Those who came in the morning were all female relatives from aristocratic families. Someone like Madam Wei was already considered lower class. Huangjue Temple was moreover an imperial temple, always strict in its rules, especially severe in guarding its gates. Today it was even more heavily guarded.
For a mere servant girl to reach the mountain gate without anyone helping or guiding her, and to have nearly descended the mountain—this would be a joke no matter where it was told. Song Chuyi looked at the deathly pale Yuqing, strangely feeling not a ripple of emotion in her heart. She continued instructing Nanny Qiu: “By the way, ask Master Yuanjue whether this is Huangjue Temple’s way of receiving guests. Today it’s not just our family’s female relatives who came, but also the Prince of Zhennan’s residence, Princess Duanhui…”
Nanny Qiu respectfully bent at the waist, glared at Yuqing, and swiftly led people out.
The First Madam didn’t want to see the traitorous Yuqing for even a moment longer. She waved her hand to have Jin Huan and Jin Cui take her away first, only then turning to speak with Song Chuyi: “Just now a maid hired by Madam Fang came to relay a message, saying that Madam Fang’s body was unwell, so she won’t be going to hear Master Yuankong’s sutra lecture. She also heard that our household has cooling balm and specifically came to request a piece.”
Following that, she should come to the door to express thanks. The excuse had been prepared quite properly—clearly the result of deep thought and deliberation. Sure enough, just as First Madam Song’s words fell, Jin Cui came in from outside to report that Madam Fang said she heard the First Madam also wasn’t attending the sutra lecture, and had specially come over to keep the First Madam company for conversation.
First Madam Song smiled and exchanged a glance with Song Chuyi, smilingly having someone quickly invite Madam Fang in.
Madam Fang didn’t look particularly spirited. Even wearing a full set of bright red clothing, her complexion was somewhat dull and lusterless. Her face carried a somewhat forced smile. She first exchanged pleasantries with the First Madam for a few sentences, then asked Song Chuyi a few casual questions, only then looking at the First Madam hesitantly and haltingly, probing the situation with some difficulty: “Last time at Duke Yingguo’s residence, Sixth Miss told me that your household once entertained thoughts of buying my poor daughter…”
She chose to begin in this manner, pausing as her expression turned miserably bitter and she couldn’t help but shed tears: “They say when someone leaves, the tea grows cold, yet your household treats people with sincerity and can still have this bit of kindness. It truly makes me endlessly grateful.”
As she spoke, she raised her eyes to look directly at First Madam Song, then turned her head to glance at Song Chuyi, who remained impassive throughout. Steeling her heart, she closed her eyes and said in one breath everything she wanted to say: “Sixth Miss also said that the elders in your family said it’s quite a pity that my husband follows the Chen family… To be honest with the Princess Consort, nowadays my husband is also walking on thin ice, being pressured daily by the performance evaluation matter until he can’t catch his breath, while his heart must worry and fear… Today I came to ask—can Sixth Miss’s words be relied upon or not?”
Moving people with emotion—Madam Fang was indeed a clever person. First Madam Song personally took her own handkerchief and handed it to Madam Fang, sighing deeply: “Speaking of it, it really is heartbreaking… An orphan and widow, it makes one’s heart ache to see. Our old madam is also soft-hearted and kind, unable to bear seeing others suffer. This is merely a small effort, after all.”
Yet she didn’t take up Madam Fang’s words, nor did she give Madam Fang a definite answer.
Madam Fang couldn’t help but become somewhat anxious. She stood up from her chair and walked a few steps toward the First Madam and Song Chuyi. Her legs bent and she actually knelt straight down, the anxiety on her face now completely exposed before First Madam Song and Song Chuyi without any concealment.
“My husband truly knows he was wrong.” Her voice was very low, yet she spoke exceptionally fluently and smoothly: “He became someone else’s vanguard and charged into battle, nearly causing the Cui family and Song family to… People under the eaves have no choice but to bow their heads. After all, he’s Elder Chen’s student. When orders come from above, how could he have any reason not to comply? I know that the Earl of Changning’s residence and the Cui clan are both destined to accomplish great things. I’ve heard that those who accomplish great things don’t fuss over petty matters…”
It seemed these words had gone through her mind countless times, which is why she could speak them all in one breath like this.
Seeing that the two people seated above seemed to have no reaction, Madam Fang moved forward on her knees two steps, pursing her lips with tears glistening as she clutched her chest: “What’s past cannot be undone, but as Sixth Miss said, it’s never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost. I beg the First Madam—”
Finally, she had completely made a gesture of submission. Someone like this would have no qualification to negotiate so many conditions in the future. First Madam Song seemed only now to notice that Madam Fang was kneeling on the ground. She set her teacup aside on a nearby table, quickly walked down a few steps from the platform to help Madam Fang up, sighing repeatedly: “We’re all the same kind of people. Madam Fang, please don’t demean me so…”
Just at this moment, Jin Cui’s voice came through the curtain: “First Madam, Sixth Miss, Nanny Qiu has returned.”
Madam Fang hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. The First Madam quickly instructed Jin Huan: “Quickly help Madam Fang adjust her makeup and wash her face!”
After Madam Fang had tidied herself up, First Madam Song held her and didn’t let her move, softly instructing Nanny Qiu to come in.
Nanny Qiu’s face still carried an indignant expression. But seeing there was a guest in the room, her voice lowered again as she explained everything clearly one by one: “The young master guarding the mountain gate only saw Yuqing alone at the time. Asking along the way, several young masters in the kitchen said they saw an old woman leading Yuqing out… After investigating clearly, that old woman belonged to the Wei family. They also had the young masters come identify her. All said they couldn’t be mistaken—it was an old woman brought by the Wei family who led Yuqing over there. At that time, she was already preparing to descend the mountain. Yuqing herself later also confessed that she indeed received that old woman’s silver, and only then deliberately left the young miss on the mountain.”
First Madam Song let out a cold laugh from her throat, turned her head with quite some indignation and helplessness to complain to Madam Fang: “Look at what kind of matters these are!” As she spoke, she explained how Yuqing had been bought off, then sighed: “If not for His Highness the Imperial Grand Heir’s protection, and Little Sixth’s quick reaction, if something had happened then, who would take responsibility? The Wei family’s conduct… is really too lacking in propriety…”
But Madam Fang’s entire body broke out in goosebumps upon hearing this. This matter that should have been handled away from others—First Madam Song unhesitatingly laid it all out and discussed it before her. What did this mean?! She wasn’t on such familiar terms with the Song family… To discuss such private matters in front of her—did they want to drag her into the mire as well?
She watched as First Madam Song instructed Nanny Qiu to go out and deal with the servants, then looked at Song Chuyi beside her, still maintaining a smile and remaining unmoved like a mountain. Suddenly she felt that the scheming depths of the female relatives of the Earl of Changning’s residence exceeded even her imagination.