Chapter 162 - Elder Lady Duanmu

Until at night, Song Yixiao noticed that her husband appeared laden with anxiety and then asked in confusion, “Who is Elder Lady Duanmu? Don’t you like to meet her?”

Jian Xubai shook his head with a complex look, saying briefly, “She is the elder sister of my legitimate grandma. I have never met her before!”

“How strange! Since they haven’t met before, why does he feel so annoyed?” Reminded by him, Song Yixiao recalled that when she prayed at the ancestors after getting married, she saw the memorial tablet of the Elder Madam of Yan. Her maiden name was Duanmu indeed.

Yet, this grandma was dead for too long, who was not brought up by anyone. It was only a few months since she was married to Jian Xubai. Thus, she hadn’t known all the relatives of the Jian Family and couldn’t think of this deceased grandma quickly.

At the moment, she was rather confused. Then she just leaned against her husband’s shoulders and asked curiously, “Then she and our grandparents are of the same generation? Since so, I’m afraid that we are not qualified to receive her. We can only pay respects to her at most. If you don’t want to see her, you won’t meet with her often, will you?”

“Rumor has it that this great-aunt is quite tough.” Jian Xubai managed to force a smile. Obviously, he was absent-minded now, saying, “Unfortunately, she is diagnosed with wandering arthritis. I’m wondering whether her condition is serious or not.”

Song Yixiao realized that he was upset now, so she stopped talking to him. Instead, she acted in a pettishly charming manner for a while and then said, “I’m sleepy now. Shall we go to bed?”

Yet, Jian Xubai didn’t sleep well over the night. He kept tossing about in bed, awaking Song Yixiao several times. If he didn’t have to attend court meeting the next day, she would badger him into telling her what was wrong with him.

The next day, Jian Xubai left the mansion without waking her up. After freshening up and dressing up, Song Yixiao had breakfast roughly. Then she prepared some food and went to Jinguo Grand Princess’s mansion by carriage. The Grand Princess was surprised to see her, “You came back yesterday. Why don’t you have a good rest today?”

“Thank you for your concern, Mom!” Song Yixiao cut to the chase and talked of her intention of coming directly, “I just heard yesterday that a senior would come to the imperial capital after the Spring Festival. I’m afraid that I may make some mistakes and thus disgrace Xubai due to my inexperience, so I came here today. Hopefully, you can show me the ropes!”

Jinguo Grand Princess instantly put on a strange look and after a while, she said, “You mean Elder Lady Duanmu? Don’t worry. She is your great-aunt, who is rather amicable and benign. You can just regard her as your grandma…”

Speaking this, she recalled that Song Yixiao’s grandma was not reliable and then hastened to correct herself, “You can take her as Xubai’s grandma!”

Song Yixiao said, “Yes.” However, she thought to herself, “Why did Mother-in-law look weird when mentioning Elder Lady Duanmu? It is so strange. What’s the secret behind this senior? Never have I heard of her before!”

Suddenly, the Grand Princess said, “Remember not to talk about the wife of your Uncle Limiao in front of her.”

Song Yixiao replied in confusion, “Yes, well noted. Yet, may I ask why?”

“Limiao’s wife was her daughter.” The Grand Princess heaved a sigh. “She was also Elder Lady Duanmu’s only child. Sadly, she died of a difficult labor after marrying Limiao, which has been a severe blow to Elder Lady Duanmu and Limiao. This time, when Elder Lady Duanmu arrives, Limiao must go to welcome her. Hopefully, they won’t get too sorrowful!”

Song Yixiao was taken aback and pondered in secret. “So Mother-in-law and Xubai are both perturbed to hear Elder Lady Duanmu’s arrival only out of worry about Uncle Limiao?”

She had a feeling that things were not that simple. Yet, the Grand Princess didn’t say anything special then. As a daughter-in-law, she couldn’t probe into the bottom of the matter. Then a servant came to report, “Mr. Qiao has been waiting in the warm chamber for the duration of a burning joss stick. He sent me to ask whether you would like to listen to music today.”

