Dealing with a muddleheaded person like Old Madam Xiang, there was no point hoping to reason things out clearly. Old Madam Song had no intention of speaking with her either. She turned her face toward Third Madam Chen: “You say you didn’t know about the grievances between our family and the Xiang family before—well, you certainly know now. This muddleheaded person is neither our family’s relative nor an old family friend. By rights, upon meeting an old lady like me who bears an imperial mandate, she should kneel and bow, addressing me as Madam Earl. Today I’ll spare her out of consideration for your face and not argue with her, but if she truly insists on making unreasonable trouble…”
Third Madam Chen’s face showed her discomfort. She naturally understood the meaning behind Old Madam Song’s words—she was the one who had brought this person into the Song residence. Whether she truly didn’t know who Old Madam Xiang was or whether she really was unaware of the connection between the Xiang and Song families didn’t matter before. But now that the Song family had made things clear, if she continued to indulge and encourage Old Madam Xiang to cause trouble, that would be her fault.
Indeed, ginger gets spicier with age. Blocked by Old Madam Song’s few sentences, her face turned purple with embarrassment, and she stood up somewhat flustered and uneasy, her tone carrying some grievance and apology: “Oh my, how can you say such things? Before I came, I truly didn’t know…”
Third Madam watched her put on this act with cold eyes, impatiently waving her hand to interrupt: “Whether you knew or not isn’t for us to judge. Third Madam Chen came today without an elder to accompany her, bringing this so-called in-law’s old madam straight to our door, without even giving us prior notice… Whether your intentions are good or bad, we’re not the worms in your belly who can guess. But now we’ve explained all the causes and consequences to you. You’re the one who brought this person, you’re the one who stirred up this trouble. If this old woman really dares to bash herself to death at our doorstep today, that won’t be our fault.”
Yun Shi had recently been managing household affairs under First Madam’s guidance, and combined with the major mistake her daughter had made, she had gradually shed her former petty, jealous habits. She deeply understood the principle that the Song family shared honor and disgrace as one. Now seeing Third Madam Chen’s behavior, she couldn’t help but speak mockingly.
Third Madam Chen hadn’t expected Yun Shi to give her so little face. Her face immediately turned white and purple in patches, and in her heart she cursed Yun Shi thoroughly. But on the surface, she immediately stopped Old Madam Xiang, who was about to throw a tantrum, and turned to apologize to Old Madam Song: “It’s all my fault. I did a bad deed with good intentions…”
Old Madam Xiang was unwilling and wanted to make more trouble, but didn’t dare add to Third Madam Chen’s difficulties. Her face darkened so severely it could kill several flies, and she gave a strange, mocking laugh: “So you’re going to bully others with your power… If that’s how it is, let’s go to the magistrate’s court and settle this cleanly!”
She wouldn’t sue the Song family—she would sue Xiang Mingzi for being unfilial and disobedient. Let’s see if Xiang Mingzi would have any face left to live after that.
Old Madam Song didn’t even lift an eyelid toward her, instructing Third Madam to see the guests out: “I’m not feeling well, so I won’t keep Third Madam Chen. Third daughter-in-law, see them out for me.”
Old Madam Xiang pressed her lips together and turned down the corners of her mouth, looking utterly mean-spirited: “I’m her grandmother—won’t she see me out?”
Third Madam gave a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes and exclaimed mockingly: “Your Xiang family’s expulsion documents state it clearly—she’s our family’s person now. What connection does she have to you? What grandmother? How absurd.”
Third Madam Chen held a handkerchief over her mouth and coughed lightly.
Old Madam Xiang’s eyes flickered as she stretched her neck to peer inside for a while, but finally turned around huffily and followed Third Madam Chen out the door.
Only after the room had quieted down did Old Madam Song instruct Zilan: “Call the young lady out.”
Xiang Mingzi had already cried until her eyes were red-rimmed. Sitting close to Old Madam Song, her heart was filled entirely with alarm. In this dynasty, cases like hers—expelled from the paternal clan and adopted into the maternal clan—were not without precedent. In the previous dynasty, Princess Changning had been adopted back to her maternal family because her birth father and grandfather mistreated her. But later, Princess Changning’s birth father accidentally fell and died, her stepmother also killed herself, and only a weak younger brother and grandmother remained in the family. The grandmother brought her younger brother to cry before the Empress, demanding the cancellation of the adoption documents and requiring Princess Changning to return to the paternal clan with her birth mother’s dowry.
Later, officials from the Ministry of Rites argued about this matter for a long time. Finally, together with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, they ruled that Princess Changning’s adoption documents were invalid. Human relationships were the natural order of heaven—the weak younger brother and grandmother all needed support, care, and maintenance. They forced the late Emperor to issue an edict, ordering Princess Changning to return to her father’s family with her birth mother’s dowry to support her grandmother and help her weak younger brother.
Even Old Master Lian, dragging his seriously ill body to the Ministry of Rites countless times and wearing out his mouth arguing, was useless. The Ministry of Rites officials insisted this was the great propriety—regardless of previous grievances, there was no principle of a granddaughter watching her grandmother and weak younger brother starve to death.
Princess Changning, who had already changed her surname back to Lian, drowned herself in the lake the next day.
Old Madam Song knew Xiang Mingzi had thought of this incident. She reached out to grasp her hand in her palm and patted it soothingly: “Don’t be afraid. Our family is not the Lian family that anyone can slaughter at will, and Old Madam Xiang is not that Lady Qin who once showed the Emperor the grace of a meal.”
Third Madam Song had already seen off Third Madam Chen and entered with First Madam and Madam Cui—Yu Shi—speaking with a cold laugh as soon as she opened her mouth: “If you want me to believe Third Madam Chen doesn’t have some wicked scheme in her belly, you might as well tell me pigs can climb trees!” In her agitation, the words burst out one after another: “Everyone in the entire capital knows about Linlang’s affair! It caused such an uproar back then—how dare she claim she didn’t know?”
Knowing about it yet still helping Old Madam Xiang with something that was certain to offend the Earl Changning’s residence—that was truly rather strange. Surely Third Madam Chen hadn’t suddenly developed a kind heart?
Old Madam Song raised her eyebrows and looked at First Madam: “Find someone to investigate thoroughly and see exactly what medicine they’re selling in this gourd.”
Without relying on Third Madam Chen, Old Madam Xiang couldn’t have even entered the capital. Even if she had entered the capital, she wouldn’t know which way the magistrate’s gate opened. And she talked about going to the magistrate’s court—truly laughable.
First Madam Song just smiled: “Why would this even need your instruction? Your daughter-in-law already sent people to inquire—to find out exactly how Old Madam Xiang connected with Third Madam Chen, and why Third Madam Chen would do something to offend our Earl Changning’s residence.”
In the end, it couldn’t escape the word “profit.” Otherwise, was Third Madam Chen so bored and full that she came specifically to make trouble for the Earl Changning’s residence? Even Old Madam Chen wouldn’t dare to pick such a quarrel in person!
Princess Duanhui pressed her lips together thoughtfully and smiled: “I’ve heard that Third Master Chen was born of a concubine and his official career hasn’t gone very smoothly. A few years ago, he donated money for a judicial position and worked his way up to county magistrate, but hasn’t advanced an inch since. I’ve also heard that Old Madam Chen doesn’t pay much attention to them.”