The younger Mrs. Wen stared at the scene in front of her in astonishment, then turned to look at Mrs. Wen.
Mrs. Wen's face visibly darkened.
How daring Song Zhaoyang was!
The imperial physician stepped forward and said to Mrs. Wen, "Madam Xue, may I examine you?"
Hearing the imperial physician's tone, Mrs. Wen was so angry that her chest heaved up and down.
She roared, "Get out!"
Scolded by Mrs. Wen, the imperial physician frowned. He said unhappily, "Madam Xue has a strong voice. It seems that you're in excellent health! In that case, I'll go back and report to the head of the Imperial Medical Academy."
After saying that, he flung his sleeves and left.
Steward Lu watched as Mrs. Wen didn't even bother to pretend and offended the imperial physician. He had no choice but to see the imperial physician off.
The younger Mrs. Wen looked at Mrs. Wen, whose face was ashen. She said helplessly, "Mother, Song Zhaoyang didn't even come back when you were sick. It seems that she's determined to stay in the villa this time. We'll have to put in some effort to invite her back to the mansion."
Mrs. Wen gritted her teeth. Then she turned to look at the younger Mrs. Wen. "How much silver do you still have?"
The younger Mrs. Wen's face changed. Her kind mother - in - law actually had her eyes on her money.
If she really took out the silver, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog - gone forever!
Thinking of this, she said helplessly, "Mother, I don't have any silver left."
Saying that, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, looking aggrieved. "It was all taken away by the second master."
Mrs. Wen slapped the table hard, which startled the younger Mrs. Wen.
"Get out!"
The younger Mrs. Wen didn't dare to stay any longer. She got up and quickly left.
Mrs. Wen gritted her teeth. "Everyone values money so much. Fine! Very good!"
—
When Song Zhaoyang learned that the imperial physician had been driven away by Mrs. Wen, she sneered.
Nanny Xia gloated and said, "The old madam has stolen the chicken but lost the rice. Her pretending to be ill must have spread throughout the Imperial Medical Academy. If she dares to use this to accuse you of being unfilial, the imperial physician can testify for you and make her suffer in silence!"
Song Zhaoyang nodded. Remembering something, she said, "Go and call Fei Yang here."
After Fei Yang came, Song Zhaoyang asked straightforwardly, "Have you caught Nanny Shi?"
Fei Yang shook his head. "I've always had people looking for her, and the Magistrate of the Capital has also posted a reward notice to arrest her, but she seems to have disappeared into thin air."
Song Zhaoyang's expression darkened.
Nanny Shi took all the blame on herself for Mrs. Wen. Such a loyal person would surely look for Mrs. Wen again.
Maybe she was hiding in a corner and would appear at the right time.
Thinking of this, she said to Fei Yang, "Fei Yang, send someone to monitor Mrs. Wen."
Fei Yang nodded, but there was a look of hesitation on his face.
"What's wrong?" Song Zhaoyang asked.
Fei Yang said, "We may need to ask the Song family for help."
Song Zhaoyang sighed. She still didn't have enough people at her disposal.
She had to think of a way.
She nodded and said, "If you think it's necessary, go to the Song family. If my father asks, you can answer truthfully."
"Yes, my lady!" Fei Yang answered respectfully after getting Song Zhaoyang's permission.
After Fei Yang left, Song Zhaoyang looked worried.
"Madam, what's wrong?" Nanny Xia asked nervously.
Song Zhaoyang sighed. "It's not a good idea to always rely on the Song family."
After all, she was a married woman. Even if her brothers had no objections, what about her nephews in the future?
She had to develop her own power.
Nanny Xia suggested, "Shall we discuss it with the Marquis?"
Song Zhaoyang pursed her lips. She didn't want to!
In the previous life, Xue Chucheng had protected her all the time. In this life, it was her turn to protect this man.
The corner of her mouth curled up. "No! I think I can solve it!"
If she couldn't cultivate her own people, she would buy them with money!
The Jianghu was so vast. She didn't believe that she couldn't buy someone to help her with money!
"Go and call Ziying here!"
Nanny Xia left after receiving the order.
After Ziying came, Song Zhaoyang asked directly, "Ziying, do you know about people in the Jianghu?"
Ziying was startled. She looked at Song Zhaoyang in confusion and asked, "Madam, why do you suddenly mention this?"
The corner of Song Zhaoyang's mouth curled up. "It is said that people in the Jianghu value love and loyalty. For example, Nanny Shi beside the old madam took all the blame on herself for the sake of kindness. I'm thinking that she's so amazing that she even managed to escape the arrest of the court."
Ziying fell into memories. She said faintly, "They do value love and loyalty. They're all true - to - life people. The Jianghu and the court have always kept their own ways."
"Oh?" Song Zhaoyang raised her eyebrows. "Can we bribe them with a hefty sum?"
Ziying twitched the corner of her mouth. "Madam, you're not planning to..."
She hesitated to speak.
Song Zhaoyang nodded. "Yes! That's exactly what you're thinking! Do you know them?"
Ziying said, "My parents were people in the Jianghu. Later, they were chased by enemies and were rescued by Lord Song. Later, Lord Song sent me to the Kunlun School to learn martial arts, but..."
Her expression became serious.
"After I returned to the Song family, my master ordered me never to mention my master school outside, so as not to bring disaster to the Song family and the master school. Over the years, I've always remembered my master's teachings."
Song Zhaoyang didn't expect Ziying to have such an experience.
She asked, "If I ask you to bribe people in the Jianghu now and make them work for me, can you do it?"
Ziying stared with wide eyes. "Bribe?"
Song Zhaoyang nodded. "Yes, with a hefty reward."
Ziying hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll give it a try."
Song Zhaoyang instructed, "Go. I'm waiting for your good news."
After Ziying left, Song Zhaoyang tapped the table rhythmically with her fingers.
The Song family had always been cultivating their own loyal followers, but the Xue family, a rising star in the capital, didn't.
Song Zhaoyang couldn't help but think that if they had had loyal followers in the previous life, would they have been so miserable?
She sighed. This matter had to be implemented as soon as possible.
The next day, Mingyao, the senior maid beside Mrs. Wen, came to the villa with gifts.
"Your servant pays respects to the first madam."
Song Zhaoyang asked indifferently, "Mingyao, why aren't you serving the old madam well and come here instead?"
Mingyao said respectfully, "First madam, your servant is ordered by the old madam to bring the second madam's gifts. The old madam hopes that you'll be magnanimous and forgive the second madam's mistakes. Please come back to the Xue Mansion as soon as possible."
Song Zhaoyang sneered secretly.
She wondered how long Mrs. Wen could hold on!
Her eyes swept over the box brought by Mingyao. She said indifferently, "Oh? The second madam's gifts? What are they?"
Mingyao opened the box.
When Song Zhaoyang saw the things in the box, she curled her lips.
Just these!
The things in the box were all showy but useless. They seemed valuable but couldn't be sold.
Because these things were bestowed on Mrs. Wen by the imperial court, and they all had imperial seals on them.
Mrs. Wen wanted to use these things to get rid of her. Did she think she was stupid!
Song Zhaoyang picked up the teacup in her hand and said indifferently, "Mingyao, take these things back. I can't accept them!"