These few sentences made the First Madam realize she had made a mistake. Her temper vanished, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "My precious daughter has only been in the Ning King's manor for a short time, and she hasn't even found her footing yet! Forcing her to compete for a share of the pie is something I absolutely cannot say to my darling."
Seeing this, the Old Madam shot the First Madam a glare. "If you can't say it, then you refuse them yourself. Throwing a tantrum here is useless. Besides, there's already a Song Xiuxiu in the capital. If Song Jiaojiao is added, I won't be afraid of anything. If things get too messy, I'll return to the capital as soon as Fourth Girl's matter is settled. As for Song Jiaojiao, you handle it yourself!"
The First Madam, who had been a mere bystander, was now forced to be involved and could not "escape."
She felt awkward and distressed, but there was nothing she could do.
Without the Old Madam's "backing," even when they ate at the same table for dinner, facing the thick-skinned Song Chaozong and Madam Ning, the First Madam found herself completely unable to refuse bringing Song Jiaojiao to the capital!
She could only agree for now and think about it later when she returned to her room. She was so angry she felt like spitting blood!
Why did the Song family of Jiangzhou give the ancestral home and all its benefits to Song Chaoyu, only to foist the clearly scheming Song Jiaojiao upon Song Yanjiao in the end?
No matter how much the First Madam thought about it, she couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong to end up like this.
However, the First Madam had no time to ponder further. By noon the next day, news arrived: the Song family's ancestral shrine was ready, and the clan elders had set aside time for Song Chaoyu to be changed from "concubine-born" to "legitimate-born"!
Song Chaoyu, having lived two lives, no longer cared whether she was legitimate or concubine-born, or even an illegitimate daughter.
But this was something the Old Madam had painstakingly fought for her, so she naturally had to treat it with seriousness.
Tiaohong had already prepared the clothes Song Chaoyu would wear that day.
It was a formal, crimson brocade dress with begonia flowers, a trailing skirt. This was the first time Song Chaoyu had worn such a bright red color, signifying that from now on, she would no longer be a concubine-born daughter who could only wear pink, but a legitimate daughter who could wear proper crimson.
On her head, she wore a complete set of gold tassels and scattered colorful pearls, a gift from her grandmother.
This made her appear dignified and noble. Seeing her meticulously dressed, the Old Madam of the Song family couldn't help but praise, "Good, good, good! You look beautiful in this! A young girl should wear bright colors to warm people's hearts!"
The First Madam knew that Song Chaoyu's appearance inherited that of Concubine Liu and had always been attractive.
But she had always felt that neither Song Chaoyu nor Concubine Liu were presentable.
Therefore, seeing the dignified and elegant Song Chaoyu at this moment, she couldn't help but whisper to the old woman beside her, "I never realized this little concubine-born girl could carry herself so well? Wearing this, who would be able to tell she's concubine-born?"
The old woman coughed lightly, signaling the First Madam to stop talking, lest the Old Madam overhear and scold her again.
Only then did the First Madam fall silent, then she put on airs herself, secretly comparing herself to Song Chaoyu.
She thought to herself: As the First Madam, how could my demeanor be outdone by this little concubine-born girl?
Little did she know, the moment she thought this, she had already lost.
The Song family of Jiangzhou opening their ancestral shrine was a significant event.
The Song family's ancestral shrine was at the end of the old residence. The size of the shrine alone was half the size of the ancestral home, indicating how prosperous and populous the Song family once was.
The Song clan elders had arrived at the ancestral shrine early and were now waiting for Song Chaoyu.
Ever since Song Chaoyu could remember, wherever she went, she could only use side or back entrances. Even when visiting others, due to her status as a concubine-born daughter, she was not treated with much respect.
This was the first time she was walking up the center of the stairs to the Song family's ancestral shrine.
In her previous life, she had not even been acknowledged by her father and grandmother, let alone allowed to enter the ancestral shrine.
She was forever an illegitimate daughter who brought shame to the Song family, a discarded wife cast aside like worn-out shoes by the Ning King!
However, in this life, all eyes were upon her.
If she said she felt no joy or excitement in her heart, it would be a lie.
From the side, she heard the elders chanting. Song Chaoyu didn't understand their chants, which seemed to narrate the rise and fall, prosperity and glory of the Song family from ancient times to the present.
Perhaps it was at this moment that Song Chaoyu felt a strange sensation.
In this life, her surname was "Song." Even if she was unwilling, she might not be able to completely sever ties with the Song family.
The word "destiny" had been sealed the moment she was born.
But these two words could also be firmly held in her grasp.
With these thoughts, Song Chaoyu slowly walked to the center of the shrine and knelt on the brand-new prayer mat.
She did not forget, nor could she forget, that regardless of her past or future identity, she was the daughter of Liu Shiniang.
Everything she was doing today was merely bestowing upon her a new identity: a legitimate daughter of the Song family.
As she kowtowed the first time to the ancestral tablets of the Song family, Song Chaoyu only prayed that they would bless her mother and Xiao Qing'er. May they live their days without illness or disaster, in peace.
"Second kowtow—"
The voices of the clan elders began to drift into Song Chaoyu's ears.
What was happening?
As she performed the second kowtow, Song Chaoyu felt her head grow heavy.
This sensation felt strangely familiar—
"Third kowtow—"
The elders' voices seemed to come from afar, drifting into Song Chaoyu's ears, making everything around her feel unreal.
After she completed this third kowtow, a sudden smell of blood surged up her throat!
"Cough, cough!"
Song Chaoyu did not wish to desecrate the ancestors, but she couldn't help but cough, feeling blood welling up in her mouth.
But before she could react, her body heavily tilted to the side—
"Fourth Girl?!"
Her grandmother's panicked and worried voice reached her.
Song Chaoyu felt her grandmother's warm hand gently lift her head. "Fourth Girl, what's wrong with you?! Don't scare me! Someone, help!"
Her grandmother's voice was filled with fear. Song Chaoyu wished she could say, "Grandmother, don't worry."
However, as she opened her mouth, more blood gushed out, and the words ultimately couldn't be spoken.
The familiar metallic taste of blood in her mouth made her realize what was happening.
Someone wanted to harm her?
She had sworn that she never wanted to experience this feeling of being poisoned again!
This time, she had broken her vow.