Though she said this, on the day of the Liang State Duke’s wife’s birthday, Song Chaoyu was not idle in the Chang Prince’s mansion.
It wasn't because Song Chaoyu insisted on joining the festivities, but because others had come to their Chang Prince’s mansion!
The Liang State Duke’s wife hadn't targeted only Song Chaoyu; she hadn't invited any wives in the capital whose status as a principal wife was that of a concubine-born daughter, regardless of their husbands' official rank.
The Liang State Duke’s mansion, having served three dynasties, feared no one in the capital.
Early that day, two places in the capital were the most bustling.
One was the Liang State Duke’s mansion. The Liang State Duke’s wife was celebrating her sixty-third birthday. It wasn't a grand affair, so she had only invited most of the noble ladies in the capital, not the men of the household.
However, the men who wished to curry favor with the Liang State Duke’s mansion would also visit to offer congratulations before leaving after presenting gifts.
The second place was Song Chaoyu’s Chang Prince’s mansion, which was also very lively.
The noble ladies in the capital who were not invited to the Liang State Duke’s mansion for the birthday celebration, as if by prearrangement, had all come to the Chang Prince’s mansion!
Leading them was Madam Chang, wife of the second-rank official Zhong Feng Da Fu.
When Song Chaoyu was a maiden in the Song family, she had met Madam Chang a few times and knew her to be a gossip. Madam Chang’s reputation in the capital was not very good, but she was formidable and fiery, so no one dared to provoke her. Instead, she had a group of "followers" behind her.
Today, it wasn't only the ladies led by Madam Chang who had come to the Chang Prince’s mansion.
They followed Madam Chang into the mansion and paid their respects to Song Chaoyu, who naturally received them courteously.
After everyone was seated, Madam Chang spoke first.
She sighed, her gaze towards Song Chaoyu filled with a sense of "knowing understanding." "Princess Consort Chang, you probably don't know yet? People like us have never been worthy of a seat at the Liang State Duke’s mansion! I never imagined that the Liang State Duke’s wife would not even regard Princess Consort Chang with respect. Alas… we are here today to accompany Princess Consort Chang. From now on, in the capital, we shall be companions!"
As she spoke, Song Chaoyu observed the expressions of the others.
Most of them nodded along with her, seeming to want to "denounce" the Liang State Duke’s wife’s actions together.
However, some had expressions of disdain and impatience. It was likely that these women had been dragged here unwillingly, but out of consideration for appearances and Song Chaoyu’s status, they had to come.
Song Chaoyu picked up her teacup and smiled at Madam Chang, "The Liang State Duke’s mansion has served three dynasties; naturally, they have their pride. As juniors, should we take such minor matters to heart? Since you have all come today, isn't it quite lively?"
Her words did not follow Madam Chang's lead, which surprised Madam Chang.
She had thought that this Princess Consort, born to an outer concubine, would have no opinion of her own.
But seeing her calm demeanor, Madam Chang’s eyes flickered, "What the Princess Consort says makes sense! We juniors should just indulge those who rely on their age and seniority, shouldn't we? But if there's a first time, there will be a second!"
"Relying on age and seniority?" This was not a phrase Song Chaoyu liked to hear.
However, Madam Chang did not notice Song Chaoyu's smile disappear. Instead, she continued, "If she can prevent Princess Consort Chang from attending the banquet today, won't she also come with others to ostracize you tomorrow? If all the banquets in the capital stop inviting you, what will you do then?"
At this point, Madam Chang seemed to have suffered a grievance herself, sighing and feigning to wipe away tears, "How long must we be bullied by them? Princess Consort Chang, you cannot compromise like this! You must lead us to seek justice!"
Song Chaoyu understood. Madam Chang had come today to "win her over."
However, Song Chaoyu's eyes remained unchanged, and she showed a hint of difficulty. "Alas, your words are too serious, aren't they? The Liang State Duke’s mansion is such a distinguished family in the capital. Everyone knows why the Liang State Duke’s wife didn't invite me. I believe she has no intention of bullying anyone! The Liang State Duke’s mansion has high standards, and a bit of arrogance is nothing. Why do you think so severely?"
She even defended the Liang State Duke’s mansion: "The Duke’s wife has her own principles. If not, how could the Duke’s mansion consistently receive the Emperor's favor? We shouldn't think of things so seriously; there’s no such matter! There are so many noble ladies in the capital. If we were to worry about who invited me today and who didn't invite me tomorrow, wouldn't life be too arduous?"
She admitted that the Liang State Duke’s wife had deliberately not invited her, but she felt there was no need to create conflict with the Liang State Duke’s mansion over it.
Sometimes, being a "peacemaker" might not be wrong.
Madam Chang did not hear what she wanted to hear and felt as uncomfortable as if her punch had landed on cotton.
She could only offer Song Chaoyu an awkward smile, "While that may be true, Your Highness, you are the Princess Consort of Chang! No matter how esteemed the Liang State Duke’s mansion is, they are still subjects. How can they treat the Chang Prince’s mansion in such a manner?"
Upon hearing this, Song Chaoyu covered her mouth and chuckled, "Aren't we all subjects? As long as we can share the burdens of the sovereign, we can all have a clear conscience."
Madam Chang's eyes flickered again, "I actually have an idea, perhaps Princess Consort Chang would like to hear it?"
Song Chaoyu could not continue to offend Madam Chang’s dignity, so she could only nod.
Madam Chang glanced at the noble ladies around them, coughed lightly, and stood up with a serious expression, "Although none of us are born of the principal wife, we are now married to our husbands and are all principal wives. How can we be bullied like this? Why don't we unite and jointly resist those who look down on us like the Liang State Duke’s wife! Only then can we have a foothold in the capital!"
Behind her, some nodded, while others frowned.
Everyone had different expressions, but ultimately, they all looked at Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu had guessed that Madam Chang was likely to say something like this.
However, she shook her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes, "How can this matter be so serious? To put it plainly, we are all women of the capital, serving the entire Great Yue Dynasty. What logic is there for one person to confront another? The Liang State Duke’s wife’s actions have indeed hurt our feelings. But the Liang State Duke’s mansion has served three dynasties. Our own husbands think of the Duke’s contributions to the nation; how can we, their principal wives, not understand?"
She smiled at the displeased Madam Chang, "I know you feel angry and hurt, Madam. But there are always other ways to resolve matters. Why must we be so confrontational and damage the harmony between households?"