Then Song Yixiao hastily got up and took leave, “I’d like to visit Wuying now!”

The Grand Princess nodded her head, “Go ahead!”

Song Yixiao went to Mingzhu Villa and had a talk with Nie Wuying, telling her indirectly that she was occupied these days and would continue teaching Nie Wuying to dance after the Spring Festival. After obtaining Nie Wuying’s consent, she had a meal there and left.

Having been back at Duke of Yan’s mansion, Song Yixiao received a report from Qiaoqin. “Your Highness, Master Limiao sent a message just now, asking whether it was convenient to take a look at the side yard of our mansion.”

Song Yixiao asked in confusion, “Uncle Limiao wants to take a look at the side yard? Which side yard? Why?”

Qiaoqin looked around and whispered, “It seems to the dwelling where Master Limiao had lived in the Duke’s mansion before Old Master got retired.”

“Allocate some servants to clean it up and don’t mess up anything!” If Song Yixiao didn’t have the talk with her mother-in-law, she would have felt confused. Now she figured out why. Uncle Limiao must recall the memories about his wife with deep feelings because his aunt and great-aunt would come to the imperial capital. Therefore, he wanted to stay in the place for a while, where he and his perished wife used to live together.

Song Yixiao wouldn’t reject such a request.

She was still not relieved after giving Qiaoqin the order. Having learnt that Cuipiao was still on hunger strike and that nothing else happened, she still had some time so she went to the side yard that Jian Limiao wanted to take a look at, watching the servants cleaning up the place in and out with everything kept intact. Then she finally went back to her room and got changed, waiting for him to pay a visit.

In the afternoon, Jian Limiao arrived only with an old servant. Instead of being as gentle and kind as before, now he looked so gloomy but he still talked with Song Yixiao in an amicable tone. Thanks to his gentle bearing and elegant appearance, the melancholy made him even more of a gentlemanlike demeanor.

Song Yixiao knew that he must feel like being left alone now, so after curtsying and paying respects to him, she mentioned about the cleaning of the side yard, ushered him to the door, and then left.

Having returned to the back hall, Song Yixiao beckoned Ms. Zhao and gave an order, “Tell all the servants not to go into the side yard where Uncle Limiao stays now!”

Ms. Zhao took the order and asked, “Cuipiao hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. She also refuses charcoal basin to be placed in her room. If she is left unattended, she will get a cold sooner or later. Please advise how to deal with this.”

“Then bring her to me now!” Song Yixiao thought for a while. “After all, she is the maid given by the Empress Dowager. I cannot keep her under house arrest for the lifetime.”

Then she added, “Take some hot congee to her and ask her to eat it before coming to meet me. I don’t want to see her faint from hunger or coldness in the middle of a talk with me.”

After a while, Cuipiao, who had eaten and freshened up was led into the back hall. She became much thinner compared with a few months ago. Song Yixiao was mad at her for her wishful thinking. Yet, given that Cuipiao had served Jian Xubai for a while, she didn’t intend to disgrace this maid too much. Therefore, while detaining Cuipiao, Song Yixiao treated her well and forbade the servants from bullying her.

Thus, even though she went on hunger strike for two days, she didn’t look pale now.

“Get up!” Upon entering the hall, Cuipiao immediately curtsied obediently without any arrogance. As such, Song Yixiao softened her voice to tell her to sit down and ordered a bowl of tea for her. Seeing her take a sip of the tea and put it down, Song Yixiao said, “I heard that you refused to eat or drink only in order to meet me or Xubai. Now that you’ve met me, you can speak freely!”

Instantly, Cuipiao rose from her seat and knelt down, complaining tearfully, “I have reflected on my past mistakes over the recent days! I am bitterly remorseful that I was instigated by evil people and offended you rashly. Please punish me for my mistakes!”

Ms. Zhao and the other maids were at the hall too, who were all astounded to hear her mention evil people!

Song Yixiao frowned and said, “Stand up first and talk!”

