Song Chaoyu naturally knew that confronting Madam Wang at this moment was not the best course of action.
But now, she was no longer the Song Chaoyu of the past.
She was the Princess Consort of Prince Chang's manor. How could she retreat step by step because of the provocation of a third-rank princely madam?
Not only Madam Wang, but no one had expected that Song Chaoyu would show no regard for Madam Wang at all.
Madam Wang was so angry that her chest heaved up and down, feeling that she had lost face in front of everyone.
But the more this was the case, the more Madam Wang refused to let go.
She stepped forward, intending to argue with Song Chaoyu again.
"Cough, cough!"
Suddenly, she heard the light cough from Madam Liang Guogong behind her: "Why is it so lively here?"
Madam Wang was stunned and quickly turned her head to look at Madam Liang Guogong: "Madam is here?"
Madam Liang Guogong, being a shrewd person, naturally knew what was happening here and came over.
She glanced at Madam Wang and said directly: "Why is Madam Wang standing here and not eating? Do you think the banquet at Prince Liang Guogong's manor is not delicious enough for Madam Wang's taste?"
Madam Wang naturally dared not say such a thing and quickly shook her head to explain: "No, no, this banquet is made very well! I was just... I hadn't heard that Prince Chang's manor had received an invitation, so I came to ask the Princess Consort of Prince Chang's manor."
She still wanted to bring this up at this point.
Madam Liang Guogong naturally would not give Madam Wang any face. She glanced at Song Chaoyu and then said: "I invited the Princess Consort to chat. It seems that our Prince Liang Guogong's manor's banquet is not good enough, which is why Madam Wang is not even eating."
Wasn't this saying that Madam Wang was meddling?
Madam Wang, having lost face, naturally did not dare to say anything more. She took a step back, making way for Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu stepped forward. Although Madam Liang Guogong was an elder, her status was higher than Madam Liang Guogong's, so she merely nodded to Madam Liang Guogong: "I wish Madam eternal life and happiness every day."
Madam Liang Guogong also nodded: "Princess Consort, please. A small banquet has been prepared in the back courtyard. I would be honored if the Princess Consort would join me."
To be able to eat at Madam Liang Guogong's small banquet was not something others could experience.
At this moment, no one dared to underestimate Song Chaoyu again.
In fact, Song Chaoyu had not expected that the matter of Hu Xiaoye would earn her such favor from Madam Liang Guogong.
She followed Madam Liang Guogong to the back courtyard and found a small table set up there, with no one else around.
However, Song Chaoyu could see that the table had just been set up. Although the dishes were all there, the maids were still finding more tableware.
Madam Liang Guogong gestured for Song Chaoyu to sit down: "Your Highness Princess Consort, please sit."
Song Chaoyu did not put on airs and sat down. Then she smiled at Madam Liang Guogong: "Madam, you don't need to call me that. After all, I am a junior."
Madam Liang Guogong nodded: "I invited the Princess Consort today to thank you. I already know about Miss Hu's matter. This was my and the Hu family's oversight, which almost led Miss Hu into the trap of that scholar Xie. If it weren't for the Princess Consort, who knows what would have happened. The reputation of our Prince Liang Guogong's manor and the Hu family would likely have been ruined."
In fact, in her previous life, Hu Xiaoye's matter was handled quietly, and not many people knew about it, nor did it implicate Prince Liang Guogong's manor.
However, hearing Madam Liang Guogong say this today, Song Chaoyu merely smiled slightly: "Xiaoye and I have a friendship from our maiden days. Moreover, it was Xiaoye's maid who was clever, which prevented such a thing from happening. Madam Guogong's thanks makes me feel a little embarrassed."
Madam Liang Guogong nodded, then sighed softly: "The lifelong reputation of our Prince Liang Guogong's manor cannot be ruined in my hands. I never expected that Your Highness... would have such a character. I misjudged you, thinking you were like those other concubine-born daughters."
Did this single incident change Madam Liang Guogong's opinion of her?
Song Chaoyu had not expected this either and simply smiled: "Who can choose their own birth? But everyone can choose how to live after being born into this world. Madam, you don't need to think so much. I did what I felt was right, and I don't want anyone to look at me differently because of it."
"Good!"
Madam Liang Guogong looked at Song Chaoyu, who was not trying to curry favor with her, and admired her even more: "Let's eat! Our Prince Liang Guogong's manor's banquet is quite good. I hope it suits the Princess Consort's taste."
"Naturally."
It was rare for Song Chaoyu to dine with Madam Liang Guogong. Although she disliked her emphasis on the hierarchy between嫡庶 (legitimate and concubine-born), she had to admit that Madam Liang Guogong was different from the madams of other manors.
This meal at Prince Liang Guogong's manor made everyone in the capital understand Madam Liang Guogong's intentions.
When Song Chaoyu left Prince Liang Guogong's manor, no one dared to slight her.
Instead, even Song Yanjiao came forward and smiled at Song Chaoyu: "Fourth sister, you're quite late today! Shall we go back together?"
Song Chaoyu naturally understood her ill intentions: "Second sister, you go ahead. I still want to visit the Hu family! Xiaoye is not feeling well, so I'll go see her and then return."
Song Yanjiao affectionately linked arms with Song Chaoyu, but whispered in her ear: "Don't think that just because you've gained the favor of Madam Liang Guogong, you've integrated into the circle of noble ladies in the capital. Fourth sister, there's still a long way to go, and we still have things to do!"
Indeed!
There was still a long way to go!
Song Chaoyu withdrew her hand from Song Yanjiao's and then took a step back: "Second sister, take care."
But no matter how long the days were, the two of them would never walk the same path!
---
Song Chaoyu naturally went to see Hu Xiaoye first before returning to Prince Chang's manor.
The Hu family was grateful to Song Chaoyu and promised not to let Hu Xiaoye interact with Scholar Xie again, which put Song Chaoyu's mind at ease.
Madam Hu also sent Song Chaoyu a pile of gifts, but Song Chaoyu politely declined.
She knew Madam Hu's intentions, but she felt that if they sent her gifts now, it might make others suspect what had happened on the pleasure boat.
Instead, it was better to act as usual, so that people wouldn't suspect anything and Hu Xiaoye's reputation could be preserved.
Madam Hu thanked Song Chaoyu again and personally escorted her out.
On the carriage back, Qiu Qing came to deliver news, saying that an old wet nurse named "Nanny Jiang" had arrived at the manor.
She said that she was an old wet nurse who had served His Highness Prince Chang for many years in the Southern Kingdom and had now fallen on hard times and came to seek refuge at Prince Chang's manor.
Song Chaoyu frowned and asked Qiu Qing: "Did Prince Chang have such an old wet nurse by his side?"
Qiu Qing nodded: "In the Southern Kingdom, there was a Nanny Jiang, but I heard... that wet nurse was supposed to have died long ago."