Third Madam returned beaming with joy, walking with the same breezy confidence that First Madam had displayed some days ago. When she entered Ningde Courtyard, she first greeted Old Madam Song with a smile before glancing toward the inner rooms and asking, “Is Xiaoyi inside?” She had been holding a grudge over her daughter’s situation, and this time she had vented all that pent-up frustration on the Shen family. She had gone to the Shen residence and given them a thorough tongue-lashing, watching Shen Xiaohai’s face turn ashen—only then did the anger in her heart finally dissipate. After all, Shen Huiyi bore an inescapable responsibility for Song Chumi being provoked into seeking out that fortune-teller.
Now Song Chumi and her mother-in-law had gone back to their hometown, forcibly separated from her newlywed husband, and who knew how much hardship she would endure in the future. Third Madam was delighted to see the Shen family suffer misfortune along with them—especially since the one who had gotten into trouble in the Shen family was their legitimate heir apparent.
Old Madam Song narrowed her eyes and looked at her, slowly nodding. “Finished speaking?” She knew Third Madam had been holding in her anger recently, and that her sharp tongue could sometimes infuriate people to death. She had deliberately sent her there to make He Shi and Shen Xiaohai thoroughly lose face, and to let them know that the Earl of Changning’s residence was not a soft persimmon without a temper, allowing others to splash dirty water on them. If they wanted to dig up trouble on their heads, they were far too early.
Third Madam cheerfully responded yes, then vividly described to Old Madam Song the situation at the Shen household today: “You didn’t see what a complete mess it turned into. Seventh Young Master Shen refused to acknowledge anything at all, even saying that for him to marry Miss Tong, he’d have to be dead first. Tsk, tsk, tsk, at that moment Madam Tong fainted on the spot, and Madam of Marquis Wuning trembled with rage all over, wishing she could tear Seventh Young Master Shen’s mouth apart.”
Taking all the advantages when convenient, but when it came time to take responsibility, he wanted to walk away unscathed, passing through a field of flowers without a single leaf sticking to him? And he even wanted to seize the opportunity to drag the Song family into the mire so they couldn’t extricate themselves—his intentions were truly despicable.
Old Madam Song mentally reviewed the Shen family’s calculations once more. When Old Master Song came to Ningde Courtyard in the evening, she told him everything in detail, and concluded with utter disdain, mocking the Shen family: “Even though their ancestors were fairly upstanding, by this generation they actually want to rely on women to get by. I really wonder if the late Duke Yingguo would be so angry he’d jump out of his grave if he heard about this underground!”
First Master Song hadn’t anticipated this matter. Recently he had been busy at the Ministry of Rites preparing for the investiture ceremony of the Eastern Palace’s prince. Now returning home, he had come straight to pay respects to his mother first. Hearing such scandalous news, he couldn’t react for a moment, then afterward exclaimed in shock: “Outrageous!”
At the same time, he felt immensely grateful that his second brother’s foolish plan from some days ago hadn’t come to fruition. Otherwise, wouldn’t it have been like throwing a precious pearl into a cesspit?
Song Jue’s reaction was even stronger than First Master Song’s. Only because all the elders were present did he barely refrain from cursing something crude, but he still gritted his teeth and looked at his grandfather: “Are we just going to let the Shen family, these jumping clowns, smear Xiaoyi’s reputation like this and call it settled?”
Although this matter was scandalous and everyone knew about it in their hearts, it had indeed caused quite a stir, yet ultimately it was only damaging to reputation. If the Shen family truly and honestly married Miss Tong, benefits would still follow one after another—Miss Tong’s dowry would be exceptionally generous, and both Marquis and Madam of Marquis Wuning treated this Miss Tong as the apple of their eye. What good things wouldn’t they present before her? As long as Shen Qingrang came to his senses and treated this Miss Tong well, if the Shen family wanted to obtain an actual official position in the future, or resume doing business beyond the passes, it wouldn’t be impossible—after all, Marquis Wuning had operated in Xuanfu for quite some time.
Calculating it this way, the Shen family wouldn’t lose out at all, and could even be said to have picked up a not-so-small advantage. Although this advantage naturally couldn’t compare to what they’d gain from the Song family, a fly is still meat no matter how small, isn’t it? How could they let the Shen family have it easy after adding insult to the Song family?
Old Master Song glanced at him sideways. After all, he was old and shrewd, able to maintain his composure. Without showing any anger on his face, he asked calmly: “Then according to your thinking, what should be done?”
Song Jue blurted out without hesitation: “Although their family has cleaned up all their outside business dealings, it’s not entirely without traces. Think of a way—we can always make them suffer serious losses.”
If it were before, Old Master Song would have tacitly approved. Song Jue had always been prudent in his actions, and even when framing people, he wouldn’t leave obvious traces. But now the situation was different. If he made a move, the Eastern Palace might follow suit to win him over, and once that happened, major trouble would arise, and all these days of planning would be wasted.
He shook his head: “This is inappropriate. If Prince Duan’s matter is brought up again, His Majesty will be annoyed.” When things reach their extreme, they reverse—Emperor Jianzhang had already steeled his heart and sent Prince Duan to the Western Paradise. If now there were still those without eyes constantly pursuing Prince Duan’s party members relentlessly, it would instead make Emperor Jianzhang feel vexed.
Song Jue immediately grasped the deeper meaning in Old Master Song’s words. He lowered his head but still felt somewhat unwilling: “So we’re just going to let this go?”
Old Master Song nodded without hesitation: “Let’s just let this go.”
Old Madam Song’s expression darkened as she heavily set her teacup on the table. Even First Master Song felt this matter was being settled too lightly: “This way, Xiaoyi’s grievance will be suffered in vain.”
Old Master Song couldn’t help but laugh: “She’s suffering? Who could make this girl suffer? You all think carefully about who raised this Miss Tong and what her temperament and character are like. If you think more deeply, consider further—after Marquis Wuning’s faction lost control of Xuanfu, although they now manage garrison troops and still hold military command, how big is the difference? He can help the Shen family in limited ways, but if the Shen family makes his granddaughter unhappy, there’s much more they can do.”
Giving the Shen family an in-law with actual power but no importance, unable to enter the core circle, while also giving them a noble daughter with an exceptionally generous dowry but an exceptionally bad temper—whether the Shen family would have good days ahead, he didn’t know, but it was certain they wouldn’t have peace at home.
Old Master Song surveyed the somewhat peculiar expressions on everyone’s faces in the room and lightly coughed: “You all love worrying about things unnecessarily. When the Shen family came to propose marriage to Second Son back then, I guessed there would be a scene, I just didn’t expect it so soon. This girl doesn’t know who she found to help her this time. Looking at this situation, it definitely has nothing to do with you all—most likely it’s the Yingshu couple indulging her again.”
Song Jue had originally planned to give Song Chuyi the pot of Five Cranes Holding a Pearl camellia he’d been cultivating in his courtyard tonight to help her vent her anger. Now he wished he could take back even the Drunken Imperial Concubine camellia from Song Chuyi’s courtyard.
That cunning little fox!