You're hopeless! Just say I'm an old woman who's no good! Tell her to come back and take care of you! She's gone too far! You can't handle her, but let's see if I can. Her father is afraid of the Ning family. You see, am I afraid of that old hag from the Ning family?"
"Mother! Mother! Someone come quick, go and get the doctor!"
For some reason, Old Madam Gu suddenly remembered how arrogant and disdainful Old Madam Ning was to Ning Jingxian when she was still alive. She became so angry that she fainted. The people in the courtyard were so frightened that they frantically tried to call a doctor.
After dealing with things here, on the way back with Xue Niang, Wang Ruyan lifted her arm and saw the purple marks from the old lady pinching her. Wang Ruyan cursed, "You old hag, why don't you just die of anger? You dare to pinch me! Bah!"
"Madam, let's go back quickly."
"Hmph, go and send someone to the Ningguo Duke's mansion to deliver a message, saying that the old lady is so old that she misses her granddaughter so much that she has fallen ill and fainted. She wants the eldest young lady to come back and take care of her."
"Madam, will the eldest young lady be able to return?"
"Hmph, if she dares not to come back, the word 'filial piety' will crush her. Doesn't she look down on me? What? Does she also disregard her own grandmother?" Wang Ruyan said disdainfully.
Soon, Gu Qingwan, at the Ningguo Duke's residence, received a message from the Prime Minister's residence. Gu Qingwan smiled: Hehe, so you finally remembered her? It's time to go back.
Gu Qingwan led her maid to Old Madam Ning's courtyard.
"That old man, who knows what kind of bad trick he's up his sleeve right now, we're not going!" Old Madam Ning tapped her cane unhappily.
“Grandmother, we can’t argue with them. No matter what, Qingwan has to go back.”
"I don't want you to go back."
“Grandmother loves Qingwan dearly, and Qingwan knows that. But this time, Wang Ruyan asked me to go back to take care of Grandmother. If I don’t go, people will say I’m unfilial. Actually, Qingwan doesn’t care, but I don’t want people to say that our Ningguo Duke’s Mansion has poor upbringing. After all, I was raised by you and my aunt since I was a child.”
Madam Ning sighed: "You child, you always think of others. I won't say anything more. If you feel wronged, come back. Don't worry about all that other nonsense. My Ning family doesn't care what others say."
Gu Qingwan said with a smile, "With such favoritism from my maternal grandmother, it's no wonder that Qingwan is becoming more and more emboldened."
Old Madam Ning glanced at Gu Qingwan, "You little rascal, if I don't favor you, who else would I favor? In short, don't be afraid of your grandmother. Back when your mother was alive, she used to make a scene and threaten suicide, causing your father to bully your mother at every turn. So many years have passed, she ruined my daughter and now she wants to ruin you? Humph, if she dares, I'll fight her to the death to settle the score!"
"My maternal grandmother's martial arts skills were unparalleled; even my grandfather was no match for her!"
"Hahaha. Little Qingwan spoke the truth. Your maternal grandfather really can't beat your maternal grandmother." The old lord, who came in from outside carrying a pot of flowers with his sleeves rolled up, happened to hear the last sentence.
Gu Qingwan felt a warmth in her heart. Her maternal grandparents always protected her so selflessly; this was truly her home.
After returning home, Gu Qingwan decided to go back early the next morning. Coincidentally, Madam Ning came to her courtyard that evening.