Song Zhimian quickly called for Cuiguo, who had been waiting outside the door. Watching the young Cuiguo skillfully help her comb her hair and dress her, Song Zhimian felt deeply frustrated.
As the legitimate eldest daughter, apart from this maid, there were only two old women doing rough work in her courtyard.
All the people her mother had left for her had been dismissed by her stepmother, Madame Ding, on various pretexts.
Some were sold off, others sent to the estate, and some had suddenly fallen ill and died. The only one left by her side was the twelve-year-old Cuiguo…
In the mansion, Song Zhimian was like a blind and deaf person.
Once everything was in order, Song Zhimian took Cuiguo to the courtyard of the current marquis’s wife, Madame Ding.
"Mother, I’d like to go out for a walk!" Song Zhimian said directly to Madame Ding, who was reviewing account books.
Madame Ding looked up at Song Zhimian, set down the account book, picked up the teacup beside her, and smiled.
She examined Song Zhimian, whose eyes were still slightly red and swollen.
"Mian’er wants to go out for a walk? Is there something you lack? If you need anything, just tell the steward. There’s no need to go out yourself," Madame Ding asked with a smile.
"It’s not that I lack anything. I’ve just been cooped up in the courtyard for many days and want to go out for a walk. Also, I’d like to order some incense, candles, and paper money to burn for Third Uncle and… Aunt in a few days!" Song Zhimian looked directly at Madame Ding.
Madame Ding’s hand indeed paused, and her gaze at Song Zhimian was filled with scrutiny.
The customs of Dayu were not like those of the previous dynasty. Women could go out for tea or shopping and were no longer confined to their homes.
Moreover, Song Zhimian’s reason was valid, so Madame Ding had no grounds to stop her.
"Although ordering incense, candles, and paper money can be left to the steward, your filial piety…
Fine, go ahead! Leave early and return early!
After all, you’re a young lady about to be married. Staying out too long will invite gossip, so make sure to come back early and not tarnish the marquis’s reputation.
Do you have any money with you? If not…" Madame Ding looked at Song Zhimian with a smile.
"I don’t! Thank you, Mother, for thinking of me! I just need to order some incense, candles, and paper money. Ten or twenty taels should be enough," Song Zhimian interrupted Madame Ding.
Madame Ding, who had originally intended to say something perfunctory…
In the end, Madame Ding still had the steward give Song Zhimian thirty taels of silver.
Song Zhimian gave a slight curtsy and left with Cuiguo.
After Song Zhimian left, Song Zhiqing, who had been resting in the side room, stormed out angrily.
"Mother, you’re letting her go out! Aren’t you afraid she’ll run away? Look at her attitude—she still thinks she’s the marquis’s eldest daughter!"
Madame Ding chuckled softly and picked up the account book again.
"She is the marquis’s eldest daughter—that’s a fact!
As for running away? Where could she go? Where could a young lady like her possibly run?
Your father commands the Xunfang Camp. Finding someone in the capital would be easy for him.
Her mother’s family, the Gus, died out long ago. Where could she go?
Out of the capital? Don’t forget, the guards at the gates are also your father’s subordinates. If she wants to leave the capital… she’s dreaming!" Madame Ding sneered twice.
Song Zhiqing thought for a moment and agreed.
If Song Zhimian wanted to run away, she’d need a place to go. Where could a pampered young lady who usually only knew how to cry and weep possibly run?
Even if she went out, she’d be like a blind and useless person.
Even if she knew she was to marry an old man, what could she do? She’d still just cry and weep, then resign herself to her fate, wouldn’t she?
Song Zhiqing chuckled softly, leaning closer to Madame Ding.
"Mother, what are you looking at…
Is this… the dowry left to Song Zhimian by her mother? Mother, are you giving all this to her?" Song Zhiqing's eyes seemed to blaze with envy.
So much dowry—farmlands, estates, antique ornaments, jewelry, and headpieces. With just one glance, Song Zhiqing couldn't tear her eyes away…
"Of course, it's the dowry for that eldest young lady. This dowry has been officially registered with the authorities.
When she marries, we must give it to her! Otherwise, what if she reports us to the magistrate?" Madame Ding said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Song Zhiqing's eyebrows shot up.
"All of it? Does she deserve it? How long can she even live? Wouldn't that be letting her off too easily…"
"What should be given must still be given. She is the legitimate eldest daughter of Zhongyong Hou. If her dowry is meager, wouldn't it reflect poorly on our mansion?
A lavish dowry befits the status of Zhongyong Hou's legitimate eldest daughter.
Once this dowry leaves the gates of Zhongyong Hou Mansion, it will have nothing to do with us anymore.
As for whether it might be robbed by bandits or the like on the way to the wedding—well, that would have nothing to do with Zhongyong Hou Mansion. There's nothing we could do to help, right?" Madame Ding leisurely flipped through the ledger in her hands.
