“Reporting to the First Madam, this old servant’s surname is indeed Sun.”

Nanny Sun wore an ingratiating expression full of flattery.

Li Zhen said, “Then that’s correct. Your parents are still being cared for in the residence in good health, and your son and daughter have both received positions in the residence and are doing well. Yours is a family of complete loyalty.”

“Madam is benevolent and kind—it’s the good fortune of us servants.”

In just a few words, Li Zhen had bypassed Madam Song, seized control of the situation, and turned herself from guest to host. Madam Song gripped her handkerchief, wanting to regain control but not knowing how to begin.

Seeing her movements, Li Zhen smiled. “I forgot to tell you that Concubine Wu’s health is still holding up. You needn’t worry.”

“Thank you, Sister-in-law, for looking after my concubine mother all these years.”

Madam Song accepted this with a dry laugh, then fell silent again.

The Su family was also a family of scholars and nobility, and Li Zhen’s birth was even more distinguished. From the moment she married into the Su residence, she had managed the household until now.

She had a thunderous temperament and did things swiftly and decisively. Before marriage, the concubines and concubine-born daughters in her residence had received no small amount of discipline from her. Even though Madam Song’s current status was not much lower than hers, seeing Li Zhen still evoked a fear that emanated from her very bones.

“How well could I have looked after her? Actually, seeing you today also concerns Concubine Wu.”

Li Zhen looked at Nanny Sun. “Go find all the people who came as part of the dowry from the Su residence back then. I have something to say to you all.”

Madam Song’s head snapped up. “What does Sister-in-law mean by this?”

“What are you waiting for?”

Without even glancing at Madam Song, Li Zhen raised her elegant brows sharply, her gaze piercing as she looked at Nanny Sun.

Nanny Sun’s heart trembled. Though she didn’t want to move, after hesitating repeatedly, she still obeyed Li Zhen’s command and scurried out, leaving Madam Song behind.

Having lived in comfort beside Madam Song for too long, she had even forgotten that her parents, children, and her own indenture contract were all still held in the Su residence’s hands.

Back then, when the Su family’s legitimate daughter fell gravely ill, to preserve the marriage alliance between the Su and Song families and the future of a pair of children, they had overruled objections and selected the Su family’s Seventh Miss, who was neither particularly capable nor beautiful.

Now that the Su family’s seventh daughter had been Madam Song for many years, they had all forgotten the methods of the Su family’s legitimate daughter.

Nanny Sun slapped her thigh, only now remembering that all the people who had come as part of the dowry back then had been personally selected by the Su family’s eldest miss.

She had truly lost her mind. After more than ten years, she had completely forgotten her true master and had even begun scheming against Song Wan.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Nanny Sun hurriedly gathered all the people who had come as dowry from the Su residence.

A group of people arrived at Song Wan’s residence, frightened into silence, not daring to breathe loudly.

Seeing all her people dragged over, Madam Song looked at Song Wan with reddened eyes. “Wan’er, what exactly did Mother do wrong to make you treat me this way?”

“Previously, I wanted to send you back to the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence because I couldn’t see the situation clearly, but honestly speaking, was I truly wrong?”

“Or are you holding a grudge because I brought you to meet Young Master Yang a few days ago?”

Madam Song gripped her handkerchief tightly, staring at Song Wan. “You know clearly that you cannot stay in the residence forever, and my considering marriage matters for you was also approved by the master—it wasn’t my own decision.”

“Do you really think you can remain in the residence for a lifetime? I was just thinking that since you’re still young, it’s better to make plans for the future early.”

“You’ve only been back a short time, so there’s still some goodwill in the family. If it truly drags on too long and exhausts all the family’s goodwill, what would be the point?”

“Over such a small matter, you actually needed to summon Madam Su?”

The more Madam Song spoke, the angrier she became, growing so angry she spoke without thinking. “Not only did you stir up chaos at the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence, now that you’ve returned to the Song family, do you want to continue stirring up trouble in your maternal family as well? Do you truly wish to announce this family disgrace to all of the capital?”

