Who would have thought that Master Song and Madam Song would arrive before us? This truly fills me with trepidation.

"Madam, please don't say that! My husband and I already know the whole story. It was my siblings who didn't behave properly as older brothers and sisters. Ah Zi did a good job teaching them a lesson!"

Jiang Segu quickly apologized, saying, "It was Azi's recklessness that caused her to offend the sisters..."

Madam Song patted Jiang Segu's hand reassuringly, "Azi, don't be afraid. Your aunt is speaking from the heart! Your sisters are too pampered and don't know the ways of the world."

Hearing a few words from the past outside and taking them seriously, he not only makes a fuss about it but also gets into arguments with you. Doesn't he care about losing face for the family and causing trouble for the elders? He's such an ignorant fool!

Your aunt has already warned your sisters that if it happens again, she'll tear their mouths apart and teach them a lesson: they can eat whatever they want, but they can't say whatever they want…”

Jiang Segu lowered his eyes, concealing the sharpness within them.

Madam Song was indirectly criticizing her, sending her a warning!

"My aunt's magnanimity, tolerance, gentleness, and virtue are well-known throughout the capital. Sister Song is also a model of a virtuous lady in the capital. It must all be due to my aunt's good upbringing!"

"I dare to ask my aunt to perhaps offer me some guidance when she has some free time in the future!"

snort!

It's a veiled insult implying that I'm being irresponsible and causing trouble for my family!

I'm just going to tease you about being fat!

They even mocked your daughter, saying that her narrow-mindedness, treachery, and viciousness were inherited from your lineage!

Madam Song was so angry that her ribs ached, but she didn't show it on her face at all. She laughed and said, "Azi's little mouth is much more eloquent than the myna bird that your aunt raised!"

This is comparing her to an animal!

Following the principle of reciprocity, Jiang Segu said in a soft, sweet voice, "Because Azi is plain-looking, and if she were also clumsy with words, she wouldn't be likable! Azi really envies Sister Song Er for being so beautiful, just like..."

The little girl had a soft, gentle voice and a charmingly naive look on her face, as if she were deep in thought.

In a moment, her eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "It's just as beautiful as the ring-necked pheasant my brother caught up from the mountain!"

What is a ring-necked pheasant?

It's a pheasant!

If you compare her daughter to a pheasant, then what is she?

Is she a madam?

Madam Song was so angry that the veins on her temples bulged, but she couldn't vent her anger!

If she were to argue with a child, wouldn't that make her seem petty?

Furthermore, the father-in-law didn't send the couple to his door to interrogate them!

If it weren't for the Emperor's recent frequent summons of the Duke of Cheng, the Duke of Cheng's long-standing discord with the Duke, and the Duke's cautious nature, who did not wish to cause trouble at this critical juncture, she would never have come to the Marquis of Changping's residence!

It's all thanks to Sister Hui's good deeds!

Suppressing the rising anger in her heart, Madam Song pulled Jiang Segu back to the couch and sat down. Forcing a smile, she said to Old Madam Jiang, "The people you've trained have truly surpassed my daughters!"

"From now on, not only will my sisters be forbidden from bullying Azi, but even if it's someone else, my aunt will have to give them a warning, lest such a clever little girl suffer any injustice outside, or my aunt will not allow it..."

Jiang Segu's eyes darted slightly.

Madam Song intends to spread her reputation for being domineering and tyrannical throughout the capital.

If a girl has a bad reputation, the biggest impact will be on her marriage prospects!

What Jiang Segu fears least in this life is fame and marriage!

Therefore, she did not refute anything!

Just then, she felt a cool sensation on her wrist, and there was a flawless emerald jade bracelet.

Madam Song smiled and said, "This bracelet was given to my aunt by the Empress Dowager before she was married. Today, I'll give it to Azi..."

"Madam, you're too kind. Giving such a valuable gift to this little rascal is such a waste! Besides, she's still too young to carry around this!"

Jiang Segu hurriedly tried to take the bracelet off, but was stopped by Madam Song.

“I think it suits Azi perfectly. If Azi doesn’t accept it, it means she won’t forgive her sisters…”

Thus, Jiang Segu accepted the bracelet with a nod from Old Madam Jiang.

The three chatted casually for a while until a maidservant from the front yard came to announce, "Master Jiang has official business to attend to and has returned to the yamen first."

Madam Song then got up to take her leave.

Before leaving, she left a note saying that the Song family would be holding a peach blossom banquet at their suburban villa in mid-March, and invited Old Madam Jiang to attend with her daughters-in-law and granddaughters.

After seeing Madam Song off, Old Madam Jiang placed the invitation on the couch, then pulled Jiang Segu into her arms and scolded, "I never realized you were so eloquent, Azi! You really angered Madam Song quite a bit; you'll get what's coming to you!"

"Ah Zi isn't afraid at all! The fact that she humbled herself to apologize to a junior like me today shows that she doesn't dare to openly oppose me! If she tries to use underhanded tactics, Ah Zi has ways to deal with it!"

Jiang Segu spoke with great confidence, but in reality, he was placing his hopes on Aunt Lan, whose future was still uncertain.

"You, your grandmother doesn't know whether to say you're fearless like a newborn calf or naive! In any case, your grandmother is still alive, and the Marquis of Changping's family is praised by Emperor Gaozu for its loyalty and bravery. If anyone bullies us, your grandmother will risk all her old bones to go to the Emperor and file a complaint!"

Jiang Segu's nose tingled with emotion, and she choked out, "Grandmother has been so good to Azi, Azi feels ashamed..."

"Silly child, you are your grandmother's granddaughter, why are you saying such things!" Then she asked Jiang Segu, "Do you know the origin of this Peach Blossom Banquet?"