Song Zhaoyang was lying on the cushioned couch, listening to Fei Yang's report. She nodded in satisfaction.
"Take Steward Qiao to the Song Mansion and tell my father the whole story. He'll know what to do," she said.
Fei Yang bowed and left silently.
Nanny Xia looked solemn. She stepped forward and whispered, "Who would have thought Nanny Shi knew martial arts? Usually in Madam Wen's courtyard, she was just an unremarkable rough - working nanny. She really hid it well."
A sneer curled Song Zhaoyang's lips. "She did hide it well. It also shows that Madam Wen is very calculating. If we're not careful, we might not even know when she'll bite us back."
Nanny Xia nodded. "You're right! If it weren't for your caution, Madam, this dirty water would have been splashed on you. But this old servant guesses that Madam Wen won't let it go so easily."
"Now that the Second Master has suffered such a great loss, she'll definitely blame you! She'll surely make you take the blame!"
"Heh!" Song Zhaoyang sneered. "If she wants me to take the blame, let's see if she has the ability!"
Just then, Magpie and Purple Oriole walked in.
"Madam, the old madam wants you to go to her," Magpie said indignantly. "Doesn't the old madam know you're still in confinement? Making you travel around! It's so hateful!"
Song Zhaoyang looked at Magpie's indignant expression and smiled, but on closer inspection, the smile didn't reach her eyes.
She turned to look at Nanny Xia.
Nanny Xia understood. "This old servant will go and decline for you. If this old servant accidentally gets into a conflict with her, then..."
Song Zhaoyang let out a scoff. "We've already fallen out before. I don't mind doing it again. But be careful not to anger her to death. I don't want to be labeled as unfilial."
Nanny Xia gave a knowing smile and said respectfully, "Yes, this old servant will be careful."
Song Zhaoyang turned to Purple Oriole. "Purple Oriole, go with Nanny Xia and be on guard."
Purple Oriole responded and followed Nanny Xia towards Madam Wen's courtyard.
As soon as Nanny Xia left Song Zhaoyang's courtyard, she suddenly thought of something. She changed her direction and headed towards the kitchen.
When she came out of the kitchen, Purple Oriole was holding a soup tureen.
"This old servant pays respects to the old madam," Nanny Xia said, immediately performing a deep bow when she saw Madam Wen.
Knowing that Nanny Xia was from the palace, Madam Wen didn't dare to be negligent. After letting Nanny Xia rise, she forced a smile and asked, "When did you return to the mansion, Nanny Xia?"
Nanny Xia replied, "This old servant was extremely worried when I heard that the First Madam had a premature birth, so I rushed back yesterday."
"Old madam, although the First Madam is in confinement, she's concerned about your health. She specially asked this old servant to make a nourishing soup for you."
Madam Wen's eyes fell on the soup tureen and she felt a pang of annoyance.
Was Song deliberately mocking her?
Nanny Xia saw Madam Wen's unfriendly look at the soup tureen. A hint of mockery flashed in her eyes as she said respectfully, "Don't worry, old madam. When this old servant was in the palace, the noble ladies often drank this nourishing soup."
"If you're not sure, you can invite the imperial physician to take a look."
Seeing this, Madam Wen naturally didn't dare to call the imperial physician for fear of making a fool of herself.
She said, "Thank the First Madam for her kindness. Put it there first. I don't feel like having it for now."
Nanny Xia nodded with a smile and then said, "Old madam, our madam is still in confinement and it's not convenient for her to come. If you have something to say, just tell this old servant. I'll pass it on to the First Madam."
Madam Wen frowned and asked, "There is something... Today is the first day of the month. Usually, the First Madam should go to distribute porridge. Why did the Second Master go instead?"
"Oh, you're asking about this," Nanny Xia replied. "Yesterday, the Second Master suddenly came to see our madam and said he had something to discuss. As you know, old madam, the First Madam is in confinement and it's not convenient for her to see people at this time. So this old servant entertained the Second Master."
"The Second Master said he wanted to distribute porridge on behalf of the First Madam today, saying he wanted to accumulate good fortune for the newly - born Second Miss."
"Our madam originally didn't plan to distribute porridge today, but since the Second Master said so, this old servant handed the whole thing over to the Second Master on behalf of our madam."
Madam Wen slapped the table hard and angrily questioned, "You handed it all over to him. Then why was the rice used for porridge today moldy?"
Nanny Xia looked shocked. "Moldy rice? How is that possible? Every time the First Madam distributes porridge, the rice is good and it's poured out in front of the common people! How could the rice be moldy this time?"
Madam Wen stared at her with an unfriendly look and retorted, "Wasn't it ordered by your madam?"
"Wronged!" Nanny Xia shouted. "This old servant said the whole thing was handed over to the Second Master. And the rice was also paid for by the Second Master. The grains all came from the mansion's grain store. This old servant remembers that Steward Qiao was in charge of that store. Call him here and we'll know who did this immoral thing."
Madam Wen said, "I've already sent someone to look for Steward Qiao, but he's disappeared. His whereabouts are unknown now!"
"Disappeared?" Nanny Xia's face turned ugly. Then she said, "Old madam, this must be someone trying to frame our Xue family and ruin our family's reputation. Report it to the authorities! Go and report it immediately! We must find out this sneaky person behind it."
Hearing this, Madam Wen flew into a rage.
"Nonsense! Do you want to make this matter known throughout the city?"
Nanny Xia looked at Madam Wen disapprovingly.
"Old madam, now that someone is splashing dirty water on the Xue family, the most important thing is to find out the person behind it."
"Our First Madam and the Second Master act uprightly and are not afraid of being investigated."
"You... you!" Madam Wen was so angry that her chest heaved. Her purpose was to make Song take the blame, but she didn't expect this insolent servant to mention reporting to the authorities right away. If it was investigated and traced back to her, how could she handle it?
She said coldly, "You're trying to trample the Xue family's reputation into the dirt! Go and call your madam here. I'll ask her myself!"
Nanny Xia frowned.
"Old madam, the First Madam is still in confinement. You..."
Madam Wen picked up the teacup beside her and threw it at Nanny Xia.
Just as the teacup was about to hit Nanny Xia, Purple Oriole reached out her long arm and pulled Nanny Xia out of the way in time.
With a "clatter", the teacup fell to the ground.
Nanny Xia looked up with a lingering fear and saw Madam Wen's angry face.
Madam Wen said, "If you say one more word, do you believe I'll have your mouth sewn shut?"
"Immediately call Song here! Is confinement more important than the reputation of our Xue family?"
Nanny Xia's face looked ugly. She suppressed her dissatisfaction and said, "Yes, this old servant will go back and tell our madam."
After saying that, she turned around and left the room.
Purple Oriole put down the soup and quickly followed Nanny Xia out.
After they left, Madam Wen's head maid quickly stepped forward to comfort her. "Don't be angry, old madam."
Madam Wen gritted her teeth. "Like master, like servant! When Song comes, I'll surely punish her for being unfilial!"
Hearing this, the head maid remained silent.
After Madam Wen calmed down, her eyes fell on the soup that Nanny Xia had brought. She asked, "Maid, throw away the soup she brought."
Madam Wen asked, "What kind of soup is it?"
The head maid walked over, opened it, and her eyes suddenly widened.
"It's... it's..."
Seeing her hesitant look, Madam Wen said impatiently, "Bring it here."
The head maid nervously carried the soup in front of Madam Wen.
When Madam Wen saw the soup, she was so angry that she overturned the soup tureen.
A turtle with its belly up was lying on the ground...