Song Tangxue didn't care about any of that. She went out the gate and got into the Song family sedan chair that was parked at the door.
She comfortably took a seat and started eating her snacks; she hadn't had breakfast yet.
When Song's mother helped Song Tangli arrive, this was the scene she saw. She gave her a disdainful look, and Song Tangxue gently put down the handkerchief containing the pastries.
"Did Ali sit in the wrong seat again?" Song Tangxue took a sip of tea, suppressing the sweet taste in her mouth, and glanced lightly at Song Tangli, who had just sat down.
Song Tangli looked at her, and tears welled up in her red eyes again.
Is this person made of water? How can she cry so much? Song Tangxue thought to herself, "I am the Crown Princess, and my mother is my birth mother. You have nothing to do with us. Sister, get out of the carriage."
Song Tangli clenched her fists, cautiously raised her eyes, and looked at her mother expectantly. Her mother's face was also ashen: "Song Tangxue, don't go too far!"
Song Tangxue put down her teacup and said slowly, "Is this going too far?"
Finally, Song Tangli got out of the sedan chair and followed behind it with small steps, while Haitang slowly stood beside her.
Song Tangxue lifted the sedan curtain and looked at the beads of sweat on her forehead: "Carriers, hurry up. I'm eager to get home after a day away."
Song Tangli's face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth to follow, her demeanor somewhat disheveled.
Li Zhaoxian was on his way to meet with the Vice Minister of Rites when he saw Song Tangli following the sedan chair in a disheveled state from afar, and he reached out to stop the sedan chair.
The sound of the sedan bearers bowing startled the two people inside the sedan, and Song's mother and Song Tangxue got out of the sedan.
Song Tangxue gave a perfunctory bow, while Song Tangli looked as if she had suffered a great injustice, her eyes red as she looked at Li Zhaoxian. Li Zhaoxian reached out and wiped away her tears with heartache: "Ali, you have suffered."
He then glared angrily at Song Tangxue: "How could you be so vicious as to do something like this to bully your sister?"
Song Tangli shook her head, her tears falling even more profusely: "It's not my fault, sister, it's all my fault for making you angry..."
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Song Tangxue's eyes: "Do you expect an adopted daughter to sit with a legitimate daughter? Go ask which family would do that? A legitimate daughter is a legitimate daughter, and a half-sister is a half-sister, not to mention she's just an adopted daughter."
"Your Highness, it would be best not to give anyone a handle to impeach you in court." Song Tangxue's words left Li Zhaoxian speechless.
Song Tangli nearly bit her teeth to pieces, clutched her pink embroidered handkerchief tightly, and looked at Li Zhaoxian with teary eyes.
After bidding farewell to Li Zhaoxian, the group returned to the Song family. Old Madam Song stood at the door to greet them, smiling as she took Song Tangxue's hand: "Tangxue suffered yesterday; it was Grandmother's fault for not thinking things through."
The group slowly walked inside. When they sat down, Song Tangli's cheeks were already damp with sweat, and she was breathing heavily. She drank several cups of tea in a row.
"Grandmother, I'm not comfortable staying here, and I don't want to stay here anymore." Song Tangxue didn't touch the food on the table; the pastries were too greasy for her.
That was the flavor Song Tangli liked, not the flavor she liked.
Old Madam Song waved her hand kindly: "Those are no big deal. Wherever Tangxue wants to stay, Grandma will arrange it for you."
"I want to live in Jinyuyuan." This was exactly what Old Madam Song had been waiting for.
Song Tangli was about to burst into tears again; that was the courtyard where she had lived for more than ten years.
"Grandmother, is it not allowed?" Seeing Madam Song hesitate, Song Tangxue continued, "Jinyu Garden is reserved for the masters of the household. How can an adopted daughter have been involved in it for so many years? Aren't you afraid of being impeached by His Majesty?"
Jin Yu Yuan is the most magnificent and elegant courtyard besides the old lady's courtyard and the residence of Song's mother in the Song family. Even the courtyards of the eldest and second sons of the Song family are somewhat inferior.
"Of course, Grandmother will naturally agree to whatever Tangxue wants." The old lady agreed after thinking about what would happen later.
Song Tangli's body trembled violently. Song's mother dared not disobey the old lady's wishes and patted her tenderly.
“Jinyu Garden is too big. It feels empty here. I prefer Mei Garden. Why don’t you give Mei Garden to me, Grandmother? Jinyu Garden is perfect for storing account books. After all, we have too many properties, and some of them don’t even have enough space.” Song Tangxue enjoyed Song Tangli’s humiliated expression.
This is nothing, my dear sister.
The old lady readily agreed, and said, turning the Buddhist beads in her hand around: "Tang Xue, look, you're back now. We're all family. Any grudges can be forgotten overnight."
"The Song family would never harm you. Your uncles and aunts have always helped the Song family. Now that the Song family is in trouble, Tang Xue is a filial child. Shouldn't she show some appreciation?"
The old lady's hand landed on Song Tangxue's hand, the warm Buddhist beads separating the two from their otherwise close contact.
Song Tangxue looked at the old lady and said, "The previous deficit was too large. The uncles and elders have not yet filled the hole. The cash flow of the shops outside is also in trouble. If they can't come up with the money, these shops will have to close down."
Closing the shop meant a significant reduction in their income, which was something the old lady didn't want to see. As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood.
In the end, the old lady didn't manage to get a single penny from Song Tangxue. On her way to Plum Garden, Song Tangxue passed by the entrance of Golden Jade Garden and happened to run into Song Tangli, who was carrying things out.
"Be quick, everyone, don't bump into anything." Song Tangli kicked a small stone with some annoyance.
The two exchanged a brief glance in the air, and Song Tangxue, feeling bored, returned to the Plum Garden.
"Haitang, bring me all the shop's account books."
Haitang responded and quickly took it. Song Tangxue flipped through a few pages, then slammed the notebook shut, her face turning cold: "It seems there are still some people who haven't taken my words to heart."
"Let's go take a look."
Song Tangxue's eyes were sharp as she picked up the account book and left the Song residence.
Shops lined both sides of the street, vendors called out their wares, and the spring sunshine lazily shone down, adding a touch of lively atmosphere to this bustling Kyoto street.
Before they even reached the shop, a familiar coachman bowed and stopped Song Tangxue: "Miss Song, my master invites you in."
Song Tangxue stopped and followed them into a side alley where the blue carriage from yesterday was parked.
Song Tangxue lifted the carriage curtain and got in. Haitang sat down next to the coachman on her own initiative. With a flick of the whip, the carriage started moving steadily this time.
As the carriage curtain was lifted, the sunlight poured in, bathing Song Tangxue in its warmth. Xie Qianzhong paused slightly as he poured tea, and the aroma of tea filled the small space.
"Thank you, Lord Xie. It's been a long time." Song Tangxue found a seat and sat down.
"We met just yesterday." Xie Qianzhong pushed the teacup in his hand in front of her.
"A day apart feels like three autumns," Song Tangxue said, her voice trailing off with a hint of something more.
Xie Qianzhong's eyes turned cold: "Princess Consort, please have some self-respect."
"Have some self-respect. I didn't say anything." Song Tangxue repeated the two words.
Xie Qianzhong was speechless for a moment, then brought up the subject: "Someone is buying up large quantities of saltpeter. Miss Song, don't forget about our deal."
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