Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 589 - 235 Say people

Chapter 589: 235 Say people

After Madam Tang took over as the steward, she still followed the rules set by Zhuang Ruolan, and everything was orderly, bringing a sense of harmony throughout the mansion. Lady Cheng tried several times to seize the steward duties from Madam Tang but was deflected each time by Madam Tang’s firm yet gentle resistance. Eventually, Ma Yue spoke up, and only then did Madam Tang loosen her grip, although she only relinquished the handling of some trivial matters. Madam Tang would not let go of the major affairs. It wasn’t that she clung to power, but rather she dared not let go. This mother-in-law lacked discernment, and if she were in charge of the mansion, it would certainly fall into chaos, and she would undoubtedly be blamed.

Su Zhu felt somewhat suffocated, "Madam, the Old Madam is too..." The word "shameless" was too harsh for Su Zhu to say outright.

Ever since his grandson’s accident, Ma Chengteng elevated everyone’s titles. Ma Chengteng was now referred to as Old Grand Master, and Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng as Great Grandfather and Second Master, respectively. When Yueyao heard this, she was speechless; people usually gained the title of Old Grand Master when they had great-grandchildren, but here they were, declaring it with just three generations. Yueyao was filled with silent ridicule.

Madam Tang smiled, "It doesn’t matter, things will settle down in a few days. Once Eldest Madam is out of her confinement, I’ll hand over the steward duties." She would not concern herself with the minor power of the steward’s position; rather than overseeing that, it was better to encourage her husband to be ambitious and to care properly for their son.

Su Zhu expressed her worries, "Madam, you’ve given birth to a son, and Eldest Madam to a daughter; everyone in the mansion says that Eldest Madam is discontented." The most important thing was the vastly different attitudes the Old Grand Master showed towards his grandson and granddaughter.

Madam Tang was also helpless about this. It should have been a good thing for her father-in-law to dote on her son, but his behavior seemed a bit excessive. However, she had no place to voice her concerns.

Su Zhu mentioned, "You should know, Madam, that you have also sat through forty-five days of confinement."

Madam Tang shook her head and laughed, "My health is good; thirty days were enough for me." Even if she wanted to sit through forty-five days of confinement, she didn’t have the circumstances to do so.

Zhuang Ruolan indeed felt discontent, even voicing to Ma Peng that Yanqi was being treated unfairly. Holding his daughter, Ma Peng said with a laugh, "As long as we cherish her, that’s enough. If Father wants to indulge Congxie, we should just go along with his wishes." He spoke these words with such equanimity as if he were commenting on good weather.

Zhuang Ruolan was taken aback by his attitude; it was wrong! Naturally, she no longer pursued this topic with Ma Peng, but privately, she sent Cai Yun to inquire about Ma Peng’s past in the Ma’s Mansion with Granny Liu.

Cai Yun returned, saying, "Miss, Nanny Liu said that Old Grand Master always favored Second Master and didn’t like the Eldest. Ma Chengteng favored the clever and quick-witted Ma Yue from a young age and, while he may not have been harsh on Ma Peng, at least he fulfilled his paternal duties. However, he was always indifferent towards him, showing no affection, which contributed to the timid and reticent nature of Ma Peng in the past."

Now Zhuang Ruolan understood why Ma Peng was so indifferent to his father’s partisanship; he had long been accustomed to it. Realizing this, Zhuang Ruolan felt a surge of sympathy for her husband.

Cai Yun said discontentedly, "No wonder the reputation of Ma’s Mansion used to be so poor. With a father who cannot distinguish what’s important, it’s no surprise the mansion was never at peace!"

Having completed her forty-five-day confinement, Zhuang Ruolan took her maid to the Upper Chamber to pay her respects to Lady Cheng. Speaking of which, Lady Cheng, this stepmother-in-law, had reached new lows. From Zhuang Ruolan’s childbirth to the end of her confinement, not to mention a personal visit, Lady Cheng hadn’t even sent someone to express her well-wishes.

Lady Cheng greeted Zhuang Ruolan with a pleasant smile, "Madam Zhuang, sons of Eldest Master’s age already have several children. You cannot keep Eldest Young Master’s lap empty forever."

Zhuang Ruolan flashed a look of annoyance; what did she mean by Eldest Young Master’s lap being empty, as if her two daughters did not exist? Although Zhuang Ruolan hadn’t given birth to a son, she wasn’t the least bit intimidated. It was only temporary that she didn’t have a son, not that she couldn’t have one: "I don’t understand what you mean by that, Mother."

Seeing that Zhuang Ruolan was still so defiant despite not being able to bear a son, Lady Cheng sneered endlessly. Priding herself on her family background was futile without a son to carry on the name.

Lady Cheng signaled her old nanny with a glance, and the old nanny immediately went out. Shortly after, she returned with two delicate beauties.

Lady Cheng smiled like a flower, "Old Master says that bearing offspring is a grave matter, so take these two girls back with you!" The implication of her words was that these two girls were gifts from Ma Chengteng, not sent by her.

Zhuang Ruolan smiled on the surface but was furious inside. If Lady Cheng had taken the chance to plant her own people, it wouldn’t have upset her as much, but now it was her father-in-law pushing these women on her. Zhuang Ruolan, reflecting on her father-in-law’s past neglect of her husband and now treating Ma Yue and his young son like prized possessions, began to feel a sense of revulsion toward him.