How could Song Chaoyu not know about this?
However, she truly hadn't seen Song Jiaojiao for the past two days.
The Old Madam also frowned, looking at the First Madam with some anger. "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on this Song Jiaojiao? How could she run off like that?"
The First Madam was filled with anger when Song Jiaojiao was mentioned. "How can I keep an eye on her? Who knows how she was raised in the countryside of Jiangzhou City?! She climbed over the wall to get out! What kind of daughter from a respectable family would climb over a wall?"
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam sneered, "You couldn't keep an eye on Song Jiaojiao yourself, letting her meet Prince Ning. Now you're causing trouble for the Second Girl back at the manor? Shouldn't she be coming to you, asking why you didn't watch her properly?"
Her words hit the mark, leaving the First Madam speechless for a moment, only able to feel terribly wronged in her heart.
Song Yanjiao also keenly noticed, from when did the Old Madam start to not favor her at all?
After all, when she was the only legitimate daughter in the Song family, she was the most pampered one.
She felt hateful but dared not vent her anger.
She could only endure the Old Madam glaring at her again. The Old Madam was increasingly puzzled. "You yourselves chose Prince Ning that day, and you said he was deeply devoted to you. Now, one moment it's Wu Lingru, the next it's Song Jiaojiao. Prince Ning has seen it all and kept it all in his heart. And you? You've become unfavored. How are you being Princess Ning?"
In fact, Song Chaoyu had always known that the Old Madam was crystal clear about many things.
She hadn't spoken of it before, perhaps to avoid falling out completely.
Now that Song Yanjiao had returned to her maiden home to cause trouble, what did the Old Madam have to lose?
But the Old Madam hadn't completely given up on Song Yanjiao. Song Chaoyu could tell that the Old Madam merely wanted to use this opportunity to admonish Song Yanjiao.
It was a pity... looking at Song Yanjiao, she didn't understand the Old Madam's admonishment and still harbored resentment.
She suddenly sat down and looked at the Old Madam timidly. "Grandmother... actually, Prince Ning is still quite good to this granddaughter. This granddaughter only hopes to have a child soon, to establish a firmer footing in Prince Ning's manor and not be bullied by others!"
This time, Song Chaoyu noticed that while they were arguing, Song Yanrou hadn't said a single extra word. Instead, she was busy eating. This attitude naturally wouldn't "draw fire to herself."
It seemed that after suffering so many losses, Song Yanrou had become much smarter.
Ultimately, Song Yanjiao's gaze fell on Qiu Qing. "Why is it that just for asking for a maid from Fourth Sister, even Grandmother is finding fault with granddaughter?"
"This maid is not yours!"
Before Song Chaoyu could speak, the Old Madam of the Song family cut off Song Yanjiao's last "way." "If you want a medical maid, or any maid, have your mother go to a matchmaker and find one yourself. Why do you have to target the ones around Fourth Sister? Ever since that Xun Lu made a mistake and was dealt with, your Fourth Sister has only had Tiao Hong serving her. Why didn't you care about her then?"
The Old Madam sneered, "Now that Qiu Qing has finally arrived and can take good care of your Fourth Sister, you want her. Now that you are Princess Ning, can't you stand to see your Fourth Sister about to become Princess Chang?"
The Old Madam's words left Song Yanjiao speechless!
With the Old Madam having said all that, if Song Yanjiao continued to pester, it would truly be seeking trouble.
Song Yanjiao glanced at the First Madam. The First Madam shrugged, as if indicating she was helpless.
Only then did Song Yanjiao lower her head, seemingly wronged. "Now, Grandmother only has Fourth Sister in her heart!"
After saying that, she sat down at the dining table as if in a huff and didn't pick up her chopsticks.
If it were in the past, the Old Madam would have coaxed her a bit.
But at this moment, she only felt annoyed.
The Old Madam helped Song Chaoyu to a piece of white-cut chicken, then picked up her own rice bowl. "If you want to eat, eat properly and don't say anything else. If you don't eat, then return to Prince Ning's manor. Where has the demeanor of you, the legitimate daughter of the Song family, gone?"
After all, the Old Madam still offered Song Yanjiao a suggestion. "Now that Prince Ning is away, you might as well take this opportunity to properly sort out the back courtyard. It would be best to send that Song Jiaojiao back to Jiangzhou. When Prince Ning returns and can't find her, he naturally won't think of her anymore, right?"
Song Yanjiao's eyes lit up. "Yes, why didn't I think of this method before?"
The Old Madam glanced at Song Yanjiao. "But you can't go too far. Since Wu Lingru is pregnant, you should take good care of her. If anything happens to them, Prince Ning will blame you!"
At this moment, Song Chaoyu sensed a cold glint flash in Song Yanjiao's eyes.
She feared that she would not listen to the Old Madam's words.
But now that there was a solution for Song Jiaojiao, Song Yanjiao felt much better and finally stopped putting on airs and glaring.
The Old Madam, seemingly to protect Qiu Qing, finally agreed to find a medical maid for Song Yanjiao to stay by her side and take care of her. Only then did Song Yanjiao "let go" of Qiu Qing.
Naturally, even if the Old Madam hadn't intervened, Song Chaoyu would never have allowed Qiu Qing to go to Song Yanjiao's side.
It wasn't until the next morning that Song Yanjiao, accompanied by the medical maid the Old Madam had found for her, left the Song manor with a somewhat happy expression.
As soon as she left, Song Chaoyu said to Tiao Hong, "Go follow them. If you see Song Jiaojiao being driven out of Prince Ning's manor, come and tell me. I want to see Song Jiaojiao."
Tiao Hong nodded and immediately went to do as instructed.
Song Chaoyu then looked at Qiu Qing. "Can you help me find a place where I can talk to Song Jiaojiao?"
She had always been polite to Qiu Qing, and Qiu Qing turned to find a place without a word.
Indeed, the method the Old Madam had given to Song Yanjiao yesterday was implemented by Song Yanjiao at noon that day. She drove Song Jiaojiao out of the back door of Prince Ning's manor!
Tiao Hong saw Song Jiaojiao being driven out alone and felt that Song Yanjiao was too ruthless. While Song Jiaojiao was crying out in vain and was at a loss after leaving Prince Ning's manor, she quietly took Song Jiaojiao away.
In the afternoon, Song Chaoyu served the Old Madam lunch, then said she wanted to go to the market. She said that she was about to get married and wanted to see if there was anything else that needed to be prepared.
The Old Madam naturally agreed. "You've been busy preparing for your wedding since you returned from Jiangzhou and haven't been out. Go, just be back before dinner. Remember to bring back some pastries from the shops in the south of the city, the ones your aunt likes."