CHAPTER 679: CHAPTER 679: THE PROGRESS OF THE LU FAMILY

Mrs. Lu walked over, glanced at Bai Shuilian, and smiled at Song Ruqian.

"Qian’er has arrived?"

"Third Aunt." Song Ruqian bowed to her and said, "I just came from Mother’s place and thought of taking a shortcut back to Grandmother’s, but noticed some commotion here."

Mrs. Lu’s smile faded as she glared at Ru Yi, "Did you offend the Eldest Young Mistress?"

"This maid wouldn’t dare." Ru Yi shook her head in terror, explaining the situation.

Bai Shuilian also lowered her stance and offered an apology.

"It’s just a basket of plum blossoms, yet you make a fuss and disturb the Eldest Young Mistress? Have you learned all your manners in vain?" Mrs. Lu lightly scolded with the authority of the Lady.

Bai Shuilian became even more humble, "It’s the fault of this concubine."

"Of course, it’s your fault." Mrs. Lu looked at her and said indifferently, "If you want to brew plum blossom wine, just direct the servants to pick them. Why trouble yourself as the mistress? There are plum trees in my courtyard, but they don’t compare to the old trees on the back hill. You should return to your quarters and wait. I will send someone to pick and deliver them to you."

"How could I trouble Madam?" Bai Shuilian was extremely apprehensive.

Mrs. Lu’s voice was gentle, "I am the Lady, and since the Master is busy with outside affairs, I must manage the household well on his behalf. Since you are Master’s concubine and also the birth mother of Young Master Five and others, your status is naturally more precious than those servants. The weather is so cold, and you personally go to pick flowers. It’s good-hearted of you, but if you fall ill, wouldn’t it be the Master who feels the heartache?"

"This concubine is apprehensive."

"Enough, leave the flower picking to the servants. If you do everything, what’s the point of keeping them? Your duty is to take good care of Young Master Five and others and serve the Master well."

Mrs. Lu gave her a stern look, then said to Song Ruqian, "These incompetent ones let you see a joke. I will certainly punish them later. Since you’re here, why not come into my courtyard and sit for a while?"

Song Ruqian shook her head with a smile, "I’d better not. You are busy helping Mother manage the household, and I dare not disturb. Besides, Sister Tian is still with Grandmother, and I also fear tiring her, so I’ll head over first."

"Very well, I will visit Mother later to pay respects."

Song Ruqian left with a smile on her lips, leading her entourage in a grand procession.

As soon as she left, Mrs. Lu’s smile faded. She looked at Bai Shuilian and said, "Return to your courtyard. I will personally send the plum blossoms to your quarters."

"This concubine thanks Madam."

Mrs. Lu took Ru Yi and turned back to the courtyard.

Shuanglu felt somewhat indignant accompanying Bai Shuilian back to her own courtyard. As soon as she entered the room, she couldn’t wait to complain, "Aunt, Madam deliberately let Ru Yi guard the courtyard gate to wear you down. She appeared as soon as the Eldest Young Mistress showed up, acting as if nothing happened. She’s too good at pretending."

Bai Shuilian said, "Now that she has taken charge of the household, Madam has improved somewhat. It was just bad luck running into the Eldest Young Mistress; otherwise, she wouldn’t have come out, which would have suited me just fine."

Shuanglu was startled.

The plum blossoms from the Plum Garden, Mrs. Lu could give them to anyone but would not allow her to pick them, surely using the opportunity to belittle her. Unexpectedly, Song Ruqian appeared.

Whether for appearances or other reasons, Mrs. Lu’s handling of this was more sophisticated than being stingy over a few plum blossoms and reprimanding her, leaving her without grounds to complain to Song Zhiqing.

What a pity.

Bai Shuilian held a cup of tea, gently blew on it, and thought of Song Ruqian, momentarily lost in thought. That was the bearing of a noble matriarch.