The granny walked out and then came back in with a solemn expression.
"Madam, that maid has a fever," she said.
The younger Madam Wen sneered. "It'd be best if she died! Why are you telling me this?"
The granny advised, "Madam, if this maid dies, we'll have no leverage over the eldest branch.
"Besides, now that the master has lost his official position and his salary, our branch has to rely on the family's monthly allowance. One more person means one more share of the allowance."
The younger Madam Wen gradually calmed down. Frowning, she said, "You're right! Call the family doctor to take a look at her. Then throw her into the side courtyard to recuperate. As long as she stays alive."
The granny took the order and immediately gave instructions.
Xue Chuzhong was released. Resenting his mother for his dismissal from office, as soon as he returned to the mansion, he went straight to Madam Wen's courtyard and poured out all his grievances. Madam Wen was so enraged that she spat blood again.
Without an official position, Xue Chuzhong began to frequent brothels and often stayed out. There were complaints all over the backyard of the second branch. The younger Madam Wen also took out her frustration on her own daughter.
Xue Zhinian, Madam Wen's biological daughter, heard that something had happened to the Xue family. Although she was away with her husband on an official assignment, she rushed back to the capital immediately to comfort her mother.
"Sister-in-law," Xue Zhinian came to visit Song Zhaoyang with gifts.
Seeing Xue Zhinian's worried face, Song Zhaoyang asked, "How are things at the Lu Mansion?"
After Song Zhaoyang married into the Xue family, she had a good relationship with Xue Zhinian. In the previous life, when the eldest branch got into trouble, Xue Zhinian even came to the prison to apologize to her after learning the truth.
Xue Zhinian nodded. "It's okay, but Mother..."
She hesitated to continue.
She wasn't stupid. After getting married, she had seen the dirty tricks in the deep mansions. She knew that Madam Wen must have been involved in the incident of distributing moldy rice for porridge, but now all the evidence pointed to Granny Shi, so she didn't want to say it clearly. Facing her sister-in-law who had cared about her since childhood, she felt ashamed for a moment.
Song Zhaoyang took Xue Zhinian's hand and patted the back of it gently. "Don't think too much. Just live your own life well. Your elder brother will be back soon. Mother will figure it out then."
"Elder brother is coming back!" Xue Zhinian was overjoyed.
Song Zhaoyang nodded. "Yes. I heard that he'll return in triumph in a few days."
Xue Zhinian was extremely excited.
Although her mother and second brother had made mistakes and been punished, which made her lose face in her husband's family.
But if her elder brother returned in triumph, he would surely be promoted. That would definitely bring glory to her in her husband's family. Maybe because of her elder brother's merits, the emperor would revoke the punishment on her mother and second brother.
Thinking of this, the anxiety in Xue Zhinian's heart disappeared instantly.
She exhorted, "Sister-in-law, you should take good care of yourself during the confinement. If Mother does something wrong, just tell me. I'll persuade her."
Hearing Xue Zhinian's words, Song Zhaoyang nodded with a smile. But she knew clearly in her heart that even if she told Xue Zhinian, what could it change? Xue Zhinian would never be able to persuade Madam Wen. It was better for her to handle it herself.
---
Three days later, the main streets of the capital were crowded with people craning their necks in anticipation.
The army that had fought against the barbarians was returning in triumph.
Xue Chucheng, the commander-in-chief, rode a black horse. His armor bore the marks of the battlefield. He led the way on horseback.
Outside the city gate, the Minister of Rites was waiting for him with an imperial edict in his hand.
Xue Chucheng dismounted and knelt on one knee.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Xue Chucheng of the Upper Army led the royal army to suppress the rebels, defeated the barbarians, and enhanced our national prestige. He is hereby promoted to the rank of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness of the second rank and is rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of silk. So it is."
At the same time, in the Xue Mansion.
A eunuch was reading an imperial edict to Song Zhaoyang.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Song, the legitimate wife of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness Xue Chucheng, is both virtuous and beautiful and has made significant contributions as an assistant. She is hereby conferred the title of a second-rank imperial order lady."
Song Zhaoyang was extremely shocked. Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness?
Her husband, Xue Chucheng, had been promoted and ennobled?
