The hall fell momentarily silent. Madam Xiao’s chest felt blocked, unable to breathe.
She had always been strong and decisive. Once she made up her mind about something, she never looked back. But this time, facing her children’s resistance, she could neither scold nor punish them. She could only keep telling herself “You’re not wrong. Yangyang is honest and sincere—if you don’t protect her she’ll only be bullied. You should suppress this evildoer and not let Yangyang suffer grievance”—though in her heart she also knew this wasn’t right.
Cheng Song, who hadn’t managed to interject a word, suddenly stood up with a “whoosh,” startling everyone.
At this moment Cheng Song had no trace of a smile. They saw him stride over in a few big steps, grab that Nanny Fu’s hair bun in one handful, drag the person sideways alive to the doorway, then exert force with his arm and heavily fling her outside the corridor. With only one miserable scream, that Nanny Fu fell silent.
Cheng Yang cried out in alarm and fainted against Calamus. Calamus also trembled. This kind of snatching other branch ladies’ belongings—they had done it before at the Ge family. The Ge family’s lady had always raised matters high and set them down lightly, which bred their habitual behavior. Now she finally understood—the Cheng family was not the Ge family. They wouldn’t tolerate her being self-righteous, grasping for excellence and advantage.
Madam Xiao had wanted to bitterly scold her second son, but when Cheng Song turned back, she saw his eyes brimming with tears, his face full of grief and indignation—she actually couldn’t scold him. Cheng Song walked back and heavily knelt beside Cheng Yong, calling out loudly: “If Mother wants to punish eldest brother, punish me together with him!” Then Cheng Shao Gong also silently walked over to kneel, lowering his head without speaking—clearly meaning the same thing.
How could Madam Xiao not know this was her three sons expressing strong dissatisfaction to her? A breath stuck in her throat unable to swallow. Seeing the situation difficult to resolve well, Sang Shi suddenly cried out “Aiyou” loudly, and everyone hurried to look at her.
They saw Sang Shi with one hand covering her abdomen, one hand grasping Madam Xiao’s wrist, saying painfully: “Sister-in-law, I seem to have abdominal pain again. Do you still have those medicinal pills from last time? Quickly get me two pills! Quick, quick!”
Madam Xiao was somewhat dazed. Just as she was about to have Qing Cong fetch them, who knew Sang Shi’s hand strength was quite great—she forcibly dragged her up. While her mouth kept shouting: “I’m dying of pain—quickly get me the pills!” Then she pulled Madam Xiao toward the inner hall.
Sang Shi and Madam Xiao departed like a gust of wind, leaving everyone dumbfounded and at a loss.
Upon reaching the inner hall, Sang Shi immediately stopped having abdominal pain. She sternly dismissed the attending maidservants, then threw Madam Xiao onto the couch used for daily rest, glaring: “Sister-in-law displayed such great authority today—you truly frightened me!”
Earlier Madam Xiao had been so angry at her children she was dizzy and confused. Now she reacted that Sang Shi was pretending abdominal pain to give everyone a way down, preventing things from becoming irreconcilable.
Madam Xiao lay sideways on the couch, rubbing her chest, stubbornly saying: “I’m being authoritative? You saw that evildoer—sentence after sentence pressing me to speak. She’s the one being authoritative!”
“Serves you right! Who told you to make one wrong move and lose the entire game!” Sang Shi walked two circles in the hall, then stopped and said, “You were wrong from the start. Clearly Niaoniao was wronged, yet you wouldn’t say a single kind word. Since ancient times, when a father isn’t kind, a son isn’t filial. You yourself couldn’t establish reason, yet put on a mother’s authority—serves you right to be forced to this situation!”
Madam Xiao said hatefully: “These troublesome evildoers—what’s wrong with yielding a bit! One sentence nailed tight after another. Did I not see that old crone and little lowly servant’s tricks? I would have quietly dealt with them later. Yangyang’s face…”
“Stop going on about Yangyang, Yangyang—I’m disgusted listening to it!”
