Grandmother Xu

After Long Hanchun left, Long Lengyue said to Xiaojing, “Xiaojing, go to the eldest madam and give her the two taels of silver owed to her. If she asks about me, just tell her I’m tired from the journey and not feeling well, so I’m resting.” Xiaojing nodded and went out.

Xiaoyun’er noticed how pale Long Lengyue looked as she spoke, as if she was deeply troubled inside. Xiaoyun’er wondered what was wrong—there was no trace of a smile on her face. Was she upset about something? Then it struck her: of course, anyone would feel uneasy handing over so much silver at once.

But Xiaoyun’er did not realize that what truly vexed Long Lengyue was not the money, but her reluctance to see the eldest madam of the Long family.

The eldest madam—she was Madame Xu, the wife of Long Wei. Ambitious and competitive, she prided herself on her talent. Yet no matter how much others respected or feared her, those in the inner circle of the Long family were well aware that her status could not compare to that of the elder sister.

This elder sister, Long Hanchun, managed all the financial affairs of the Long family, both internal and external, including the vast expenses of the Long family’s war against the Bai family. Most of the silver in Madame Xu’s hands came from the elder sister, and it was Madame Xu’s responsibility to distribute it as allowances for the family members.

Naturally, Madame Xu was well aware she fell short of her sister-in-law, which was a bitter pill for someone so determined to outshine others. Time and time again, she tried to seize more power from her, but the Old Matriarch, knowing Madame Xu’s limitations, refused to entrust Hanchun’s duties to her, assigning her only the trivial matters of household management.

Madame Xu was far from content with this arrangement. She thought, even if she couldn’t seize all the power, it would be good to have at least a part of it. Eventually, she found her opportunity—the third Long-Eagle War.

(The war between the Long family and the Bai family’s White Eagle faction, both founders of the Heavenly Eagle Sect.)

For this war, the Long family not only contributed huge manpower but also drained its finances. That year, the family treasury ran short, and they struggled to cover household expenses.

Madame Xu devised a way: bypassing the elder sister, she directly levied fees from Long family members engaged in business outside the clan. For example, the Ninth Lady had to not only deliver a large quota of silver to the elder sister, as previously required, but also pay a separate sum to Madame Xu.

Thus, the silver collected by the elder sister was mostly spent on the war against the Bai family and strengthening the Long family’s power, while Madame Xu’s funds were used for the daily living expenses of family members. As a result, the Ninth Lady not only had Xiaojing deliver twenty-eight thousand taels of silver to the elder sister, but also had to hand over a certain amount to Madame Xu.

Xing’er, after conversing with Long Lengyue for a while, said, “Ninth Sister, you should rest for a bit. I’ll go to the kitchen and ask them to bring us something delicious. We two sisters will have a good meal together.” With that, Xing’er left.

Now only the Ninth Lady and Xiaoyun’er remained in the room. The Ninth Lady seemed preoccupied, sitting in silence. Xiaoyun’er wanted to speak, but for a moment couldn’t think of what to say, so she stood and began to examine the furnishings of the room.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Several people approached, led by a dignified noblewoman in her early forties, exuding an air of authority.

This was the Old Matriarch’s eldest daughter-in-law, Madame Xu—the wife of Long Wei. Behind her followed Xiaojing and two of her trusted maids.

Madame Xu, always eager to display her status and grandeur, never went out without at least two maids, and sometimes a dozen or more.

Upon seeing the Ninth Lady, Madame Xu smiled and said, “Ninth Sister, you’ve returned! Why didn’t you send word ahead? If you had, I could have asked Feng’er and the others to welcome you.”

The Ninth Lady smiled in return. “Thank you for your concern, Eldest Sister-in-law. Since I’m coming home, there’s no need for such formalities. It’s just that Yue’er was thoughtless and didn’t come to greet you upon arrival.”

Madame Xu replied, “You must be tired from your journey these past days. It’s only right for me to check on you. Besides, it’s been so long since we last met—I have much to say to you.”

As she spoke, Madame Xu signaled with her eyes, and her two maids quickly bowed and withdrew, with Xiaojing following them out.

Xiaoyun’er felt uneasy at this, uncertain whether to follow Xiaojing or stay with the Ninth Lady; caught in indecision, he hesitated.

Noticing Xiaoyun’er still standing there, Madame Xu was puzzled. When she first entered, she had assumed he was a manservant. Yet now, with everyone else gone and him still lingering, she asked, “Ninth Sister, who is this boy? Why is he just standing here?”

The Ninth Lady replied, “He’s a close friend of mine. Is it alright if he stays here?”

“Of course,” Madame Xu answered, “but as your friend, it would be more proper for him to wait in the parlor. It’s not appropriate for him to be in your private rooms—what would people say if word got out? Why don’t I have someone show him to the parlor?”

The Ninth Lady said, “That won’t be necessary, Eldest Sister-in-law. I’ll take him there myself later. If you have something to say to me, please speak plainly.”

Madame Xu smiled, “Ninth Sister, you’ve grown even more beautiful in the days since we last met. But you’re still as headstrong as ever. You arrive today, yet didn’t go to pay your respects to the Old Matriarch first.”

The Ninth Lady sighed, “I had intended to, but after such a long journey I was simply too tired, and besides, my attire is quite disheveled. I’d be embarrassed to present myself before her in such a state. I’ll go first thing tomorrow morning to pay my respects.”

Madame Xu forced a smile. “That’s true enough.” It was clear she had something she wished to discuss with the Ninth Lady, but with Xiaoyun’er present, she found it inconvenient to speak. She wanted to send Xiaoyun’er away, but the Ninth Lady insisted he remain.

Though Xiaoyun’er didn’t understand the reason, he sensed that the Ninth Lady was deliberately keeping him by her side to make it awkward for Madame Xu to broach certain topics.

In the past, Madame Xu had tried to arrange a match for the Ninth Lady, intending to marry her off to Zhao Wuying’s younger brother, Zhao Wuzong, the brother of the Wulin Alliance Master. But at the time, the Ninth Lady had refused, claiming she was too young. Later, weary of the constant pressure, she ran off to Xianyang and opened a tavern, pursuing various businesses.

As a result, her encounters with Madame Xu grew fewer and farther between, and even when they did meet, she would either avoid her or exchange only a few brief words.