Guo Mama finished speaking and pulled Fang Si away when suddenly a young maid came in and said, "Taitai asks Mama to come to her room." Hearing this, Guo Mama had no choice but to go to Song Yima's bedroom. Upon entering, she saw Song Yima had already gotten out of bed, her cheeks still flushed, clearly having just woken up. Song Ke sat in the chair to the left, Song Tanchai on the right, while Xianglan stood nearby serving tea.
At the sight, Guo Mama's heart sank, but she forced a smile and said, "Taitai, why didn’t you let me know you were awake? There’s freshly brewed cooling soup in the kitchen—would you like a bowl?"
Song Yima waved her hand dismissively, seemingly unable to meet Guo Mama’s gaze, her eyes fixed instead on her son’s expression. Guo Mama thought to herself, "This is bad." Sure enough, Song Ke spoke up: "There’s no particular reason for today’s visit, except that Fang Si has grown older now. Having served Taitai for so many years, she’s certainly worked hard and deserves to be released from service to marry. Though our family isn’t as prosperous as before, we shouldn’t treat her poorly. Mama, go to the accounts later and withdraw fifty taels of silver for her, along with a set of gold and silver hairpin jewelry and two bolts of cloth—consider it our family’s reward for her years of toil. When she marries later, the Song family will provide an additional dowry."
Though Song Yima had vaguely anticipated this outcome, hearing it from Song Ke’s mouth still made her tense. She pleaded, "Eldest Brother, how can you say such a thing? No matter how lacking my daughter may be, I beg Taitai and the masters to teach her more—don’t cast her out! Think of how loyally I’ve served Taitai all these years—at least spare me some dignity!"
Song Yima’s heart softened, and she glanced at Song Ke again. Seeing his expression cold as ice, she pursed her lips and lowered her head without another word.
Song Tanchai said coldly, "Releasing her with dignity now is already out of respect for Mama’s face. If you ask Fang Si what she’s done, you’ll understand why I say this." Earlier, Song Ke had already told Song Tanchai about Fang Si inciting the Lin family’s young lady to make a scene. Having grown up reading The Collection of Virtuous Women and Biographies of Exemplary Women , Song Tanchai was steeped in propriety and tradition, and she despised servants who brought disgrace upon their own household. No matter how well Fang Si had treated her before, this single offense had turned all goodwill to ashes. Now, she only wished to see Fang Si expelled and thus spoke harshly.
Guo Mama knelt and said, "Miss, please speak a kind word for my daughter. Since childhood, she’s combed your hair, made tassels and sachets for you, kept you company to ease your boredom. When you studied and wrote as a child, she stood by your side preparing ink. In winter, she sewed thick quilts for you; in summer, she brewed sour plum soup. Miss, please consider the affection of those past days..." Her voice choked with sobs. Though her words were directed at Song Tanchai, every syllable implicitly appealed to Song Yima.
Sure enough, Song Yima could no longer stay silent. She was soft-hearted, and Guo Mama’s speech reminded her of Fang Si’s years of devoted service. Moved, she said, "Ke’er..."
Song Tanchai replied with restrained anger, "That was merely her duty as a maid. Even if she hadn’t done those things, at worst she’d just be a lazy and idle servant—hardly a reason for the masters to cast her out! Mama, go ask her yourself what exactly she’s done!"
Before she could finish speaking, the curtain to the inner room was flung aside, and Fang Si rushed in like a gust of wind, kneeling beside Guo Mama. Tears streamed down her face as she begged hoarsely, "I know I was wrong—please don’t drive me away! If you cast me out, I’d rather dash my head and die clean..." She kowtowed repeatedly, not daring to stop.Song Ke noticed Song Yima's eyes were also reddening, so he quickly spoke up: "Guo Mama, please rise. This isn't about driving Fang Si away. She's grown up now, and as the saying goes, 'A grown daughter can't be kept at home forever.' Seeing her thoughts increasingly preoccupied, it's time to let her marry. She can always come back to visit Taitai whenever she misses her. Just now, Taitai was even saying she'd give Fang Si a decent set of jewelry as dowry for her future. You should thank Taitai for this kindness."
This left Guo Mama speechless again. Indeed, they weren't expelling Fang Si but sending her off with gifts. And Fang Si had long reached the age for marriage arrangements.
Fang Si sobbed, "I want to serve Taitai, I'll never marry!"
Guo Mama hastily added, "That's right, since my daughter hasn't been betrothed yet, let her serve Taitai for a few more years. She can leave after the marriage is settled."
Song Ke felt a headache coming on. Guo Mama was an elder of some standing, and out of respect for her deep bond with Taitai, he had to show some deference. This made dealing with Fang Si tricky as well. His original plan was to send Fang Si away with some compensation, but who would have thought this mother-daughter pair would cling so stubbornly? Glancing around, he saw his mother looking reluctant, while his sister wore a face as if owed a fortune. At such a critical time, not one could speak up to help.
By now, Fang Si was kowtowing and wailing, "Don't send me away! I'll change all my faults from now on!"
Song Tanchai stood up angrily, saying, "Change? That's just empty talk! You schemed against your masters out of selfishness. If you insist on staying today, I might as well leave this household for peace of mind!"
Guo Mama beat her chest and wailed, "Miss Tan, why must you speak so harshly? How are we to live with such words? After serving faithfully all these years, to end up as enemies—Heaven truly has no eyes..."
Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Xianglan pulled Song Tanchai back, saying, "Miss, please sit down." Noticing the hidden frustration in Song Ke's eyes and knowing he couldn't speak too bluntly out of consideration for his mother, she thought quickly and signaled to Song Ke, who immediately understood and said, "Xianglan, speak for me."
