The lamplight flickered in the room. First Madam looked at her furious daughter and patted the spot beside her, signaling her to sit down. She spoke calmly, “What have I always told you? Don’t rush when facing problems. Steady yourself first before thinking of solutions. When people panic, they become disordered, and disorder leads to trouble.”
Song Yexi pressed her lips together, her brows still etched with stubbornness.
First Madam sighed, “You claim today’s incident was Qinghan’s doing, but do you have any evidence?”
Song Yexi: …
If she had evidence, would she be making a scene here? She would have already confronted Song Qinghan directly.
“Mother, although I lack evidence, there’s something quite peculiar. After we arrived at the Count’s Mansion and paid our respects to the Countess, Song Qinghan took us to play in the mansion’s garden. That’s when we encountered Chu Yuying. That Miss Chu immediately asked about Yun Zhao. How do you think she knew about Yun Zhao?”
“There was such a thing?” First Madam’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. “Tell me the details carefully.”
Song Yexi took a deep breath, suppressing her restless emotions before continuing, “Mother, when our group went to the garden, before we could even properly admire the scenery, Miss Chu arrived with a crowd of maids and matrons—quite the grand display. She glanced over us and immediately asked which one was Yun Zhao. Don’t you find it strange? Why would Miss Chu ask about Yun Zhao right away? And how did she know about her?”
“Qinghan and Yun Zhao are biological sisters, and the Countess is their maternal aunt. It’s not surprising Miss Chu would know about Yun Zhao,” First Madam reasoned.
“That may be true, but when Jinxuan told Miss Chu that Yun Zhao was ill today, I clearly saw Miss Chu’s expression change—disappointment mixed with anger. If she were merely receiving guests, why would she show such an expression?”
First Madam nodded slightly, “What happened next?”
“Then Song Qinghan stepped forward, smiling as she spoke with Miss Chu. The two walked aside, and who knows what they discussed. Miss Chu left looking displeased, without even acknowledging the rest of us.”
First Madam’s expression darkened. Although the Chu family held a noble title, the two families were connected by marriage—such disregard was truly excessive.
Though her husband currently held only a fifth-rank official position, his placement in the Salt Commissioner Office guaranteed promotion within a few years. The Salt Commissioner Office wasn’t somewhere just anyone could enter.
Dingnan Earl Manor might appear glorious—an aristocratic family of distinguished officials—but what achievements did the Chu family have beyond producing a Guifei? Few among their younger generation showed promise.
Their sole support, the Guifei, had already passed away from illness. It remained uncertain whether Dingnan Earl Manor could even maintain its peerage. With titles diminishing over three generations of inheritance, what would the Chu family amount to by then?
Suppressing her anger, First Madam told her daughter, “Whether she acknowledges you or not doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the Countess will recommend you for the selection.”
“I doubt it,” Song Yexi said resentfully. “The Countess clearly favors Song Qinghan. If only one person is to be chosen, it will undoubtedly be her.”
First Madam looked at her daughter and asked, “So was Jinxuan’s incident today an accident or intentional?”
Song Yexi’s expression darkened at the mention. “I was some distance from Jinxuan at the time. When I heard her cry out and rushed over, I only caught a glimpse of a blue robe disappearing around the corner of the corridor. When I reached Jinxuan, one of her feet was already in the lotus pond. Mother, I couldn’t have mistaken it—someone deliberately tried to harm Jinxuan.”
“What happened next?”
“Then Song Qinghan arrived with her attendants and immediately scolded Jinxuan for being playful and improper. What kind of elder sister sees her younger sister stepping into a muddy pond and instead of comforting her, starts reprimanding her? From my cold observation, Song Qinghan clearly wanted to frame it as Jinxuan accidentally slipping into the pond herself.”
“Did Jinxuan say anything?”
“She tried to defend herself, but before she could finish, Chu Yuying arrived. She kept going on about how Song Jinxuan was reckless and ill-mannered, how a proper young lady would never step into the water. My face burned with shame at the time.”
First Madam’s face was now completely dark. “And then?”
“What else could happen? Song Qinghan and Chu Yuying, one after the other, quickly pinned the charge of being unruly and ignorant of propriety on Jinxuan. I noticed Chu Yuying looking at us strangely. My second and third sisters wanted to speak up for Jinxuan, but I stopped them. They’re both born of concubines—what weight would their words carry? They’d only become targets for Chu Yuying’s mockery. But I couldn’t swallow this injustice. While I can’t afford to offend Chu Yuying, why should I fear Song Qinghan? So I said, ‘Sister Qinghan truly is a fine elder sister from the third branch,’ then left with my two sisters supporting Jinxuan.”
First Madam stared intently at her daughter. “Are you certain the fleeing person was wearing a blue robe?”
“Would I lie to you? Even now, the thought sends chills down my spine.”
Only men wore robes—how could a man have infiltrated the inner quarters?
First Madam slammed the table abruptly and said to her daughter, “It seems today’s scheme wasn’t targeting Jinxuan, but rather…”
A thought flashed through Song Yexi’s mind, and she blurted out, “Yun Zhao?”
First Madam didn’t elaborate in front of her daughter, patting her hand instead. “Don’t speculate wildly. Without evidence, speaking out will only give others leverage. After you took Jinxuan away, did you ask her what happened?”
At this, Song Yexi replied, “Jinxuan only said she was enjoying the scenery by the lotus pond when someone suddenly rushed out, startling her so much she stepped back and her foot landed in the pond. Her scream probably frightened the intruder, who turned and fled immediately.”
“Did she see what he looked like?”
“Jinxuan said she was too terrified to notice anything except that it was a man. She didn’t get a clear look at his face.”
“With no witnesses or physical evidence, and your third uncle yet to arrive in the capital, this matter will likely be swept under the rug.” First Madam looked sternly at her daughter. “Not a word of this leaves this room.”
“Mother, are we just going to let it go?” The thought made Song Yexi shudder. Even their two half-sisters from the same branch had wanted to protect Song Jinxuan, yet Jinxuan’s own full elder sister seemed determined to trample her into the mud.
They all bore the Song name—if Song Jinxuan’s reputation was ruined, what good would it do any of them?
“Forget it?” First Madam sneered, “Whether we can forget it depends on Consort Che’s methods after your third uncle arrives in the capital.”
Song Yexi froze.
First Madam patted her daughter’s hand. “Yun Zhao is still recuperating. Go check on her and then rest.”
Song Yexi looked displeased. “Mother…”
First Madam glanced at her daughter.
Song Yexi instantly deflated and had to rise, saying, “Then I’ll go see Yun Zhao first.”
First Madam sighed softly as she watched her daughter’s retreating figure. After she left the room, she said to Mama Zhao, “I truly never expected Song Qinghan to have such capabilities. Since she’s done something this significant, we ought to make her reputation known far and wide.”
If Song Qinghan dared to target Song Jinxuan today, she would dare to target her own Ye Xi tomorrow.
If she isn’t taught a lesson, she won’t know how much her bones truly weigh!