Reborn, the daughter of the Marquisate went crazy

Xie Qingli noticed the sudden change in Madam's expression, and gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, whispering, "Aunt, please be at ease. The baby is still young, and I dare not make any rash conclusions."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice became even softer: "Maybe... Li'er is worrying too much."

The eldest lady, however, was already on pins and needles. She stood up suddenly, without even tidying up her outer clothes, and hurried straight to her own courtyard, picking up a pen to write a letter to Jiang Lingchuan...

As night fell, vermilion lanterns lit up one after another throughout the Jiang Mansion, illuminating the carved beams and painted buildings with brilliant light.

Inside the banquet hall, everyone in the Jiang residence sat down according to gender. Xie Qingli affectionately held Madam Jiang's arm and whispered something amusing, making the old lady smile.

Suddenly, there was a faint rustle of beads draped over the curtains. Tan Ruyan arrived belatedly. She was dressed in a crimson brocade dress, but her expression was gloomy. The moment she entered the hall, the previously cheerful atmosphere suddenly froze. The eldest lady, following closely behind her, forced a smile, but a hint of anger still lingered between her brows.

Tan Ruyan looked around and saw Jiang Muxue and Xie Qingli occupying the seats on the old lady's left and right. Her face suddenly became even uglier. That seat should have been hers! Before Xie Qingli returned to the capital, she was the old lady's favorite granddaughter-in-law, even her mother-in-law had to give her some respect. But as soon as Xie Qingli returned, he easily took away everything that was rightfully hers...

She subconsciously stroked her flat belly, a fierce look in her eyes. Now that she was pregnant with Jiang's child, could she not be defeated by a woman from another family who grew up in the countryside?

"Grandma~" Her eyes were filled with tears, and her voice was so soft that water could drip out: "Yan'er hasn't seen you for half a year, and I miss you so much that my heart aches. You see... your great-grandson also hopes to be close to my great-grandmother. Yan'er wants to sit next to you..."

She raised her tearful eyes and looked at Old Madam Jiang pitifully, her eyes full of pleading. But as she lowered her head to wipe her tears, her eyes flashed with provocation and resentment when she glanced at Xie Qingli.

Xie Qingli keenly sensed this hint of malice. How could this be a fight for a seat? It was clearly a fight for her grandmother's favor, for her position in the Jiang family. Her eyes flickered, and she stood up gracefully, her voice carrying just the right amount of grievance: "My eldest cousin's wife wants to sit, so I'll give her up."

Xie Qingli was a guest after all, and it was really rude to treat him like this. The eldest lady hurried forward and put her hand on Xie Qingli's shoulder: "Li'er, please sit down."

Xie Qingli, however, held the eldest lady's hand and said softly, "Aunt, my cousin's wife is pregnant, and it's most important for her to be happy. Let her sit here."

The words "pregnant" made the eldest lady's eyes suddenly sharp. If Tan Ruyan really dared to cheat on Chuan'er... she would make this bitch's life worse than death!

Xie Qingli turned to the Second and Third Young Masters' wives standing beside them and said with a smile, "I haven't had a proper chat with you two sisters-in-law since they returned to the capital. Why don't we just sit together?"

The eldest lady's gaze swept over the well-behaved wives of the second and third young masters, and her anger intensified. These two daughters-in-law, who had accompanied their husbands on border patrols for years, were still well-mannered and respectful, while the daughter-in-law she had personally trained was so presumptuous, it was truly humiliating for her.

She pushed Xie Qingli back to his seat without a second thought. Her voice, though soft, left no room for doubt: "Li'er, this is the first time you're spending the New Year at home. You should be with your grandmother."

After saying this, she looked up at Tan Ruyan, her eyes filled with disappointment. She had always doted on this clever daughter-in-law, whose clever words always made her mother-in-law smile. But ever since Xie Qingli returned home, Tan Ruyan had seemed to have lost her mind, constantly clashing with Xie Qingli.

"Ruyan." The eldest lady's voice was heavy with sorrow. "You used to be so sensible. Why are you so ignorant today? Besides, you're a grandson's wife, and you've learned all the etiquette?"

She paused and said coldly, "If you don't want to have this reunion dinner, go back to your yard and rest as soon as possible!"

