The First Madam flinched and dodged, her face paling slightly. "Yes! Mother, please don't be angry!"
Song Chaoyu gently patted the Old Madam's arm. "Grandmother, don't be angry. What your granddaughter said was truly beneath notice. I just remembered it and spoke my mind. Second Sister is the only legitimate daughter of the Song manor; how can she do such a thing?"
The Old Madam knew it was too difficult and too undignified to ask Song Yanjiao to learn from those women.
But after carefully considering Song Chaoyu's words, the Old Madam could only sigh, "In this situation, if we only care about the status and face of our legitimate daughter, then we'll just have to wait for Prince Ning to have someone else step all over her! Anyway, between men and women, it's just a small matter. If it can truly make Prince Ning happy, why shouldn't she go?"
The Old Madam gestured to the First Madam with her chin. "Besides this, can you think of any better way?"
The First Madam lowered her head and could only shake it.
The Old Madam sighed. "Go and ask the second girl. If she's willing, I'll personally find someone for her. I guarantee this matter will be kept absolutely secret, and no one will know! If she's unwilling, then you mother and daughter will have to figure it out yourselves. I certainly have no other ideas. You decide for yourselves!"
"Yes."
No matter how difficult the First Madam's expression was, she truly couldn't think of any other solution.
The Old Madam then stood up and took Song Chaoyu's hand. "Come, let's go see what good food has been prepared in the back kitchen today!"
Song Chaoyu knew this was to give the First Madam and Song Yanjiao time to discuss.
However, she didn't expect that as Song Chaoyu followed the Old Madam towards the back courtyard, the Old Madam also quietly instructed her, "When I find someone later, you will learn alongside your second sister! We are ladies from noble families. Although we cannot be like those women of loose morals, what man doesn't like that? You are already of age, and I'm not afraid to speak frankly with you. It's just a small matter between men and women!"
She patted Song Chaoyu's hand. "Look at your father's back courtyard. Isn't the most favored one Rui Ji? Of course, I'm not asking you to learn those vulgar tricks of those women. I'm just letting you know how to hold onto a man in the future. I believe you, my girl, will understand what I mean."
Song Chaoyu naturally understood, but her cheeks also flushed.
She had been married once in her previous life, but she had never experienced such matters between men and women.
She also never expected that the Old Madam of the esteemed Minister's manor would say such things to her!
The Old Madam seemed to guess Song Chaoyu's thoughts and sighed even more. "If it were in the past, I would never have given such advice to my own granddaughter! I used to think that noble ladies of high families should be like Jiao'er. But look now, what have our daughters become? Fourth girl, I only hope you can find a good husband in the future!"
This statement... made Song Chaoyu unable to help but ask the Old Madam, "Grandmother, do you think Second Sister hasn't found a good husband? Prince Ning is immensely noble. Second Sister is Prince Ning's lawfully wedded wife; who in the capital wouldn't look up to her in the future?"
In fact, Song Chaoyu shouldn't have asked, but for some reason, in front of the Old Madam, she couldn't help but speak her mind.
The Old Madam smiled, pulled Song Chaoyu along, and they didn't go to the kitchen. She just sat in a nearby pavilion. "Fourth girl, you ask me this, but don't you know better than I do? To say they are golden and precious, even if they are second only to one and above ten thousand, that is their man's glory. For a woman to live with dignity and happiness, a man's glory is not enough. They must also cherish you from the bottom of their hearts!"
She seemed to recall her own past, recalling Song Chaoyu's grandfather. "How could I not know that when I married your grandfather, he wasn't a good choice? He wasn't even from the legitimate first wife's lineage, but it was because your grandfather treated me well. He cared about me, so I have been able to live with such dignity in the Song family all these years. Even so, I still had many unhappy moments, let alone those who married poorly?"
Song Chaoyu truly didn't know there was such a story between her grandfather and grandmother. "Yes. Your granddaughter has also heard that Grandfather only had two concubines and one maidservant in his chambers. And only Grandmother gave Grandfather his only child. The deep affection between Grandfather and Grandmother was envied by many!"
The Old Madam, who had been a little melancholic, was amused by Song Chaoyu's words and tapped Song Chaoyu's head. "I've realized, my girl, you're not shy at all! It's a pity... that people like your grandfather and I produced someone as cold-hearted as your father. I don't know who his temperament resembles. Sometimes I turn a blind eye to the First Madam because I truly feel she married your father pitifully."
Even the Old Madam said this about Song Yuan!
Song Chaoyu was truly surprised and could feel the Old Madam's helplessness.
She leaned on the Old Madam's shoulder. "Grandmother, don't people say that children and grandchildren have their own blessings? You enjoy your own blessings! This huge family, can you worry about everything?"
Knowing that Song Chaoyu was concerned about her, the Old Madam stroked Song Chaoyu's head.
From the kitchen, there was a commotion. "The dishes can be served—"
The sky had already brightened. Song Chaoyu stood up with the Old Madam, knowing that Prince Ning was about to arrive.
—
As it was the day for Prince Ning and Song Yanjiao to return to their maiden home, they naturally had to bring sufficient gifts.
At least when Prince Ning Mu Hansu entered, his face was beaming with joy, making it hard for anyone to imagine that he and Song Yanjiao had not consummated their marriage the previous night!
If Prince Ning didn't mention it, others naturally wouldn't.
And to make things more perfect, today Song Yanrou was also released to join everyone for breakfast.
Song Chaoyu knew that she had been made difficult by the First Madam and Song Yanjiao's maids quite a bit these past two days.
If Song Yanrou were not a proper young lady of the manor, she might have been beaten many times.
The First Madam had warned Song Yanrou with the life of her second concubine, which was why she dared not cause any more trouble during breakfast.
Prince Ning also acted as if Song Yanrou didn't exist. After all, he looked down on the庶女 (shu nǚ - daughters of concubines) of the Song family, which was understandable.
However, Song Chaoyu didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt that when Prince Ning looked at her, it was with an inquisitive gaze.
The hatred from her previous life made it impossible for her to face Prince Ning directly, even now.
Therefore, throughout the breakfast, she kept her head down, pretending to be someone who only knew how to eat.