TSNCWEM Chapter 5

Once they were seated in the carriage heading to the capital, Xie Linlang looked at Song Yunzhao and thanked her sincerely, “Thanks a lot, Third Miss.”

Song Yunzhao chuckled lightly, “I simply took your money to help you solve your problems.”

Xie Linlang smiled faintly, “Third Miss, do you know why I chose to sit in your carriage today?”

“Is it possible that someone wants to watch our internal strife?”

Xie Linlang smiled even wider. The Third Miss was really a straightforward and fascinating person.

She briefly recounted Song Qinghan’s visit to the Second Branch, especially how Song Qinghan hinted to her Aunt, that Song Yunzhao was bullying her. She found the whole situation quite amusing.

Song Yunzhao clicked her tongue and looked at Xie Linlang, “Then, in the future, please take care of me, Cousin.”

“If you are short of money, just come to me and I’ll take care of it.”

Song Yunzhao: …

Alright, as long as both parties get what they need, it’s mutually beneficial.

It usually takes seven days to travel from Nanyu to the capital, but because of the palace elections, they practically travelled through the night and arrived in four days. 

By the time they saw the grand and majestic city gates of the capital, Song Yunzhao`s pale face could no longer be concealed. Although the Song family’s carriage was meticulously arranged, the lack of shock absorption made the long journey unbearable. Who could endure sitting for such a long time?

Especially when she was in a downgraded version of the carriage, which was even more frustrating.

The Song family also had a residence in the capital. After the Old Master passed away, no one in the family had become a high-ranking official, so the house had been idle.

Now that two of the branches of the Song family were coming back, they had already sent someone ahead of time to clean and tidy up, so they could immediately settle in the residence.

The Song family only had one residence in the capital, so both branches had to live together. The Main Branch took the east courtyard, while the Third Branch took the west courtyard.

The third branch has quite a few people. With the Third Master being reassigned, Third Madam decided to keep Concubine Feng und Concubine Qin in Nanyu to serve him, planning for them to come to the capital later, but brought Concubine Che with her to Beijing. 

The Third Madam chose to live in the central building of the west courtyard, Song Boyue and Song Boming lived in the front yard while Song Qinghan lived in the largest courtyard in the back, aside from the main house. Song Jinxuan, being the daughter of a concubine, was given the smallest courtyard. 

Song Yunzhao’s courtyard was larger than Song Jinxuan’s and smaller than Song Qinghan’s. However, she had to share it with Xie Linlang. To outsiders, it seemed that the Third Miss was not as comfortable as the Second Miss, making her position as the legitimate daughter appear quite undignified. 

As for Concubine Che, the Third Madam arranged for her to live in the rear house of the main courtyard. 

Song Yunzhao understood that Cai Shi intended to find ways to trouble Concubine Che, but what did that have to do with her?

The main branch’s area was similar to the third branch’s, but it housed more people. There were four young ladies alone, not to mention the concubines and two Young Masters. Living there would likely be even more uncomfortable.

Song Yunzhao was so exhausted that she felt faint. She had the maid make the bed and light some incense, then she fell asleep immediately, deciding to deal with everything else after she woke up.

Xie Linlang had intended to come over for a chat, but seeing that Song Yunzhao was already asleep, she decided not to disturb her. Being under someone else’s roof, she couldn’t be as reckless as Song Yunzhao. 

She carefully sent Hua Zhi to greet the Third Madam, intending to pay her respects, but the Third Madam was too busy to see her. Relieved that she had fulfilled her duty, Xie Linlang also laid down to sleep.

Really tired.

Song Yunzhao slept so deeply that when she woke up, it was almost dark.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

Song Yunzhao gathered her thoughts and asked Jiang Xiang, “What time is it?”

“It’s the end of the Shen hour (3-5pm), almost the beginning of the You hour (5-7pm). The family has already finished dinner. You need to get up and get ready,” Jiang Xiang said as she brought over clothes and helped her mistress get dressed.

Song Yunzhao extended her arms, allowing Xiang Xiang to help her, and casually asked, “Where is Cousin?”

“She is already awake and waiting for you so you can go to the main courtyard together.” Song Yunzhao then looked at Qian Cao and said, “Go tell Cousin that she doesn’t need to wait for me and can leave first.”

Qian Cao hesitated and said, “Miss, you and your Cousin live in the same courtyard. If you go separately, I’m afraid the Madam would scold you again.”

