Chapter 48 Remaining Ripples
Thank you kahrpm for the reward, I'm truly grateful to all of you who have supported me. I was just writing for fun and venting my frustrations about historical transmigration novels. I didn't expect to receive recognition, with rewards, comments, and requests for updates. I'm very happy, next week I'll work hard to update more, this week has been too busy.
Shu Yao understood that since Guwalgiya dared to hit Li Mama, she wouldn't be afraid of Anqin Wang Fujin. From Shu Yao's perspective, her mother would welcome Anqin Wang Fujin coming to their doorstep, so she could show off her authority and make a name for the Zhongyong Duke Manor. She remembered her mother saying that when taking action, one should choose a tough opponent, as it's better to find one formidable foe than to bully ten weak ones. Shu Yao leaned in closer to Guwalgiya, becoming even more determined to cling to her mother's leg and live a leisurely life.
Shu Yao glanced at Li Ziqing, who was clearly envious and resentful of her, feeling very pleased with herself. You have a magical space, I have a fierce mother, in an era where people compete with their fathers, mothers, and family backgrounds, spaces are just fleeting toys.
Li Ziqing bowed deeply, "Thank you, Second Aunt, for your protection of her niece. Her niece will never forget Second Aunt's kindness."
Gualjia continued blandly, "Since you're a guest at the Duke's Manor and my niece, I won't just watch you suffer a loss. However..." Gualjia paused, and Li Ziqing, not as proud as usual, humbly asked for guidance: "Please instruct me, Second Aunt."
"I know that my niece has a lot of money to spare, like carrots and white radish, ginseng is a good thing, but if you give too much, it's not valuable."
Li Ziqing nodded unexpectedly, her expression respectful: "Second Aunt is right, I've taken note of it."
"Just remember, it's better to have fewer things than more. You should be careful in the future, a girl from a good family having a bad reputation is not a good thing." Gua Erjia quickly narrowed her eyes, and Shu Yao knew that her mother was being cautious, but was it towards Li Zhiqing? Shu Yao tried to call out to Li Zhiqing again with her special ability, but after several attempts without any response, she gave up. Her special ability suddenly stopped working, was this an ability that could be bullied by its master?"
"Thanks to you, my daughter-in-law, today." The old lady spoke, rarely with a smile on her face towards Gualya, who replied: "What are you talking about? It's related to the Duke's mansion, how could I not take it to heart?"
The old lady was blocked by Gualgiya again, the old lady looked down on Gualgiya's behavior as a duke's family member, completely forgetting that if it wasn't for Gualgiya's appearance, they would have been at a loss against the slaves of Anqinwangfu. The old lady's face fell again, and Gualgiya seemed to not notice, saying: "My daughter-in-law says another sentence, the duke's house is being rectified, mother, how can the noble and brave duke's house be looked down upon? Losing the ancestors' face."
"Are you saying I didn't take good care of the family and brought shame to our ancestors?"
"Mother, I didn't say that!" But what Guwalgiya implied was even more hurtful than if she had said it outright. She wouldn't leave any handles for criticism. "The girls are all grown up now and will be married off through the imperial selection of brides. The Zhongyong Duke's household will stand firm, and the girls will have a good marriage. Your grandsons will also have an easy time finding official positions when they get married. It's all about securing a prosperous future for the Shu Mu Lu clan."
The old lady was like a fishbone stuck in her throat. She knew that Gualjai's words were reasonable, and she could see that among the four daughters-in-law, only Gualjai was capable of handling things. However, the old lady was unwilling to give up control over the duke's mansion. She would rather choose someone who listened well and was easy to manipulate, than let Gualjai dominate the duke's mansion and push her aside. The old lady said: "Zhiying saved the Empress Dowager, when the Empress Dowager recovers, she will not treat us unfairly. The Zhongyong Duke's Mansion in Beijing is not someone who can be bullied."
