Lady Vivian Zhu Pays Her Respects

"Miss, you should go back first. Madam isn't convenient to see you right now," Aunt Xueying said.

"Not convenient? How come?" Grace shot Aunt Crystal a suspicious look, her eyes wide and playful.

"Please, just go back!"

"Mother—" Grace couldn't help herself, stretching her neck to shout, worry written all over her face.

Aunt Crystal clapped her hand over Grace's mouth and whispered in her ear, "My little troublemaker, hush! The Prime Minister is inside!"

Grace blinked her big, sparkling black-and-white eyes at her, looking utterly innocent.

Aunt Crystal looked even more flustered, let go of her, and said, "Miss, just head back for now! Madam will probably be tired soon and need her beauty sleep!"

Grace caught on, giggled foolishly twice, and spun around to leave, her mood instantly lighter.

If her mother's health fully recovered, maybe she'd even get a little brother or sister, haha...

The very next day, for the first time in over ten years, her mother stepped out of Jade Hall to pay respects to the Old Madam.

Grace had no idea this was happening until later.

She went to see the Old Madam first.

By then, Evan Xiao and Leon Zane had already left for the army. The only ones paying respects to the Old Madam were Grace, Wan Zhen, and Maya Summers.

The Old Madam always acted like Grace was just lukewarm tea—never hot, never cold, just bland.

Now that she hadn't gotten Little Cutie from Grace, the Old Madam was even chillier than a snowstorm.

But just the day before, Zhuo Minghan helped Zhuo Qingyun get a gentle yet fierce spotted leopard.

Zhuo Qingyun's spirit beast that died before was also a spotted leopard, so she must be good at raising them. The Old Madam seemed to be in a better mood.

She even took the initiative to speak to Qingluan: "Is your garden all set up now?"

"Still working on it! From what’s already planted, they’re all super rare and pricey flowers and trees! Just wait—once it’s finished, it’ll be drop-dead gorgeous!" Grace grinned.

"That day, you really were wronged!" the Old Madam said. "Are you blaming me for it?"

"Nope," Grace replied cheerfully. "I know Grandma does everything for the glory of the Lawrence family!"

"Mm..." The Old Madam hummed, her expression softening even more.

Wan Xuezhen saw this and asked from the side, "Mother, I heard Madam's health has improved a lot. Is that true?"

The Old Madam's expression immediately cooled as she said, "Mingyu Pavilion is so precious that no one is allowed near it. How would I know?"

"Oh?" Wan Zhen pulled an awkward face. "The Prime Minister never lets us near Madam, but I thought you’d know, Mother! So even you’re out of the loop?"

As soon as she said this, the Old Madam's face darkened again.

Grace was just about to chime in when Aunt Autumn suddenly rushed in, calling, "Old Madam!"

"What's the matter?" the Old Madam asked.

"Madam has come to pay her respects to you!" Aunt Autumn announced, her excitement barely contained.

"Is it the second son's wife or the third son's wife?" The Old Madam felt Lianqiu was acting strange today, not speaking clearly.

"It's Madam!" Aunt Lianqiu was strangely excited. "Our household's Madam!"

It took the Old Madam a while to react: "You mean Qingluan's mother?"

"Yes!"

The Old Madam was very surprised: "Looks like she's really recovered? Let her in!"

So Aunt Autumn hurried out again, almost tripping over her own feet.

Soon, Qingluan's mother walked in.

She clearly knew the Old Madam well and had put effort into her appearance.

She wore a cherry-red scattered-flower cross-collar robe and a trailing triple-trimmed gold skirt, with just a few pieces of jewelry. Not too plain, not too flashy, not overly formal, but still dignified. Her outfit was proper and unremarkable.