The Ziwanyuan Residence was decorated in grand and sumptuous style, which was inconsistent with the concubine's simple and indifferent heart.
Jiang Jingshu spoke excitedly and loudly.
However, Nanny Qiu sneered.
"Does Concubine Ruan think so too?"
Concubine Ruan first nodded at Jiang Jingshu in satisfaction, then turned to answer Nanny Qiu.
"Of course. These worldly possessions only seem burdensome to me. I only wish to live in peace in that small courtyard..."
Nanny Qiu's expression remained unchanged as she said indifferently, "This was Madam's idea. Concubine, you'd better go and inform Madam about this..."
After saying that, she turned around and left.
Jiang Jingshu rushed forward in a hurry. "Madam..."
"I'll go to Madam's courtyard and explain to her. I feel annoyed just looking at such a courtyard, let alone living in it..."
Only then did Jiang Jingshu heave a sigh of relief. In order to show her and her madam's attitude just now, she had smashed a teacup. Fortunately, her madam approved of her actions.
In the Chunhua Pavilion, Nanny Qiu had returned early and secretly nodded to Madam.
Madam got up personally to pour a cup of tea for Jiang Zongyuan. "My lord, by giving the Ziwanyuan Residence to Concubine Ruan this time, I'm afraid Concubine Wei will cause a ruckus again. I just can't be fair to everyone..."
Before Jiang Zongyuan could say a word, Madam continued, "Concubine Ruan has suffered a lot in the out - courtyard for many years. I think giving her the Ziwanyuan Residence can be a form of compensation..."
"Well, Concubine Ruan and her two daughters have lived a rather hard life in the out - courtyard..."
Before Jiang Zongyuan could finish his words, a figure in pink rushed in through the door.
"Your humble concubine pays respects to my lord and Madam!"
Concubine Wei's charming face was covered with a thin layer of sweat, and her tone was a bit urgent.
Jiang Zongyuan put down the teacup in his hand. "What are you doing here?"
Before Concubine Wei could speak, there were tears in her eyelashes.
"My lord, you know that the Canglan Courtyard is extremely cold in winter and hot in summer. It's really hard to bear. Now Yu'er is still growing. How can he thrive in such an environment?"
Jiang Zongyuan shifted his gaze guiltily. He could tell that Concubine Wei was here to ask for the Ziwanyuan Residence.
He simply looked up at Madam, trying to shift this matter to her and let her handle it.
Madam couldn't just ignore it and said reluctantly, "Concubine Wei, wasn't the Canglan Courtyard just renovated? Yu'er's room is even more spacious than the east wing where Sihe is living now..."
Hearing this, Concubine Wei got anxious. She stepped forward and knelt down with a thud. "My lord, Madam, you must think I'm being disobedient. But I'm doing all this for Yu'er. I'm worried about his studies. His hands and feet get cold when writing in winter, and he can't calm down to study in summer because of the heat..."
Jiang Zongyuan simply shifted his gaze and didn't respond, hoping that Madam would handle it.
"So what does Concubine Wei have in mind?" Madam pretended not to understand.
Seeing that the lord was avoiding this matter, Concubine Wei knew that if she didn't speak directly, they might just brush her off.
Yu'er was the lord's only son, and the Ziwanyuan Residence should be for them.
"Your humble concubine thinks the Ziwanyuan Residence is the most suitable. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, and Yu'er really likes that courtyard..."
After saying that, Concubine Wei secretly observed Jiang Zongyuan's expression.
"This... What should we do about this? My lord just promised to give that courtyard to Concubine Ruan and her daughters..."
Madam looked extremely reluctant.
Concubine Wei couldn't hold back her emotions. The other night when they were intimate on the couch, the lord had promised to give it to her. Why was it given to Concubine Ruan today?
"My lord, the other day you promised me that the study in the Ziwanyuan Residence was spacious, and Yu'er would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort if he studied there..."
Jiang Zongyuan was momentarily at a loss for words. Those were just vague words he said in the heat of passion with Concubine Wei. How could she bring up such words now?
"My lord, please say something..."
Seeing that Jiang Zongyuan kept avoiding her, Concubine Wei asked him.
Madam couldn't help but turn her head towards the screen behind.
Jiang Sihe was sitting on the soft couch behind the screen. Through the gap, she saw Madam smiling at her.
She knew that this matter was already half - done today.
The dispute outside was still unresolved when Nanny Qiu let Concubine Ruan and Jiang Jingshu in at the door.
As soon as Concubine Ruan entered and saw Concubine Wei in the room, she was stunned for a moment.
When Jiang Zongyuan saw Concubine Ruan coming, his face immediately turned ugly. What was she doing here at this time?
Madam turned to look at Concubine Ruan. "Why are you here?"
Concubine Ruan held her cold face slightly up. "Your humble concubine is here to decline Madam's kindness!"
As soon as she said this, everyone in the room was stunned.
Concubine Ruan didn't care about their expressions and continued on her own.
"The Ziwanyuan Residence is decorated in a grand and sumptuous style, which is inconsistent with my simple and indifferent heart..."
Hearing this, Jiang Zongyuan thought Concubine Ruan was being ungrateful.
But before anyone could react, Concubine Ruan said something even more inappropriate.
"The Jiang Mansion is wealthy now, but we shouldn't lose our original intention. Such extravagance. My lord, do you want to be impeached by the censors?"
"Nonsense..." Jiang Zongyuan slapped the table hard and pointed at Concubine Ruan sternly.
Concubine Wei was also startled and moved her body back a little.
But Concubine Ruan showed no sign of regret and continued, "My lord, every word from your humble concubine comes from the bottom of my heart. Being vigilant in times of peace has always been the words of sages!"
Jiang Zongyuan was really angered by Concubine Ruan's words. He was now in good official fortune and on the rise in his career. Wasn't she just bringing bad luck to him?
"Someone, take Concubine Ruan away first..."
Seeing her father getting angry, Jiang Jingshu rushed forward in a hurry. "Father, Madam did all this for your own good. She has never had any selfish motives. She has never forgotten you while staying in the out - courtyard..."
"And using jade teacups in the Ziwanyuan Residence. Isn't that a sign of extravagance?"
Jiang Jingshu's attitude, just like her madam's, annoyed Jiang Zongyuan even more.
"Take both of them away. If they keep talking nonsense, confine them to their courtyard..."
Jiang Zongyuan was really angry. Concubine Wei in the room also realized that something seemed wrong today...
It seemed that someone had deliberately arranged everything, but this didn't seem to be Madam's style...
Madam quickly comforted Jiang Zongyuan. "My lord, don't be angry. It's all my fault for not considering this matter properly today. It's all my fault..."
Jiang Zongyuan looked at Madam and knew that if the matter of the Ziwanyuan Residence wasn't resolved today, it would cause trouble in the future.
"You just said Sihe is still living in the east wing of your courtyard?"
Madam nodded. "Yes. There hasn't been a suitable courtyard yet!"
"Since she is the legitimate daughter of the Jiang Mansion, you should renovate the Ziwanyuan Residence according to her preferences and give it to her as her courtyard!"
Jiang Zongyuan directly gave the courtyard to Jiang Sihe.
As the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch of the Jiang family, living in the Ziwanyuan Residence, no one would dare to object.
Neither Jiang Sihe nor Madam had expected that in the end, Jiang Zongyuan would directly give the Ziwanyuan Residence to Jiang Sihe!