Song Yunzhao didn’t care, “Even without this, would I not get scolded?”

The two maids felt a pang of sadness, thinking the Madam was too biased.

Qian Cao still turned and went to deliver the message. Xie Linlang, understanding Song Yunzhao’s intention, didn’t hesitate, and went to the main courtyard first.

Taking her time, Song Yunzhao finally arrived later. Song Qinghan and Song Jinxuan were already there, with Concubine Che standing at the side, looking sincerely ready to serve.

Third Master Song hadn’t arrived in the capital to take up his post yet.  Following the Mistress to the capital first, truly put Concubine Che at a disadvantage.

Song Yunzhao had no good feelings towards Concubine Che and her daughter. She went in and sat down by herself, choosing a seat far from Xie Linlang, looking as if she wanted to avoid her.

Seeing this, Song Qinghan smiled and said, “Third Sister, are you not feeling well? Why did you come so late?”

Song Yunzhao lowered her eyes and didn’t look at Song Qinghan, replying:

“Eldest Sister, if you had switched carriages with me on the way, I could have arrived earlier too”

Song Qinghan: …

Such a black-hearted lotus, Song Yunzhao couldn’t be bothered to deal with her and shut her up with one sentence.

Xie Linlang was laughing hysterically inside, but outwardly she frowned slightly and said to Song Yunzhao, “Third Miss, how could you say that? The carriages were assigned by the Madam, so how could the Eldest Miss make such decisions?“

Song Jinxuan secretly curled her lips. She knew that it was Song Qinghan who had helped Xie Linlang come to the capital. Tsk, now Linlang is acting like her lackey.

She didn’t get along with Song Yunzhao, but seeing her own mother standing at the side to follow the rules, made her feel both sour and bitter. With her Father absent, she and her mother were under Cai Shi’s control and had to be prudent.

Compared to Song Yunzhao, Song Jinxuan disliked Song Qinghan even more, so she immediately said:

“Cousin, you shouldn’t say that. Third Sister has always been frail and Eldest Miss, as her older sister, has a duty to protect her. Eldest Sister, don’t you agree?”

Song Yunzhao looked up at Song Jinxuan and with a quick glance, she understood the intention behind her words. Tsk, she’s smart, knowing how to stir up trouble.

Thank you for the invitation, but I won’t cooperate.

Song Qinghan was not very polite to Song Jinxuan and said indifferently, “Second Sister, you are also an elder sister, why didn’t you give way to Third Sister?“

Song Jinxuan thought to herself that her carriage was not as good as Song Yunzhao’s, but if she said that, it would be like a slap to Third Madam`s face. In Nanyu, she wasn’t afraid because her father was there, but now that her father wasn’t around, she had concerns. Only a fool would hand over leverage to the Madam, knowing the potential consequences. Its a risky move that could backfire spectacularly. 

Xie Linlang took the opportunity to insert the knife even deeper: 

“Eldest Sister is right.”

Song Yunzhao applauded in her heart, but kept a wooden face. This Xie Linlang was really a clever person, always stirring up trouble for Song Qinghan.

At that moment, the Third Madam came, and the room instantly fell silent. Everyone stood up to greet her.

The Third Madam sat directly at the head seat, looking at everyone with a calm expression. “Today is our first day in the capital, so let’s have a reunion meal. From now on, you will eat in your own rooms. You can just come and greet me after breakfast.”

Everyone responded in unison, and the Madam ordered the meal to be served.

The meal was quite peaceful. Cai Shi was preoccupied with the selection process, eager to send her eldest daughter to her sister’s place.

Concubine Che was serving the Third Madam during the meal. With Third Master absent, she didn’t dare to act out, and Song Jinxuan also kept a low profile, enjoying the rare peace and quiet.

After the meal, the Third Madam dismissed everyone except her eldest daughter. She said to her:

“Tomorrow, you will go with me to visit your maternal Aunt. It would be best if you could stay there directly. Others are easy to deal with, but you need to be cautious of your Aunt’s stepdaughter. She is not easy to get along with. I just worry that she might try to obstruct this matter.”

Song Qinghan’s eyes sparkled. “Why not bring the Third Sister along? If we don’t, Aunt might ask about her, and it would be hard for you to explain.”

Song Yunzhao’s temper was just right to help her fend off Chu Yuying, and it would also make her appear gentle, kind, and generous by comparison.