When Su Hele rushed to the main courtyard, Chen Wanrong and Su Nansheng were chatting merrily.
"Mother, I'm late."
Chen Wanrong waved her hand. "It's okay. Nansheng has already told me everything."
Su Hele cast a cold look at Su Nansheng.
"Sister promised me something but failed to do it. I'll let it slide this time. But in the future, sister must not go back on her words, lest she break the rules and become a laughingstock."
She was aching all over after leaving the side courtyard. Originally, she wanted to plead illness and skip coming to pay respects to Chen Wanrong.
But when she heard that Su Nansheng was still in the main courtyard, she immediately came over.
She wanted Chen Wanrong to know that Su Nansheng was just a two - faced person.
Hearing this, Chen Wanrong sighed. "What's going on?"
They had been chatting quite nicely. Why did something happen as soon as Su Hele came?
Su Hele lifted her chin high, her voice clear.
"Yesterday, Concubine Li sent someone to attend to her illness. Sister clearly promised me that she would go to show filial piety, but today she was lazy and didn't go. As a result, Concubine Li's headache got worse. If I hadn't massaged her for a whole hour, it might have led to a big disaster."
What she said was all the truth. She wanted to see how Su Nansheng would defend herself this time.
"Did Concubine Li order me to attend to her illness yesterday?" Su Nansheng's tone was relaxed, and there was a smile on her face.
Su Hele lowered her eyes slightly. "No, but you promised..."
"I promised to show filial piety for sister. That's why I'm here to serve mother and pour tea for her. It's just that mother is kind - hearted and didn't ask me to do these things."
Su Nansheng's eyes were full of innocence.
"I don't need sister to serve mother for me."
Su Hele suppressed her anger. Such a small thing didn't need Su Nansheng to do it for her.
What Su Nansheng should do was to attend to Concubine Li's illness for her and endure Concubine Li's harsh treatment.
"So sister thinks I should attend to Concubine Li's illness with you and leave mother here unattended."
Su Nansheng stared steadily at Su Hele, and the smile on her face turned into mockery.
She had expected Su Hele to come and blame her, but she didn't expect her to do it in front of Chen Wanrong. She really underestimated her.
"Why are you so stupid? What I mean is that you should attend to Concubine Li's illness for me, and I'll serve mother."
After saying that, Su Hele looked at Chen Wanrong.
Su Nansheng was a concubine but didn't follow the arrangements of her, the legal wife. She was vulgar and stupid. She thought Chen Wanrong would also be annoyed with her.
Chen Wanrong just smiled slightly and said,
"Originally, there were only Concubine Li and me in the inner courtyard. I'm not a nit - picking person, so the rules in this mansion are inevitably lax. I didn't expect someone to try to establish rules for me."
Chen Wanrong said it casually, but her tone carried authority.
Her always smiling face was now extremely cold and solemn. The aura of the mistress of the house suddenly emerged, making people in awe.
Su Hele had always been favored by the Deng family and had never received a cold look. Where had she ever seen such an aura? She immediately said,
"Mother, please forgive me. I didn't mean that. I just wanted sister to..."
"Although Nansheng is a concubine, according to the rules, you should also call her sister - in - law. Don't bring the ways of your family to our Marquis's Mansion. They don't fit here."
Chen Wanrong interrupted Su Hele's words, looking displeased.
She was in charge of the household affairs and was already annoyed by dealing with trivial matters all day long. Now this small matter was brought before her. Did they think she wasn't annoyed enough?
"Attending to the sick is an act of filial piety. If you don't want to do it, just tell Concubine Li directly. There's no need to make such elaborate arrangements here."
Being scolded in public, Su Hele's face immediately flushed red, but she had to grit her teeth and agree.
"I didn't want to be the bad guy before, but now it seems that the rules need to be learned. Otherwise, there may be mistakes and we'll become a laughingstock. Nanny Du, starting tomorrow, send someone to teach her the rules. Keep a close eye on her words and deeds."
"Yes." Nanny Du immediately responded.
"As for Nansheng, I'll teach you how to manage the accounts of the mansion tomorrow."
At this point, Chen Wanrong's voice softened a lot.
But Su Hele bit her inner lip tightly. It was clearly Su Nansheng who went back on her words, but Chen Wanrong only punished her. There was really no justice at all.
...
"Miss, this time the Second Young Mistress has really lost face. Will she hold a grudge against you?"
Apart from being excited, Bitao was also a little worried.
Before, even if they had some small tricks, they always did them behind Su Hele's back. Now it was out in the open.
"She'll hold a grudge against me sooner or later. Now it's just right to let people know that she and I don't get along. It will also save her from using me as a shield in the future."
Su Nansheng was feeding the koi carp, saying indifferently.
In her heart, she had already split with Su Hele. Only Su Hele didn't know it.
It would be best if Su Hele could face the reality now. It would also save her from always having schemes against her.
Bitao sighed.
"Back at home, the eldest miss always liked to rely on you for everything. Now that she's married, she still can't change this habit."
The second miss had done a lot for the eldest miss, but the eldest miss was always insatiable.
Su Nansheng watched the koi swimming up and down and suddenly said, "Go to the small storeroom and pick some tonics. I'm going to visit Concubine Li."
...
Concubine Li was so angry that she slapped the table when she heard what had happened in the main courtyard.
"She's still arguing with others about who should attend to the illness. Has her brain been eaten by a dog? What on earth did A Jin see in her!"
Nanny Wang poured a cup of tea for her and presented it with both hands.
"Auntie, don't be angry. It's just right for the mistress to teach her a lesson and let her know what the rules are."
Concubine Li snorted.
"Do you think she looks like someone who will learn from the lesson? She's so arrogant and thinks she's above everyone else, but she's also stupid. She'll cause trouble sooner or later."
"Auntie should look on the bright side. Fortunately, she's not the type to show off outside. Even if she causes trouble, it will only be in the mansion. She won't be able to make much of a stir. If there's a next time, auntie can just send her away."
Only then did Concubine Li gradually calm down. Then she remembered the agreement with He Jin before, and a smile reappeared on her face.
"Auntie, Madam Su is here. She also brought some things."
Concubine Li immediately sat up straight. What was she doing here?
Filled with doubts, Concubine Li came to the front hall and saw Su Nansheng sitting there properly, with a gentle smile on her face.
"Auntie Li, I heard that your headache has flared up, so I specially brought you some tonics."
Immediately, two maidservants presented the gifts.
The tense look on Concubine Li's face immediately relaxed. "You've really gone to a lot of trouble."
"Auntie, you're being too polite. Since I couldn't do anything to help, I should at least send some things. But I've just come to the mansion and haven't received my monthly allowance yet. These tonics are all from my dowry.
The gifts are humble. I'm afraid they're not even one - tenth of what the Second Young Mistress gives. I hope auntie won't mind."
When Su Nansheng saw that the maid had taken the gifts, her smile became even brighter.
"Madam Su really dotes on you. She added a lot to your dowry." Concubine Li looked at the gifts and her eyes flickered.
Su Nansheng lowered her eyes.
"Mother dotes on elder sister more. She privately gave her a lot of private money, which isn't on the accounts."
Concubine Li nodded, smiling even more. No wonder she was so fearless. It turned out she had money to rely on.
"Then our A Jin is really lucky."