Cui Ying really wanted to cry, as the saying goes "stealing a chicken without getting the rice" is probably referring to someone like her.

  He had thought that he could avoid trouble, but instead he fell into even greater calamity. Originally, he only suffered a bit of hardship every morning, but now he was under the old lady's watchful eye all day long. He didn't dare to slack off, and thinking about being carefree was simply a dream.

  But what can you do about it?

  Just as Yuan Wulang had entrusted her before he left, if she encountered any trouble in the Yuan family, Old Lady was the only one who could make decisions for her. She was still trying to curry favor with her, how could she possibly refuse Old Lady's kindness in public?

  Cui Ling took a deep breath, forcing a few smiles on her face, and spoke in an extremely obedient tone, "Yes, I'll listen to Grandma's instructions."

  The old lady was overjoyed and instructed Liang Shi and Lian Shi to disperse first.

  She said to Du Ya, "You're familiar with Xiao Wu's place, follow Xiao Wu's wife back to pack up and come over before noon."

  Du Niangniang repeatedly said yes, first sent Old Lady out of the Shangwu Hall gate, then turned back to find Cui Ying.

  She smiled all over her face, "Fifth Granny is really blessed with good fortune, there are so many ladies in the house, and Old Lady Tai'an has never kept anyone. Since Old Lady values Fifth Granny so much, even if Fifth Master is not at home, what do you have to worry about?"

  Cui Ling naturally knew that once she moved into the Tai'an courtyard, it was equivalent to being incorporated into the old lady's sphere of influence. Not to mention that the servants in the mansion didn't dare to gossip, even her four sisters-in-law at home would have to look up to her with extra respect.

  Just like just now, when Old Lady said let her move into the Tai'an courtyard, Third Aunt Ruan was only slightly surprised and envious, but Second Aunt Liang's face changed immediately. It can be seen that living with Old Lady also means some benefits.

  She walked with Du Ya in the direction of Cangxiang Garden, saying, "My engagement to Fifth Master was arranged hastily, and many things that should have been understood beforehand were not. I only know that Eldest Sister is Princess Yining of the Fu Rong Long Gong's household, Third Sister comes from the Li Guo Gong Fu's family, Fourth Sister is a daughter of the Su family of Longzhong, but as for Second Sister's maiden family, I've forgotten."

  She paused slightly, smiled and looked at Du Mama seriously, "Du Mama is an old person beside Grandma's side, there is no one in this house who knows more about things than you. I'm new here and don't understand anything, can I ask you to give me some advice?"

  Choi Yong spoke with a smile at the corner of his mouth and a gentle tone, like a warm spring breeze in March.

  Not deliberately trying to please, nor condescending, it's just like an ordinary conversation between grandparents and grandchildren, with a hint of closeness and playfulness, sounding both familiar and natural.

  Daiyu had no children, but due to Old Madame's influence, she was always highly respected in the mansion of the General Who Guards the Nation. Not only did the maids and servants treat her with deference, even the masters and mistresses were extremely polite to her.

  Never has anyone spoken to themselves like Wu Nainai did, in such a calm and natural way.

  She had always wanted to get along with the fifth grandmother, and now she was even more willing to tell her everything she knew. "The second grandmother is the daughter of the Liang family in Yin County. Her grandfather, Liang En Dao, was once an imperial teacher. The Liang family was a family of scholars, and many famous scholars came from their household. During the Kaiyuan period of this dynasty, three uncles and nephews took the imperial examination together and all passed, with both the second and third places on the list coming from the Liang family, which was considered one of the best stories in the country. However..."

  The old lady's tone changed slightly, and she lowered her voice a lot. "In the past two years, the Liang family was implicated by others and suffered misfortune. Now their situation is much worse than before."

  She asked sorrowfully, "Does Fifth Granny know that our family's Second Master sacrificed himself for the country five years ago?"

  Cui Ling nodded, "Uh-huh."

