Ling Qingwan was not willing to be outdone and immediately retorted.
Ling Chuchu was not as eloquent as Ling Qingwan, and she was not in the right, so she was speechless.
"Grandma!" Ling Chuchu turned to look at Old Madam Ling.
Madam Ling is the most prestigious person in the Ling family after all. Even if Ling Qingwan doesn't give her face, she still has to respect Madam Ling. Grasping at the straw, Ling Chuchu pretended to be aggrieved, waiting for Madam Ling to give her justice.
"I think that since your mother is in charge of the affairs of the mansion, I would like to take them back temporarily. I should ask your mother for her opinion, right? When did the Ling family split up? Did you and your mother go to the general's mansion with your whole body and soul?" Old Madam Ling spoke slowly to Ling Qingwan.
Ling Chuchu was extremely proud. She raised her head slightly, waiting to see Ling Qingwan make a fool of herself.
The Ling Mansion originally belonged to Old Madam Ling. If she wanted to get back the household supplies, why did she have to go through Ling Qingwan
"Grandma, what you said makes sense." Ling Qingwan nodded, as if agreeing with what Old Madam Ling said.
Seeing that Ling Qingwan seemed to be giving in, Old Madam Ling and Ling Chuchu could no longer suppress their laughter.
"Then wait for my mother to come back and then you can tell her." Ling Qingwan then added slowly.
After hearing this, the smiles on the faces of the two people opposite them suddenly stopped.
Just now Ling Qingwan said that Ling Shen was not feeling well and might have to stay in the general's mansion for a while. Now she asked Old Madam Ling and Ling Chuchu to wait.
The two of them are not fools, especially Madam Ling. She has lived in the world for decades and she knows how to think.
Ling Qingwan had signed a headless agreement with them, and the promises she made now would have no effect at all.
She said she would wait for Ling Shenshi to come back, but what if Ling Shenshi's health didn't improve in half a year or a year? She couldn't force Ling Shenshi to come back, lest it get out and she would be accused of taking advantage of her age.
But Ling Qingwan's words were completely in line with her, and Old Madam Ling couldn't refute it. As a last resort, she could only agree to Ling Qingwan on the surface.
Ling Qingwan was in a good mood. After dinner, she left the hall contentedly and returned to the backyard.
"Grandma! Look how arrogant Ling Qingwan is!"
Seeing Ling Qingwan walking away, Ling Chuchu couldn't help it anymore and stomped her feet in anger.
"I didn't expect Ling Qingwan to be so arrogant. If I want to take back the household supplies from the mansion, I have to discuss it with her." Old Madam Ling snorted coldly.
Ling Chuchu was not convinced, and so was she. Ling Qingwan's arrogant look just now seemed like he was determined to ride on her head.
Madam Ling has always been worshipped by others. She has never felt so aggrieved.
"That's because the Madam is soft-hearted. As long as you ask her, she will agree to any request, no matter how excessive it is. Unlike Ling Qingwan, who is used to living in the countryside and has learned the petty manners of the market. She speaks and acts rudely and doesn't give people face." Ling Chuchu pouted. She really didn't have a good impression of Ling Qingwan at all.
“Yawn!”
Ling Qingwan was walking on the road when she suddenly sneezed.
Qiao'er quickly put clothes on Ling Qingwan.
"It's cold at night these days, so please take care of yourself and don't catch a cold, which won't heal easily."
"I know." Ling Qingwan said gently.
Back in the room, Qiaoer boiled some hot water and helped Ling Qingwan take a bath.
The wooden barrel was filled with clear water at just the right temperature, with rose petals floating on top, which smelled very good. Ling Qingwan leaned against the edge of the barrel, closed her eyes, and rested quietly for a while.
Qiao'er was also well-behaved. Seeing Ling Qingwan was resting, she didn't say anything, but just quietly rubbed Ling Qingwan's shoulders and back.
"Qiao'er."
Suddenly, Ling Qingwan called Qiao'er.
"I'm here." Qiao'er replied.
"Take my jade pendant to the accounting office tomorrow and retrieve all the accounts of the mansion for the past six months. If they refuse, tell them my name." Ling Qingwan gave Qiao'er a task.
"I'll remember that." Qiao'er nodded in agreement.
Thinking of what Old Madam Ling said to Ling Qingwan in the hall at night, Qiao'er felt a little puzzled.
"Miss, are you going to sort out the accounts and give them to the old lady?"
But the young lady clearly said in front of the old lady and Ling Chuchu that she would not return the gifts. Qiao'er didn't understand what she was saying.
"No." Ling Qingwan answered without hesitation. "I want these accounts to settle accounts."
Actually, Qiao'er still didn't understand what was said. But at least she knew that Ling Qingwan didn't want to hand over the affairs of the mansion to Old Madam Ling.
"Do you know why grandma and Ling Chuchu are suddenly so persistent and want to go back to the mansion to take care of the household?" Ling Qingwan simply started chatting with Qiao'er.
Qiao'er thought about it for a long time, but couldn't figure it out, and finally shook her head.
"Everyone in the capital knows that when my mother married my father, she had the largest dowry. No other woman in Dai Yue had gotten married as gloriously as my mother. Unfortunately, my father was not a good person and my mother was kind-hearted. Within two years, she was persuaded to confiscate her dowry." Ling Qingwan told the story.
"The Ling family is now in decline, my father's salary is not as good as before, and he didn't save any money before. Putting aside my mother's dowry, the Ling family has no money at all. Grandmother and Ling Chuchu don't know these things, they only see the little money they have on hand every month. Now Ling Chuchu is engaged to the eldest prince, and she may get married at any time. Grandmother loves Ling Chuchu so much, so naturally she wants to prepare a better dowry for Ling Chuchu."
It's really interesting to think that Ling Chuchu could have married Song Zhiqing and become the Crown Princess, but ended up willingly becoming the Crown Prince's concubine.
According to Ling Chuchu's temperament, if being with Song Zhicheng didn't bring more benefits, how could she be willing to be a concubine.
"I understand!" Qiao'er suddenly realized. "The old lady wants to use the lady's dowry to give to the eldest lady as a dowry!"
"That's what I mean." Ling Qingwan nodded.
"Madam's dowry is her own. I have never seen the old lady and the eldest daughter treat her well. Apart from other things, Madam has supported the eldest daughter for many years. Now they are starting to covet Madam's money."
Even Qiao'er, a little maid watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but despise the way Old Madam Ling and Ling Chuchu behaved.
"So, how could I let them succeed?" Ling Qingwan sneered.
"Miss did the right thing! You should take back Madam's dowry. If Miss wants to have a grand wedding, just use the Ling Mansion's money." Qiao'er pouted.
How much money could the Ling family have? Without the support of Ling Shenshi, they would all be left with nothing.
Ling Qingwan felt disdainful. As she was talking, she felt a little tired, so she got up, packed up and went to bed.
At this time, the East Palace.
In the main hall, a candle was brightly lit.
Song Zhiqing sat at the desk, gesturing on the paper, and no one could see clearly what he was writing.
Chang'an was guarding the door. When he saw Empress Xu coming, he hurried forward to pay his respects.
Empress Xu raised her hand and motioned Chang'an to get up.
"How is the prince feeling?" she asked, looking into the hall.
"To reply to the Queen, it's still the same as before."