Tan Ruyan had never expected that her grandmother, who had always loved her, would be so cold and indifferent, and her mother-in-law, who had always been tolerant, would be so unforgiving. Her anger instantly turned to resentment, directed at the eldest lady.

Her eyes rolled, and tears immediately rolled down like pearls from a broken string. She reached out and covered her belly, her voice trembling, "Mother-in-law... your daughter-in-law has been sleeping in the open air all this way, and you haven't even said a word to me..."

She suddenly raised her eyes and her voice rose sharply: "You even sold out all the capable maids and servants in my daughter-in-law's courtyard while she was away! What did I do wrong to deserve such treatment from my mother-in-law?"

The hall suddenly fell silent, even the crackling of the candlelight could be heard clearly. Everyone had different expressions on their faces, and all their eyes turned to him.

The eldest lady's face was livid with rage, her chest heaving violently. They had just argued over this matter, and she had clearly promised to send someone capable. She hadn't expected Tan Ruyan to bring it up again in public, deliberately trying to embarrass her.

She only felt her face burning, but then she thought again, this turmoil was caused by Tan Ruyan's unreasonable behavior, not to mention that she dealt with those servants on the orders of her father-in-law, so why should she feel guilty?

In a flash, the eldest lady had calmed down. She slowly straightened her sleeves and looked at Tan Ruyan leisurely, with a meaningful smile on her lips.

Seeing that her grandmother remained silent, Tan Ruyan quickly turned to the old lady and said, "Grandma..."

"Snapped!"

A loud bang came from the men's section. Jiang Zhong slammed the table and stood up, shouting, "Enough! Check the mansion and find out that all the servants were dealt with according to my orders!"

His eagle eyes were like lightning, piercing Tan Ruyan directly. "Wife Lingchuan, don't you know about those dishonest people in your courtyard? They are all servants of the Jiang family. Can't I deal with them?"

Tan Ruyan's face suddenly changed, and her body trembled violently. She had originally thought that her mother-in-law was deliberately making things difficult for her, but who knew that it was actually her grandfather who had given the order himself?

"Grandfather, calm down!" She knelt hurriedly, her voice trembling, "Granddaughter-in-law knows her mistake..."

Jiang Zhong glared at her coldly, remembering Xie Qingli's words about the Jiang family being framed in their previous life. His heart became heavier, and he said in a cold voice: "Lingchuan's wife is disrespectful to her elders and is arrogant. She is confined to the courtyard to reflect on her mistakes!"

Then he turned to the eldest lady and said in a voice as cold as iron: "The eldest daughter-in-law didn't teach her properly...but considering it's the New Year, I won't pursue it for now. If it happens again, I will punish her together!"

Tan Ruyan was carried out by two servants. The eldest lady bowed respectfully and said, "My daughter-in-law admits her mistake."

Jiang Zhong then slowly sat down, his tiger eyes looking around, and suddenly a smile appeared on his face. His voice was like a bell: "The banquet is about to begin."

Suddenly, the melodious sounds of stringed instruments filled the air, and as the wine glasses clapped, the gloom of the moment vanished. Delicacies were served one after another at the banquet, and everyone toasted each other, as if the previous conflict had never happened.

After the banquet, everyone moved to the warm room to stay up all night. Old Madam Jiang, surrounded by her daughters-in-law, enthusiastically played mahjong. Amidst the laughter and cheers, the old lady won several games in a row, grinning from ear to ear.

Leng Shuang came in quietly and leaned over to whisper something in Xie Qingli's ear. Xie Qingli's eyes flickered slightly, and she bowed to the eldest lady and left quietly, holding up her skirt.

Walking under the moonlight, Xie Qingli arrived at the Jiang Mansion's highest pavilion, the Zhaixing Pavilion. Just as he reached the last step, he heard a sudden "whoosh" sound, and a myriad of fireworks suddenly burst into life in the distant night sky. The dazzling light illuminated the entire capital as if it were daytime, and also illuminated the tall figure standing in front of the attic window.

Amidst the flickering fireworks, Chu Yuncang stood by the window with his hands behind his back, a gentle smile on his lips, and Xie Qingli's figure reflected in his deep eyes...