On the fourth day after Song Yi’s departure, Li Shi finally collected herself and came to pay her respects to Old Madam Song, saying that Old Madam Li’s health was somewhat poor and she wanted to return home to check on her.
Old Madam Song pondered for a moment before agreeing, then asked whether she planned to stay for a few days or return the same day, telling the First Madam to make preparations early.
In her heart, she hoped that Li Shi wasn’t going home to complain, and that Old Madam Li truly was ill.
Li Shi hesitated for a while, beads of sweat gradually forming on her forehead. Finally, she bit her lip and said with an apologetic smile, “I’ll need to see how serious Mother’s illness is. You know my sister-in-law is rather clueless—I’m afraid I’ll need to stay for several days…”
Her husband had just left for his post, and now his wife was clamoring to return to her parents’ home for an extended stay. Those who didn’t know might think she had treated her daughter-in-law harshly. Old Madam Song’s dissatisfaction with Li Shi finally accumulated bit by bit, though her face still showed nothing as she casually instructed Yushu, “Since that’s the case, go tell your First Madam to prepare a carriage and gifts to send your Second Madam home for a short stay.”
Li Shi let out a sigh of relief, anxiously twisted her handkerchief, bid farewell to Old Madam Song, and left.
Because she could return to her parents’ home, the depression in Li Shi’s heart eased somewhat. She exhaled heavily and revealed a smile.
As Nanny Yu supported her through the garden, after thinking for a while, she still braced herself to ask, “Just now in front of Old Madam, you didn’t mention whether you’re bringing Miss…”
At the mention of Song Chuning, the irritation Li Shi had just suppressed rose again. She frowned, thinking it over repeatedly, and instinctively felt somewhat afraid to interact with this daughter.
“I won’t bring her.” She exhaled lightly. “If I go back alone, Old Madam will probably still be somewhat dissatisfied in her heart—what more if I bring her along?”
But Song Chuning was still young after all, and living alone in the side courtyard—Nanny Yu was somewhat worried but didn’t dare speak up.
That evening, when Song Chuning came to Li Shi’s quarters, she learned that Li Shi had already left in the afternoon. She sat dazed in the main hall of Li Shi’s principal room, watching Su Xin, who was clearly somewhat timid and cautious, tremblingly pour tea for her.
To actually tell Old Madam at this time that she wanted to return to her parents’ home—wasn’t this rushing to make herself suspicious?
Song Chuning ignored the anger and loneliness of being abandoned that rose in her heart, the corners of her mouth curling into a contemptuous smile.
After pretending for so many years, she had recently stumbled again and again. It seemed Li Shi had lost her composure.
She slowly stood up and walked toward the door, a small figure whose back somehow seemed pitifully forlorn.
Su Xin felt somewhat apologetic and chased after her to ask, “Miss, where will you take your dinner this evening? Sister Yulan came to say that you should go to Ningde Courtyard tonight…”
Song Chuning raised her head to glance in the direction of Ningde Courtyard, then coldly turned back to look at the chattering Su Xin. “I’ll eat in my own room and won’t go anywhere. Have the main kitchen bring the meal to my room.”
She didn’t want to accept others’ goodwill and charity.
After getting off the carriage, Nanny Yu was still somewhat worried. “Miss has such a stubborn temperament—she definitely won’t agree to go eat at Old Madam’s place. With evening approaching, I don’t know if she’ll be scared…”
Li Shi disagreed. She dove into Old Madam Li’s embrace in the main courtyard and immediately began to sob.
Old Madam Li frowned in some confusion. “Why did you come back without even sending word?” She looked back but didn’t see Song Chuning, and grew somewhat angry. “Why didn’t you bring Aning?”
Li Shi paused and raised her hand to wipe her tears.
Old Madam Li suppressed her anger and sent all the servants away, leaving only a few personal attendants.
Li Shi told her everything in detail, then cried out aggrievedly at the end, “Tell me, what kind of life am I living?! On one hand, they use having a son to pressure me, saying I’ve been married for five or six years without bearing a son. On the other hand, they won’t let me go with him. Am I some celestial maiden from heaven who can give birth by myself?!”
“What’s even more infuriating is that they embarrassed me in front of my sister-in-law…” Li Shi grew more agitated as she spoke. “And my husband too—he didn’t say a single word for me. When told to bring a concubine, he brings a concubine, without even asking me. How did I end up marrying such a blockhead…”
Old Madam Li listened with deeply furrowed brows. Finally, feeling fire rise in her heart, she couldn’t help but scold, “Shut up!”
Li Shi’s subsequent words abruptly stopped. She looked at her mother in both grievance and surprise.
“How can you be so stupid?!” Old Madam Li reached out to poke her forehead, striking her several times in frustration. She raged, “You’re actually not as clearheaded as a child! Since your mother-in-law won’t let you go and your husband won’t speak up for you, then don’t go! For all these years I’ve taught you to be obedient and forbearing—has it all gone in one ear and out the other?!”
Li Shi hadn’t expected her mother not only to fail to speak up for her but to mock her instead. She couldn’t help crying even harder and swept away the teacup beside her with a flick of her hand. “Yes, it’s all my fault! Each and every one of you, old and young alike, is more capable than me—I’m the only stupid one!”
That teacup had just been purchased this year. With the cup broken, the other matching trays and vessels could no longer be used. Old Madam Li’s heart ached as she trembled, then flew into a rage. “Why aren’t you stupid?! If you weren’t stupid, you should have happily agreed to your mother-in-law and cheerfully seen your husband off! First coax your mother-in-law into changing her mind—would you still be afraid of not getting to Changsha? But you—you went back and made a scene as if you wanted to die. If Aning hadn’t been clever enough to cover for you and your mother-in-law had heard those words, would you want to live or die?!”
Li Shi stared blankly with wide eyes and began crying again. “She’s clever, so clever she’s practically inhuman! Ask Nanny Yu if she isn’t frightening—she’s not my daughter at all, she’s clearly my ancestor!”
Old Madam Li raised her palm again and struck her daughter’s back several times. “You’re getting on in years and you’re a mother now, yet you still never think before you speak! If she’s not your daughter, whose daughter is she?!”
Li Shi lay prostrate on Old Madam Li’s lap, feeling only that grievance, humiliation, and anger all surged into her heart at once. She cried stubbornly, “Go ahead and hit me, hit me! Just beat me to death!”
“You!” Old Madam Li’s chest heaved several times before her voice finally softened. “Others beg but can’t obtain such a clever daughter, yet here you are… What did I tell you last time? Others may be shortsighted, but you can’t be. Since your daughter is clever, isn’t that perfect? If you mother and daughter work together with one heart, how could you fail to deal with those two bastards?!”
Seeing her mother relent, Li Shi felt somewhat better and complained while wiping her tears, “You think I don’t know that? Didn’t I follow her advice and incite my husband to go to Old Madam to have Nanny Xu transferred away? But Aning isn’t just clever—she’s also ruthless. You didn’t see the way she threw that kitten…”