Chapter 55: Heart-to-Heart Talk
Consort Song knelt in Lingyue Pavilion to force Wen Mingqian.
The servants in the mansion all knew about it, and couldn’t help but gossip.
Except for a very few, everyone thought Wen Mingqian was too heartless and refused to save the Master.
It caused Concubine Song, who was pregnant, to have to kneel and beg her.
“We have to maintain appearances, you go out and persuade her.” Wen Mingqian gently put down the tea cup and yawned, “I woke up a bit early today, I need to catch up on sleep.”
“Yes, Miss, you rest.” Zhang Ma said, “I’ll go say a few harsh words to her.”
After speaking, she waddled her plump body into the courtyard and indeed saw Consort Song kneeling there. Granny Yang and two maids were also kneeling beside her.
“Concubine Song, what are you doing? Didn’t we already clarify everything in front of the Old Madam?” Zhang Ma said, picking her teeth with a toothpick.
“Granny Zhang, I only beg Madam to quickly save the Master, I have no other intentions,” Consort Song said pitifully.
“What are you saying? Didn’t Madam already agree? What are you still doing like this?” Zhang Ma spat, spitting out the toothpick.
“Madam said she would go tomorrow, but I fear that delays will lead to trouble.” Consort Song started crying, looking utterly distraught, “You know, the longer he is delayed, the longer the Master suffers in prison.”
“Lord Zhu can’t be seen at the yamen right now! We have to wait until he returns home to discuss it,” Zhang Ma sneered, “Since you’re in such a hurry, why don’t you just call Lord Zhu back from the yamen? If you can do that, Madam can go out today too.”
“I…” Consort Song choked, “I think it would be more reliable to ask Prince Zhao…”
“Song! You are truly pushing your luck, you heartless wretch!” Zhang Ma lost all pleasantries and began to scold, “You’re forcing Madam to send the Fourth Young Master to become a monk immediately, how cruel! You won’t even agree to a couple more days, it’s like the imperial court executing someone in autumn.
You’re so eager to send the Fourth Young Master to the temple so that your son can inherit all this family property!”
“No, I… I didn’t mean that, I’m truly just worried about the Master!” Consort Song cried loudly, “I want to save him quickly.”
“You’re worried about the Master, doesn’t Madam worry about the Master too? Is the Master only yours?!” Zhang Ma spat forcefully at Consort Song’s face, “That’s right, all these years you’ve monopolized the Master yourself. I heard you even got rid of another concubine before, you’re so ruthless!
You keep saying you’re worried about the Master, doesn’t Madam worry? Doesn’t the Old Madam worry? Everything has already been discussed and decided, and you’re still being so unreasonable. Are you trying to drive people to their deaths?!
Even asking Prince Zhao for help wouldn’t get the Master out the same day. I don’t believe you don’t understand this; you’re deliberately trying to embarrass Madam!”
As Zhang Ma scolded, everyone else roughly understood what was happening. Though they didn’t say it, they all felt Consort Song was being too overbearing.
It’s true, Gong Xu was thrown into prison, how could he be released so easily? Even the Emperor would have to discuss it with the officials and issue an imperial decree.
“Granny Zhang, I’ve truly lost my mind, I didn’t mean to force Madam.
I also feel guilty towards Madam, which is why I came here to kneel, and also to ease my own conscience,” Consort Song quickly changed her tune as she saw the tide turning.
“Heh, all of you have heard it, she insisted on kneeling here, we didn’t make her,” Zhang Ma said to everyone, “Granny Zhu, go and report to the Old Madam, tell her that Concubine Song has done this and see how she decides to handle it.”
This statement terrified Consort Song, and she quickly signaled to Granny Yang.
Granny Yang quickly got up and held onto Granny Zhu, saying, “Elder Sister, don’t go. The Old Madam is already troubled enough, let’s not anger her further.”
Granny Zhu was originally an honest person, but she couldn’t stand seeing them, mistress and servant, bullying her own Madam like this, so she said irritably, “Didn’t you start all this fuss? Crying and kneeling, you just saw Madam’s good nature and kept making things difficult for her.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all our fault, we’ll leave now.” Granny Yang quickly helped Consort Song up.
“What? Concubine Song, aren’t you going to kneel anymore?” Zhang Ma asked with dead fish eyes, “This matter must be reported to the Old Madam regardless, lest you later complain to the Master that Madam forced you to kneel.”
As they were arguing, Wei Shi arrived with a maid.
Upon seeing the scene, she was also stunned and asked, “What’s going on?”
“First Madam, you’ve arrived at a good time,” Zhang Ma said, “otherwise we would have gone to the Old Madam to seek arbitration.”
Then she briefly explained the whole story to Wei Shi, saying, “Concubine Song is being too overbearing. She’s using one hand to gouge out our Madam’s heart, and the other to cover Madam’s mouth. She doesn’t want Madam to have an easy time at all.”
“I didn’t… I was just confused for a moment. I was too worried about the Master… so I wasn’t careful in my words and actions,” Consort Song said tearfully.
“Concubine Song, you’re pregnant, how can you torment your body like this?” Wei Shi sighed, “I’m sure Mingqian is suffering more than you, but she’s steady and doesn’t show it.
Go back quickly and stay peacefully! If you continue to make such a scene, you’ll cause trouble even if there was none.”
She then turned to Zhang Ma and said, “I know about this matter, and that’s enough. Don’t tell the Old Madam. If you truly disturb her peace, you’ll be in the wrong even if you’re not.”
Consort Song then shyly got up and returned to her courtyard.
Wen Mingqian came out of the room and smiled at Wei Shi, saying, “Sister-in-law, you’re here, please come in. I just took a nap and woke up.”
“The Old Madam also had a restless night. She’s also catching up on sleep now. Seeing that there’s nothing much going on, I came to see you and have a chat,” Wei Shi said as she entered the room.
Gong Changan was practicing calligraphy in the outer room and quickly got up to pay his respects. Wei Shi looked at him with a heavy heart, thinking that this child was good in every way, but once he became a substitute, he would only be able to live a life of solitude, eating vegetarian meals and chanting Buddhist scriptures.
“Sister-in-law, please sit. I’ll have them quickly brew some tea.” Wen Mingqian led Wei Shi into the inner room, “I’ve also been wanting to talk to you alone, but the Old Madam can’t do without you.”
“Sister-in-law, you’ve suffered so much all these years,” Wei Shi took Wen Mingqian’s hand, “but I haven’t been able to help you at all.”
“Sister-in-law, please don’t say that. I know you must have found ways to take care of my mother and me in front of the Old Madam.” Wen Mingqian squeezed Wei Shi’s hand back, “But in the end, this is my own karma, and I must bear it myself.”
“Mingqian, I came to see you because I want to tell you a few things from my heart,” Wei Shi said in a low voice, “You must be very careful.
If you and Second Brother can reconcile, then it’s fine to have more children in the future. But if he still refuses to return, who can you rely on?”
“Sister-in-law, thank you for reminding me.” Wen Mingqian was truly grateful to Wei Shi, “I only have this one son, and I won’t have any more. Tomorrow, I will do my best to get things done and not let Changan be sent away.”