Hearing this, Song Wan merely said lightly, “Mother has lost her composure.”

Madam Song choked, her face flushing red from being stifled by this gentle remark, unable to say another word.

Seeing this, Li Zhen laughed. “What is Seventh Sister getting so worked up about? Your fussing startled me.”

Lowering her eyelids slightly, Li Zhen raised her hand, and a sharp-faced maid behind her presented a nanmu wood box.

She placed her hand on the nanmu box and looked at everyone present. “Concubine Wu is getting on in years. You are all old servants by Seventh Miss’s side—it’s time for you to fulfill your filial duties to her.”

“Starting today, you’ll all return to the Su residence with me. From now on, the responsibility of caring for Concubine Wu in her retirement will be entrusted to you. This way, Madam Song can also set her mind at ease.”

The servants looked at each other, all very unwilling.

They had been in the Song residence for over ten years and were confidants by the legitimate wife’s side. The positions they held were both respectable and profitable.

What would they do returning to the Su residence now?

Could it be that at their age, they would still have to serve a concubine in a lowly position?

None of them moved. Nanny Sun bit her teeth and walked to Li Zhen’s side, not daring to look at Madam Song even once.

Her entire family depended on Li Zhen’s favor to survive. What else could she say?

Madam Song’s eyes reddened as she looked directly at Song Wan. “Does Wan’er truly want to force Mother this way?”

“What kind of words are those? Could it be you don’t want to provide for Concubine Wu in her old age?”

Li Zhen sneered. “In so short a time you’ve forgotten your own status. If Concubine Wu knew you harbored such unfilial thoughts, she would probably cry herself to death.”

Madam Song bit her teeth and dared not say more, fearing Li Zhen would pin on her the label of disrespecting her birth mother. Though Concubine Wu was not her legitimate mother, since her legitimate mother had passed, if she didn’t respect and obey Concubine Wu, it would only implicate Song Yao and the others’ reputations.

In the past she might have been able to argue, but now that Yao’er’s prospects were different from before, she couldn’t afford even the slightest delay.

“So the rest of you are all unwilling, is that it?”

Li Zhen raised an eyebrow, and a dark-complexioned woman stepped forward from behind her.

Li Zhen said, “This is Steward Wang from the residence, who manages the tenant farmers…”

Opening the nanmu box beneath her palm, she took out a stack of thin indenture contracts. “If you’re unwilling to return to the residence with me, your entire families can all go to Steward Wang’s estate to farm and till the land for the residence.”

These indenture contracts all belonged to people whose parents were at the Su residence, or whose children or husbands were there.

Calling out several names methodically, as Li Zhen spoke, those servants one by one all came to stand beside her.

“There, that’s settled? You have half an hour to pack your belongings. The carriages are waiting at the Song residence’s gate. Anyone who’s late will go to the estate with Steward Wang.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Zhen waved her hand and everyone retreated in a rush.

Madam Song was so angry her teeth hurt.

She resented that she had clearly been wary of this group before.

But while one could be on guard for a year or two, who could be vigilant against those around them day after day? Moreover, she didn’t have the ability to cultivate so many new confidants. As time passed, she naturally began using this group of dowry servants.

“Eldest Miss.”

A woman wearing a buttoned vest entered from outside. She held a stack of account books in her hands and respectfully bowed to Song Wan. “What matter does the Miss have for this old servant?”

Song Wan pressed her lips in a slight smile. “Mother is filial and has sent all the people by her side back to the Su family to care for Concubine Wu. Today, you should find some more people to arrange for Mother.”

Nanny Song, who had been granted the family name by her masters, said, “This old servant understands and will arrange it immediately.”

After speaking, she looked at Song Wan with faint affection in her eyes. “These past days have been cold. This old servant had the residence’s carpenter make a brand new charcoal brazier for Miss, to save Miss from having cold hands and feet while reading every day.”