The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1561 - 1558: Please Uphold Justice for Your Daughter-in-Law
This kind of haste, really can’t bear to watch.
Others might let it go, but Song Chongxiu couldn’t help but chuckle, with a tone of mockery and teasing, "Third Sister-in-law, is there really a need to be so anxious? Everything is here, they can’t run away! If it’s yours, it’s naturally yours. If it’s not, thinking about it is useless, isn’t it?"
Those words were quite intriguing.
Except for Maternal Aunt Hou, the other concubines all covered their mouths and snickered.
They all knew, this Fourth Young Lady didn’t get along with this Third Young Lady.
And why was that? Because this Third Young Lady had just been married into the family not long ago, yet she boldly went to Maternal Aunt Meng to propose an arranged marriage for Song Chongxiu.
And not just anyone, but a cousin of Little Lady Hou, merely the son of a scholar, whose status rose simply because his aunt married into the Hou Family.
He supposedly had some knowledge and had recently passed the exam to become a Scholar, and his entire family cherished him, believing he had a bright and promising future.
They were determined not to let him marry a girl from an ordinary family, not wanting to waste their son.
Little Lady Hou was close to her family, and she had a good impression of this cousin who was always flattering her.
After marrying into the Song Family, the next day during the tea ceremony, she saw the two unmarried young ladies of the Song Family.
She knew the Third Young Lady was already engaged, and upon seeing the Fourth Young Lady Song Chongxiu, who was beautiful like Maternal Aunt Meng, although a daughter of the Duke’s Mansion, she was still born of a concubine. So she thought her cousin and Song Chongxiu were a perfect match.
With this idea in mind, she went back home and told her family. Whether the Hou Family was overambitious or genuinely wanted to take this opportunity to win the support of Maternal Aunt Meng and others for Song Chongzhao was unclear.
It was known that even though Maternal Aunt Meng had two daughters, the family Song Chongjuan was engaged to, though seemingly unremarkable, had considerable power.
If indeed Song Chongxiu could be married, wouldn’t Song Chongjuan’s husband’s family help others?
Therefore, they genuinely began to plan.
A letter was sent, summoning the cousin to the Capital City, and they carefully planned. Then Little Lady Hou went to find Maternal Aunt Meng.
As soon as these words were spoken, Maternal Aunt Meng was shocked, growing more annoyed as she listened. The Hou Family had a good scheme, but did they really think they were such a good family?
Her own daughter had become a concubine; they weren’t even proper relatives. Now they wanted to marry into each other’s families—what a mess.
Was the Hou Family a relative of the concubine, or the relative of the Third Young Lady?
They weren’t embarrassed by it, but found it disgusting themselves!
Although she was a concubine, her daughters were still mistresses, many of whom were not eligible for grand dukes and noblemen. Why jump into the Hou Family’s pit?
So she flatly refused.
Little Lady Hou had come with enthusiasm, thinking as soon as she said it, Maternal Aunt Meng would definitely agree and even thank her for matchmaking.
Who’d have thought they were so inept and actually didn’t agree?
She was immediately angry and said a few unpleasant things, which were overheard by Song Chongxiu in the inner room, and she came out angrily, exchanging a few words with Little Lady Hou.
This was about Song Chongxiu’s reputation, and Little Lady Hou also felt humiliated, so they both kept it low-key and didn’t let things blow up.
Since then, they have been looking at each other sideways.
Initially, Song Chongxiu didn’t have much backing and often gave in.
Now feeling that her backing, Wang Yongzhu, had returned, and with Imperial Noble Consort’s support, she was no longer afraid of Little Lady Hou, and took the opportunity to vent her anger.
Little Lady Hou knew that Maternal Aunt Meng and the two young ladies stood on the side of Madam and Song Chongjin with Wang Yongzhu.
Knowing that Wang Yongzhu had returned and someone supported them.
She felt displeased and rolled her eyes, knowing that if she caused a fuss, she might lose things.
So she temporarily swallowed her anger, only watching the box and the plate.
Seeing this, Wang Yongzhu had the maids step forward, distributing the items she had arranged for everyone.
