The next day, the entire Wangdu City was bathed in clear skies.
Summer dawns came early, and by Mao Shi the sky was already bright. Song Yao was rudely awakened, putting her in a foul mood.
The very culprit remained oblivious, sipping tea while putting on a motherly air. Frowning at Song Yao’s expression, she immediately began nitpicking.
“Who are you making that cold face for? Yesterday you put on Crown Princess airs with your father, and today in the backyard you dare show that attitude to your own mother?”
Without giving Song Yao a chance to speak, she continued her interrogation.
“Did you have someone prepare the medicine formula I asked A Lan to bring you days ago? Why is there still no movement in your belly?”
Song Yao rested her elbow on the table, chin propped in her hand, her cool expression unchanged.
Yawning lazily at the question, she answered carelessly, “Oh, that. That dubious formula was clearly something Jianghu tricksters use to fool idiots. I had it burned long ago.”
Song Mother slammed her teacup down hard on the table, creating quite a noise.
“Say that again.”
Being a filial daughter, Song Yao obliged while worrying her mother might not understand human speech, so she specifically repeated the key points.
“Clearly meant to fool idiots. I had the formula burned long ago.”
Having been pampered and cared for recently, Song Mother couldn’t tolerate such defiance from a daughter she never valued highly.
“A Lan, bring the ruler!”
Coming from a scholarly family where her father once served in Guozi Jian, perhaps because she and her siblings were often struck on the palms with a ruler for childhood misdeeds, Song Mother had developed the same habit after becoming a mother.
Song Yao had received plenty of beatings in her childhood. Having been born into this world, starting with a child’s body in a completely unfamiliar dynasty, even with an adult’s consciousness, she couldn’t always contend with the adult Song Mother.
“…”
The A Lan mentioned by Song Mother was Granny Cai, but Granny Cai was no longer the same Granny Cai and wouldn’t obey Song Mother’s orders, standing motionless.
Song Mother’s frown deepened as she scolded angrily, “A Lan! What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me? Go get the ruler!”
Granny Cai remained as if deaf, not moving an inch.
“Heh.” Song Yao’s mood improved as she chuckled lightly.
“A Lan, could it be that you…” Song Mother finally sensed something amiss but didn’t think too deeply, assuming her daughter had bribed her attendant with silver.
Perhaps Song Mother also felt ashamed about using a medicine formula to make her daughter conceive, as only the three of them were in the main hall, which conveniently suited Song Yao.
“Granny, seal Mother’s acupoints, then show her who you really are.”
Song Yao didn’t call out Qian Mian’s name to avoid revealing too much.
Song Mother: “Come…” Before she could finish shouting for help, Qian Mian moved with lightning speed.
Tearing off the human skin mask, she twisted her neck and deliberately brought her face close to Song Mother’s, greeting her with a grin.
“Did I startle you? Don’t have nightmares tonight~!”
Then, with her lolita face paired with Granny Cai’s plump figure, she bounced over and threw herself into Song Yao’s embrace, whining in a sickeningly sweet tone.
“Weep weep weep, Master, I missed you so, so much~!”
Song Yao patted the young girl’s head and asked concerned, “Have your injuries healed?”
Qian Mian detached herself from her master’s embrace, stood properly, and nodded like a pecking chick:
“Alright, alright. That granny sure had quite a few hidden treasures—she even had century-old ginseng slices. Hehe, what a steal for me.”
The young girl patted her fake potbelly, her round eyes curving into crescents as she grinned with delight.
Song Yao: “As long as you’re fine, come back with me later.”
Qian Mian had been injured while on a mission some time ago, so Song Yao had let the girl stay by her side to recover. Who would have thought Granny Cai would conveniently show up asking for trouble?
From over twenty years of observation, Song Yao knew Granny Cai lived quite comfortably in the Prime Minister’s Residence. Though she was just a servant, she hardly did any work, had her own small courtyard, and even had several maids attending to her.
In that case, Qian Mian might as well recuperate here—it was just as good as anywhere else. Plus, she could help Song Yao uncover some of her neurotic mother’s little secrets. A perfect two-for-one deal.
Song Mother watched everything in terror, wanting to scream but unable to make a sound. She couldn’t muster any strength either—forget standing up, she couldn’t even manage to knock over the teacup beside her with a wave of her hand.
Song Yao stopped in front of Song Mother, her cold expression replaced by that of a dutiful daughter. She spoke sweetly:
“Mother, you and your childhood sweetheart…”
Song Yao didn’t continue, but Song Mother’s well-maintained face had already turned as pale as paper.
Song Yao took a moment to appreciate her mother’s changing expression before cheerfully continuing:
“I know all about your interactions and letters—every single one. And of course, I’ve kept plenty of evidence.”
“But don’t worry, Mother. I won’t easily use these to make things difficult for you. After all, Father is quite the philanderer. If you’ve changed your heart, I have no intention or reason to blame you.”
Song Mother’s deathly pale complexion eased slightly. Having come from a noble family and been an official’s wife for decades, she composed herself and looked at Song Yao, her eyes asking what she wanted.
Song Yao’s smile deepened, appearing extremely accommodating.
The next second, she gripped Song Mother’s neck, her red lips parting as she spoke in an unhurried tone: “I hope from now on, Mother will refrain from meddling in my affairs. You can manage that, can’t you? If you agree, nod your head.”
Song Mother never imagined Song Yao would dare lay hands on her. The pain in her neck and the suffocating agony made it impossible to think deeply about anything else. In her panic, she managed a difficult nod.
Song Yao: “And regarding Elder Sister’s marriage, don’t interfere with that either. Additionally, if Father ever pressures Elder Sister about getting married again, you must protect her. Can you do that?”
Song Mother, struggling to breathe, nodded with difficulty once more.
Satisfied, Song Yao released her grip.
She shot a glance at Qian Mian, who was eagerly following her. Qian Mian immediately understood and quickly released the acupoints that had immobilized Song Mother.
“You… you…” Song Mother gasped, clutching her sore throat. After catching her breath and swallowing, she weakly asked:
“What have you done to A Lan?”
Granny Cai had been Song Mother’s personal maid since her marriage. The two were as close as sisters. When Song Yao was young, Granny Cai had often cursed and made trouble for Song Yao—the daughter who shouldn’t have been born—on Song Mother’s behalf.
Song Yao: “Care to guess?”
Though she told Song Mother to guess, she answered herself.
“She’s long dead. You really liked the peony I had someone send you a month and a half ago, didn’t you? It bloomed so beautifully, so red—all thanks to being nourished by Granny Cai’s flesh, blood, and marrow.”
After speaking, without even glancing at Song Mother’s utterly terrified expression, she resumed the dignified demeanor befitting an official’s daughter and left the main hall with Qian Mian, who had reapplied the human skin mask.
After leaving Song Mother’s courtyard, Song Yao instructed Qian Mian to return to the organization while she herself went back to her own courtyard to enjoy an undisturbed second sleep.
Half an hour later, she woke up leisurely.
She had Ru Shuang bring attendants to assist with washing, changing clothes, then went to the adjacent courtyard where Song Wan resided—both to act coquettishly with her elder sister and to share a meal.