The old lady also frowned, sensing that Song Chaoyu harbored no hostility towards Song Jiaojiao.
However, the old lady had to consider Song Yanjiao's well-being. After a moment of thought, she still shook her head: "We cannot let her follow us all the way to the capital. Jiao'er appears to be honored in the Ning King's mansion, but in reality, the Ning King is not that devoted to her. The capital is chaotic enough. If Song Jiaojiao is also brought into the capital, what will others think of our Song family?"
Song Chaoyu felt that the old lady was also reminding her.
She said nothing more, fearing the old lady might become suspicious of her.
But they had all underestimated Song Jiaojiao's determination.
The old lady instructed the coachman to speed up, hoping to shake off Song Jiaojiao. She hoped Song Jiaojiao would retreat and return to Jiangzhou if she couldn't keep up.
Unexpectedly, when they stopped at a tea stall by the official road for a rest at noon, Song Jiaojiao appeared from a small path nearby not long after!
She had been chasing their carriage and had taken a forest path, losing one of her shoes and becoming filthy all over, looking quite disheveled.
But her eyes lit up when she saw Song Chaoyu and the others.
The First Madam, upon seeing her, immediately ordered her maid to stop her: "She actually followed us here!? Don't let her come over! Go and tell her clearly that we cannot take her to the capital!"
Watching the First Madam's maid speak to Song Jiaojiao, Song Jiaojiao's smiling expression immediately fell.
Then, looking pitifully alone, she sat to the side and took out a piece of flatbread from her bundle to eat.
Even though she was choking from eating, she did not approach the tea stall to ask for a bowl of water.
Seeing her like this, the First Madam became even more smug: "These concubine-born daughters should know not to go where they shouldn't and not to desire those they shouldn't! She still wants to come to the capital with us? She can dream on!"
Although the old lady disliked Song Jiaojiao, she also disliked the First Madam's words.
She glared at the First Madam again, who then lowered her head, realizing she had spoken out of turn once more.
They were to rest at the tea stall for a while. The surroundings were bustling with people coming and going.
Song Chaoyu called for Tiao Hong and handed her a cup of tea: "Go and give this cup of tea to Song Jiaojiao. She looks quite pitiful, not even having a sip of water."
The old lady said nothing, and the First Madam, however unwilling, could not stop Tiao Hong and could only let her go.
Tiao Hong handed the water to Song Jiaojiao, who, perhaps parched, drank the entire cup of tea in one go.
After Tiao Hong returned, Song Jiaojiao also stood up and walked towards them.
"What does she want?"
The First Madam frowned, staring at Song Jiaojiao with a defensive posture: "Mother, I told you, we shouldn't be so kind to this person! She just drank water, what is she running over here for now?!"
Song Jiaojiao walked up to them, and without a word, knelt before them and suddenly wailed: "Second Grandmother, I beg you, take your granddaughter with you! Second Grandmother, your granddaughter knows she was wrong! Your granddaughter will never dare to do it again, and in the future, she will serve you diligently, never like before!"
As she spoke, she kowtowed three times to the old lady and the First Madam, her head hitting the ground with a "thump, thump" sound.
Song Chaoyu felt… this scene looked somewhat familiar?
It was the same when Song Xiuxiu had caused trouble with the Lin family.
Indeed, daughters raised by the Song family in Jiangzhou were all pretty much like this.
Although this method was effective, with the old lady's expression changing dramatically, everyone sitting in the tea stall and walking on the official road looked towards them.
Some even pointed and whispered.
Clearly, this was exactly what Song Jiaojiao wanted.
Her crying voice grew louder and louder: "I beg Second Grandmother to pity your granddaughter! If your granddaughter truly couldn't survive in Jiangzhou, she would never dare to beg you! Your granddaughter followed you all the way here from Jiangzhou city. She knows this is not right, but she truly has no other choice! I beg Grandmother to take your granddaughter to the capital? Your granddaughter is willing to serve you forever and will never have any other intentions!"
Her wailing naturally drew the attention of everyone around.
Some clicked their tongues and sighed, "Look, these noble families always have such messy affairs! What a pitiful concubine-born daughter, always bullied. Now she has to travel all the way from Jiangzhou to here, who knows how much she has suffered!"
Others disagreed: "We don't know the full story, so it's better not to speak carelessly. The old lady looks like a kind person, she won't stand by and do nothing."
Even more people recognized their identities: "I think… they are from the Song family! The family of the Minister of Rites, Master Song, in the capital, isn't it them?"
...
The old lady stared at Song Jiaojiao, who was kneeling and crying before her, and sneered: "You are trying to corner me, this old woman, and make it impossible for me to refuse? You and your sister, you truly have good intentions and good methods!"
The old lady was clearly angered.
But since Song Jiaojiao had gone this far, she knew she had no way back.
She looked up tearfully at the old lady, her voice trembling: "Grandmother! If your granddaughter had no other choice, she would not dare to follow you like this! I beg Grandmother to fulfill your granddaughter's wish and give her a way to live! Even if you let your granddaughter go to the capital to find Sister Xiuxiu! Your granddaughter—"
"Enough!"
The old lady feared she would say something worse if she continued.
Being manipulated by a young woman, the old lady felt indignant but could only temporarily nod: "Since you wish to follow us, if you ever act this pitifully again, don't blame me for being harsh! Think carefully! What the capital will be like, what kind of life you intend to live, you must think it through!"
Seeing the old lady compromise, Song Jiaojiao's face was filled with joy: "I have thought it through! For the days to come, no matter how my life turns out, I will bear it all myself! Thank you, Grandmother, for giving me a way to live!"
With the old lady agreeing, the First Madam, despite her thousand unwillingnesses, could only sigh.
Song Jiaojiao was helped up by Tiao Hong. As she passed Song Chaoyu, she glanced at her before sitting down to the side.
Song Chaoyu lowered her head and raised her tea cup, hoping Song Jiaojiao would not let down her "help" this time.
Although Song Chaoyu knew in her heart that she was somewhat letting down the old lady.
But what she wanted was to sow discord in the Ning King's mansion! She wanted Song Yanjiao to be unable to spare any effort to manage her actions, and for the future… her great revenge could be avenged!