The Pingyang Marquis Lady felt bitter but couldn't express it, finally realizing the power of the Song family.
Without saying a word, they had gained the upper hand.
The Song family hadn't even mentioned Song Chuxuan, yet they forced her to take a stand.
Squinting her eyes to hide her shock, she forced a smile, "This girl is ungrateful. She previously offended several young ladies and now publicly disrespects her elders. She has truly disgraced the noble girls. If I don't discipline her, she will become uncontrollable."
This explanation was somewhat reasonable. The First Lady, expressionless, looked at Fourth Miss Xiao, who was about to speak but had her mouth covered and turned her head indifferently.
"Just now, my second sister-in-law sent a message saying she wanted to take Little Sixth to pay New Year's visits..." She changed the subject, looking at Old Lady Song, "I think it's not too late. If we miss the time, it wouldn't be good."
To show her virtue, Li Shi would take Song Chuyi to the Li family every New Year.
Old Lady Song nodded, instructing Nanny Xu to take good care of Song Chuyi. After thinking for a moment, she added, "Jieyi should go too. Xiao Yi is not in good health, and it's cold outside. Be careful she doesn't catch a cold."
Everyone in the room was somewhat surprised.
Even Song Chuwan couldn't help but glance at Song Chuyi a few more times. Old Lady Song's concern and affection for Song Chuyi exceeded that of any other granddaughter.
Song Chuyi knew this was because of the incident with Huang Yao and Nanny Wang. Although Old Lady Song didn't pursue the matter, she felt uneasy. Smiling, she agreed.
Nanny Huang and Nanny Xu helped Song Chuyi get ready and went to meet the Second Lady.
Seeing that Nanny Huang had also come along, Li Shi's face changed several times, almost wanting to explode on the spot. Wasn't Old Lady Song giving her any face?!
Was this girl made of jade, that she would break if touched?!
Song Chuning looked at her silent mother and then at her beautiful and gentle sister, suddenly exclaiming and flying into Song Chuyi's arms like a swallow.
"Sixth Sister, the swallows under the eaves of my room have returned! They even had a nest of baby swallows, plump and not afraid of people. It's so interesting!" She looked up at Song Chuyi, her big eyes blinking, and with her delicate white skin, she almost looked like a New Year painting doll.
Even Nanny Xu, who was always wary of Li Shi, couldn't help but smile.
Li Shi, brought back to her senses by Song Chuning's words, also put on a kind smile, "Exactly, you don't know how this little girl talks about you every day, asking you to see the swallows. Speaking of which, that nest was almost blown away by the wind last year, and it was you two sisters who pestered me to have someone fix it..."
Song Chuyi also put on a nostalgic expression, "Yes, Mother can't resist our pestering."
With this interruption, Li Shi's behavior returned to its usual gentle, meticulous, and considerate manner, making Nanny Huang nod approvingly.
Song Chuyi quietly observed Song Chuning, feeling a bit self-deprecating. Although Song Chuning was only six years old, her actions and words never displeased anyone. This level of cunning even surprised the reborn Song Chuyi.
Song Yi didn't ride in a carriage but led the way on a tall horse, followed by a carriage carrying New Year's gifts for the Li family. Song Yan, being too young to ride a horse, sat in a carriage with Song Chuyi, while Song Chuning, having just recovered from a serious illness, sat with Li Shi for her care.
Once in the carriage, Song Chuning lowered the curtain, lay on a small couch, and looked at Li Shi while hugging a pillow.
Her gaze was both scrutinizing and amused, making it hard for Li Shi to maintain her smile.
"Why are you staring at me?" Recently, Li Shi felt inexplicably guilty when looking at her daughter, becoming agitated under her gaze.
Song Chuning suddenly changed her uncomfortable posture, smiled, and snuggled into Li Shi's arms.
Li Shi, not having held her daughter for a long time, felt her hands stiffen. After a while, she finally hugged her, letting out a sigh.
After all, she was her biological daughter. Although cunning and sometimes frightening in her words, it was all for her own good...
As if guessing her thoughts, Song Chuning raised her hand to smooth Li Shi's furrowed brow, her voice soft and childlike, "Mother, don't be angry. Since we've missed the best opportunity, being angry won't help."
Li Shi had blamed herself countless times—being overly ambitious and soft-hearted—leading to Old Lady Song catching Huang Yao and Nanny Wang's mistakes and reprimanding her.
That was bad enough, but the most infuriating thing was that Song Chuyi now had a powerful protector, Nanny Huang's granddaughter!
All the people she had placed around Song Chuyi had been cleared out, and now that Song Chuyi was living with Old Lady Song, she was completely in the dark about Song Chuyi's affairs.
"What do you think I should do?" Li Shi hardened her heart. Since her daughter was destined for greatness, she might as well face these dirty matters early and gain some experience.
Satisfied with Li Shi's compromise, Song Chuning smiled like a cat, her round eyes gleaming with excitement.
The Pingyang Marquis Lady also used all her self-control, humbly begging Old Lady Song and the First Lady for forgiveness, "It was our fault before... I was blinded by greed and allowed my daughter to torment her sister-in-law..." She choked up, "To be honest, our lord gave me an ultimatum before I came. If I can't bring Second Miss back, he will divorce me..."
Fourth Miss Xiao stopped struggling, watching her mother humiliate herself, feeling her anger rise.
"In all the noble families in the capital, I've never heard of a sister-in-law tormenting her sister-in-law like this." Song Chuwan coldly looked at Fourth Miss Xiao, her tone aggressive, "The Pingyang Marquis Residence has truly opened my eyes."
Being scolded by a junior was like being pointed at and cursed. The Pingyang Marquis Lady felt angry but didn't dare show it. Even if she didn't care about anyone else, she couldn't afford to offend the prestigious Hanlin Academy scholars. Those bookworms were not easy to fool, and if they got stubborn, they could do anything.
The First Lady felt much better hearing what she couldn't say herself being said by the Third Miss. She looked at Song Chuwan with increasing affection but scolded, "What are you saying? With so many elders here, there's no need for you to stand up for your sister."
The Pingyang Marquis Lady understood the First Lady's meaning. Glancing at the still-silent Old Lady, she knew this matter wouldn't be easily resolved. Gritting her teeth, she finally made up her mind.
YOU ARE READING
The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)
Historical FictionOther titles: Noble Family's Battle in the Boudoir Noble Family's Inner Struggles 名门闺战 Author: Qin Xi Translator: me (XiaoBai) Having lost all sense of face and shamelessly clinging to Duke Ying, Shen Qingrang, for a lifetime, Song Chuyi died. On th...