Linghu Deyin was under Duke of Ji, but he was the highest-rank official of the Ministry of War. As he lost his mother, Jian Xubai, Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments, should go for condolence anyway.

At the moment, they couldn't go to visit the Yuan Family anymore. Jian Xubai said goodbye to Song Yixiao and got off the carriage first. He took the horse of one of the guards and rode back home to get changed. Today was the tea ceremony of Jian Yiyou and Princess Changxing, so his clothes were not simple and unadorned, which were not suitable for him to go to the Linghu Family's mansion now.

He left in a hurry while Song Yixiao had no time to delay and directly ordered the carter to rush back home.

As a saying went, husband and wife should be in rapport with each other. Since Jian Xubai's supervisor lost his mother, she had to condole with the womenfolk of the Linghu Family.

After a while, Song Yixiao finally arrived at Duke of Yan's mansion and Jian Xubai had changed his clothes and gone out. She went to the back fall to brief Ms. Zhao and relevant maids. Then she changed her clothes to a suit of quiet color and removed the colorful jewelry from her hair. She just finished everything when Yuedeng came to report, “Madam Mu is here to visit Miss Wei!”

“Send my word to Chan that I will go to receive Madam Mu first!” Song Yixiao pondered for a while. Duke of Yan didn't contact much with the Linghu Family. Now that the elder lady of the Linghu Family just pa.s.sed away, she didn't have to rush there immediately.

Wei Chan got a cold after she fell into the lake and didn't gradually recover until she rested in bed for half a month. During her rehabilitation, Song Yixiao asked Lu Guanlun for a grace period of the annul engagement for marriage and meanwhile sent messages to the Wei Family for several times. However, the Wei Family didn't express explicitly how they would arrange Wei Chan in the future or send anyone to visit her.

Under the circ.u.mstance, Song Yixiao was not sure of Madam Mu's intention of the visit. Of course she didn't dare to leave Madam Mu and Wei Chan alone.

Therefore, she decided to handle this first before she went to the Linghu Family's mansion for condolence.

After a while, she received Madam Mu beneath the festoon gate, “Auntie, you look much thinner. Are you too worried about Chan?”

“Thanks for your favor this time!” Madam Mu not only got thinner but also had a pale face, compared with last time they met. Upon seeing Song Yixiao, she gave a forced smile and sighed, “Or Chan would have…”

Song Yixiao interrupted her with a smile, “No need to say that. If it were not for Grandma and the aunties, how could I become what I am today? Chan is your beloved legitimate daughter. She turns to me for help because she trusts me. How can I stand by and do nothing?”

“Don't mention that at all.” Madam Mu and her sisters-in-law went to the Song Family to make a big fuss and resulted in Madam Liu's death. After all, what they wanted was to shake off the bad reputation of the Wei Family. In fact, they didn't aim to redress the scales for Song Yixiao.

To be more specific, the Wei Family took great advantage of Song Yixiao.

Song Yixiao might not think it through back then but now as she was a first-rank t.i.tled lady, how could she not realize that?

Therefore, Madam Mu didn't feel relieved to hear Song Yixiao's words. Instead, she said carefully, “Actually, it was our fault. In terms of pedigree, we are no match for the Song Family and it was your seniors who maltreated you. Hence, we were afraid that they wouldn't believe so we could only tell clearly about the cause and effect. You were still too young back then. It was okay to do the talking but I am not sure whether others will get the goods on us for that now.”

Song Yixiao said smilingly, “People have the freedom of speech. Why do you care what they say? We must live in our own way.”

Madam Mu considered what Song Yixiao just said and felt that she seemed to imply Wei Chan's matter. Then she was relieved and thought, “It seems that Yixiao treats Chan sincerely indeed.”

Since so, wouldn't Song Yixiao still be angry about being taken advantage of by the Wei Family?

