Chapter 7: A'nuan Advises Her Brother!

I don't know what spell Mu Qingyuan was under today, but he actually nodded repeatedly, "Big Sister is right! Grandmother, A-Yuan should also learn from Brother and move to the front courtyard to live alone. Always staying in the inner residence, A-Yuan cannot learn anything."

Mu Qingyuan’s words were undoubtedly a slap in the face to Concubine Song in front of everyone! She had just said that moving to the outer courtyard would leave him without care, and immediately after, her own son had slapped her face like this!

The Old Madam’s eyes darted back and forth between Concubine Song and Mu Qingyuan, then deliberately glanced at Lady Li and Mu Xinnuan. For a moment, she was at a loss for what to do.

Mu Xinnuan knew that the Old Madam was merely dissatisfied with her mother at this moment, but she had not yet reached the point of wanting to foster a concubine-born grandson. After all, her own younger brother was the grandson of the Song family! With the support of the Song family in the future, the Mu family would surely have a bright and prosperous future!

"Grandmother, how about this: let’s ask Father for his opinion later. Besides, moving out is not something that can be done in a day or two. We must ask Father to hire an enlightened tutor for A-Yuan, and then arrange a residence and a personal servant for him."

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam nodded, "A-Nuan is indeed thoughtful. That is true; this matter cannot be rushed. Later, I will speak with your father. Your sister is right; as a descendant of the Mu family, one must never lose sight of propriety."

"Yes, Grandson will remember!" This time, Mu Qingyuan bowed respectfully again, a sight that filled the Old Madam with joy.

Mu Xinnuan, however, laughed inwardly. Persuading her father would not be difficult. At this moment, her father and mother were still very affectionate; as long as her mother spoke, her father would naturally agree.

After leaving the Rong Courtyard, Lady Li took Mu Xinnuan back to her own Jin Courtyard. After dismissing all the servants, she said with a grave expression, "A-Nuan, do you know what kind of consequences your words today might cause?"

"Mother, please rest assured. A-Nuan knows what she is doing. Although A-Yuan is a concubine-born son, he must still respect you as his mother. If you can put in a few good words for A-Yuan before Father, and manage to get him moved out of the inner residence, that would be for the best! Seeing that you are not merely indulging this concubine-born son, Father will also feel that you are virtuous, and his guilt toward you will be even greater."

Lady Li was startled. Why would her daughter say such things? One had to know that even if she were sensible, she was only ten years old!

Seeing her mother’s confusion, Mu Xinnuan gave a bitter smile. If her mother knew that her current sensibility was bought with the lives of her closest kin, she wondered if she would be so angry that she would push her away.

"Mother, your daughter has had many realizations after this injury. In the past, Grandmother always taught me to prioritize the family's interests in all things, to be sensible, and to consider the big picture. Mother, isn't that exactly what I am doing now? If A-Yuan can move out and be taught by Father, to outsiders, it will appear that you, the mistress, are magnanimous and have no intention of neglecting this concubine-born son! Furthermore, Mother, don't you know what kind of person Concubine Song is?"

Hearing this, Lady Li understood. Her thoughts raced; her daughter appeared to be planning for that concubine-born son, but in reality, she was planning for her own benefit in every way! It would allow her to gain the reputation of a virtuous wife while also removing Mu Qingyuan from the side of the Old Madam and Concubine Song. This was truly the best of both worlds.

"Mother, Grandmother usually dotes on A-Yuan, while she is somewhat displeased with A-Xuan. Isn't that precisely because A-Xuan is busy with his studies and spends little time in the inner courtyard? As time goes on, I fear that Grandmother will sooner or later be swayed by some of Concubine Song's ideas."

Lady Li was shocked and asked in a low voice, "A-Nuan, tell Mother the truth—have you heard any gossip?"

Mu Xinnuan bit her lower lip slightly. After hesitating, she stepped forward two paces and whispered, "Mother, just before I went to climb the tree, I accidentally heard Concubine Song mentioning the Song family intentionally or unintentionally. Moreover, she kept talking about the 'Song family bloodline.' And... she even said something about being devoted only to the Li family!"

Though the words were few, each one was chilling!

Lady Li’s expression tightened, and she pressed her lips together. The Song family bloodline? Could it be that Concubine Song was actually thinking of persuading the Old Madam to care more about her maiden family? As for being "devoted only to the Li family," she was naturally referring to her, the legal wife!

Wait! No! If she remembered correctly, the person currently teaching A-Xuan martial arts was the most skilled cousin from the clan sent by her own brother!

The Old Madam and Concubine Song were clearly wary of something, worried that once A-Xuan achieved success, he would be devoted only to the Li family and would have no intention of helping the Song family. So, Concubine Song was using this method to poison the Old Madam’s mind against her!

In just a short moment, Lady Li’s thoughts had turned a thousand times! Although she did not like to argue with others over trivial matters, it did not mean she could not see the underhanded schemes of those around her; she simply disdained to compete with them!

Now, she could not have imagined that Concubine Song, who had always seemed honest, would harbor such vicious intentions. She was actually planning to use the Old Madam’s influence to alienate A-Xuan and focus on fostering Mu Qingyuan instead!

"Was it to keep Mu Qingyuan away from Concubine Song and the Old Madam that you deliberately did this?"

"Returning to Mother, A-Yuan is still young after all, and he is not a person with a vicious heart. Once he reaches the outer courtyard and Father finds a tutor to enlighten him and he reads the books of the sages, he will naturally not be corrupted by Concubine Song. Moreover, someone must teach him the proper etiquette."

Mu Xinnuan’s words were subtle, but Lady Li understood them clearly. It meant that someone should focus on teaching him the distinction between the legal wife and the concubine, and that he must respect his legal mother; otherwise, he would never be tolerated by the world!

Mu Xinnuan was not only distancing Mu Qingyuan from them physically, but also mentally! This move was more effective than anything else, and it was the most beneficial for both her and the entire Mu family!

Most importantly, the moment this method was proposed, it immediately made the Old Madam look at Mu Xinnuan, her eldest legitimate daughter, with new eyes!

Lady Li’s thoughts were not wrong at all. The Old Madam was extremely satisfied with Mu Xinnuan’s performance today. So much so that when she heard Concubine Song’s dissatisfaction with Mu Xinnuan, she frowned in a rare display of annoyance!

"Aunt, A-Yuan is only six years old; how can he just move to the outer courtyard like this? If he were a legitimate son, that would be fine; outsiders would naturally not dare to look down on him! But he is only a concubine-born son, and you know that Master has never valued him. What if something happens? I don't know what the Eldest Miss is thinking!"

"Shut your mouth! Is the eldest legitimate daughter of my Mu family someone you can criticize at will?" A voice, aged and tinged with gloom, came from the doorway!