Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 642 - 644: Good News (4)

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?"

The Grand Dowager also felt uneasy. After all, what elderly person doesn’t wish for a harmonious family to enjoy their twilight years in peace? Yet, unexpected troubles at home continue one after another!

"I heard that the Empress Dowager is ill, and for the past two days, the Emperor has been personally attending to her medicine every day." Old Madam Lou paused and continued, "This morning, someone mentioned the young master of the Prince Manor, saying that Prince Rong has submitted a petition to establish a Princely Heir. Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned, and there’s been no further word on the matter."

The Grand Dowager also frowned but didn’t respond immediately as she thought about the Empress Dowager. Old Madam Lou added, "The Empress doesn’t have it easy either!"

"Indeed," the Grand Dowager sighed, "It’s difficult for everyone!"

The two sat in silence for a while. Then, the Grand Dowager asked Old Madam Lou, "I heard the First Young Madam was unwell a few days ago. Is she better now?"

Talking about her granddaughter-in-law made Old Madam Lou look even more troubled, full of helplessness. "With such a constitution, she spends two out of three days in bed. Since her marriage, she has been taking medicine without interruption, yet there’s been no improvement. Since the miscarriage, there’s been no further news of her."

"Perhaps you should see another doctor. It’s not a good thing to just lie in bed taking medicine all the time. More movement is necessary. I only saw her once at her wedding and haven’t seen her out and about in these past two years," the Grand Dowager suggested, leaning forward.

Old Madam Lou dismissed the topic with a wave of her hand, not wanting to discuss it further. "Talking about them gives me a throbbing headache!" She sighed again, "The eldest daughter-in-law as well; with the eldest son, all she does is argue and scold, without any tact or strategy. How could she expect to raise the child well under such circumstances? It’s no wonder the eldest son has turned out like this!" Then she turned to the Grand Dowager, "You’re better, after all. Your sons are all quite considerate. The second is gentle, and although the fourth is a bit stubborn, he still sides with you on major issues."

The Grand Dowager did not deny this, but thinking of the third son made her let out a long sigh, "Let it be, let it be. We’re old, and some things we cannot manage. Children and grandchildren have their destiny. In the future, let’s not meddle in their affairs. Let’s each live our own lives!"

Old Madam Lou laughed, pointing at the Grand Dowager as if mocking her, "I want to see how you live your own life."

With that, the two of them burst into laughter!

Xiqiu sat with Madam Qian and Madam Ruan in the main hall. Madam Qian looked around and asked Xiqiu, "Have you invited an Imperial Physician to check? What exactly is the illness?"

"Nurse Zhang has checked. There are some minor physical ailments, but more concerning is her current mental state..." Xiqiu trailed off without finishing, but both Madam Qian and Madam Ruan paused, looking shocked. "Madness?"

Xiqiu wasn’t certain, but since the Grand Dowager had said so, she nodded, "Her behavior is abnormal; it seems so."

"I never expected it," Madam Qian and Madam Ruan exchanged a glance, filled with regret. "How could she become mad like this?"

Madam Ruan nodded and added, "But she’s always set high standards for herself, as well as for others. Meticulous to the point of perfection, such a person is like a string constantly taut. If one day it doesn’t go right, it will break!"

"Indeed!" Madam Qian sighed, "Now that you mention it, it makes sense."

The two then looked at Xiqiu, waving it off, "Let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it!" With that, they turned to Xiqiu and said, "I heard the First Young Madam Tong is due to give birth this month?"

"Yes, it should be at the end of the month." She said with a smile, "I haven’t gone back for several days, and I don’t know how things are these days. I plan to visit after the Mid-Autumn Festival!"

Madam Qian smiled and said, "You should go check. The First Young Madam Tong is truly admirable, managing family affairs even during the final days before childbirth. It’s remarkable." Xiqiu nodded, "My sister-in-law has a kind nature, considerate and attentive to everyone."

Madam Ruan chimed in, "That’s truly a blessing for you and your sisters-in-law!"

Xiqiu smiled and nodded.

Madam Qian shifted the conversation to embroidery, and Madam Ruan mentioned Ruan Pingrong, noting that she only knows how to play, following her brothers around without the semblance of a lady. If tasked with reading, embroidery, or playing the zither, she’d find endless excuses to shirk it. Madam Ruan often found herself speechless with anger.

The three laughed and chatted for half the day until they were called to lunch by the Grand Dowager. Xiqiu accompanied the two ladies to the Grand Dowager’s room for the meal. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, every household was busy, and the ladies couldn’t stay long. After eating, they each went their separate ways. In the afternoon, after Xiqiu took a nap, Min had already finished school. Xiao Yanzheng had returned, having cried for half a day at Lingbo Hall, and was then helped back by Pang Guibin. She clung to Xiqiu, saying, "Fourth Sister-in-law, how did things become like this? Second Sister-in-law... her heart is truly ruthless!"

Xiqiu didn’t know how to comfort her and could only sigh along. Xiao Yanzheng added, "Now she’s mad and has been stripped of her title. Such deeds do no good for anyone. A perfectly good family was ruined by her!"

Xiao Yanyi had a good nature, and in case of mistakes, others always assumed it wasn’t his fault!

Xiao Yanzheng refused to go home that night, saying that tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she wanted to celebrate early at home. This was her first time spending Mid-Autumn away from the Grand Dowager, so Xiqiu looked at Pang Guibin, who, with a doting look in his eyes, nodded kindly, "I’ll tell Father and Mother. I’ll send someone to pick you up first thing in the morning, is that okay?"

Xiao Yanzheng had no objections. Pang Guibin then bade farewell to the Grand Dowager, Xiqiu, and the First Madam, and went to the outer courtyard to speak with Fourth Master Xiao before departing.

Xiao Yanzheng snuggled beside the Grand Dowager, smiling, "Mother, I’m sleeping with you tonight." The Grand Dowager chuckled, "Oh dear, already married, yet still acting like a child!"