Song Chaoyu tidied her footing and then pulled Madam Nie to her feet, saying, "Sister-in-law is a reasonable person."
As for who "they" were that Madam Nie mentioned, Song Chaoyu could guess without even thinking.
In Song Jiayang's room, Song Yanjiao's gaze kept drifting outside. As she watched Madam Nie's spirits improve, her own eyes grew colder.
When Madam Nie brought Song Chaoyu in, Song Yanjiao had already resumed her gentle smile. "Sister-in-law and Fourth Sister, what were you chatting about outside? I saw things scattered all over the floor!"
Recalling the awkwardness from earlier, Madam Nie's face flushed with embarrassment.
Song Chaoyu naturally sat on the chair beside Song Jiayang's bed. Looking at Song Jiayang's pale face on the bed, her heart remained undisturbed.
Song Yanjiao had brought Song Chaoyu to Pingyang Courtyard this time, but her wish had not been fulfilled, and she returned disappointed.
However, on the way back, she still instructed Song Chaoyu, "You should come here less often to disturb Eldest Brother in the future. Besides... our sister-in-law is truly a person of noble character. You don't know, she used to dislike Third Sister the most. She always said Third Sister was of concubine birth and found her noisy. Today, she was polite to you, probably because it was the first time she met you. Don't provoke her displeasure in the future; her care for Eldest Brother has contributed greatly to our Song family."
Song Chaoyu remembered that Song Yanjiao had said similar things to her before. At that time, she had truly believed her words and disliked Madam Nie greatly, never interacting with her.
Now, thinking back, wasn't she just being manipulated by such low-level挑拨 (tiǎobō - instigation/incitement)?
Song Chaoyu lowered her gaze and sighed, "Eldest Brother's face is so pale, he looks truly pitiful."
Song Yanjiao felt as if she had poked a ball of cotton, her heart filled with displeasure.
But after staring at Song Chaoyu for a long time, she saw no sign of impropriety in Song Chaoyu's eyes.
Unable to gauge Song Chaoyu, Song Yanjiao knew for sure that she was by no means as easy to deal with as Granny Qiu and the others had said!
***
After teaching Zhang Qiuhe a lesson that day, Zhang Qiuhe was not seen in the academy for several days.
She learned from others that after that day, Zhang Qiuhe had used illness as an excuse to stop going out. But anyone with eyes could see that she was too embarrassed to go out.
Song Yanrou also kept quiet in the academy for two days.
However, an incident occurred in the imperial court that left Song Yuan in a bad mood for the past two days: the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Lin argued over whether to continue the policy of "Huai Zheng" (施怀政 - Shī Huái Zhèng, a policy of benevolent governance).
The matter of Huai Zheng began during the previous emperor's reign. After the previous emperor ascended the throne, the court had experienced several major disasters. The previous emperor, cherishing the people, governed the realm with "Huai Zheng."
He reduced all tax policies established by the Taizu and Taizong emperors and even provided subsidies to underdeveloped regions, allowing the people to recuperate and enhancing the court's prestige.
However, decades had passed since Huai Zheng was implemented. Prime Minister Lin believed that now that the country was prosperous and peaceful, it was time for the people to repay the court, and that Huai Zheng should be abolished and the previous tax system restored.
But the Crown Prince believed that it was precisely because of the current peace and prosperity that the court possessed such dignity and aura. Moreover, the national treasury was currently abundant, and there was no need to "add flowers to the brocade" of the national treasury at the cost of increasing the people's tax burden.
The Crown Prince further believed that the current tax system largely inherited from the previous dynasty was too burdensome. He thought this was an opportunity to reform the tax system and set new regulations.
Prime Minister Lin naturally objected, stating that the tax system had been in place for a long time and had reached a state of perfection, and that changing it would be too costly.
The two argued in court, and neither would concede to the other before the court session ended.
Song Yuan, as the Minister of Rites, was not originally responsible for tax matters. However, due to their argument, the Emperor became agitated. After the court session, he specifically summoned Song Yuan and severely reprimanded him for a minor oversight in a memorial submitted by the Ministry of Rites the previous day.
Therefore, Song Yuan's mood had been very poor for these two days, and the atmosphere in the Song family was also very somber.
Song Chaoyu remembered that in her previous life, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Lin had also had such a dispute.
It was because of this incident that a rift formed between Prime Minister Lin and the Crown Prince. Although Prime Minister Lin did not betray the Crown Prince, he was manipulated by Prince Ning in court and provided him with considerable assistance.
It was not until Prince Ning killed Prime Minister Lin's son, Lin Muyang, that Prime Minister Lin realized Prince Ning's true nature, but it was too late. The Lin family, a lineage of two generations of prime ministers, ultimately met their downfall before Song Chaoyu's death in her previous life.
For these two days, Song Yuan, being ineffective in court, did not even eat dinner upon returning home.
It wasn't until the third day after the incident that relations between Prime Minister Lin and the Crown Prince eased. With the Qixi Festival approaching, the Emperor's mood improved somewhat, and Song Yuan, for the first time in a long time, ate dinner with everyone.
However, when the dishes were served, the First Madam did not appear.
Someone was sent to inquire, and they were told that the First Madam had gone to see Song Jiayang. As Song Jiayang's mother, she visited several times a day, and Song Yuan had long been accustomed to it.
However, just as Song Yuan picked up his chopsticks, the First Madam's somewhat shrill cry was heard from outside: "Master! Master, quickly save our Yang'er! They are going to kill our Yang'er!"
She rushed in, crying, completely losing the dignity of the First Madam, startling everyone.
Concubine Liu and Fourth Concubine were sitting closest to the door and naturally went to help the First Madam.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing Concubine Liu, the First Madam angrily pushed her away, "Get away! Don't touch me!"
Concubine Liu, caught off guard, was about to fall!
"Concubine!"
Song Chaoyu also cried out, but she was too far from Concubine Liu to help.
Fortunately, Tiaohong, with quick eyes, stepped forward and cushioned Concubine Liu's body with her own.
This allowed Concubine Liu to fall, but at least Tiaohong was there to cushion her. Song Chaoyu broke out in a cold sweat and quickly went forward, "Concubine, are you alright? Quickly get up—"
However, before she could finish speaking, she suddenly felt someone violently pull her from behind!
As soon as she turned her head, the First Madam's hands struck her all over her body: "You little slut! Allowing you to return to the Song mansion was already a great favor to you and your mother! You actually tried to bewitch Madam Nie and harm my Yang'er? See if I don't beat you to death today!"
Song Chaoyu instinctively dodged, and the force of the First Madam's hands missed. Her body lost its balance and she stumbled forward.
In fact, Song Chaoyu, standing where she was, instinctively reached out to steady the First Madam.
But her heart grew cold, and she merely feigned shock and took a small step back. The First Madam's entire body then fell straight to the ground!
She landed face-first, her hair ornaments scattering with a clatter!