Actually, the Wei Family did make use of Song Yixiao back then, but Song Yixiao gained benefits too. By reason, there was no need to fear that Song Yixiao was disgruntled about the Wei Family.

However, Wei Mengying's revenge not only frightened the Wei Family but also rang a bell to them. As a saying went, like mother, like daughter. After all, Wei Mengying was coddled by the Wei Family and as to both of her marriage matters, the Wei Family lent her a favor. Yet, she still fell out easily with the Wei Family. How about Song Yixiao, who lived in the Wei Family's mansion for only a few days?

With such a thought in her mind, Madam Mu didn't dare to regard Song Yixiao as a junior.

They talked about Wei Chan's recent condition randomly. After arriving Jiangxing Villa, they saw Wei Chan looking out of the room by the entrance with a fox-fur robe. It was several days later only since she could get up, so she looked terribly thin now. Song Yixiao had the fox-fur robe made for her, which was made of long and thick fur. Wearing the robe, she appeared even more pet.i.te and pitiful.

Upon seeing her, Madam Mu felt like sobbing and couldn't help walking faster, “Aren't you still having a cold? Why are you standing in the wind?”

After saying that, she realized that Song Yixiao was still with them and that she had supplanted a guest as a host. She felt uncomfortable when Wei Chan said with a giggle, “I have spent the past days lying in bed and I finally get to take a few walks now. As you are here, how can I not come to welcome you?”

She added, “Don't worry. Look at the fox-fur robe that Yixiao gives me. I feel very warm!”

“Why are you so ignorant?” Madam Mu finally noticed the fur robe on her daughter, which was all white with no variegated colors and smooth. Indisputably, it must be expensive. Although one of the sons-in-law of the Wei Family was a prince and thus the family were well looked after by Prince of Hengshan, the family's a.s.sets were too little. In terms of power and wealth, the Wei Family was only an ordinary one among the official families in the imperial capital.

In the Wei Family, only the elder lady, Madam Cao was qualified to wear such a fur robe of good quality. No one else in the family could afford one.

Now that Song Yixiao gave one to Wei Chan with little effort, Madam Mu had a mixture of complicated feelings. After going into the room, she scolded her daughter. “Your cousin has done a lot for you and even offended your auntie because of you. Moreover, you got a cold carelessly and thus, your cousin had to worry about you and send for a doctor for you. And you haven't paid her back yet! How can you accept such a priceless robe from your cousin?”

“Auntie, you are being too polite!” Song Yixiao took a sip of the tea served by the maid and said, “During my short stay in the Wei Family, did you ever ask me for the expenses? It is only a robe and you say so! Do you regard me as your niece or not?”

Madam Mu said with a bitter smile, “The biggest fortune in my life was to have a niece like you. How can I not regard you as my niece?”

Then she heaved a sigh, “Yet, Chan is a poor kid. I'm afraid that she will be over-spoiled by you and in the future…”

She shook her head and didn't say anything further, but Song Yixiao and Wei Chan both sensed the unspoken meaning. Song Yixiao felt worried and said, “If you don't take me as an outsider, why not tell me what happens? After all, two heads are better than one. Maybe we can come up with a solution together.”

“You've known about Chan's incidence.” Madam Mu glanced at the maids and then Song Yixiao ordered all the servants to leave. Madam Mu decided not to beat around the bush, saying directly, “The marital engagement to Master Guanlun must be broken off. The problem is that Chan cannot be kept at home for the rest of her life after annulling the engagement. She must get married anyway. However, many of the family members all believe that she had better stay away from Mengying. However, Yixiao, you know, the Wei Family and the Mu Family both live in the imperial capital for generations. We don't know anyone living in other places! How can we find a right man for her?”

Then she said tearfully, “Moreover, even if we can, she cannot turn to anyone in the case when she suffers grievance in a faraway place. No one will redress the scales for her by then. Since that's her destiny, she must feel sad when she recalls the good days in your place. How can she live on?”

When Madam Mu said so, Wei Chan's face was covered with tears.