  Although she was ignorant and inexperienced, she knew about these things.

  Five years ago, the second son of General Town Country, Yuan Ze, was sacrificed in the Pingtu Rebellion, and the court and the people were all sad. The emperor posthumously awarded him the title of Wude General.

  She, such an idle and ignorant person, could remember this matter because Yuan Erlang almost became her third brother-in-law back then.

  It is said that both families were very satisfied with the marriage, but when they matched the eight characters of their children's birth dates, they did not match well. The ancients were superstitious, so this marriage was not completed.

  Later, Yuan Er Lang died in battle. The elders at home lamented the fall of a pillar of the state, but the grandmother and eldest aunt secretly rejoiced that the marriage had not taken place, otherwise San Jie would have become a widow at a young age, how could the family bear it?

  The third sister later married the son of the Marquis of Zhicheng, and in a few years, the marquis passed away. The son inherited the title, and she became the marchioness. They had three sons and one daughter together, and they lived a happy life with love and harmony. With wealth and honor, they lacked nothing, but unlike her sister-in-law Liang, who was lonely and isolated.

  Every time San Shu returns to her mother's home, she always hears people secretly mentioning this old affair, how can Cui Ying forget?

  Madam Du sighed softly, "The second master is gone, and the second madam has no children by her side. Her natal family is also not doing well. She's alone in guarding the second house, sometimes it's inevitable that she thinks too much, thinks more than others, and easily thinks of things in a bad light."

  She thought for a moment and said, "The old lady took pity on the second madam's miserable life and was particularly tolerant of her. The other ladies also remembered their teachings and never quarreled with the second madam."

  Cui Ling nodded hastily, "Thank you, nanny."

  Her husband died, no children, and her natal family is also powerless. She finally understands why the reactions of Er Sao and San Sao to the same thing are so different.

  For example, when Old Lady asked her to perform a horse-riding stance, Third Sister was very calm, while Second Sister seemed to be secretly delighted.

  The old lady wanted her to move to the Taian Institute, and although San Shu was also a little envious, she still seemed to be more congratulatory. However, Er Shu's face changed, and even her gaze at her was different.

  After hearing Er Sao's life experience, I thought about it again and suddenly understood everything.

  Yuan Erlang was posthumously titled as Wude General, and his wife had received an imperial edict, so she would not be able to remarry in this lifetime.

  The old lady and the old general would certainly treat her with great care, but in the future when they are gone, the General's mansion will be divided among different branches of the family. She has no children of her own, so it is impossible for her to live separately. In the days to come, she will have to rely on the favor of the eldest branch of the family.

  Yuan Dalang and Princess Yining would naturally not mistreat her, but what about their sons?

  Under the value system at that time, Erniang Liang's future was almost completely hopeless, spending every day in lonely despair, sensitivity is certain, and being reclusive and irritable can also be understood.

  The second sister is not like herself, with an unconventional experience, a thousand years ahead of others in terms of concept and thinking. She has no desires or demands, nor does she argue or compare with others. She doesn't need any spiritual sustenance either. As long as she has money and a house, she can spend her old age in a quiet countryside villa, without needing children to live a good life.

  Chui Ying said in confusion, "My mother's family's third uncle had no children, so the clan leader made my second uncle's seventh paternal uncle adopt to the third uncle. Now that the third uncle has passed away, it is up to the seventh paternal uncle to perform the ancestral rites, and the third uncle's wife also followed the seventh paternal uncle and his wife."

  She paused and asked, "Why doesn't Second Aunt adopt a child from within the clan to inherit the house?"

  The ancients attached great importance to the inheritance of incense and fire, and were particularly obsessed with the continuation of their descendants' bloodline. Families without heirs would usually select an heir from among their clansmen, a practice that was also common in prosperous dynasties.

  Du Niangniang shook her head with a bitter face, "It's not that I haven't mentioned it before, Second Madam doesn't want to!"