She had thought that by seizing Song Wanchu's mistakes, she could make a big fuss and completely ruin Song Wanchu's image of being virtuous and capable in front of the old lady.
But now, she had slapped herself in the face.
"Madam, the monthly allowances for each branch of the Duke's Mansion were personally set by the master. Wanchu dare not embezzle them, nor dare she betray the old lady's trust and line her own pockets. Moreover, she has never been disrespectful to the elders. Wanchu really can't bear the charges you've mentioned."
Song Wanchu refuted one by one the charges that Princess Jiahe had imposed on her.
Although her body was covered in wounds and her face was pale and haggard, she still exuded the dignified and steady demeanor of the mistress of the house.
Facing the mean Princess Jiahe, she was neither overbearing nor humble, and still showed due respect.
The old lady nodded approvingly.
She had always been confident in Song Wanchu. She had not asked about family affairs for a long time. Since Song Wanchu came from a wealthy family and had a generous dowry, she no longer spent the money from the public treasury. Therefore, the old lady despised Princess Jiahe's behavior very much.
Seeing Princess Jiahe's embarrassed and angry look, the old lady sneered sarcastically, "Your Highness is of royal birth. If word gets out that you've spent your daughter - in - law's dowry for three years, not only will it be hard for you to face others, but the entire Duke's Mansion will also lose face."
This was a hint to Princess Jiahe that this matter should end here.
"The old lady is absolutely right. I'll persuade my aunt properly," Yu Huiyan said sensibly as she stepped forward. "Aunt was indeed a bit impatient today. Please don't take it to heart, cousin. The reputation of the Duke's Mansion is more important than anything else."
With just a few words, she had distanced herself completely from this storm, as if it was all Princess Jiahe's fault.
She also subtly implied that if the matter of Princess Jiahe spending her daughter - in - law's dowry got out, it must have been Song Wanchu who spread it.
To Song Wanchu and the old lady, this was clearly a case of protesting too much.
But Princess Jiahe couldn't understand at all. Instead, she kept feeling sorry for Yu Huiyan's patience and sensibility.
The old lady smiled faintly. There was a sharp look in her eyes as she looked at Yu Huiyan. "This is our family's business. Miss Yu, an outsider, doesn't need to worry about it."
Yu Huiyan couldn't stand others saying that she was an outsider in the Duke's Mansion. She had already regarded herself as Liang Yuzhou's legitimate wife.
But in front of the majestic and wise old lady, she didn't dare to show anything. She just lowered her head, with red - rimmed eyes, looking as if she had been wronged.
Princess Jiahe retorted stubbornly, "How can Huiyan be an outsider?"
"Her mother died early. She's a poor soul. Since Your Highness pities her so much, why not adopt her as your daughter and raise her in the mansion? Then she can get married with the status of a legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion. Isn't that a win - win situation?"
As soon as the old lady said this, Princess Jiahe shook her head vigorously. "That won't do. Huiyan can't be my daughter!"
She wanted Yu Huiyan to marry Liang Yuzhou, but she knew the old lady's attitude and didn't dare to say it out.
"Since you don't regard her as your daughter, is there anything wrong with me saying that she's an outsider?"
Princess Jiahe was so retorted that her face turned pale and red alternately, but she couldn't say a single word of refutation.
The old lady tucked in the quilt for Song Wanchu herself. Her face was kind, but when she turned to look at Yu Huiyan, it became cold, full of warnings.
Yu Huiyan felt as if her entire soul had been seen through, and she buried her head even lower.
"Your Highness, I have no objection to you letting Miss Yu stay in the mansion for a long - term. Our family is not so poor that we can't afford to support a relative. But please, as an elder, teach her well what she should say and what she shouldn't say, what kind of thoughts she should have and what kind of thoughts she shouldn't. If there's another such incident in front of me, I won't intervene. The master will make his own judgment."
This was almost a direct warning to Princess Jiahe not to be provoked by Yu Huiyan's words and lose her temper.
To kill a snake, one must hit its vital point, and the old duke was Princess Jiahe's vital point.
Princess Jiahe's heart skipped a beat, and worry loomed over her.
Her relationship with the old duke was not good.