Song Yixiao, rolling the bracelet, was about to say something when Liyu knocked on the door and said anxiously, “Your Highness, His Highness has sent someone to urge you, saying that Mr. Linghu has submitted the application for mourning for his mother's death, which will be granted soon. If you go to the Linghu Family's mansion for condolence after the imperial decree is announced, it may be regarded inappropriate!”

“The elder lady of the Linghu Family is gone?” Linghu Deyin's mother was confirmed to be dying soon since last month, which was not a secret. Madam Mu also had heard of it before and then hastily said, “Yixiao, just go! Don't hold back your own business for us!”

Song Yixiao sighed, “Sorry that I am occupied today. Auntie, you stay here and chat with Chan, and I will go to the Linghu Family's mansion then. Don't worry about Chan's marriage and we will have a way out anyhow. Moreover, Chan is only 13 years old, isn't she?”

Then she comforted Wei Chan for a bit and then rose to leave.

After she left, she was still worried. Hence, she asked Jinxun to stay at home, “Keep an eye on Jiangxing Villa and make sure nothing will happen to Chan!”

Jinxun disliked Wei Chan, but she didn't dare to disobey Song Yixiao's order. Song Yixiao asked her to stay mainly because she was the maid who kept her company through the past life with a special foothold among all the maids and she was also bold enough to have the situation under control.

After making the arrangement in the mansion, Song Yixiao immediately headed to the Linghu Family's mansion by carriage. When she arrived, the gate was thronged with visitors. If it were not for the mark of Duke of Yan on her carriage, no one would make way for her and let her in.

“I'm too careless today!” Song Yixiao looked over out of the carriage through the slit of the curtain, sighing, “I only thought that Duke of Yan was not close to the Linghu Family and held different political stances, so I didn't have to take it seriously and come early. However, I have forgotten that since His Majesty allows Linghu Deyin to retire in a decent way, how can His Majesty not grant him a favorable decree?”

She would breach the etiquette as the wife of Duke of Yan but for Jian Xubai's reminder!

“Madam Song!” Song Yixiao's carriage went into the mansion through the side door. When she got off the carriage, a maid received her and curtsied to her, saying, “The Elder Lady pa.s.sed away. Master, Madam, Young Masters, Young Madams and Ladies are all very deeply grieved so they cannot receive you on their own. Please forgive for that!”

“Not at all.” The maid was respectful but not warmhearted. Song Yixiao replied in a reserved manner, “Such being the case, please restrain your grief!”

The two families were not close and also held different political views. Apart from pleasantries, they had nothing else to talk about.

Instead of bringing Song Yixiao to the mourning hall to offer incense, the maid conducted her to a drawing room. After asking the other maids to serve tea, she curtsied and said, “A few officials are offering condolence. Let me see whether it is convenient now.”

Song Yixiao felt comfortable to hear her explanation.

After the maid left, she looked over the drawing room. It was not s.p.a.cious and yet delicately furnished. Maybe because the death of the elder lady of the Linghu Family didn't come suddenly, no s.h.i.+ning furnis.h.i.+ngs were displayed here. Obviously, this room was specially prepared to receive those who came to condole.

“Madam Song, you are here too?” She just took a sip of tea when she suddenly heard footsteps from outside. Then she put down the tea bowl to wait for the comers. Unexpectedly, it was not the maid but Su Shaomo and Su Shaoling who arrived.

Song Yixiao hastened to greet them, “You are here too? It is said that only men are offering condolence in the mourning hall. It won't be our turn until a while later!”

Amidst her talking, the Su sisters had come into the room. They were walking to the seats together when another voice came from outside the door, “Yixiao, don't you know me now?”

Song Yixiao was surprised to hear the voice and turned her head in surprise, “Muting?”

Outside the threshold was Jiang Muting, wearing a black blouse and white skirt. Song Yixiao hadn't met with her since the feast of the Shangsi Festival.