Chapter 134: Mission Accomplished
Madam Feng did not take the handkerchief herself; a maidservant beside her took it instead and unfolded it for her to see.
Madam Feng instructed, "Go and have Song Xiang verify if this is hers."
The moment Song Xiang saw the handkerchief, her face turned pale. This... this item was something she had initially given to Manager Zhao!
When maids reached a certain age, they had to find a way out for themselves. After looking around, Song Xiang had set her sights on Manager Zhao. He was the head of the Affairs Office, tall and handsome. Though he already had a wife, that didn’t matter much to her. As long as she could win him over, given her status as Tai Furen’s head maid, when the time came for Tai Furen to arrange her marriage, she could have the original wife demoted to a concubine and take the position of the principal wife herself.
...But back then, she had never imagined there would be a scholar’s son waiting for her!
When she heard that Madam Feng intended to betroth her to Manager Lei’s son, she immediately abandoned her designs on Manager Zhao and contentedly waited to become a scholar’s wife.
But... how had this handkerchief ended up in Xu Houcai’s hands?!
Seeing Song Xiang’s expression, Madam Feng’s heart sank slightly. "Song Xiang, is this yours?"
Song Xiang’s lips trembled, and she immediately burst into tears. "Tai Furen, please stand up for me! I’ve given away so many of these to my sisters—what if Xu Houcai picked this up and is using it to frame me? I can’t even defend myself!"
Hearing Song Xiang’s unreasonable denial, Xu Houcai was so furious he nearly jumped up to point at her and curse.
"It was you who had a maid pass me a message, telling me to come and speak with you! You even hid the handkerchief in the crevice of the Taihu rock for me to retrieve! If you won’t admit it, let’s bring that maid here and ask her—then we’ll know the truth! You accuse me of framing you? I say you’re the real troublemaker!"
Madam Feng immediately ordered the maidservants to restrain Xu Houcai.
Song Xiang’s face turned even paler... Xu Houcai even knew about the Taihu rock crevice?
Could they really summon the maid for questioning? If they did, that girl had a loose tongue—she might blurt out everything about Song Xiang and Manager Zhao. Then Song Xiang would truly have no way out. But if they didn’t call the maid, her involvement with Xu Houcai would be confirmed... She was trapped either way!
Song Xiang could only kowtow repeatedly. "Tai Furen, you must believe me. I’ve served you for so many years—you know my character better than anyone. This Xu Houcai is ugly and frequents the brothels in Yuying Alley—who would ever fancy him? How could I possibly give him a handkerchief?"
Gu Jinzhao, who had been watching quietly all this while, suddenly gasped softly. "Is this Xu Houcai really so despicable?"
Madam Feng’s expression darkened immediately. Song Xiang was so panicked she was saying anything that came to mind!
But Song Xiang, oblivious to Madam Feng’s displeasure, brightened at Gu Jinzhao’s words and eagerly chimed in, "Yes, yes! This Xu Houcai is over thirty and still can’t find a wife—what does that tell you? Unless I’d been blinded by a hawk, there’s no way I’d ever take a liking to him!"
Gu Jinzhao lowered her voice, but it carried a faint note of disappointment. "Someone like this... and Grandmother wanted to betroth him to Qingpu?"Xu Houcai wasn't having any of it: "You thieving wench, talking trash about me! So what if I visit brothels without a wife? Who are you to judge? If your conscience is clean, then bring that maid here for questioning—let her speak the truth! If you refuse to fetch her, it proves you're guilty!"
Seeing Song Xiang avoid mentioning the maid, Xu Houcai knew she must be hiding something and wouldn't let it go.
Madam Feng stared sternly at Song Xiang without saying a word.
The courtyard fell silent. Gu Lian glanced around but then pouted and spoke up: "Grandmother, since he insists on calling the maid, why not summon her for questioning? I refuse to believe it—Song Xiang is your maid, her conduct personally ** by you. How could she possibly flirt with a steward?"
Madam Feng rarely raised her voice, but she snapped at Gu Lian: "Silence! Who asked for your opinion?"
Song Xiang dared not call the maid—that alone proved there was a problem. How could Madam Feng possibly summon the maid now and embarrass herself? And then there was Gu Lian's remark—saying Song Xiang's conduct was ** by her implied she hadn't taught her well. This spoiled girl had no sense of propriety in her speech.
Look at Gu Lan and Gu Jinzhao—neither dared utter a word. But here she was, eager to show off!
Gu Lian had never seen her grandmother so harsh with her before. Tears welled up in her eyes from the injustice. She wanted to cling to Madam Feng's arm and whine, but the older woman's expression froze her in place.
After a long silence, Madam Feng finally asked Song Xiang in a heavy voice: "Explain yourself. What really happened? If you can't clarify, you'll have to accept Xu Houcai's accusation."
Song Xiang looked blankly between Madam Feng and Xu Houcai. Which one could she admit to?
Xu Houcai, after all, had no wife, while Steward Zhao already had a family... If the maid revealed she'd been flirting with Steward Zhao, she'd be utterly despised! Gritting her teeth with resentment, Song Xiang confessed: "Tai Furen, this servant was at fault... Before you arranged my marriage... I thought to secure my own future, so I gave Xu Houcai a sweatband. But nothing improper happened between us... After you betrothed me, I no longer wished to marry Xu Houcai, which is why I denied it."
Madam Feng's anger flared.
"Good... very good! You dared arrange your own marriage! And even gave gifts to a man." She called two matrons from behind her. "Drag Song Xiang away..." Seeing Song Xiang's face, Madam Feng hesitated—after so many years of service, she couldn't bear it. After a pause, she added, "Lock her in the side room for a beating, then throw her out of the estate!"
Song Xiang panicked—being cast out like this would leave her no dignity to live on!
