Madam Qi saw Peonys cautious and timid appearance, and changed her smile. She reached out to hold Peonys hand, "Dont blame me for being strict with you, Im doing this for your own good. Our family situation is different from yours, in the future you will eventually become a housewife, at that time you will know how difficult it is!"

  If it were the former peony, hearing that Lius family and Hes family are different, her face would definitely be very ugly. But Peony seemed to have not understood at this moment, only lowering her eyebrows and bowing her head: "Its all because of my daughter-in-laws fault, making mother worry."

  "Its all fate, what can be done." Madame Qi sighed and said: "I heard that Yutong is pregnant, you should let it go." She had also heard people say that Yutong cried and left Mudans courtyard at noon, although she didnt know the reason, but thinking about it, it was probably because she was upset by Mudan, which made her cry like that.

  "Mother-in-law, Ive come for this very reason," said Peony with downcast eyes. "I was thinking of asking you to add a personal maid for me, and increase my monthly allowance, so that I wont feel depressed and it will be better for the baby."

  Madam Qi didnt care who was right or wrong between the two, as long as no big trouble arose, shed be happy to pretend ignorance: "This is also proper, see who youll send to attend to her? She came from your place, and its probably better for her to get close to people by your side."

  Its reasonable that Madam Qi wouldnt let just anyone serve Rutong, so what does she mean by saying this? Peony furrowed her brow and said: "There arent many people serving my wife, Lin Mama and Yuhe are inseparable, the other two little maids, one has a violent temper, the other is muddle-headed and doesnt know anything, neither of them is suitable. Please arrange for someone else, Mother."

  Madam Qi looked at her with a glance, and saw that Peonys long eyelashes were slightly trembling, looking pitiful. This daughter-in-law, from a merchant family, was weak and sickly, and in the past, she didnt behave very well, not to mention Liu Quan didnt like her, even she herself didnt like it, but now she has become much more sensible than before. Unfortunately, a wild chicken is still a wild chicken, no matter how high it flies, it can never become a phoenix.

  Peony waited for a long time but couldnt get an answer from her, so she inquired loudly: "Mother?"

  Madam Qi took a sip of cool tea and sighed: "Forget it, Ill assign another steady maid to her. With Wei Da Sao by her side, that should be enough. As for the monthly allowance, she used to get two taels of silver when she was with you, now lets make it three taels. We can discuss other arrangements after she gives birth. What do you think?"

  Peony is fine as long as she can get by, what opinions would she have? At this point, she stood up and said: "The daughter-in-law doesnt understand these things, its better for the mother to take charge."

  Her careful courtesy made Madame Qi feel a little better, but she said: "Dont be so polite to your own family members, thanking each other. Youd better take care of yourself and hurry up to give birth to a legitimate grandson for me, thats the greatest gratitude to me."

  The eldest grandson, the eldest one! The peony was very annoyed and barely held back a dry smile.

  Biyu carried the newly awakened Qier in and smiled with a spring breeze: "Madam, please advise Young Madam, earlier when the maidservants came over with her, she was so distressed that she couldnt bear it."

  It seems that the rumor about Peony making Yutong cry out of jealousy at noon has been confirmed. Madame Qi raised an eyebrow and looked at Peony, who didnt refute it, but instead lowered her eyes to look at the bluestone floor tiles. Anyway, except for Liu Chuan and those close to him, such as Yuhe, Yutong, and Lin Mama, Madame Qi and others didnt know that Liu Chuan and she hadnt consummated their marriage yet. They only knew that Liu Chuan rarely went to her room, and when he did, he would leave in a hurry. How could they have children like this? As the young mistress of the Liu family, it was normal for her to be sad; not being sad would be abnormal.

  Madam Qi fell silent for a moment, then said: "Its good that you know to be anxious. Tomorrow Ill have Master let out a notice to invite Doctor Zhu over to give you a prescription. Once your body is well taken care of, naturally everything will fall into place." This statement was very clear, whether Liu Chuan liked it or not, she would help Peony give birth to a legitimate son.

  The peony was terrified, but she didnt dare show it on her face. She stiffly smiled and said: "Whatever mother arranges is fine. Its just that tomorrow husband wants to hold a flower appreciation banquet and have the daughter-in-law entertain the female guests. If the imperial physician comes, please trouble mother to send someone over to inform the daughter-in-law in advance, and she will hurry over."

  "In that case, lets change the subject." Madam Qi paused and said with a hint of meaning, "All who come are guests, you should treat them well, dont lose your composure."

