Madam Feng didn’t take the handkerchief; a maidservant beside her accepted it on her behalf and unfolded it for her to see.
Madam Feng ordered, “Go, let Song Xiang check if this is her possession.”
When Song Xiang saw the handkerchief, her face immediately turned pale. This… this item was what she had given to Steward Zhao at the beginning!
When maids reached a certain age, they all needed to find a path for themselves. Song Xiang had looked around and set her sights on Steward Zhao. He was the steward of the accounts office and was handsome and tall. Although he had a wife, that wasn’t a problem for her. As long as she could entice Steward Zhao, relying on her status as Lady Dowager’s head maid, when Lady Dowager arranged a marriage for her, she could demote his original wife to a concubine and become his principal wife herself.
…But at that time, she never imagined there would be a scholar waiting for her!
When she heard that Madam Feng wanted to match her with Steward Lei’s son, she abandoned her thoughts about Steward Zhao and contentedly waited to become a scholar’s wife.
But… how did this handkerchief end up in Xu Houcai’s possession?
Seeing Song Xiang’s expression, Madam Feng’s heart sank slightly. “Song Xiang, is this item yours?”
Song Xiang’s lips trembled, and she immediately burst into tears. “Lady Dowager, please do justice for me! Such items, I’ve given so many to other sisters. What if Xu Houcai picked it up to frame me? I would have no way to clear myself!”
Hearing Song Xiang’s unreasonable denial, Xu Houcai was so angry he almost jumped up to point at her and scolded her.
“You sent a maid with a message for me, asking me to come talk to you, and you even put the handkerchief in the crevice of the Taihu rock for me to retrieve! If you don’t admit it, we can find that maid and question her to know the truth! You claim I’m framing you, but you’re the one hurting others!”
Madam Feng immediately ordered the servants to restrain Xu Houcai.
Song Xiang’s face grew even more distressed… How did Xu Houcai know about the Taihu rock crevice?
Could she let them summon the little maid for questioning? If they brought the little maid over, that girl had no filter and might reveal her relationship with Steward Zhao, leaving her with no way out. But if they didn’t question the maid, her flirtation with Xu Houcai would be confirmed… she was trapped either way!
Song Xiang could only keep kowtowing repeatedly. “Lady Dowager, you must believe me. I’ve served you for so many years. You know my character best. This Xu Houcai is ugly and frequents the Yuying Lane to find prostitutes. Who would be interested in him? How could I possibly give him a handkerchief?”
Gu Jin Chao, who had been watching from the side, exclaimed softly upon hearing this: “Is this Xu Houcai truly so disreputable?”
Madam Feng’s face immediately darkened. Song Xiang was confused with panic and dared to say anything!
Song Xiang completely missed Madam Feng’s expression. Her eyes brightened, and she hurriedly followed up on Gu Jin Chao’s words: “Yes, yes! This Xu Houcai is over thirty and still can’t find a wife. What other reason could there be? Unless an eagle pecked out my eyes, I would never look at him!”
Gu Jin Chao lowered her voice, yet it faintly revealed disappointment: “Such a man… Grandmother wanted to match him with Qing Pu…”
Hearing this, Xu Houcai became indignant again: “You scheming woman, speaking ill of me! What’s wrong with me visiting prostitutes when I don’t have a wife? Who are you to criticize me? If your conscience is clean, then bring that maid out for questioning. Whatever comes out will be the truth! If you don’t look for her, it proves you have something to hide!”
Xu Houcai, hearing that Song Xiang avoided mentioning the maid, knew she must be hiding something, so he persisted without relenting.
Madam Feng looked at Song Xiang with a severe expression but said nothing.
The entire courtyard fell silent. Gu Lian glanced around and pouted before speaking: “Grandmother, if he wants to summon the maid, just call her over for questioning. I can’t believe it. Song Xiang is your maid, her character formed under your guidance. How could she possibly entice a steward?”
Madam Feng rarely spoke harshly to Gu Lian, but now she did: “Be quiet! Why are you interfering?”
