The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 48 - Sincerity

Early the next morning, the middle gate of the Marquis Residence was opened to welcome guests, and the sound of firecrackers never stopped.

Song Chuyi had just finished dressing when Qingtao brought in soup and served her with a smile, "Third Brother-in-law and Third Miss have returned. They lit candles and set off firecrackers in the ancestral hall and are now heading to the Old Lady's courtyard. You should hurry!"

Since deciding to follow Song Chuyi, Qingtao had become more proactive. Being a native of the residence, she was well-versed in its intricate relationships and was more adept at gathering information than the previous Huang Yao.

Nanny Xu also chimed in, "That's right, hurry up! There will be many things to do today, you can't laze around in your room."

When they arrived at the Old Lady's main courtyard, they heard Yulan happily reporting to the Old Lady, "Old Lady! Third Miss is here!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Song Chuwan entered with small steps. She first greeted the Old Lady, then turned to Song Chuyi with a smile, "I heard earlier that the Old Lady kept this little girl by her side, it seems her strange temper has improved?"

Song Chuwan, being a concubine's daughter, was not treated as well as the First and Second Misses by the First Lady, but she was not treated poorly either. As a result, her temperament was stronger than the overly pampered and weak Second Miss.

She married Chen Liqing, a seventh-rank Hanlin compiler. Although his rank was low, he was a genuine jinshi with a promising future. Moreover, having married into the Marquis Residence, Song Chuwan held her head high in her husband's family. Chen Liqing, being a good person, discussed everything with her, making her look very well. The Old Lady praised her for her rosy complexion and healthy appearance.

The Old Lady pretended to be displeased, "You only know how to tease the younger ones! You've become more sharp-tongued since you got married."

Song Chuwan, knowing the Old Lady's temperament, was not afraid at all. She turned to Song Chuyi and put a gold and amber butterfly hairpin on her, smiling, "Our little girls are getting prettier and prettier. You used to follow me around asking for candy, and now you've grown up, become shy, and don't get close to your third sister... it's really sad."

Everyone in the room laughed.

Old Lady Song, smiling, took a white jade Guanyin statue from Nanny Huang and handed it to her, "You'll have your own little one in the future! Your sisters aren't here just to keep you company, they have to grow up too!"

The white jade Guanyin statue was flawless, clearly a valuable item. Seeing the 'Lingyin Temple' inscription on the base, Song Chuwan couldn't help but feel emotional. Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple was famous for its spiritual efficacy, and it was said that all prayers were answered, attracting many believers, especially those seeking the Guanyin of fertility.

Old Lady Song had always been kind to her concubine-born granddaughters. Song Chuwan quickly composed herself and continued to chat with a smile.

Just then, someone reported that people from the Pingyang Marquis Residence had arrived.

Old Lady Song's face immediately darkened, and she asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?

Zilan went out to inquire and returned, lowering her head to inform the Old Lady, "The ones who came are the First Lady of the Pingyang Marquis Residence, Second Young Master, and their Fourth Miss."

Even Fourth Lady Xiao came. Song Chuyi was curious whether the Pingyang Marquis Residence was here to apologize or to flaunt their power.

Song Chuwan, not understanding the situation, was about to ask when she saw Zilan subtly signaling her to stay quiet, so she held back her questions.

The First Lady soon brought in the Pingyang Marquis Lady and Fourth Lady Xiao. Although she was smiling, there was no warmth in her eyes, and she sat somewhat coldly below the Old Lady.

The Pingyang Marquis Lady seemed completely unaware of the sudden chill in the atmosphere and greeted the Old Lady with a smile, "How are you, Old Lady Song? You still look so healthy."

The Old Lady glanced at the smug-looking Fourth Lady Xiao and inwardly sneered, but she maintained her composure and replied with a smile, "I may look well, but I'm not as strong as I used to be. You, on the other hand, look quite spirited, which must mean you're living comfortably."

The Pingyang Marquis Lady's smile faltered, and after a few awkward laughs, she asked, "How is Second Miss doing? It's all our foolish boy's fault for getting into a fight. I've already given him a good scolding, and his father was so angry he beat him too..."

The Old Lady coughed, interrupting the Pingyang Marquis Lady, and stared at her disapprovingly, "We still have several young girls here. It seems you were too anxious and didn't think it through."

Talking about such matters in front of unmarried girls was indeed inappropriate. The Pingyang Marquis Lady's smile faded further, "I was too worried about Second Miss and forgot about that..."

The Old Lady dismissed it and turned to ask the First Lady, "Are the heaters set up in the pavilion outside?"

The First Lady quickly stood up and confirmed that they were.

The Old Lady nodded with a smile, "In that case, Fourth Miss can go enjoy the flowers with our girls. The pavilion has heaters, so it won't be cold."

The Pingyang Marquis Lady, realizing that it wasn't just the Song family's girls who shouldn't hear this, awkwardly agreed.

Fourth Lady Xiao, sensing the Old Lady's insinuation about her family's poor upbringing, wanted to lash out but held back due to her father's warnings. Reluctantly, she followed Song Chumi and the others outside.

Although the Song family had strict rules, they didn't stifle the girls' personalities. Except for Song Chuxuan and Song Chubin, the other girls had their own temperaments.

As soon as they stepped outside, Song Chumi's smile vanished, and she looked ready to explode with anger.

Even the usually easygoing Song Chubin remained silent, following behind Song Chumi without a word.

None of the three or four girls spoke to Fourth Lady Xiao.

Feeling deeply insulted, Fourth Lady Xiao couldn't hold back any longer and sarcastically remarked in the pavilion, "Your family's rules seem different now. Is it because your rank has been lowered, so the rules have been downgraded too?"

The Song sisters were furious.

Song Chumi, known for her straightforward temper, laughed angrily and retorted, "We wouldn't dare. We've heard that the rules in the Pingyang Marquis Residence are extraordinary. Noble girls there are even scarier than market shrews, and might even resort to violence... We wouldn't dare misbehave in front of you!"