Song Chaoyu knew that the legitimate children of the Song family's eldest branch in Jiangzhou were not easy to deal with.
Hadn't Song Xiuxiu also decided to leave Jiangzhou and go to the capital because of their exclusion?
The old madam squinted her eyes, leaning against the carriage, seemingly unwilling to deal with the First Madam.
The First Madam, however, was chattering incessantly, "Now our family has two princesses, and we are even raising people from their household! If they dare to act that way again this time, don't blame me for not giving them face!"
The old madam felt a headache coming on. She frowned and said, "How is it that after so many years, you are still so noisy? Can't you rest for a while? You're giving me a headache. We still have a long journey ahead. Do you want me, an old woman, to cover my ears?"
The First Madam clearly felt that the old madam disliked her more and more.
She dared not say much more, and her attitude towards Song Chaoyu even improved considerably during the journey.
—
It was not until the first spring rain fell in Jiangzhou that Song Chaoyu, accompanied by the old madam and the First Madam, arrived in Jiangzhou.
As the carriage stopped at the city gate of Jiangzhou, Song Chaoyu, at the old madam's instruction, was finally allowed to slightly lift the curtain to catch her breath: "It's still cold in the capital, and Jiangzhou has already started raining so soon? Grandmother, look, how lively this Jiangzhou city is!"
Whether in her previous life or this one, it was Song Chaoyu's first time in Jiangzhou.
Therefore, she was naturally filled with curiosity. The old madam also smiled at her and said, "Jiangzhou is a large city in the south, a vital route connecting the southern kingdom and Dayue for trade. This place is nurturing. If we weren't in a hurry to return to the capital, I would have truly planned to bring you here to stay for some time. I'm afraid by then, you wouldn't want to return to the capital!"
The scenery of Jiangnan was beautiful, and the good mountains and waters were most nurturing. Song Chaoyu knew this.
However, before their carriage could enter the city, Song Chaoyu saw someone blocking their path: "Is this the Song family's carriage from the capital? Isn't this the carriage from the second branch of the family?"
Upon hearing this voice, the old madam opened her eyes, and the First Madam signaled Song Chaoyu to pull down the curtain.
The carriage then stopped ahead, and the coachman outside asked the person blocking the way, "This is the carriage of Minister Song's family from the capital. Who are you?"
"Oh, that's wonderful!"
Outside, a woman's voice called out, "Second Aunt! It's me! Eldest Brother's wife, Ning Shi, we've come to pick you up!"
Hearing this, the old madam sat up and asked Song Chaoyu to help her alight from the carriage.
Song Chaoyu saw several people standing in front of the carriage. The leader was a man dressed in a brocade robe, who appeared older than Song Yuan.
He wore a fawning and ingratiating smile. He stepped forward to greet the old madam: "Song Chaozong greets Second Aunt. Second Aunt, you must be tired from your journey! Chaozong and his wife, Ning Shi, are specially here to welcome Second Aunt."
So, this was the eldest uncle of the Song family in Jiangzhou, Song Chaozong?
The Song family lineage in Jiangzhou began to decline with him.
He had one legitimate son and one illegitimate daughter. Only his legitimate son was the most useless. Song Yuan looked down upon his legitimate son the most.
Song Jiaxing was about to face the imperial examinations in the capital, and Song Xiuxiu had become the eldest legitimate daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister's mansion.
Song Chaozong naturally felt grateful to the Song family in the capital. Even Ning Shi smiled and stepped forward to greet the First Madam: "Sister-in-law, we haven't seen each other for so many years! The climate in the capital truly nourishes people. Sister-in-law is still as gentle and graceful as before, unlike me, who manages the various branches of the Song family in Jiangzhou. Look how old I've become!"
These were pleasantries, and the First Madam naturally replied with a smile.
Ning Shi then stepped forward and affectionately took Song Chaoyu's hand: "This must be our family's Fourth Miss, Yu Yatou, right? Tsk tsk tsk, look how beautiful she has grown! A girl like a celestial being, who is about to become Princess Ning without anyone knowing! Xiuxiu in the capital has relied on you a lot for companionship. When you come to Jiangzhou this time, just tell Auntie about Xiuxiu. Auntie likes you so much!"
Song Chaoyu felt that this Ning Shi was a bit too enthusiastic.
"Ahem!"
The old madam coughed beside them, and Song Chaozong pulled Ning Shi away: "Alright, alright, let's talk about it when we get back! Let's go, let's go into the city. Second Aunt has traveled a long way, it's truly been too arduous! The mansion has prepared a banquet, please join us!"
Song Chaoyu then followed the old madam into the carriage. Song Chaozong and Ning Shi also squeezed into the carriage, making it a bit crowded.
In the carriage, Song Chaozong also told Song Chaoyu, who was visiting Jiangzhou for the first time, about the situation in Jiangzhou.
Currently, people from the eldest, third, and fourth branches of the Song family in Jiangzhou were residing in the Song family's main residence, with Song Chaozong and Ning Shi being in charge.
The couple currently only had Song Chaoyu's eldest cousin, Song Jiazhu, and his wife, Liang Shi. They had no children, and the eldest branch seemed rather desolate.
The third branch also did not have many people. Song Chaoyu's third uncle had only one son and one daughter, and one granddaughter. His son, Song Jiaxue, was doing business outside and was rarely home. His daughter-in-law had passed away many years ago, and Song Jiaxue had not remarried. His daughter, Song Yanyan, was around the same age as Song Chaoyu, but she had married early to the son of a yamen scribe in Jiangzhou city.
As for the fourth branch, the fourth uncle's lineage was truly sparse. The fourth uncle had also passed away long ago, leaving only an illegitimate daughter, Song Jiaojiao. She was a year younger than Song Chaoyu and was now being raised in the eldest branch. Once Song Yanyan's marriage was settled, it would be Song Jiaojiao's turn.
Speaking of this, Song Chaozong sighed: "Speaking of our Song family, it truly is a sparse lineage. Grandfather at least had these four branches of children, but it's unfortunate that in our generation, it's all yin overshadowing yang!"
This carriage was filled with female family members. For him to say "yin overshadowing yang," it was perhaps inappropriate.
As expected, Song Chaoyu saw Ning Shi pinch Song Chaozong, and he finally reacted, repeatedly cupping his fists towards the old madam: "Second Aunt, I didn't mean it like that. Please don't misunderstand! Our family's women are all outstanding!"
The old madam naturally wouldn't take these few words to heart. She only smiled and said, "Jiangzhou is a good place! Since we have come, we will be troubling you greatly. If there are any shortcomings in our conduct, please bear with us!"
She patted Song Chaoyu's hand: "Especially my fourth girl, as you all know, her health was not good before, and she was raised on a farm, so she doesn't understand many rules. If she makes any mistakes, please come to me directly, and I will discipline her!"
This was called "speaking the harsh words first." On the surface, it was a step back, but in reality, it was telling the Song family in Jiangzhou that no matter what Song Chaoyu did, they were not to punish her arbitrarily. They had to inform the old madam, and the old madam would protect Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu felt even more grateful.