Jinxun and Qiaoqin got the hint and hurriedly walked over to support her up. Song Yixiao took the opportunity to ponder. After Cuipiao was pressed back on the seat by the two maids, Song Yixiao calmed herself down and then said slowly, “Actually, back then I felt that you acted quite weirdly and didn’t look as prudent as a maid who used to serve the Empress Dowager.”

Her words were half true and half fake. After all, the imperial maids who behaved prudently before the Empress Dowager might not be respectful and careful to others too.

Song Yixiao said so only to coax Cuipiao into telling the truth.

As expected, Cuipiao said tearfully, “While I was serving the Empress Dowager, the seniors would always remind me to behave well. I can’t say that I know rites well, but I am conscious of superiority and inferiority regardless! According to my own temperament, I would have never dared to offend Your Highness! Regrettably, I was so foolish back then that I was instigated by Side Concubine Cui, for which I made such a mistake!”

“Side Concubine Cui?” Song Yixiao became stern and resentful. “I haven’t had the time to get back at her so far, and yet, she turns out to go even further!”

Cuipiao started to tell the ins and outs of the matter. Jian Xubai and the Crown Prince were legitimate cousins, who were as close as real brothers. In addition to the age difference, before Song Yixiao married Jian Xubai, the Crown Princess was asked by the Crown Prince to show concern for Jian Xubai’s life.

Yet, the Crown Princess was a woman and Jian Xubai had to work, who couldn’t go to the Eastern Palace to accept the wife of his cousin’s care.

“The Crown Princess often summoned me to the Eastern Palace so that she could learn about His Highness’s situation from me. The gifts sent by her to Duke of Yan’s mansion were also handed over to me for reservation.”

As a result, Cui Jianlian had a chance to reach Cuipiao.

“I know that Side Concubine Cui has been well favored after entering the Eastern Palace and that the Crown Princess is kind to her but inevitably defensive against her. Therefore, I didn’t want to be close to her. However, Side Concubine Cui claimed full knowledge of you as she has known you since childhood!”

Her saying immediately intrigued Cuipiao. After all, Cuipiao always regarded herself as the concubine-to-be of Jian Xubai, so she cared much about the temperament of Jian Xubai’s legitimate wife!

Consequently, she was used by Cui Jianlian. “Side Concubine Cui said that you… You lived under the roof of Prince of Hengshan’s mansion before, thus making you rather weak and timid without any demeanor of a mistress! Besides, she pledged that you couldn’t manage the affairs of the back yard after you were married to His Highness. By then, His Highness had to suffer for dealing with court work and handling the household affairs at the same time!”

Cuipiao said tearfully, “I lost my head for the moment and assumed, wrongly, that you would not run the household affairs, so I thought I might as well do it for you in case His Highness would get too tired!”

Unexpectedly, Cui Jianlian was talking nonsense!

Song Yixiao was not weak or timid at all. On the contrary, unlike other newly married wives, she was unexpectedly tough!

Presumingly, she would embarrass Song Yixiao. However, her plot didn’t work at all. Instead, she was reproached seriously. Even the Empress Dowager and Jian Xubai didn’t intend to defend for her. If she still insisted on not yielding to Song Yixiao, she was not sure how long she would be kept.

She was four years older than Jian Xubai. Now she was 21 years old now, who was far over the marriageable age in the current time. Whatever future she would face, she could not procrastinate anymore.

Song Yixiao narrowed her eyes and said with a faint smile, “To err is human. You made mistakes for being instigation. Now that you’ve admitted your mistakes, I will leave what happened before behind and both of us shall not talk about them anymore!”

Ms. Zhao hastened to wink at Song Yixiao. “This is only her side of story. How can her words be trusted?”

“In this case, you don’t need to introspect yourself in your room.” Song Yixiao didn’t care about the foster nurse and only smiled at Cuipiao. “I’m wondering what your plan is next.”

Of course it was impossible that she would believe Cuipiao’s tearful confession. However, whether Cuipiao really felt remorseful or pretended to succumb and put on such a show, it was certain that she didn’t want to be detained anymore. Song Yixiao would like to find out what she would do after managing to get away from the house arrest.