I've been bullied and humiliated for thirteen years; when I wake up, I'll be bloodthirsty.

Chapter 753 The Second Madam Returns to the Capital

After Zong Que left, Lu Yangyang also started to get busy.

The grain seeds she brought from Changyang County, which she had traveled a long way to, have already been planted in batches on the reclaimed land. Sheng Junyao even assigned people to take special care of these seeds.

The white berries collected from various places were also arranged to be cared for by experienced flower growers. Lu Yangyang even wrote a letter to Wenren Jing to tell him about this.

While teaching Huang Sumu medical skills, she discussed with her senior brother Fang and the others how to establish a clinic that could categorize patients by specialty. However, before that, they first spread the word that they were recruiting apprentices.

Regardless of gender or age, anyone who meets the requirements can come to learn basic medical knowledge, and then be assigned to different places based on their interests and abilities.

Mingxiu was sent to Ye Chengfeng to manage the accounts, while Yunying led the girls in special training with a team of soldiers specially transferred by Sheng Junyao. Hongyu, skilled in using hidden weapons and agile, stayed by Lu Yangyang's side, accompanying her on her travels.

While they were busy in the Northwest, the capital city was also bustling with activity in the spring.

Before the Spring Banquet, Madam Wang and Sheng Yunjiao's entourage returned to the capital.

Wen Qingqing went with Madam Wang and her daughter, while Rong Xin moved into Renxin Hall with Wen Yu. Luo Jing and Old Master Meng disguised themselves as servants, and the group kept a low profile without causing any disturbance.

However, when Madam Wang and Sheng Yunjiao's carriage stopped at the gate of the Duke of Sheng's mansion, it still caused a great uproar in the long-silent mansion.

Two years ago, after the farce of the real and fake daughters in the Shengguo Duke's Mansion, the matriarch of the Shengguo Duke's Mansion, Madam Lan, would rather be divorced than leave the mansion. Not long after, the second branch of the family also made a fuss about dividing the family property and left the capital to take up their posts in the provinces. Madam Li was old and had not been involved in family affairs for many years, so the dignified Duke's Mansion suddenly had no one in charge of the inner quarters.

Less than six months later, due to a family tragedy, Madam Li suffered a stroke and became bedridden, completely unable to manage affairs.

With no one in charge of the inner quarters of such a large Duke's mansion, it wouldn't be appropriate to leave the management of the annual social obligations to servants or concubines.

Left with no other choice, the Duke of Sheng had to quickly arrange a marriage for his fourth son, Sheng Junshu, who was born out of wedlock, with a shrewd and capable woman. The reason was simply to have someone to take over the management of the Sheng family mansion. Fortunately, although the fourth young mistress, Madam Song, came from a humble background, she was indeed a very capable manager. Not long after she took over the management of the household affairs, the Sheng family mansion finally settled down.

However, the heir of the Duke of Sheng's mansion is still alive, along with the legitimate second and fifth sons. The fourth young mistress is good at managing household affairs, but she is lacking in social skills. In a place like the capital where powerful and wealthy people gather, status is highly valued. The fourth young mistress can manage the household affairs at home, but in public, she can only be the fourth young mistress of the Duke of Sheng's mansion, who is born out of wedlock.

Among the sons of the Duke of Sheng, the eldest son, Sheng Junyao, was granted the title of heir apparent from a young age. He excels in both civil and military affairs and is currently stationed in the Northwest. At a young age, he was awarded the title of General of the Northwest based on his own achievements, making him even more prominent than the Duke of Sheng and the old Duke. As long as nothing unexpected happens to him, the position of heir apparent of the Duke of Sheng will never fall into the hands of others.

Although the second young master, Sheng Junyi, who stayed in the capital, had no particular talent or fame, only a history of romantic escapades, his face was undeniably the most handsome man in the capital, and no matter how much time passed, his legend would never fade.

The third young master, Sheng Junchi, was not of Sheng family blood. He was the son of an old friend of the old Duke. The old Duke personally arranged for him to be adopted into the Sheng family. Although he held the title of a young master of the Duke's mansion, he was just an adopted son of the Sheng family and had little presence in the mansion. After studying for several years, he failed to pass the imperial examination and found a position in the patrol camp. He rarely returned to the mansion.

The fourth young master, Sheng Junshu, is quite good at studying. He passed the provincial examination last autumn and just participated in this year's spring examination, but the results have not yet been released.

There is also the fifth young master, Sheng Junye, who is still young.

Although the fourth young master was already considered outstanding among the noble sons of the capital, he could not bring any real improvement to his wife's status before he actually entered the court as an official.

Therefore, during the year or so that the fourth young mistress was in charge of the household affairs, the Shengguo Duke's Mansion was exceptionally quiet and low-key in the capital, and rarely socialized.

But the return of the second wife of the Duke of Sheng's mansion was a different story.

Even though the second branch of the Duke of Sheng's mansion had argued about dividing the family property, Old Madam Li was still alive, and the second wife, Madam Wang, came from the illustrious Wang family. Once she returned to the capital, she would certainly not be overlooked in the invitations to the Spring Banquet.

Inside the Duke Sheng's mansion, there was an uproar. Although the two branches of the family were supposed to be separating, the second master was away from home, and Madam Li was seriously ill. Logically and emotionally, the second mistress would likely stay in the mansion with her daughter upon returning to the capital. It was uncertain who would be in charge in the future. Therefore, even before Madam Wang entered the mansion, the entire Duke's mansion was already in turmoil.

Madam Wang led her entourage directly to Madam Li's courtyard. Madam Li had suffered a stroke more than a year ago. As people age, their tempers are already bad, and the stroke made her even more irritable. As a result, she hadn't received any guests for quite some time. When Madam Wang and her entourage entered, they even smelled a strange odor.

The old woman, Feng, who came to greet them, looked at least ten years older. She was stunned when she saw the radiant Madam Wang and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This old servant greets Second Madam and pays her respects."

Madam Wang's lips unconsciously curled up. It seems that this old woman has not had an easy time these past two years!

Lady Wang was much more at ease.

Madam Wang pinched a handkerchief and pretended to cover her mouth and nose. Before she even saw anyone, she called out loudly, "Mother, Mother, your daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects!"

With a loud bang, a bowl smashed out from inside and landed next to the screen, shattering on the floor.

Old Madam Li's sharp, hoarse, and trembling voice rang out: "Get out—give it to me, give it to me, get out—"