Sang Shi removed the brocade pouch from her waist and tossed it to Madam Xiao, saying impolitely: “…All hearts have their leanings—this isn’t strange. But your favoritism is too excessive! Clearly in the wrong, yet pulling out completely unreasonable talk—even I couldn’t watch. Shaoshang isn’t your birth child! Even if she were born of a concubine, you shouldn’t treat her like this! Just now your words—one sentence harsher than the last. Even bringing out a crime as grave as ‘disobedience.’ If you truly force Niaoniao to death, let’s see how you explain to brother-in-law!”
Madam Xiao took two calming pills from the pouch and held them in her mouth. A cool spicy sensation rushed straight to her brain, finally clearing her head somewhat. She shook her head and said self-mockingly: “I was confused with anger. That I would do such a thing today.”
Since childhood she had received Grand Duke Xiao’s favor, receiving the same teachings as her brothers. Whether strategy, geography, court politics, or aristocratic clans—she knew everything. But in understanding the subtle human hearts within the inner chambers, she was far inferior to Sang Shi. In fact, except for the brief few months at her former husband’s family, in the inner chambers she had always been an absolute authority, with no need to pay attention to a few servants’ petty thoughts.
She had to admit that this time, she had been stubborn and obstinate. She was wrong, and she had lost.
Sang Shi saw her complexion gradually returning and smiled: “How about that? Didn’t expect it, did you? Niaoniao was born with such fine courage. You wanted to rely on an elder’s authority to suppress her, but she’s not afraid in the slightest.”
Madam Xiao gave her a glare and was about to get up, but was stopped by Sang Shi: “What are you going out for? To scold Niaoniao again? Today’s matter—you were in the wrong from the start. If you scold her again, you’ll only make the three nephews pity Niaoniao even more. They don’t dare resent you, so they’ll necessarily resent Yangyang instead. If you’re truly doing this for Yangyang’s good, don’t go out and add fuel to the fire. Moreover, have you thought about what to do when brother-in-law knows about today’s events?”
Madam Xiao sat back on the couch, pondered for a moment, and said straightforwardly: “I’ll go speak to the General myself. I acted improperly—I won’t hide it.” She never dragged her feet on such matters. “Then today’s events… just end like this…?” There should be some conclusion.
Sang Shi was also straightforward: “You don’t go out—I’ll go. I’ll tell that group of little imps that they angered you until you collapsed. Later have the children come apologize to you. You equivocate a bit and the matter is finished.”
Madam Xiao’s temperament was fierce. She really didn’t like this kind of muddling approach and lowered her head without speaking.
“Family matters aren’t like court policy disputes—there’s no such clear division of black and white. Even if you win the argument, what of it? If the children’s hearts aren’t convinced, it only causes flesh and blood to grow apart.” Sang Shi advised her: “You’re a sensible person—I won’t say more nonsense. If today’s events happened in someone else’s family and you were a spectator, what would you think? I’m afraid anyone would think Shaoshang is the niece and Yangyang is your birth child!”
“Nonsense!”
“Yes, yes, yes, I know sister-in-law is the most fair and just.” Sang Shi smiled while rising to go out, finally leaving behind a meaningful sentence— “But in this world there are some people who, in order to demonstrate their impartiality and selflessness, sometimes instead treat outsiders well and treat their own flesh and blood harshly. Don’t you find that laughable?”
Madam Xiao’s heart suddenly shook violently.
…
In the Nine Stallions Hall, everyone remained dazed for a long while. Lady Qing Cong walked over to gently press Cheng Yang’s philtrum and had Calamus withdraw.
Shaoshang looked at her several brothers. They also looked at her. Both sides understood Third Aunt’s intention.
At this time, Cheng Yang faintly awakened, then used both hands and feet to crawl before Shaoshang, grasping her sleeve and crying painfully: “Niaoniao, don’t hate me. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t realize your grievance was so great. It’s all my fault. And several brothers too—I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Her speech was inarticulate. She could only kowtow and apologize over and over, crying until her breath choked and voice blocked. Watching made the three Cheng brothers feel somewhat unable to bear it.
