Chapter Sixty-One: A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions.

She pointed at Song Yiqiu and said in a shrill voice:

"It was you! You orchestrated all of this, didn't you? From the banquet going wrong to the deficit in the accounts, it was all a trap you set!"

Song Yiqiu looked completely innocent:

“What makes you say that, sister? I was ill throughout the entire banquet and didn’t get involved in anything. Everything was personally directed by Mother and you handled everything yourself.”

"I'm recuperating in the hospital, how could I possibly do that? Is my sister perhaps overstimulated and starting to talk nonsense?"

Song Sangyu wanted to argue, but was interrupted sternly by her father:

"Enough! You still don't know you're wrong? Learn some composure and maturity from your sister. From today onwards, you get back to Lianqing Garden and are confined to your quarters. Without my order, you are not allowed to step out of the courtyard even once!"

Song Sangyu was struck dumb, and cried out in disbelief:

"How can this be? I made plans with Brother Langxing to go in a few days..."

"What did we agree to?!"

Mr. Song was completely impatient.

"Take care of yourself first! Go back home!"

After Song's father left in a huff, only a few people remained in the ancestral hall.

Song Sangyu glared fiercely at Song Yiqiu, her eyes filled with resentment:

"Song Yiqiu! Don't be so smug. Do you think you've won? One day, I will repay you a thousandfold for the humiliation you inflicted on me today!"

Meeting her resentful gaze, Song Yiqiu confidently said:

"We'll be waiting."

A few days later, in Song Yiqiu's room.

While carefully changing the dressing on Song Yiqiu's back, Bai Mei chattered on, reporting the information she had gathered:

"Miss, you don't know how lively the manor was after the last birthday banquet. I heard that since the Second Miss was confined to her quarters these past few days, there has been a constant clanging and banging in Lianqing Courtyard. She has almost smashed all the good porcelain decorations. If you didn't know better, you would think that her courtyard was under renovation!"

Qingzhu gently held the clean gauze, covered her mouth and laughed upon hearing this, then asked with some concern:

“Miss, I still don’t quite understand why you went to so much trouble, only to give up the power of managing the household to Aunt Yun instead of keeping it in your own hands? Aunt Yun… I always felt that she wasn’t such a simple person.”

Bai Mei nodded repeatedly in agreement:

"Exactly! If the young lady had control over the household management, we could investigate whatever we wanted and deal with whoever we wanted!"

"Most importantly, that's the best way to protect the dowry that the old lady left you! Judging by the way these parasites in the manor are squandering it, I think they'll be eyeing that dowry soon!"

Despite the stinging pain from the ointment, Song Yiqiu smiled and explained:

"There are so many people at the banquet, so many eyes watching. If I immediately take over the housekeeping duties after such a big incident, wouldn't I become the target of everyone's criticism?"

“My mother, Sang Yu, and those good-for-nothing brothers will all turn their anger on me.”

She paused, had Qingzhu help her tie her sash, and continued:

"Only by giving power to the most inconspicuous and seemingly harmless people can we divert their attention and anger, and at the same time, it can also be considered a form of befriending them."

"After all, we are dealing with the prejudice and corruption of the entire Song family. Having one more temporary ally is always better than having one more enemy."

Bai Mei suddenly realized, and slapped her forehead:

"I understand, I understand! Miss means that we shouldn't put all the eggs in one pot. We should prepare several pots, some for frying eggs, some for scrambling eggs, and some for deep-frying eggs!"

Qingzhu couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"Sister Bai Mei, that's called 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket'!"

Song Yiqiu smiled and shook her head.

Just then, a cautious knocking sound came from outside the door.

Bai Mei immediately and alertly walked to the door, peeked through the crack, then opened the door, her tone slightly teasing:

"Oh, what a rare guest! Aunt Yun has arrived? We haven't seen you since that day at the ancestral hall. I thought you were too busy and had forgotten about our young lady!"

Song Yiqiu gestured for Bai Mei to shush and whispered:

"Stop being so glib, quickly invite Aunt Yun in."

Aunt Yun led Song Sanchun, Song Ruoling, and Song Ziyu in.

As soon as they entered, Aunt Yun led her three children and prepared to kneel down before Song Yiqiu:

"Young Miss, thank you so much! I've been busy getting to know the housekeeper these past few days and forgot to come and thank you properly. I brought these people with me today to express my sincere gratitude to you!"

Song Yiqiu was startled and quickly stepped forward to help them up:

"What are you doing, Aunt? Get up! There's no need for such a grand gesture."

The youngest son, Song Ziyu, was the happiest, looking up at Song Yiqiu with his little face and saying:

"Sister Yiqiu, we can eat our fill every day in the courtyard now, and we have meat with every meal. My mother even said that she'll hire a great tutor for me to study in a few days!"

Looking at his innocent smiling face, Song Yiqiu's heart softened, and she patted his head:

"Good girl."

Song Ruoling also came over, a little shy but also expectant, and said:

"Sister Yiqiu, I've been diligently helping Sister Sanchun with the line work, grinding pigments, and even helping my mother with the account books these past few days!"

She seemed to crave praise as well.

Song Yiqiu smiled and gently placed her hand on her head, patting it lightly.

"Sister Ruoling is also great."

Only Song Sanchun stood a little further away, looking at Song Yiqiu with a complicated expression.

She knew in her heart that it was Song Yiqiu's help that had freed them from their predicament of not having enough to eat, and had also given the young woman some power.

But she couldn't easily believe this good intention, and said coldly:

"Song Yiqiu, don't think that just because you've given us these small favors, I'll be grateful to you. Who knows what kind of wicked scheme you're plotting?"

"Perhaps you, Madam, and Song Sangyu are all in cahoots. This is just a show you put on to use us!"

"Sanchun! Stop talking nonsense!"

Aunt Yun immediately scolded, her face full of embarrassment.

"Young Miss, please don't take it to heart. This child is just stubborn and doesn't know how to speak properly..."

Bai Mei was so angry she wanted to retort, but Song Yiqiu stopped her with a look.

Song Yiqiu wasn't angry; she simply looked calmly at Song Sanchun and said lightly:

A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions.

She turned to look at Aunt Yun and got to the point:

"Aunt, do you remember our agreement?"

Aunt Yun nodded quickly:

"I remember, I remember. How could I forget what the young lady instructed?"

As she spoke, she carefully took a brass key from her sleeve.

"As requested by the young lady, I have secretly searched for the items under the guise of checking the old items in the storeroom. However... I did not find the special dowry that you requested in the storeroom."

She handed the key to Song Yiqiu:

“If Miss doesn’t mind the trouble, she can check it again herself. But... please do it as soon as possible and return the key to me immediately after the check, so that Madam doesn’t find out.”

Song Yiqiu took the key and nodded:

"Thank you so much, Auntie."