Chapter 235: Chapter 236 - Apologize with the Tea

The two ladies got out of the drawing room with their maids. Having walked for a distance, Song Yixiao suddenly asked, “Isn’t Sixth Young Lady here today?”

She remembered that the two sisters of the Su Family were always close to each other, but today only Su Shaoling was here, about which she couldn’t help feeling confused.

Su Shaoling explained with a smile, “She ate a lot of Bingwan (lit. ice bowl, a kind of snack) two days ago so she has a cough. Considering that there are many people here today, she doesn’t want to infect others so she apologizes and fails to come.”

“It has been summer now but it is not so hot. As women, we had better not eat too many bowls of Bingwan,” Song Yixiao said with concern, “Is Sixth Young Lady’s condition serious? It is said that having the loquat-leaf soup may soothe a cough. Maybe it can help.”

She thought that Su Shaomo was quite a troublesome girl. Due to the Yin physique, girls were prone to be weaker than boys and have coldness accumulated within their bodies. This would affect their pregnancy!

“We have got the loquat syrup at home. My sister does get much better after eating it,” Su Shaoling replied smilingly in a soft voice, “My second elder brother also asked us not to eat too many cold foods, but my sister forgot the sense of propriety for being gluttonous on impulse.”

Song Yixiao felt that Su Shaomo didn’t take her health seriously, but given that she and the two girls of the Su Family still referred to each other as Madam and Miss, she couldn’t say much. Therefore, she changed the subject and said, “Speaking of the Hanxia Villa I lived in before, the blooming Malus halliana in March are really amazingly beautiful! Pitifully, the flowers are more or less withered!”

“It is hard to keep the beautiful scenery.” Su Shaoling seemed to become a bit sentimental due to her sigh. She slightly frowned and then said in a soft voice, “As the youngest one in my family, I always feel that I am still a kid. However, in the blink of an eye, I’m engaged too.”

Song Yixiao believed that her engagement was not very satisfactory. Now she recalled that Su Shaoling mentioned she couldn’t stand the constant congratulations from the guests on her engagement outside the drawing room, so she couldn’t help suspecting that Su Shaoling was not content with Ji Zifu.

However, Song Yixiao was not in a position to comment on this matter. She would make each other embarrassed if she pointed it out. Therefore, she thought about it and then said with a smile, “Girls are used to the carefree lifestyle at home, who will feel frightened on the wedding day. Back then, I was swayed by consideration of gain and loss for a long time!”

She didn’t know that her words were exactly what Su Shaoling wanted to hear. The reason why Su Shaoling walked out of the drawing room and asked Song Yixiao to lead her to the Hanxia Villa was not only to help her out but also to try to get Song Yixiao onside for her brother, Su Shaoge!

Having heard Song Yixiao’s words, she deliberately said in astonishment, “You were swayed by consideration of gain and loss too? How so? I heard that you and Duke Jian were childhood sweethearts.”

Then she blushed and hung her head, “I’m not saying that Zifu is not good, but I, I haven’t talked to him before. I’m wondering whether we two can get along.”

“Childhood sweethearts?” Song Yixiao was rather speechless about the rumor, “I encountered some mishaps when I was young. How could my husband and I be childhood sweethearts? We only met a few times back then.”

“Then you and Duke Jian?” Out of curiosity, Su Shaoling asked curiously and then apologized, “No offense. I always hear that you and Duke Jian are a perfect couple. Please don’t blame me for inquiring too much!”

“Actually, at that time I received the invitation from Qingjiang and attended the feast of Shangsi Festival.” Song Yixiao thought for a moment and felt that it was fine to talk about how she was married to Jian Xubai. Moreover, Su Shaoling didn’t look like a person who would gossip around, so she said generously, “A few days later, I received the imperial decree of the marriage from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. If I didn’t hear the rumor, I would think that Qingjiang picked me for Xubai!”

Affected by the preconceived idea, Su Shaoling firmly believed that Jian Xubai couldn’t fulfill the duty as a husband to have offspring. In her eyes, Song Yixiao clearly didn’t show the affectionate sentiment in her confession that a wife should have when she mentioned her beloved husband. Su Shaoling couldn’t help feeling sympathetic and then thought to herself, “No matter how Jian Xubai is nice to Madam Song, he can’t perform his duty as a husband, let alone have any descendent. Now Madam Song always maintains dignified and magnanimous before others. I wonder how she actually feels.”

However, while showing pity for Song Yixiao, she felt anxious too, “For such a long time being, I’ve only confirmed repeatedly that Madam Song and Jian Xubai are seemingly in harmony but actually at variance, but when can I help my brother?”

When she was having a headache, Song Yixiao suddenly comforted her, “I don’t meet Zifu often, but according to my husband, Zifu is a straightforward man, who talks nicely when we meet. Supposedly, he is not easy to get along with. Moreover, you are talented, beautiful, gentle and considerate. If Cousin Zifu meets you, how can he not cherish you?”

