The Song family's evening meal was served in the First Madam's courtyard.
The weather was growing hotter by the day. The First Madam, for reasons unknown, had taken to dining under the large tree in her courtyard to escape the heat.
Fortunately, the idea wasn't entirely impractical. Given the Song family's wealth and established rules, the maids and servants naturally ensured the surroundings were kept tidy.
With screens providing a barrier, there was little wind beneath the tree, making it quite cool in the evenings.
Song Chaoyu couldn't tell if Song Yanjiao's actions today were intentional.
She rarely returned to her maiden home. Today, after a long absence, she had dressed herself in an exceptionally opulent manner.
A pale gold moonlit gauze dress, paired with a phoenix-chasing-the-sun headdress, while befitting her status as the Ning Princess Consort, made it seem as though she were attending a banquet in the palace rather than a family dinner.
Even the Old Madam, who had arrived at the courtyard with a cheerful disposition, frowned upon seeing her attire.
While others dared not comment on Song Yanjiao's appearance, the Old Madam had no such reservations.
As Song Yanjiao rose with a smile to greet the Old Madam, she heard the Old Madam let out a cold snort: "You still remember you are a daughter of the Song manor? Coming back to your family dressed like this, are you trying to put on airs?"
The smile on Song Yanjiao's face immediately froze.
She had dressed this way precisely to overshadow Song Chaoyu.
The thought that Song Chaoyu could now stand on equal footing with her irked her.
Yet, today, Song Chaoyu appeared as she always had, unburdened by ostentatious displays of wealth.
She wore a simple, cool, pale aquamarine satin dress, adorned only with a jade hairpin of the same color. In the increasingly hot weather, she looked refreshingly cool.
She attended to the Old Madam with her usual deference.
Song Yanjiao knew then that she had "lost" this round.
She shouldn't have been so hasty, nor so deliberately conspicuous.
Indeed, she had displeased the Old Madam, whose expression had soured.
Until everyone was seated, the Old Madam did not cast another glance at Song Yanjiao.
Fortunately, the First Madam rose to help Song Yanjiao out of her predicament, raising her wine cup. "Today, our Jiao'er has finally found some leisure to return home. Let us drink together, hoping the Song manor's days will become ever more prosperous."
The Old Madam's expression improved slightly, and she raised her wine cup as well.
After this drink, the atmosphere seemed to lighten a little.
The Old Madam picked out some dishes that Song Chaoyu favored. Song Yanjiao observed this and couldn't help but laugh, "It seems Fourth Sister should have returned to the Song manor much earlier, to have pleased Grandmother so greatly. Why didn't you stay by Grandmother's side to serve her for a few more years?"
The underlying jealousy in her words was evident to all.
The Old Madam did not even lift her eyelids.
The First Madam offered an awkward smile, tugged at Song Yanjiao's sleeve from below, and then changed the subject, asking Song Yanjiao, "You've been married into the Ning Prince's manor for quite some time now, yet there's no sign of a child. What is happening?"
Song Yanjiao sighed, "I've been thinking of finding someone trustworthy to help regulate my health."
Her tone shifted, and she then looked towards Song Chaoyu. "I heard that after Fourth Sister returned from Jiangzhou, you gained a capable person by your side. It's that maid standing behind you, Qiu Qing, isn't it?"
She smiled slightly. "Why don't you give Qiu Qing to me, Sister? She could help regulate my body. What do you think, Sister?"
Such shamelessness, and she could utter it so easily?
Song Chaoyu glanced at Qiu Qing, who clearly did not wish to go with Song Yanjiao.
Song Chaoyu then smiled and said, "Second Sister, you must be mistaken. Although Qiu Qing serves by my side now, she is not a registered servant. Therefore, I have no authority to decide her movements, and I fear I will disappoint Sister."
Her refusal was subtle. "However, I have heard that there are many skilled medical women in the capital. With the Ning Prince's manor's current resources, I believe it wouldn't be difficult to find a trustworthy medical woman to attend to Sister. My maid, on the other hand, is truly not fit for the grand halls of the Ning Prince's manor!"
Song Yanjiao knew that Song Chaoyu always employed such methods, gently fending people off.
However, the First Madam was willing to do anything for Song Yanjiao.
Having tolerated Song Chaoyu for a long time, she slammed her chopsticks onto the table with a "bang." "Fourth girl, what do you mean by this?!"
Even in the Old Madam's presence, the First Madam could no longer hold back.
She glared at Song Chaoyu in anger. "Now that you are about to become the Chang Princess Consort, are you getting too arrogant? Your sister merely wishes to have a maid from your side, and you are being so obstructive?"
"Bang—"
As the First Madam slammed her chopsticks, the Old Madam, unwilling to be outdone, smashed her teacup onto the ground.
She looked coldly at the First Madam. "Can we eat properly? If this is a Hongmen banquet, then I shouldn't have brought Fourth girl here! What, your second daughter can return dressed in gold and silver, flaunting her status as the Ning Princess Consort, while our Fourth girl cannot even decide the fate of her own maid?"
"Grandmother, please don't be angry!"
Song Yanjiao was better at appeasing the Old Madam than her mother. She stepped forward to comfort the Old Madam. "My mother didn't mean it that way! She's merely worried about me. After being in the Ning Prince's manor for so long, there's still no heir. Grandmother, this is embarrassing to speak of, but I can only tell you. That Wu Lingru is already pregnant, and the Prince was very concerned about her when he left. If I don't work harder, I fear my position as the Ning Princess Consort will truly be taken away."
As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and she sighed as if she had been wronged. "When the Ning Prince was in the capital, he barely acknowledged my presence. If it weren't for Wu Lingru's pregnancy, he would be in her courtyard every day. If I don't have a child to support me, what will I do? Must I be divorced and sent back to the Song family, bringing shame upon the Song family as well? I might as well just throw myself to my death!"
This was her strategy of retreating to advance.
How could the Old Madam not see through it?
But after all, she was still a daughter of the Song family, and the Old Madam's brow furrowed. "What? Didn't you say back then that you and His Highness the Ning Prince were deeply in love? How is it that he now favors that Wu Lingru and neglects you, his official consort?"
Song Chaoyu believed the Old Madam was merely asking for the sake of asking.
But to say this in front of so many people, including Song Yanrou, was not this slapping Song Yanjiao's face?
Song Yanjiao's expression indeed grew more displeased, her lips twitching. "Grandmother, you don't know how chaotic the Ning Prince's manor is now! The matter with Wu Lingru has not yet been resolved, and now there's Song Jiaojiao. That Song Jiaojiao... a few days ago, she actually stopped the Ning Prince's carriage in the street! It forced the Ning Prince to personally escort her back to the manor, and now she is living in my courtyard!"