The old lady, perhaps unintentionally, touched upon the matter Song Yanjiao most wished to avoid.
Who would have thought that Song Yanjiao and Song Chaoyu, after both marrying into princely households, would see Song Chaoyu establish herself first within her own?
Currently, Song Yanjiao found herself in a state of utter disarray within the Ning Prince's manor. With concubines like Wu Lingru causing trouble from time to time, and numerous favored concubines and maids vying for attention, it was a constant struggle.
Moreover, Prince Ning's affection for Song Yanjiao was waning, forcing her to constantly try to please him.
Thus, upon hearing the old lady's words, Song Yanjiao felt as though everyone was targeting her. She lowered her head in silence.
Song Chaoyu, sensing Song Yanjiao's thoughts, smiled and said to the old lady, "Grandmother, please do not worry! Look how good Prince Ning is to my sister! Her pregnancy is only a matter of time. They have only been married for a short while. If you keep urging my sister like this, won't you be putting pressure on her?"
While her words seemed to be meant to comfort the old lady and offer Song Yanjiao a way out, Song Yanjiao heard them as a subtle jab. She looked up and glared furiously at Song Chaoyu, directing all her pent-up resentment towards her sister. "What do you mean? Have you become so great now that you've married Prince Chang? When I speak with Grandmother, what right do you have to interrupt?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only the grandmother but also Madam Song was startled, pulling Song Yanjiao's arm and signaling her to stop. The smile on the old lady's face vanished in an instant, replaced by an icy glare directed at Song Yanjiao. "What are you doing?! Can't you live well in Prince Ning's manor, so you come back to your maternal home to throw a tantrum?!"
"Grandmother, it's alright!" Song Chaoyu retreated strategically, further comforting the grandmother. "Perhaps I said something wrong that displeased my sister. I won't speak of it again. Grandmother, please don't be angry. It's rare for me to return, and if I've caused you displeasure, then it is my fault."
"Song Chaoyu, stop pretending to be good!" The more Song Chaoyu acted this way, the more enraged Song Yanjiao became. She stepped forward and roughly yanked Song Chaoyu. "What do you think you are, to dare speak ill of me in front of Grandmother? Don't think you're so great just because the Emperor favors Prince Chang now! I'll tell you, I know where Prince Ning went the other day, who he met, and what he said! You lowly wretch, are you plotting against me? Your Prince Chang is crippled, so you—"
"Slap—"
Before Song Yanjiao could finish her words, the old lady's palm landed heavily on her face. Song Chaoyu was also startled. However, she was not surprised that the old lady had hit Song Yanjiao for the first time, but rather that Song Yanjiao knew Prince Ning had gone to Yuezhou recently and had met with her. Only those attending Prince Ning would know what he had said to her. Song Chaoyu thought back to the people present that day and could roughly guess who had informed Song Yanjiao.
At this moment, the old lady paid no mind to Song Yanjiao's mention of Prince Ning. She trembled with anger. Even after slapping Song Yanjiao, the old lady seemed unsatisfied. Pointing at Song Yanjiao's nose, she angrily rebuked, "You're becoming more audacious by the day, daring to throw tantrums at your maternal home?! What did your sister do to provoke you today that you treat her like this? You can't live well in Prince Ning's manor, so you wish for no one else to fare better than you, is that it? I think you're becoming too presumptuous!"
Given the old lady's status, the slap seemed to "sober" Song Yanjiao, making her realize she shouldn't be causing trouble here today. However, with the words already spoken, tears of grievance streamed down Song Yanjiao's face. "Grandmother, you don't understand! Song Chaoyu is not what you think! She—"
"Silence!" The old lady refused to let Song Yanjiao continue, her anger escalating. "Your sister married Prince Chang, and her life was not easy. Now, it seems she has managed to establish herself. Who outside doesn't say that Prince Chang and my daughter-in-law are living well? And you? You were so insistent on marrying that Prince Ning, even threatening to die. At the time, it seemed like a good match, but now? Prince Ning's manor is filled with drama every day. Do you think I don't know?"
In her fury, the old lady even slapped her own face. "I, this old woman, went to the banquet hosted by the wife of Duke Anguo the other day, and people were gossiping about me. They said that the eldest legitimate daughter, meticulously raised by our Song family, had poisoned a side consort and harmed a concubine in Prince Ning's manor, causing the side consort's child to be stillborn. Where does that leave my old face?! I haven't even questioned you yet, and you're already causing trouble?!"
It appeared the old lady's anger towards Song Yanjiao was not a recent development. Song Yanjiao finally realized that her once loving grandmother was not unaware of her actions. Her silence had been for the sake of her reputation and the Song family's honor. Song Yanjiao lowered her head, daring not to say more, but her heart filled with even greater resentment.
Song Chaoyu stepped forward and gently stroked the old lady's back. Seeing Song Chaoyu seemed to bring the old lady much comfort. She reached out and took Song Chaoyu's hand. "Where is Yu'er? Before this, who in the capital didn't talk about her status as an illegitimate daughter? But now, Prince Chang has handled the disaster relief so efficiently. Those from several prefectures in the south, who doesn't praise Prince Chang, who doesn't praise Yu'er, the Princess of Chang? Instead of learning from Yu'er, you're here spouting nonsense and slandering your sister. Have you become malicious?"
"Yes, Jiao'er understands." Song Yanjiao, now "sobered," dared not say anything further. The old lady, holding Song Chaoyu's hand, sat back down. "Enough. Look at the scene here today. Yu'er, you stay. I have something to ask you. The rest of you, go and do what you need to do!"
Seeing Song Yanjiao hiding in Madam Da's embrace, the old lady did not forget to warn her. "Yanjiao, do not cause any more trouble in your Prince Ning's manor! Your father is also angry, but because of the numerous court affairs recently, he has not dealt with you. You should go back and think carefully about what to do! To be a Princess of Ning in such a state, what do you intend to do!"
Even though Song Yanjiao was unconvinced, she could only nod in agreement. Before Song Yanrou left, the old lady called out to her. "Rou'er, wait. The ginseng you sent me last time was excellent. If you have more, send some over tomorrow!" This was her way of proactively showing affection towards Song Yanrou, who nodded repeatedly in pleasant surprise.