  The peony humbly accepted.

  Biyu listened to the side, feeling sour and uncomfortable, and quickly lowered her head to ask Qier, who was two years old in her arms: "Qier didnt you just say you wanted to help grandma massage her legs?"

  Qier looks like Liu Chang, and has been trained by Biyu to be very obedient. Upon hearing this, she immediately struggles out of Biyus arms and walks towards Qu Zhangshi with her two hands held out, a smile all over her face, saying sweetly: "Grandmother, Qier misses you."

  "Whats a little kid like you hitting someone?" Madam Qi smiled and hugged Qier into her arms, repeatedly calling out to Nianslave to peel a loquat to feed him. Qier didnt want Nianslave to feed him, but instead took it himself, not putting it in his own mouth, but holding it high to feed Madam Qi. Madam Qis eyebrows rose with joy and she accepted it, praising along with Peony: "Its really hard for a child as young as you to be so well-behaved and sensible."

  "Children know who is good to them, and since their mother is so fond of him, he naturally wants to be filial to her. Peony not only gave birth to him well but also taught him extremely well."

  When Peony saw Madam Qi praising herself, Bi Yu was suspicious but still very happy: "Im stupid and usually follow the rules taught by my mistress."

  Madam Qi glanced at the two of them and said, "Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. For a family to prosper, they must observe etiquette and know their place. You, young masters, are broad-minded and magnanimous, but you also need to follow the rules that should be followed. From tomorrow on, take Qier over to pay respects to Young Madam every day."

  Biyus face changed greatly, and she didnt understand why this rule was suddenly being brought up.

  Peony was also quite perplexed. Since she entered the Liu family, they had always required her to show respect and courtesy, but never demanded that others show her the same courtesy. Moreover, she was often ill, so it wasnt like others came to pay their respects to her, even when she went to pay her respects to Madame Qi, it was sporadic, until recently when she started visiting regularly at dawn and dusk. Whats going on all of a sudden?

  "Mother, the daughter-in-laws courtyard is far away, and the children are still young. They cant get up early in the morning. Besides, the daughter-in-law is afraid of noise. If they go there, it wont be quiet."

  Madam Qi frowned unhappily and said, "Youre not in good health, so its even more appropriate for them to serve you! If you like quietness, then dont let them disturb you. Its settled then, theyll go to your place every morning to pay their respects first, and then you can all come here together." She also ordered Nianslave: "Pass on my words, no one is allowed to disobey!"

  Thus, neither Peony nor Green Pearl dared to speak again, and both fell silent.

  The little maid outside the curtain said: "Madam, Miss Sun has arrived."

  Madam Qi still had a stern expression on her face and said in a low voice: "Let her come in."

  A young maid lifted the curtain and walked in a beautiful woman wearing a white jacket with silver red sleeves, a green skirt with flowers, a melon-shaped face, small mountain eyebrows, and a shocking hairdo. The beauty held a one-year-old girl in her arms, curtsied to Madame Qi, asked for her well-being, and also greeted Peony. It was Liu Chengs other favored concubine, Yuer, and Liu Chengs one-and-a-half-year-old eldest daughter, Jianiang.

  Madam Qi gazed calmly at Yuer and her mother, saying: "As I said earlier, from tomorrow on, the children will all go to pay their respects to their legitimate mothers. You should also hurry over early to attend to them."

  Yuer was also slightly surprised, and quickly covered it up, saying softly: "Ive had this idea for a long time, but Im afraid of disturbing Young Madam, so I didnt dare to go often."

  Bi Yu sneered and glanced at Yuer with disdain, turning her face away in distaste.

  Yuer didnt pay attention to her, and instead asked about Peonys well-being. Among all of Liu Chongs concubines, only she and Biyu were formally promoted to the position of "yiniang", and both had received imperial favor and given birth to children. If there was anything that made her inferior to Biyu, it was simply that she had bad luck and gave birth to a daughter.

  Before long, someone came to report that both Lius father and son had something to do and would not be back for dinner. Then Peony got up, and several women attended to Mrs. Qis dinner with respect, each bidding farewell and returning to their rooms.

  Just as Peony had reached the gate, Madame Qi spoke up again: "Peony, wait a minute. Those girls interrupted me just now and I didnt finish what I was saying. There are too few servants attending to you in your quarters; how would it be if I were to assign another maid and a first-class serving girl to you?"

  The peony did not secretly lament its fate, it hid away and enjoyed its peaceful days which would never return.