“It’s getting late, I should head back now.” Song Tang suddenly remembered the letter Wang Mengqi had asked her to pass to Song An last night—she still hadn’t delivered it.
Returning from Mu Fu, Song Tang went straight to Song An’s study.
Song An was practicing calligraphy at the time, and Song Chao was also there.
Both were somewhat surprised to see Song Tang enter.
“What are you doing here?” Song Chao’s tone was clearly unfriendly.
Ignoring him, Song Tang placed the letter directly on Song An’s desk.
“Someone asked me to bring you a letter.” Then she turned to leave.
“Who sent it?” Song An asked, looking at the letter on the desk.
Without turning back, Song Tang replied, “Open it and see for yourself.” She couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Feeling ignored, Song Chao grew furious. “Song Tang, who do you think you’re scowling at?”
He strode in front of Song Tang, blocking her path.
Song Chao was two years older than Song Tang and stood a head taller.
Song Tang glanced at him coolly. “Second Brother, a good dog doesn’t block the way. You must not be a good dog, right?”
“Of course I’m not a good dog—wait, that’s not right!”
Before Song Chao could wrap his head around it, Song Tang sidestepped him and walked straight out the door, leaving him fuming in the study.
Getting angry at a fool was foolishness itself.
She had neither the time nor the patience to argue with idiots.
Song Tang understood their temperaments well: her eldest brother, Song An, was indecisive but relatively even-tempered, while her second brother, Song Chao, was impulsive and easily provoked. Different approaches were needed for each.
Outside, it wasn’t snowing, but the biting cold wind still cut through the air. Song Tang tightened her cloak.
Passing through the flower corridor, she spotted her third sister, Song Si, standing at the entrance to Madam He’s courtyard from a distance, as if being punished.
Song Tang’s heart tightened, and she walked over. Song Si’s small face was pale from the cold, and her body trembled slightly.
Song Tang remembered that before Song Wei entered the household, their third sister, though born of a concubine, had been treated kindly by their mother.
But ever since Song Wei arrived, Madam He had grown dissatisfied with everyone, seeing only the well-behaved and obedient Song Wei. No matter what others did, Madam He was never pleased.
“What happened?” Song Tang asked Song Si.
Song Si looked up, fear in her eyes. “Eldest Sister, I was late paying respects today, so Madam ordered me to stand here as punishment.”
“Why were you late?” Song Tang knew her third sister was always cautious and wouldn’t be late without reason.
Song Si lowered her head. “My birth mother was ill last night, and I stayed with her…”
“Did you explain that to Mother?”
“Yes.” Song Si nodded. She was honest and didn’t dare lie.
Song Tang frowned. Even though Song Si was a daughter of a concubine, she was still a mistress. Being late to pay respects to Madam He because she was tending to her birth mother wasn’t a major offense, but it wasn’t trivial either. A more lenient matriarch wouldn’t have made an issue of it.
Clearly, Madam He had grown less tolerant over the years.
“Go back now. I’ll speak to Mother about it.” In her previous life, Song Si was the only one who visited her after her marriage.
However, because Song Si had married a low-ranking seventh-grade official, her mother-in-law, Madam Sun, believed Song Si was there to seek favors and later forbade her from visiting.
Just then, Mother Chen came out and, seeing Song Tang, hurried over. “Eldest Miss, you’ve come at the perfect time. Madam just sent this servant to check if you had returned.”
Song Tang gave a slight nod and followed Mother Chen into the inner chamber, where she saw Madam He sitting in the warm pavilion, drinking tea.
“Tang’er pays respects to Mother.” Song Tang performed a proper bow to Madam He.
Madam He was somewhat surprised. In recent days, Song Tang seemed to have truly changed. She looked at Song Tang with a hint of anticipation.
“Tang’er, what did Marquis Mu say? Did he agree?”
“He more or less agreed.”
“What do you mean, ‘more or less’?”
“Marquis Mu plans to have Madam Sun acknowledge the marriage arrangement tomorrow evening in front of Old Lady Mu.”
Upon hearing this, Madam He’s expression softened slightly. “That’s good, that’s good. With Marquis Mu willing to step in, this matter is finally settled. Song Wei will have a good future, and that will be worthy of your aunt’s spirit in heaven.”
“Mother, there is one thing I am very curious about. Could you enlighten me?”
“What is it?” Madam He did not know what Song Tang wanted to ask.
Song Tang asked earnestly, “Mother, you care for Cousin because of blood ties and gratitude for Aunt’s sacrifice in the marriage exchange. But why is Father also so partial to Cousin? Don’t you find it strange?”
Madam He was slightly taken aback and put down her teacup. “Your father is a man who values loyalty and righteousness deeply. That child Song Wei lost her mother at a young age. His heart is soft, so it’s only natural that he pities her more.”
Song Tang: “…”
“Mother, I disagree with what you said. Take Third Sister, for example—has Father ever shown her the slightest bit of concern?”
“Where has your Third Sister ever suffered that she would need your father’s special concern? Besides, Song Tang, whose womb did you come from? Why are you speaking up for them?” Madam He was somewhat displeased.
Song Tang smiled faintly. “Mother, Third Sister stood at the gate all morning today. I imagine Father must have seen her. If Father’s heart is truly soft, why didn’t he plead for Third Sister, given such flesh-and-blood kinship?”
“Your Third Sister did something wrong. What is there to plead for?”
Madam He glanced at Mother Chen, who gestured slightly.
“You sent her back?”
“Yes. Third Sister had already stood all morning. If she continued, it would inevitably make people in the household think that Mother mistreats a concubine-born daughter, damaging Mother’s reputation for virtue and kindness. With Cousin’s marriage arrangement imminent, it wouldn’t be good if word got out.”
Thinking of Song Wei and how Song Tang had managed to persuade Marquis Mu, Madam He softened her tone.
“Once Wei’er’s marriage is settled, your marriage must also be arranged quickly. After all, you are the eldest sister—how can a younger sister marry first? These past few days, your father and I have been looking for suitable matches for you.”
“My marriage?” Song Tang had long anticipated this move from them. “Mother and Father need not trouble yourselves. Marquis Mu, out of gratitude for my saving his life, has already arranged a good marriage for me.”
“Marquis Mu arranged a marriage for you? Nonsense! Marriage matters have always been decided by parental orders and matchmaker’s words. How can Marquis Mu decide this?” Madam He was also anxious—Mu Changxiao was overstepping his bounds.
Song Tang said unhurriedly, “These were Marquis Mu’s words. The Marquis is currently in high favor with the Emperor, so it was not appropriate for me to refute him directly.”
Madam He’s expression changed slightly. “Do you know which family he arranged for you?”
“I do not know.”
“…”
“By the way, Mother, there is one more thing I think I should tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Wang Mengqi asked me to deliver a letter to eldest brother, and I’ve already given it to him.”
“Miss Wang wrote to your eldest brother?”
“Yes, it seems she has feelings for him.”
Madam He’s expression darkened, her face full of disdain: “She wants to marry your eldest brother? She actually wants to marry your eldest brother? Her?”