Seeing Song Chaoyu without spirit, the old madam felt more at ease in her heart.
She smiled slightly at Song Chaoyu, "I'll take my leave after saying goodbye.
Yuyu, you should go back first. Don't worry, Aunt Liu will be taken care of by me."
With the old madam present, Song Chaoyu was naturally relieved.
Moreover, besides Aunt Liu, there was no one else in control of the Song family's power.
Even if the First Madam wanted to trouble Aunt Liu, she couldn't at this moment.
Song Chaoyu felt a little relieved and then rose to take her leave.
However, before she could leave the Song mansion, she saw a maidservant hurrying out from within.
It was the maidservant by the First Madam's side. Song Chaoyu was stunned when she saw her.
She remembered that the maidservant used to look down on Song Chaoyu's status as a concubine's daughter. But now, their statuses were vastly different, and the maidservant naturally treated Song Chaoyu with great respect.
Song Chaoyu stopped and nodded slightly at her, "Miss Xueyi, is there something?"
Xueyi respectfully bowed to Song Chaoyu and then pointed towards the First Madam's courtyard, "The First Madam wishes to see Fourth Miss. Does Fourth Miss have time?"
Actually, thinking about it, Song Chaoyu hadn't seen the First Madam for a long time.
The First Madam had been disfavored by Song Yuan for a long time. The last time Song Chaoyu saw her was on the day Song Yanjiao was buried.
On that day, the First Madam had lost her most beloved daughter and was crying uncontrollably.
Song Chaoyu had only offered superficial comfort, and there were no further words exchanged between them.
So, the First Madam suddenly wanting to see Song Chaoyu was a bit of a surprise. "The First Madam wants to see me?"
"Yes."
Miss Xueyi smiled gently, "Could Fourth Miss please come along?"
Song Chaoyu glanced at Tiaohong behind her. Tiaohong pouted.
However, Song Chaoyu still followed Xueyi towards the inner courtyard, "Alright. She is the mistress of the Song family, my mother. I should naturally pay my respects."
Despite saying that, Song Chaoyu still instructed Qiuqing, "You should take Little Monkey back to the Prince's mansion first. He might be hungry. Have the wet nurse take care of him."
Under the circumstances of not knowing the First Madam's intentions, Song Chaoyu would not give the First Madam any opportunity to interact with Little Monkey.
Miss Xueyi naturally understood but pretended not to know, instead smiling at Song Chaoyu and saying, "Fourth Miss says the First Madam is the mistress of the household. That statement is inaccurate. In this household now, Aunt Liu is in charge!"
Hearing this, without any hint of complaint or dissatisfaction, made Song Chaoyu's brow furrow slightly, "Why has the First Madam summoned me today?"
Miss Xueyi lowered her head and sighed when she mentioned the First Madam, "The First Madam now... is not the same as before. She can no longer do anything excessive to Fourth Miss, so please rest assured, the First Madam... merely has something to ask of you."
Something to ask?
Did she also have moments when she needed to ask for favors?
It was as if, in that instant, all the memories surged into her mind. The memories from her past life, her current life, and everything that had happened since she and her aunt returned to the Song family, all swirled around Song Chaoyu's mind.
She had to admit that even though things had reached this point, she still couldn't help but hate the First Madam.
It was the First Madam and Song Yanjiao who had ruined her previous life.
In her past life, she hadn't been able to witness their downfall firsthand.
But in this life, she had clearly obtained what she desired, and Song Yanjiao was already dead, yet why couldn't her heart find peace or joy?
—
Lost in such thoughts, the First Madam's courtyard also appeared before Song Chaoyu's eyes.
Following Xueyi, Song Chaoyu didn't realize that they weren't heading towards the courtyard where the First Madam used to live!
The courtyard before them was named "Tinghe Xuan" (Pavilion of Listening to Lotuses).
This courtyard used to be a place for storing miscellaneous items. Although it wasn't small in the Song family, its remote location meant that few people visited it regularly.
Now, this courtyard seemed to have been renovated. However, given the First Madam's status as the mistress of the household, it was indeed unlikely she would reside here.
Seeing Song Chaoyu pause at the courtyard entrance, Xueyi seemed to understand why.
She naturally explained, "Since the First Madam displeased the Master, her former courtyard could no longer be lived in. The Master originally intended to house the First Madam in Qiuhong Yuan, but that place was too small and dilapidated, and it was heard that the courtyard was not very clean. It was Aunt Liu, with her kind heart, who had people renovate this courtyard and let the First Madam move in. For this matter, we should be grateful to Aunt Liu."
Naturally, Song Chaoyu understood that Aunt Liu might not have been genuinely kind to the First Madam.
However, she didn't want to stoop to kicking someone when they were down in the eyes of Song Yuan, merely to establish a reputation for virtue.
But for the First Madam, this was probably different.
Song Chaoyu remained silent. Xueyi walked ahead and called out into the courtyard, "First Madam, this servant has brought Fourth Miss!"
The First Madam's voice responded from within the courtyard, but she did not appear.
Song Chaoyu walked in and discovered that the courtyard, which should have been tidied, was overgrown with weeds.
Seeing the weeds, Xueyi also sighed softly and then explained in a low voice, "The people serving the First Madam now are only myself and Xuejia. The First Madam doesn't let us clear these weeds, saying that the courtyard is too large and needs to grow something to not be wasted."
These were not words the former First Madam would have uttered.
Song Chaoyu moved further into the room and found the courtyard to be very simple.
Even the furniture in the room was mostly old and worn.
However, the courtyard was kept relatively clean. The First Madam living here alone gave off an air of "loneliness."
Song Chaoyu said nothing. After entering the somewhat dim room and standing for a while, the First Madam's footsteps were heard from within.
These footsteps carried a sense of heaviness and fatigue, completely lacking the former glory that the First Madam should have possessed.
By the time the First Madam emerged, her voice preceded her, "Fourth Miss has arrived?"
Song Chaoyu looked up and saw a completely different First Madam—
She remembered that no matter when, the First Madam always maintained the demeanor of the principal wife, dressed in luxurious attire and adorned with splendor.
Therefore, although the former First Madam was not the most beautiful person in the mansion, she was indeed exceptionally dignified and elegant.
But now, the person who appeared before Song Chaoyu looked like an old woman.
In just a short period of not seeing her, the First Madam's once raven-black hair had now turned almost entirely white.
She was also wearing her old clothes, the faded colors making her entire complexion appear even more haggard.
In addition, her back was slightly hunched.
If she hadn't been told it was the First Madam, Song Chaoyu might not have recognized her.
Her spirit seemed even weaker than the old madam of the Song family!
It was this First Madam who made Song Chaoyu frown.
But she still respectfully bowed to the First Madam, "Greetings, Mother."
"Mm."
The First Madam responded softly and waved at Song Chaoyu, "Sit down. Someone, serve Fourth Miss tea."