Back then, Old Madam had not particularly approved of this marriage match.
Although Marquis Pingyang had also fought alongside the Great Ancestor through life and death, his character was not very good. After achieving success and fame, he immediately abandoned his wife who had shared his hardships and married a famous daughter from a noble family instead.
Moreover, during the Chenghua period, the Xiao family had produced the notorious incident of brothers competing to marry an imperial princess. In truth, Marquis Pingyang’s manor had already incurred the Emperor’s displeasure and could not possibly receive special grace to inherit the title for an additional generation. They would soon decline to an earl’s rank. Their family had never produced any promising descendants either, so within forty or fifty years, Marquis Pingyang’s manor might disappear from the capital entirely.
However, the Xiao family did have good people. This current Marquis Xiao who had inherited the title was a very good person—extremely understanding of propriety, truly warm-hearted, and on very good terms with First Master.
Since First Master was on good terms with Marquis Xiao, naturally through their interactions they eventually discussed the marriage of their children.
Old Master had observed that Xiao Yan seemed decent, and thinking that if the family head was like this, the family customs should not be bad either, he nodded in agreement.
Who could have known that the Marchioness of Pingyang and Xiao Siniang would be such people.
Thinking about this, Old Madam Song’s expression grew increasingly dark. Just then, Yulan returned and gently nodded at Old Madam.
Seeming to have something to tell her, Old Madam excused herself to use the washroom, taking Yulan to the side room: “Did something go wrong with the young ladies?”
Currently she had no favorable impression of Xiao Siniang whatsoever. Although she felt her granddaughters were not likely to suffer losses, she was still somewhat worried. Therefore, upon entering, she suspected Xiao Siniang had thrown another tantrum.
Yulan quickly smiled and shook her head, recounting how Song Chuyi had responded, praising: “Even if you gave me a hundred hours I couldn’t think of such words. Our Sixth Miss’s heart is truly made of crystal—seven apertures exquisitely bright!”
Old Madam Song’s expression also improved somewhat. Xiao Siniang had actually attacked the Song family’s entire family customs using the Song brothers’ dispute over inheritance. If they didn’t show her what’s what, she would truly think the Song family was easy to bully.
Xiao Siniang soon returned crying to complain to the Marchioness of Pingyang. In the end, she couldn’t listen to the advice of the nannies and maids around her and couldn’t swallow this grievance.
Song Chumi and the others followed behind and entered, lips pressed tightly together, full of disdain when looking at Xiao Siniang.
Such a noble family’s daughter…
The Marchioness of Pingyang doted on her children. Seeing her daughter crying breathlessly, she had already panicked, with an ominous premonition rising in her heart—could it be that these Song family young ladies harbored thoughts of avenging their sister and had injured Fourth Daughter somewhere?
She couldn’t be bothered to look at First Madam’s mocking smile, carefully examining her daughter from top to bottom. Only after discovering not even a single strand of hair was missing did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
It was also after she finished this sigh of relief and calmed down somewhat that she discovered Old Madam Song, who had already changed clothes, was looking over with a smile on her face, though the smile did not reach her eyes.
Almost without anyone saying anything, the Marchioness of Pingyang’s face reddened first.
The expressions of all the Song family members in this room were indicating the same thing: your daughter is precious, so other people’s daughters should be trampled underfoot?
The usually thick-skinned Marchioness of Pingyang truly felt embarrassment this time. Somewhat anxiously, she explained to Old Madam Song: “Our Fourth Daughter has a quick temper, but her heart—her heart is good…”
She couldn’t continue.
Old Madam Song nodded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and began issuing the dismissal order: “When one is old, one inevitably becomes drowsy. I’m no longer of much use.”
First Madam took the opportunity to stand up. Without even glancing at the Marchioness of Pingyang, she said respectfully: “In that case, this daughter-in-law will first take the children and withdraw so you can rest well.”
The Marchioness of Pingyang hadn’t even seen Song Chuxuan’s face, and neither Old Madam Song nor First Madam mentioned the matter at all.
She had originally thought the Song family should be the anxious party. After all, a girl who had already left home running back to her maternal family without being sent by anyone from her husband’s family—the maternal family would always feel ashamed. She hadn’t expected the Song family didn’t care at all, even acting as if this matter hadn’t happened at all.
The Marchioness of Pingyang’s heart sank straight down. After a long while, she carefully asked: “The marquis manor has continuous visitors coming and going. Without Second Daughter, I’m afraid we won’t be able to host them all…”
“Speaking of which, I’m afraid my second elder sister can’t help much either.” Song Chuwan, having finally understood the situation, smiled gracefully and said: “The matter was quite coincidental. Not long ago, I still remember the wife of the Vice Minister of Rites held a flower-viewing banquet. The result was that the Princess Consort arrived, but my second elder sister was nowhere to be seen. I found it strange and asked about it.”
Song Chuwan finished speaking in one breath, glanced at Xiao Siniang and the Marchioness of Pingyang, then continued: “The Princess Consort said that in such situations my second elder sister gets stage fright, so she simply didn’t come. This statement was laughable—back when my second elder sister entered the palace to accompany the Consort, she frequently saw even the Empress Dowager and Empress. How could she be afraid of a flower-viewing banquet? If she’s afraid even of this, how can she receive guests?”
The Marchioness of Pingyang’s face lost all color. She moved her lips several times but ultimately said nothing.
What could she say? They truly were a houseful of women tormenting Song Chuxuan alone.
First Madam held back and held back but finally couldn’t restrain herself. She turned her head, her eyes fixed like nails on the Marchioness of Pingyang’s body, saying coldly: “We are both mothers. Madam Xiao, why can’t you put yourself in others’ shoes?”
Xiao Siniang couldn’t help but defend her mother: “She’s been married for two years already and can’t even produce a child, yet she won’t allow Elder Brother to have chamber maids and concubines. What kind of noble family’s miss is this?”
The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned icy cold.
Old Madam Song’s patience had truly reached its limit this time. She didn’t even glance at Xiao Siniang, only looking at the Marchioness of Pingyang with a cold laugh: “Your esteemed manor’s daughter truly has fine upbringing. If I have time, I really must discuss this properly with others.”
Being elderly and high in rank, she was extremely well-regarded in aristocratic circles. If she truly opened her mouth to criticize a junior, that junior’s reputation would basically be completely ruined.
The Marchioness of Pingyang’s heart trembled with alarm. She suddenly erupted and gave Xiao Siniang a slap.
The sharp crack stunned Xiao Siniang.
Xiao Siniang covered her face and looked at her mother in disbelief. Just as she was about to cry out, Madam Xiao delivered another slap to her face, striking her so that she staggered and fell directly into the embrace of the nanny beside her.
“How did I usually teach you propriety—you’ve forgotten it all completely!” Madam Xiao endured the reluctance and heartache in her heart, sternly berating her daughter: “Having no rules in the manor, contradicting your sister-in-law—that’s one thing, since you’re all family. But even when going out as a guest you can’t change this temperament. From now on, don’t follow me out anymore!”
Old Madam Song pulled Song Chuyi into her embrace and covered her ears, turning her face to look at Madam Xiao and ask: “Why has Madam Xiao suddenly started beating her daughter here at our place?”