Chapter 555 - 333: Completely Suppressing Mrs. Cai
The First Madam hadn’t expected Yun Zhao to send people to the Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion with such great fanfare, bringing an Imperial Physician in tow. The man leading them was none other than Zhang Maoquan. In the Capital City, few among the official families who frequented the palace would fail to recognize his face.
Zhang Maoquan arrived with an imposing air. He was neither servile nor overbearing when facing Mrs. Cai, the Marchioness, and he didn’t so much as bat an eye upon seeing the well-known Third Young Madam Xu.
"Her Highness heard the Marquis was knocked unconscious and is deeply concerned. She specially requested a decree from Your Majesty to dispatch an Imperial Physician to the mansion for a diagnosis. Marchioness, please calm yourself. Let us wait for the Imperial Physician to finish his examination."
Mrs. Cai’s heart lurched. She was struck by a terrible premonition.
Her eyes immediately shot to the First Madam opposite her, burning with fury. ’She’s the only one who could have leaked this to the palace.’
The First Madam’s expression remained unchanged. She had long since grown tired of Mrs. Cai and her daughter’s inability to grasp the gravity of the situation. They failed to understand the stakes, driven only by their selfish desires. They cared nothing for the future and reputation of their own son and brother, let alone the prospects of her own son and the family’s other illegitimate sons.
’But why should the reputations of the men in the Song Family’s next generation be ruined because of them?’
Bo Chang sent a letter home every month, and from his letters, she knew that Bu Yue had been studying with great diligence for the past year or two. It was clear that since escaping the toxic influence of Mrs. Cai and her daughter, the young man’s entire perspective had changed.
In another year, it would be time for the imperial examinations. He might actually pass and earn an official title. But with Mrs. Cai and Song Qinghan around, if he were to return to the Capital City, he would likely be dragged right back into the quagmire.
Although Song Bu Yue and Yun Zhao’s relationship was not good, Bu Yue was her third brother-in-law’s legitimate eldest son. The title of Marquis would one day be his. Therefore, Song Bu Yue’s ambition, his attitude, and his capabilities were all inextricably linked to Yun Zhao’s own fate.
The First Madam couldn’t possibly watch him be dragged into the mire again. Since Yun Zhao had made her stance clear, she had to follow suit immediately.
She had indeed underestimated Song Qinghan’s shamelessness. She never imagined that this would be her endgame—to drag the entire Marquis Mansion through the mud for her own selfish benefit.
"Sister-in-law, why would you do this?" Mrs. Cai strode over in a few quick steps, unable to suppress the fury in her eyes.
The First Madam straightened her spine and swept a cold gaze over Mrs. Cai, not deigning to even glance at Song Qinghan, who had followed her mother. "Why? Do you truly not understand, Sister-in-law? You may be willing to disregard your own son, but I cannot disregard the Song Family’s reputation and our children’s futures. Since you have eyes only for your daughter and wish to drag the entire Song Family down, as the Lady of the Family, how could I possibly sit by and allow you two to bring ruin upon us!"
"Aunt, you’ve misunderstood. My mother didn’t mean..."
"Third Young Madam Xu."
Hearing the First Madam use this title, a chill shot through Song Qinghan’s heart, and her face turned deathly pale.
"A married daughter belongs to her husband’s family. Since you have no intention of divorcing, you should meddle less in the affairs of your maiden home. Before you came back to stir up trouble, your mother was the glorious and admired Marchioness of this mansion. But now that you’ve caused this uproar..." The First Madam snorted, then turned her gaze to Mrs. Cai. "Sister-in-law, you’d best consider how you’re going to explain yourself to my brother-in-law when he wakes. I have already sent word to the Cai Family, and I imagine someone will be here shortly. A wife who, after a disagreement with her husband over their daughter’s affairs, develops the intent to murder him... our Song Family will not tolerate such a vicious woman!"
