The imperial concubine is charming and charming, and only seeks power and wealth

The Censorate, the main court.

Old Lady Wang was leaning against a soft pillow, with two maids kneeling at her feet, massaging her legs.

The eldest daughter-in-law, Xie Anning, stood behind her and did the work of a servant, gently massaging her back and relaxing her shoulders and neck.

When ordinary ladies from noble families serve their mother-in-law, the most they do is to visit her in the morning and evening, serve her meals, and listen obediently to her instructions.

The Wang family, which prides itself on having strict family rules, has become so strict in setting rules for their daughters-in-law that they are even torturing and humiliating.

Massaging shoulders and backs is fine, but some time ago, kneeling on the ground and massaging legs was Xie Anning's job.

Now my treatment has improved thanks to the arrival of Nanny Qian.

This is the capable nanny who serves the imperial concubine in the palace.

A fifth-rank female official in the inner court.

In the past, when her eldest daughter-in-law took care of the eldest daughter of the Jiang family who had lost her mother, Old Lady Wang knew about it.

But she never thought that the good relationship she had established in her childhood would still be remembered by the little girl who had become a royal concubine many years later.

Although Nanny Qian has returned to the palace to report, Old Lady Wang's attitude towards her eldest daughter-in-law has indeed softened because she is worried that the Imperial Concubine might be dissatisfied.

But she really hated this daughter-in-law. The conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had accumulated for more than ten years, to the point where they almost became enemies. It was impossible for Mrs. Wang to have a good face towards the eldest daughter-in-law.

In fact, when Xie An Ning first married into the Wang family, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had a period of face-to-face relationship.

However, she later had a difficult delivery when giving birth to a daughter and was injured. Censor Wang asked the imperial physician he was on good terms with in the palace to take his eldest daughter-in-law's pulse and concluded that it would be difficult for her to have children in the future.

Immediately, Old Lady Wang suggested choosing a few caring concubines for her son.

But his son flatly refused.

How could a mother resent her own child? How could a man complain about having too many women in his backyard? He was simply worried about Xie and therefore did not want to take a concubine.

Since the matter concerns the heir of the eldest house, Old Lady Wang cannot sit idly by.

At that time, she felt sympathy for Xie's situation and did not force her. She just knocked on her side a few times, intending to make her think it through and take the initiative to take a concubine for her husband.

Regardless of whether the family was of good or poor status, Old Lady Wang didn't care as long as the eldest son of the family could have a child.

But this jealous woman was not only ungrateful, but also tried to sow discord between mother and son, and instigated her eldest son to move away. He left for more than ten years, causing her to experience the pain of separation for more than ten years.

At this point, Old Lady Wang was truly disgusted with Xie An Ning to the core.

In particular, she monopolized her eldest son for more than ten years, and she kept him, who was both talented and virtuous, until he reached the age of thirty without giving birth to a son.

That would be an even greater crime.

To this day, the rift between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law has no room for improvement.

Even though she was concerned about the imperial concubine in the palace, Old Lady Wang did not blame the other party as unscrupulously as she did before.

But none of the rules that should be established can be violated.

She couldn't bear to see this jealous woman happy, so she would order people around for no reason.

Even if she just stood in the corner for an entire afternoon, it would still be a relief for Old Lady Wang.

Even if the palace would be unhappy if they knew about it, she would not be worried.

After all, she had never deliberately made things difficult for her. It was natural for a daughter-in-law to serve her mother-in-law. Even if she was an imperial concubine, there was no reason for her to forbid her daughter-in-law from fulfilling her filial duties.

The Wang family has four branches. Wang Shaofu is the eldest son, and he has three younger brothers: the second eldest son and one illegitimate son.

At this moment, in the main courtyard hall, in addition to the other three ladies, there were also several ladies from the side branches sitting beside them.

The group was laughing and chatting while drinking tea, and they were talking about the interesting things that had happened in the capital recently. It was very lively.

However, Xie An Ning, as a clan member, lowered her eyes and massaged her mother-in-law's shoulders and neck without saying a word.

This was the scene Wang Shaofu saw when he came in.

His eyes passed over the ladies sitting in the room, and finally fell on his wife standing behind his mother. His expression froze for a moment, almost imperceptibly.

As a result, the atmosphere in the hall also froze for a moment.

He was a close minister of the emperor and held real power. He had been a provincial governor for more than ten years. His majesty should not be underestimated. Even if he was restrained, it was enough to make people feel intimidated.

The ladies in the inner palace were always good at observing people's words and expressions. Seeing this, several of the more alert ladies from the side branches quickly stood up and said goodbye.

Wife is Qi.

Even if the love between husband and wife is over, any man would feel unhappy if he just watched his wife make fun of him.

Old Madam Wang didn't stop him. She waved her hand and waited until everyone had left before she looked at her eldest son and said angrily, "You're so arrogant! You've ruined the fun here just by coming here."

……lively.

Wang Shaofu's eyes dimmed slightly, and he stood there motionless, rarely not responding to his mother's words.

The atmosphere in the hall fell into a stalemate.

At this time, Mrs. Wang Er came to smooth things over.

"Uncle, you misunderstood," she said with a smile, "It's just that mother's shoulders are sore from sitting for so long, and we daughters-in-law all want to come forward to serve her, but only the eldest sister-in-law's service makes mother most comfortable..."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked to Old Lady Wang, intending to take Xie An Ning's hand. After being avoided, she remained calm and praised, "We were all saying just now that the eldest sister-in-law is such a virtuous person."

"Why are you saying all this?" Old Lady Wang covered her chest with her hands, looking grim. "He must be thinking I'm a wicked mother-in-law who's deliberately tormenting his wife, and he's just being so rude to me!"

"Don't be angry, mother. Uncle is the most filial person. How could he be like this?" Mrs. Wang Er hurriedly patted her mother-in-law's back, winking at Wang Shaofu while speaking.

After a long silence, Wang Shaofu finally couldn't bring himself to disobey his biological mother in front of his sisters-in-law and his wife.

He bowed and apologized, "It's my fault. I misunderstood you."

As soon as these words fell, the stagnant atmosphere in the hall suddenly eased.

"Forget it," Madam Wang's expression also relaxed, "You are my first-born child. How can a mother hold a grudge against her son? It's just..."

She cast her gaze on the eldest daughter-in-law who had remained silent, and said, "I only asked your daughter-in-law to massage your shoulders, and you feel bad about it? Well, I won't ask her to do that in the future. After all, I still have several daughters-in-law to order around."

"You're being too kind," Wang Shaofu said, "Serving my mother-in-law is a daughter-in-law's duty. How could I feel bad for her?"

After he finished speaking, Xie An Ning's drooping eyelashes trembled.

Old Lady Wang saw it all.

"I'm glad you don't feel bad about it," she smiled, smoothing out the wrinkles on her old face, and asked her son with concern, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No," Wang Shaofu said, "I still have official business to attend to."