Chapter 009: Seeing the Old Lady

In the room, Xue Qiandai's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up and walked out without waiting for the magpie to open the door curtain.

Xue Qianwu looked at her sister and said, "Grandmother and mother are here, I need to go and pay my respects. You have injuries, so you should lie down first. Grandmother and mother should not blame you."

Qian Ge smiled and said, "I wonder which servant went to invite grandmother and mother. If I don't go out, they will have their say."

Xue Qianwu moved her lips but didn't say anything. She just sighed deeply. After all, Xue Qiandai had been her beloved sister for more than ten years. Although her affection for her was not as strong as for Qian Ge, it was genuine. Today, things had turned out like this.

Qian Ge comforted her by patting her hand and said, "Grandmother and mother are already outside. Let's go out soon."

"Okay," Xue Qianwu regained her composure and said, "Wait a moment, sister. I'll get your clothes for you."

Qian Ge nodded. She could see that her sister still had affection for Xue Qiandai, but she had already planted the seed of doubt in her heart. That was enough. In the long run, her sister would eventually see through Xue Qiandai's true nature and be thoroughly disappointed in her.

After a while, Xue Qianwu brought a moonlight-colored embroidered outer jacket and a spring green floral chest-length skirt. She carefully helped Qian Ge out of bed, helped her put on the clothes, and quickly tied her hair into a cloud bun, pinning a tender green silk flower in the center of the bun.

She draped a plum blossom embroidered cape made of satin over Qian Ge and put on a floral satin cape for herself. Qian Wu helped Qian Ge walk out of the room.

As they walked to the eaves, they looked up and saw the old lady and Mrs. Lu already sitting in the courtyard. Xue Qiandai was leaning against the old lady, bowing her head and saying something.

Qian Wu helped Qian Ge approach and bowed respectfully, saying, "Granddaughter pays respects to grandmother and mother."

The old lady, wearing a black cloak with gold-threaded auspicious patterns and a blue floral skirt, with a dark blue headpiece adorned with green gemstones, looked displeased from the moment she saw them come out. It wasn't until Qian Ge winced in pain as she bowed due to her injury that the old lady's expression softened, and she said, "Since the second granddaughter is injured, there's no need for excessive courtesy."

Sitting on the side, Mrs. Lu, wearing a fox fur cape with a pattern of scattered peonies in autumn fragrance and a spring scenery skirt, with several jade hairpins in her bun and a pair of intertwined red gold bracelets on her wrist, with a sharp nose and eyes, said, "Even with an injury, the second miss can still be punished. I suppose she doesn't lack the strength to pay respects to the old lady."

The old lady's expression turned even worse.

Mrs. Lu continued, "As soon as the old lady arrived, the third miss hurried out to greet her, but the eldest and second miss are quite arrogant."

"Mother," Xue Qiandai said softly, "the second sister is injured. Please be more accommodating."

"I can be accommodating, but should I also ask the old lady to accommodate her?" Mrs. Lu said, "On such a cold day, if the old lady catches a cold, who will take responsibility?"

"Enough, my health is not that weak. I won't fall ill from a little breeze," the old lady said, displeased. She was clearly criticizing Mrs. Lu, implying that Qian Ge was even weaker than her and making a fuss over a few hits.

Mrs. Lu smiled, "I've been overly concerned. The old lady is in good health."

Xue Qianwu couldn't help but defend her sister, but Qian Ge pinched her hand, walked forward, and said with a look of shame, "Mother, you are right. Qian Ge only has a minor injury. I shouldn't have let grandmother and mother wait in the cold. It's just that the maidservant who was supposed to take care of me was nowhere to be found, so I had to dress and groom myself, which delayed us. I have been unfilial to let grandmother and mother wait."