The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

Hua Sirong, the culprit, naturally couldn't escape some difficulties either. "Miss Rong, if you want to befriend noble ladies, you can do so in private."

"If it weren't for your 'sharing the food' thing today, the young ladies wouldn't have given Granny Wu and me such a good show."

In an instant, the young ladies, led by Jin Yaoyao, all looked at Hua Sirong, their expressions filled with both open and subtle reproach.

The three sisters-in-law of the Shen family, who were eavesdropping outside the school, turned pale and then red with embarrassment.

Today, the two nannies are giving their first lessons. Their original intention was to visit and show their respect, and also to see the skill level of the nannies from the palace.

Little did they know they would witness such a spectacle, which utterly disgraced the Marquis's mansion and caused the teachers who had previously taught music, chess, calligraphy, and painting in the mansion to lose face as well.

The Shen family members were now in a dilemma, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Finally, to avoid embarrassment, they had to instruct the servants outside to pretend that the women had never been there.

Whether it's self-deception or not, it's all about saving face for both sides.

The three sisters-in-law walked out of the school, each with a more unpleasant expression than the last.

Jin naturally wouldn't blame her niece, so she turned her anger towards Hua Sirong.

At this moment, Madam Zhan stood up and said something fair: "Third sister-in-law, you can't just see the faults of others."

Do you think we don't know what kind of person your niece is? We're family.

When Rongjie first came to the school, she shared some food with her sisters. What was wrong with that?

With so many people in the school, why is it that only Yao Yatou is the one who jumps out and talks nonsense?

If she hadn't been so quick to find fault, none of this would have happened.

Seeing that Jin had shut up, she then said to Shen, "No matter what, it's a fact that the two old women made a fool of themselves in front of us today."

But there's something more important right now. Yao'er's words were unrestrained and could be considered an insult to the noble ladies of the palace. This matter isn't a huge issue, but it's not insignificant either; it all depends on how the two matrons handle it.

Only then did Jin begin to feel fear and look to her two sisters-in-law for help.

Madam Shen couldn't help but find Madam Zhan more pleasing to the eye, and considerately took Madam Zhan's hand, "With you by my side watching over me at all times, I have no worries about not being able to manage this household properly."

I know your concerns. The servants are very good at keeping their mouths shut. I just had Granny Zhang give them a talking-to.

As for the children, they are not five or six-year-old children. They understand what they should and shouldn't say.

If you're still worried, wait until they're done with school and then go back to your rooms to give them a talking-to, warning them not to say anything that could cause trouble.

As for the two other nannies, I will later present them with generous gifts to show my sincerity. Our Consort Zhaoyi has been kind to Granny Wu, so there's no need to worry about her. Only Granny Yan is a bit of a problem.”

Seeing that her two sisters-in-law had made up their minds, Jin dared to speak up again, "That Granny Yan, to put it bluntly, is just a servant."

"She came to our residence, and we treated her with great courtesy out of respect. Today, however, she went and ridiculed each of our young ladies over such a trivial matter."

Jin didn't say one more thing: If you look down on the girls in our household, then don't go begging Consort Zhao to come to my house.

Do you really think that just because someone comes from the palace, they're something special?

Although Shen and Zhan inwardly agreed with Jin, they could not show it outwardly.

Madam Zhan said, "It seems that this Granny Yan is quite capable, otherwise Consort Zhao would not have sent people to her maiden home so casually."

This time, Madam Shen generously answered their questions, "I heard that this Granny Yan once served the Dowager Consort and now wants to leave the palace to find a place to retire."

The Imperial Concubine Zhaoyi gave a definite answer: this Granny Yan is looking for a young master in our household whom she gets along with, someone who will care for her in her old age and see her to her death.

At first, Madam Shen did not reveal this, naturally thinking that if this Granny Yan was capable, she would leave the person to her seventh daughter.

After all, the Sixth Miss has two nannies, so there's no reason for her legitimate seventh daughter to be outshone.

This was her own selfish reason, and of course she couldn't let her other two sisters-in-law know.

The only reason she's willing to share the news so openly now is because of what Granny Yan did today.

Regardless of the motive, it was really unpleasant. It offended all the masters and servants of the Marquis's mansion. I don't know what they were after.

Jin spoke frankly, revealing what Shen was thinking: "If we really invite this Granny Yan back, I'm afraid I'll be inviting a tyrant instead of a governess."

She dressed up even more grandly than the old lady.

Lady Zhan was somewhat tempted, after all, she had served the Dowager Consort, so how could she not have some skills?

Her fourth daughter had a somewhat eccentric temper. She only behaved better when her mother kept her in check.

But judging from how well she gets along with the Third Miss, she's definitely not an easy person to deal with.

Madam Shen didn't mind letting them run into obstacles, "Anyway, Consort Zhao's people said that we can't make decisions for that Granny Yan."

"If any of you have the ability to make that person look at you differently, just invite that old woman, Granny Yan, home from the girls' school."

Regardless of whether it works out or not, Ms. Zhan expressed her gratitude in advance.

Although Jin was somewhat intimidated by Granny Yan, she joined in the fun for the sake of the Fifth Miss.

-----

After what Granny Yan did, everyone in the girls' school dared not be as casual and unrestrained as before, and they all became extremely well-behaved.

After school ended, Granny Wu asked Granny Yan in private.

"What are you thinking, old woman? Weren't you planning to pick one of them to take care of you in your old age? You've offended them all today. I think your later years will be miserable."

Granny Yan's usually stern face showed no sign of softening at this moment. "Isn't that a good thing? They all look down on me, which only highlights your good qualities."

I see everyone will be vying to take care of you in your old age; you're getting blind, so don't get overwhelmed by the choices."

Granny Wu was a kind-faced old woman. The two were old acquaintances from the palace, so she wasn't angry. "Considering that you took care of me in the palace before, I'll be able to share some leftovers with you when I'm eating and drinking well with the young master."

Granny Yan's lips twitched, and she turned her head away, ignoring her.

She had her own plans.

Granny Wu, however, was still not giving up and continued to ask, "When you served the nobles in the palace, you were used to being cautious and careful. How come you suddenly lost your composure when you first came to the Marquis's mansion?"

This isn't like the old woman I know.

Granny Yan paused in her work. "People change. Besides, the Marquis's mansion isn't the palace; it won't take our lives."

Granny Wu exclaimed in amazement, "In my lifetime, I can see you, Old Man Yan, let down your guard? I just can't believe it."