The adults were still talking inside when Xiang Mingzi, listening with her head spinning and growing dizzier by the moment, pulled Song Chuyi out the door onto the corridor. Looking at the large-leaved privet in the courtyard that remained lushly green even in winter, she could only sigh: “I never thought she would come looking for me…”
Shu was thousands of miles from the capital. Old Madam Xiang was an old woman suppressed by the Song family without the power to fight back. No one would have thought she could still set foot in the capital, let alone walk straight through the gates of the Earl Changning’s residence. Song Chuyi put her arm around Xiang Mingzi’s and gently shook it: “You don’t need to worry too much. With Old Madam and Old Master here, with eldest uncle, eldest aunt, and eldest brother here, no one can force you into anything.”
Xiang Mingzi’s nose stung and tears rolled down: “What marriage contract? I never heard Mother mention it. This is clearly trying to sell me off…”
Clearly she was also still coveting Song Linlang’s substantial dowry.
This speculation quickly became reality. The next day, Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi had just entered the gates of Ningde Courtyard when they heard First Madam Song telling Old Madam Song about this matter: “The information has all been confirmed. That marriage contract indeed contains the names and official positions of three generations of both families’ ancestors and descendants, and it does indeed have the seals of Xiang Yunzhang and Linlang…” First Madam Song paused before continuing: “This marriage was arranged with the Zhao family… yes, that Zhao family from Jinling.”
The Zhao family from Jinling? Then why was the marriage contract only being produced now, and in Old Madam Xiang’s hands? Old Madam Song was somewhat shocked. Song Linlang did indeed become confused when facing Xiang Yunzhang, but she would never compromise on matters concerning her daughter’s lifelong affairs. If it truly bore Linlang’s seal, it meant she had approved of this marriage at the time. But why had she never mentioned it to the family? And Mingzi had never heard a word about having a fiancé?
First Madam Song shook her head and suddenly gave a derisive laugh: “It’s just that less than a month later, Xiang Yunzhang went to seek an official position right in front of Old Madam Zhao… Old Madam Zhao hadn’t expected Xiang Yunzhang to be that kind of person. On the spot she said the marriage contract didn’t count and that Old Master Zhao had been foolish. Old Master Zhao had already died in that incident with the bandits by then, so there was no testimony from either side. Xiang Yunzhang still wanted to make unreasonable trouble, but Linlang made a decisive decision and quietly suppressed the matter, fearing it would ruin Mingzi’s reputation. All this information was found out through Yun He. She said the whole thing took only three or four months—the betrothal was set, and right after Old Master Zhao died. Old Madam Zhao simply didn’t acknowledge this marriage. They treated it as if it never happened.”
No wonder Song Linlang had never mentioned it. Old Madam Song remained noncommittal, then suddenly thought of something and asked Song Chuyi, who had just entered: “That person surnamed Zhao who bribed Xu Liang to get into the Yulin Guard this time—he’s from the Jinling Zhao family?”
First Madam Song was initially startled, then instantly recalled that the person who had committed the offense this time was from the Zhao family. She couldn’t help but stare in amazement: “This… this really is…”
The Zhao family hadn’t acknowledged this marriage connection at the time. For them to bring it up now certainly wasn’t anything good. At the root of it, they probably wanted to establish a relationship with the Song family—although they insisted it was Xu Liang who got him in, he had ultimately committed a grave offense.
So now what? Were they trying to sell the Song family a favor with this marriage arrangement and ask the Song family to find a way to help?
This was truly too fanciful! Old Madam Song found it amusing and actually laughed aloud: “Old Madam Zhao must be regressing with age to have thought of this method…”
“That marriage contract was in Shu from the beginning and was entrusted to Old Madam Xiang to keep.” First Madam Song gave a silent, cold laugh: “I’m afraid it’s not that Old Madam Zhao is confused, but that Third Madam Chen wants to fish in troubled waters, and Old Madam Xiang wants to take advantage of the opportunity. Two absurd people doing absurd things.”
She had already made inquiries. Third Madam Chen truly was short on silver. Her natal family members were all troublesome, constantly coming to her for money throughout the year. Third Master Chen had an awkward position in the Chen family—he had neither learning nor ability, and even his official position was obtained by donating money from the family.
Old Madam Chen, being the person she was, only gave them limited support. Now Third Madam Chen’s son needed to take a wife. Though the Chen family’s public funds provided some subsidy, for parents to contribute nothing would be too laughable. So she set her mind on this.
They wanted to use this marriage contract to get their hands on Xiang Mingzi and covet the dowry Song Linlang had left in Mingzi’s possession. In any case, there was the precedent of Princess Changning from the previous dynasty. Wealth emboldens the timid, and Third Madam Chen was greedy for money. Using the excuse of owing Old Madam Xiang a debt of gratitude, she came to the Song family to test the waters.
Truly a case of a snake trying to swallow an elephant—such greed! She should piss and look at her own reflection to see what she really is! Third Madam was extremely disdainful as she gave a cold laugh.
Old Madam Song was left not knowing whether to laugh or cry by this affair. She turned her head to instruct Nanny Huang: “Go to the study in the front courtyard and have Old Master write a letter to the Zhao family in Jinling.”
The Zhao family surely couldn’t be so confused. If they wanted to save someone, there were plenty of methods. It wasn’t as if the Zhao family had no one at court. Moreover, in recent days there had been no word of anyone from the Zhao family coming to the capital to pull strings.
Third Madam Chen truly dared to fish for money even from a boiling oil pot. She had long heard of Third Madam Chen’s ways, but hadn’t expected her to be such a shameless scoundrel. When Old Madam Song thought about it, she found it amusing—no wonder Old Madam Chen never brought First Madam Chen or Third Madam Chen out. First Madam Chen was greedy for money because she was a widow, but who would have thought Third Madam Chen would also be so fearless of death.
She thought for a moment, then smiled at First Madam Song: “Tomorrow, send a calling card to the Chen family to pay a visit to Old Madam Chen.”
With Old Madam Chen extending just one finger, Third Madam Chen would be like a dud firecracker that couldn’t be lit no matter how you tried. Without Third Madam Chen, Old Madam Xiang was just a puddle of mud. Old Madam Song’s disgust for this mean-spirited old woman had reached its limit, and at this moment she no longer wanted to leave her any way out.
This kind of person, harboring such venomous intentions, wanted to make Xiang Mingzi into another Princess Changning.
But they didn’t use their brains to think—what was the Lian family’s situation back then, and what is the Song family’s situation now?
First Madam Song briskly agreed and pulled Xiang Mingzi close with a sigh of relief: “I told you not to worry about this matter. Never mind that this marriage contract doesn’t count—even if it did count, we’re not a family that’s lost power and fallen into destitution like the Lian family. How would the Ministry of Rites dare create the kind of incident from the previous dynasty over a country commoner woman?”
Nanny Huang quickly returned and told Old Madam Song what Old Master Song had said: “Old Master says he understands and will send the letter to the courier station tomorrow.” Then she added: “Just now when I came in, I ran into Nanny Jin. Nanny Jin said to tell First Madam that on the day of the Buddha manifestation at Huangjue Temple, Madam Fang will also be there.”
After casting bait for so long, the fish was finally about to take the hook.