Otherwise, the main branch would likely sink along with the Fu family ship.

After all, the main branch and Fu Ruoxi’s second branch had already divided the household. If Princess Zhenguo was willing to lend a hand, she could still save the main branch.

Just as Madam Fu of the main branch was about to stand up, she heard an announcement from outside that the Dong family had come to pay respects.

Madam Fu’s heart leaped with joy, and she craned her neck to look outside. Indeed, she saw Minister Dong of the Honglu Temple bringing his family members.

Minister Dong was Princess Zhenguo’s uncle, and Madam Dong née Song was Princess Zhenguo’s aunt. Later, she would personally escort Song Shi to the back for tea, and could naturally strike up a conversation with Princess Zhenguo, letting Princess Zhenguo know… that their main branch was the Dong family’s in-laws, and if she were to plead for anyone’s care… it should be for their main branch.

After Dong Qingping offered incense and the Fu family members returned the courtesy, Fu Ruoxi’s elder brother personally escorted Minister Dong to the back hall, where male guests drank tea and rested. He inevitably lamented with Dong Qingping about the fickleness of human nature, and repeatedly thanked Dong Qingping and Princess Zhenguo for coming to the Fu family to pay respects to the old madam when the Fu family was at the center of the storm.

That Bai Qingyan had also come to the Fu family was entirely within Dong Qingping’s expectations—the Bai family’s tradition had always been so upright.

Moreover, today Dong Qingping had instructed Song Shi that no matter what, when she saw Bai Qingyan, she must invite Bai Qingyan to visit the Dong mansion, as he had important matters to discuss with Bai Qingyan.

After Song Shi brought Dong Tingyu to offer incense and expressed condolences to Madam Fu and Third Madam Fu, Madam Fu quickly pulled her son to pay respects to Song Shi.

Seeing her son’s unwilling expression with a stiff face, Madam Fu hurriedly invited Song Shi to the female guests’ resting area in the back.

Not seeing Dong Tingfang, Madam Fu specifically asked: “Why didn’t Tingfang come? Princess Zhenguo, Second Madam Bai, and Seventh Miss are all here. I was thinking that since Tingfang hasn’t seen Princess Zhenguo for a long time, they could have a good chat this time.”

Song Shi knew Madam Fu’s little schemes in her heart. Her expression became somewhat unpleasant as she smiled and said, “Tingfang fell ill three days ago. Today, instead of getting better, she became even worse, so I didn’t bring her. Please forgive me, Madam Fu.”

Madam Fu, who had originally been quite dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law, now showed concern: “Recently in the capital, the mornings and nights are cool while midday is hot. Tingfang’s constitution has always been weak, so she should be more careful.”

Song Shi nodded: “Madam Fu speaks truly.”

When Madam Fu brought Song Shi over, Bai Qingyan had already returned. Seeing Song Shi enter, she stood up and bowed: “Aunt…”

By rights, when Song Shi saw Bai Qingyan, she should have bowed first according to hierarchy, but seeing Bai Qingyan show such respect to Song Shi, Madam Fu’s scheming mind became active again: “Princess Zhenguo and Madam Dong are so close and value sisterly relationships. When Tingfang enters our household, Princess Zhenguo can certainly treat our Fu family main branch as her own home and visit frequently!”

Bai Qingyan smiled subtly without answering. Dong Tingyu stepped forward and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Cousin.”

“Madam Dong…” Second Madam Liu Shi stepped forward and greeted Madam Dong née Song: “It’s been a long time.”

Song Shi smiled and returned the courtesy to Liu Shi: “It has been a long time indeed!”

After speaking, Song Shi turned to Madam Fu, who was still standing there, and said: “Madam Fu is busy today, so you needn’t be so courteous in hosting us. We can just sit here and chat among ourselves.”

