Chapter 1892: 1879: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes
Chapter 1892: Chapter 1879: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes
Song Wu looked at Song Hong’s unwavering demeanor, what else could he say? He could only swallow all his sighs and plans once again.
Over there, Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu returned to their courtyard, with prior instructions from Song Wu, naturally, everything had long been prepared.
Nowadays in the Duke’s Mansion, anyone with eyes could see that Lord Duke’s health was deteriorating day by day. The other young masters had already been separated, and in the future, the one in charge would be the Master Heir-Apparent.
As soon as it was heard that the Master Heir-Apparent and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent were returning to the mansion, who wouldn’t want to warm up to them?
Indeed, everyone was united in virtually renovating the entire heir’s courtyard. All adornments and furnishings were selected from the best in the storeroom.
Because Song Chongjin and his family had not been residing in the Capital City for a long time, there were only a few coarse servant women tending the courtyard. Now that it was heard the couple would return, the servants were eager to thrust themselves into the courtyard.
According to the rules, Song Chongjin and his wife’s courtyard should have eight first-class maids, ten second-class maids, and twenty third-class maids and coarse servant women.
As for the young servants and attendants by Song Chongjin’s side, though they couldn’t enter the inner courtyard, they were still very favored.
Among the household staff with daughters, aspirations arose, knowing that Master Heir-Apparent and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent had been married for years without a child.
No family would tolerate such a daughter-in-law in their household.
Of course, the Wife of the Heir-Apparent had been ennobled as Lady Dingguo by the Royal Family and could not be dismissed, but for the sake of offspring, taking in a couple of concubines to continue the family line was necessary, right?
Having not returned to the Capital City in several years, the ambitious maids from that old batch had already married off, and this new batch of young and beautiful ones were bold, with grand ambitions, thinking if they could be selected by Master Heir-Apparent and bear a child, their future would be secure.
Just look at the mansion, with Lord Duke’s concubines living days even more comfortable than the main wives of ordinary official families, and their families receiving many benefits as well.
Having one or two children, and being taken in by them even after the family is divided, without stepping out of the door, they continue to be respected as Old Marquis’ Old Lady, receiving flattery.
Therefore, as the couple entered the courtyard gate, they saw a display of flowers and fragrance in the air.
On the two sides of the courtyard, rows of beautiful maids were lined up, each with affection in their eyes and smiles on their faces, greeting them sweetly, “Maid greets Master Heir-Apparent, Wife of the Heir-Apparent!”
One glance from Wang Yongzhu revealed no familiar faces.
Looking at these maids, each of them had their eyes almost glued to Song Chongjin. In such cold weather, these maids wore spring clothing to show off their curves, each with tightly cinched waists, making their figures more prominent.
Immediately understanding, she looked at Song Chongjin with a faint smile.
Song Chongjin paused in his steps, his face turned stern, scanned the courtyard, and said coldly, “Has the Duke’s Mansion grown so poor that we can’t afford winter clothes for the servants?”
What? All the maids and servant women in the courtyard were stunned and didn’t quite understand.
“Dressed like this in the freezing December, flaunting themselves, those who know it’s the Duke’s Mansion, but those who don’t might think it’s some brothel! All of you, get out of my sight immediately, freezing with blue noses like monkey’s bottoms, just what are you trying to accomplish? What’s this? Has no one been managing the Duke’s Mansion lately? And these useless things get shoved into my courtyard?” Song Chongjin’s sharp tongue was incredibly destructive.
Instantly, all the maids with beautiful dreams in the courtyard turned pale, and some of the more reserved ones covered their mouths and cried on the spot.
“Whose rules are these? Approaching New Year, crying and wailing in the master’s courtyard? Who’s managing now? Get over here immediately!” Song Chongjin looked on with disgust and did not hide it.
Then, one of the coarse servant women came forward cautiously to report, since Song Chongxiu had also married, and Song Hong had divided his sons into separate households.
The adults had been settled, those willing to take their concubine mothers for support did so.
Those not willing to take their concubine mothers were left in the mansion for their old age.
The other concubines with adult sons had been taken away to enjoy life, having seen that Song Hong intended for them to follow their sons.
Besides, Song Hong had grown old, with hidden physical ailments, having pursued a quiet life in recent years, even granting his maidservants marriages, and staying away from the concubines’ apartments for a long time.
Moreover, over time, the news of Lady Gao’s house arrest had not reached outsiders, nor could it be concealed from them.
Back when battling passionately, they loathed Lady Gao, but seeing her current predicament, they felt a pang of commiseration.
Even Lady Gao, the rightfully wedded Madam, ended up like this, how about us concubines?
Therefore, they contained their sentiments, simply wishing to follow their sons and live comfortably.
Only Maternal Aunt Meng had two daughters, and Maternal Aunt Dong still remained in the mansion because her only son, Song Chongqin, wasn’t yet married.
Last year, Song Chongxiu had also married, so now the inner courtyard of the mansion was managed by the two concubines.
This incident today also involved their intentions.
Not speaking of others, Maternal Aunt Meng knew that in the future, her two daughters would rely solely on their brother, Song Chongjin. After some thought, she realized it was time to earn a favor while he was back.
After pondering, with no idea of a good opportunity to ingratiate, she thought that Song Chongjin, having no child, must be anxious too; otherwise, to whom would this vast estate be passed down?
So, she chose a particularly outstanding maiden from the household, thinking that due to their low birth status, bearing a child for her would be beneficial. They could raise it under Wang Yongzhu’s name, relieving Wang Yongzhu and making it easier for her to control, preventing any waves from rising.
Presuming it was a great deed, she didn’t anticipate it barely an hour after the Master Heir-Apparent and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent returned, they were summoned to meet the Wife of the Heir-Apparent.
The two didn’t dare delay, tidied up slightly, and quickly came out, meeting each other on the way, clueless about what had happened.
Entering the heir’s courtyard, they spotted all the maids kneeling wearing thin clothes and shivering with cold.
There were even several coarse servant women carrying water and cloths, rudely washing these maids’ faces.
The cloths used to wipe tables were coarse, matched with the servant women’s strength and ice-cold water, leaving the maids like flowers battered by wind and snow, utterly pitiful.
The two concubines were immediately flustered, exchanged glances and dared not advance any further.
Maternal Aunt Meng realized her well-intended act might have gone awry while Maternal Aunt Dong feared, for she had quietly slipped two of her own girls in when selecting ones for the heir’s courtyard, hoping to gather some information in the future.
Unexpectedly, soon after the Master Heir-Apparent and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent returned, punishment befell everyone at once.
The two unwillingly approached step by step to the flower hall.
Wang Yongzhu had already changed into casual attire, holding a warm cup of tea, waiting for a long time.
Once the two entered, she nodded slightly, since now she was Lady Dingguo, a first-rank ennoblement, and the two concubines without such status had to greet her first.
After receiving their greetings, Wang Yongzhu gestured to bring two small spring stools for the concubines to sit.
The two sat nervously, and it was Maternal Aunt Meng who mustered the courage to ask, “Wife of the Heir-Apparent, may we know why you have summoned us, is there something you wish from us?”