Actually, on second thought, Ji Zifu was always known as a dandy playboy, but he didn’t conduct any notorious misdeed. The reason why everybody pitied Su Shaoling as soon as she was engaged to him was mainly that he didn’t have a good reputation though he didn’t conduct any misdeed. However, Su Shaoling was an exemplary girl of virtue and beauty. Plus, the two families were of equal rank. Through the comparison, Ji Zifu would inevitably seem to be out of Su Shaoling’s league.

Nevertheless, it was settled that the Ji Family and the Su Family would be connected by marriage. Even if she told Su Shaoling about it, Su Shaoling would only feel disappointed and embarrassed. Thinking back and forth, Song Yixiao decided to say something nice.

“How can I forget this?” With her eyes brightening, Su Shaoling pondered, “Ji Zifu whom I will marry is the legitimate cousin of Jian Xubai. They don’t get along and they also hold different political views, but they two are relatives anyway. In the future, Madam Song will be my cousin-in-law. How can we not have a right and proper chance to socialize?”

Born in a noble family, she was properly brought up. Although she had various beautiful dreams about marriage at the young age, she also understood when a bird’s next was overturned, no egg could remain intact.

Therefore, although Ji Zifu was a good-for-nothing playboy, she didn’t feel grieved about marrying him. Certainly, she didn’t look forward to that either.

Now she was kind of satisfied with the marriage.

How could Song Yixiao know Su Shaoling and her brother had such a serious misunderstanding about the relationship between her and her husband?

As Su Shaoling got much more delighted, Song Yixiao thought that her comfort worked and then felt relieved.

Amidst sauntering, they chatted for a long time. Hanxia Villa was around the corner when Lu Chai’er caught up with them, accompanied by her maid, “The guests have almost arrived. Grandmother will join the feast soon. She sent me to come for you lest that you be late for the feast. Unexpectedly, you’ve already arrived.”

“Thank you, Sixth Young Lady!” Song Yixiao and Su Shaoling both slightly nodded to show their gratitude.

Lu Chai’er replied briefly, “Not at all.”

Then she didn’t talk proactively and only led the way silently.

Apparently, she didn’t want to talk with them two. Song Yixiao and Su Shaoling got the hint, so they kept silent then.

After a while, they arrived at the dining hall. Song Yixiao’s seat and Su Shaoling’s were away from each other. Neither did they want to sit together, so after saying goodbye to each other, they sat down according to the arrangement of the host.

“I’m wondering how it is going on at the front yard.” After having a few drinks, Song Yixiao leaned against the table, with her chin rested her hand, looking around the noisy situation. Thinking of the task assigned by her mother-in-law, she thought, “Since Prince of Hengshan won’t make the No. 1 Scholar his son-in-law, it will be great if Helou Duhan is the right one for Yourui. Given her age, it is not appropriate for her to postpone her marriage anymore!”

While pondering, she was patted on the shoulder. Taken aback, she turned around and found that it was Yuan Xue’e, whose exquisite makeup was still unable to cover her tiredness. Song Yixiao hastened to drag her and let her sit down, “Grab a bite first. I’ve not eaten these two dishes of dessert. I’ve seen you occupied since a while ago. Now you can finally take a rest.”

“How can I take a rest?” Unexpectedly, Yuan Xue’e put her arms around Song Yixiao’s shoulders, saying in a weak and low voice, “My grandmother-in-law asks me to summon you. Give me a piece of the rose pastry. I haven’t eaten anything by now, for I’ve been busy receiving the guests with my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. I am so starving that I feel so dizzy!”

Song Yixiao said with concern, “You silly girl! Why don’t you choose a subject they are interested in and let them talk about it so that you can take the opportunity to grab a bite?” Meanwhile, she fetched a pair of clean chopsticks and got a piece of rose pastry for her. Also, she nudged a bow of lotus seed soup to her, “I haven’t eaten this since it was served. You can take a bit of it to soothe your throat!”

“Go to the warm chamber now. My grandmother-in-law wants to meet you!” Having swallowed the rose pastry and drank half a bowl of lotus seed sweet soup, Yuan Xue’e finally got better and thought of her task. Then in a hurry, she urged, “Rest assured, my mother-in-law and Kou’er have gone there too. I heard that Kou’er caused trouble to you outside the drawing room just now. I guess probably my grandmother-in-law wants to let her make an apology to you.”

Since Wei Mengying was present, the Dowager Consort’s scheme was not worth fearing if any.

Song Yixiao couldn’t be sure of her birth mother’s maternal love but she was confident about her scheming capability.

Then she reminded Yuan Xue’e, “Bingwan may be served later. You had better not eat that. You are tired now. Eating cold food is not good for your health. Just now Seventh Young Lady of the Su Family told me that Sixth Young Lady didn’t come today just because she had eaten some icy food!”

Then she adjusted the clothes before leaving the feast with Jinxun.

