Chapter 221: Shame

 Chapter 221: Shame

In the Songhe Courtyard,

Old Madam Yan sat calmly, showing no signs of joy or anger, as she carefully trimmed the green chrysanthemums and red plums on the table with a small pair of scissors. After finishing one pot, she had Grandma Sun move it away. 

Below her, Yan Zhigao fidgeted uneasily, occasionally looking up at his mother, feeling a growing unease in his heart.

Although he was already past thirty and had become a fifth-rank Prefect Magistrate, facing his silent, serious mother still made him feel immense pressure. 

His mother had lost her husband early and had raised them alone. Her temper had been rather harsh in the past, and when she was upset, he knew he couldn’t handle her wrath.

It wasn’t until Old Madam Yan finished trimming all the pots that she finally put down her scissors and looked slowly at her eldest son, asking in a calm voice, "Sending the child to my courtyard, was that your idea or Lin Shi's?"

Yan Zhigao, relieved that his mother had spoken, hurriedly responded, "It was Lin’s suggestion, but after thinking about it, I realized that the children in the family are always busy with their lessons and rarely have time to talk to you. I thought you might be feeling lonely, so..."

Old Madam Yan interrupted him, "So you want to send a child to my courtyard just to pass the time for me?"

Yan Zhigao awkwardly nodded.

Old Madam Yan snorted, "They say children are like flesh and blood from their mother. Your concubine is quite generous. The child hasn’t even been born for a few days, and she’s already eager to send it to me."

Yan Zhigao, catching the sarcasm in his mother’s words, couldn’t help but defend his concubine, "She’s just trying to show filial piety, thinking that you’re lonely..."

Old Madam Yan, clearly impatient, waved her hand to cut him off, "Filial piety? I already have three proper daughters-in-law. Do I need a little concubine to show me filial piety? It’s just the two of us here. If your wife and your other two sisters-in-law hear this, they’d scold you for sure."

"If she’s showing filial piety by sending the child, then what about the third wife? When she gave birth to Wen Cheng last year, didn’t she send him here? Wouldn’t that mean she’s unfilial?"

Yan Zhigao froze. He hadn’t considered that.

Old Madam Yan shot him a sideways glance, "And tell me, where did you see that I’m lonely?"

Yan Zhigao glanced around at all the potted plants in his mother’s room, each one well-maintained, brimming with vitality.

Clearly, his mother had spent a lot of time tending to them.

At this moment, a sudden voice interrupted the tension.

"Not lonely, not lonely, the Old Madam isn’t lonely!"

Yan Zhigao stiffened and turned his head toward the parrot perched on the window sill.

Old Madam Yan stood up, smiling, and walked over to the parrot with a plate of peeled sunflower seeds, placing a generous amount into the parrot's dish.

When the parrot immediately bent down to peck at the seeds, she laughed, "Clearly, like owner, like pet. Daohua’s a foodie, and you’re a little foodie too."

Daohua had worried about Old Madam Yan feeling lonely, so she had brought the parrot over early in the morning to keep her company and cheer her up. 

"Old Madam Yan’s a foodie too! Foodies are the best, great for health, everything tastes good!"

Seeing how quickly her mother was cheered up by the parrot, Yan Zhigao’s face grew more embarrassed.

Old Madam Yan teased the parrot for a while, then sat back down, took a sip of tea, and spoke in a soft tone, "I can guess what your concubine is thinking. Let me ask you, do you really believe she’s just showing filial piety?"

Yan Zhigao opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but the words stuck in his throat.

He did know what Lin’s intentions were, but seeing her lying weakly in bed, with pleading eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her.

Old Madam Yan sneered, "How you treat your concubine is your business, but Zhigao, the political world is dangerous, and the inner courtyard isn’t any less turbulent. Don’t let your own selfish desires disturb the peace of the family."

"If Lin Shi were a well-behaved woman, it’d be fine, but she’s a schemer. She doesn’t just want your favor; she’s also eyeing Li’s position. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that?"

Yan Zhigao furrowed his brows, remaining silent for a long while before finally standing and bowing to his mother, "Mother, I was wrong."

Old Madam Yan fixed him with a steady gaze, "I hope you truly understand. Everything in the Yan family isn’t just thanks to you alone. Don’t alienate people’s hearts."

"Also, you must know that the children are growing up, and they’ll begin to think more and more. If you go too far, it’ll only drive a wedge between the siblings."

"After all, they are not even siblings born of the same mother. Don't expect the children to be truly close and loving with each other."

"People need to know their place. Don't let Wenbin and Yishuang develop inappropriate thoughts."

"One of the greatest mistakes a person can make is to covet what doesn't belong to them. Once that thought is in their heart, it only leads to harm for both themselves and others."

Yan Zhigao's expression became serious. He had indeed been careless about matters in the inner courtyard.

Grandmother Yan continued, "By the way, I heard that Lin Shi's premature birth was because she pushed Liu Shi first. Liu Shi hadn't done anything, and Lin Shi just fell to the ground on her own."

Yan Zhigao immediately wanted to defend Lin Shi, but Grandmother Yan didn’t want to hear his explanation. She spoke to herself instead.

"As for the matters in the inner courtyard, leave them to Li Shi to handle. You're a grown man, but your understanding of women’s schemes is still too limited. You're easily fooled by their delicate appearances and don’t realize that some women will do anything when they’re pushed too far."

"Li Shi is gentle, virtuous, and considerate. Even though her thoughts are often focused on her own children, she’s not a heartless person. I trust her to manage the inner courtyard for you, and you should also place some trust in her."

Yan Zhigao was silent for a moment and then bowed. "I will follow my mother's command."

After speaking for a long time, Grandmother Yan seemed a little tired and waved her hand. "Go on."

"Then, Mother, please rest well."

Yan Zhigao turned to leave. Just as he stepped out the door, he heard the voice of Grandmother Yan.

"In my life, I’ve exhausted my energy raising them, bringing up the four siblings. I could say I’ve lived for them all this time. Now, they’ve all married and made their own careers, and I can say I’ve fulfilled my duty to their late father and the ancestors of the Yan family."

"As for me, being able to live this long and strong is all thanks to that girl, Daohua. These extra years, I want to live more freely. Things at home are getting better, but with that comes more worries."

Then, came the voice of Sun Ma.

"Old Madam, but isn't the eldest madam in charge of the household? You should just enjoy yourself."

Grandmother Yan replied, "Li Shi is a good woman, and she’s filial. She never brings up the household troubles in front of me. She arranges everything for me, from food to clothing, perfectly. But it’s my own son who troubles me. I must have owed them in my past life."

"I raised all four of them, but that’s not enough. Now they’re sending their own children to me. Am I their wet nurse? Don’t they know how much effort it takes to raise a child? They think every child is as endearing as Daohua. They must think I’m living too comfortably and are deliberately making trouble for me."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhigao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Embarrassed, he fled as if trying to escape.

He was truly unfilial. He had been prompted by Lin Shi to go to his mother, without considering whether his so-called filial piety was actually not something she needed.

(End of this chapter)