When the old duke was young, he was one of the most elegant young men in the capital. He was also brave and good at fighting, with great military achievements. Princess Jiahe had secretly fallen in love with him.
After the old duke's first wife passed away, she went to the emperor and begged for a marriage.
After marriage, the old duke gave her respect but not love.
The old duke only had his first wife in his heart. The eldest son, Liang Yuchuan, resembled his first wife by seven - tenths. Although he was inferior to Liang Yuzhou in every way, he still received the old duke's favor. The old duke had always preferred to pass on the title of the heir to Liang Yuchuan.
If the old duke knew about this, it might affect Yuzhou's standing.
Princess Jiahe sobered up a bit. Afraid of affecting her son's future and realizing that she was in the wrong from the beginning to the end, she left in a hurry with Yu Huiyan.
The old lady gently patted Song Wanchu's hand, her eyes full of pity.
"You're such an honest child. Princess Jiahe is like a bottomless pit. You've subsidized her with your dowry for three years, and she still belittles you everywhere. You've suffered such great grievances but didn't even tell anyone."
Song Wanchu was quite satisfied with how this matter had been resolved. If the old lady hadn't been here to preside over the situation and give a warning today, she really wasn't sure if she could have made Princess Jiahe back down so quickly.
"Wanchu has the old lady's pity. I'm not wronged at all," she replied with a smile to the old lady.
The old lady showed a hint of annoyance. "I know. You've done all this for Yuzhou's sake."
Song Wanchu fell silent. Yes, in the past three years, how much torment had she silently endured from Princess Jiahe? She just didn't want their mother - son relationship to get worse because of her.
But in the end, she was just being sentimental. Liang Yuzhou didn't have her in his heart, and he would never confront Princess Jiahe for her sake.
"Did Yuzhou know that you'd subsidized her with your dowry for three years?" the old lady asked again.
Song Wanchu shook her head, feeling a bit bitter in her heart.
It had been three years. If he had just bothered to find out a little, he should have known.
With his proud and assertive personality, he would never have allowed Princess Jiahe to enjoy the subsidy so swaggeringly for three years.
He didn't care about anything related to her.
Before she left, resolving this matter satisfactorily could at least preserve his reputation.
Before leaving, the old lady ordered Nanzhi, "Find out how much money Princess Jiahe has spent of Wanchu's in these years from the accountant. Then bring it to me. I'll send it to Princess Jiahe myself. Even if she empties her family fortune, she has to return Wanchu's money!"
This was to avenge her own girl. Nanzhi was overjoyed. She quickly thanked the old lady and went to find the accountant.
As soon as the accountant heard that it was the old lady's order, he rushed to finish calculating the accounts before nightfall.
The account book was handed to Princess Jiahe through the hands of Qiao Ying, the old lady's chief maid.
Princess Jiahe was so angry that she smashed another set of precious teacups.
"Outrageous! It's just a little bit of her dowry. Is she still going to pester me about it?"
The account showed a full 50,000 taels of silver. Even if she sold the entire Fragrant Snow Pavilion, she couldn't make up that much!
Yu Huiyan knelt in front of Princess Jiahe with a thud, crying loudly.
"Aunt, it must be because Song Wanchu is jealous that cousin loves me. That's why she's making a big deal out of this. I'm the one who caused this trouble. I'm ashamed to stay in the Duke's Mansion any longer. Please let me go back. It doesn't matter if I'm tormented by my step - mother. I don't want to see you being bullied by Song Wanchu!"
She never expected that her aunt had fallen into such a difficult situation. When she first entered the mansion, seeing her aunt dressed in fine clothes and spending money like water, she thought her aunt was very wealthy.
Her father had just returned to the capital and needed a lot of money to manage relationships. The family was also in a tight financial situation. She had even thought of coaxing her aunt to take out her dowry to subsidize the Yu family.
But unexpectedly, not only did she not get the money, but her aunt also had to pay back 50,000 taels!
Princess Jiahe hated Song Wanchu even more. She was sure that Song Wanchu had instigated the old lady, which was why the old lady came to collect the debt!
Even the only teapot on the table couldn't escape. It was smashed into pieces by Princess Jiahe.
Just as the teapot shattered, Liang Yuzhou's voice came, "Mother, why are you losing your temper again?"