First Madam came to report to Old Madam Song about returning the invitation to the Cui family in a few days, while also asking somewhat hesitantly, “It’s just that I don’t know who would be good to invite as accompanying guests…”
They needed to be close to the Song family and also able to converse with the Cui family people—this was truly difficult to find. She had discussed this with First Master Song for several days now, but neither could come up with many suitable people. It was truly worrying her to death.
Old Madam Song saw the dark circles under her eyes, and the recent grievances gradually dissipated. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Isn’t your elder brother still in the capital these days? Why not send him an invitation as well? Also, Prince Zhennan will be coming that day, so the accompanying guests will be settled.”
The family had become much closer to Prince Zhennan’s household recently. First Madam was somewhat surprised at the reason behind this, but since Prince Zhennan’s household had always been on friendly terms with their family anyway, First Madam didn’t continue asking. Instead, she became somewhat worried about her elder brother—the Song family had ultimately told the Li family about her pushing Song Chuyi out as a scapegoat, so the Li family had specifically sent her eldest brother, Li Yuanwang, to the capital to apologize.
Although the Li family was gradually losing people in the court, the younger generation still had plenty preparing to enter officialdom. They had always regarded family traditions as paramount. When Li Yuanwang heard of this matter, he was so angry he nearly ascended to heaven, pointing at her nose asking if she had forgotten over ten years of their parents’ teachings…
It was only these past days, for First Master Song’s sake, that Li Yuanwang’s attitude toward her had softened somewhat, so he wouldn’t look at her with complete disdain whenever they met.
First Madam sighed, suppressing her worries in her heart without showing them. She nodded and asked Old Madam Song again, “Seeing as the New Year is approaching, Third Sister-in-law certainly can’t keep traveling back and forth. Since she’s living at home, why not have her manage some affairs like before? It would also spare her from grieving all day over Fourth Girl’s matters…”
Old Madam Song’s heart was also heavy. Speaking of the four daughters-in-law, only Fifth Madam Wang Jinsi came from an aristocratic family, but she had been spoiled by Empress Dowager Rongxian and her temperament ruined. The other three were all from ordinary backgrounds… Back during Emperor Chenghua’s time, things were truly too tense and dangerous, otherwise they should have indeed found matches of equal status. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have come to all of them being short-sighted, raising their children improperly as well.
She removed the forehead band from her head and rubbed her temples. After careful consideration, she nodded, “This is also good, to save her from crying all day long.”
She paused, then looked at First Madam with unusual seriousness. After a self-deprecating laugh, she admonished her, “How many years have you all been married into this family? The children have all reached the age to marry, yet each of you still wobbles like three-legged cats, unable to stand firm or walk straight. Once your father-in-law and I are gone, what do you plan to do?”
First Madam’s face turned white at these words. She hastily stood up repeatedly saying she didn’t dare, so nervous her hands trembled slightly—during this period she had truly come to understand many things clearly. For instance, she had always felt that because her daughter was a consort, as long as her daughter was secure and worry-free, she and the Song family could eternally preserve their wealth and honor. But the matter with Empress Dowager Rongxian had completely dispelled this notion—if not for the Song family, this towering entity standing behind her, Consort Song would probably have been devoured without even bones remaining long ago. Wasn’t the matter with the Yun family the best proof of this?
She bit her lip and grasped Old Madam Song’s hand, nearly crying aloud, “Mother, it’s my fault. From now on I will certainly remember your teachings and never dare again. Please don’t speak such words…”
Old Master Song and Old Madam Song, as the Song family’s helmsmen, could always successfully avoid storms and know which direction to go. They were truly incomparably stronger than her, who only looked at the small path before her eyes. She had been accustomed to enjoying the shade of a great tree, and hearing Old Madam Song’s words now, thinking again about what would happen if Old Master Song and Old Madam Song truly let go—she didn’t dare think any deeper…
Since ancient times, those with high positions and great power rarely had good endings. From the Chenghua reign onward, seven Grand Secretaries had died, with only one surviving but ending up with a destroyed family—the saying goes, the higher you stand, the harder you fall. They all died merely due to court struggles, yet their family also had a daughter in the palace, making it even more impossible to extricate themselves. Once they sank into this whirlpool, it would directly mean eternal damnation…
Old Madam Song supported her hand to help her stand, and seeing she was quite frightened, her voice also softened considerably, “I don’t mean to blame you, just expressing feelings momentarily. You haven’t experienced the bloody storm of the Chenghua reign. At that time, the Old Master’s elder brother also lost his life because he held the Jinwu Guard…” She sighed, placing her palm over First Madam’s hand and patting it. “To say something you might not like to hear, it was precisely because of this that the Old Master specifically sought to marry you to be our Song family’s principal wife. Of you several, except for Tingting and Fifth’s wife, which one doesn’t come from an ordinary household? But I’ll have you know, I’ve never been dissatisfied with you all because of this. It’s only this time that you’ve truly angered me terribly…”
First Madam forcibly held back the tears about to overflow, hurriedly nodding, “This matter was this daughter-in-law’s fault…”
“No matter what time it is, you must remember you are the Song family’s principal wife. Although the Eldest currently only holds a position in the Ministry of Rites, that’s only because his father is above him. It’s not that he himself is incompetent—he’s also a properly earned jinshi, and will rise in the future. If you drag him down from behind, who knows when you might pull him and the Song family down together.” Old Madam Song patiently reasoned with her. “As husband and wife, whatever matters arise should be discussed and negotiated. Never take it upon yourself to handle things while hiding them from the other party, otherwise if something goes wrong, it will be too late for regrets. Your father-in-law and I have been together all these years and never turned red-faced or quarreled. It’s not because I served him well, nor because I was willing to be a yes-woman, but because I respect him and he respects me. When encountering matters, we first think about our own problems, not blindly blaming the other party, much less pushing all responsibility onto others just to enjoy our own comfort. In the past, I was negligent, always thinking you could gradually understand many things yourself, forgetting to bring you along for everything and let you learn by watching. From now on, put in more effort and learn more from this old woman.”
First Madam wept with joy, nodding like a pecking chicken.
Old Madam Song called for Yushu and others to come in and attend to First Madam washing her face, while instructing her, “Later, also go counsel your sister-in-law. I really can’t make her understand… Haven’t even started speaking to her yet, and she’s already all snot and tears… It’s giving people such a headache. You’re sisters-in-law after all, so you can probably speak to her better than I, her mother-in-law, can.”