Chapter 287: When the Crowd Exposes the Truth

Qiao Shi spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

Marquis of Huaiyang's wife Xu Shi heard this and almost couldn't control the expression on her face.

However, she quickly composed herself, smiled and said, "The child has grown up and has her own ideas; I can't keep restraining her, perhaps…."

The rest of the words Xu Shi didn't utter; she merely cast a vague glance toward the front courtyard.

The insinuation was obvious.

Perhaps Wei Yongmei has a crush on a young man and quietly slipped to the front courtyard to watch?

Moreover, saying the child has grown and has her own ideas subtly conveys that the grown child is no longer under her control, and shows little respect for her as a mother.

Everyone is sharp; can they fail to catch the deeper meaning?

However, no one readily responded to Xu Shi's words.

Those familiar with her, who know her character well, naturally wouldn't easily step up for her.

Those not familiar with her, delighted to watch the joke, wouldn't speak up easily either.

The scene instantly grew cold, as if only Qiao Shi and Xu Shi remained, gazing at each other from afar and sharing a brief smile.

Qiao Shi, having received the hint and still bearing a grudge against Xu Shi, naturally wouldn't treat her lightly. Regarding Xu Shi's ambiguous insinuations and her eye‑rolling style, she smiled and directly called her out: "I see Madam Wei looking toward the front courtyard? Are you trying to hint that the Wei family's eldest daughter has her own thoughts and quietly went to watch the young masters? Madam Wei need not hint like this; someone like me, whose eyesight is poor and ears aren't sharp, might not understand. If you could be straightforward, why beat around the bush? If I fail to grasp it, wouldn't I be clueless about what you mean?"

Xu Shi's manner has been well‑handled over the years.

Now, being mercilessly called out by Qiao Shi made her complexion turn unpleasant.

But Xu Shi still had to control herself, not to turn a truly cold face and further upset Madam Lù and the others.

After all, the Eldest Princess is still here!

Thinking of this, Xu Shi strained to adjust her expression, trying to show a gentle smile. She was about to speak, but the second lady of the Nan Cheng Count's Residence, now Madam Qiao, laughed and cut in first: "I'm tongue‑tied and can't say much; if I speak, it would put Madam Wei in an awkward spot. Please, Madam Wei, consider my youth and don't hold it against me."

When Madam Qiao opened her mouth, Xu Shi felt a buzzing in her head.

She tried to interject, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she heard Madam Qiao laughing, "Did you see earlier? The Wei Residence's eldest son was pressed under water by several young masters of the Xu family, a whole ruckus. The Xu family really made a big spectacle, bullying even the Marquis's son. Does Madam Wei turn a blind eye?"

After a theatrical rhetorical question, Madam Qiao clapped her hands loudly, "Ah, look at my brain—Madam Wei still has her own biological son to care for; how could she attend to others?"

Xu Shi: …!

Xu Shi was almost driven to death by Madam Qiao's words.

Xu Shi naturally knew that the second lady of the Nan Cheng Count's Residence was always lacking sense.

Back then, she refused to marry any of the many aristocratic young masters, insisting on a poor scholar; who knows how many jokes that invited.

Of course, the poor scholar has since become more successful, which also proves her foresight back then.

But Xu Shi knew this person truly had no brains.

Before she spoke, Xu Shi had mentally prepared herself, yet after hearing her words, she almost couldn't control her expression.

What does Madam Qiao mean?

She plainly says she's neglectful, caring only for her own son, ignoring the legitimate daughter's child, and even harming the household's eldest son just to make room for her own son?

After all, there is only one heir.

If Wei Mingqiao, the legitimate son of the primary wife, is gone, then the child of this concubine would naturally succeed.

Such matters are, in many households, an unspoken understanding that no one dares to speak of.

However, the heads of families and matriarchs are certainly more guarded about it.

It depends on one's ability.

Xu Shi has always thought her own abilities were decent.

She still can't understand why she got tangled with Qiao Shi and her sister‑in‑law today.

Moreover, these two speak bluntly, striking at the heart, leaving Xu Shi choked for a long while, unable to speak.

Sui Sui doesn't understand what adults are saying, and the long sentences, paired with a smiling face, still carry blatant malice.

A fight?

But they're laughing.

No fight?

Yet the malice has already pounced.

It feels scarier than an aunt.

Sui Sui doesn't understand; she tilts her little head and thinks for a long while, still not getting it.

Princess Consort of Qi didn't cover the child's ears to keep her from hearing.

Though young, growing up in Jing, she has no scheming at all, which would make survival impossible.

So they need to be soaked in such behavior from childhood, slowly maturing.

Seeing the little girl's clueless, tilted head, cute as she is, Princess Consort of Qi thought…

She wants to live longer, even longer.

Long enough for Sui Sui to marry and bear children, long enough for Sui Sui to also have children, so she can truly become the head matron, holding everything in her own hands.

Otherwise, even if she truly dies, her eyes won't close.

Feng You Tan, upon discovering that Sui Sui no longer looked at her, angrily tightened her waist.

She thought, how can this be?

How can she not look at her?

It infuriates her!

Provocation, this is absolutely provocation!

The little girl puffed out her chubby bun‑shaped face, grumbled left and right.

Ying Zhi listened to the commotion with great interest.

She isn't old, but her mind is sharp; she has already understood most of the bickering.

She thought, how interesting, how lively, let me look again.

As a result, while she was listening, Feng You Tan began to hum nonstop.

As soon as she hummed, the bickering voices over there could no longer be heard clearly.

This made Ying Zhi very dissatisfied; she turned her head, pursed her lips, and whispered a reminder: "Feng You Tan, are you a pig? You keep humming."

Feng You Tan was already angry; now being called a pig by Ying Zhi made her little face flush red: "You're the pig, you're the pig, you're the pig!"

Ying Zhi also didn't want to argue with her; she's the type who cries when she can't lose, and here with Ying Zhi, she doesn't even have any face.

So, Ying Zhi perfunctorily nodded: "Fine, fine, fine, I'm a pig, I'm a pig."

Feng You Tan:?

Why aren't you arguing?

Come on, argue with me!

Feng You Tan got angry enough to be sarcastic!

Coincidentally, Xu Shi over there was speaking with a choked voice about her hardships, intending to let everyone understand that she harbored no ill intentions.

She truly treated Wei Yongmei very well.

Of course, as for how she treated Wei Mingqiao, that's unknown.

Feng You Tan listened to her voice, feeling very annoyed, and on top of being angered by Ying Zhi, she immediately snapped: "Shut up!"

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