All the concubines received the same, two exquisite pieces of jewelry made in the palace, a complete set, leaving no room for difference.
Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu each received a perfectly round golden sea pearl; as the saying goes, a seven-point pearl is a treasure.
These two sea pearls were indeed treasures of eight points.
The two sisters showed their delight; even just one of such a fine thing was quite precious, and if inlaid into jewelry, it could be passed down as an heirloom.
They immediately expressed their gratitude.
No matter how people felt inside, at least outwardly, they were all joyful and each thanked Wang Yongzhu.
Everyone was harmoniously joyful, and Lady Gao was about to suggest everyone go to the front together.
Then they heard Little Lady Hou’s sharp voice exclaiming, "What is this? Did you take the wrong thing?"
Everyone in the room looked over, seeing Little Lady Hou’s face change with anger, scolding the maid holding the plate in front of her.
The plate initially held two pieces of silver-red silk fabric, which Little Lady Hou pushed. The maid lost her balance, the plate tilted, and one piece rolled to the floor, scattering open.
Little Lady Hou wasn’t relenting, "Your mistress received so many good things, giving them all jewelry and gems. I’m at least sisters-in-law with your mistress, and you’re just giving me this to brush me off?"
Seeing Lady Gao and the others look over, Little Lady Hou turned, clutching Lady Gao’s sleeve, wailing, "Madam! You have to be fair for your daughter-in-law! In this whole room, all are jewelry and gemstones. Even the concubines get jewelry. I’m at least the Third Young Lady, and I’m only given two pieces of silk, even less than the concubines. Isn’t this bullying?"
"After all, our Third Master and the Master Heir-Apparent are also brothers; this is slapping Third Master’s face! Madam, judge this for your daughter-in-law, what sister-in-law would bully her sister-in-law like this?"
"Not to mention, these gifts were originally rewards from the Imperial Noble Consort to our Duke’s Mansion, borrowing the name of the eldest sister-in-law. But the eldest sister-in-law has the face to regard them as her own? So many large chests of good things, picking and choosing to send out just these as beggars!"
"Or is the eldest sister-in-law keeping all those things to send to the Gu Family? This mansion is still managed by the Duke and Madam, is it justified for the eldest sister-in-law to withhold our Song family’s things? If in the future she and the Master Heir-Apparent take charge, how will we, the younger siblings, survive—"
This was what Little Lady Hou discussed with Song Chongzhao, not yielding if Wang Yongzhu didn’t release everything or released little.
Then they would say Wang Yongzhu either had an ulterior motive, focused on supporting her maternal family.
Or they would say Wang Yongzhu withheld for personal gain, anyway tarnishing her reputation, forcing her to hand over all the rewards.
Little Lady Hou had hoped Wang Yongzhu would make a mistake, seizing the chance to accomplish a complaint in Lady Gao’s presence to bring down Wang Yongzhu.
Who would have thought, Wang Yongzhu gave everyone good things, and gave her just two pieces of broken silk, how could she bear it, and immediately acted out.
Having finished, she covered her face and began to cry.
The entire room fell silent, only Little Lady Hou’s sobs reverberating.
Wang Yongzhu let out a cold laugh, about to speak.
Then they heard footsteps outside, and the curtain lifted, Song Hong entered, full of displeasure, "Who’s crying and wailing during the New Year? Bringing bad luck!"
Looking up, he saw Little Lady Hou, his brows involuntarily furrowing, turning back to glare at Song Chongzhao, "Laosan, manage your wife! During the New Year, everyone is happy, what’s she wailing about? Your parents aren’t dead yet!"
Song Chongzhao, at his father’s glare, instantly felt weak in the knees.
But thinking about his empty pockets, with expenses due after the New Year, without earning money, he feared he could not continue living in the Capital.
Hardening his heart, he said meekly, "Father, Hou Shi has always been courteous and yielding, crying so sorrowfully today, she must have been wronged, father, allow me to inquire."
He stepped forward, handed a handkerchief to Little Lady Hou, "Madam, what’s happened?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Little Lady Hou immediately burst into tears, narrating the events in detail.
Then she turned to Song Hong, still sobbing, "Father-in-law, please seek justice for your daughter-in-law—"
