Early the next morning, the main gate of the Earl’s manor opened wide to receive guests, and the sound of firecrackers never stopped from beginning to end.

Song Chuyi had just finished dressing when Qing Tao brought in soup to serve her. After she finished drinking, Qing Tao smiled and said, “Third Young Master and Third Young Madam have returned. They lit candles and set off firecrackers in the ancestral hall and are now heading to Old Madam’s courtyard. You’d better hurry!”

Since Qing Tao had decided to follow Song Chuyi, her actions had become more unrestrained. Being born into the household, she was extremely familiar with the manor’s complicated relationships. She was clever and capable, and her information gathering was even more efficient than Huang Yao’s had been before.

Nanny Xu also chimed in from the side: “That’s right, hurry up! There will likely be many matters today—you can’t hide lazily in your room.”

By the time they reached Old Madam’s main courtyard, they indeed heard Yulan laughing as she reported to Old Madam: “Old Madam! Third Young Madam has arrived!”

Before her words even finished, Song Chuwan had already entered with small steps. She first paid her respects to Old Madam, then turned to look at Song Chuyi with a smile: “I heard earlier that Old Madam has been raising this little girl by her side. It seems her strange temperament has improved somewhat?”

Song Chuwan was of concubine birth. Although First Madam couldn’t treat her the same as First Miss and Second Miss, she treated her well nonetheless. As a result, her personality was actually much stronger than Second Miss’s, who was too spoiled and weak-natured.

She had married Chen Liangqing, a Hanlin Academy compiler of the seventh rank lower grade. Although the position was rather minor, he was a proper jinshi graduate, so his future prospects were considered bright. Moreover, because this was considered marrying up to the Earl’s manor, Song Chuwan held her back very straight at her in-laws’ home. Chen Liangqing was also a good person who consulted with her on everything, so she looked exceptionally well. Old Madam praised her as rosy-cheeked and snow-white, a picture of prosperity.

Old Madam pretended to be displeased with her: “You only know how to tease the young ones! This girl of yours has become increasingly sharp-tongued since marriage.”

Song Chuwan knew Old Madam’s temperament and wasn’t intimidated at all. She turned around to pull Song Chuyi over and placed a gold-inlaid amber butterfly hairpin on her, smiling as she said, “Our little young ladies grow more beautiful one by one. Back then they still followed behind me begging for candy, and in the blink of an eye they’ve learned propriety and how to be shy—not close to this Third Elder Sister at all anymore. It’s truly melancholic.”

Everyone in the room was amused by her.

Old Madam laughed as she received a white jade Guanyin statue from Nanny Huang’s hands and gave it to her: “Won’t it be fine if you have your own little one in the future?! Your sisters weren’t specially meant to keep you company—you can’t forbid them from growing up, can you?!”

The white jade Guanyin statue was flawless throughout—clearly a fine item. Upon seeing the characters ‘Lingyin Temple’ carved on the base, Song Chuwan couldn’t help but feel her eyes grow hot. Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple had always been famous as a place where immortals dwelt, and people said that any petition made there would be answered. Therefore, it attracted many devotees, especially those seeking the child-giving Guanyin.

Old Madam Song had always been this kind to her concubine-born granddaughters. She quickly lowered her head to steady her emotions for a moment before raising it again to continue joking and laughing.

Just as they were talking, someone outside suddenly reported that people from Marquis Pingyang’s manor had arrived.

Old Madam Song’s expression immediately darkened as she asked in a heavy voice, “Who has come?”

Zilan went out to inquire and returned, lowering her head to tell Old Madam: “The Grand Madam of Marquis Pingyang’s manor has come, along with our Second Young Master-in-law, and also their manor’s Fourth Miss.”

So Xiao Siniang had actually come too. Song Chuyi was somewhat curious whether Marquis Pingyang’s manor had brought people to apologize or whether they felt unconcerned and brought people to show off arrogantly.

Song Chuwan was rather puzzled. Not hearing Song Chuxuan’s name, she thought something had happened and was just about to ask when she saw Zilan quietly wave and shake her head at her, so she could only swallow her questions and remain silent.

First Madam soon brought in the Marchioness of Pingyang along with Xiao Siniang. Though she wore a smile on her face, her eyes held no mirth, appearing rather cold as she sat in the seat below Old Madam’s.

The Marchioness of Pingyang seemed completely unaware of the suddenly chilled atmosphere. She smiled and paid her respects to Old Madam: “How is Old Ancestor? Your body is still so healthy.”

Old Madam Song calmly glanced at Xiao Siniang, who wore a smug expression on her face. She laughed coldly to herself but showed nothing on her face, replying with a smile: “It only looks good on the surface—actually quite useless. In-law looks to be in good spirits though. Life must be comfortable, keeping one’s spirits up.”

The smile on the Marchioness of Pingyang’s face paused. After a few forced laughs, she took the opportunity to ask, “I wonder how Second Daughter is doing now? Speaking of which, it was all our family’s rascal boy’s fault. Laying hands on someone over a disagreement—isn’t that outrageous? I’ve already given him a thorough scolding, and his father was furious too, giving him a beating…”

Old Madam coughed once to interrupt the Marchioness of Pingyang’s words, staring at her with seeming disapproval: “We still have several young ladies of the younger generation here. My in-law mother was perhaps too anxious and didn’t think things through.”

These words were indeed inappropriate to mention in front of unmarried young ladies. The smile on the Marchioness of Pingyang’s face restrained further: “Look at me, I was too worried about Second Daughter and forgot this point…”

Old Madam Song said it was no matter, then turned to ask First Madam: “Have the warming stoves been placed in the covered corridor outside?”

First Madam quickly stood up to say they had all been set up.

Old Madam Song nodded with a smile: “In that case, Fourth Miss has nothing to do anyway—why not go with our girls here to admire the flowers. The warming stoves have all been placed in the covered corridor, so it won’t be cold.”

Only then did the Marchioness of Pingyang realize that the Song family young ladies weren’t the only inappropriate listeners. Looking somewhat embarrassed, she hastily agreed.

Xiao Siniang vaguely heard that Old Madam Song was implying her family had poor upbringing and somewhat wanted to explode, but mindful of her father’s repeated instructions, she reluctantly followed Song Chumi and the others out.

Although the Song family had excellent upbringing, they didn’t restrain the girls’ personalities. Therefore, except for Song Chuxuan and Song Chubin, the other Song family young ladies all had their own personalities.

As soon as Song Chumi left the room, the smile on her face vanished. With a gloomy expression, she looked as if she might erupt in anger at any moment.

Song Chubin, usually the most agreeable person, now also followed silently behind Song Chumi without uttering a word.

Among the group of three or four young ladies, not one made conversation with Xiao Siniang.

Xiao Siniang felt this was a tremendous insult. Having endured the whole way, she finally couldn’t hold back. In the covered corridor, she let out a mocking laugh at the Song sisters: “Your Earl’s manor’s rules are quite different from before. Could it be that because your rank was reduced, the rules were also downgraded accordingly?”

The Song sisters erupted in fury.

Song Chumi’s temperament had always been straightforward. Hearing this, she laughed angrily and mocked: “We dare not accept such praise. We only heard that Marquis Pingyang’s manor’s rules are extraordinary—young ladies born of aristocratic families are apparently even more terrifying than marketplace shrews. Over any disagreement, they might even resort to violence. Naturally we dare not act presumptuously before you!”