When Song Chuyi arrived at the main courtyard, the Old Madam was already waiting for her. Besides the Old Madam, the First Madam, Second Madam, and Third Madam were all attending at her side.
When Old Madam Song saw Song Chuyi, she smiled and said, “Weren’t you curious earlier about the filled longevity character snowflake cake your eldest aunt mentioned? Your eldest aunt specially sent over a small plate for you. You must finish it later.”
The First Madam also smiled and came over to pull her to a seat. “If I’d known you loved eating it, I would have had your eldest sister-in-law prepare more. When your fourth and fifth sisters arrive later, I’m afraid that small plate of yours won’t be enough to share.”
Li Shi was somewhat curious about why Old Madam Song had summoned them all today, so she spoke with caution and care, helping Song Chuyi straighten her clothes as she took up the conversation. “Old Madam, Elder Sister-in-law, if you ask her, she doesn’t really like eating this—she just thinks the name sounds nice. She’s never been fond of sweets. Getting her to eat some pastries is harder than ascending to heaven. This girl is just attracted to novelty and fun. Once she sees it later, she’ll set it aside and won’t want it.”
The Third Madam had been sidelined before and couldn’t quite gauge the Old Madam’s intentions at the moment, so she just followed along with a smile without saying anything.
Before long, Song Chumi and the others indeed all arrived. Among the girls, only Song Chuning and Song Chuyan were absent. It was appropriate that Song Chuyan didn’t come—after all, she was only two years old, still too young.
The Old Madam asked the Second Madam, “How is it that Ning’er isn’t here?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She started running a fever this morning, and the fever still hasn’t broken.” Li Shi shook her head with some concern. “Nanny Yu says she’s probably been touched by night wandering spirits. When we get back, we’ll stand up some chopsticks and ask.”
The First Madam quickly said, “That can’t be delayed. Later I’ll send Nanny Qiu from my quarters to take a look. She’s skilled at both calming frightened spirits and consulting with deities.”
The Old Madam also nodded in agreement. Seeing that everyone had arrived, she began to have the dishes served.
The First Madam, Second Madam, and Third Madam didn’t eat here, but stood to the side helping them with their dishes.
After the meal concluded, the Old Madam showed no intention of dismissing the madams. After sitting for a while, she specifically asked the First Madam, “I remember that the supervising nanny and senior maids in Xiaoyi’s room were all selected by you?”
The First Madam was momentarily stunned and instinctively glanced at the Second Madam.
Back when she hadn’t yet fallen out with the Second Madam, to avoid trouble and suspicion, she had used people recommended by the Second Madam. Could something have gone wrong now?
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke carefully, “At the time, Second Sister-in-law said that Nanny Wang was an experienced old nanny with reliable work. Those two maids also seemed clever, so I assigned them all to Sixth Girl’s quarters.”
The Old Madam then looked at Li Shi.
Li Shi’s heart already sank with a thud, immediately sensing that something was wrong.
She glanced at the First Madam and said with utmost sincerity, “Old Madam, I was the one who selected them. Nanny Wang had previously nursed the Second Master. She has both age and qualifications, and she’s always been thorough in caring for people at our place. I thought that since Nanny Xu in Sixth Girl’s room was still rather young, I wanted an older person to provide some stability. As for those two maids, they’re both good ones. At the time, it was Sixth Girl herself who selected them, thinking these two maids were pretty and clever.”
Song Chuyi looked toward the Old Madam with an uneasy and anxious expression. “Grandmother, Nanny Wang and the others…”
Old Madam Song shook her head at her, then turned to look at the First and Second Madams. “According to what you’re saying, they’re all reliable. But yesterday, that girl Huang Yao actually had a twisted silk white jade bracelet to give to Yushu to plead her case. I’d like to ask, where would a mere maid get such a precious item?”
A white jade bracelet, and a twisted silk one at that—a style that extremely tests craftsmanship—how could a maid possess such a thing? Since a maid couldn’t have it, where did it come from? Naturally it was either stolen from the mistress or secretly kept for herself.
A maid so bold and reckless as to dare steal her mistress’s belongings to use as bribes—that had nothing to do with being clever and smart. Calling her cunning and crafty would be more believable.
The First Madam only felt her face burning hot and said in a low voice, “To think such a thing could happen…”
The Second Madam felt it even more keenly. She felt as though Old Madam Song had harshly slapped her face in front of so many people. Her face burned as if on fire, nearly turning completely red.
That girl Huang Yao’s appetite had been cultivated to such an extent! She even dared to steal Song Chuyi’s jewelry to bribe Yushu, who served at the Old Madam’s side!
Old Madam Song glanced at her two daughters-in-law who seemed quite at a loss, then let out another cold laugh. “The more ridiculous part comes after. When I had Yushu go to bring Huang Yao over, that girl wasn’t there at all. That Nanny Wang was packing her bundle to leave, wearing crimson tribute satin from Hangzhou and a gold-and-jade filigree hairpin. Those who didn’t know might mistake this Nanny Wang for one of you madams.”
Both the First and Second Madams had already stood up, hanging their heads to receive the scolding.
The more Li Shi listened, the more she felt the Old Madam was implying something. She felt stars before her eyes and nearly couldn’t stand steady.
“These are the two people—one managing all the affairs of her quarters, one managing her hairpins and jewelry.” The Old Madam acted as if she couldn’t see their expressions and laughed coldly. “I’d like to ask you two, what kind of eldest aunt are you? What kind of mother are you?!”
These words were already cutting to the heart. The First Madam’s face paled with anxiety, deeply regretting that she had simply agreed to Li Shi’s planted servants back then, afraid of trouble and of offending her sister-in-law.
Li Shi was swaying even more precariously and finally knelt on the ground, biting her teeth.
Seeing Li Shi kneel, Song Chuyi quickly rose and knelt on the ground as well.
Song Chumi, Song Chubin, and the others also hurriedly stood and knelt in a row.
“If Huang Yao hadn’t been so clever as to expose herself this time, if I hadn’t kept Xiaoyi by my side to raise and teach.” As Old Madam Song spoke, genuine anger rose within her. “Were you planning to let this bunch of petty people lead her astray?!”
The Old Madam actually valued Song Chuyi to such an extent! The Third Madam looked at Song Chuyi with a complex expression. The fury that had been rising in her heart had already been thoroughly extinguished by the Old Madam’s words.
The First Madam was so anxious she almost didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, she had always been steady and composed. After calming herself for a moment, she realized that with the Old Madam in such a fury, any defense she offered would be useless. She could only honestly admit it was her own oversight.
Li Shi’s heart felt bitter. Losing face before her two sisters-in-law was a small matter—losing dignity in front of these younger generation members was the greater concern. What was even more serious was that the Old Madam had already become suspicious of her because of this matter. The years of effort she had invested had almost become like drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing.
She smiled bitterly and spoke up. “Old Madam, this matter doesn’t blame Elder Sister-in-law. The people were all chosen by me. It’s my fault for being blind and trusting the wrong people. Nanny Wang and Huang Yao usually seemed like good ones. I didn’t expect their true nature to be so duplicitous. Today Huang Yao even came to my quarters once. On the surface, truly nothing could be seen at all. Indeed, one cannot judge by appearances.”