The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 77 - Desperation

Xiang Mingzi remained unmoved, nestled in Old Lady Song's embrace. The tears that had nearly spilled from her eyes were forced back, and she turned to look at Old Lady Xiang, her eyes misty but resolute. "He deserves to die!"

An eleven-year-old girl is old enough to discern right from wrong. Over the years, she had seen clearly how Xiang Yunzhang treated her and her mother. Even a vicious tiger doesn't harm its cubs, yet Xiang Yunzhang attempted to burn her alive to bless Xiang Lian...

In her heart, her father had already died the moment he ordered her to be handed over to the shaman.

Her mother had been planning for her future even in her final moments, sacrificing her own life so her daughter could escape the Xiang family...

With eyes brimming with tears, Xiang Mingzi raised her head from Old Lady Song's warm embrace, casting a cold, scornful look at Old Lady Xiang, whose shocked expression had turned to one of rage. "It was you who killed my mother!"

For years, Song Linlang had quietly instructed her daughter to stand up against the Xiang family. Old Lady Xiang's face darkened as she glared at Xiang Mingzi, hands crossed inside her sleeves. She spat out in contempt, "Ungrateful and unfilial, you'll have a miserable end! Don't think just because you've found higher branches or because your maternal family holds power that you can look down on us. No matter how great they are, their surname is still Song, not Xiang. I'll keep my eyes open and watch to see how this ungrateful disaster, who has abandoned her father and siblings, meets her end!"

Old Lady Song covered Xiang Mingzi's ears with her hands, giving Old Lady Xiang one last cold glare before taking Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi and walking straight out.

Old Lady Xiang didn't follow. Instead, she grabbed her little grandson off the ground and, frowning, rushed to Song Linlang's main courtyard. When she arrived, nearly everything Song Linlang had brought to Qingzhou was packed up. The empty room, stripped of even the bed, with scattered stools here and there, felt vast and eerie.

She let out a mournful cry, feeling half her life taken away, and frantically started searching under the tables and chairs—but it was all empty. Even the canopy bed had been dismantled and taken away. The Song family had left nothing behind, clearly determined to cut off any means of survival for the Xiang family.

Even the coal in the side rooms had been cleaned out...

Old Lady Xiang staggered up from the ground and, after some thought, headed toward Xiang Yunzhang's study. But as she hurried down the path, she suddenly remembered that when Xiang Yunzhang was imprisoned a few days ago, the constables had already ransacked the study under the pretense of seizing evidence of embezzlement, leaving it completely bare.

What was she to do now? She did have some personal savings, but they certainly couldn't stay in the magistrate's rear residence any longer; she'd need to rent a place outside. Xiang Yunzhang had once owned an estate in Qingzhou, but it had been funded by Song Linlang's dowry, and the Song family had surely reclaimed it by now.

She'd also need money to grease the officials' palms—without it, her son might suffer terribly in the cold of winter.

Just then, snow began to fall again in Qingzhou, the icy flakes stinging her face as she rushed into Concubine Bai's quarters. Concubine Bai had accumulated quite a few valuables—Xiang Yunzhang had always been generous with his women, while Song Linlang had unknowingly covered his daily expenses. His salary and gifts were likely spent on his concubines.

Old Lady Xiang gathered the gold, silver, and jewels into a jewelry box, bundling up the clothing, silks, curtains, and bedding to take along. Fortunately, these odds and ends were worth at least a couple of hundred taels. She took a deep breath, the pain in her chest easing slightly, and stumbled toward the quarters of the other concubines, hoping to find more.

But, whether out of fear from the verdict or disillusionment with Old Lady Xiang, the other concubines' rooms were already empty—likely fled during Old Lady Song's visit to reclaim the dowry.

Holding their indentures in her hands, Old Lady Xiang cursed them bitterly, though with no place left to take them, she could only collapse in despair, sobbing aloud.

Meanwhile, Old Lady Song had no intention of letting this cruel-hearted woman off so easily. Upon returning home, she first instructed Nanny Huang to take Xiang Mingzi for a bath and some rest, then turned to Nanny Qin. "Send out invitations. We've lingered in Qingzhou for some time and have been well-supported by friends and family. We should host a few tables to properly express our gratitude."

Old Lady Song instructed Nanny Qin to send invitations to every notable figure in Qingzhou. Song Chuyi understood her grandmother's intent—inviting all of Qingzhou's prominent people was a way to show them where the winds were blowing, hinting at how they should treat the Xiang family.

After instructing Nanny Qin, Old Lady Song turned to Song Chuyi. "Xiao Yi, spend time with your cousin these next few days... Some things are easier for girls of similar age to discuss..."

Given the tremendous upheaval, Old Lady Song worried deeply that Xiang Mingzi, an ordinary girl at heart, might not withstand the shock.

When Song Chuyi agreed, Old Lady Song thought for a moment, then quietly called Yushu over and instructed her, "When you go to see your Third Master, tell him to find a small courtyard for rent—the Xiang family can't stay in the magistrate's rear quarters; they'll have to rent outside. Let him know it's on my order to find a few local ruffians to act as the landlords."

Old Lady Xiang likely still had some private savings, and as a magistrate, Xiang Yunzhang surely had accumulated some wealth. But to make them suffer, a little cleverness was necessary. Once they settled in, the real landlord could reclaim the property, leaving Old Lady Xiang with nothing. No house, no money—she'd be furious enough to lose her mind.

Everyone was already grumbling about letting Old Lady Xiang off so easily, so they found this plan quite satisfying. Nannies Zheng and Wang, in particular, scoffed indignantly. "She deserves a good lesson. She's enjoyed the good life so long that she thinks it's her right. Without our lady, who does she think she is!"

Old Lady Xiang will soon find out for herself. When she started to torture Song Linlang, she should have anticipated the ending.