Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 355 - 35: Song Family’s Misfortune (Part 2)
Prince Jing indeed proved to be on the right path, giving Gao Yue a promise, accepting him as a disciple.
Gao Yue, who had previously tried to ingratiate himself with Prince Gong, who held little power, was even more eager now that Prince Jing had a significant chance of becoming Emperor.
To elevate his status in Prince Jing’s eyes, he offered the people and things he had as an entry token to Prince Jing.
Mainly because he had no other choice, Prince Jing could crush him like an ant.
Initially, he intended for Prince Jing to use this leverage to threaten the Shun’an Earl Mansion. Prince Jing thought the same, but who would have guessed that in a blink Miss Song became Prince Ke’s concubine, a situation utterly shocking.
To disgust Prince Ke and the Shun’an Earl Mansion, Prince Jing concocted a scheme, choosing the right moment to expose the so-called leverage against the Shun’an Earl Mansion.
Thus, this year’s September Double Ninth Festival, the people of the Capital witnessed another grand drama.
Last year’s "Chrysanthemum Blood Incident" was still occasionally mentioned, and one of its protagonists—the Fourth Miss of the Shun’an Earl Mansion—had already become Prince Ke’s concubine.
This year’s protagonist was still from the Shun’an Earl Mansion, this time the fifth-ranking girl of the third branch. Although she was not in the Capital, the Capital was filled with tales about her.
It turned out that the leverage Gao Yue had on the Shun’an Earl Mansion was the handkerchief, pocket, and small clothing of the Fifth Miss, secretly brought out by her wet nurse who had been cast out.
Prince Jing was even more malicious, unbelievably finding a dozen hooligans who took these items to the Shun’an Earl Mansion’s gate one after another, shouting to become the Song Family’s "cheap son-in-law."
Prince Jing’s intention was to create chaos and tarnish the Song Family’s reputation.
To despise him but flatter the old Fourth, wasn’t that bullying! Now he would disgust them thoroughly, just to see how the Song Family would respond?
Did they think having a lady in the palace and aligning with the Wenchang Marquis Mansion meant peace of mind? Don’t be too naive!
No matter how badly things go for him, he’s still an imperial descendant, how could a mere Assistant Country Earl Mansion dare look down on him?
And indeed, as he expected, the Song Family’s reputation plummeted to the bottom.
Once the incident concerning the Song Family occurred, having received the news, Prince Gong knew it was a bad turn.
Because of a courtesy from Susu before she left, Prince Gong held back his intention to give additional trouble to the Song Family, and with many things to handle, he put this matter aside.
Who knew that Gao Yue, with a bold disposition, allied with some ruthless thug and did what he hadn’t, and even worse.
After some thought, he decided to inform the Shun’an Earl Mansion of the findings he had made back then.
The bewildered Song Family members then learned it was actually the wet nurse who had been cast out that secretly took these items.
The Old Madam had instructed the porter not to be harsh when the wet nurse left, out of goodwill, little did she expect it would turn into a farmer and snake situation.
Since the concubine incident, the Shun’an Earl Mansion once again became a laughingstock throughout the Capital.
Even though everyone knew someone was framing the Song Family, the evidence was real, outsiders wouldn’t heed excuses such as the wet nurse secretly taking them.
The Old Madam fell ill because of it, almost failing to pull through. It was Ya’an’s tearful cries at her bedside that rekindled the Old Madam’s will to live.
Susu, holding back tears, endured Zhao Youshen’s wife’s words, feeling deep pain, let alone the Old Madam who personally experienced it.
"The Shun’an Earl Mansion isn’t a pushover, not to mention Ya’an is the Wenchang Marquis’s granddaughter, the Wenchang Marquis Mansion won’t sit idly by, and there’s Consort Xi in the palace. It’s not surprising they found out about Prince Jing, but did Prince Jing receive any punishment?"
Zhao Youshen’s wife sighed, "You’re right, but Prince Jing stuck to his denial and pushed Gao Yue out, while Gao Yue shifted the blame onto the wet nurse.
Who knows what Gao Yue promised that wet nurse, but she took it all upon herself, claiming resentment towards the Old Madam for casting her out, thus selling these personal items of the Fifth Miss, though she didn’t know who they eventually went to."
This matter reached the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and by the time I set off, it was somewhat settled. Prince Jing was confined for three months, Gao Yue stripped of his position, beaten with twenty sticks, and expelled from the Capital, while the wet nurse was sentenced to exile."
Upon hearing this, Susu understood, the Emperor ultimately favored his son, yet the Song Family and Prince Jing’s enmity was now irreconcilable.
But it had already been three months since this happened, she wondered if the Old Madam had people keep it from her, yet Prince Ke couldn’t possibly be unaware!
Reflecting on the Fourth Miss’s miscarriage and Prince Ke’s reaction, Susu’s expression turned cold, the Song Family essentially took the fall for him, and nothing is more forbidden than ingratitude.
"Are the married girls all doing well?" Besides worrying about the Old Madam, Susu was also concerned for the girls.
The Third Miss, at least, and though the First and Second Misses might not be well, as long as they were part of the Song Family, Susu would be protective.
Zhao Youshen’s wife finally smiled, "Rest assured, Madam, fearing for your concerns, I specially inquired about it.
The Second and Third Misses’ husbands’ families are supportive of the Song Family now. During the Old Madam’s illness, the Second and Third Masters came daily, not avoiding anyone.
As for the First Miss’s husband’s family, though distant, they sent messages by fast horse, along with letters from two aunts."
Susu breathed a sigh of relief, hesitating, and asked, "You know so many details, it must be Sixth Miss who informed you, but did she mention anything about the Fifth Miss?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
I suppose the Third Madam didn’t know about the issue when writing to her, or she wouldn’t be so calm.
Considering there’s still her own Sixth Miss who is not married yet! If she found out, she might even want to peel off the hearts of the Fifth Miss and her mother.
"Nothing escapes your attention, Madam. I indeed sought out Miss Xiang Yu from Sixth Miss’s side. As for the Fifth Miss, she didn’t say much.
But typically, in a prestigious family, after such an incident, unless the Fifth Miss becomes a nun or marries far away, there’s no better path."
If the Song Family had been a bit more ruthless, claiming she "suddenly died of illness," wouldn’t be impossible.
Susu recalled the demanding Fifth Miss who, before returning to Yangzhou, told the Old Madam she seemed unreal.
Even if this time she was a victim of unforeseen events, it was her self-proclaimed trusted uncle and loyal wet nurse who trapped her.
It was her lack of discernment, now she was merely drinking the bitter wine she brewed herself.
Susu waved her hand, signaling Zhao Youshen’s wife to leave, as she sat in the study, rereading the Old Madam’s letter.
Thinking that the Old Madam, despite her illness, wrote her such a long letter, Susu silently wept. Now, away from the Old Madam, besides Nanny Qin, who else could truly comprehend her joys and sorrows?
...
After Jiang and Ding, the two wives, settled in, Susu took them to the other courtyard to visit the Fourth Miss and shared the Song Family’s current situation with her.
The Fourth Miss listened, stunned, grasped something, then coldly laughed, "No wonder he acted like that after my miscarriage! Wasn’t the Song Family offended by Prince Jing because of him? And now to look down on the Song Family, isn’t it too late!"
Susu pondered and said, "Perhaps I should candidly discuss this with him!"
The Fourth Miss shook her head, "It’s useless, now he’s even guarding against us."
Susu caught in thought, Prince Ke wasn’t a fool, what could have made him lose his usual calm and rationality?
