Ming Yao's face changed suddenly.
She curtsied and said, "This slave doesn't dare! These were brought here for you by the old madam. If this slave were to take them back, the old madam would surely not forgive this slave. Please, First Madam, accept them!"
Song Zhaoyang put down her teacup forcefully.
The sound made Ming Yao's heart skip a beat.
Song Zhaoyang said calmly, "Ming Yao, how long have you been serving by the old madam's side?"
Ming Yao replied respectfully, "This slave has served by the old madam's side for three years."
"Three years…" Song Zhaoyang raised her eyebrows, "That's not a short time. These items were all bestowed upon the old madam by the palace. This slave wouldn't dare to touch them. You can convey my words to mother."
Ming Yao's heart tightened as she watched Song Zhaoyang stand up and leave. She let out a sigh of relief and left as well.
Madam Wen looked at the returned items and listened to Ming Yao's exact repetition of Song Zhaoyang's words. She ground her teeth in anger.
Steward Lu came to report. He looked at the low pressure in the room and said nervously, "Old Madam, Kitchen Auntie Liao said that today's purchased ingredients did not reach the kitchen. This servant asked the purchasing supervisor, Zeng, and he said that there wasn't enough silver."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wen angrily threw her teacup at Steward Lu.
She said angrily, "If there isn't enough silver, then just advance it! Over the years, I've bestowed quite a bit upon you all. Do you think I'll take even a single cent from you?"
"If you don't want to work anymore! I'll directly sell you off!"
Madam Wen's words immediately sent a chill up Steward Lu's feet, making him feel cold all over.
His face turned pale as he said, "This servant will immediately go and supervise Supervisor Zeng to get him to purchase the ingredients and return to the mansion as soon as possible."
Madam Wen let out a cold snort, "Scram!"
After Steward Lu left, Madam Wen got up in annoyance and walked towards the storehouse.
Although she didn't want to give her silver to Song Zhaoyang, if this continued, she would truly become a laughingstock in the capital.
"Prepare the horses!"
She would go to the villa herself.
Upon learning that Madam Wen was going to the villa herself to pick up Song Zhaoyang, Young Madam Wen ordered someone to bring over Bad Willow.
"Mother, I'll go with you to meet Song Zhaoyang."
Madam Wen's face darkened as she said, "What are you joining in for!"
Young Madam Wen said aggrievedly, "Mother, I want to see that child. It's been a long time since I last saw her. After all, she came out of my stomach."
Madam Wen's face softened a little, but when she saw Bad Willow being carried by the maid behind her, her brows furrowed.
"Why is she so skinny? How did you raise her?"
Young Madam Wen said indifferently, "As long as she can be raised, why do we need to be so particular?"
Madam Wen said calmly, "Although that's the case, you have to be more careful. After all, she's your daughter now. Her every move represents you. For the sake of your reputation, you still have to do the face-saving projects."
Young Madam Wen suddenly realized, "Just like you did back then?"
As her words fell, Madam Wen glared at Young Madam Wen.
Young Madam Wen was indifferent. Wasn't it so?
The outsiders all said that Madam Wen, as a stepmother, treated her stepson, Xue Chucheng, equally, but Young Madam Wen secretly scoffed.
How could that be the same?
If it wasn't the child that came out of your stomach, how could you treat them with your heart?
Just like Bad Willow.
Young Madam Wen stared at the sallow-faced child with a cold look in her eyes as she thought of how she could obtain the greatest benefits from this child.
When Madam Wen saw Young Madam Wen's malicious look at Bad Willow, she reminded her, "Be careful. You don't look like you're treating your own child. If Song Zhaoyang were to notice and send someone to investigate and find out the truth, it would be disadvantageous for us."
Young Madam Wen retracted her calculating expression and said, "I know, mother. Then, let's go together."
Madam Wen said, "You can go, but this child…"
A smile curled up Young Madam Wen's lips, "She's going. Let Song Zhaoyang take a look at this child. If one day in the future, she were to find out about this child, wouldn't she regret what she's doing now? Don't you think this scene would be very satisfying?"
When Madam Wen thought of this scene, she felt satisfied in her heart and did not object. She directly said, "Fine! You can bring her with me."
…
In the villa, Song Zhaoyang learned from the supervisor that the harvest of the crops around the villa this year was good. She smiled in satisfaction.
"Good! Reward them all! Everyone will receive an additional month's allowance!"
The supervisor thanked her with a smile.
"Madam, the old madam and Second Madam are here. Second Madam even brought Second Miss over." Magpie rushed in.
Song Zhaoyang raised her eyebrows. She did not expect Madam Wen to come in person.
The supervisor immediately excused himself.
Song Zhaoyang said to Magpie, "Let them wait in the main hall. I'll go over later."
In the main hall, Madam Wen and Young Madam Wen waited for an entire incense stick, but Song Zhaoyang still did not come.
Young Madam Wen waited impatiently. She said unhappily to Magpie, who was serving at the side, "What is sister-in-law doing? Making mother wait for so long. Is she doing it on purpose?"
Magpie replied respectfully, "This slave will go and take a look. Please wait a moment with the old madam!"
After she said that, she excused herself and left, leaving only Madam Wen and Young Madam Wen in the main hall.
Bad Willow, who was at the side, cried from hunger.
This crying was like a demonic sound that made Young Madam Wen extremely annoyed.
"Cry cry cry! If you cry again, I'll sew your mouth shut!"
Young Madam Wen roared at Bad Willow.
Bad Willow heard Young Madam Wen's scolding and cried even more heart-wrenchingly.
Madam Wen's face darkened as she said to the maid who was carrying Bad Willow, "Take Miss out."
The maid bowed and carried Bad Willow away.
Madam Wen looked at the annoyed Young Madam Wen and sneered, "She's trying to show us who's boss! If we were to be angered away by her, it would play into her hands!"
Young Madam Wen impatiently sat down and said, "Mother, are we just going to wait like this?"
Madam Wen sneered, "Do you have any other methods?"
Young Madam Wen rolled her eyes and said, "How about I bring Bad Willow to look for Song Zhaoyang and go and take a look at Yaoyao?"
Young Madam Wen's main goal was still to go and take a look at her so-called biological daughter.
Madam Wen let out a cold snort and said unhappily, "You better stay here obediently! If you were to barge in and anger Song Zhaoyang, and she doesn't want to return to the mansion, you can eat white rice and pickles every day!"
These words immediately left Young Madam Wen speechless. She could only stay in the main hall unwillingly.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law waited for a long time before Song Zhaoyang finally came late.
"Mother, younger sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I'm late."
A look of apology appeared on Song Zhaoyang's face.
"I just had something to do and had to deal with it."
Madam Wen coldly looked at Song Zhaoyang, who had a faint smile on her face, and asked calmly, "Eldest Daughter-in-law, you're busier in the villa than in the mansion."
Song Zhaoyang blinked her eyes and said innocently, "There's nothing I can do. I have to properly manage my dowry. Otherwise, relying solely on the Marquis' salary, there are so many people in our big house. How would it be enough?"
Madam Wen said impatiently, "Alright, you can manage it even when you return to the mansion. Pack your things and return with me!"
Song Zhaoyang retracted the smile on her face and said in confusion, "Mother, you're inviting me to return to the mansion? That's not right! The moment I return to the capital, we'll move into the mansion bestowed by the emperor. This was already agreed upon with you."
"Could it be that you want the mansion bestowed by the emperor to be empty? This is not fulfilling the emperor's kindness. If it were to reach the emperor's ears, it would be considered a great crime!"