Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Not Knowing the Weight of One’s Own Bones
The lamplight in the room flickered. The First Madam looked at her daughter, whose face was flushed with anger. Patting the seat beside her, she gestured for her to sit down and said softly, "What have I always told you? Don’t be hasty when something happens. Calm down first, then think of a solution. When a person panics, their thoughts become a mess. And a messy mind leads to disaster."
Song Yexi pressed her lips together, her expression unyieldingly stubborn.
The First Madam sighed. "You say Song Qinghan was behind what happened today, but do you have any proof?"
Song Yexi...
’If I had proof, I wouldn’t be fuming here. I would have already thrown it in Song Qinghan’s face.’
"Mother, I may not have proof, but something about it was very strange. After we arrived at the Uncle Mansion and paid our respects to the Madam, Song Qinghan took us to the mansion’s garden. Then we ran into Chu Yuying. The moment Miss Chu saw us, she asked for Yun Zhao. How do you think she even knew about Yun Zhao?"
"That happened?" The First Madam’s brow furrowed slightly. "Tell your mother everything, in detail."
Song Yexi took a breath to calm her agitated thoughts before she continued, "Mother, our group had just gone to the garden. We had barely started admiring the scenery when Miss Chu arrived with a large retinue of maids and nannies—making quite the entrance. She glanced over our group and immediately asked who Yun Zhao was. Don’t you find that odd? Why would Miss Chu ask for Yun Zhao right away? And how did she even know of her?"
"Song Qinghan and Yun Zhao are biological sisters, and the Madam is their maternal aunt. It’s not surprising that Miss Chu would know about Yun Zhao," the First Madam said.
"That may be true, but when Jinxuan told Miss Chu that Yun Zhao was ill today, I saw with my own eyes that her expression was off. It was a mix of disappointment and anger. If she were simply hosting guests, why would she look like that?"
The First Madam nodded slightly. "And then?"
"Then Song Qinghan stepped forward and spoke to Miss Chu with a smile. The two of them moved to the side, and I don’t know what they discussed, but Miss Chu left looking quite displeased. She didn’t even spare us another glance."
The First Madam’s expression turned grim. Though the Chu Family headed the Uncle Mansion, our families were still connected through marriage. It was far too dismissive of them.
’My husband may only be a Secondary Fifth Rank official for now, but he secured a position in the Salt Commissioner’s Office. A promotion in a few years is practically a sure thing. The Salt Commissioner’s Office isn’t a place just anyone can enter.’
’The Dingnan Bo Mansion may seem glorious—a noble family, a Zanying Clan—but what has the Chu Family truly accomplished lately, aside from producing one Imperial Concubine? Few of the sons in their clan amount to anything.’
’Their sole pillar of support, the Imperial Concubine, has already died of illness. Now, it’s uncertain if the Dingnan Bo Mansion can even keep its title. With the rank being demoted each generation for three successions, what will the Chu Family amount to then?’
The First Madam suppressed a surge of anger. Looking at her daughter, she said, "What does it matter whether she acknowledges you or not? As long as the Madam is willing to recommend you for the selection, that’s all that matters."
"I’m not so sure about that. The Madam clearly favors Song Qinghan. If only one person is chosen, I’m afraid it will be her," Song Yexi said resentfully.
Hearing this, the First Madam looked at her daughter and asked, "Then what happened to Jinxuan today—was it an accident, or was it deliberate?"
Song Yexi’s expression changed at the mention of this. "I was some distance from Jinxuan at the time. I heard her cry out and rushed over immediately, only catching a glimpse of the corner of a green robe disappearing around the corridor. By the time I reached Jinxuan, one of her feet was already in the lotus pond. Mother, I couldn’t have been mistaken. Someone was trying to harm Jinxuan."
"And then?"
"After that, Song Qinghan arrived with her people and immediately started scolding Jinxuan for being too playful and losing her composure. What kind of older sister sees her younger sister step into a muddy pond and immediately scolds her instead of trying to comfort her? I could see it clearly; Song Qinghan was trying to make it seem like Jinxuan had simply slipped into the pond by accident."
"Didn’t Jinxuan say anything?"
"She tried to defend herself, but before she could finish, Chu Yuying arrived. Everything out of her mouth was about how ’Song Jinxuan is so playful and ill-mannered,’ and ’a proper young lady getting into the water like that.’ My face was burning with shame."
By this point, the First Madam’s face was utterly black. "And then?"
"What else could have happened? With Song Qinghan and Chu Yuying chiming in one after another, they branded Jinxuan as mischievous and ill-mannered in just a few sentences. I saw the strange way Chu Yuying was looking at us. My second and third older sisters wanted to speak up for Jinxuan, but I held them back. They were born to concubines, what weight would their words carry? They would only be giving Chu Yuying a reason to mock them. But I couldn’t just swallow my anger. I can’t afford to offend Chu Yuying, but am I supposed to be afraid of Song Qinghan? So I said just one thing: ’Ms. Han, you truly are a wonderful eldest sister to the third branch.’ Then I helped Jinxuan up and left with my other two sisters."
The First Madam stared at her daughter. "Are you absolutely certain the person who ran away was wearing a green robe?"
"Would I lie to you about that? I still feel a chill just thinking about it now."
’Only men wear robes. How did a man manage to get into the rear courtyard?’
The First Madam slammed her hand on the table. Looking at her daughter, she said, "It seems today’s scheme wasn’t aimed at Jinxuan, but at..."
A thought flashed through Song Yexi’s mind, and she blurted out, "Yun Zhao?"
The First Madam didn’t elaborate further. She just patted her daughter’s hand. "Don’t make wild guesses. Speaking without proof will only give others leverage against you. After you left with Jinxuan, did you ask her what happened?"
At the mention of this, Song Yexi said, "Jinxuan only said she was admiring the view by the lotus pond when someone suddenly jumped out at her. She was so startled she stumbled backward right into the pond. Her scream must have frightened the person, because they turned and fled immediately."
"Did she see what they looked like?"
"Jinxuan said she was scared out of her wits. All she knows is that it was a man; she didn’t get a clear look at his face at all."
"With no witness and no evidence, and your third uncle not yet in the capital, this matter will likely be swept under the rug." The First Madam looked at her daughter sternly. "You are not to breathe a word of this outside of this room."
"Mother, are we just going to let it go?" The thought horrified Song Yexi. ’Even my two sisters from our branch, born of concubines, knew enough to try and protect Song Jinxuan. Yet her own biological sister, Song Qinghan, looked like she wanted nothing more than to grind her into the mud.’
’We all share the surname Song. What good does it do them if Song Jinxuan’s reputation is ruined?’
"Let it go?" The First Madam scoffed. "Whether we let it go or not will depend on what moves Aunt Che makes after your third uncle arrives in the capital."
Song Yexi froze.
The First Madam patted her daughter’s hand. "Yun Zhao is still recuperating. Go check on her, then get some rest."
Song Yexi looked unhappy. "Mother..."
The First Madam shot her daughter a look.
Song Yexi immediately deflated. She had no choice but to get up and say, "Then I’ll go check on Yun Zhao first."
The First Madam watched her daughter’s retreating back and sighed softly. Once the door closed, she said to Nanny Zhao, "I really didn’t see it before. To think Song Qinghan was capable of something like this. Since she’s gone to such great lengths, we should help make her famous for it."
’If Song Qinghan dares to harm Song Jinxuan today, she’ll dare to harm my Ye Xi tomorrow.’
’If I don’t teach her a lesson she’ll never forget, she’ll start thinking she’s above us all!’
