Chapter 145 Song Yu Wants to Control
When Ji Shu entered the hall, Song Yunshu was sitting upright in a pear wood chair, holding a fine Jin Jun Mei tea in her hands.
This was the first time Song had ever stepped into Wenxin Pavilion, and the fact that she was sitting here now was thanks to Ji Shu, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned down.
She couldn't help but feel jealous and resentful. She had heard that her elder brother had not only entrusted her with the management of the entire Wenxin Pavilion, but had also asked her mother for the power to manage the household yesterday.
The meaning is self-evident; it's equivalent to having to make a living under her from now on.
Hearing the rustling of the beaded curtain at the door, Madam Song regained her senses and clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
She looked at Ji Shu's attire today and saw that she was wearing a begonia red blouse with gold thread and lotus sleeves, paired with a royal blue long skirt that trailed on the ground. She looked bright and beautiful but not without composure, which was both appropriate for the joy of her wedding and showed the majesty of the mistress of the house.
However, when her gaze fell on the white jade peach blossom hairpin in her hair, her pupils suddenly constricted. It was clearly a token that only the matriarchs of Yanzhou could wear.
As far as she knew, Gu Shi had never received this jade hairpin during the years she married into the family, but now, only a few days after their marriage, Ji Shu was wearing it.
If she knew that Pei Yanzhi had already given this jade hairpin to Ji Shu back in Kangzhou, she would probably be so angry that she would vomit blood.
When Ji Shu saw that Chunzhi was staring intently at her hair bun, a thought struck her. She really didn't mean to show off; it was just that Chunzhi had suddenly brought it out this morning, and she felt that it matched her outfit perfectly today.
That's why I chose to wear it.
After Ji Shu took her seat, she addressed Pei Yanzhi as "sister-in-law."
Song Yunshu was so startled by the address that she almost jumped up. She quickly managed a smile and said, "I used to think that you were already beautiful with light makeup, but I never expected that you would look like a completely different person in full dress!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu merely smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then asked, "Did you come here today for something?"
Song Yunshu nodded and sighed softly, "Alas, it's because I heard from Mother that my sister-in-law is now in charge of the household. I was supposed to go back to my parents' home today. According to custom, Mother said that I could go to the storeroom to pick out a few things to take back with me."
"But isn't the eldest sister-in-law in charge now? This pair of tiles..."
Ji Shu understood; so they hadn't come to reminisce, but rather to ask for something.
She remembered what Lian'er had said before: the Song family used to be quite well-off and had a certain reputation in Yanzhou; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to form a marriage alliance with the Pei family.
Later on, it was said that her brother was a compulsive gambler who also liked to keep prostitutes outside the brothel, and he wouldn't even let go of pretty, respectable women he met.
This Song woman, relying on being the second wife of the Pei family, often cleaned up the messes for her brother. But her good fortune didn't last long. It's said that a few days ago, her brother got into a fight with someone over a woman and was beaten and injured on the head.
A few days ago I heard that her sister-in-law from her maternal family came to visit, probably because she was having a very hard time and wanted her to take some valuables back to help her out.
If Song Yunshu hadn't offended Ji Shu, she wouldn't be such a petty person. Now that they're all eating from the same pot, harmony and happiness are what Madam Pei wants to see.
But nowadays—
Ji Shu said to her apologetically, "This pair of mahjong tiles was only handed to me by Wu Yang this morning. The Marquis has not yet instructed me on how to manage the household."
"If I rashly give you the inventory list for this warehouse, and the numbers don't match up, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain if the Marquis questions me."
This is almost a blatant rejection.
Song Yunshu understood after a moment's thought that Ji Shu was deliberately making things difficult for her, and a shadow of gloom flashed in her eyes.
If she thinks she's a pushover who can be easily manipulated, she's sorely mistaken.
It's hard to say who's manipulating whom!
She gave a cold laugh, and just like her, picked up the already brewed tea leaves on the table, then put them down with a look of disdain.
"Of course I know my sister-in-law has her own difficulties, but well—"
"Some things can be compromised, right, sister-in-law?"
"I think my elder brother probably doesn't know yet, but I learned some things a few days ago."
"What do you think my mother would think if I told her about these things?"
Ji Shu's eyes darkened, and her tone gradually turned cold. She placed the teacup on the table with a light touch and asked, "Oh, what has Madam Song heard?"
Seeing that she showed no fear, Song Yunshu thought to herself that she was quite composed. She lowered her voice and said, "It's nothing. I just happened to hear a story. A few days ago in the countryside of Yang County, there was a woman who, relying on her beauty, seduced a local tyrant. But when the tyrant wanted to marry her, he unexpectedly discovered that she had had affairs with many local officials, including his son."
"That powerful man couldn't swallow his anger, and felt like he was wearing a huge green hat, so on his wedding night, he took a long knife and killed his bride." After saying this, he covered his mouth with fear in his eyes, looking extremely frightened.
"Tell me, this was originally a joyous occasion, but it turned into a funeral."
This affected manner is truly disgusting.
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu remained expressionless, while Chunzhi was furious. Everyone knew that Madam Song was being sarcastic, and she raised her voice, "Second Madam Song, has no one told you that your storytelling skills are terrible?"
"If what you say is true, that powerful man was willing to be with that woman and even marry her, so wouldn't he have known about her past beforehand and hadn't investigated her?"
"If he doesn't even know this, he's not very capable. Besides, you said it yourself, that woman had previous relationships with other men. She didn't violate any morals or break any laws, so why is that unacceptable?"
"You...you..." Song Yunshu was so shocked by these outrageous remarks that she was speechless. What kind of blasphemous words were these?
Throughout history, if a woman is entangled with multiple men, she will inevitably be condemned by everyone and scorned by her family.
How come in the mouths of these two, master and servant, it's still the man who's to blame?
She was so angry that her face turned red, and she simply said, "Fine, if you think this is nothing, I'll find an opportunity to tell my mother this story as a joke later, and then we'll see what she thinks of it."
"Xingjian will definitely find this story very interesting!"
She refused to believe that the old lady would remain indifferent to the fact that the matriarch of the Pei family was having an affair with the heir.
After she finished speaking, seeing that Ji Shu didn't seem to care, Song Yunshu panicked a little. As the second wife of the mansion, she naturally couldn't say these things.
Saying it would be blatant targeting, and she wouldn't be able to explain it to the old lady or even her elder brother. She originally wanted to use this matter to control Ji Shu.
If this works out, she can take whatever she wants from this warehouse.
To her utter surprise, Ji Shu's reaction was so indifferent, leaving her in a difficult position.
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