"I heard that the master has gone to inspect the outskirts of the city," Xiaoxi placed the washbasin on the wooden stand, wet a towel and handed it to Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang nodded understandingly. After washing up, she walked out of the door. A cold wind blew, making her can't help but rub her arms.
Xiaoxi quickly fetched a cloak for her and put it on. Looking at the swirling snowflakes in the sky, she explained, "It snowed heavily in the middle of the night. I didn't expect it to stop this morning."
Song Ruotang adjusted the cloak on her body and walked towards the dining hall. Seeing a bowl of sweet - wine dumplings on the table, she was a bit confused. "We usually have porridge. Why did we change the menu today?"
Pei Zhiyan was used to having porridge, and she also followed his habit. There were different flavors of porridge for breakfast in the mansion.
"The kitchen did cook porridge. But since it's snowing and cold today, and Chef Li's fermented rice brewed some time ago is ready, we thought we'd make this for you, madam, to warm you up," Nanny Wang said with a smile as she served the sweet - wine dumplings in front of Song Ruotang. "Try it, madam. Even the master praised Chef Li's fermented rice."
Song Ruotang naturally wouldn't refuse. She scooped up a spoonful. Before it even reached her mouth, a sweet fragrance wafted over. She took a small sip and nodded slightly. "It's really delicious."
She took a few more sips and suddenly remembered that when she was first brought to this mansion by Pei Zhiyan, she wasn't completely penniless.
Song Ruotang had lived in the Song family's estate for sixteen years. She had to do all kinds of odd jobs, but she also learned the art of brewing from an old tea - picking woman.
That old woman had helped her several times and carefully taught her the craft. She told Song Ruotang that if one day she got out of the sea of bitterness, she could make a living with this skill and never starve.
The old woman was very confident, and she had the capital to say so, because the wine she taught Song Ruotang to brew was really good. Even after she left the estate, Song Ruotang would occasionally use the wine she brewed to curry favor with the servants and successfully avoid several bullyings.
When Song Ruotang was taken back to the Song family, she had nothing much to pack except for two jars of wine. So she brought these two jars of wine with her. After being taken to Pei Zhiyan's mansion, she brought them here too.
The food really warmed her all the way to her stomach, and she didn't feel as cold as before.
Song Ruotang turned to Xiaoxi and asked, "Did the master say when he would be back?"
Since Song Ruotang started waiting for Pei Zhiyan to come home, Pei Zhiyan would always tell Xiaoxi in advance when he would finish his work, so that Song Ruotang could make preparations.
"The master said he might come back earlier today," Xiaoxi said with a smile. "The master should be getting busy things done soon."
Song Ruotang nodded and returned to the courtyard. Since it was snowing and there was nothing to do, she asked Xiaoxi to set up a charcoal brazier on the veranda for them to make tea around the stove.
According to the spies' reports, the Song family was having a hard time recently. Song Wanying was injured, and other officials were deliberately keeping their distance from the Song family. This forced Song Zhen to do everything in his power to curry favor with them, which of course cost a lot of money.
Song Wanying threw tantrums every day, which exhausted Nie Rong. The couple were in great distress.
As for Pei Yu, he was now a menial worker in the Supreme Court of Judicature. Every day he either washed the torture instruments or fed the horses. He couldn't help the Song family at all.
Hearing about the miserable state of the Song family, Song Ruotang gave a soft laugh. She raised her hand and took a small sip of tea. This was just the beginning. What they had done to her was much more excessive.
At lunchtime, a servant came to report that there were people outside looking for Song Ruotang. After inquiring further, they found out that it was Song Zhen and his wife.
Xiaoxi was a bit worried. After all, she had witnessed the rudeness of the Song family at the birthday banquet of Wen Fang in the Minister's mansion last time. They came here today. She didn't know if they were here to avenge Song Wanying and make a big scene in the mansion.
"Madam, why don't I go and turn them away?" Xiaoxi suggested. Song Ruotang also didn't want to see the faces of that couple, so she nodded.
When Xiaoxi got to the gate, Song Zhen was still putting on airs and saying to the servant at the gate, "I'm your madam's father and your master's father - in - law. How dare you stop us? I'll tell them later and see how they deal with you!"
"Lord Song, we're just following orders. Our master has given instructions that no one is allowed to enter the mansion without permission," the gatekeeper replied calmly.
Song Zhen was so angry that his eyes bulged, but he was helpless. Nie Rong said, "We won't barge in. You just need to go in and announce us. We're Song Ruotang's parents. She won't refuse to let us in."
While they were arguing, Xiaoxi walked over. A servant saw her and quickly ran over, saying helplessly, "Sister Xiaoxi, look at this..."
"It's okay. I'll handle it," Xiaoxi gave him a reassuring look, walked up to Song Zhen and Nie Rong, and bowed. "Lord Song, Lady Nie."
"You're just in time. We want to see Song Ruotang. Go and tell her to come out and welcome us in," Nie Rong said arrogantly, as if seeing Xiaoxi gave her the confidence to prove her identity, and her words seemed so natural.
Xiaoxi didn't show it on her face, but she couldn't help snorting coldly in her heart. She said calmly, "The weather is bad, and our madam is not feeling well. It's inconvenient for her to receive guests. Lord Song and Lady Nie, you'd better go back first."
"We're her biological parents. No matter how unwell she is, she should come out to welcome us!" Song Zhen's anger flared up as soon as he heard that Song Ruotang wouldn't come out.
"Why didn't we see her being so delicate before? Now that she's married and has a backer, she's become so finicky that she doesn't even care about her own parents," Song Zhen roared at the mansion gate. Although it was snowing, there were still people on the street. His roar attracted many onlookers.
Nie Rong also chimed in, "Yes, on such a snowy day, we came to see her, and she still shuts us out. What's the logic?"
Xiaoxi frowned. She couldn't let Song Zhen and his wife make a big deal out of this. This mansion was Pei Zhiyan's private residence, and they couldn't let it be exposed because of this.
Song Zhen and his wife were still scolding Song Ruotang when Xiaoxi was about to speak. A clear voice came, "Let them in."
Everyone looked into the courtyard. Song Ruotang was wearing a light gray - purple dress embroidered with golden butterflies dancing. It was elegant yet noble. Coupled with her delicate and beautiful face, it made people feel a sense of pity.
Hearing this, Song Zhen pushed the servant blocking his way, snorted, and stepped into the mansion arrogantly.
Walking up to Song Ruotang, he said coldly, "You've really grown bold. You even dare to stop us outside. If you don't apologize properly, don't expect us to forgive you."
Looking at the self - assured faces of Song Zhen and Nie Rong, Song Ruotang only found it funny. These two really thought they were something and were trying to act like big shots on Pei Zhiyan's territory.
"I wonder what brings father and mother here today?" Song Ruotang was too lazy to listen to their nonsense and got straight to the point.
The still - angry couple glanced at each other and softened their tone a bit. "It's not a big deal. Since your husband is a friend of Lord Pei and can afford the genuine products from Taoxige, he must not be short of money, right?"