Chapter 877: Torment
Chapter 877 -880: Torment
Li Cuicui’s health finally began to slowly recover after her grandsons secured official postings. While she had been immersed in joy these past few days, she never expected the inner courtyard to be the first to lose its peace.
She summoned everyone together. “What on earth are you all fussing about? Will you not be satisfied until you’ve ruined their official duties? Let alone the fact that you are all still in mourning—even if the mourning period were over, they are going out to handle official business. How would they have time to look after their families?”
“Grandma,” Song Xiuyang said, looking up after noticing that everyone else had their heads bowed in silence. She cursed inwardly before continuing. “We aren’t saying we have to follow them right this instant. There are only a few months left until the mourning period ends. We just want an explanation of how we’ll be settled when the time comes.
“Besides, when Seventh Uncle went out to handle official business back then, didn’t Seventh Aunt go with him? Why is it suddenly unacceptable for us?”
Jin Qianqian was taken aback. She had assumed this was just a minor dispute among the individual households, so how did she get dragged into it? They were actually trying to use her as an excuse. Their audacity was truly growing.
Li Cuicui looked at Song Xiuyang, guessing she was the instigator of this entire ordeal.
She slammed her hand on the table. “How dare you compare yourselves to your Seventh Aunt!
“If you are so capable, then have your husbands go and score first place in the imperial examinations too! When that happens, I will personally lead the family in putting you on a pedestal.
“Your Seventh Uncle and Seventh Aunt paved their own way, step by step, without relying on the family in the slightest. Whatever achievements your husbands have now are all thanks to your Seventh Uncle! How dare you draw such a comparison?
“Song Family, I know exactly what you’re secretly plotting. You have failed to bear any children for all these years, yet no one in the family has ever made things difficult for you. We are kind, but do not push your luck.”
Hearing this same old reason brought up again, Song Xiuyang’s face flushed bright red. “Grandma, you all still look down on me.
“Do you think I want things to be this way? I want to have a child too! I also wanted to adopt a child from one of the other brothers, but none of you agreed.
“I know you’re all thinking about taking a concubine for Le Family next year, or having him take another wife altogether. But on what grounds? I have been married into the Gu family for so many years, yet you just want to kick me to the curb!”
Jin Qianqian frowned slightly. She genuinely could not agree with Song Xiuyang’s words. She had previously mentioned to Xie Ruyi that if the brothers were unwilling to let them adopt, they could easily take in a couple of orphans from the outside. If they brought in infants who knew nothing of their origins and raised them well, what difference would there be from biological children? At the very least, it would save them from endless entanglement with the biological parents. Xie Ruyi had seemingly been willing, but Song Xiuyang had rejected the idea outright.
In her own words, an outsider’s child wouldn’t share the blood of the Gu family. Even if she raised the child, they would eventually be despised by Gu Family. Such a child would always be treated as inferior to everyone else in the Gu family, so why should she go through such a thankless effort?
Jin Qianqian was rather speechless when she heard that. Which family would be willing to hand over their own flesh and blood to her? Everyone had been living comfortably these past few years and could afford to raise their own children. Who would bear to give their child away?
Furthermore, this woman was clearly not easy to get along with. Even if she did adopt a child from the outside, Jin Qianqian would have had to arrange for someone to keep an eye on things, just to ensure the child wouldn’t suffer abuse at her hands.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Xie Ruyi step forward and angrily scold, “You just won’t be satisfied until you turn this household completely upside down! You all know exactly what kind of temper she has, yet you join her in making a scene.”
She directed these words at the other daughters-in-law. “You have your own sons and daughters. The men in your households will never have the chance to take concubines in this lifetime. If they dare to harbor any wandering eyes while out there, I will take charge and kick them out for you!
“It was incredibly difficult for your Seventh Uncle to secure official postings for them, transforming you all from peasants into an official family. Are you truly trying to ruin this opportunity? Would you all just be happy staying here and farming a few acres of land?”
