Hearing Xue Chucheng's worried words, Song Zhaoyang let out a soft laugh.
In the previous life, Yan Yazhang had painstakingly taught Xue Yunning and cultivated her into the most talented young lady in the capital.
In this life, with the debt of saving his life, she believed that Yan Yazhang would surely teach Xue Yunning with great care.
Song Zhaoyang replied, "So I asked her to try at the Song Mansion first. I also want my mother to take a look."
Xue Chucheng nodded and said, "As long as you know what you're doing, Madam."
Song Zhaoyang changed the subject and asked, "When we left the mansion, did my mother make things difficult for you?"
Xue Chucheng saw the concerned look on Song Zhaoyang's face and smiled.
"Don't worry. I can handle it."
Hearing this, Song Zhaoyang understood that Wen must have made things difficult for Xue Chucheng, but since he didn't want her to worry, she didn't ask any more questions.
"By the way," Xue Chucheng put away the smile on his face. "There's a clue about the treasure."
Song Zhaoyang sat up straight suddenly and said, "What clue?"
"Back then, my great - grandfather bought a mountain and said that this mountain was the lifeblood of the Xue family. When my father was alive, he often went to that mountain. The elders in the family also said that my father would go up the mountain alone every once in a while, only taking one personal guard with him."
Song Zhaoyang said, "Do you suspect that there's something hidden on that mountain?"
"Yes!" Xue Chucheng nodded. "I've already asked His Majesty for a half - month leave, saying that I'm going to pay homage to our ancestors. I want to go to that mountain myself to take a look."
Song Zhaoyang pondered for a while and asked, "Do you need me to go with you?"
Xue Chucheng shook his head and said, "No. I'll go and scout the way first. If I really find something, I'll take you there later."
Song Zhaoyang thought for a moment and said, "If we're going to do it, we should do it thoroughly. Since you've said that you're going to pay homage to the ancestors, when you go to the Xue family's ancestral land, you should take Xiao'er and Chen'er with you."
Xue Chucheng suddenly realized. "You've thought it through, Madam. Then what about you..."
Song Zhaoyang shook her head. "I won't go. If I go, Yaoyao will also want to go. It'll be too much of a commotion. Yaoyao is still too young. We'll talk about it when she grows up. As for me..."
A sly smile appeared on her face. "My body hasn't fully recovered yet. I'm not suitable for a long - distance journey. I'll just stay in the villa and take good care of my body. I'll just wait for good news from the mansion."
Xue Chucheng smiled helplessly and indulgently. "Okay. Do as you like!"
Song Zhaoyang asked Nanny Xia to pack the two children's luggage. The next day, the two children said goodbye to Song Zhaoyang, excited yet reluctant, and followed Xue Chucheng to the Xue family's ancestral land.
Yan Yazhang was arranged to teach the young ladies of the Song Mansion.
Song Zhaoyang's days suddenly became leisurely. She played with her daughter every day and cultivated her body and mind in the villa.
In contrast to Song Zhaoyang's ease, the days of Wen and Little Wen were extremely difficult.
Wen hadn't managed the household for several years. When she suddenly took over, she was more willing than able. The main reason was that there was no money in the accounts.
She got angry at the stewards and said that they had embezzled the money in the accounts.
An old steward with the most straightforward attitude said bluntly that before the eldest mistress got married into the Xue Mansion, there had been no money in the accounts. Over the years, it was the eldest mistress who had subsidized the family with her dowry. Now that the eldest mistress was no longer in charge and didn't subsidize with her dowry, the Xue Mansion was just the same as before.
After the old steward said this to Wen boldly, he was immediately dragged down by the furious Wen and beaten with a cane. Seeing this, the other stewards all threw in the towel and asked for leave the next day.
Little Wen came to Wen with a full belly of grievances, hungry.
"Mother, when will Song come back to the mansion?"
Wen's face darkened. She immediately got angry at Little Wen.
"Just because Song is not here, do you think you can't live?"
Little Wen wasn't afraid at all after being scolded by Wen. She directly retorted, "I really can't live! The evening meal hasn't been served until now. The servant went to the kitchen to ask and was told that no ingredients were purchased today because the steward is sick."
"Mother, if this goes on, we'll starve to death! When Song was here, such a thing never happened!"
Wen slapped the table hard.
"Shut up!"
Little Wen pouted.
She had long expected that once Song Zhaoyang left, the Xue Mansion would be in chaos. She just didn't expect that in less than ten days, they couldn't even get enough to eat.
Thinking about how hard her life was while Xue Chuzhong was enjoying himself outside, Little Wen's grievances grew heavier.
She said resentfully, "The second master is living a carefree life outside. He's rarely at home. He doesn't even know how hard our lives are in the mansion."
"One day, if you really push me too far, I'll take someone and cut off the flesh on his legs and send him to the palace to be a eunuch. That way, he can also support the family."
"Nonsense!" Wen's face turned livid instantly. "You're so outspoken. Is there a wife who wants to harm her own husband like this? Do you believe that I'll divorce you on Zhong'er's behalf?"
Little Wen sneered. She walked up to Wen. Her tone was gentle, but if you listened carefully, there was a hint of coldness.
"My dear aunt, you want to divorce me? I'm your good niece. If you divorce me, aren't you just sending me back to the Wen family? Then the Wen family will surely come to our door."
"I've become like this all because of you!"
"Look at my face. I'm so weak that it'll be difficult for me to have children in the future! Isn't it all because of that bowl of ginseng soup you gave to Song Zhaoyang?"
As she said this, tears streamed down her face.
"Mother, I hate so much!"
Seeing the painful expression on Little Wen's face, Wen softened a bit.
"Okay. When Zhong'er comes back, I'll talk to him properly and ask him to respect you. Take good care of your body. There's still hope for you to have children in the future."
"Hehe!" Little Wen sneered. "Mother, according to the current situation in the mansion, starving every day, can I take good care of my body?"
Wen's eyes narrowed instantly.
"What do you want?"
Little Wen said, "Let Song Zhaoyang come back!"
Wen's face darkened. "Don't you know the condition for Song to come back?"
Little Wen sneered. "Doesn't she just want compensation? Then give it to her!"
Wen snorted. "Can you afford it?"
Little Wen looked at Wen calmly and said, "Mother, I can't afford it, but don't you have the money? Over the years, you must have saved a lot of private money. Then you can take out a part of it and compensate Song Zhaoyang."
"You... you..." Wen pointed at her angrily, trembling.
Little Wen continued, "Don't be angry. Think about Yaoyao, who is raised by Song Zhaoyang. She's your own granddaughter."
Little Wen emphasized the words "own granddaughter".
"Song Zhaoyang dotes on this child so much. Everything you give will also be spent on this child. Thinking like this, we're not at a loss."
"Now, big brother has been conferred the title of marquis, and Song Zhaoyang is a second - rank imperial - order lady. The glory of the entire Xue Mansion lies with the eldest branch. Now we can only rely on the eldest branch. We can plan slowly in the future. Am I right?"
"Falling out with the eldest branch is harmful to you and our second branch."
"Mother, you've eaten more salt than I've eaten rice. Don't you understand this truth?"