If Song Xiang dared not call for the maid to be questioned, there must be an issue, and how could Madam Feng summon the maid to embarrass herself? And listening to Gu Lian’s words… saying Song Xiang’s character was formed under her guidance, wasn’t that implying she hadn’t taught her well? This girl was always so spoiled and didn’t know how to speak properly.
Look at Gu Lan and Gu Jin Chao—neither dared to speak up. Yet she couldn’t wait to show off!
Gu Lian had never seen her grandmother so fierce with her. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She wanted to hold Madam Feng’s arm and act coquettishly, but seeing Madam Feng’s expression, she didn’t dare take a step forward.
After a long while, Madam Feng finally asked Song Xiang in a deep voice: “Tell me what exactly happened… if you can’t explain clearly, I’m afraid we’ll have to accept Xu Houcai’s version.”
Song Xiang looked blankly at Madam Feng, then at Xu Houcai. Which version could she admit to?
No matter what, Xu Houcai didn’t have a wife, while Steward Zhao already had a wife and children… if the maid revealed she had enticed Steward Zhao, she would be even more despised! Song Xiang bit her lip and very reluctantly said: “Lady Dowager, it was my fault… Before you arrange a marriage for me… I was thinking of finding a place for myself, so I gave Xu Houcai the handkerchief. But I didn’t do anything inappropriate with Xu Houcai… After you arranged a marriage for me, I no longer wanted to marry Xu Houcai, which is why I didn’t want to admit it.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Feng became furious.
“Good… good, you even dared to find your place! And gave away items to people.” She called two maidservants behind her. “Take Song Xiang away…” Madam Feng looked at Song Xiang’s face, thinking of how she had served her for so many years, and felt some pity. After a pause, she said, “Lock her in the side room, give her a beating, and throw her out of the manor!”
Song Xiang was terrified after hearing this. If she was thrown out like this, she would have no face to live on!
Gu Jin Chao, watching from the side, observed Madam Feng’s expression and knew she still felt reluctant but had no way to back down, so she insisted on appearing strict for fear of gossip.
She stepped forward, curtsied, and said: “Grandmother, please wait. Jin Chao thinks this matter can still be discussed. If you expel Song Xiang from the manor like this, the matter will surely become a big scandal, which would be worse. Song Xiang has reached the age, of wanting to plan for herself, which is understandable. If Xu Houcai hadn’t come today, they might not have done anything inappropriate…”
Madam Feng looked at Gu Jin Chao, her expression already softening somewhat: “Even so, rules must be followed. I still have to punish her!”
Jin Chao thought to herself that Madam Feng just needed someone to give her enough face before she would step down gracefully.
She smiled again, “Of course, you should punish her, but not like this. Song Xiang has reached the age of marriage and has served you diligently for many years… Since she once fancied Xu Houcai, and now this has happened… Why not just arrange for Song Xiang to be given to Xu Houcai? For two who are already engaged, exchanging small gifts is not inappropriate.”
Hearing Gu Jin Chao’s words, Madam Feng felt much better. This maintained her dignity while sparing Song Xiang’s life.
Song Xiang was truly disappointing! She had already arranged such a good match for her, yet she insisted on enticing Xu Houcai!
Such a blind fool, wasting all her efforts!
She changed her tone and said: “Since the young lady has pleaded for you, I’ll only fine you three months’ allowance… Since Song Xiang has chosen Xu Houcai, I’ll arrange your marriage. Song Xiang, go back to your room and pack your belongings. Move to Cheng’an Alley the day after tomorrow to prepare for your wedding.”
Upon hearing this, Song Xiang lost all strength and collapsed to the ground. Marrying Xu Houcai… what hope did she have left?
Xu Houcai never expected him could marry Song Xiang and didn’t care about the fine allowance. He immediately kowtowed to thank Madam Feng.
