The group returned to the Prime Minister's residence in a grand procession, with chests of silk and jewels carried by servants. As they passed through the bustling city, people stared in disbelief.
Many people pointed at them and said, "This is the first time I've seen a woman return to her parents' home on the third day of the wedding ceremony, and she even brought so many things from her parents' home. It's really rare."
They all started to regard Song Lingxi as the kind of unfilial daughter who went back to her parents' home to freeload, pointing fingers and making comments.
At such times, a few clever servants would step forward to explain to them, eliciting gasps of amazement from the crowd.
Now, everyone started looking at the boxes and cursing the second wife of the Song family for being so heartless, actually hoarding so many good things. These all belonged to the first wife, and Lord Song was no good either.
The Song family's bad reputation spread far and wide, and people, whether intentionally or unintentionally, began to curse them. Censor Song's prestige among the people greatly declined.
However, none of this concerned Song Lingxi. At this moment, she was helping Li Xiuxiu, her third aunt, down from the carriage: "Aunt, be careful not to fall."
Li Xiuxiu patted her little hand, but she didn't move. Both of her legs were damaged and she couldn't walk at all. Song Lingxi's small body was so thin that it couldn't support her at all.
Xie Changling understood Li Xiuxiu's meaning, put his arm around Song Lingxi and stepped back, pointing to a relatively strong old woman: "You carry your aunt to the main courtyard, Mother is still waiting for me there."
After the old woman carried the person away, Xie Changling glanced at Song Lingxi in his arms and saw that she was in low spirits and seemed to feel somewhat guilty. He comforted her.
"Xi'er, why do you look so worried? Are you worried about your aunt?"
On Song Lingxi's stunningly beautiful face, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and her small, exquisite nose wrinkled as well. Her entire face was filled with the word "self-blame."
"My lord, is it because I am too incompetent that my aunt and I have fallen to this state? If only I had been more assertive back then..."
Xie Changling disagreed with her idea, not wanting her to fall into endless pain and entanglement: "Xi'er had no one to teach her when she was young. Even if she is a little timid, it is for her own protection."
“If Xi’er is stubborn and always goes against your stepmother, your stepmother must be fed up with you long ago. It’s uncertain whether she will let you live to adulthood.”
"Moreover, when Xi'er was young, a cold that could have been left untreated could have taken your life. At that time, how could you have married me? Without Xi'er, I would have died long ago."
Xie Changling held Song Lingxi's small hand while gently comforting her. The two talked as they walked towards the main courtyard, and soon they arrived.
"Now you understand. Before, Xi'er couldn't even protect herself. If she really lived under the same roof as her aunt, it would be very hard for her to take care of both you and your cousin."
"Now that Xi'er has escaped the Song family mansion, that cannibalistic place, and brought her aunt over, we're taking care of her together. Your life is much better now."
"So you can't be considered extremely wealthy, but you have no worries about food and clothing and your life is smooth. This can be considered as Heaven's compensation to you."
Xie Changling stopped, pinched Song Lingxi's fair face, and saw that the worry between her brows had finally lessened. He bent down and kissed her face before leading her into the main hall.
"My husband, he's still outside."
Song Lingxi stood there blankly as he led her forward, her other hand quietly touching her face, which felt hot and her heart was beating a little fast. When she looked at her mother-in-law sitting in the main seat, she couldn't say a word.
"The son (daughter-in-law) has met his mother and aunt."
Song Lingxi followed behind Xie Changling and bowed to the Prime Minister's wife to pay her respects. When she looked up, she saw the Prime Minister's wife holding her third aunt's hand, as if they were old friends meeting again.
"No need for formalities, please sit down. Xi'er is truly a lucky star in our Prime Minister's mansion. She brought my old sister back. Today is a wonderful day, the best day ever."
The Prime Minister's wife patted her old friend's hand, her eyes filled with relief and heartache. Old friends reunited, they should have had endless things to say, but both of them had tears in their eyes without prior arrangement.
The Prime Minister's wife's original name was He Xiangning. She was the same age as Li Xiuxiu. Their fathers held similar official positions and lived close by. Over time, they became close friends since childhood.
However, after Li Xiuxiu got married, she no longer lived in the capital, but went to the frontier to guard the border with her husband. The two did not see each other for a long time.
When the General's Mansion was in trouble, she in the Prime Minister's Mansion was not much better off. Because of Xie Changling's poor health, the Prime Minister's wife was so worried that her hair turned white. She took him to the mountain and Master Hongyi rescued him.
They missed the opportunity to help Li Xiuxiu. Besides, even if the General's Mansion was in dire straits, the glory of their ancestors was enough to squander for a lifetime.
She also heard that Li Xiuxiu had gone to Jiangnan to stay with her maternal grandparents, but the Prime Minister's wife, He Xiangning, was not too worried.
Who would have thought that after more than ten years apart, their reunion would be in such a state? The Prime Minister's wife was heartbroken at the sight, her eyes reddening, and she held her hand tightly, feeling extremely distressed.
Song Lingxi was puzzled. Her beautiful face was full of confusion, and her soft, sweet expression made people want to kiss her and cherish her.
"Mother, you and Aunt... knew each other before?"
Song Lingxi carefully chose her words. In her previous life, she had lived in the Prime Minister's residence for almost decades and had never heard of such a thing. The Prime Minister's wife had never even mentioned it. This was too sudden.
"Alas, your aunt and I were once very close friends, childhood playmates. Unfortunately, a few years ago, something happened at the General's Mansion, and she moved to Jiangnan. I was busy taking care of Changling, so we gradually lost contact."
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