At this moment, with Song Yanrou having spoken, everyone realized: from when did Song Yanjiao, standing beside Song Chaoyu, seem to be no match for her?
Previously, everyone believed Song Yanjiao to be the most beautiful maiden in the Song family, and indeed, the most beautiful in the vast capital.
She was like a celestial fairy descended from the heavens, ethereal and transcendent. It was precisely for this reason that Prince Ning, Mu Hansu, fell in love with this beautiful woman the moment he first saw Song Yanjiao.
However, at this very moment, with Song Yanjiao and Song Chaoyu standing together, all eyes were drawn to Song Chaoyu.
In the past, Song Chaoyu was always obscure, an unacknowledged daughter of an outer concubine.
But today's Song Chaoyu stood before everyone, so dazzling. Even compared to Song Yanjiao, the former foremost beauty of the capital, she was not inferior in the slightest, and even seemed to be subtly surpassing her!
At least today, Song Yanjiao was completely overshadowed by Song Chaoyu. In front of Song Chaoyu, she was like a flower on the verge of wilting, her brilliance dimmed.
Song Chaoyu could see that Song Yanjiao likely no longer possessed her former confidence.
Despite this, she still forced a smile and said to Song Chaoyu, "To have the family wait for you, now that Fourth Sister has become the Princess of Chang, your status has naturally increased quite a bit!"
It was they who had arrived too early, yet they spoke of Song Chaoyu in this manner.
Song Chaoyu smiled and replied to Song Yanjiao, "Is Second Sister joking? No matter how grand our Chang Prince's mansion is, how could it compare to Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law? Your Ning Prince's mansion alone, with just one carriage, blocks half of our Song family's gate! With such boundless wealth, we would never dare to claim to have airs in front of Second Sister!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Song Yuan's expression indeed soured slightly.
Previously, Song Yanrou had also said similar things to Song Yuan, remarking that the Ning Prince's carriage was too large. Those who knew understood they were returning to their maternal home, but those who didn't might think they were showing off their status!
Song Yuan, who valued face, cleared his throat and turned to instruct the First Madam, "In the future, when Second Girl and the others return home, tell them not to be so ostentatious. What kind of behavior is that?"
The First Madam's expression also soured slightly, but she couldn't tell if Song Chaoyu's words were intentional or accidental.
The First Madam and Song Yanjiao could only endure it for the time being.
Fortunately, the Old Madam immediately arrived in the main hall. Seeing Song Chaoyu, the Old Madam's face lit up with joy, and she stepped forward to take Song Chaoyu's hand, "Our Fourth Girl is finally back. Let Grandmother have a good look!"
When Song Yanjiao had returned, Grandmother had not been so affectionate, which naturally displeased her.
Even Prince Ning, Mu Hansu, said, "Grandmother truly dotes on Fourth Sister. As soon as Fourth Sister and Fourth Brother-in-law return, Grandmother has no more worries."
It turned out Mu Hansu could also speak such jealous words.
However, Song Chaoyu paid it no mind, knowing it was not something to be concerned about.
Song Yuan stepped forward, "Good, good, good! Let's not stand here talking! Shall we go to eat together? It's rare for our family to be so complete today. After the meal, the two princes and Yang Ge'er will come to my study! I have acquired several fine calligraphy and paintings, and we shall appreciate them together! If any of you like them, feel free to pick them and take them away!"
Naturally, after the meal, the ladies would sit together.
The Song family's cuisine had always been relatively light, which seemed to suit Mu Changxi's taste.
But Mu Hansu did not eat particularly well and appeared somewhat distracted.
Song Chaoyu had a feeling that there was something going on between Mu Hansu and Song Yanjiao.
Indeed, halfway through the meal, Song Yanrou spoke first, directly asking Song Yanjiao, "Second Sister, the other day I visited your Ning Prince's mansion. After paying my respects to you, I wanted to see that cousin Song Jiaojiao. Why was she not to be seen?"
As soon as Song Jiaojiao's name was mentioned, Song Chaoyu saw Mu Hansu look at Song Yanjiao.
Song Yanjiao frowned slightly and merely offered a perfunctory reply, "I suppose... she is not feeling well? Ever since she became pregnant, she has always felt unwell. So she doesn't like to see people much, sometimes she doesn't even see me or the Prince."
Not right!
Song Chaoyu keenly sensed that something was amiss!
She understood Song Jiaojiao's temperament reasonably well. Moreover, Song Yanjiao's words were so vague and lacking in conviction. Could it be that something had happened to Song Jiaojiao?
She had been busy with wedding matters all this time and hadn't paid attention to Song Jiaojiao's situation. She hadn't expected Song Yanrou to keep a close watch on them.
Clearly, Song Yanrou was determined to "fight to the end" with Song Yanjiao.
"Is that so?"
Song Yanrou then looked pointedly at Mu Hansu, "Brother-in-law, you wouldn't know, would you? The other day, Cousin sent someone with a message saying she had miscarried. Now she's being confined to a courtyard by a wet nurse from Second Sister's side, and they won't even call a doctor for her! If it weren't for me secretly sending some things in through the back door yesterday, Cousin would probably be in a much more miserable state."
Seeing Mu Changxi's expression change, Song Chaoyu knew there was a good show to watch!
This was something Song Yanjiao would do, but Song Chaoyu hadn't expected her to be so foolish.
Song Yanrou was also clever now, not directly stating that Song Yanjiao was responsible, but attributing it to the wet nurse by her side, so no one could accuse her of targeting Song Yanjiao.
"What?!"
Mu Hansu currently had two pregnant women in his household, Wu Lingru and Song Jiaojiao. Wu Lingru was about to give birth, but the imperial physician said it was very likely a female fetus.
As for Song Jiaojiao, she was pregnant, and Mu Hansu was counting on Song Jiaojiao to give him a son!
He had never expected such a situation.
He could no longer bother with being in the Song family, and angrily looked at Song Yanjiao, "What's going on?! Why didn't you tell me about her miscarriage? You did it, didn't you?"
This last sentence was truly thought-provoking.
It also made Song Chaoyu realize that there were likely already rifts between Mu Hansu and Song Yanjiao.
Indeed, in this lifetime, the two of them were not as deeply in love as they had been before.
Song Yanjiao's expression changed, and she quickly waved her hands to explain, "No... Your Highness, don't listen to others' nonsense. I didn't—"
"Cough, cough! Your Highness Ning!"
After all, the First Madam couldn't bear to see Prince Ning treat Song Yanjiao like this and couldn't help but speak up for Song Yanjiao, "Today is the day Prince and Princess Chang return home. Perhaps we shouldn't discuss this matter in the mansion? She's just a concubine, why is Your Highness so angry?"
She was indeed foolish!
These words not only failed to appease the Prince Ning's anger but instead made him even more furious, "Concubine? Esteemed Mother-in-law, that concubine carries this Prince's flesh and blood. Jiao Jiao is the legitimate mother of that child. How can she, in your esteemed mother-in-law's mouth, seem so uncaring about this Prince's bloodline?"