Chapter 354 Family Matters
Qin Xiaoning and Li Lanchun accompanied the Duke's wife back to Chunxi Hall.

The maid brought hot tea, and Qin Xiaoning took it and handed it to the Duke's wife, saying, "A Ning is really sorry, mother. Because of my matter, you and grandmother quarreled, and you suffered injustice."

"It can't be said that I was wronged." The Duke's wife took a sip of tea and said to Qin Xiaoning, "When I first married into the Lu family, I did suffer a lot of grievances from my good mother-in-law. Later, I realized that she didn't like me in her heart. No matter how much I compromised, it was useless. So, I just came as I felt comfortable."

The Duke's wife looked at Qin Xiaoning with a hint of admonition: "In short, as long as you are right, even if you are the king of heaven, you can't do anything to me. The Madam and I have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for so many years. In everything, I always pay attention to the word 'reason'."

Li Lanchun interrupted and said, "Grandmother is too strong-willed. She always wants to be the best in everything, as if the daughter of Wang family of Langya is superior to all other women."

The Duke's wife was not convinced: "She is not trying to be strong. If she wanted to be strong, she shouldn't have turned her elbow outward."

As she spoke, the Duke's wife snorted coldly, "And that cousin of the Wang family, I think she behaves exactly like the Madam, dignified and generous on the outside, but more petty than anyone else on the inside. Humph, what the hell is that? Fortunately, Ji'er didn't marry her, otherwise, I would be caught between the Wang family's daughters, and both sides would be unhappy."

Li Lanchun smiled and took the opportunity to say, "So, An Ning is our family. You are auntie, so you are not good at your temper."

"Yes." The Duke's wife replied with a smile.

The shared hatred they shared with the Lady Dowager actually helped to bring the mother-in-law and daughters-in-law closer together. The Lady of the Duke simply kept the two daughters-in-law for dinner before letting them go back.

It was not until dark that the Duke finally returned from Shulan Garden.

He walked in and took off his coat, but his eyes were always glancing at his old wife who was leaning on the couch.

"You don't have to look at me like that. If you have this thought, you should spend more time on your mother." The Duke's wife said without even raising her eyelids.

The Duke put the clothes in his hand aside and walked over with a smile: "What? Are you still angry?"

The Duke's wife glared at the Duke and said, "You only care about your mother. What does it matter if I'm angry or not?"

"You are wrongly accusing me." The Duke replied with a smile: "Today, I spoke on your side in front of my mother."

When she mentioned this, the Duke's wife couldn't help but smile, but she still said unforgivingly: "You are worried about your grandson."

As she said this, she couldn't help but scold her husband: "Your mother wants to punish Ning, but Ning is pregnant, can she bear it?"

"For the sake of a girl from the Wang family, you actually ignore your own flesh and blood. You, as a mother, are really confused." The wife of the Duke complained.

The Duke of Guo naturally knew that the Madam was in the wrong. He was silent for a long while, then advised, "Don't be angry. Mother is also upset about Ji'er's breaking off the engagement. After all, we are the ones who owed the Wang family in this matter."

The Duke's wife snorted and retorted, "If it weren't for the fact that his daughter was not of good character, would Ji'er have broken off the engagement?"

He added: "Fortunately, I didn't marry that third girl, otherwise, I would have had no peace of mind."

"Alright, alright." The Duke tried to comfort his wife: "Now these two daughters-in-law, one is your niece, and the other is the one you have raised since childhood. You will be satisfied in the future."

"That's right." The Duke's wife finally smiled. "I dare not say that my daughter-in-law is the best, but she is better than that girl from the Wang family who says one thing in public and another in private."

In the Qingsong Garden.

The moon was high above the willows, and Lu Ji had just finished his day's work and returned from the palace. Qin Xiaoning had already gotten into bed and was leaning against the bedside reading a book when the man pushed the door open. She was about to get out of bed to help him undress, but was held down by Lu Ji.

"You take a rest, I can do it myself." As he said that, he quickly took off his cloak, looked at his little wife on the bed, and asked anxiously, "I heard that your grandmother gave you trouble today?"

Qin Xiaoning was amused: "You just came back from the palace, you are well-informed."

Lu Ji sat down beside the bed and raised his hand to stroke his wife's soft cheek: "I didn't expect that at the critical moment, you can protect yourself and you won't suffer any loss."

The man's words were full of doting and even a bit of indulgence.

In the past, he indulged her, fearing that she would be wronged. Now that she has become his legitimate wife, the man has become even more fearless.

"No matter who it is, if they make things difficult for you, you don't have to worry about anything. Just be tough. I'll support you in everything. Don't be afraid." The man even began to instigate her to fight.

Qin Xiaoning is not that kind of person.

She smiled faintly and replied, "It's not as serious as you say. Grandmother is willing to protect Miss Wang, but she has to be reasonable, right? She was the one who provoked me first that day in the palace, so I can't be blamed."

The little woman looked at the man with a smile in her eyes: "I still have my mother to protect me, so it's not your turn to interfere in these matters in the backyard."

Ever since he married the little woman, Lu Ji was afraid that she would be wronged in the backyard, so he ordered people to keep an eye on her all day long. So as soon as he entered the door just now, someone told him everything that happened today.

Knowing that his mother was protecting his wife, the man was delighted.

He looked at his young wife with eyes full of doting, and said half jokingly: "You are really capable of making your mother love you."

"That's how narrow-minded you are. Even if I am liked by mother, it's because she loves you. That's why she treats me well." The little woman raised her hand and pinched the man's nose, with a hint of admonition: "So, in the future, you have to be more respectful to mother, don't always go against her and make her angry."

The little woman was gentle and kind, and listening to her talk was extremely enjoyable for Lu Ji.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

The little woman took the opportunity to say, "Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. You are at home on a day off. Come with me to accompany mother to have breakfast, and then we can go to the ancestral temple to burn incense together."

Lu Ji immediately frowned upon hearing this: "It's fine to accompany my mother to have breakfast, Ah Ning, you know me, I hate burning incense and worshipping Buddha the most, it's so boring."

Qin Xiaoning also frowned: "I want you to be filial to your mother, not for your comfort."

Lu Ji was speechless.

After a long while, he muttered to himself, "I really don't understand these women in the mansion. They have to burn incense and pray every now and then. I don't know where these wishes come from."

Lu Ji complained, frowning slightly, glancing at Qin Xiaoning: "Although I don't have to attend the morning court tomorrow, I still have one tomorrow."

Before he could finish, Qin Xiaoning raised her hand and pulled the man onto the bed, saying without question: "It's agreed that I will accompany my mother to burn incense tomorrow."