Gu Ce’an was a serious, rule-abiding man with a stubborn temperament. He rarely smiled and always conducted himself properly. Once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn’t change it.
After listening to Song Zhiwei’s explanation, he said nothing further, whether he believed her or not. Perhaps he simply didn’t think it necessary to keep communicating with her.
Song Zhiwei felt that she had already made herself clear. Whether others believed her and what they chose to think was no longer her concern. She bowed and took her leave, though her steps were somewhat hurried and awkward.
Lancao, who had been waiting outside, quickly followed after her. Before Lancao could even show worry, she saw Song Zhiwei heading straight for the washroom.
After taking care of her business, Song Zhiwei washed her hands and tidied her clothes. As she returned, she stood in the covered corridor and heard a burst of laughter from afar.
The laughter was as crisp and clear as silver bells tinkling. Only someone secure in their position and deeply favored could laugh so freely.
The original Song Zhiwei knew exactly whose it was. From the very first day she entered the residence, that person had never looked at her with any real regard. She remembered arriving in the capital after the long journey from Qingzhou. Before dawn, she had gotten up to wash, dress, and carefully apply powder and scented balm. Even the skirt she wore was one she had made long ago and had never been willing to wear before. Nervous and apprehensive, she followed the old nanny to pay her grandmother respects and cautiously greeted the relatives in the household. Yet among all the elders present, she heard someone let out a soft laugh. Covering her mouth, the girl spoke in a seemingly quiet voice that was nevertheless perfectly audible: “She really looks difficult to get along with.”
The other young ladies burst into laughter.
Song Zhiwei did not understand what they meant. She even forced a smile, hoping to show she was friendly and approachable, only to make them laugh even harder. Later, when she gave them decorative hairpins, they accepted them with smiles and laughter. When she gave them handkerchiefs, they accepted those too, while still laughing.
No matter how naive Song Zhiwei was, she could sense the subtle malice behind it. After that, she no longer dared give them gifts.
It wasn’t until one day, after paying her respects to her grandmother, that she was strolling through the small garden in her grandmother’s courtyard with Lancao when she overheard her cousins mocking her.
“If you can’t come up with a matching verse today, then tomorrow you’ll be punished by having to wear the flower she gave you.”
“Oh, dear sister, even servants wouldn’t wear something like that. Don’t tease me with it! I think only someone from a family like hers could give away such things without the slightest embarrassment.”
“Cousin Yue’s remark was truly hilarious. She said that girl from Qingzhou looked like a short-lived, mean-spirited person. She also said that one could tell from her clothes that she’s poor, and poor people are difficult to get along with. It was absolutely laughable.”
“As expected, the things she gave were all like this. Who knows which cheap stall in the marketplace she picked them up from? And she actually had the nerve to accept the gifts we prepared for her.”
“Cousin Yue even gave her a turquoise jade bracelet, yet these are the sorts of things she prepared for us in return.”
“If I were her, I’d be too ashamed to show my face. Yet she still comes every day to pay her respects.”
At the time, Song Zhiwei felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, while a stifling heaviness filled her heart, one she could not put into words.
Song Qingya believed that sending his daughter into such a wealthy, prestigious household was a blessing. He even hoped Song Zhiwei would bring him benefits in return. How could he possibly have prepared any valuables or resources for her to rely on?
She had made all the gifts herself, stitch by stitch, using the finest materials she could afford. But what did that matter? She had entered the residence with no money, no power, and no one to support her. Her relationship with her grandmother was not particularly close either. In the eyes of the people in the manor, she was nothing more than a poor relation living off their charity.
Now, standing at the entrance, Song Zhiwei felt as though she had returned to that very day, listening to the liveliness within and hearing her grandmother’s laughter from time to time.
This time, however, she stepped inside without the slightest hesitation. As she rounded the screen, a smile had already appeared on her face. She wore an expression of happiness, yet also of someone seemingly too shy to smile too broadly.
“Greetings, Grandmother and Eldest Aunt. I wish you good health and blessings.”
Song Zhiwei performed a formal curtsy.
Madam Xu, her grandmother, chatted and laughed affectionately with Meng Qiyue. She smiled and nodded at Song Zhiwei but didn’t ask where she had been.
Her eldest aunt said with a warm smile, “Wei girl, you’ve come. Early this morning your maid came to report that you’ve recovered. Come, let your aunt take a good look at you.” She appeared to be the elder in the household who treated Song Zhiwei the most kindly.
The second aunt had damaged her health during childbirth and rarely left her rooms. The eldest aunt managed the household, and she arranged everything Song Zhiwei ate, wore, and used. Yet this friendliness and closeness were, in truth, little more than superficial courtesy. At least during the several months Song Zhiwei had spent here, the food, clothing, and daily necessities provided to her courtyard could only be described as ordinary and modest.
Still, Song Zhiwei understood that all relationships required cultivation to deepen. For relatives who hadn’t seen her in more than ten years, simply taking her in and raising her properly was already commendable. As for anything more, if they gave it, it was out of kindness; if they did not, there was nothing to complain about.
With a somewhat shy smile, she took her eldest aunt’s hand. “Eldest Aunt, I’ve made you worry because of this incident.”
Her eldest aunt patted her hand kindly. Just like that, Song Zhiwei naturally sat beside her.
Only after sitting down did Song Zhiwei notice that Meng Qiyue was seated directly across from her.
Meng Qiyue still wore a smile on her face. Sensing Song Zhiwei’s gaze, she looked back and met her eyes.
Meng Qiyue met her gaze calmly and confidently. With her chin slightly raised, she carried an air of superiority. When she noticed Song Zhiwei looking at her, a trace of cold mockery appeared in her expression.
Gu Ce’an had already left. The room was now filled with the family’s young ladies. Today was the fifteenth day of the month, the day a banquet would be held at the old madam’s residence.
Meeting her gaze, Song Zhiwei suddenly stood up and gave Meng Qiyue a proper bow. “I have yet to thank Cousin.”
Meng Qiyue had no idea what Song Zhiwei was up to. Smiling without warmth, she looked at her and said, “What is this for, Cousin Song?”
Song Zhiwei lifted her eyes to meet Meng Qiyue’s. “I will always remember everything Cousin has done for me. In the future, I will certainly repay your kindness.”
As soon as she spoke, Madam Xu’s face lit up with delight, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. In her old age, nothing pleased her more than seeing harmony among her children and grandchildren.
Meng Qiyue glanced at Song Zhiwei with a casual, disdainful smile. “It was only a small matter, hardly worth mentioning.”
The hall immediately filled with warmth and harmony.
That evening, everyone moved to the flower hall outside.
The maids filed in one after another, carrying dish after dish whose ingredients could not be guessed from their names alone. Once the food was served, they quietly took their places to the side and waited attentively.
Song Zhiwei sat quietly, tasting the sliced lotus root in clear broth and the steamed lamb. The flavors were so light that she felt as if a bird could fly out of her mouth from the blandness.
Suddenly, a few coughs rang out nearby, followed by a commotion.
Somewhat puzzled, Song Zhiwei dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief and looked over. At the neighboring table where the men sat, a young boy in a brocade robe had turned blue-purple, as though he could barely breathe.
“What happened?”
The flower hall immediately descended into disorder. Madam Xu and Eldest Aunt both hurried over.
“Khh…!” Someone kept patting the boy on the back, but whatever was lodged in his throat would not come out. His eyes were red and bulging with distress as he struggled painfully for breath.