s.h.i.+ Qingxue nodded with absent-mindness. She knew what Mo Yuzhen said in her last life, and she got no interest in it. She fully focused on the conversation of those madams at this moment.

"Shujun is really blessed. Not only does she have sons and grandsons, but the wives of sons and grandsons are filial. You could see how lively this birthday party is, and how jealous we are!" The old woman who was speaking was Mo Shujun's close friend, Madam He, princess of Commandery Prince Fan.

The aged empress had always been very accommodating, and in a simple sentence, she praised the whole family.

Not only did she please Mo Shujun, but she also gave face to the wife of Duke, Dong Hui, which evoked the support of several madams.

At this time, a clear voice sounded abruptly, "It seems as if only she is the only competent one in this family!"

The voice of Zhou Ruyu, the third madam in the s.h.i.+ Family, was neither too loud nor too low. It was like a mumble to herself, but it was loud enough for the madams at present to hear it clearly.

Suddenly, everyone was silent and looked at each other.

In particular, the faces of the madams who were applauding before were even more awkward. Obviously, they did not expect that Zhou Ruyu would insult Dong Hui in public.

The rumor said that the wife of Third Master s.h.i.+ was arrogant and envious. When they met her today, they finally knew that the rumor was not wrong.

After Zhou Ruyu said these words, she provocatively raised her chin to her eldest sister-in-law, as if to say, "I am insulting you in public. What can you do with me?"

Dong Hui was instantly furious.

However, in front of so many eyes, although Zhou Ruyu was being shameless, she could not lose the honor of the Duke's family. So no matter how mad she was, she could only tolerate it at this moment.

But even though Dong Hui was able to bear it, s.h.i.+ Qingxue, who was always paying attention to it, couldn't tolerate it.

She snorted, and suddenly said, "Auntie, are you saying that you think you are more competent than my mother?"

s.h.i.+ Qingxue's voice was a little louder than Zhou Ruyu's. This time, even all the ladies were looking at them.

This question made Zhou Ruyu the target of criticism.

She couldn't give a positive acknowledgement to s.h.i.+ Qingxue's question not matter how respected she was. She could only answer with embarra.s.sment, "I surely dare not compare myself with Sister Hui."

s.h.i.+ Qingxue nodded in agreement and said, "My mother is the best mother in the world, and even my grandmother has to praise her. Of course she is the most capable!

Do you agree, Auntie?"

Zhou Ruyu was so speechless. And her powdered face stiffened and looked ridiculous.

She dared to insult Dong Hui, because she was sure that Dong Hui didn't have guts. But she did not dare to face s.h.i.+ Qingxue's sharpness anyway. But she was not reconciled to admit in public that Dong Hui was better than her.

Zhou Ruyu took a deep breath and made an innocent gesture that she was the one being bullied. She pitifully cried to Mo Shujun and said, "Qingxue is such a serious kid. I just made a joke with sister-in-law, but she was taking it seriously!"

She easily described her insult to Dong Hui as a joke, and suddenly it became s.h.i.+ Qingxue's fault!

But s.h.i.+ Qingxue didn't buy it at all. She raised her eyebrows slightly, n.o.bly but not arrogantly responded, "Me as a daughter, it's unalterable principle to uphold the righteousness of the mother. If I offend Auntie by doing so, please forgive me!"

If there were still people who felt that s.h.i.+ Qingxue was disrespectful to her elders, these words made her behavior beyond reproach.

After saying this, s.h.i.+ Qingxue didn't give Zhou Ruyu a chance to talk back and turned to Mo Shujun instantly. Just like what Zhou Ruyu did before, she innocently asked, "Grandma, do you think I did it right just now?"

The problem was left to Mo Shujun, who still had the same affection on her face, looked at the little granddaughter with a spoiling look, and responded, "Of course, what Qingxue did was surely right!"

Later, Mo Shujun glanced at Zhou Ruyu slightly, and her tone became a little colder, "Ruyu, if you don't know how to talk good, you should speak less!"

The old madam was completely showing partiality for s.h.i.+ Qingxue this time. How could Zhou Ruyu dare to talk back? She could only admit that and embarra.s.sedly look at s.h.i.+ Qingxue flattering in front of Mo Shujun and say good words for Dong Hui constantly.

Zhou Ruyu was angry and jealous. She squinted at her own two daughters, suggesting that s.h.i.+ Qingxue would say good things for her mother. And this moment your mother was bullied, why didn't you stick up for me?

The third lady, s.h.i.+ Baojin, and the fourth lady, s.h.i.+ Baoyou both bowed their heads and pretended that they could not see their mother's sign, which made Zhou Ruyu angrier.

But after a while, she was not mad.

Because Mammy Luo, who guarded the ancestral hall, ran to the front of Mo Shujun out of breath, knelt on the ground, and shouted in panic, "Your Highness, something bad happened. The ancestral hall is on fire!"

These words shocked everyone like a thunder!

The old Duke s.h.i.+ lost both his parents when he was young. Later, he helped the late emperor establish Mo Dynasty and he was rewarded to be the Duke, but there were no one to enshrine in the ancestral hall. So there was only one person being enshrined there at present, and that was the old Duke, s.h.i.+ Lei, Mo Shujun's husband.

Even though Mo Shujun had experienced a lot, she was also in panic at this moment.

At this time, the third master, s.h.i.+ Juncai, who sat in the male guest seat, suddenly interjected, "The ancestral hall has always been taken good care of by Sister Hui. How can it be on fire for no reason? Is this because of your neglect of duty?"