“Lingyu is not without her merits. Just her kindness alone makes her better than many others. But no matter how I try to persuade your second sister, she won’t listen. She acts like she’s the only one who doesn’t care about others.”
Madam Song sighed, and Jiang Shuwan understood what Jiang Yao was thinking.
Two lifetimes of love, a lifetime of misplaced affection—this was a devastating blow to Jiang Yao.
Especially since Pei Lingyu had just died and the noblewoman went to find her, she felt that she was different from others in Pei Lingyu's heart, a unique existence, and she devoted all her sincerity to Pei Lingyu.
How could she bear it?
"Only she herself can come to terms with this matter."
Jiang Shuwan then asked Granny Tao to show Song Shi the palace flowers that had just been taken out of the storeroom.
“Mother, these are palace flowers bestowed by the Empress on the fifteenth day of the lunar year. If the Lady of the Countess sees this, she will never let my mother come out to entertain guests again.”
The old man lost the emperor's favor and was therefore not given important positions. In his disappointment, he became a Taoist priest.
When Lady Bo saw the palace flowers, she understood that no matter how dissatisfied she was with Jiang Yao, she could not lose her composure and decorum. Otherwise, if the censor heard about it and reported it to the emperor, the Bo family would be the one to suffer.
In this way, Jiang Yao preserved her dignity as the youngest daughter-in-law, and she did not put pressure on her daughter-in-law in person, thus maintaining her dignity.
Moreover, it was originally Madam Bo who was unreasonable first. They were giving her face, which was also a way for Jiang Yao to show her loyalty to Madam Bo. After all, Jiang Yao had been fighting with Madam Bo ever since she married into the family, and she hadn't given her any face at all.
This will help ease tensions between them.
"Good child, you've thought of everything so thoroughly. It's no wonder I raised you."
Madam Song slapped her thigh, feeling that Jiang Shuwan's idea was excellent, as it could both help Jiang Yao and ease the tension between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the Earl's Mansion.
Heaven has mercy on her; what worries her most is the relationship between Jiang Yao and Madam Bo.
You can't fight city hall; she's never seen a daughter-in-law outmaneuver her mother-in-law.
Which daughter-in-law doesn't have to be subservient and respect her mother-in-law in every way?
Moreover, this is a noble family like the Earl's Mansion.
“Mother, don’t be too humble when you go to the Earl’s residence. After all, Father also works in the Ministry of Rites. Although he doesn’t have much power, he has some connections with those noble censors,” Jiang Shuwan continued.
“Oh my! Wanwan, you are truly my good child! You have really spoken to my heart. Ever since your second sister married into the Earl’s family, I have been running to the Earl’s family every day for your sake. The Earl’s wife has never given me a kind look. I have lost all face. Not to mention the Earl’s wife, even the maids and servants in the Earl’s family do not respect me. Hearing what you said, I feel much more at ease.”
Mrs. Song jumped up excitedly.
Every time she went to the Earl's mansion, the Earl's wife would give her a hard time. Sometimes, even when she was clearly at home, she would say that she had gone out and wouldn't even let her in the door.
It's so tragic that her daughter got married like this.
"Good child, don't you like to drink calming tea? Your mother recently got two cakes of good tea."
As she spoke, the lady called to her maid to go back and fetch the tea cakes.
"Also, bring two boxes of pastries from Xinghuazhai, as your young lady likes them."
"…………"
The maid behind the aunt was completely stunned.
Does Madam spoil her eldest daughter so much?
She herself couldn't bear to drink that tea...
On the other side, Madam Song grew to like Jiang Shuwan more and more as she looked at her. After the maid brought tea and snacks and personally delivered them to Jiang Shuwan, she took Granny Tao to the Earl's residence.
Lady Bo initially disliked her, but upon hearing that she was holding palace flowers sent by the Empress, her expression immediately changed. Lady Bo quickly understood the reason and hurriedly sent Lianxiang and Lianyu into the room.
They even demoted their status from noble concubines to lowly concubines, and then went to the door to greet Song.
"My mother-in-law is here? It's been so long! I was wondering why the magpies outside the window were chattering away as soon as I woke up this morning. Turns out it's my mother-in-law."
“You maids, what are you standing there for? Open the door and help Madam Jiang inside.”
“Mother-in-law, please slow down. It rained last night, and the ground is a bit wet. Be careful not to slip and fall.”
When Madam Bo saw Madam Song, she treated her like a relative, calling her "mother-in-law" repeatedly and being very polite to her.
Once inside the house, everyone sat down. The madam looked regretful and said, "My dear in-law, I'm sorry you had to see this. I'm old and sometimes I do things carelessly. No one reminded me, which led to these misunderstandings. But don't worry, I've already sent those two wretched girls, Lianxiang and Lianyu, into the house. What right does a mere girl have to surpass our Yao'er?"
"..."
Yao'er?
Madam Song was stunned for a moment before she remembered that the Yao'er her uncle mentioned was her own daughter.
“My dear in-laws, our two families are legitimate in-laws. We should share the same fate, and you should share the same fate. Since my father-in-law is on good terms with the censor, he should help the Earl’s family. Now that the Earl is not in court, the only people who can help the Earl’s family are the Marquis’s family and my father-in-law.”
"We mustn't let the censor know about this matter of showing pity and tenderness. You'll have to ask your father-in-law to put in a good word for us."
The aunt held Song's hand affectionately, her eyes full of sincerity, and then personally handed a cup of pre-rain Longjing tea to Song.
"Try this pre-rain Longjing tea. It was a gift from the old lady. I don't usually drink it easily, but I only brewed a cup for you."
"Okay, okay, I'll try it."
Mrs. Song happily took the tea and drank a sip, exclaiming, "It is indeed good tea. The old lady's tea is truly exceptional."
The tea is good tea.
But what pleased her most was the aunt's attentive and thoughtful attitude.
She had suffered a lot of mistreatment when she visited the Earl's residence before.
This time, I finally felt the joy of marrying off my daughter with my head held high.
Yes.
It wasn't easy for her to raise such a daughter; it cost her money and effort. As her mother-in-law, she deserves the utmost respect from the Earl's family.
Madam Song imagined herself sitting comfortably in a chair, pompously gesturing with her aunt.
“What you say is true, Madam. But I only have one daughter, Jiang Yao. If she is doing well, I am doing well. I would do anything for her. But if she is not doing well, I will not stand for it.”
The aunt's lips twitched.
I gave you a lot of face, and you're already acting all high and mighty.
However, the Marquis's mansion is not what it used to be. The Jiang family has a capable daughter who married into the Marquis's mansion and has taken charge of half of the household.
Why!
It's also because the Earl's family was unlucky; the marriage didn't go well, and their power is not what it used to be.
“Mother-in-law, you are right. Although I don’t have a daughter, I understand how you feel. Don’t worry, this kind of thing will never happen again.”
Seeing that Madam Bo was gritting her teeth and bowing her head, Madam Song did not press her any further. She quickly took Madam Bo's hand and said many things, such as "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things" and "I also hope that both families will live in peace and harmony."
Jiang Shuwan reminded her before she left that she wasn't there to settle scores with the aunt.
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