Madam Fu kept glancing toward Bai Qingyan. Seeing no one else around, she knelt in Bai Qingyan’s direction with tears in her eyes: “Princess Zhenguo, I know Princess Zhenguo is favored before the Crown Prince. This time, Fu Ruoxi drew his blade against the Crown Prince, and his crime is unforgivable, but our main branch has long since divided from the household. Please, Princess Zhenguo, considering that we are in-laws with the Dong family, plead with the Crown Prince. The evil Fu Ruoxi committed has nothing to do with our main branch. I beg His Highness the Crown Prince to spare our main branch!”

Song Shi was startled, and Liu Shi decisively blocked Bai Qingyan’s front. Rather than helping, she almost yanked Madam Fu up, saying with a forced smile: “Madam Fu, everything has its reason and law. Though our eldest miss could be considered cousins with the Crown Prince, this time protecting the Crown Prince was protecting the foundation of the nation, serving the Kingdom loyally. In matters of state and politics, she absolutely cannot interfere! Instead of begging our eldest miss here, Madam Fu would be better off directly appealing to His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Exactly!” Song Shi was also made extremely uncomfortable by Madam Fu’s sudden action. She gripped Bai Qingyan’s slender wrist and protected her behind herself, saying with a smile: “Princess Zhenguo is just a young lady after all. The State of Jin has laws for everything—how could Princess Zhenguo presume to speak before the Crown Prince? Madam Fu shouldn’t make things difficult for a young girl! Moreover, as Madam Fu said, the main branch has already divided the household. How could Minister Lu of the Court of Judicial Review not investigate thoroughly when deciding cases? Surely Madam Fu doesn’t think Minister Lu would be unjust and deliberately target the Fu family’s main branch?”

Madam Fu, who had hoped Song Shi would speak for the main branch, stood stunned for a moment. Seeing Bai Qingyan firmly blocked behind Song Shi and Liu Shi, she could only respond quietly and return to the mourning hall.

With both Aunt Song Shi and Second Aunt Liu Shi protecting her, the smile in Bai Qingyan’s eyes deepened: “Aunt and Second Aunt needn’t protect me so much. I can still handle Madam Fu.”

Song Shi turned and grasped Bai Qingyan’s hand, looking her up and down before pulling her to sit down: “Yesterday, when you returned, your uncle wanted me to visit you at the Bai mansion, but I thought you should rest well after just returning, so I didn’t go. But looking at you now, you still haven’t recovered from yesterday—your eyes are so dark with circles.”

“It’s because my cousin is so fair-skinned that the dark circles appear more prominent!” Dong Tingyu said softly.

Song Shi touched Bai Qingyan’s hand, her eyes containing both smiles and sadness, but she said nothing. When news of Dong Changlan’s death reached the capital, fearing it would affect Dong Changyuan’s spring examinations in February next year, Dong Qingping and Song Shi had ordered everyone in the Dong household not to discuss the matter.

The affair between Dong Tingfang and the Fu family’s legitimate son had become known to everyone. Now, everyone was talking behind the Dong family’s back. Dong Tingfang’s attempt to hang herself to prove her innocence only made others think her scheming ran even deeper.

Song Shi, as the legitimate mother, though she hadn’t put effort into teaching the girl, couldn’t watch a Dong family daughter suffer injustice and implicate her legitimate daughters, Dong Tingzhen and Dong Tinglan. She could only humble herself to explain… but this became seen as the Dong family covering things up.

Ever since the affair between Dong Tingzhen and Prince Liang nearly became uncontrollable, the Dong family had faced one crisis after another, and Song Shi was utterly exhausted.

·

For the Fu family’s funeral, aside from the Bai and Dong families briefly visiting the capital, Fu Ruoxi’s wife, Lady Luo’s maternal brothers, also came in the afternoon. The Fu family truly experienced what it meant for human relationships to be cold and warm.

Madam Fu was single-mindedly focused on preserving the main branch, wanting to curry favor with Princess Zhenguo.