Wang Qingzhen looked a little embarrassed.
Wang Qingzhu tugged at Wang Qingzhen's sleeve, signaling her to refrain from discussing family matters in public.
However, Wang Qingzhen was intent on securing a good marriage and saw Wang Qingyao as a matchmaker, showering her with flattery.
"Sister, you're different now that you're a Princess Consort. Unperturbed by honor or disgrace. Unlike me, I was so surprised by this news that I stood up."
Wang Qingyao: "Hehehe..."
Go to hell with your unperturbed by honor or disgrace. If you don't know how to use idioms, don't misuse them!
Seeing Wang Qingyao react again, Wang Qingzhen became excited and was about to spill more gossip, but Wang Qingzhu stopped her, saying, "Second Sister, Grandmother says she misses you dearly. If you have time, please go and see her."
Wang Qingzhu said this quite loudly, and several young ladies nearby overheard.
Wang Qingyao understood then that Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu had been instructed by the Old Madam to specifically deliver this message to her.
The grandmother missed her granddaughter, and by specifically saying this, even a Princess Consort would find it difficult to refuse to visit her.
Moreover, judging by the tone of the message, the Princess Consort hadn't visited her grandmother in a long time.
Those nearby quietly sized up Wang Qingyao, as if she were unfilial.
Wang Qingyao appraised Wang Qingzhu with a half-smile, and Wang Qingzhu's face flushed instantly, unable to meet Wang Qingyao's gaze.
Others might not know, but the sisters Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu were aware that there was no grandmother-granddaughter affection between Old Madam Wang and Wang Qingyao.
It was likely that Wang Qingzhen, following the instructions of Concubine Ying, considered Wang Qingyao more important than Old Madam Wang, and thus did not convey such messages.
Wang Qingzhu, however, was different. Without any backing, she dared not defy Old Madam Wang's wishes.
Wang Qingzhen shot Wang Qingzhu a displeased glance, annoyed by her meddling.
"If Second Sister is busy, don't go. The mountain roads are difficult. It will be the same to visit after the hunt is over."
Wang Qingzhen's intention was to help Wang Qingyao out of a difficult situation, but her approach was not very clever.
Wang Qingyao could have found an excuse not to go, but Wang Qingzhen's words made it seem as if she were putting on airs as a Princess Consort, unwilling to even take an extra step.
She sighed inwardly, a faint smile on her face, "How could I be busy? We're out on a hunt, how could I have anything pressing? Grandmother is getting old, and her temper has become more childlike. We saw her at the Lion Gathering just the other day, didn't we? It was my negligence, and then there was the memorial and my illness, I didn't realize Grandmother missed me so much."
The others present then remembered the matter of the Princess Consort of Ding'an, who had paid respects to the colleagues of the late Prince Xiao. This had been witnessed by everyone in Duandanjing, and she had even fallen ill from exhaustion!
Such filial piety was beyond the reach of ordinary people. To call her unfilial would be a huge joke.
Furthermore, from the Princess Consort's words, it seemed that her family had not sent anyone to visit her during her illness.
This was rather telling.
The meaningful glances of those nearby shifted back to Wang Qingzhen and Wang Qingzhu.
Wang Qingzhu, with her poor composure, felt her face burn, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
Wang Qingzhen, considering herself on the same side as Wang Qingyao, felt nothing.
"It is unfilial for us juniors to make our elders worry," Wang Qingyao continued. "Since I am free now, I will go and see Grandmother at your place right away."
Wang Qingzhen's delicate eyebrows furrowed. "It's almost dark. Second Sister will be returning in complete darkness. The mountain roads are difficult, what if..."
She was genuinely concerned for Wang Qingyao's safety this time.
Wang Qingyao smiled, "It's fine, I'll just bring more people. I can't have Grandmother worrying about me and losing sleep at night, that would be my fault."
With that, she asked Fang Yuan to return first and then called for Yin Zhu and Shan Hu.
She had only brought three maids on this hunt: Yin Zhu, Shan Hu, and Zhen Zhu. Fang Yuan, on the other hand, had brought four. The rest were guards.
The Wang family's residence was far away, and it took them a quarter of an hour to reach it. By then, it was already dark.
Old Madam Wang was startled, not expecting her words to have such an immediate effect, and that Wang Qingyao would arrive so soon.
She couldn't help but feel a secret sense of triumph. By publicly labeling Wang Qingyao as unfilial, she had indeed forced Wang Qingyao to comply.
However, the accommodation on the mountain was small, and her schemes could not be fully executed. Wang Qingyao was always accompanied by people, and she herself was also surrounded.
Thus, the grandmother and granddaughter exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries, and Wang Qingyao then met with Wang Da and Wang Zijing.
Finally, Old Madam Wang used the excuse that it was dark outside and too late to travel safely, and sent Wang Qingyao away.
It was completely dark outside. Fortunately, they were prepared, and Yin Zhu and Shan Hu lit lanterns.
The mountain air was especially cold and silent at night. Wang Qingyao pulled her cloak tighter.
Not long after they left, Xiao Yun found them with a group of people. Upon seeing Wang Qingyao, he pulled her under his cloak.
"Why are you here?" Wang Qingyao asked.
"Fang Yuan said you went to see your Old Madam. I was worried she might set a trap for you, so I brought people to come over. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Wang Qingyao hugged his waist under the cloak. "There were too many people, so Old Madam couldn't do much to me. It might be different in the future."
"Should I also have someone break the Old Madam's legs?"
Wang Qingyao: "..."
"You'll directly kill her."