Gu Jinzhao observed Madam Feng's expression and recognized her reluctance. Yet with no graceful exit, she stubbornly held her ground, fearing gossip.
Stepping forward with a curtsy, Gu Jinzhao said: "Grandmother, please wait. Jinzhao believes this matter warrants further discussion. Expelling Song Xiang so abruptly will only escalate the situation, making things worse. Song Xiang is of marriageable age—it's understandable she'd plan for her future. Had Xu Houcai not come today, their actions wouldn't have crossed any lines..."Madam Feng looked at Gu Jinzhao, her expression having relaxed somewhat. "Even so, rules are rules. I must still punish her!"
Jinchao thought to herself how typical of Madam Feng—she had to be given enough face before she'd take the offered way out.
She smiled again. "Of course you must punish her, but perhaps not in this manner. Miss Song Xiang is already of marriageable age, and she has served you diligently all these years... Since she had taken a liking to Xu Houcai, and this incident has occurred... why not simply arrange for her to marry Xu Houcai? They're already engaged—exchanging small gifts between them isn't entirely inappropriate."
Hearing Gu Jinzhao's words, Madam Feng felt much more at ease. This preserved her dignity while sparing Song Xiang's life.
That useless Song Xiang! She'd already found her such a good match, yet the girl had to go and seduce Xu Houcai!
What a blind fool, wasting all her careful planning!
Changing her tone, she said, "Since Cousin has pleaded for you, I'll only deduct three months' wages... Since Song Xiang favors Xu Houcai, I'll arrange your marriage. Song Xiang, go pack your belongings—you'll move to Cheng'an Lane the day after tomorrow to await your wedding."
Song Xiang went limp upon hearing this, collapsing to the floor. Married to Xu Houcai... what future could she possibly have now?
Xu Houcai, never expecting to actually wed Song Xiang, immediately kowtowed in gratitude, the wage deduction forgotten.
Madam Feng waved dismissively, signaling the maids to help her back inside. Gu Lan, who had been standing silently nearby, hurried forward to support Madam Feng's arm. Only then did Madam Feng remember—it had been Gu Lan who insisted on coming out to investigate Qingpu's whereabouts!
If she hadn't made such a fuss about Qingpu's absence, none of this would have happened!
Coldly shaking off Gu Lan's hand, she softened her voice to call Gu Jinzhao: "Chaojie, accompany your grandmother back... I have something to tell you!"
With Xu Houcai marrying Song Xiang, the matter of Qingpu and Xu Houcai would have to be dropped.
Gu Lan stared blankly at her rejected hand, her face burning as if slapped. Only after Madam Feng's party had disappeared did she lead the sobbing Gu Lian out from the rear rooms—just in time to see Qingpu approaching from the opposite quarters.
Gu Lan rushed forward to seize her, demanding coldly, "Where were you just now?"
Qingpu looked at Gu Lan's dark expression and the hand clutching her sleeve, smiling mildly. "What troubles Second Miss? This maid merely went to relieve herself... Did Second Miss require something?"
Gu Lan froze, her grip loosening. Qingpu curtsied. "I must attend to Eldest Miss now."
Clenching her teeth in secret, Gu Lan felt an intuition—Gu Jinzhao must be behind this! She'd even managed to implicate her!
But... what exactly had Gu Jinzhao done?
In the western chamber, Madam Feng spoke with Gu Jinzhao. With Xu Houcai and Song Xiang's affair coming to light, Qingpu's match with Xu Houcai was naturally canceled. Manager Lei's proposal would also come to nothing. She'd find Qingpu a better match later—Jinchao needn't worry.Gu Jinzhao held Madam Feng's hand and suddenly began to cry softly, "...If not for Miss Song Xiang speaking up, I wouldn't have known Steward Xu was such a person... The engagement naturally doesn't count anymore, but this granddaughter wants to ask Grandmother one thing... Do you still not see me as your true granddaughter?"
Madam Feng hurriedly comforted Gu Jinzhao, "Chaojie, what kind of talk is this? Grandmother loves you dearly from the bottom of her heart!"
With tear-filled eyes, Gu Jinzhao looked at Madam Feng and said sorrowfully, "Jinchao didn't grow up by Grandmother's side, and in truth, I've always envied Lian jie er. To have Grandmother's love means never being bullied by others... When I heard I was returning to Daxing to be by your side, I was overjoyed. Jinchao has lost her mother and must care for a younger brother—my heart has truly been heavy! These words, Jinchao has never spoken to you before... I thought Grandmother would surely show me compassion. But... but this matter has truly wounded Jinchao's heart! Jinchao's personal maid has served me since childhood... Jinchao... nearly ruined her entire life!"
Hearing her speak so sorrowfully, Madam Feng couldn't help but feel distressed. When had anyone ever seen the usually radiant Chaojie cry like this! Gu Jinzhao wasn't born of her own child, nor had she raised her, so naturally there wasn't much affection between them. But after all, she was still a legitimate daughter of the Gu family and had always treated her well, even making her satin knee pads embroidered with pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms when she heard Jinzhao often suffered from knee pain.
She embraced Gu Jinzhao and said tearfully, "Don't be sad anymore, Chaojie. This is Grandmother's fault. From now on, Grandmother will cherish you more and make up for everything. As for Qingpu's matter, Grandmother won't interfere anymore. You can choose her a husband who's good in every way, and Grandmother will give her a hundred taels for her dowry!"
The two wept together for a while before Madam Feng finally used a handkerchief to dry Jinzhao's tears.
"Don't say such things again. Grandmother treats each of you well."
Only then did Gu Jinzhao slowly nod.
Secretly, she thought to herself that after this incident, Madam Feng probably wouldn't dare interfere with her maids' affairs in the future.
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