At the house, Lady Chen was sitting on the chair in her room. However, once in a while, she raised her body up and walked to stand by the door and made her eyes look out. Then she took a very long and heavy breath and returned to being stuck on the same chair.
In the afternoon, when she had come back from the pagoda, she had heard an argument between her husband and her daughter. Without a delay, she had rushed to her husband's working room, and when she had arrived at the door, Lantian had come out. She had wanted to call, but she had seen her girl was holding an angry face, so she had shut her lips and stood by the portal sadly. Then her worry was added when she had searched for what had happened before she arrived and learned from her daughter's private that Lantian had not eaten. Hurriedly, she moved to the kitchen and cooked soup by her own hands and waited for her baby to come to eat, but at the present it was very late in the evening, yet Lantian didn't arrive home. In this situation, only Lady Mei knew that the sister was having lonely worries, so she came to visit.
"Eldest sister."
"Sister Mei," Lady Chen grinned. "Come in."
With a gentle act and sweet smile like usual, she sat on a chair next to her eldest sis. At that time, her eyes caught a pot of soup on the table, so she asked, "Are you waiting for Lantian?"
"Um." Lady Chen nodded, coming along after with a very whine before she narrated the story in a sad voice, "Yesterday, Master was not happy with Lantian because she left the party without informing him. Moreover, she did not come home last night. This made Master angry. So, in the morning, I went to the pagoda to pray for happiness in the family, but when I came back, I heard them arguing; it makes me... ugh..."
"Don't worry. They are father and daughter."
"Because they are father and daughter; that's why I am worried. Both of them are stubborn and do not agree to lose."
"Yes. Lantian is really the same as Master. That is the reason he adores her the most."
"And he is disappointed the most." Lady Chen took a heavy breath. "It has been five years already. I don't know when they put down that story."
"Eldest Sister," Lady Mei put her hand on Lady Chen's hand to comfort her, "don't worry. Everything will be fine. Lantian is a good child. I am sure she will drop it, and our family will live happily like before." She paused for a few seconds before she added, "Actually, the cause of today's problem is me."
"Don't put the mistake on yourself. I know what was going on. I told off Fourth Sister, and I warned her already; she will not bother you anymore."
"Thank you."
Lady Chen patted the hand of Lady Mei. "Don't mention it. We are family; no need to say thank you."
"Though I have to say it. All these years, you have taken care of me and my son very well. You are kind to us, and you love Longwei like your son. I am really thankful for your kindness. This family can escape from problems because of you."
"Don't lift me so high; I'm not great like you said."
"It's true."
Even though it was just words, it was enough to make Lady Chen's mind relax from the pack she was carrying for some seconds. "Being a woman, when we are single, we follow our parents; when we have a husband, we have to follow our husband. We are women; our mission is to bring happiness to our family. Stay at home, serve the husband, and give birth. When we have children, we have to take care of them, educate them, and find a future for them. Every single breath of a woman is about family. The happiness of the husband and children is the happiness of a woman. If the husband or children are not happy, we cannot be happy." She took a break before she grabbed the hand of Lady Mei gently. "In fact, Fourth Sister is not a bad person. She just has a narrow mind. She is a mother. It's normal that she protects her daughter and finds good things for her daughter. Just sometimes, she overdoes it. To maintain peace in the family, I hope you forgive her and don't hold it against her."
"I understand, Eldest Sister. I never hold a grudge against her."
"Good then."
"The soup is cold now. I take it to heat," Lady Mei said and was about to take the pot, but Lady Chen told her, "Let the maid do it," and then she called, "Xiaolan."
Just hearing the call, Xiaolan came in fast. "Yes, Madame."
"Take the soup to heat it."
"Yes." She hurriedly held the pot in her hands and left for the kitchen.
Even though Lady Mei didn't go yet. She was still her sisterhood companion till Longwei arrived in the scene.
"Eldest Mother. Mother," he paid respect.
With a smile, Lady Chen said to her stepson. "Good. Sit down."
"Thanks, Eldest Mother," Longwei said, then sat on a chair next to his ma.
"Today, you came home late. Are there a lot of works? Lady Mei asked.
"The workload was quite big, and I had to attend a meeting with Father and other ministers. We just finished the discussion over changing some rules," Longwei narrated.
"Don't work too hard. Take care of your health."
"Yes, Mother."
"You are lucky. Longwei is a good son," Lady Chen stated. "If Lantian works as hard as Longwei, it will be good."
"Lantian is great," Lady Mei said.
"Great at hanging out. Now, it is almost midnight, yet she does not come home."
"Who is talking behind my back?" The voice of Lantian echoed.