Chapter Forty-Two: Reaching an Agreement

Looking at the invitation, Old Madam Xue did not take it at once. Instead, she smiled and asked, “Eighth girl, do you know what you’re handing to me?”

Xue Fanzhi nodded earnestly. “It’s the future of the Xue family!”

Her little face was no bigger than a palm, her hair tied up in two small tufts, yet she forced herself into an air of seriousness. She looked like a child pretending to be an adult—adorable, yes, but not exactly reliable.

Old Madam Xue couldn’t help but wonder if these words came from the child herself, or if someone had coached her.

“These invitations, were they all given to you by the princess?” Old Madam Xue asked, her mind whirring. The princess was hardly older than the eighth girl—if she had taught this to Fanzhi, then who taught the princess? And for what purpose?

Or perhaps, none of that was the case—maybe these were the little eighth girl’s own thoughts. But glancing at her “granddaughter,” Old Madam Xue quickly dismissed the idea. If Fanzhi could already scheme for the family, the Xue clan would have long since surpassed the Wang and Xie families and soared to the top! That would be harder than reaching the heavens.

Old Madam Xue very much wanted to know who was really behind all this, and what their intentions were. Yet, judging by her “granddaughter’s” appearance, the child might not even know—perhaps it was all the princess’s doing.

But since someone had made a move, she would have to respond in kind.

Old Madam Xue moved to the couch and sat down, looking at Xue Fanzhi expectantly. Fanzhi took the hint and stepped forward to stand before her.

With a cryptic expression, the old lady said, “Since you believe this is the future of the Xue family, what if I were to tell you that the future of the Xue family has little to do with me, and I don’t care what you have to say?”

Xue Fanzhi was taken aback at first, but quickly understood.

Although she had been raised under the old madam’s name, Xue Yang had been told from childhood that his biological mother was someone else.

Even Fanzhi herself knew her real grandmother lived on the estate, which meant that even when she was old enough to remember, people were still spreading rumors.

Someone was deliberately stirring up discord.

She recalled once asking her nurse about it as a child. The nurse had quickly covered her mouth and whispered, “Dear girl, you must never speak of such things again. It’s always been the master and the madam at odds, and now the third young master is left in a muddle, estranged from the madam! If he’s distant from her, naturally she’ll keep her distance too, but it does no good for him or for us!”

At that time, the head of the family was still her grandfather, and the madam was her grandmother. Xue Yang was third in the family ranking.

So it was clear her grandfather had said something to Xue Yang, causing him to drift away from Old Madam Xue, who, being strong-willed, simply couldn’t be bothered with this “son by convenience.”

If she didn’t care for her son, would she be concerned about her grandson? The eldest brother was also Xue Yang’s child!

If she cared nothing for her son or her grandson, and had reached the age where one accepts fate, why would she trouble herself with the Xue family’s future?

Yet, Fanzhi sensed that Old Madam Xue was not that kind of person—otherwise, she wouldn’t bother with her at all.

The old madam and the old master had battled all their lives. Even though he was gone, she had never forgiven him. In her past life, when she died, she instructed her nephew to place a full set of martial weapons in her burial goods, so she could continue to “fight” the old master after death. Unfortunately, Xue Yang arranged her funeral, and not only were the weapons omitted, but he moved her own chosen burial spot back, demoting her to a concubine’s place, while his own mother took what had been the old madam’s grave.

As for her family—her natal kin were already in decline, and she was well aware of it.

If she was determined to keep fighting after death, all the more reason to fight fiercely in life.

During the old master’s tenure, the Xue family had fallen into decline. But what if, under Old Madam Xue’s hand, the family flourished again?

She believed the old madam would love to see such an outcome.

“You do care. You will care!” Fanzhi blurted out anxiously.

Old Madam Xue waited for her to go on, but nothing more came.

Old Madam Xue: “…”

This child really wasn’t good with words. She couldn’t even try to persuade her—just repeating, “You will care, you will care.” But why?

Still, perhaps not being glib was a sign of good character.

Old Madam Xue felt her life had run its course: no son, no daughter, a husband who hadn’t cherished her—and died early besides, leaving her with nowhere to vent her resentment.

But what if, through her own hands, she could elevate the Xue family?

After her death, let’s see if he could still look down on her.

Of course, all these thoughts were fanciful. What truly mattered was having trustworthy people by her side in old age; otherwise, even her final affairs would be out of her control. Xue Yang was stubborn and self-willed—definitely not reliable. But Eldest Boy and Eighth Girl, whom she had watched grow up, seemed decent.

To promote Eldest Boy was to promote Eighth Girl as well, and as their grandmother, she might benefit too. Besides, the invitations had already been arranged—she had nothing to lose.

Only now did Old Madam Xue finally take the invitation, smiling as she said, “You have many sisters. A person stands strong in the world only because they have family behind them. So, no matter what, the first people you should think of are your family.”

Then, in a softer voice, she added, “Even if you don’t believe that in your heart, you must never show it. Never, at any time, give others something to use against you.”

Xue Fanzhi pondered this and asked, “In this respect, have I given anyone such an opening?”

She was someone who could be sold off by her own parents.

Old Madam Xue saw that her face, so fair and clear, showed no resentment, only helplessness—clearly a child with a large heart. All she could do was smile in resignation.

The two chatted a bit more about flowers and plants, when a second-rank maidservant entered.

After glancing at Xue Fanzhi, she announced, “Old Madam, the old lady from the third branch is here, bringing Fifth Girl, and the old ancestor from the fourth branch has come with Fourth and Sixth Girls.”

Seeing the old madam nod, she continued, “The old lady from the third branch is in a foul mood—she seems to be here to cause trouble!”

Old Madam Xue tucked the invitation beneath a small cushion on the side table and said, “Let them in.”

Soon, the four women entered in succession.

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Girls were juniors, so they greeted Old Madam Xue first.

Xue Fanzhi had always disliked the old lady from the third branch, but recalling her grandmother’s words, she rose and paid her respects to both the old ladies from the third and fourth branches, as well as to her sisters. Fourth and Sixth Girls responded promptly, while Fifth Girl hesitated before returning the courtesy.

After the pleasantries, the old lady from the third branch sneered, “The sun must have risen in the west today—Little Eight actually took the initiative to greet people? Now that you’ve gotten in good with your grandmother, even your temperament has changed.”

So that’s why Fifth Girl had hesitated, Fanzhi realized. She was just a bit blunt and not fond of talking, but Fanzhi was certain that even if she was taciturn, she was always proper before elders.

The old lady’s words were sharp, even dragging Old Madam Xue into it, as if calling her sly.

Yet Xue Fanzhi did not take offense. She smiled and replied, “Grandmother has always taught me to be respectful. I don’t know how I’ve been disrespectful to Third Great Aunt? Haven’t I always greeted you? As for currying favor—if not with my own grandmother, should I try to curry favor with strangers outside the family?”

Both the third and fourth branches had already gone through the mourning period.

The old lady from the third branch was left speechless for a moment, snorted, and sat down.

Old Madam Xue reached out and had Fanzhi sit behind her, to which Fanzhi obediently agreed, knowing that from here onward, what happened next was no longer her concern.