Madam Ruan was also all smiles and said, "Indeed, today we're coming uninvited." Xiqiu followed with a laugh.
The Grand Dowager smiled and said, "Go on, go on!" Old Madam Lou waved her hand with a dismissive look.
Xiqiu accompanied Madam Qian and Madam Ruan back to her courtyard. The Grand Dowager and Old Madam Lou chatted inside the room. Old Madam Lou exclaimed with surprise, "…I was shocked when I heard it. How did Chengning end up like this?"
The Grand Dowager sighed, shook her head, and said, "Who can tell? We used to say she had a good disposition, but looking now, we see we were wrong."
"Alas, we're old now, and we can't keep up with what these young people are thinking." She shook her head again. "But for someone as good as the second, with a fine disposition, living life steadily should be wonderful. How did so many troubles arise, ending up in such a situation?"