Though called a ledger, it was actually the dowry list left to Song Zhimian by Madame Gu back then.
It was indeed substantial—no wonder people said Zhongyong Hou Mansion had managed to stay afloat all these years thanks to Madame Gu's dowry!
What a pity, though. Over the years, nearly half of it had been used up by Zhongyong Hou Mansion. The remaining half… certainly couldn't be allowed to leave with Song Zhimian.
If Song Zhimian took it away, how would the Hou Mansion maintain its dignity?
How could her own children live as respectable and distinguished young ladies and gentlemen of the Hou Mansion?
Only then did Song Zhiqing understand her mother's plan.
That's right—if bandits robbed the dowry, it would have nothing to do with Zhongyong Hou Mansion.
Her father commanded the Xunfang Camp and had connections with a Guiren. Arranging for some bandits didn't seem like a difficult task!
"Mother, what about this dowry…" Song Zhiqing hugged Madame Ding's arm and began to act coquettishly.
"You and your brother will split it equally. I won't shortchange either of you." Madame Ding smiled and pinched Song Zhiqing's cheek.
Song Zhiqing grinned triumphantly, wrapping her arms around Madame Ding's neck and continuing to act spoiled.
So what if she's the legitimate eldest daughter? In the end, she won't get anything. All that awaits her is being tormented to death by that old man…
Madame Ding's face also wore a satisfied smile.
Madame Gu, oh Madame Gu, you couldn't defeat me, and you met a tragic end.
Now, your sister and daughter will share the same fate, and your Gu family's abundant dowry will all be mine…
…
Song Zhimian took Cuiguo and rode in a carriage out of the mansion. After traveling along the main streets of the capital for a while, she finally spotted a teahouse.
Chun Buwan!
The finest teahouse in Dayu, backed by imperial relatives…
Song Zhimian thought for a moment and signaled the coachman to stop.
"We'll get off here, have a cup of tea, and then I'll go shopping up ahead. It might take a while.
In about two hours… wait for us at that pastry shop over there. You can find a place to rest in the meantime."
As she spoke, Song Zhimian gestured for Cuiguo to give the coachman some silver.
Cuiguo first took out two taels of silver, but Song Zhimian shook her head.
At first, Cuiguo thought Song Zhimian felt she had given too much and was about to take out one tael instead—but then Song Zhimian shot her a sharp glance.
Cuiguo reluctantly took out a five-tael silver piece from her purse…
The coachman happily took the five taels of silver and left…
Song Zhimian then entered the teahouse with Cuiguo, who still wore a pained expression.
Chun Buwan Teahouse was the finest teahouse in the capital. Back when Song Zhimian's aunt was still around, she had visited twice with her.
However, in those days, they always reserved private rooms for tea. Now…
The cost of a private room at Chun Buwan was exorbitant—merely opening one started at twenty taels of silver, not including the expenses for tea and snacks.
The silver she had on hand was only enough for a short while at a table on the first floor.
Song Zhimian ordered a pot of tea and a plate of pastries, and just like that, five taels of silver were gone.
It was Cuiguo's first time at Chun Buwan, and everything felt fresh and new.
As for Song Zhimian, she sipped her tea while listening to the idle chatter of the other patrons around her.
There were quite a few female patrons like her, and no one found it unusual—it was normal for ladies and young misses to stop for a cup of tea after tiring themselves out from shopping.
"Hey, the Neifu just posted a notice—they're recruiting Medical Maids and Female Officials for the palace."
"That's good news! Many women in Dayu are studying medicine now, so recruiting Medical Maids makes sense. But as for Female Officials… are they for the Guiren in the palace?"
"It seems they're for the imperial consorts. Also, I heard the princes' mansions might need them too. But which family of the titled nobility would send their own daughters? Female Officials may sound prestigious, but once they enter the palace, who knows when they'll be allowed to leave? It's not like recruiting for the Directorate of Supervision or the Xingshangsi. If it were those two places, the noble families would probably fight tooth and nail to get in."
"Exactly! Serving people in the palace is different from working for the Neifu with an official title. I reckon the recruits will mostly come from commoner families. The daughters of the titled nobility are surely kept for marriage alliances to strengthen their families' influence!"
"Ah, let's not talk about that. I just came from the Directorate of Supervision and saw they've posted a notice too. The situation in Beidi is tense—they're calling on people in the capital to donate silver! Whether merchants, commoners, or noble families, everyone is expected to contribute something. The Neifu specifically ordered that all accounts be handled by the Directorate of Supervision. Many households are already there donating silver!"
"The Directorate of Supervision is in charge? Then the donated money will surely reach the soldiers in Beidi. I'll go later and donate a tael or two to show my support…"
Song Zhimian listened carefully to every word.
This information was crucial to her.
Perhaps her way out of the current predicament lay in these two pieces of news…