Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 17 - Nice to Meet You for the First Time

The Old Madam let out a long breath, and her expression softened, no longer icy. “Ah, this truly is your concubine-mother blessing you.”

Lady Liu felt resentful. The moment she saw that old woman’s expression, she knew. This old woman liked useful grandsons and granddaughters.
She must be looking at Wu Sheyue’s improved face and thinking she could marry her to a high-ranking official in the future.

Among the legitimate daughters, Wu Liuyun was already impossible to suppress, and that was bad enough.
Among the concubine-born daughters, Wu Jinghua was three parts prettier than her own daughter, which already caused Lady Liu and Lixiang to suffer a great deal of frustration in daily life.
Now came another Wu Sheyue who surpassed Wu Jinghua. This… this life was impossible.

By contrast, First Madam was much calmer. After all, she was the principal wife and still had to display the proper attitude.

Concubine Meng already resented Yin Qiuming. She stared fixedly at Wu Sheyue’s face and spoke darkly.

“Old Madam, I find this somewhat strange. If Sister Yin sent her a dream, it should not have been last night. Yesterday afternoon, Third Miss already behaved very differently from usual.”

“Is that so?” With just one look, the Old Madam knew that Lady Meng had something bottled up that she wanted to complain about.

Concubine Meng pulled Wu Jinghua slightly, and Wu Jinghua moved forward at the right moment. The Old Madam immediately saw Wu Jinghua’s “eye-catching” appearance.

The old woman sighed. “Ah, Jinghua, why do you look so haggard? Come let Grandmother have a look.”

Wu Jinghua finally felt a little balanced in her heart and slowly walked to the Old Madam’s side. Wu Lixiang, who had never managed to get a word in, could not help rolling her eyes.

Wasn’t she just making herself look pathetic to gain Grandmother’s sympathy? How low.

Before the Old Madam could ask anything, Wu Sheyue leisurely cut off Wu Jinghua’s chance to complain. “Second Sister came to the mourning hall yesterday to see me. I imagine she was
grieving for me too?”

“You-” Wu Jinghua nearly cursed back.

Wu Hantian did not disappoint Wu Sheyue. He immediately caught the key point and said coldly, “Did I not say no one was allowed to go to the mourning hall?”

Wu Jinghua trembled, and Concubine Meng quickly stepped forward. “Jinghua’s heart was simply too kind, and she was worried about Third Miss. Please don’t be angry.”

First Madam calmly advised from the side, “Yes, Chancellor. It’s not a major matter.”

Wu Hantian snorted and said nothing more.

Wu Jinghua quickly took the Old Madam’s hand pitifully and said with deep grievance, “Yes. Concubine Yin passed so suddenly, and I pitied Third Sister. But I disobeyed Father to go see Third Sister, and the way Third Sister treated me yesterday, It was really too much.”

“How did she treat you?” Although the Old Madam could see Concubine Meng’s little scheme, she cherished these grandchildren of hers very much. Could this Wu Sheyue have…

“Boo-hoo, Grandmother, Jinghua feels so wronged. Yesterday, Third Sister beat Chuntao until her whole body was covered in injuries. I went to ask Third Sister why she hit people, but she…” Wu Jinghua turned back and looked fearfully at Wu Sheyue. “She pressed me to the floor and beat me too!”

“Such a thing happened?” The Old Madam’s joy at Wu Sheyue’s improvement dimmed considerably.

Wu Liuyun was the child on whom she had placed great hopes. As for the remaining concubine-born girls, each was also a treasure for the family’s prosperity. Losing even one would pain her.

At this moment, she did not think at all about the fact that with the real Third Girl’s physique, if not for a changed soul, how could she possibly have beaten the well-fed, glossy-skinned Chuntao?

Wu Sheyue was just about to open her mouth to address the matter, but Wu Jinghua now knew very well that Wu Sheyue never said anything good. She rushed to keep crying, “She even stuffed rotten rice and flies into my mouth and made me swallow-”

“Ugh-”

This time, Wu Jinghua held it back, but the Old Madam did not. She leaned to the side and took the opportunity to pull her hand out of Wu Jinghua’s grip, pressing it to her chest. Wu Jinghua froze at being disliked.

Seeing this, Wu Hantian rose from his chair to pat the Old Madam’s back and help her breathe.

Even Wu Liuyun, who usually could not be bothered with the side branches, frowned with disgust.

Seeing the Old Madam’s revulsion, Lady Liu also patted her chest and turned to whisper to Wu Lixiang, “Ah, thank goodness I had no appetite this morning and didn’t eat.”

First Madam’s voice was cool. “Jinghua, don’t bring every disgusting thing to your grandmother.”

Wu Sheyue touched her nose. According to Ning’er, these people had originally been in a united front when bullying the West Courtyard, yet now they were tearing each other down.

After the Old Madam calmed the churning in her chest, she looked back at Wu Jinghua and always felt as if there was a smell.

Concubine Meng’s face turned deathly pale. She had never expected the Old Madam to first become disgusted with Jinghua. But now it was too late to regret it; the words had already been spoken.

If Wu Sheyue was not dealt with this time, then mother and daughter would have caused all this for nothing.

Thinking this, Concubine Meng began to cry. “My poor Jinghua.

From last night until now, she hasn’t taken a grain of rice or a drop of water…”

While patting the Old Madam’s back, Wu Hantian turned and angrily scolded Wu Sheyue. “Is this what you did?”

“Yue’er doesn’t really remember yesterday’s matters. I only remember what happened after I woke up.” Wu Sheyue raised her head timidly.

“But… Second Sister, why would there be rotten food in the mourning hall? Ning’er told me Father gave an order that no food was allowed at all. Yue’er kept enduring it and still hasn’t eaten even now. Why don’t we call Ning’er in and ask her?”

(To be continued)