Madam Wang merely wanted to encourage her to use her beauty to curry favor with Magistrate Jiang, so the Wang Family could exploit her partnership to seek greater benefits.
At this thought, Song Jiyun’s expression turned even colder.
Such people were plentiful in her previous life.
It all depended on how she discerned and made judgments.
She gestured to the maid by her side to help Madam Wang draw aside the curtain of the sedan and said, "You make sense. However, great ambitions can hardly be fulfilled by us who belong to minor households; it’s better to remain honest and modest."
Madam Wang was indifferent.
The pride is innate in young ladies inexperienced with the world. Once they find themselves in a situation with neither heaven nor earth willing to respond, they’ll naturally know how to choose.
She didn’t argue with Song Jiyun and, still smiling, departed in her sedan.
Fearing that her youth might lure her astray, Madam Qian gently advised her on the way back, even saying, "At worst, we can sell the Kiln Factory, which should suffice for a lifetime without the worry of food or clothing."
"Rest assured, I understand," Song Jiyun consoled Madam Qian with a smile, dispelling her worries after a lengthy reassurance.
But she didn’t expect that upon leaving Madam Qian’s residence, she would see Nanny Zheng speaking earnestly with an unfamiliar old maid under the weeping willows by the lakeside.
Nanny Zheng was the Steward of the inner house; with her mother abstaining from managing affairs, Nanny Zheng had no idea how many household matters she had to deal with daily.
Song Jiyun didn’t take it to heart and was about to leave when Nanny Zheng suddenly looked up, saw her, and hurried over after dismissing the old maid.
"Miss, has something happened?" Nanny Zheng’s face was solemn as she whispered, "Great Madam has beaten the Great Master!"
For a moment, Song Jiyun thought she had misheard.
When Song Daliang got drunk, he loved to beat his wife and kick his daughters, but Great Madam would usually avoid if she could, making a loud fuss if she couldn’t. She had never retaliated, let alone hit Song Daliang.
This was truly surprising.
"It’s absolutely true!" Nanny Zheng insisted, "It was a person we placed close to Miss Tao who came to report it."
Song Jiyun quickly asked, "When did this happen?"
"Last night at midnight," Nanny Zheng began recounting the event, "Wasn’t the Great Master very pleased yesterday after cutting ties with our family? After leaving our house, he must have gotten utterly drunk somewhere and only returned home around midnight.
"Great Madam asked the night servant to make Sobering Soup.
"The Great Master refused and demanded Great Madam prepare some dishes to accompany his drink and to bring over Young Master Tianbao to join him for a few cups.
"Great Madam then advised him, saying that Young Master Tianbao is still young, and in a couple of days, he could drink with him. Saying it was too late now, she suggested that Young Master Tianbao come to pay his respects tomorrow and keep him good company.
"On hearing this, the Great Master suddenly flew into a rage, pushed Great Madam to the ground, and, slamming two Deeds on the table, swore that no one would ever ride over his head again. He would show those who had once looked down upon him and demand that you kneel before him, begging him to spare the Song Family Kiln Factory."
Song Jiyun sneered coldly, listening to Nanny Zheng continue the tale.
"The night servant sensed something wrong and hurried to fetch Miss Tao.
"Miss Tao, without a word, helped Great Madam to leave.
"Who knew this would enrage the Great Master, who chased after Miss Tao to hit her.
"Cursing all the while, he said, ’Don’t assume that just because you’ve given me a few ideas you can boss me around. I have eaten more salt than the roads you have traveled; no matter how capable you are, I am still your father. When your father speaks, you just listen!’
Song Jiyun frowned and interrupted Nanny Zheng, "The Great Master said, ’Don’t assume that just because you’ve given me a few ideas you can boss me around?’"
"Hmm!" Nanny Zheng said, "I asked over and over again, and that’s exactly what the Great Master said."
"And how did Miss Tao respond?" Song Jiyun asked.
Nanny Zheng replied, "Miss Tao said, ’I’m not trying to control you, I’m afraid of walls with ears, someone else might overhear and laugh at our family. You are about to become a great boss, after all!’"
Song Jiyun did not make a sound.
Nanny Zheng continued, "After hearing this, the Great Master said, ’I am the head of this household, whoever dares to spread the words I’ve spoken, I will sell her to the brothel.
"He even forced Miss Tao to bring over Young Master Tianbao, saying that a man has to learn how to drink sooner or later.
"Miss Tao probably didn’t want to and made excuses that Young Master Tianbao had already gone to sleep at this time...
"Before she could finish her words, the Great Master gave Miss Tao a slap, swelling up half of her face."
Song Jiyun frowned.
She remembered when Song Tao was a child.
When Song Daliang got drunk, he liked to hit his wife and children, kick servant boys and maids.
Song Tao’s sisters didn’t dare to resist, but the little Song Tao would sneak off to seek protection from Song Youliang.
Song Youliang had spoken to Song Daliang a few times, with Song Daliang promising to be good, but never changing, leaving Song Youliang with no choice; for a while, he made the excuse that Jiyun wasn’t concentrating on her painting, allowing Song Tao to keep her company, thus Song Tao stayed at their house for a while.
Because of this, Song Tao actually followed Song Youliang and learned the fine brushwork painting for nearly ten years.
It was only when she was almost of age, Song Daliang felt she’d be better off learning embroidery and accounting than spending time on fine brushwork painting, so she didn’t follow Song Youliang to paint anymore and seldom visited his house.
Song Tao was a very shrewd person, how could she have had no defenses against Song Daliang?
Thinking that she was feeling sorry for Song Tao, Nanny Zheng couldn’t help but sigh and said soothingly to her, "The Great Madam did not stand by this time, she jumped up and started fighting with the Great Master. It’s unclear whether the Great Master had drunk too much or was caught off guard, but he got his head cracked open with a plum vase by the Great Madam, bleeding all over his face and passed out.
"He hasn’t come to this morning yet!"
But when Song Daliang used to beat Song Tao so badly that she couldn’t see people, the Great Madam never stood up for her like this!
But Song Jiyun couldn’t help but curse, "Serves him right," and instructed, "From now on, don’t refer to him as the Great Master anymore; simply call him Old Master Song, as he is no longer part of our family. Tell the maids in our household the same thing, and make sure they don’t make a mistake if they encounter him."
"Yes!" Nanny Zheng pressed her lips together and smiled.
Song Jiyun contemplated, "Besides that, is there anything unusual with Miss Tao?"
Nanny Zheng said, "Miss Song seems the same as before, accompanying the Great Madam every day, either writing or painting, and occasionally going to see Young Master Tianbao, playing with him for a while. The people we placed around her haven’t reported back to us.
So, who is the suspicious one, the Great Aunt or Song Tao?
Song Jiyun asked Nanny Zheng, "Who else knows about Old Master Song’s unconsciousness?"
"Everyone should know by now," Nanny Zheng answered, "Last night, the Great Madam urgently invited three, four doctors into the mansion. But how Old Master Song got injured, that should be unknown to the others."
Otherwise, neither the Great Madam nor Song Tao would be able to show their faces.
Song Jiyun slowly nodded and said, "Let’s go! We’ll pay a visit to Old Master Song!"
Nanny Zheng was astonished.
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "He’s been merciless, but we cannot be unjust. Such a big incident occurred; if I don’t visit him, I should at least go and comfort my Great Aunt and cousin."
This would be a good opportunity to probe whose problem it was.
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