Chapter 48: Slanderous Words
Gong Xu had been detained at the Ministry of Justice for several days, but he had only been summoned once.
This day, as he was sitting idly in the cell, Madam Song came to deliver food again.
“Why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you? You should come to a place like this less often. You are pregnant now, you should be resting and recuperating,” Gong Xu said, looking at Madam Song with heartache.
Madam Song looked visibly gaunt, showing how worried she was about him.
“Master, please don’t stop me anymore. If I don’t see you for a single day, I can’t eat or sleep no matter what,” Madam Song said, putting down the food box and handing the meal item by item to Gong Xu.
Madam Song always came once a day to deliver Gong Xu’s meals, three times a day.
“It’s all my fault for making you worry,” Gong Xu said, blaming himself. “Then coming once a day is enough. Don’t always overexert yourself, or you won’t be able to bear it.”
Madam Song nodded. “Old Madam has returned, and she doesn’t know about this yet. I can’t go out too often, lest she finds out and becomes suspicious.”
“Mother is back,” Gong Xu murmured. “Don’t let her know for now. She’s an elderly person and can’t handle this.”
“Concubine understands. I have repeatedly instructed the servants below to absolutely not let any word leak out,” Madam Song replied.
“Then… Old Madam has also seen her?” Gong Xu did not name names, but he and Madam Song knew who he was referring to.
Madam Song lowered her head and was silent for a long while before saying, “She has seen her. Old Madam dotes on the Fourth Young Master, and since Master has already kept them, there’s nothing more to say.”
“I originally planned to explain to Old Madam when she returned, but who knew I would be locked up here now,” Gong Xu was very annoyed. “I can only talk about it later.”
What would happen in the future? He didn’t know either.
Perhaps he would be released without incident, or perhaps he would be implicated.
“Master, you don’t need to worry about these things. Take care of yourself. Eat quickly! Don’t let the food get cold,” Madam Song said, then poured a cup of wine and gently offered it to Gong Xu.
Gong Xu actually had no appetite, but he forced himself to eat a bowl of rice to avoid worrying Madam Song.
Then he urged her, “Hurry back! It’s damp and dark here, it’s really not a place you should come to.”
“Master, I’ll be going back then. I’ll come again tomorrow,” Madam Song said reluctantly.
When she returned to the mansion, Granny Yang ran over and said to her as if seeking credit, “Little Madam, that courtyard knows about our Master’s situation.”
Madam Song raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. “Is that so? Where has Wen Mingqian gone?”
“I don’t know what she’s been doing these past few days. She went out early and returned very late,” Granny Yang said. “I haven’t seen her pay any attention to Master’s affairs.”
“Then I must go to that courtyard to see how anxious Old Madam is,” Madam Song turned and headed east. At this time, she naturally had to go to the front to curry favor.
As expected, Old Madam Gong was both shocked and worried upon hearing about her second son’s predicament, which triggered her dizziness.
Madam Wei quickly sent someone to fetch a doctor and then questioned, “Who told Old Madam about this? How can you be so disrespectful of the rules?”
None of the subordinates dared to utter a sound.
Old Madam Gong said, “Why bother investigating this? There’s no impenetrable wall. I was bound to find out sooner or later.”
Madam Wei quickly appeased her mother-in-law. “Please don’t worry. He was merely summoned for questioning; it has nothing to do with Second Master.”
“You don’t need to persuade me. I’m not senile yet. The priority now is to find a way to extricate the second son, but his elder brother is not home. Only a group of women and children are left, what use can they be?” Old Madam Gong sighed repeatedly.
Although Gong Er was not the main culprit, the fact that he had been detained at the Ministry of Justice indicated his involvement. If he was not careful, he could be sentenced, which would greatly damage his career prospects.
The doctor arrived shortly after. After taking her pulse, he prescribed medicine and strictly advised her not to worry or overexert herself, emphasizing the need for rest and recuperation.
Just as the medicine was being brewed, Madam Song entered.
She approached Old Madam’s bedside and said softly, “Old Madam, please take care of yourself. You are the backbone of all of us.”
Old Madam Gong, who had been lying there with her eyes closed, resting, heard her words and lifted her eyelids to look at her. “You also have a son. If your son is in trouble, how can a mother take care of herself?”
“Old Madam speaks the truth,” Madam Song, who was always adept at being humble, said. “Concubine just returned from delivering food to Second Master. He repeatedly instructed me to try not to let you know and not to worry you.”
“Is he alright in there? Has he suffered any hardship?” The Old Madam, naturally concerned about her son, asked Madam Song.
“Please rest assured, Old Madam. Although Second Master is locked up inside, he has not been tortured and has only been questioned once,” Madam Song said. “I go every day. I have bribed everyone in the prison and deliver hot meals and clean clothes every day.”
“Mm, you have always been diligent in this regard. It’s hard on you.” It is said that one loves the person and also loves the things connected to them. Although Old Madam Gong did not like Madam Song, seeing her meticulous care for Gong Xu, she acknowledged her efforts.
“This is all concubine should do, but I have a humble request, and I hope Old Madam will preside over it,” Madam Song seized the opportunity.
“What is it?” Old Madam Gong asked.
“Second Master has been there for many days, but Madam has not visited him once. Concubine feels it is not appropriate.
It would be better to take this opportunity to let Madam also deliver food a few times. It would be a good way to mend their relationship, wouldn’t it?
Moreover, even if not for this, it would serve to ward off outsiders. After all, Madam has returned now, and it doesn’t look good to outsiders,” Madam Song began to speak ill of Wen Mingqian.
“Mingqian hasn’t been? She goes out every day these past few days,” Madam Wei asked.
“Madam does go out every day, but she doesn’t go to see Second Master. I can’t inquire where she goes, lest Madam becomes overly sensitive and causes displeasure,” Madam Song said.
In fact, she clearly knew that Gong Xu did not want to see Wen Mingqian at all, and even if she went, she would be driven away.
However, in Old Madam Gong’s eyes, as a wife, Wen Mingqian should have been by her husband’s side when he was in trouble; otherwise, she had failed in her wifely duties.
Therefore, although she didn’t say anything, her face showed displeasure.
Granny Yang even added fuel to the fire. “Our concubine can’t eat or sleep every day, she just sighs or sheds tears. Old Madam, you can see how gaunt she is now.
But Second Madam shows no sign of sorrow on her face. She goes out every day, meticulously dressed, and returns after dark.
They say adversity reveals true feelings. Second Master is facing difficulties now, what is your mood?
Although I am a servant, I also feel that Second Madam’s indifference is truly…
“Granny Yang, shut up! Who allowed you to speak nonsense in front of Old Madam? Isn’t this adding to Old Madam’s worries?” Madam Song reprimanded. “Hurry down!”