Mrs. Cai trembled with rage at the grave accusation the First Madam had leveled against her. "Nonsense! It was just an accident..."
"An ’accident’ that left my brother-in-law unconscious? If you had been *trying* to be careful, I’m afraid he’d be dead by now!"
"Aunt, how can you make such slanderous accusations!" Song Qinghan was truly panicking now. ’If something happens to Mother, what will become of me? I have to protect her. I can’t just let the First Madam dictate the narrative.’
The First Madam’s gaze sharpened as she looked at the surrounding servants. "Are you all dead? These are the Song Family’s private affairs, so we won’t be needing Third Young Madam Xu’s presence. Escort her out now!"
"Sister-in-law!"
"Aunt, you can’t do this."
Nanny Zhao and Nanny Qian, who had been waiting at the ready, immediately sprang into action at the First Madam’s command. One of them restrained Mrs. Cai, holding her so tightly she couldn’t move. The other, flanked by several maids, began to hustle Song Qinghan toward the exit. "This way, please, Third Young Madam," she said.
Song Qinghan opened her mouth to shout, but Nanny Qian, who had a handkerchief ready, promptly stuffed it into her mouth. The nanny’s face, however, was all smiles. "Third Young Madam, it’s best if you leave with your dignity intact. Don’t make things difficult for an old servant like me; I’m only following orders. Tell me, why must you forsake the life of luxury at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion just to come back and torment our Marchioness? What’s the point of it all?"
Song Qinghan’s struggles were futile. The maids she had brought with her were also gagged and escorted out. A carriage was already waiting outside. The mistress and her servants were bundled onto it, the door was slammed shut, and it sped straight for the Marquis Wuxin Mansion.
Nanny Qian watched the carriage speed away and spat fiercely on the ground. ’A perfectly good Marquis Mansion, thrown into utter chaos by that woman. Our Eldest Young Master’s career is flourishing, and he’s married Princess Duanjing. His future can’t be ruined at her hands.’
Mrs. Cai watched helplessly as the First Madam’s servants sent her daughter directly back to the Marquis Wuxin Mansion. She didn’t need to think to imagine the looks on the faces of everyone there.
In a fit of rage, her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she fainted.
The First Madam said slowly, "What are you all standing around for? The Marchioness has fainted out of concern for the Marquis’s health. See that you attend to her well."
Mrs. Cai’s servants, not daring to even breathe too loudly, hastily carried her away.
The Imperial Physician had already finished examining the Marquis Wenxin’s pulse long ago. He had heard the commotion outside with perfect clarity, and cold sweat was beading on his forehead. ’What a massive scandal,’ he thought.
He recalled the message Zhang Maoquan had given him earlier and now, having heard this family drama with his own ears... He was a respectable Imperial Physician, yet they were forcing him to act like a common gossip. It truly put him in an awkward position.
But the Imperial Physician could not afford to offend Zhang Maoquan. With a solemn expression, he explained the Marquis Wenxin’s condition to the First Madam, stating that he required several days of quiet rest and must not be agitated again. In short, he exaggerated the severity of the Marquis’s condition and even left a formal written diagnosis.
The First Madam was very pleased. ’This Imperial Physician has clearly been briefed,’ she thought. ’He’s very perceptive.’ With a look of grave concern, she said, "Our eldest master is serving as an official far away in Yucheng. Here in the Capital City, everyone in the family, young and old, relies on the Marquis for support. If anything were to happen to him, what would become of us all? Thankfully, the Imperial Physician’s miraculous skills can bring him back from the brink. We are eternally grateful."
After speaking, the First Madam presented him with an exceptionally generous consultation fee. The Imperial Physician wouldn’t have dared to accept it, but he was unable to refuse and could only take it with great reluctance.
After seeing the Imperial Physician off, the First Madam let out a long sigh of relief. ’If I can’t completely crush Mrs. Cai this time,’ she resolved, ’I might as well give up my title as Lady of the Family!’