45 pieces of advice

  The wet nurse smiled comfortingly and patted the third madam's hand, speaking in a serious and sincere tone: "Madam is right, we've also benefited a lot from managing the household over the years. The princess is clever and must know about it, but she doesn't want to tear her face with her brothers. In the future, the children's prospects will still depend on the princess! Think about it, as long as the princess lifts her hand, can't the third miss's marriage be arranged well? Not to mention the young master's prospects, if we offend the princess, we'll all be in trouble."

  The third wife hesitated for half a day, not making a sound, and finally reluctantly nodded her head. "If it weren't for the children, I wouldn't have taken out my own private savings either. The old master's attitude will only lead to financial loss, and if I don't hold back some money, what will happen to my two children in the future? I need to save up for my daughter's dowry and plan ahead for my son's career. Has he ever thought about these things at all? He only knows how to indulge in elegant pursuits and flirt with his concubine, but has he ever asked if our family is short on needles or thread? Does he care whether I'm tired or not, or whether our son is studying well? He doesn't care at all!" Thinking about the difficulties she had faced over the years, her husband's indifference, infidelity, and selfishness filled her heart with sorrow.

  The wet nurse couldn't help but wipe away tears, and with a heavy heart, she poured out all the words in her mind. "Madam, I've taken care of you for so long, to be honest, I regard you as my own daughter and it pains me to see you like this! But there's something that must be said, our Sixth Young Master Ling can't continue to be spoiled like this. Think about it, he's almost nine years old and should be living in the front courtyard by now. He can't even recite the Analects of Confucius properly, let alone that Third Young Master was already a child prodigy at his age!

  Look at the two brothers in the big house, they are only 14 years old and already wearing brocade clothes, is that a place where you can enter just because you have money? Can you really mix so well without any skills? Just relying on power and influence, do you believe it? I'm old and won't be able to see you for many more years, there are some things I don't say now, but later I won't be able to say them. After finishing speaking, she herself also choked with sobs, thinking about the future of the third madam, thinking that they were still a group of childish brothers, she was really worried about her own milk-fed mistress!

  Third Madame was stunned for a long time, the reality she had never wanted to face was ruthlessly torn open by the wet nurse, and for a moment she couldn't bear it, silently sitting there without saying a word, letting tears slowly flow on her face.

  It took a long time before she slowly let out a sigh, "Nanny, let me think carefully about it!"

  She was afraid that the aunties in the backyard would harm the child, so she couldn't just push her out like that. But keeping her in the front yard wasn't an option either, especially since Qi Ge had been spoiled by the old lady since childhood and couldn't bear any hardship at all. By the time she realized it was too late, some bad habits had already formed, and when she tried to correct them, the old lady would be the first to disagree.

  The wet nurse naturally knew the third madam's concerns and softly advised: "I understand it's not easy for you, madam. I have a method, but I'm afraid you won't be willing to part with it! Even Old Madam can't stop it; it will only bring benefits to the young master, no harm."

  Third Madame's eyes lit up as if she had found a treasure, and she hastily asked the wet nurse while pulling her hand: "Tell me the truth! What else are you hiding from me? You know what kind of person I am! As long as it's for the child's good, even if it means cutting my own flesh, I'm willing to do it! I know I'm stingy and petty, but what can I do? You've seen it too, my dowry has been spent over the years, if I don't save some money, how will our children be in the future?"

  The wet nurse felt relieved after hearing this and thought for a moment before saying, "Ling's brother is too spoiled, like a girl, with many bad habits that I won't mention, you also know. At his young age, there's still room for improvement, but if it's delayed, it'll be too late to change. Who will he rely on when he's old? In my opinion, you should directly ask the princess and the marquis to send Qi into the army camp for a few years of training. After suffering a bit, he'll know how to make progress. The old lady will also have to listen to the marquis and won't dare stop it." She stopped talking and looked at the expression on Third Madame's face.

  Third Madame grasped the corner of her silver-red auspicious cloud patterned narrow sleeve tightly, subconsciously kneading it, and the good clothes were wrinkled, her eyes slightly narrowed, with shallow wrinkles at the corners, and her complexion also looked somewhat haggard.

  Seeing the young lady who was once as delicate as a flower, now prematurely aged like this, compared to the second wife and others, the young lady at home is actually older than them by more than one year, but in fact, the young lady is indeed the younger one, can't help but feel heartache for her.

  Third Madame slowly lifted her head after a long while and gazed at the wet nurse, saying sorrowfully: "Wet Nurse, I'm reluctant to part with you!"

  The wet nurse urged with a heavy heart: "Last time I sent a bowl of red date soup to Brother Lin, guess what I found?" The young lady who was not ruthless could not make up her mind.

  "What?" asked Third Madame somewhat perplexedly.

  "I was standing at the door and didn't go in, I heard that he was inside with Cui Hong, rummaging through Qi Ge's prescriptions, messing around with rouge! He said that the outside ones aren't clean, not as good as homemade, and also said don't let the mistress know! Later, I didn't go in either, and quietly retreated. She glanced at Third Madam with an inexplicable expression, and saw that Third Madam's face was deathly pale."

  "You damned servant, you've ruined my son! Why didn't you tell me earlier!" The third wife slammed her palm on the table, furious and livid, looking as if she wanted to tear apart Cui Hong's face at that very moment.

  The wet nurse sighed, the young lady was still so impulsive and lacking in poise, without a steady pillar to rely on at home, what would she do in the future? And that master of hers was unreliable too!

  "Miss, what's the point of telling you? Without Cui Hong, who knows if the next one will be even more vicious! Lin Ge and Yi Ge are about the same age. Look at Yi Ge studying hard every day! And look at our Lin Ge, who only knows how to cause trouble and have fun all day. Can we still count on him in the future? Are you going to wait until Yi Ge becomes successful and then rely on him to support you as his stepmother?"

  Yi Ge is the fourth child of the third house, only one year older than Lin Ge. As a concubine's son, he received more attention from his father due to his mother's circumstances. Yi Ge studied hard every day, but Lin Ge was not interested in reading, which made their father even more displeased and somewhat neglectful.

  The wet nurse who raised the three madams with one hand naturally knows where their weaknesses lie, and hits them right on the spot.

  The third wife's face changed several times, closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time. Suddenly she stood up, and when she opened her eyes again, her face was covered with tears, her eyes filled with determination and strength. "Nanny, bring the account book and silver ticket, we'll go find the princess now. I admit what I've done, just hoping the princess will show some mercy."

  The wet nurse happily agreed, she was glad that the young lady had a small temper and although she had gained some benefits, she did not dare to make too much of it. She would pay back last year's money and believed that the princess wouldn't mind this little thing, mainly because it was an attitude problem.

  Third Madame tidied herself up, re-washed her face and reapplied powder before saying to the wet nurse: "You think it's not suitable for me to ask the princess this time? After all, I took money from the public account, if I go ask her again, will she even bother with me?" Just thinking about the princess's piercing eyes made her heart quiver.

  The wet nurse saw the mistress about to retreat and immediately said: "What does the princess not know? I think, we'd better tell the truth, make up for the money with a sincere heart, apologize for the hardships you've suffered over the years, talk about Lin Ge's affairs, beg the princess, don't be afraid of losing face, what suffering can't be endured for the sake of the child?! Lin Ge is your only son after all!

  Third Aunt nodded and murmured: "Yes! He is my hope! I won't let those cheap people ruin my son, let's go!"