Reminded by the eunuch, Song Zhaoyang came to her senses and immediately received the imperial edict, the phoenix crown, and the official letter.
The eunuch said with a smile, "Madam Xue, the emperor and the empress know that you're still in confinement. So you're allowed to enter the palace to express your gratitude after your confinement."
Song Zhaoyang nodded with a smile and said, "Your Majesty's kindness is boundless. I'm grateful to Your Majesty and the Empress for their consideration."
Saying that, Granny Xia handed over some gold leaves.
The eunuch accepted them with a smile and then left.
After watching the eunuch leave, Song Zhaoyang said to Granny Xia with a smile, "Take the money from my private treasury and reward all the servants in the mansion with a month's salary."
Hearing Song Zhaoyang's words, the servants present were so excited that they bowed and said, "Thank you, Madam, for your reward!"
As the sky gradually darkened, Xue Chucheng still hadn't returned to the mansion.
Song Zhaoyang kept looking outside from time to time. She was a little anxious.
Seeing this, Granny Xia joked, "Madam, when the general was away on the battlefield before, I never saw you so absent-minded. Now that the general is back, you seem to be missing him terribly."
Song Zhaoyang gave Granny Xia a disdainful look. Just as she was about to speak, the excited voice of Magpie came from outside the door.
"Madam, the general is back!"
As soon as the words fell, a bearded man in black armor walked in.
Seeing the man, the smile on Song Zhaoyang's face froze instantly.
Was this unkempt man her husband?
Before Song Zhaoyang could come to her senses, Xue Chucheng's joyful voice rang out.
"Madam, I'm back!
"Where's Yaoyao? Hurry up and bring Yaoyao here for me to see."
Hearing Xue Chucheng's words, Granny Xia immediately asked someone to bring the baby.
Hearing the familiar voice and confirming that this man was really Xue Chucheng, Song Zhaoyang gave him a coquettish look and said, "You didn't even wash up before coming back."
Just as she finished speaking, the wet nurse brought little Yaoyao over.
"I'll wash up later," Xue Chucheng said.
Looking at his sweet and soft daughter, Xue Chucheng's eyes lit up. He reached out his hand to pick her up.
But unexpectedly, the happy little Yaoyao's smile froze when she saw the bearded man in front of her.
"Wow!"
A deafening cry rang out.
Xue Chucheng was stunned. His hand hung in mid-air. He didn't know whether to pick her up or not. He looked at Song Zhaoyang for help.
Song Zhaoyang laughed and picked up little Yaoyao.
Little Yaoyao sobbed aggrievedly in Song Zhaoyang's arms.
Seeing this, Xue Chucheng asked pitifully, "Does Yaoyao not like Daddy?"
Hearing his tone, Song Zhaoyang burst out laughing. "Husband, you'd better go and tidy yourself up first. Even I feel..."
She turned her face away and laughed before she could finish her sentence.
Xue Chucheng was both angry and amused. He reached out his hand and gently pinched her face. "Okay, I'll go and tidy up first."
After a stick of incense, a cold and handsome man in a black robe walked in.
His face was well-defined and handsome, with sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes. His eyes were sharp and intimidating, and his nose was straight.
Song Zhaoyang looked at the well-groomed Xue Chucheng with a smile on her face. But when she saw a scar on his right cheek, her smile froze instantly.
"When did you get this injury?"
Her hand trembled as she touched the scar. Her eyes were red.
Looking at his worried wife, Xue Chucheng grinned. "I don't even know when it happened. Don't worry. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Song Zhaoyang knew that the battlefield was a dangerous place, but seeing Xue Chucheng's nonchalant look, she was both angry and amused.
"Take off your clothes. I want to see if there are any other wounds on your body."
The smile on Xue Chucheng's face froze. He said helplessly, "Madam, there are still outsiders here!"
Saying that, he changed the topic.
"Come on, Daddy's precious Yaoyao. Let Daddy hold you!"
Seeing this, the wet nurse handed the baby to Xue Chucheng.
This time, little Yaoyao didn't cry. Instead, she opened her innocent eyes and looked at Xue Chucheng curiously.
Xue Chucheng laughed heartily. His freshly-shaven face rubbed against little Yaoyao's delicate face, making Yaoyao giggle.