Came To Fetch Her Personally

In Qingyi Court.

Madam Zhang put the ledger book in her hands down, closed her eyes, and sighed.

“Rongrong has gone to Xianmeng Residence, you said?”

Auntie Chang bowed with her hands in front and kept her head down, “Yes.”

The sun shone in from the window silently. The room was strangely quiet.

After a while, a gentle breeze blew, making the wind chimes by the window ring. Madam Zhang finally looked down at the table and picked up her teacup, “She’s still young and can’t hold her temper in, after all. Go and take a look.”

“Yes, Madam.”

By the time Auntie Chang got to Xianmeng Residence, Guan Rongrong had already been driven up a wall by Song Caitang. The expression on her face, the way she stood – she looked like she was about to explode anytime. Her brows were furrowed, and her gaze was murderous. She pointed a finger furiously at Song Caitang and said so many nasty things without holding back. She didn’t look like a well-brought-up daughter from a family of high standing at all.

On the contrary, Song Caitang was very relaxed. As Guan Rongrong hurled abuse at her, she didn’t argue back and didn’t even bother looking at her cousin. She continued drinking her tea and enjoying the spring scenery outside her window. She was having a leisurely time, as though Guan Rongrong was a clown that she didn’t have to take seriously or take to heart. In fact, it was as if Guan Rongrong wasn’t important at all. The colorful butterflies outside were worthy of more attention.

When it came to arguing, the more the other party didn’t care, the angrier you would get. And the angrier you got, the nastier your words would get, and the nastier your mannerisms got.

It didn’t take a genius to tell who had the upper hand between the two ladies.

Auntie Chang even spotted Qingqiao giggling away outside the room.

She let out a long sigh, then walked into the room and bowed politely, “Greetings, Second Young Mistress, Cousin Young Mistress.”

Her purpose in coming was different from the other day. Guan Rongrong had been the bad guy, so she couldn’t join in. She had to be the good guy now.

Guan Rongrong saw that the auntie in charge of her mother’s house was here and assumed the auntie was here to help her, so she became even more arrogant, “Auntie Chang! Tell Song Caitang! Didn’t my mother say that nobody’s allowed to leave the house? She’s just the cousin! She’s staying in MY house, and she doesn’t know how to behave AT ALL! She thinks soooo highly of herself and doesn’t even have any regard for me even though I’m the older one! Don’t you think she’s in the wrong?”

Auntie Chang threw Guan Rongrong a “please calm down” look, then walked closer to Song Caitang. She put on a rare smile and spoke gently, “Second Young Mistress has a shorter temper, and her tone might sound harsh, but she has good intentions. You’re both cousins, like two parts of the same body. She wouldn’t say anything to really hurt you.”

“I just hope that Cousin Young Mistress won’t give up on your future…it’s not really my place to say such things, but you’re already 16, and you should be more concerned about your own future. Madam doesn’t allow you to leave the house, not because she doesn’t like you. There are some things you might not understand since you’ve just regained your senses, but Madam can’t pretend she can’t see these things. She’s given in to you and kept you in good spirits, but it’s really because if something bad happens to you, all of us are going to suffer in the future.”

Auntie Chang’s tone grew serious, “Checking a dead body along the street and touching a man of ill reputation… Perhaps you were just curious, but you’re still young, and you don’t understand the implications. Others even despise the men in this line. What more a woman? Madam told you not to do anything associated with such work as a reminder. If you really continue being like this, what are you going to do in the future? Which potential mother-in-law would dare to pick you? Which potential husband would dare to come close to you? Madam will not be able to bring you important banquets like this…”

Guan Rongrong immediately thought of that aristocratic lady coming from the capital and couldn’t help but smile.

Since Song Caitang was purposely getting herself into trouble, then that meant Song Caitang wasn’t going to get this chance after all!

Song Caitang held her teacup and nearly burst out laughing when she saw how Auntie Chang was trying to drop her gentle hints and reminders with that stern face of hers.

Her words were polite, but the meaning was clear.

To rephrase her words more simply: As long as Song Caitang was willing to listen to Madam Zhang and take her side, her aunt would take good care of her!

