"I'll go and ask her directly." Chengyi said with a furious expression.
Zhen'er secretly rejoiced in her heart, but outwardly she showed some hesitation, "Perhaps, we have truly wronged Sister Ruoxi."
Chengyi's eyes darkened, "She has changed. She's no longer the Shen Ruoxi I once knew. Zhen'er, rest assured, I will stand up for you in this matter."
Out of Chengyi's sight, Zhen'er's lips slightly upturned, her heart full of satisfaction.
Though she disdained using the methods those women in the rear courtyard used to vie for favor, Shen Ruoxi's stunning beauty made her feel threatened for the first time.
To deal with this unease, she could only adopt this strategy.
Chengyi left Plum Garden in a rage, only to run into his own sister, Chengyu, who was in tears.
Chengyu wiped her tears as she walked.
Upon seeing Chengyi, she couldn't help but burst into tears, "Brother, you must stand up for me!"
Chengyi frowned, what happened to her now?
He quickly comforted her, "Chengyu, stop crying. Quickly tell me what's going on."
Chengyu exaggerated her grievances suffered at Bamboo Pavilion all at once, and Chengyi's expression grew increasingly grim.
What is Shen Ruoxi up to? Does she have to turn the whole family upside down before she's satisfied?
"Chengyu, don't worry. I'll go see her right now, she's really stepping out of line!" Chengyi said angrily.
Chengyu felt secretly happy in her heart. Once Brother steps in, let's see how arrogant Shen Ruoxi can still be!
In the Fulai Courtyard, Nanny Yu quietly reported to the Old Madam, "Old Madam, the Young Madam went to the palace this afternoon."
The Old Madam's grip tightened upon hearing this, her face changing suddenly, "What did you say?"
"It seems she went to see Consort Xian," Nanny Yu replied in a small voice.
The Old Madam's face grew even more sour, "What on earth does Shen Ruoxi want? How dare she act so recklessly. I even wanted Chengyi to spend more time with her.
She dares to cause a scene in the Imperial Palace; she's becoming more and more unruly!"
Nanny Yu cautiously suggested, "Old Madam, Consort Xian is, after all, the Young Madam's cousin. Shouldn't we consider this slightly?"
The Old Madam snorted coldly, "What of Consort Xian? She has no precedent of interfering in others' family matters. Shen Ruoxi, no matter her status, is first and foremost the wife of the Xiao Family, and must abide by the Xiao Family's rules!"
Nanny Yu was just about to say more when there was suddenly a knock at the door.
She hurried to open it. It was the maid responsible for brewing the Old Madam's medicinal soup. She entered the room, nervously knelt and said, "Old Madam, today the Young Madam didn't prepare the medicinal ingredients for you. What should we do?"
The Old Madam was stunned for a while before she laughed angrily, "Shen Ruoxi, Shen Ruoxi, you really are too wilful.
To have the nerve to cut off my medicinal ingredients, what boldness! Do you think without you, no one can take proper care of this old body? Such disrespect must be properly disciplined!"
Witnessing this, Nanny Yu's eyes flickered, and after a long pause she cautiously asked, "Old Madam, do you think she might really be angry? After all, she hasn't even consummated with the Young General yet, and he already brought another woman back home."
The Old Madam raised an eyebrow and rudely interrupted Nanny Yu, "Angry? What is she angry about? Does the Xiao Family lack food or clothing for her? It's common for husbands to have multiple wives and concubines. Chengyi merely elevated a concubine to a co-wife, and she's making a fuss. Go call her here, I want to see what exactly she's up to!"
Nanny Yu obliged but secretly muttered to herself: who exactly does the Xiao family's food and clothing belong to?
However, she didn't dare say more and quickly went to Bamboo Pavilion to summon Shen Ruoxi.
Chuntao, upon hearing the Old Madam summoned her mistress, couldn't help but feel uneasy, unsure how the Old Madam would trouble her.
Shen Ruoxi, however, appeared calm and collected. She smiled slightly and said to Nanny Yu, "Thank you for coming all the way here. I'll head over now."
Following Nanny Yu to Fulai Courtyard, Shen Ruoxi saw the Old Madam leaning on the couch and respectfully saluted, "Greetings, Grandmother."
The Old Madam's face darkened, and she straightforwardly asked, "Did you go to the palace this afternoon?"
Shen Ruoxi's lips curved into a faint smile, and she responded, "Grandmother, which rule states that a granddaughter-in-law cannot enter the palace?"
It was the first time she spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone, leaving the Old Madam at a loss for words, only able to coldly say, "Entering the palace is fine, but speaking without a filter is a great disrespect!"
Shen Ruoxi raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Grandmother, what is considered speaking without a filter? Everyone, including His Majesty, knows about the matter of my husband taking a co-wife. Having multiple wives and concubines is normal for a man; what's the harm in discussing it?"
The Old Madam was momentarily speechless at Shen Ruoxi's retort and had to shift the topic, "Fine, let's not mention this for now. Why didn't you prepare medicine for me? Are you trying to harm your grandmother?"
Shen Ruoxi's eyes flashed with a cold glint, and she calmly replied, "Grandmother, you accuse me of such a grave offense, I truly cannot bear it.
Doesn't it require money to procure medicine? Just take a look at the General Mansion's accounts; is there any money left?
A clever woman cannot cook without rice. Without silver, how can I send them to fetch medicine for you?"
The Old Madam's face slightly changed and questioned in a skeptical tone, "Weren't you the one managing all the household expenses of the General Mansion? How come you can't suddenly produce silver now?"
Shen Ruoxi maintained her calm demeanor and explained evenly, "Indeed, I managed the accounts yesterday, but today the Young Madam Ning has entered the household, and naturally, the accounts of the General Mansion are handed over to her.
From now on, all silver expenditures within the mansion will be managed by her. Grandmother's medicinal costs will be her responsibility, so there's no need to question me further."
The Old Madam's eyes deepened upon hearing this, and just as she was about to speak, a maid quickly entered, bowing respectfully, "Old Madam, the Young General has arrived."
The Old Madam felt a wave of satisfaction; her grandson arrived at just the right time, and she promptly instructed, "Let him in."
Chengyi, upon stepping into the room, forced himself to suppress his anger and saluted the Old Madam.
Once the Old Madam indicated that formalities were unnecessary, he turned to Shen Ruoxi, visibly angry, and questioned, "Shen Ruoxi, what are you up to?"
Shen Ruoxi met his gaze firmly and pretended to be puzzled, "What does the General mean? Ruoxi truly doesn't understand."
"Stop playing dumb! Zhen'er simply wanted to make some clothes, but you refused to release the funds and then shoved all the messy accounts onto her. What are your intentions?"
Shen Ruoxi suddenly broke into a smile; she was naturally radiant, and at this moment, her smile was as blossoming as spring flowers, illuminating the entire room.
Chengyi was momentarily taken aback by her unexpected smile.
Shen Ruoxi quickly restrained her smile, her expression turning serious, "General, did you just return home?"
A rhetorical question really, Chengyi replied with displeasure, "Indeed."
"Then are you aware of the income and expenses of the General Mansion?"
"Of course not."
Shen Ruoxi spoke in a light tone, "Although I previously managed the affairs of the General Mansion, both Grandmother and Mother-in-law know that the family business has been poor and heavily struggling. For the past two years, I've been using my dowry to cover the mansion's losses."
Chengyi was taken aback upon hearing this.