No one had expected that the box Song Yanrou was holding contained—
As Song Yanrou’s body jolted violently, a foul stench assaulted the air.
“Splash—”
At the same time, what was inside the box was directly poured by Song Yanrou onto Song Yanjiao!
“Ah!”
Not only Song Yanjiao, but also the maids beside her screamed and dodged, but it was too late!
The foul-smelling contents of the box not only doused Song Yanjiao but also splashed onto the maids nearby, and even the floor and tables were covered.
If Song Chaoyu had not pulled the old madam back a couple of steps in advance, they too would have been stained!
And the foul-smelling substance was none other than a pool of human feces mixed with an unknown yellow substance, obtained by Song Yanrou from goodness knows where!
Who would have thought that on Song Yanjiao’s wedding day, Song Yanrou would splash a box of feces onto Song Yanjiao?!
The room was instantly filled with a stench. Song Yanjiao stood frozen in place, and it was only when some of the maids around her started to vomit that she realized what was on her.
“Ah—”
Her scream instantly echoed throughout the room.
“Hahaha!”
Song Yanrou, the “instigator,” even though she herself was covered in filth, happily pointed at Song Yanjiao and burst into laughter, “You wanted to be the Ning King’s Consort so triumphantly, yet you completely disregarded my life and death. This is the consequence of you plotting against me! Second Sister, Second Sister, I never thought you’d have a day like this?”
Song Yanrou laughed wildly, tears even streaming down her face, “My aunt and I have worked so diligently for you and Madam in the Song mansion all these years. Yet, you not only plotted against me but also intended to kick me and my aunt out! Fine, since it’s like this, then no one will have a good time! What’s so great about me marrying a stable hand? Didn’t you, Song Yanjiao, also get covered in feces on your wedding day? It feels so good, truly so good!”
Seeing her like this, even Song Chaoyu felt a chill: To be able to do something like this, Song Yanrou was truly burning her bridges.
“Guards!”
The old madam was the first to react. Shielding Song Chaoyu with one hand and covering her nose with the other, she sternly shouted outside, “Drag the third young lady away and confine her to her courtyard! Do not let her out again!”
“Hahaha!”
Song Chaoyu dared to do this because she had already planned for it.
She laughed as the maids and wet nurses pulled her away, “You can lock me up until the end of time, I’ll still be happy! Song Yanjiao, I want you to remember this wedding for the rest of your life! I want you to know that you deserve this!”
Watching Song Yanrou laugh, Song Chaoyu knew that Song Yanrou would likely never receive the protection of the Song family again in her lifetime.
As for Song Yanjiao, she merely stood there with her hands outstretched, still frozen in her previous posture.
She didn’t even dare to speak, because she could feel that if she opened her mouth, something would flow down her cheeks and into her mouth, something she absolutely could not accept!
It was still the old madam who, seeing Song Yanjiao like this, called out to those beside her, “What are you all standing around for?! Go fetch water and wash the second young lady clean! Then go to the front hall and inform the First Madam, but absolutely do not let anyone else know! If even a whisper of this leaks out, all of you will pay with your lives to preserve the Song family’s reputation!”
The old madam acted decisively, but she did not approach Song Yanjiao. Instead, she took Song Chaoyu out of Song Yanjiao’s room and continued to instruct the stunned maids and wet nurses outside, “Find a way to quietly get another wedding dress for the second young lady, then go to the front hall and stall the welcoming procession! There’s still some time, and it’s enough to re-wash and re-dress the second young lady!”
The wet nurses outside, as well as the matchmaker from the Ning King’s mansion.
Song Chaoyu felt that while this matter might be hidden from others, it was unlikely to be hidden from the Ning King.
The most important thing now was to clean up Song Yanjiao.
As the maids scurried about, the old madam looked at Song Chaoyu, “I remember your aunt had a set of bright red opera costumes. The needlework and craftsmanship were good, and the material was also precious. Can it be used now?”
Madam Liu was a former actress, hence she had a couple of decent outfits.
Song Chaoyu knew about the phoenix coronet and robes the old madam mentioned. Although they were opera costumes, they were meticulously made by the best craftsmen Madam Liu could find at the time. With a slight alteration, they could serve as wedding attire, and since the costumes were precious, they would not disgrace the Song family.
Moreover… in the current situation, what could be more embarrassing for the Song family than Song Yanjiao’s soiled state?
Song Chaoyu actually didn’t want to touch Madam Liu’s opera costumes, but could only say, “I don’t know if Aunt still keeps those costumes. Since coming to the Song family, she has been taking them apart and altering them. Granddaughter doesn’t know if she still has that bright red opera costume. Besides, Granddaughter thinks that Second Sister is noble and would probably not want to wear Aunt’s opera costume, would she?”
How could the old madam not know that Madam Liu and Song Chaoyu had both suffered grievances?
But now, the Song family’s reputation was paramount. She could only sigh, pat Song Chaoyu’s hand, and say, “Come, take me to see your aunt, I’ll speak to her myself. I know this is asking a lot of you, but there is no other way now.”
—
With the old madam’s personal request, Madam Liu, no matter how unwilling, had to lend out the opera costumes.
However, the old madam also said that these were Madam Liu’s beloved possessions, and they were now being contributed for the Song family’s difficult times.
She promised Madam Liu that after the matter was resolved, she would find the best craftsmen in the capital to make two more opera costumes for Madam Liu.
Madam Liu, however, suggested that it would be better to make two decent outfits for Song Chaoyu, so that she would have something to fall back on when she got married.
The old madam felt even more that Madam Liu was very sensible and remembered this favor.
When they returned to Song Yanjiao’s courtyard with Madam Liu’s opera costumes, they saw that Song Yuan and the First Madam had already returned.
Song Yuan sat in the courtyard, staring furiously ahead.
The First Madam, while leading people to clean Song Yanjiao’s room, kept cursing Song Yanrou.
Upon seeing Song Chaoyu and the old madam return, Song Yuan finally stood up and his eyes lit up as he looked at the opera costumes in their hands, “Mother is still wise! The inside has been tidied up. Jiao’er can change her clothes now.”
The First Madam also walked out and recognized the opera costume at a glance, her expression turning displeased, “This outfit… to be worn by our Jiao’er? Is there nothing else?”
The old madam glared at the First Madam impatiently, “At this critical juncture, where can we find a ready-made precious wedding dress? Whether you wear this or not is up to you. If you don’t wear it, then find a way for Jiao’er yourself!”