Old Madam Xiang’s appearance was already somewhat harsh to begin with, and when she spoke these words with a ferocious expression, gnashing her teeth as if she wished Xiang Mingzi dead, she instantly ignited the gossiping hearts of the surrounding crowd.
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then a woman in her thirties or forties let out a surprised sound. “But I just came from over there, and the Governor arrested the witch doctor. The witch doctor clearly said that Miss Xiang isn’t any calamity star at all.”
Li Xintong was more composed. She pursed her lips without speaking, only sighing, “What calamity star or not—isn’t it just a label people forcibly pinned on her? I’m afraid the Xiang family can’t escape involvement in this matter.”
Li Xinwu wasn’t so polite. Her purple-gold hand warmer hit the table with a bang as she sneered coldly. “Yesterday when Father and Mother were talking, I happened to overhear a sentence or two. The Xiang family really is… No wonder in the poems our female teacher taught us to read, there’s a line that goes ‘Throughout the ages, scholars have been the ungrateful ones; heartless betrayers are always scholars.’ For Aunt Song to fall into their hands—it truly is a pearl covered in dust.”
Song Chuyi’s fingers lightly tapped the table. Her delicate earlobes were nearly transparent in the sunlight. She seemed to glance down casually—there was a cold, mocking smile on her face below.
Immediately someone picked up the thread. “What do you mean she’s not a calamity star? Didn’t the witch doctor himself say that the Xiang family’s eldest miss was a calamity star reborn, one who brings misfortune to her father, elder brother, and younger brother?!”
That woman looked at Old Madam Xiang with considerable disdain and made a sarcastic sound. “What calamity star reborn, what bringing misfortune to husband, father, and brothers—it was all said by that concubine! I heard she used a full fifty taels of gold to bribe the witch doctor to say such things. The witch doctor also confessed that the Xiang family’s young master wasn’t ill at all—the concubine had obtained medicine from her to fake the illness! The purpose was to burn Miss Xiang to death. Tsk, tsk, tsk, what deep hatred must it be? Not only trying to burn the legitimate daughter to death but even poisoning the legitimate wife to death.”
The play about Chen Shimei was still a must-see performance on the opera stages nowadays. Women always held deep empathy for women who suffered cruel abandonment and harm. Hearing this, they all began talking over each other, criticizing the Xiang family’s cruelty.
Old Madam Xiang’s meticulously groomed hair bun had been pulled into disarray by people, and her clothes had been tugged into wrinkled mess by various hands working in the dark. When she heard that even the matter of Xiang Mingzi being a calamity star had been fabricated by Concubine Bai and that the matter had already come to light, her vision went black.
Xiang Lian was the first to react. He kicked open the door, moving his rotund body and quickly rushing inside.
Old Madam Xiang cried and wailed for a while, but when she discovered that not only did no one sympathize with her, everyone was pointing fingers at her instead, she found it boring. She spat repeatedly at the crowd, just like cursing over disputed fields in the countryside, and spat until everyone scattered.
Qing Tao gently pushed open the door and came in. She happened to witness Old Madam Xiang’s tantrum scene and covered her mouth with a smile. She leaned close to Song Chuyi’s ear and whispered a few words.
Seeing that the crowd had mostly dispersed and that they were accompanying Song Chuyi out, the Li sisters asked Song Chuyi if she still wanted to wander around.
Song Chuyi shook her head with a smile, saying she’d seen enough, and still took the original route back home with the Li sisters in the carriage.
As soon as she got off the carriage, she saw Third Master Song also hurrying inside. Song Chuyi called out “Third Uncle” and, seeing he was returning from outside, asked, “Has the case been decided?”
Third Master Song nodded and wiped the sweat on his head from rushing about. “It’s been decided. That concubine of his family refused to confess at first, but later with gleaming gold placed right before her eyes, and with the physicians from Hechun Hall and Nannies Zheng and Wang all testifying, she had no way to deny it.”
This was also within expectations. The Song family’s fury was enough to make everything seamless. Plus, with the Governor’s help, all the documents would be done properly and flawlessly without any loopholes. Even if it went to the Ministry of Justice, this death sentence by autumn execution was inevitable.
When Song Chuyi and Third Master Song entered, they happened to hear Old Madam Song instructing Nanny Huang, “Take the list to the Xiang family. Not a single item of the dowry is to be missing—they must return everything to us. We’ll also prepare the betrothal gifts and ship them from the capital back to Sichuan before long.”
This was demanding Old Madam Xiang’s life. Back then, out of consideration for the Xiang family’s poverty, the Song manor hadn’t required much in betrothal gifts. Although Old Madam Xiang had scraped together all the good things from the house, those things compared to Song Linlang’s dowry were at most a drop in the ocean. Add to that all the silver Song Linlang had contributed to the Xiang family over the years—even if the Xiang family sold their ancestral home, they might not be able to compensate fully.
Since Old Madam Song didn’t avoid Song Chuyi in anything, after all these days Third Master Song had also grown accustomed to not hiding things. He shared all the trial results. “Concubine Bai was sentenced to autumn execution, and the list will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice shortly. As for Xiang Yunzhang, they searched his house and found many items of unknown origin. I heard there were even tribute items among them, which probably involves embezzlement. Plus, favoring concubines and destroying his wife to the point of causing deaths… His official seal has been temporarily confiscated pending trial. He’s being held in prison, and the case will be transferred to the Ministry of Justice.”
Once in the capital, with officials having two mouths, there would be even less chance of survival for Xiang Yunzhang.
Old Madam Song didn’t appear particularly happy. After sighing heavily, she remained silent for a long while before looking at Madam Li with sincerity. “This time we’re truly indebted to you and A’yu. Otherwise, with the Xiang family being so arrogant and also being local tyrants, we probably wouldn’t have been able to obtain justice so easily.”
“Aunt, you’re being too polite again!” Madam Li smiled and held her two daughters’ hands tighter, seeming somewhat moved. “Since childhood, my mother taught me that a woman’s marriage is a lifelong matter. I never quite understood before. Only now do I finally believe it completely. Fortunately, we’ve at least avenged her now—I hope she has some comfort beneath the Nine Springs.”
She paused, touching Li Xintong’s head, then looked toward Old Madam Song again. “Moreover, parents’ hearts cherishing their children are the same throughout the world. Xintong will soon marry into the capital, and we as parents cannot follow by her side. This time I extend my help—in the future, Aunt, in consideration of today’s sentiment, surely won’t stand by and watch my daughter be bullied.”
Li Xintong felt both shy and embarrassed, yet moved by how deeply her parents thought ahead. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden.
Old Madam Song spat at Madam Li. “What nonsense are you talking?! When she goes there, she’s definitely going to have marital harmony and a house full of children and grandchildren. Yet you as her mother curse her with your unlucky words!”
Everyone laughed for a while when suddenly someone from the gatehouse came in to report that a Young Master Guo had presented his card requesting an audience.
Old Madam Song took the card and looked at it, then was somewhat stunned. She said with considerable surprise and doubt, “It’s actually Guo Huaiying’s legitimate son, Guo Yantang.”