Song Caitang was the child of an in-law, so she had to see for herself which member of the family truly had her best intentions at heart. So what if her food, clothing, and lodging were well taken care of? Would someone here be able to take care of that for the rest of her life? Or protect her for the rest of her life? The most important thing to a woman was not enjoying her youth. It was to get married and secure her future.

And who would find Song Caitang a good man to marry? Eldest Young Mistress? She hasn’t married herself! Her maternal grandmother, Madam Bai? She still hadn’t married off her eldest granddaughter yet!

In this house, the only person who knew what was best for her was her aunt, Madam Zhang. She was doing a good deed but suffered all this backlash for it instead…

Good medicine was always bitter. But Song Caitang just needed to think about it a little more, and she’d realize whom she could rely on and whom she couldn’t!

“Cousin Young Mistress, you’re a sensible young woman. I’m sure you understand what I’m saying and the concern Madam has for you.”

Auntie Chang sighed at the end and did her best to prove her loyalty to Madam Zhang.

But Song Caitang was tired of playing games with them.

“My aunt…” she looked down at the tea leaves in her cup, “tried to marry me off to the idiot of the Wu family.”

Guan Rongrong’s heart tensed up. She glared at Song Caitang and retorted, “You were an idiot back then, so if you didn’t marry an idiot, who would you marry?!”

Song Caitang looked up at her, her brows slightly lifted and her eyes as black as ink, “So, now that I’m no longer an idiot, she can sell me for more money.”

Auntie Chang froze, “How could you say that…”

She opened her mouth to try and persuade Song Caitang, but when she saw Song Caitang’s clear and confident gaze, her heart sank, and she didn’t say anything in the end.

This Cousin Young Mistress was not just sensible. She was very sharp too.

She knew what Madam Zhang really thought of her and why Guan Rongrong was making such a big fuss…

Auntie Chang lowered her gaze and wondered how she was going to report what happened to Madam Zhang and how she could possibly convince Song Caitang.

“Well,” Song Caitang didn’t want to waste time with these two and decided to end this topic right now, “you just don’t want me to go out, right? I didn’t intend to in the first place, but both of you came to remind me about these instructions so aggressively, so I’ll take it that these instructions have to be taken very seriously. I will NOT leave my residence. Nothing will make me leave this house. Even if someone asks me to go out or someone begs me to leave, I will not leave. Will that do? Do you feel assured now?”

Guan Rongrong scoffed. She won’t leave even if someone begged her to? Who in the world did she think she was?

But since Song Caitang had agreed to listen to her mother, Guan Rongrong decided she was done for the day and didn’t go on, “We would have saved all that trouble if you were like this right from the start!”

She spun around and stormed off.

Auntie Chang quickly followed behind her.

They had only walked a short distance when they saw Madam Zhang’s maid, Guizhi, hurry toward Xianmeng Residence. She was running very quickly, as though she had to attend to something very urgently. Guan Rongrong couldn’t even block her way in time and could only yell out, “What’s going on? Why are you running so quickly?”

“I need to get Cousin Young Mistress!” Guizhi’s face was soaked in perspiration, and didn’t even turn around to respond. That was how much of a hurry she was in.

Guan Rongrong couldn’t understand why Guizhi was doing this.

Not only that. Guan Rongrong was now very angry.

Guizhi was her mother’s head maid and only listened to her mother, so it was clear that the maid was acting on her own mother’s instructions. She had just finished arguing with Song Caitang over leaving her residence, and now, her mother wanted Song Caitang to come out? What was that supposed to mean?

She pouted and started running toward Qingyi Court.

Auntie Chang could tell that something unusual was going on. But by the time she opened her mouth to speak, Guan Rongrong had already run out of sight. She had no choice but to run after her.

The atmosphere in Qingyi Court was abnormal as well. There were simply too many people standing outside the door, and they were all standing with their backs straight, their faces very serious. Nobody said anything, and they did not even dare to glance in a different direction from where they were supposed to. Even their breathing was tightly controlled.

The entire place was quiet. There wasn’t a single sound.

Guan Rongrong was too anxious and didn’t notice anything strange, “Mother! Mother!” she yelled loudly and dashed into the house. The Maids at the door couldn’t even stop her in time.

