First Madam accompanied Old Madam Song in her room, speaking in lowered tones. “I’ve been watching that Chen family girl—she’s no simple lamp to light. She can even mobilize their Seventh Young Master Shen and the Li family’s young lady. Last time with the Tongzhou incident, she actually pushed Xiao Yi out to take the fall. She’s only about the same age as Fourth Miss, perhaps even a year younger, yet her scheming runs this deep. It’s truly chilling.”
Old Madam Song snorted but didn’t immediately respond. After a moment, she asked coolly, “Since Xiao Yi has agreed not to make a fuss about it, so be it. The situation at court is complex right now. If our two households’ inner courts turn hostile, people will think the Old Master and Elder Chen have fallen out again. I know Tang Mingzhao—he’s said that in this lifetime he’ll only take eight disciples, no more. Currently he already has seven disciples. I imagine this last spot was originally reserved by them for someone from the Chen family. Now that our Yan’er has obtained it, it will be enough to pain their family for several years.”
First Madam paused, pressed her lips together, and changed the subject. “If that’s how it is, fine then. I’m just afraid that Miss Chen will hold a grudge and stir up more trouble in the future.”
Though she knew the spot that Song Chuyou had exhausted all effort to secure would certainly go to Song Yan, First Madam still couldn’t help having some thoughts—what parent in this world doesn’t hope for their children’s success? If one could enter Tang Mingzhao’s tutelage, the future boost to one’s prospects would be enormous. Although her eldest son Song Jue was accomplished and ambitious, she still had a younger son as well.
“If there’s a next time, even if they exhaust all their family’s efforts and throw in ten more Tang Mingzhaos, it will be of no use.” Old Madam Song curled her lips in disdainful mockery. “Besides, even if Old Madam Chen is willing to protect her again, Elder Chen won’t indulge it. However, this matter is truly disgusting. If the Chen family sends someone tomorrow, just say I’m ill and inconvenient to receive guests. You needn’t go out either. Have the eldest daughter-in-law go out to deal with them for appearances.”
Her aversion toward Shen Qingrang deepened yet another layer. If the Shen Qingrang in her dream could still be forgiven, could still be explained as Song Chuyou’s years of relentless pursuit having made him unbearable, thus causing him to lose his humanity and kill his son and wife—that would still be pardonable. But in this life, Xiao Yi was merely a nine-year-old child. Even if in daily life she followed him closely because of their good relationship, he shouldn’t have been swayed by others to harbor such thoughts. Moreover, in these past six months, every time Xiao Yi saw him she maintained proper boundaries, never once acting excessively.
First Madam, seeing weariness appear on her face, said no more. She respectfully agreed and added, “The young ladies can start attending school tomorrow. Shall we have the two nannies come tonight to pay their respects to you?”
Old Madam Song nodded and instructed First Madam, “Don’t be stingy with them. Give them twelve sets of clothing for the four seasons, and their monthly allowance should be the same as the young ladies’—three taels each.”
First Madam smiled and nodded. “Yes, this daughter-in-law understands.”
“Also, Second Miss staying cooped up in her room all day isn’t a solution.” Seeing First Madam’s face dim slightly, Old Madam Song consoled her, “Reconciliation isn’t some shameful thing. Are you planning to hide her away for the rest of her life so she never sees anyone?!”
First Madam’s face flushed red, then her heart turned slightly bitter. With some difficulty she said, “But she’s so timid. If people say unpleasant things to her, who knows how long she’ll be upset.”
“She still can’t avoid seeing people!” Old Madam Song cut her off, then sighed. “I know what you’re all thinking, but the Earl’s residence’s reputation didn’t come from being harsh. So many princesses and county princesses have reconciled and found new matches—do you want Second Miss to be ruined at such a young age? After a while, I’ll enter the palace and ask Consort Dowager if she has any suitable candidates. You should also keep watching and selecting. Wait two or three years, then choose a good one for her. That will fulfill the bond between you mother and daughter.”
First Madam’s eyes grew hot. Looking at Old Madam Song, tears nearly fell. She hastily nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Old Madam Chen descended from her carriage. Seeing Chen Mingyu coming to support her with lowered brows and downcast eyes, she said coldly, “First go see your mother. This evening come accompany me for the meal.”
Having just committed a great error today, and with Old Madam Chen having lost her temper, Chen Mingyu dared not act spoiled or willful. She withdrew her hand, respectfully acknowledged the order, and waited with bowed head for the old madam to leave before leading her maids to Lady Chen’s rooms.
Lady Chen was personally dusting her gold box with a feather duster. Seeing Chen Mingyu enter, she furrowed her brows and snapped the lid shut with a clack, asking with slight impatience, “What brings you to my quarters?”
Chen Mingyu was respectful toward her too. Unlike with Old Madam Chen, toward her mother her respect was mixed with ten parts distance. Hearing this now, her expression unchanged, she replied in flat tones with head bowed, “Just returned from Duke Yingguo’s residence. Came to pay my respects to you first.”
Lady Chen nodded, still maintaining her cold manner, but suddenly asked, “By the way, didn’t I tell you to take the opportunity to deal with that maid who holds leverage over you? How did that go?”
Though she was her mother, her patience seemed entirely devoted to gold, silver, and jewels. Chen Mingyu suddenly understood why her grandmother had specifically told her to come pay respects to her mother at this moment—Grandmother had taught her principles and raised her, expending countless efforts. But Mother would only teach her to do inappropriate things at inappropriate times. If Mother had accompanied her on this outing instead, she truly couldn’t imagine Mother being willing to throw out such a big fish as Tang Mingzhao for her sake.
Resentment and disdain gradually rose in her heart, and the corners of her mouth curved into an extremely shallow sneer.
As she left, she turned her head to instruct her own maid Baodai, “Go tell eldest brother and sister-in-law that mother’s interest money has arrived.”
Mother controlled money too tightly, far less generous than the other aunts. Eldest brother and sister-in-law, relying only on their monthly allowance to get by, were constantly stretched thin and often quarreled with their money-loving mother over this.
She simply couldn’t stand mother’s cold manner, so she’d just let eldest brother and sister-in-law go make trouble with her. If they made enough fuss, second brother and second sister-in-law had best join in too.
Eldest brother had always been one to fish for money even from a frying pan to spend, and eldest sister-in-law often mentioned how much of her dowry she’d subsidized him with. Second brother and second sister-in-law likewise harbored resentment toward mother. If they learned mother had money but clutched it tightly, absolutely refusing to give them even the tiniest bit, with years of accumulated grievances, they would surely make a tremendous scene.
Best if they could anger mother to death—after all, whether she was there or not made no difference. Without her, there might even be considerably less trouble. This somewhat horrifying and vicious thought rose vaguely in her mind as she quickly left Lady Chen’s courtyard.