However, Madam Feng waved her hand, signaling for the maidservants to help her back to her room. Gu Lan, who had been standing quietly without daring to speak, hurried forward and also took Madam Feng’s arm. Madam Feng glanced at her, only then remembering… it was Gu Lan who had insisted on coming out to watch earlier!
If she hadn’t been so meddlesome, noticing that Qing Pu was missing, how could that scene have happened?
She coldly brushed off Gu Lan’s hand and softened her voice to call Gu Jin Chao over: “Zhao girl, accompany Grandmother back to her room… Grandmother has something to tell you!”
Now that Xu Houcai was marrying Song Xiang, the matter between Qing Pu and Xu Houcai had to be abandoned.
Gu Lan stared blankly at her hand, feeling as if her face had been slapped. After Madam Feng and her entourage disappeared, she pulled the sobbing Gu Lian out of the back room. At that moment, they saw Qing Pu walking over from the back house.
Gu Lan quickly stepped forward to grab her and coldly asked: “Where were you just now?”
Qing Pu looked at Gu Lan’s gloomy face and the hand clutching her sleeve, smiled, and said: “What’s wrong, Second Young Lady? I only went to the latrine… Did Second Young Lady have something to command me?”
Gu Lan hesitated, and her hand loosened. Qing Pu curtsied: “The First Young Lady needs to be attended to. I’ll go first.”
Gu Lan secretly gritted her teeth. She had an intuition. This matter… Gu Jin Chao must have had a hand in it! And she even managed to involve her!
But… what exactly had Gu Jin Chao done?
In the west side room, Madam Feng spoke with Gu Jin Chao. Since Xu Houcai and Song Xiang had this situation, naturally the marriage between Qing Pu and Xu Houcai was off, and the arrangement with Steward Lei wouldn’t work either. She would find someone better for Qing Pu later and told Jin Chao not to worry.
However, Gu Jin Chao held Madam Feng’s hand and suddenly began to cry softly: “…If Song Xiang hadn’t spoken, I wouldn’t have known Steward Xu was such a person… The marriage certainly can’t proceed, but I want to ask Grandmother one question… Do you still not see me as your granddaughter?”
Madam Feng hurriedly comforted Gu Jin Chao: “Zhao girl, how can you say that? Grandmother loves you from the bottom of her heart!”
Gu Jin Chao looked at Madam Feng with tear-filled eyes, her tone sorrowful: “Jin Chao didn’t grow up by Grandmother’s side, and has always been envious of Lian sister. With Grandmother’s love, she wouldn’t be bullied by others… When I heard I was returning to Daxing to be with you, Jin Chao was overjoyed. Jin Chao has lost her mother and must care for a young brother, making life truly difficult! I’ve never mentioned these things to you… Jin Chao thought Grandmother would surely sympathize with me. But… but such matters have truly wounded Jin Chao’s heart! Jin Chao’s maid has served me since childhood… Jin Chao… almost ruined her entire life!”
Listening to her heartfelt words, Madam Feng couldn’t help but feel distressed. Zhao girl, such a brilliant person, when had she ever been seen crying like this? Gu Jin Chao wasn’t born of her child, nor had she raised her, so naturally there wasn’t much emotional connection. But after all, she was a legitimate daughter of the Gu family and had always been good to her. Hearing about her frequent knee pain, she had even made her silk knee protectors with pine, bamboo, and plum blossom patterns.
She embraced Gu Jin Chao and spoke with a choked voice: “Zhao girl, don’t be sad. This is Grandmother’s fault. From now on, Grandmother will cherish you more, making up for everything. As for Qing Pu’s matter, Grandmother won’t interfere anymore. You choose a good husband for her in every respect, and Grandmother will give her a hundred taels as her dowry!”
The two cried for a while, and finally, Madam Feng used a handkerchief to wipe Jin Chao’s tears.
“Don’t say such things again. Grandmother treats all of you well.”
Gu Jin Chao slowly nodded.
She thought to herself that after this incident, Madam Feng would probably never dare to interfere with her maids’ affairs again.