Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 41 - 23: Mid-Autumn Turmoil (Part 1)

The most important thing in August is the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th. The Song Mansion is naturally bustling and busy, with gifts being sent and received, keeping Susu in the warehouse for half a month. Wu Tong and Ning Xiang, the two little maidservants, were diligent in helping out, but Susu dared not entrust valuable items to the two children and had to arrange everything herself.

On August 13, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Song Mansion, who has already been granted the title of Princely Heir of the Bo Mansion, Young Master Song Qing He, arrived with a boatload of festival gifts. These included not only tributes from the First and Second Wife to the Old Madam but also gifts bestowed by the Emperor and Consort Xi from the palace for the Old Madam and the heads of the Third Household.

Ever since the great aunt was conferred the title of Concubine Xi, the festival gifts from the palace have never been lacking. After being promoted to Consort Xi, the variety of rewards has doubled in abundance. The Song Mansion, rich in treasures, is certainly not covetous of these items, but anything connected with the imperial palace, once labeled "imperially made," naturally represents imperial favor and is highly prestigious.

These rewards should be distributed as needed and registered in the ledger for those to be retained.

The gifts sent by the Lady to the two young ladies of the Third Household and the young masters and ladies of the First and Second Household have also arrived at Sui’an Hall. After Susu organized them, she copied a list of gifts and sent it along with the rewards to Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss, before finally taking the gift list to the main house, where the Young Master, now also referred to as the Princely Heir, was present.

Only Nanny Qin was attending by the side as Susu entered with the gift list, just in time to hear the Princely Heir say: "The Little Princess is growing prettier and more favored by the Emperor. The Lady suggests that Grandmother return to the capital to reside. Although meetings will not be frequent, the Emperor and Empress Dowager are kind and have decreed that daughters above the rank of concubine can visit their family once a month. My father also hopes Grandmother will return to the capital to oversee matters!"

The Old Madam sighed and said, "We’ll wait a little longer. Currently, money is being spent everywhere, and for some matters, your Third Uncle needs someone he can consult with. After another two or three years, when your Third Uncle fully takes over matters here, I will feel more at ease. Go back and tell your father that the Lady is already struggling in the palace, and our family must not become a burden to her. The Lady is wise, and for some matters, she can consult with her more!"

The Princely Heir nodded in agreement. Then, with a somewhat flushed face, he said, "My father has arranged a marriage for your grandson, and my second aunt has also arranged marriages for Second Sister and Third Sister." His tone was somewhat hesitant when mentioning this last part.

Seeing his demeanor, the Old Madam knew what was happening and said, "Your father has long informed me of your marriage, to the legitimate daughter of Marquis Wenchang. The Wenchang Marquis Mansion is one of the Six Great Marquis Houses of the nation, although titled, it is also the leading force among scholars and the literati. The heir of Marquis Wenchang is married to the youngest sister of the current Emperor, Princess Wu Yue, who is deeply loved by both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Being able to secure this marriage means that the Marquis Wenchang was impressed by your character and appearance."

The Old Madam is quite fond of this legitimate eldest grandson, not the type given to idle luxury. Now seventeen, he is already a scholar. The Shun’an Earl Mansion is currently considered a rising power, and many families were inquiring and considering him as soon as they arrived in the capital. Early this summer, the marriage to the legitimate second daughter of Marquis Wenchang was finalized. Song Qing He will sit for the imperial examinations next year, and if successful as a scholar, plus being the Princely Heir of the Earl Mansion, this marriage does not appear to be an overreach.

Then the Old Madam sneered and said, "What kind of families has your second aunt arranged for Second Girl and Third Girl? I haven’t heard a word about it! Previously, when your second uncle bought an official post and went to serve elsewhere, she quietly arranged for a concubine to accompany your second uncle without any warning. What is she planning now?"

Song Qing He found it difficult to speak; after all, it concerned his elders, and it wasn’t his place to comment. However, fearing his grandmother’s anger, his own father had somehow left this matter for him to handle—he had never seen a father who would "dig a pit" for his own son to jump into. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Thinking of this, Song Qing He decided to go all out, saying, "Second Aunt didn’t consult with my father or second uncle at all, not a word was heard from the family. She only visited a few times as a guest, and by the time my father found out, the betrothal agreements were already exchanged. Second Sister is betrothed to the legitimate second son of Changle Earl, and Third Sister is engaged to be the concubine wife of the unofficial second son of Earl Yongping!"

When the matter of Second Miss was mentioned, the Old Madam’s expression remained unchanged, but upon hearing about the marriage of the Third Miss, she turned livid, smashing a teacup in anger. Startled, Nanny Qin patted her back, while Susu rushed in and quickly took a Heart Nourishing Pill from her pocket to feed the Old Madam.

Recovering her wits, the Old Madam burst into tears, "What kind of disaster is this? For our family’s cherished and beloved girls, she actually thought of making her a concubine wife? Susu, quickly write to your second uncle, telling him to come back and divorce his wife. Such a daughter-in-law is not tolerated in our family. And you, take your brother back home and have your Third and Fourth Sisters brought here to me—this old woman can still protect her granddaughters!"