The whole family died tragically? The eldest daughter is the most powerful in the capital after her

These five thousand taels of silver are undoubtedly a huge fortune for the concubines, enough for them to spend the rest of their lives in peace and stability.

However, they had deeper plans in their hearts, and the greed in their eyes suppressed their fear of the old lady's majesty.

One of the concubines spoke first, with a hint of fear in her voice, but her eyes revealed ambition: "Old Madam, you also know that the children are all descendants of the Qi family. It is only natural for them to recognize their ancestors and return to their roots... Although we are concubines, we have come here to save face for the children."

Another concubine immediately followed, hugged the youngest child beside her knees with tears in her eyes, looked up and pleaded with the old lady: "These children are still so young, are you going to let them bear the reputation of illegitimate children for the rest of their lives? They are all your grandchildren..."

The old lady glanced coldly at the concubine and children in front of her, with no warmth in her eyes.

She sat there in silence, her eyes piercing them like ice, her face as gloomy as a deep pool. No matter how the tearful mother and children on the ground cried, she seemed to have a heart of stone and remained unmoved.

At this time, Lin Ruoxuan walked slowly forward from the crowd with a faint sneer on her lips.

She bowed gracefully, and said in a calm but sharp tone: "What the old lady said is very good. The Qi family has had strict rules since ancient times, and it really taught us, the younger generation, the rules."

She changed the subject, raised her eyebrows slightly, and said with a little disdain, "However, several ladies in the past also taught my elder sister that 'the wife should be generous and treat the children of concubines and mistresses as her own, so as to show the virtue of a mother'. If that's the case, then these children are also the blood of the fifth master. If they don't have a legitimate status, I'm afraid they will be laughed at."

Lin Ruoxuan paused deliberately, her eyes swept across the old lady's face, with a hint of sarcasm on her lips, "I remember that the Qi family has always emphasized 'a harmonious family brings prosperity'."

"Since Fifth Madam is the legal wife, it is only natural for her to be tolerant and accept these concubines' children. This is in line with the old lady's teachings of 'magnanimity'."

The old lady's face suddenly turned gloomy, and her eyes swept across Lin Ruoxuan coldly like a knife.

However, Lin Ruoxuan was not afraid at all. She looked at her calmly, with a tit-for-tat look in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Lady was so angry that her face almost turned blue. She gritted her teeth and whispered, "Eighth Miss, are you deliberately looking for trouble? I am the legal wife, but how can these bitches and their children be allowed into the Qi family! How can I be magnanimous and forgiving to them?"

Lin Ruoxuan chuckled and retorted, "Fifth Madam really meant the word 'tolerance'. But just now you said with certainty that the Qi family bloodline should be included in the family tree. Since they are members of the Qi family, why do you have objections now? Does it mean that the first house must be generous and tolerant, but the fifth house has different rules?"

Madam Five was speechless for an instant, her lips trembling slightly, her clenched fists already turning white, but she did not dare to attack.

She glared at Lin Ruoxuan, her eyes full of helplessness and annoyance, but she couldn't say a word.

The Second Madam also noticed the Fifth Madam's embarrassment. She gloated a little and gently shook the handkerchief in her hand, saying with a faint sneer, "Ah, Fifth Sister-in-law, since you are the principal wife, you should be more generous and set a good example for the new wives in our Qi family. Let people know that the Qi family is generous and will tolerate and accept even the children of concubines."

The Fifth Lady was so angry when she heard the Second Lady's hypocritical words that she could not suppress her anger. She responded coldly, "It's really easy to talk without any pain! Some people are just fanning the flames. I wonder if they will still be so generous if something like this happens to their family in the future!"

Upon hearing this, the Second Madam shook her head slightly, but there was no fear on her face. Instead, she smiled calmly, with a righteous look, and said leisurely, "Fifth Brother's wife, why are you so angry?"

"If one day my mistress comes to my house, I will definitely welcome her into my house with drums and gongs, and treat her as my own. As the saying goes, 'prosperity comes with prosperity, so do all.' How can I let the bloodline of the Qi family flow out into the wild?"

The Fifth Lady's face turned red with anger. She stared at the Second Lady, angry but unable to refute. Her throat was blocked and she felt that she was being humiliated in public.

Just when she was at a loss for words, Lin Ruoxuan clapped her hands lightly, her voice clear and pleasant: "Second Madam is indeed open-minded! No wonder she can remain as the head of the second house. She is truly a role model for us and is worth emulating."

Everyone looked at him sideways at once, and there was actually low laughter coming from the hall, with a hint of teasing.

Mrs. Wu felt even more embarrassed for a moment, and could only clutch her handkerchief tightly, her face turning alternately pale and blue.

She cast her gaze towards the old lady with a hint of anxiety, expecting her to start scolding her.

However, the old lady just slowly picked up the teacup, completely ignoring the farce in front of her. She also forgot what she had promised to the Fifth Lady and didn't even glance at her.

At this moment, the fifth master suddenly cleared his throat, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

He raised his eyes to look at the old lady, with a flattering tone in his voice: "Since these children are already the bloodline of the Qi family, it is better to bring them back to the mansion to rectify their names rather than leaving them outside. As for these concubines, take them into the fifth room as concubines. As for these children, record their names in the family tree according to the rules, but send them back to Qiyang to be raised."

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Lady's face changed drastically and she could hardly believe what she heard.

She looked at the old lady in disbelief, with a last glimmer of hope in her eyes, hoping that the old lady would come forward to veto the fifth master's decision.

She called out anxiously, "Mother! How can this be? If these people enter the Fifth House, what will become of the Fifth House in the future?"

However, the old lady seemed not to hear her call. She took a sip of tea slowly, as if she was completely out of the matter and did not respond.

Seeing that the old lady had not expressed her opinion, the Fifth Master immediately seized the opportunity, and with a smug smile, he waved his hand and said to the servant beside him, "Go, take the person back to the Fifth House. Since he has entered the mansion, he should recognize his ancestors and settle him down properly. We can't let the bloodline of the Qi family linger outside."

The Fifth Lady clenched her handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turned white, and her face was as gloomy as water, but she did not dare to say anything more.

Although she was full of anger, she was also afraid.

If she continued to insist and angered the Fifth Master, he would most likely leave these children in the capital, and her face and status would be completely gone.

She could only hold back the frustration in her heart, grit her teeth, and keep silent.

Seeing that the Fifth Madam was still angry, the Second Madam pretended to be gentle and walked to Lin Ruoxue, smiling warmly and lovingly, and said in a slow and steady voice: "Ruoxue, a harmonious family is the foundation of everything. If you are a wife but are petty and jealous, you will inevitably attract criticism. You might as well learn from the Fifth Madam to be generous. If there is no harmony in the family, outsiders will laugh at you, don't you think?"

Lin Ruoxue was stunned, lowered her eyes, and endured without saying a word.

She twisted her hands together, the suppressed sadness and anger in her heart surging like a raging fire, almost unbearable.