The old madam also knew that His Highness Prince Chang had been interested in Song Chaoyu before. Seeing Song Chaoyu lowering her head, she only said, "Fourth girl, you stay here to look after your concubine and Qing ge'er. We will go to the front to deal with Prince Chang. You don't need to go."
In Song Chaoyu's heart, she couldn't explain why she felt a sense of discomfort. "Thank you, Grandmother."
The old madam said nothing more, but how could she not be surprised by Prince Chang's timely arrival this time?
And in the painting academy, there was still one person to deal with—
The master of the maidservant who had bumped into Concubine Liu, the Second Concubine, was still kneeling in the main hall of the painting academy!
When the old madam walked to the front hall with Song Chaoyu, the Second Concubine also straightened her back and looked at the old madam obsequiously, "Congratulations, Old Madam, congratulations, Old Madam. Sister Liu safely gave birth, truly blessed!"
Song Chaoyu should not have spoken at this time, but she really couldn't help it. "My concubine almost lost her life. Does the Second Concubine call this a safe childbirth?"
The Second Concubine's expression turned a bit unpleasant.
The Song family's old madam also sat in the main hall, clearly intending to make a decision for Concubine Liu.
The sound of caning the maidservant outside had long since stopped. The old madam looked outside, "Has the punishment ended?"
Only then did the young servant dare to enter the room to reply, "Replying to the Old Madam, that maidservant could not withstand the caning and is already dead!"
"Bad luck!"
The old madam spat, "Today is a great day for the manor. She actually died like this, isn't that just bringing bad luck for no reason? Drag her to the mass grave and throw her there. Then tell her family what she did! Let them not make trouble for money for no reason. Truly, this maidservant did not know the immensity of heaven and earth."
"Yes!"
The young servant responded and went down. The sound of dragging the maidservant's corpse was then heard from outside.
Song Chaoyu felt no sympathy for this maidservant.
If her concubine and Qing'er had met with an accident today, she would have wished to tear this maidservant into pieces!
Although the Second Concubine was heartbroken to lose another maidservant, she only thought of protecting herself and did not dare to plead for the maidservant.
It was the old madam who, after dealing with the maidservant, looked at the Second Concubine kneeling on the ground, "Why are there always incidents in your courtyard?"
This clearly meant she was not letting the Second Concubine off. The Second Concubine was stunned for a moment, then raised her head and gave a bitter smile, "It is my fault for not teaching my subordinates properly. I beg the Old Madam for forgiveness!"
Seeing her like this, Song Chaoyu sneered even more, "I haven't seen this maidservant in the Second Concubine's courtyard before. Is she new?"
The old madam had naturally noticed this as well. They could almost confirm in their hearts that the "instigator" of this matter was likely not the Second Concubine.
The Second Concubine's expression changed, but she could only grit her teeth and persist, "It's because... Third Sister is about to get married. The previous few maidservants were either beaten to death or sold off. Now, my courtyard really doesn't have that many people. That's why I asked the First Madam to pick two more maids for me from the agency. I really don't know why this maidservant..."
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until finally, she stopped speaking altogether.
"First Madam..."
The Song family's old madam was not foolish and had understood. "She is the one who sent that maidservant to you, isn't she?"
The Second Concubine dared not point fingers at the First Madam and could only grit her teeth, "This is the maidservant I chose myself!"
"Nonsense!"
"Bang—"
The old madam was furious and smashed the cup in her hand fiercely towards the Second Concubine.
The Second Concubine had no time to dodge and was hit heavily on the shoulder by the cup.
The cup fell to the ground and shattered, and the Second Concubine was splashed with the now-cold tea.
Her eyes turned red. She knew that this time she had truly touched the old madam's forbidden zone.
Song Chaoyu also did not expect the old madam to throw such a big tantrum today.
She quickly stepped forward, truly concerned for the old madam, "Grandmother, don't be so angry. What if you get sick from anger?"
She gently wiped the tea that the old madam had gotten on her hands before throwing the cup.
Such an action made the old madam feel even more heartbroken for the painting academy.
She stared at the Second Concubine and patted the bracelet beside her, "What, still not talking? Do you still want to cover for her and stop me? If she hadn't sent that maidservant to you, would you dare to do something so bold in your belly now?! I usually overlook the tricks you play! But now... this is a descendant of the Song family!"
The old madam was angry, but thinking that the First Madam had promised her that she would protect Song Yanrou in the future, the Second Concubine seemed to have made up her mind and kept shaking her head, "Old Madam, please see clearly, this matter truly has nothing to do with the First Madam! Although the First Madam is usually a bit strict, she is very good to us concubines. This maidservant was sent by the agency, and I don't know why she would do such a foolish thing!"
"Very good, very good, very good!"
The old madam said "good" three times in a row, knowing that she could not get any more information.
She took a deep breath, "Since that is the case, then it is your fault alone. If the maidservant was not instigated by someone, how could she have caused such trouble right after being sold into the Song family by the agency, almost causing the death of the Song family's young master?"
The old madam had already made up her mind, "Since it is your fault alone, then you alone will be punished. Pack your things tonight and move to the nunnery outside starting tomorrow. I want you to pray for the children of the manor in that nunnery every day, and never return to the Song family!"
"What?!"
Such a severe punishment frightened the Second Concubine, who raised her head and looked at the old madam in disbelief, "Does the Old Madam mean to expel me from the Song family?! No... don't! Concubine knows she was wrong, concubine knows she was wrong!"
She knew that the old madam was not joking this time and began to kowtow to the old madam non-stop, "Concubine will never dare again! I beg the Old Madam to spare me this time! Starting tomorrow, concubine will definitely stay in the courtyard peacefully, pray for everyone in the manor, and beg the Old Madam for forgiveness!"
"I cannot forgive you. Even for your own daughter's sake, you should go to that nunnery to reflect properly."
The old madam's intention was resolute, "Third Sister is such a good girl, look at what you have raised her to be?"
The Second Concubine was still not giving up, "I beg you! Now that Sister Liu cannot serve the master, and Third Concubine died early, only the First Madam and Fourth Concubine are left. What will the master do?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
The old madam snorted, "Soon, the Sixth Concubine will enter the household. If he feels that is not enough, it is not difficult to take in two more wives. Since you have served for a long time, you should understand. I am telling you this here as my final command. Dragging your feet is useless."