Chapter 24: Loosen the Soil
After seeing off Wu Shi and her son, Wen Mingqian returned to the inner chambers.
Zhang Ma came over and said, “Miss, how should we deal with the people from the opera troupe?”
“What else did you find out?” Wen Mingqian asked.
Zhang Ma investigated the details. Those two people confessed the whole story, but it wasn’t of much use.
The person who went to find them was a thin, small man, but the description Wen Mingqian and the others couldn’t recognize.
Consort Song was not foolish; she didn’t directly let her personal attendants handle it. It was likely someone from her brother’s household.
“Although we know that Song Xiulian, that bitch, was the one who tampered with it, it’s not easy to pin it on her. She definitely won’t admit it,” Zhang Ma said.
“Yes, and moreover, there’s no one in this household to preside over us. If we stir up trouble, we’ll only hurt ourselves more than the enemy,” Wen Mingqian had naturally seen this point long ago.
“Since the scheme didn’t succeed, I’ll have them hand over those two hundred taels of silver as punishment,” Zhang Ma said.
“Remember to tell them that if anyone asks, just say that I disliked the name of the play as soon as I heard it and immediately had it changed,” Wen Mingqian said. “I don’t want Consort Song to know that we haven’t been completely ignorant of matters in the Capital City all these years. It’s better to let her underestimate us.”
“Understood,” Zhang Ma said. “We replaced the 《Mandarin Duck Alliance》 with a ballad, and the guests didn’t find anything amiss.”
She also said, “What about the Young Heir of the Duke Feng’s Family? Is that also Consort Song’s doing?”
Wen Mingqian briefly recounted what happened with Feng Tianzhu.
After hearing this, Zhang Ma couldn’t help but curse, “That black-hearted bitch! She doesn’t even spare children. Little Madam Feng was friendly with her for so long, only to scheme against us and drag their precious child into it.”
“From this, we can also see that Concubine Song is someone who disregards favors and righteousness, only planning for herself,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “How can such selfishness last long?”
“And Cui Baozhu is also a complete fool!” Zhang Ma chided Cui Baozhu. “We’re saving her face here; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get married in this lifetime.”
“I see that her family doesn’t seem to be doing very well. She probably sees Consort Song as a lifeline, otherwise, she wouldn’t help her do such a despicable thing,” Wen Mingqian sighed. “She doesn’t understand that the most important thing in this world is to rely on oneself. Others can at most lend a hand; they cannot be depended upon.”
“This time, it’s thanks to our Young Master’s quick thinking. If it were an ordinary child, they would have fallen into their trap,” Zhang Ma said. “If they had succeeded, the Duke Feng’s Family would only vent their resentment on us, and the Gong Family would have abandoned us to take the blame.”
“However, some of this will still leak out. If not from others, the Little Madam of the Duke Feng’s Family alone won’t let it go,” Wen Mingqian said. “Consort Song’s foundation in this household is not shallow. To deal with her, we need to be patient. For now, we can only loosen the soil around her roots. To uproot her completely, we still need to put in more effort.”
“She’s hiding at her brother’s house now, so we won’t confront her directly for the time being. However, that Granny Liu must be punished properly, or she’ll think we’re easy to bully,” Zhang Ma said. “I know she’s Granny Yang’s cousin, a bad fruit from the same vine. It’s better to deal with these scoundrels sooner rather than later.”
“I think so too. I’ll call her over later and deal with her promptly,” Wen Mingqian said, rubbing her sore shoulders. “After a day of turmoil, I want to rest.”
“Miss, you go rest first. I’ll go call her now,” Zhang Ma said. “We didn’t go through all this for nothing. Even if it’s not enough to cripple her, it will certainly make her hurt for many days.”
As Gong Changan held Wen Mingqian’s hand and walked back, he giggled and said, “Mother, when will we visit the Duke Feng’s Family?”
“No rush. That Young Heir is spoiled. As long as he wants to see you, the Duke Feng’s Family will definitely send someone to invite you,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “I believe after today’s events, he’ll remember you. However, that child is unusually willful, so you must be careful when playing with him.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. No matter how willful he is, I can handle him,” Gong Changan said confidently. “Besides, if used well, he can be a protective amulet.”
“I know what you mean. The Duke Feng’s Family has a higher status than the Gong Family. If we can befriend them, the Gong Family will also show us leniency,” Wen Mingqian looked at the flying clouds under the eaves, recalling the perpetually snow-capped mountains of Shuangxi.
“Mother, are you thinking about the past again?” Gong Changan asked softly, tilting his head up.
Wen Mingqian chuckled and ruffled his hair. “You little rascal know everything.”
The mother and son entered the room. Gong Changan personally scooped a bowl of vegetarian dish from the earthenware pot in the baking cylinder and offered it to Wen Mingqian.
“Mother, you were busy entertaining guests today and didn’t eat properly. Please have this to tide you over first,” Gong Changan said, then asked a maid to bring a bowl of hot rice from the kitchen.
“I’m not that hungry. A piece of dim sum and a cup of tea will suffice,” Wen Mingqian said.
“You can’t be casual about it,” Gong Changan said. “Otherwise, Zhang Ma will force you to eat when she gets back.”
Wen Mingqian had no choice but to eat a little.
As soon as she finished rinsing her mouth, Granny Liu was brought in.
Upon entering, she knelt before Wen Mingqian and pleaded, “Madam, please be merciful and spare this old bone!”
“Granny Liu, ultimately you were at fault for what happened today. I won’t argue with you about the truth to avoid implicating too many people,” Wen Mingqian knew she intended to deny everything, so she didn’t engage in a war of words. “Putting aside other things, we must give the Duke Feng’s Family an explanation. Otherwise, if they remain angry, what then?”
Granny Liu rolled her eyes and said, “Madam’s considerations are thorough, but I’ve been in this mansion for many years. Even without merit, I have hard work. I beg you to pity me and leave me a way out.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t really do anything to you,” Wen Mingqian said with a kind expression. “You can go to the manor outside the city! There isn’t much work there, and the wages are the same.”
“Oh, Madam, I’m already this old. Please don’t send me outside the city. Fining me two months’ monthly salary would be enough,” Granny Liu said, starting to cry. “My husband and son are both in this mansion. Separating us like this, how can it be?”
“Old Liu, what grievance do you have? It’s fortunate that the Fourth Young Master is unharmed today, otherwise your old bones wouldn’t be enough to compensate! Madam has shown kindness by sending you to the manor outside, yet you’re still crying and making a scene here. Do you really think Madam can’t do anything to you?” Zhang Ma reprimanded with a stern face. “Since you can’t bear to be separated from your husband and son, then your whole family can go to the manor! We’ll swap the people managing the manor, and no one will lose out.”
Granny Liu was naturally unwilling and wanted to argue further.
Wen Mingqian’s expression also turned stern. “I am the Matriarch of this household; can I not control you? Even if Concubine Song were here, would she be able to protect you from punishment?”
Granny Liu dared not speak further upon hearing this. She knew that if it came to a confrontation, Consort Song would definitely abandon her.
It was better to confess obediently than to offend both sides.
