Lian Manman calmly directed her gaze at Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou was a proud person who would never admit to her own mistakes. Not only that, but even when she knew she was wrong, she would brazenly shift the blame onto others. Lian Manman was curious as to what Lady Zhou would say to them after making Lady He the scapegoat.

Lian Manman’s eyes shone brightly; although Lady Zhou was getting on in years, her eyesight was still good. Thus, in the dim light, their eyes met.

Lady Zhou quickly averted her gaze, unconsciously touching her chest, realizing she felt somewhat short of breath and guilty. She was infuriated that she had been pushed to this point by a mere girl, and she immediately wanted to burst out with curses. However, eventually, reason prevailed; if she cursed now, all her previous efforts would have been in vain.

"...Don’t learn the good but the bad, the slyness of a needle’s point," Lady Zhou forcefully swallowed her bile before speaking again.

Because she feared Lian Manman might say something again, Lady Zhou tried to use more peaceful words. Making groundless accusations of pettiness against Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, the implication was quite interesting.

"Mother, I really hadn’t planned to say much about this matter, it’s just..." Lian Shouxin paused. If Lian Shouyi hadn’t pried, this issue wouldn’t have come out into the open. "Let’s leave the matter as it is, we will not mention it again in the future," he said.

Lady Zhang also nodded in agreement.

Lady Zhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she could still control her fourth son, but then she looked up and saw Lian Manman leaning against Lady Zhang; mother and daughter were looking at each other and smiling.

A wave of malicious anger suddenly flared up in Lady Zhou’s heart.

"Old Fourth, you’re now the head of your own household, don’t be so soft that others can manipulate you. You need to act like a master, not let everyone do as they please without regard to rules or respect..." Lady Zhou’s voice was once again full of anger.

"It’s getting late; let’s all rest," Old Master Lian, who had been silent all along, suddenly interrupted Lady Zhou.

Only then did Lian Manman notice that Old Master Lian had smoked two pouches of tobacco by that time; the area near the kang was shrouded in smoke.

"Father, mother, you should rest early, we’re heading back," Lian Shouxin stood up.

Everyone filed out of the Upper Room, back to the West Wing Room.

No sooner had they entered the room than Lady Zhao came over with Lian Yeye. Lady Zhao apologized to Lady Zhang, saying that Lady Zhou had sent her and Lian Yeye out, preventing them from helping Lady Zhang look after the home.

"...I said I could go alone, but her nanny insisted on having Yeye come along. There was nothing I could do..."

"It’s fine." Lady Zhang hurriedly said with a smile. Lady Zhao, who lived under Lady Zhou’s authority, dared not disobey her commands.

"This kang can’t fit anyone to sleep tonight," Lady Zhao touched the kang mat and said, "why don’t you come squeeze into my room?"

"No need," Lady Zhang thought for a moment but still shook her head in refusal. "We can make do and squeeze a bit at the edge of the kang for the few of us."

Old Master Lian suggested that Lian Manman and the rest should sleep in the Upper Room, but with Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu in a bad mood, it would be better not to ask for trouble. The rooms of the big house, the second, and the third room were also cramped; Lady Zhang decided they would make do in their own room for the night.

"The edge of the kang surely can’t fit everyone," Lady Zhao said.

"I’ll find some wooden boards and set up something on the ground," Lian Shouxin said.

"Right," Lady Zhang nodded.

Lian Shouxin went out to find wooden boards, and Lian Shouli also came over to help. They used some long benches as legs for a bed, laid several wooden boards on top, and set up a temporary bed. Lady Zhang brought out some bedding and laid it on top.

Xiao Qi, who loved new things, climbed up and jumped around.

"It’s very sturdy; I want to sleep on this," Xiao Qi said happily.

"Okay, you sleep on the bed with dad," Lian Shouxin laughed.

"I want to sleep on the bed too," Wu Lang also said.

"Fine, you three gentlemen sleep on the bed, and we three ladies will sleep on the kang," Lady Zhang declared.

After they divided up the sleeping arrangements, night had fallen completely. Just as everyone was getting ready for bed, they heard the door outside being banged open with a thud.

"Forgot to bolt the door," Lady Zhang said.

"The third brother and his family haven’t slept yet," Lian Shouxin said.

They lived with Lian Shouli’s family of three in the West Wing Room; the outer door was usually closed by whoever went to bed last. In the past, before the family divided, they often didn’t even bolt the door.

No sooner had Lian Shouxin finished speaking than their room was also pushed open.

"Why didn’t you light a lamp?" Lady He burst into the room and said loudly.

"Ah, it’s second sister-in-law. We were all about to sleep, so we didn’t light the lamp," as Lady Zhang said this, she had already found a candlestick and lit the candle with a tinderbox.