Xianglan stepped forward and said, "Mama, dry your tears and take Fang Si out first, then come back to speak. What place is this? This is Taitai's bedroom—how can such loud wailing be allowed here? Isn't this just adding to Taitai's distress? Mama, you're experienced in handling matters and have served Taitai for so many years—have you forgotten this principle? Moreover, sending Fang Si out to marry was decided by Master and the young lady, with Taitai's approval. Mama, you're quite bold to outright oppose Taitai's decision. Even after Master's repeated explanations, you still resort to pulling rank. You kept saying how loyal you are, yet now you're solely focused on your own daughter's interests, disregarding even Taitai. Can this be called loyalty?"
Her words came rapid-fire, delivered with sharp clarity, leaving Guo Mama utterly dumbfounded.Xianglan took another step forward and said, "Secondly, although Master has long intended to let Fang Si leave to marry, why did he bring it up today? There must be a reason. I imagine Mama has already heard about the commotion in the study this morning. If you want to know who caused it, just ask Fang Si later. Master has been trying to spare your dignity by not speaking plainly, yet you accuse him of not giving you face!" She then turned to Fang Si and said, "When you did such a thing, breaking the rules and propriety, you should have expected the consequences. Now that Master has spoken and Taitai has given her approval, this is no longer a place for you to linger. Mama, please take her away."
These words cleared Song Ke's mind, and he nodded repeatedly at Xianglan, while even Song Tanchai showed an expression of admiration.
Guo Mama secretly seethed with hatred. Wiping her tears, she sneered, "What airs you put on, miss! Even the young master wouldn’t dare speak to me in such a tone. Do you think you can? Is this how you understand propriety?"
Xianglan replied, "Though I may not understand propriety, I do know one shouldn’t stir up trouble behind others' backs for personal gain."
Before Guo Mama could say more, Song Ke cut in, "The old house in the capital has long lacked a reliable caretaker. Mama, you are advanced in years and should have retired long ago. I’ll have the accounts issue another fifty taels and send you to the old estate in the capital to rest. Pack your things tomorrow and leave the manor. A carriage will be waiting at the gate."
Guo Mama felt as if struck by lightning. She turned to Song Yima in disbelief, but the latter remained with her eyes closed, silently counting her prayer beads.
Song Tanchai stepped forward to support Song Yima and said, "Mother, stay with me tonight." Without sparing a glance for Guo Mama and Fang Si kneeling on the ground, the group left directly.
Behind them, Guo Mama wailed, "Taitai! Taitai, say something! Say something!" She rushed out but was caught by the maids stationed at the door and dragged back inside.
Xianglan sighed and said, "Fang Si is indeed detestable, but Guo Mama has served for so many years..."
Song Ke replied, "Don’t pity her. My mother is broad-minded, but over the years, Guo Mama has stolen countless silver and jewelry from her. Once, I saw Fang Si wearing an ornate hairpin adorned with pearls, gold, and jade—clearly the one I had custom-made years ago for my mother’s birthday. I quietly asked Mother if she had gifted it to someone, and she said no. Yet the piece had vanished. Mother wanted to let it go, so the matter was dropped. Since then, I’ve kept an eye out and realized Guo Mama has sticky fingers. Now is the perfect opportunity to dismiss her."
As they arrived at Song Tanchai’s chamber, Song Ke hurried ahead and helped Song Yima sit on the bed alongside his sister. Respectfully, he said, "Mother, Sister and I have discussed it. Since you lack a capable maid now, Sister will assign Juanhua to serve you, and I’ll send Junxi from my quarters to assist Sister. After this summer, we’ll add two more maids... If Juanhua doesn’t suit you, I’ll select someone else." It turned out Fang Si had monopolized Song Yima’s household, refusing to train new maids for fear they might replace her. Now that she was expelled, Song Yima’s quarters were left without a single useful maid.Aunt Song looked utterly exhausted as she waved her hand and said, "You all decide. I'm old now and can no longer make decisions. The people around me can be dismissed at will—what more can I say?" With that, she closed her eyes.
Song Ke said, "Mother, Guo Mama has sticky fingers, and Fang Si is also too..."
"I know," Aunt Song opened her eyes and looked at Song Ke. "But at my age, what else do I have to live for? I just want someone around who can sweet-talk me and make me happy. So what if she has sticky fingers? How much can she really take? Can't I just spend money to buy some joy?"
Song Ke immediately knelt down, and Song Tanchai quickly followed suit. Gritting his teeth, Song Ke said, "Your son is unfilial for causing you distress. But..."
Aunt Song waved her hand again and closed her eyes. "Enough. Your high-minded arguments are endless, and I can't outtalk you. I just want some peace. Treat them well—mother and daughter—and arrange for someone reliable to escort them away. After all their service, we mustn't be ungrateful."
Song Ke repeatedly assented. Seeing that Aunt Song was unwilling to engage further, he had no choice but to withdraw, signaling his sister to take good care of their mother before stepping out.
For a while, nothing happened.
The next morning, a piercing scream came from the main room, followed by Guo Mama's wailing cries: "My child! How could you be so heartless, leaving me behind? How am I to live now!"
Xianglan hurried after Song Ke to see what had happened. Fang Si had hanged herself. Only the tip of her embroidered shoes peeked out from beneath her skirt, swaying slightly in midair.
Thank you to cbbca, the old lady buying groceries at the door, and L.M.G for the Peace Talismans. Also, thank you to everyone who voted for me with pink votes!! Keep those pink votes coming!!
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