“Cousin, I truly never blamed you.” Shaoshang stopped her from apologizing. “It’s just that things in this world have never been fair…” She helped Cheng Yang smooth her completely disheveled clothes. “Cousin, you are everywhere without a mother yet everywhere mothered. But I clearly have a mother yet truly have no mother.”
Cheng Yong rebuked in a low voice: “Niaoniao, don’t speak carelessly.” Shaoshang spread her hands: “Then I won’t speak.”
But Cheng Shao Gong said darkly: “Though cousin left the Cheng family from childhood, her maternal aunt treated her like a pearl and treasure. After returning to the Cheng family, Mother treats her like the flesh of her heart. But Shaoshang…” He didn’t continue, yet everyone’s hearts understood.
Lady Qing Cong also felt sad for Shaoshang in her heart.
This world was truly unfair. Clearly she was born as a dragon-phoenix twin, born with blessings, then fate took a turn when she was three years old. The love she should have received she couldn’t receive. The glory she should have enjoyed she couldn’t enjoy. She grew up before two of the stupidest and most narrow-minded women. Yet the daughter of that woman who had committed many evils could live in sunlight with ten thousand favors, carefully nurtured, growing up happily—how could this make people’s hearts peaceful?!
Cheng Shao Gong’s heart ached. He said lowly: “Shaoshang, I should have stayed back then. I should have stayed together with you.”
Shaoshang gave him a blank look: “Then now there would be two illiterates. Where would eldest brother get two desks to give us?!”
Everyone originally had bellies full of sorrowful thoughts, but couldn’t help laughing.
Cheng Song patted his chest and said: “There’s still me! I’ll give you my desk too!” Cheng Shao Gong routinely dismantled: “Forget it. These few days home, second brother, you haven’t read at all. Your desk—who knows where it’s bundled up? It probably hasn’t even been unloaded from the luggage cart yet!” Cheng Song laughingly cursed and went to pound his brother. Everyone laughed heartily, finally temporarily dispersing the worried clouds.
After laughing, Cheng Yong said: “Niaoniao, from now on whatever you want, tell your brothers. We’ll always get it for you.” He secretly resolved that even if it meant suffering Mother’s punishment, he would make his youngest sister happy.
Shaoshang was overjoyed. She had been waiting for precisely this sentence. Immediately she clung to Cheng Yong’s robe hem, stammering: “I, I, I want to go outside and look around. What Eastern Market, Western Market, what Dehui Ward, Liuxin Ward—I don’t know where any of them are. I, I want to know what the outside is like, but Mother won’t let me go out.”
Looking at youngest sister’s hopeful eyes, even an iron man would soften. Before Cheng Yong could speak, Cheng Song already repeatedly guaranteed: “Don’t worry—even if Mother scolds again, I’ll take you to see the world!”
Cheng Yang stood awkwardly to the side, not daring to speak. Still Shaoshang turned back and said: “When the time comes, cousin will also go together!” Cheng Yang’s heart filled with joy. Cheng Shao Gong also called out approval: “Right, right—cousin goes too, then we won’t fear Mother’s punishment!” Everyone laughed together again.
Lady Qing Cong shook her head, secretly sighing “Youth is truly wonderful.”
Everyone was laughing. Shaoshang especially laughed happily, but what she was thinking in her heart, no one knew.
—After expending half a day’s effort, was it only to seek justice or pity? Pity that couldn’t be converted into practical results had not one penny’s worth of use. Moreover, from childhood until now she had never been willing to suffer losses for nothing.
This entire performance—her target was never Madam Xiao.
Move Madam Xiao? Make her feel compassion? Argue with reason to make Madam Xiao feel ashamed and remorseful and then dote on her? She had never thought of it. Don’t try to wake someone pretending to sleep. When a person’s heart leans to one side, no amount of effort is useful.
She wanted to act freely and naturally. She wanted to go out openly and above board. She wanted to know the myriad states of this world—scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—and how to be self-reliant in the future. She no longer wanted to be confined in a small square of heaven and earth, sitting trapped in a besieged city of sorrow!
Fortunately for that stupid old crone and maidservant—otherwise she still wouldn’t know how to take this first step out.