"The foundation of a family's prosperity lies in whether the descendants are making progress and achieving success, not relying on luck or coincidence." The Guaerjia family really didn't want the Duke's mansion to gradually decline, far away from the noble loyal class, with broken bones and tendons still connected. Even if they split up in the future, as a clan, her husband Zhiyuan had the background of the Duke's mansion, which also had benefits for his official career. However, the prerequisite was that the Duke's mansion could be a stable backing, rather than a shaky one that anyone could trample on.
Even if she had the heart, Guwalgiya couldn't care much about things outside. Zhiyuan didn't mind whether he was awarded a title or not, but since his return to Beijing, he suggested to Old Master that they should tidy up the family school. Although Zhiyuan didn't say it explicitly, after many years of marriage, Guwalgiya could see clearly that Zhiyuan didn't want to watch the family decline. For her husband and children, Guwalgiya did her best to help Zhiyuan, not to mention she was someone who couldn't stay idle and enjoyed competing with others.
Shu Yao felt that Guar Jia's idea was ridiculous, and she couldn't help but sweat. Her mother-in-law was really too overbearing, completely treating the old ladies of the Duke's mansion as a joke to pass the time. For the three families who had always been on guard against Ama Cheng Jue, Shu Yao felt very sympathetic towards them. Her mother-in-law and Ama didn't even consider Cheng Jue to be in the same league.
The old lady retorted: "What is unexpected luck? Zhiqing really saved the Empress Dowager."
"Mother, let the niece speak, does she still have a thousand-year-old spiritual root?" Gua Erjia's light and airy words immediately left the old lady speechless. Gua Erjia pinched her temples, "Isn't it like hundred-year-old ginseng having hundred-year-old medicinal effect? Isn't today's lesson just that?"
"Second Aunt is right, from now on, our niece will no longer easily give people ginseng as gifts."
Have you seen a ghost and not been afraid of the dark? Li Ziqing couldn't guarantee that the ginseng grown in her space had any magical effects, so she didn't dare to let others eat it randomly. Who knew if someone would get hurt again? Gua Erjia helped her once because of the Duke's face, but it was impossible for her to help every time. Li Ziqing couldn't understand why others with magical spaces were treated as gods, and their things were revered as sacred objects that could save people easily. Their families accepted them wholeheartedly, and they flaunted their powers proudly. Why did she have problems with the efficacy of her space's medicine? This magical space was not easy to use either.
Shu Yao suppressed her laughter, Li Zhiqing was really too interesting. Did she also know other space-traveling women? In modern times, Shu Yao, who was busy with scientific research, had obviously never read the numerous Qing dynasty cross-dressing stories.
The old lady was very dissatisfied with Li Ziqing helping Guwalgiashi speak, and Li Ziqing pressed down the old lady, saying softly: "Grandmother, the thousand-year-old spiritual root is extremely rare, and my daughter has used both of them. As for ginseng... I think it's better to listen to Second Aunt's words and not want to bring trouble to the Duke's Mansion again."
"My niece can understand, it's not easy." The smile on Madame Gualga's face didn't reach her eyes as she said a few words indifferently and led Shu Yao away. Shu Yao felt that the servants in the Duke's mansion were even more respectful and careful towards Madame Gualga, no longer daring to be slow in serving her, this was the benefit of establishing authority.
Back in the house, Shu Yao pressed down Gual Jia Shi onto a chair, serving tea and snacks, massaging her shoulders and legs in a flurry of activity. Gual Jia Shi smiled brightly, embracing her daughter, "How could Mother be deceived by Li Zhi Qing? Ya Er, you are Mother's most precious daughter."
Shu Yao leaned into Guajia's arms, nodding her small head. Guajia's eyes curved with a smile, and her doting heart grew even more fond of her daughter. "I reckon Li Zhijing will come visit in two days' time. We can't compete with her, but we must consider the situation before deciding whether to protect her or not. After all, my niece is dear to me, but she's no match for Shu Yao."
"Hmm." Shu Yao would never let anyone take her mother away, not only because her mother was strong and could protect her, but also because she had felt a kind of maternal love from Guajia that she had never experienced before. Shu Yao truly regarded Guajia as her own mother, and no one else could ever replace her.