Song Xiuyang’s face grew even uglier as everyone pointed their fingers at her. She wondered what she had done wrong. She only wanted to take a gamble at this final opportunity. Shangjing was full of skilled doctors, and she might even find a way to have an Imperial Physician examine her. Then, perhaps, she could hold a chubby little son by next year. Did these people want to deny her even this slim chance? Were they just planning to kick her out once the mourning period ended?
She unleashed her trump card. “Then Le Family shouldn’t go out either! I’m perfectly willing to let him stay here as a farmer, and I will be a farmer’s wife.”
“Bastard!” Xie Ruyi could bear it no longer, slamming the table right in front of her mother-in-law. “You are trying to ruin my son! Let me tell you, even if you two separate from the family and live on your own, it is not your place to make such decisions!
“Mother,” Xie Ruyi said, turning to Li Cuicui, “I do not dare to keep a daughter-in-law like this any longer. I ask that you make the decision, Mother.”
Everyone was stunned the moment Xie Ruyi’s words came out.
Song Xiuyang was the first to react. “You want to divorce me? Wouldn’t that make the Gu Family rules a complete joke?”
Jin Qianqian frowned slightly, realizing the loophole in this situation. The clan rules effectively restrained the Gu family, but they had also opened a window for those with malicious intentions. If they married in any future daughters-in-law who acted like Song Xiuyang, wouldn’t Gu Family be forced to swallow the bitter pill in silence? It seemed they needed to add a clause about moral conduct in the future, just to leave a way out for the younger generations of the Gu family.
Although she also disapproved of some of Gu Lejia’s behavior, Song Xiuyang’s relentless fussing would have already caused absolute chaos if not for the numerous elders keeping her in check.
Song Xiuyang had been secretly observing Jin Qianqian the entire time. Seeing her frown, she mistakenly thought Jin Qianqian agreed with her and rushed over to grab her.
Jin Qianqian was completely unprepared for the sudden movement and was given a fright. Before she could even utter a word, the maid behind her flipped her wrist and immediately clamped down on Song Xiuyang’s arm.
The maid pinched her pressure point, causing such intense pain that she let go instantly. However, she immediately started crying out in pain. “What are you doing? Let go of me right now! You’re hurting me!”
To her surprise, the maid completely ignored her and turned to apologize instead. “Madam, it was this servant’s negligence. Please punish me, Madam.”
Ming Dan had worked incredibly hard to earn the right to serve by Madam’s side, and she was always meticulously cautious on a daily basis. However, the peaceful life in Gaoling Village these past few days had made her lower her guard. The fact that she had accidentally allowed this Song Family to succeed and hurt Madam’s hand was entirely her dereliction of duty.
“Go back and see the butler to receive your punishment.” Jin Qianqian glanced at her, effectively letting the matter drop. The real troublemaker here was Song Family. “Song Family, what exactly were you trying to do just now?”
Faced with Jin Qianqian’s icy questioning, Song Xiuyang stopped struggling. “Seventh Aunt, hurry and make this lowly servant let go! She’s hurting me! I just wanted to get closer to you. Who knew this wretch would suddenly attack?”
Jin Qianqian gently rolled up her sleeve to reveal her wrist. The originally fair skin was already circled by a ring of red.
The looks in everyone’s eyes changed as they stared at Song Xiuyang.
“Song Family, nobody would dare accept that kind of closeness from you!” Liu Liu gasped. “I didn’t expect you to have such a strong grip despite your usual laziness. Your Seventh Aunt is a person of high status! How could a crude woman like you be allowed to offend her?”
Everyone in the entire village now held an even deeper layer of respect for Jin Qianqian. After all, not only was she a First-Grade Imperial Decree Lady, but she was also the birth mother of Uncle Cheng’an. It was one thing for Song Xiuyang to not try and curry favor, but to actually strike with such a heavy hand?
It was only because Old Seventh and the two children weren’t present. Otherwise, would Song Xiuyang even have the chance to speak?