“Rongrong…”

Guan Rongrong heard her mother’s usually gentle voice.

No, it wasn’t merely gentle. It wasn’t high in pitch or volume, but it sounded a little forced and a little annoyed…her mother was angry!

Guan Rongrong quickly let go of her skirt, walked around the screen, and entered the inner room, “Mother…”

Inside sat Madam Zhang as well as another older lady.

The old lady had graying hair, but her brows were full and her eyes bright. She didn’t look frail like some old people were and seemed rather energetic. She wore a dark green dress with plain silver and jade hair accessories. At most, the pins had a few pearls on them. She didn’t look particularly wealthy, but she exuded a domineering air.

Guan Rongrong had seen people with such aura before. Was she the wife of a governor or something?

Madam Zhang had already pulled Guan Rongrong discreetly toward her, “This is my daughter. She’s number two among the grandchildren. Her name is Rongrong, and she’s a little impatient sometimes. I’m so sorry about her behavior just now.”

After she was done with that introduction, she gently pushed Guan Rongrong a step forward and said, “This lady is Old Madam Li, grandmother to our magistrate, Magistrate Wen. Aren’t you going to greet her?”

Guan Rongrong immediately turned red in the face.

Magistrate…Magistrate Wen…

She combed down her hair and bit her lip gently so that her eyes would look a little more watery. She carefully raised her feet and took steady, slightly slow steps toward Old Madam Li. Exactly the way she had learned how to walk as a lady.

“Guan Rongrong greets Old Madam Li.”

Her hair accessory did not become loose, she didn’t lose her balance despite walking like that, and her voice didn’t sound tense. Perfect!

Old Madam Li stretched her arm out, and Auntie Liu quickly placed the gift prepared in advance in her hands. It was a thin, gold handcrafted bangle with a red agate setting. Old Madam Li put it on Guan Rongrong herself, “She looks very energetic. I’m sure she’s very blessed.”

Madam Zhang smiled, “Old Madam, you’re too kind. She’s quite sensible, but she can be a little bothersome sometimes, so I’m always helping her to… Sigh! I always have something new to worry about!”

“Isn’t that how it is as a mother? We’re always worried.” Old Madam Li smiled genially and responded to Madam Zhang.

“Indeed, indeed! My mother-in-law heard you were here and was worried I might not take good care of you, so she nearly got up from her bed despite being ill. The older ones are constantly worried about their children and simply can’t let go…”

After Guan Rongrong had greeted Old Madam Li, she walked to the side of the room and sat there to watch the two women chat.

She didn’t understand what was going on right now. Why was Old Madam Li in the house? Then again, the Guans were merchants, so having a family member of the magistrate visit them was definitely a good thing! She had to find a way to get close to this old lady. She might get something good out of her!

This woman was Magistrate Wen’s grandmother, after all.

Guan Rongrong bent her head as her cheeks reddened shyly.

It didn’t take long for Guizhi to come running back.

Her breathing was hurried, and she had an anxious look on her face. She looked at Madam Zhang, opened her mouth but closed it again as if she was a bearer of bad news.

“Caitang didn’t come with you?” Old Madam Li realized that Guizhi had returned alone. Her gaze flickered slightly, then she smiled and said, “If my presence makes you feel uncomfortable speaking, I can always go to another room and wait.”

Madam Zhang couldn’t possibly let her do that. She looked at Guizhi and said, “Old Madam is a distinguished guest, and there’s nothing we need to hide from her. What is it?”

Guizhi bowed her head, “Cousin Young Mistress said she doesn’t dare to go against her aunt’s instructions. Second Young Mistress and Auntie Chang went over to personally remind her of these instructions, and she agreed never to leave her house. Cousin Young Mistress said…she doesn’t dare to come out and meet her guest.”

Madam Zhang slammed the table, “Old Madam Li has come all the way here! She can’t just say she’s not coming out to meet her!”

Guan Rongrong’s face paled instantly.

Old Madam Li was here…to see Song Caitang?

But she had just forced Song Caitang to give in, and Song Caitang had practically sworn to never leave her residence even if someone begged her to!