The First Madam naturally didn't care, but she couldn't let Prince Ning know that she didn't care.
Seeing that the First Madam had spoken carelessly again, Song Yanjiao quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, my mother didn't mean that."
Mu Hansu snorted coldly and had no intention of giving Song Jiaojiao much face in front of the Song family: "So what exactly happened? Didn't you tell me that they, mother and son, were well? Didn't you say that she didn't want to see this King, thinking that this King was incompatible with the child in her womb? Now you tell me, where is the child?!"
Song Chaoyu understood!
Song Yanjiao's methods were far more cunning than the First Madam's.
She was still able to maintain a foothold in Prince Ning's mansion, so she intended to "deal with" Song Jiaojiao and the child together.
She must have locked Song Jiaojiao up first, and then told Mu Hansu that Song Jiaojiao felt that Mu Hansu was incompatible with the child in her womb and did not wish to see him.
This way, not only would it create a rift between Mu Hansu and Song Jiaojiao, but if the child were indeed stillborn or died, it would be because their "incompatibility" had caused the child's death, and Song Yanjiao would be blameless.
If this move truly succeeded, it would likely completely cut off Song Jiaojiao's "path" in Prince Ning's mansion in the future!
But Song Yanjiao probably forgot that even a cornered rabbit would bite.
If it weren't for being pushed to a desperate situation, Song Jiaojiao would likely not have sought help from Song Yanrou, thus allowing Song Yanrou to learn of the matter.
Song Yanrou's revelation of the matter at this moment was clearly intended to leave Song Yanjiao with no room for denial in front of the Song family!
This time, even Song Yuan frowned and looked at Song Yanjiao: "What is going on? Is this true?"
Song Yanjiao was flustered, but she still maintained a calm demeanor: "No, how could this be possible?! Father, your daughter would never do such a thing! I was only thinking that my cousin was pregnant and suffering, and I wanted to help the Prince share some of his worries. It must be those shameless old women around me who caused this trouble! Are they trying to ruin my reputation?"
Song Yanjiao put on a show of heartbroken grief.
Seeing that Song Yuan believed Song Yanjiao, he slammed his chopsticks on the table: "These black-hearted scoundrels! After you go back, you must dismiss all of them. You must not show them any mercy, otherwise, they will become even more audacious in the future!"
But perhaps, on the entire large table, only Song Yuan believed Song Yanjiao.
Song Chaoyu lowered her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Mu Hansu finally stood up with a cold expression, cupped his hands towards Song Yuan, and said, "My apologies, Father-in-law. This King remembers that there are some urgent matters to attend to, so I will not be accompanying you all today. I will visit the Song mansion another day to appreciate paintings with Father-in-law. This King takes his leave!"
"Hey—how can you leave?"
The First Madam also quickly stood up, trying to stop Mu Hansu.
But in the end, she could only watch Mu Hansu's retreating back, her brows furrowed tightly: "How... did he just leave like that?"
She turned and glared at Song Yanrou again: "On such a good day, why did you have to bring up these things?!"
Song Yanrou shrugged, also looking innocent: "Your daughter didn't know things would escalate to this point!"
For a moment, no one had the appetite to eat.
But today was Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi's return visit, and Song Yuan couldn't mistreat Mu Changxi because of Mu Hansu.
After hesitating for a moment, Song Yuan forced himself to stand up and gestured towards the back courtyard: "Your Highness, shall we go to the back together?"
As if Prince Ning had never been there, Mu Changxi smiled and nodded.
Song Yanjiao watched their retreating backs, her teeth itching with hatred.
After they left, the Old Madam also took Song Chaoyu's hand: "Come, let's go to the back and talk!"
Song Chaoyu helped the Old Madam up, and as they walked, she said, "I've also brought some gifts for the mansion. Grand-matriarch, would you like to see them?"
She remembered that when Song Yanjiao and Mu Hansu had returned, they had also brought many valuable gifts, but most of them were valuable yet impractical. The Old Madam, being as sharp as she was, naturally knew that they probably hadn't even chosen them carefully themselves and had asked their subordinates to select suitable ones to send back to the mansion.
The Old Madam didn't know about others, but the golden phoenix and ruby-edged screen that Song Yanjiao had given her that day was too conspicuous and somewhat presumptuous. She had always kept it in the storeroom and had never even taken it out to look at it.
This time, however, the gifts that Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi brought back were completely different.
Knowing that the Old Madam's back was not good, Mu Changxi had specifically asked someone from the palace to prepare a carved nanmu imperial concubine chair with a more comfortable backrest for the Old Madam. Song Chaoyu had also personally made two cushions, both made of goose down with embroidered gold thread. Placed on this imperial concubine chair, it naturally made the Old Madam comfortable to sit and even more comfortable to lean against.
Although it was just a chair, even setting aside their thoughtfulness, it was still extremely valuable.
The Old Madam was overjoyed to receive the chair and repeatedly praised Mu Changxi for being so considerate.
The gifts prepared for the Old Madam were thoughtful, and the same applied to others.
The gifts that Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi had prepared for everyone in the Song family were all chosen after discussions between the two of them.
They were both valuable and thoughtful, naturally overshadowing the perfunctory manner of Song Yanjiao and Mu Hansu before!
However, when the Old Madam pulled Song Chaoyu to the back courtyard, Song Chaoyu found that Concubine Liu and Xiao Qing'er were also in the Old Madam's room.
After only a few days apart, Song Chaoyu felt that Xiao Qing'er had grown a lot.
Concubine Liu was also very happy to see Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu had also prepared a unique gift for the two of them.
However, the first thing Concubine Liu did upon seeing Song Chaoyu was to worry about one thing. She dismissed everyone else and eagerly took Song Chaoyu's hand: "Yu'er, only your grandmother and I are here now. Tell me honestly, your wedding night... has it passed?"
Although Song Chaoyu had expected them to ask this question, the "wild joy" of that night with Mu Changxi still made her waist ache faintly, causing Song Chaoyu's cheeks to flush even more.
She nodded: "Don't worry, Grand-matriarch and Aunt. The Prince is not like what the rumors outside say."
"Good, good, good!"
The Old Madam said "good" three times and then held Concubine Liu's hand: "Look, I told you, there's no need to worry too much. Prince Chang's leg is only injured, and our fourth daughter's good fortune is still yet to come!"
This was something that Song Chaoyu only wished for the Old Madam and Concubine Liu to know.