"It's alright, no need to trouble yourself!"
Song Chaoyu sat down without ceremony, waving her hand, "No need for tea. If Mother has something to say, please speak directly."
"Mother?"
The First Madam paused, her gaze falling on Song Chaoyu, as if with a hint of scrutiny. "You... you are still willing to call me Mother?"
"That is only natural."
Song Chaoyu smiled faintly. "First Madam is still the First Madam, Father's wife, and therefore my mother."
"Heh—"
The First Madam smiled helplessly. "No one in the Song manor takes me seriously anymore. To think it's you who is still willing to call me Mother. Song Chaoyu, you must hate me very much, don't you?"
She seemed to be speaking to Song Chaoyu, yet also to herself. "There's no need to hide things between us, is there? You hate me to the core, and your aunt must hate me just as much, right?"
Song Chaoyu didn't understand the First Madam's meaning, only frowning slightly as she looked at her.
The First Madam stepped forward, suddenly close to Song Chaoyu, her eyes fixed on her. "Song Chaoyu, you've come to the manor today because something good has happened, haven't you? You want to secure a proper title for your aunt, don't you? You want her to become the First Madam of the Song manor? Your father must have agreed, right?"
She chuckled to herself, as if certain of it. "Yes, why would your father refuse? You and your aunt are doing so well now! Your aunt manages the manor impeccably, you are the esteemed Princess of Chang, have given birth to the legitimate son of the Chang Prince's manor, and have even trampled the Ning Prince's manor underfoot! Your father is pleased, naturally he is good to your aunt, wouldn't you say?"
Song Chaoyu was somewhat confused. "What exactly is First Madam trying to say?"
The First Madam stepped forward and grabbed Song Chaoyu's arm.
Before she could say anything, Tiaohong stepped forward and pulled the First Madam away, asking sharply, "What do you think you're doing?!"
The First Madam stumbled, but Song Chaoyu shook her head at Tiaohong. "It's alright. She is Mother; she wouldn't harm her child."
Tiaohong then released the First Madam, who looked at Song Chaoyu with a bitter smile. "You are wrong. From the very beginning, I wished for you and your aunt to die! I wished for you not to live in this world, not to obstruct Jiao'er and me. Our Jiao'er is the most beautiful woman in the capital, and no one can stand in her way!"
But soon, Concubine Liu's eyes welled up with sorrow. "But my Jiao'er, my ill-fated Jiao'er! She died so young, leaving all this behind, she has no future! If she has no future, then neither do I!"
The First Madam looked at Song Chaoyu pleadingly. "Now, I only ask you for one thing!"
"What?"
Song Chaoyu raised an eyebrow, not expecting the First Madam to ask for something.
The First Madam's gaze grew even more sorrowful. "I beg you, grant me a way out, won't you? Though Jiao'er is dead, Yang'er is still here, and Little Peach is still here. I cannot lose everything for Jiao'er alone! I know Concubine Liu wants to be the mistress of the Song manor. I will cede the position of mistress to her, would that be acceptable? Then I will return to my hometown, and I will never bother any of you again, alright?"
Song Chaoyu had not anticipated that she would go to such lengths.
But Song Chaoyu merely stared at the First Madam. "Why are you suddenly telling me all this? You should know how you treated us when we entered the manor. Your current predicament is all your own doing. From the beginning, from the very start..."
Song Chaoyu thought of her previous life.
The First Madam gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, our own doing! If I had known the outcome would be like this, I certainly wouldn't have treated you that way. But some things, once done, cannot be undone. I cannot turn back, and Jiao'er cannot turn back either. We are all the same, aren't we?"
She lowered her gaze, her expression growing colder. "Now, I only ask for one thing. Even for Yang'er, for Yang'er's future children, I cannot become a woman cast out. Your father will eventually divorce me. I only beg you, can you speak a word for me, even just one word? Ask him not to divorce me, and let us peacefully sign a separation agreement, alright?"
As she said this, she quickly explained, "Don't worry, aside from what is to be left for Yang'er, I want nothing else! Everything will remain in the Song manor, whether your father keeps it or you take it. I want nothing, I only want a separation agreement. Help me, please? I cannot be an abandoned wife, I cannot be divorced by him!"
At this, she was already in tears.
It was the first time Song Chaoyu had seen her in such a state.
Even in such a state of disarray, even with such regret, what could be done in the future?
Song Chaoyu lowered her gaze and asked the First Madam a single question: "How long has it been since you last saw Father?"
The First Madam paused, then gave a bitter laugh. "I can't recall. I saw him once at Jiao'er's funeral, and then I never saw him again. It doesn't matter anymore, nothing matters anymore. Fourth Girl, as long as you help me, I will do anything you ask. What other conditions do you have, tell me, alright?"
Song Chaoyu lowered her gaze and shook her head.
The First Madam became nervous. "You're unwilling to help me? Even if I beg you, you won't help me, will you?"
"No."
Song Chaoyu didn't know what she was feeling at that moment. She merely said softly, "Don't worry, Father will not divorce you. Even if he never sees you again in his life, you are still the First Madam of the Song manor. He will not divorce you, nor will he divorce you. You two will remain in the Song manor like this, tormenting each other for a lifetime."
"What?"
The First Madam seemed not to understand Song Chaoyu's meaning.
Song Chaoyu, however, saw it clearly. "Father... is a cold and heartless person. But he is also someone who cares greatly about his reputation. With Eldest Brother's career flourishing, if word were to get out that his mother was divorced and cast out, Eldest Brother's reputation in court would be ruined, and the future of the Song family would be jeopardized. Therefore, even for Eldest Brother's career, Father will not divorce you."
She raised her eyes and looked at the First Madam earnestly. "He can strip you of all your power, he can despise you and never look at you again. But he will not divorce you. You will always be the First Madam of the Song manor, Eldest Brother's mother, our legitimate matriarch."
"This... then what about your aunt?!"
The First Madam could not believe it. "Your aunt... as long as she is here, I will never have a good day in the Song manor, will I?"
"No."
Song Chaoyu's words remained resolute. "Your days are not good not because of my aunt. Moreover, my aunt has no intention of staying in the Song manor. She has already made preparations to leave the Song manor and leave Father."
"How is that possible?!"
The First Madam exclaimed almost in disbelief. "What happened? Concubine Liu is leaving? What is she going to do? She is Yuan Song's concubine, how can she leave?"