When she arrived at the warm chamber mentioned by Yuan Xue’e, as expected, Dowager Consort of Hengshan, Wei Mengying and Lu Kou’er had been there.

None of them brought their maids inside, so Song Yixiao thought for a moment. Then she asked Jinxun to stay outside and then herself walked inside.

After going inside, she immediately found that the atmosphere was quite tense. The Dowager Consort, sitting on the seat of honor and looking down at the blue bricks on the ground, seemed to be lost in thinking. With her beautiful eyes glistening, Wei Mengying was looking over Lu Kou’er who was sitting diagonally opposite to her while Lu Kou’er appeared a bit perturbed under the gaze of her stepmother, looking at the nearby hill censer, absent-minded.

With the flicker of flames in the censer, the aroma that resembled the fragrances of plum blossom and orchid permeated the whole room with curls of smoke.

As Song Yixiao came in, the Dowager Consort let her sit down before she curtsied. Yet, she still greeted everyone present with a curtsy and then took a seat, saying respectfully, “Xue’e told me that Your Highness wanted to meet me. May I know what I can do for you?”

“There is one thing indeed!” The Dowager Consort talked to her in a rarely-seen gentle tone. Then she glanced at Lu Kou’er who was rubbing her clothes with her head lowered and then gave a cold look, “Kou’er, why don’t you confess what you have done and ask Shanyao to forgive you?”

Song Yixiao thought that Yuan Xue’e guessed right indeed. It turned out that the Dowager Consort did want to let her and Lu Kou’er bury the hatchet.

Actually, she didn’t hate Lu Kou’er. After all, as Lu Kou’er said, she was raised in Prince of Hengshan’s mansion for some time. It was hard to clearly distinguish gratitude and resentment.

Most worryingly, even if she thought they could be distinguished, she might regret it in the future.

Therefore, she may as well just follow her heart instead of distinguishing them clearly.

Now that the Dowager Consort put on a low profile, Song Yixiao felt that it was good to take the opportunity to bury the hatchet, so she started to draft the words of forgiving Lu Kou’er in her mind.

To her surprise, Lu Kou’er stood up, took a glance at the Dowager Consort and then stared at Song Yixiao with an apparently resigned look. Nevertheless, maybe she still didn’t dare to disobey her grandmother so in the end, she only curtsied to Song Yixiao, saying, “Shanyao, I’m so sorry. I was muddle-headed to offend you just now. Actually, when you were assassinated and rested in recuperation, I had some evil intentions. Please forgive me!”

Speaking of that, she bit her lips and continued, “But I met Cousin Xubai again and again not for any ulterior motive. I was just entrusted by Cousin Jianlian to speak ill of you to Cousin Xubai when you were not around.”

“Isn’t such an aim disgraceful?” Dowager Consort of Hengshan sitting in the seat of honor raised the tea bowl and scolded coldly, “Shanyao grew up in the prince’s mansion, who went to the girls’ school with you every day. How can you not know her talent and disposition? However, just because of a few words of Cui Jianlian, you attempted to ruin her reputation. You are lucky that Duke of Yan was perceptive enough not to care about what you said!”

Song Yixiao meant to make peace so certainly, she had to collaborate now, “Your Highness, you are being too serious! As you said, Fourth Commandery Princess and I were classmates in the girls’ school. How can we not know each other’s disposition? She is always straightforward. How is it possible that she holds a filthy motive? Anyway, it is Cui Jianlian’s fault. She drove a wedge between us so as to bring so many misunderstandings between us two classmates.”

Actually, she didn’t believe that Lu Kou’er was entrusted by Cui Jianlian to contact with Jian Xubai by all means, but Cui Jianlian was dead. A dead person couldn’t come and confront her. Besides, Song Yixiao also intended to let go of this so she just adopted Lu Kou’er’s excuse and held Cui Jianlian fully accountable.

The Dowager Consort was relieved to hear her say so and then glanced at Lu Kou’er only to find her stand there with her lips puckered, who looked quite embarrassed. She shouted unhappily, “What are you waiting for?”

“Okay!” Then Lu Kou’er took a deep breath and then turned aside to make a bowl of tea. She put the tea on a gold-traced lacquer tray, held the tray on her palms and brought it to the Song Yixiao, “For what I have done that is offensive to you…”

In the middle of her apology, she suddenly lowered her voice and staggered. The tray was titled and the tea to be served to Song Yixiao immediately dropped. With a sound of bang, Lu Kou’er fell on the ground earlier than the tea bowl!

Dumbstruck, Song Yixiao thought that Lu Kou’er passed out with anger just because she was unhappy with being made to apologize to Song Yixiao. In order not to let the Dowager Consort lose face, she was going to say something to smooth things over. Suddenly, she felt dizzy too. She wanted to hold back the dizziness but it just came flooding into her brain. A moment later, Song Yixiao only felt faint with her vision blurred and then fell to the ground uncontrollably!

The moment when she lost consciousness, it was the rising smoke from the hill censer nearby that flashed across her mind.