Madam Li also had to think for quite a while before she finally recalled the background of this Guo Yantang. She couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Back then, Guo Huaiying, that good-for-nothing second-generation wastrel, actually volunteered to leave the capital. Now it seems he’s serving as a provincial inspector in Zhejiang.”
Shen Yang had always been extremely close friends with Cui Zhanmei. It was said that in her youth, Shen Yang had even lived at the Cui family residence for a period of time.
Old Madam Song set the visiting card aside and said to Third Master Song, “Cige’er, you go to the study first to receive this Young Master Guo and see what his intentions are.”
Song Chuyi also found it very strange—what was this Young Master Guo doing in Qingzhou City at this time? Logically, he should either be with his parents in Zhejiang or returning to the capital for the New Year. Why had he inexplicably come to Qingzhou?
Seeing that a guest had arrived, Madam Li rose to take her leave and return home. Despite Old Madam Song’s repeated attempts to make her stay, she couldn’t be persuaded, so Old Madam Song could only personally escort her to the door.
Madam Li hurriedly stopped her, laughing, “This would truly be too much honor for me—how could I let you personally escort me out, Aunty? I was just about to ask your opinion: it looks like we won’t make it back to the capital in time for New Year, so why not come to Jinan this year to celebrate with us?”
When winter arrived in the northern regions, heavy snowfall blocking the roads was a common occurrence. Setting aside whether there was enough time to rush back to the capital now, even if there were enough time, being blocked by heavy snow on the road would likely delay them by a month or two.
The Song family group had already endured the hardships of travel by boat and carriage to reach Shandong. If they rushed back again so urgently, their bodies probably couldn’t withstand it.
Old Madam Song appreciated Madam Li’s kind intentions but still politely declined, “After the New Year begins and some time has passed, I’ll bring Xiaoyi to visit you in Jinan.”
After seeing Madam Li off, Old Madam Song instructed Yushu and Yulan to help her change clothes, while turning her head to tell Song Chuyi, “Xiaoyi, you go change your clothes too. In a moment, you’ll accompany Grandmother on an outing.”
Song Chuyi had already changed into guest-receiving attire today because she planned to go out to watch the excitement. Yet Old Madam Song still asked her to change again. Luyi couldn’t help feeling anxious, “This doesn’t look like we’re going to a temple.”
As Qing Tao informed Ziyun about changing clothes, hearing Luyi’s comment, she laughed, “Looking at this setup, it doesn’t seem like we’re going to a temple. I’m afraid Old Madam is going…”
Luyi understood immediately, stuck out her tongue, and couldn’t help feeling somewhat expectant, “I really want to go see too, to watch whether that Old Madam Xiang can still be so arrogant.”
While they were talking, Song Chuyi had already finished changing. She wore the pine-wave red jacket and primrose-yellow eight-panel skirt that First Madam Song had given her last winter. Standing in this vast expanse of white heaven and earth, it was hard not to notice her.
Seeing this outfit, Old Madam Song smiled. Looking at the pearls adorning her hair and the exquisitely crafted delicate jade hairpin, she was satisfied as she took her hand and boarded the carriage.
“Did you see that Old Madam Xiang today?” Old Madam Song asked as soon as she boarded the carriage, settling into the soft and comfortable seat. A trace of coldness appeared between her brows. “What kind of person do you think she is?”
Since those who came for the marriage proposal and to receive the bride were Xiang Yunzhang and his clan uncle, Old Madam Song had actually never met this nominal in-law. Although she had heard from Yun He and others that Old Madam Xiang was harsh, it had only existed in her imagination.
Song Chuyi coughed once and honestly told her, “She’s completely different from all the aunts and madams we’ve encountered… When she gets excited, she’ll even sit on the ground singing and talking at the same time.”
Old Madam Song laughed once. The decorative band on her head made her appear even more prosperous and benevolent. “Let’s hope she can still laugh later.”
At this very moment, Nanny Huang had probably already taken the dowry list to Old Madam Xiang’s place to demand the return of the trousseau. Since Old Madam Xiang so loved throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground, she was probably crying and wailing on the floor right now.
Old Madam Song’s guess was correct. The Xiang household was currently in complete chaos. Old Madam Xiang was sitting on the ground holding her youngest grandson, crying out, “What money? What money?! When has our Xiang family ever used even one cent of her money? She spends money like water every day—bird’s nest and fish maw as commonly as drinking porridge. Don’t these things cost money?! She’s already squandered it all herself! And now you still come to demand money from us… This is clearly trying to force us orphans and widows to death!”
Her son had already been thrown into prison and was to be sent to the Ministry of Justice. Mistress Bai had also been sentenced to execution after autumn. If she had no silver in hand, how would she smooth things over for her son in the future? How would she raise these grandsons? This money absolutely could not be handed over…
Song Chuyi supported Old Madam Song as they entered. She saw Old Madam Xiang rolling on the ground. On such a cold day, she herself was warmly dressed and fine, but the little boy who looked only three or four years old was both dazed and cold, his face already frightened pale.
The noble ladies she had encountered all devoured people without spitting out their bones. They were accustomed to swallowing daughters-in-law’s dowries gracefully and decorously. In her previous life, when He Shi swallowed her dowry, she did it step by step, eroding it without leaving a trace, giving her no grounds to even complain. But she had never seen someone like Old Madam Xiang who thought that being unreasonably domineering would get her what she wanted.
Old Madam Song had lived most of her life. She had seen quite a few noble families who had rolled through the mud in their time. But she had never seen anyone so utterly shameless, and for a moment couldn’t react.
Old Madam Xiang had already thrown the child in her arms to the ground and lunged forward, grabbing Old Madam Song’s legs and refusing to let go. Her nose and tears all came out together as she sobbed and called out, “In-law! You can’t do this! This is demanding the Xiang family’s lives! We’ve been in-laws for so many years—there must be some affection between us…”
Old Madam Song was so angry she couldn’t help but laugh. With a glance from her, Nanny Qin stepped forward to pry open Old Madam Xiang’s hands and helped her up.
“Affection?” Old Madam Song looked at Old Madam Xiang with her curled lips and sidelong glances, her tone rising. “Talk to me about affection? My family is the aggrieved party filing charges against your family. Your son indulged his concubine in abusing my daughter and ultimately poisoned my daughter to death with a bowl of poison. And now, Old Madam, you talk to me about affection?”
She gave a cold laugh, her face carrying bone-deep coldness and mockery. “Moreover, in all these years as in-laws, I’ve never seen your family prepare proper gifts according to etiquette for festivals and holidays—it’s always been my daughter maintaining face for you. When our family held birthday banquets and New Year feasts, your family never even sent a ghost. And in such circumstances, Old Madam, you talk to me about affection?! Forgive my bluntness, but I can’t see what affection remains between us. All I know is that my daughter is dead, killed by your family! All I know is that the Provincial Governor has already ruled on the case and granted my daughter divorce from your son. According to the rules, you must return every single item of my daughter’s trousseau to us!”
Old Madam Xiang bizarrely spat on her palms, her eyes—made even smaller by the wrinkles surrounding them—radiating calculating light. “In-law, what you’re saying… Our two families are separated by thousands of miles. Even if we wanted to maintain relations, it wouldn’t be easy, would it? Besides, you all know about Linlang’s health—ginseng and deer antler couldn’t leave her lips, bird’s nest and fish maw were like drinking water to her. Don’t all these things cost money?”