The Fallen Medicine Woman: The Daily Life of Chun Nuan-Chapter 182 - 140: Bad Temper

In the Jiang family of the Minister’s Mansion, a group of women were enjoying a lively banquet when someone whispered, "Mrs. Xia is here."

The previously joyful banquet hall suddenly fell quiet.

The guests were all waiting to see the General Mansion’s drama unfold.

Indeed, everyone knew how demanding Mrs. Xia was when choosing a daughter-in-law back in the day. She scrutinized family background, talent, looks, and insisted on matching horoscopes.

Who knew her picks always ended in tragedy, one died, then another, with the third unable to escape a similar fate.

For a time, the young ladies of the Capital’s noble families approached General Xia with reverence but kept their distance.

They admired him yet feared being admired by him.

Fancied marrying him but dared not to.

Some daring families tried to use their illegitimate daughters to exchange for wealth and glory, but Mrs. Xia refused.

She refused an illegitimate daughter even if untouched, ultimately receiving an imperial betrothal from the Emperor himself. The bride offered was the former wife of the Wu family, who even had a child in tow.

Today, coming to the banquet, Mrs. Xia likely couldn’t maintain her composure.

Some ladies harboring grudges against Mrs. Xia thought to themselves: Finally, here comes the chance to taunt her that I’ve waited for so long. Today, I’ll return her disdain twofold.

"Mrs. Xia, this way please." Madam Jiang led Mrs. Xia into the banquet hall. "Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Wang are already here."

"It seems I’m a bit late."

"Not at all, just in time. Please!"

Mrs. Xia nodded, holding Panpan’s little hand as they walked in.

"Come along, dear granddaughter, Grandma will take you to see the bride."

"Alright, Panpan wants to see the bride and eat her wedding sweets."

"Little glutton, your mother warned not to eat too much candy, saying too much will hurt your teeth."

"They don’t hurt, but my heart will hurt if I don’t eat any."

"You child..." Old Mrs. Xia laughed heartily, "How is it that you’re so endearing?"

The women were suddenly shocked to hear Old Mrs. Xia’s laughter.

Everyone knew Mrs. Xia had spent twenty years with Old General Xia at the border, usually stern without a smile. Hearing such cheerful laughter, they were curious: Who could make Mrs. Xia laugh like this?

"Whose child is that? So adorable."

Someone keen-eyed noticed the child holding Mrs. Xia’s hand.

"You don’t know, do you? That’s the child brought by the newly married General’s wife from the General Mansion. How lucky is General Xia, marrying one and getting another."

Saying this, they chuckled gleefully.

The crowd... that comment was truly malicious. Who could portray a tag-along so brilliantly? It was like rubbing the Xia Mansion’s face in the dirt.

Hopefully, Mrs. Xia didn’t hear it, considering her fiery temper, she might act on impulse.

Really, of all people, never mess with Mrs. Xia!

"Auntie, your words stink, really bad odor. Oh dear, you don’t rinse your mouth, you only eat but don’t release; your belly is full of stool; you just fart..."

Mrs. Xia was shocked looking at Panpan, the child who always spoke charmingly, blurting nonsense without restraint was unprecedented, and the most crucial part was humiliating Mrs. Zhang publicly.

This child... never mind, her dear granddaughter, whatever trouble, she’ll handle it.

She didn’t intend to scold, but she asked for it, and her granddaughter’s doing the scolding. Somehow, Mrs. Xia felt a bit relieved.

"How dare you speak like this, where’s this brat from? Spouting nonsense..."

Mrs. Zhang’s face turned white and then red, a rather striking sight, yet she didn’t forget to counterattack.

"Lixia, slap her."

"Yes, madam."

Lixia dashed forward in a flash, and before anyone saw clearly, crisp slaps echoed.

Two slaps on each side, Lixia swiftly retreated back to Mrs. Xia.

"Ow, ow..."

Mrs. Zhang clutched her face and screamed repeatedly, the crowd didn’t dare breathe a word.

Madam Jiang, hearing the commotion, quickly came over.

"Mrs. Xia..."

At her age, her fiery temper hadn’t lessened at all, acting without hesitation, worthy of being a General’s wife.

To be honest, Mrs. Zhang was foolish. As a fourth-rank, you publicly speak against a second-rank official lady, getting hit would be in vain!

"Madam Jiang, I apologize. I can’t bear any grievances, and my dear granddaughter is a treasure I won’t allow anyone to defame." Mrs. Xia spoke apologetically, but her face showed no expression.

Although acting at a joyful occasion at the Minister’s Mansion was inappropriate, so what?

Among them, none had a status comparable to hers.

If she wants to be willful, so what?

Back in the day, when the Old General was around, he pampered her, her spoiled nature was long cultivated. If anyone objects, they can go find the Old General.

Indeed, before marrying, she had her father the Duke dote on her; twenty years with the Xia family guarding the frontier, Old General Xia cherished her; when the General perished, she and her son went to battle, the son achieved glorious feats, retreating to become the Lady of the House. Now her son’s status in the Capital is also highly esteemed.

With such a family, can they permit a fifth-rank official’s wife to defame Panpan’s status?

"Indeed, as Mrs. Xia said correctly, this must be the young lady of your esteemed family?"

Madam Jiang hadn’t shown much warmth to Panpan before, partly due to being busy, partly unsure of Mrs. Xia’s preferences. If she liked the compliment, fine, but if not, it would backfire.

Until she understood the situation, she wouldn’t get involved in disputes.

Now it seemed, she needed to lay some groundwork.

"Correct, this is the Xia family’s lady, not young lady, she’s the eldest." Mrs. Xia directly bent down and picked up Panpan, "Panpan, greet Madam Jiang."

"Hello, Madam Jiang, how beautiful you are."

"Oh, this child, how sweet-tongued."

Who doesn’t like being called beautiful, especially when complimented by a child, it’s genuinely heartfelt. Madam Jiang was quite pleased, yet realized, oh dear, the meeting gift prepared had already been given to other children.

She promptly took off the jade bracelet from her hand.

"Here, take this as a gift. You’re a pretty little girl too."

"Thank you, Madam Jiang, but Panpan can’t accept it. Panpan can’t benefit without merit, moreover, this bracelet is meant for the future daughter-in-law, Panpan is too young for it."

She liked the bracelet, indeed once saying it would be given to her future daughter-in-law.

Madam Jiang was stunned. How did she know?

The key was, she understood to refuse. Such a small child, evidently untaught, how did she figure it out?

"Mrs. Xia, the young lady is..."

"Thank you, Madam Jiang, for your affection towards my granddaughter." Mrs. Xia also thought accepting such a bracelet was inappropriate. "Madam Jiang can later provide a suitable gift for my granddaughter."

Not rejecting her gift, but the gift was too significant, the General Mansion didn’t wish to owe such a favor.

"Alright." Madam Jiang also felt it unsuitable now, promptly telling her attendant, "Go fetch the blessing knot from my storeroom to give to the Xia family’s eldest, such a good child should have a life of peace and prosperity."