Once settled in the carriage heading to the Capital City, Xie Linlang looked at Song Yunzhao and thanked her sincerely. "Thank you so much, Third Miss."
Song Yunzhao chuckled lightly. "I take people's money to solve their problems."
Xie Linlang pressed her lips together to hide a smile. "Third Miss, you must know why I'm riding in your carriage today, right?"
"Could it be that someone wants to see us fighting amongst ourselves?"
Xie Linlang's smile widened. 'Third Miss really is a straightforward and interesting person.'
She briefly recounted Song Qinghan's visit to the Second Branch's household, especially how Song Qinghan had hinted to her mother—the girls' aunt—that Song Yunzhao was bullying her. Just thinking about it was fascinating.
Song Yunzhao tsked and looked at Xie Linlang. "Then I'll be counting on your help in the future, cousin."
"If you're ever short on silver, just come to me. I can provide plenty."
Song Yunzhao: ...
'Oh well,' she thought. 'In any case, they were both getting what they wanted. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.'
The journey from Nanyu to the Capital City normally took seven days, but because of the upcoming selection, they traveled almost through the night, arriving in the Capital City in just four days.
By the time she saw the tall, imposing gates of the Capital City, Song Yunzhao's face was a ghastly shade of green that she could no longer conceal. Though the Song Family's carriage was thoughtfully and comfortably appointed, its suspension system was truly awful. Who could endure sitting for so long?
What's more, her carriage was the downgraded model, which was just infuriating.
The Song Family owned a mansion in the Capital City. After the old patriarch passed away, no one in the family had managed to become an official, so the mansion had been left vacant.
Now that two branches of the Song Family were returning, a message had been sent ahead to have it cleaned and prepared. So, by the time they reached the Song Mansion, they could move in straight away.
The Song Family had only one mansion in the Capital City, so the two branches had to live together. The First Branch occupied the East Courtyard, while the Third Branch took the West Courtyard.
The Third Branch was quite large. As Third Master Song was being transferred, Third Madam had left Aunt Feng and Aunt Qin behind in Nanyu to serve him. They would follow him to the Capital City for his new post later. However, she had insisted that Aunt Che accompany them to the Capital City now.
Third Madam occupied the main house in the West Courtyard, while Song Bu Yue and Song Buming lived in the front courtyards. In the rear area, Song Qinghan was given the largest courtyard apart from the main residence. Song Jinxuan, being the daughter of a concubine, was given the smallest one.
Song Yunzhao's courtyard was larger than Song Jinxuan's but smaller than Song Qinghan's, and she now had to share it with Xie Linlang. To outsiders, it seemed the Third Miss had less freedom than the Second Miss. It was a truly undignified position for a legitimate daughter.
As for Aunt Che, Third Madam had assigned her to the reverse-facing rooms of the main courtyard.
When Song Yunzhao found out, she knew Mrs. Cai was finding ways to make life difficult for Aunt Che. 'But what does that have to do with me?'
'The First Branch's section is about the same size as ours,' she mused, 'but they have far more people. They have four daughters alone, not to mention concubines and two young masters. It must be even more crowded over there.'
Song Yunzhao was so exhausted her head was spinning. She had her maids make the bed and light some incense, then she fell onto it and went straight to sleep. Everything else could wait until she woke up.
Xie Linlang had meant to come over for a chat, but she found out Song Yunzhao was already asleep. Now that she was living under someone else's roof, she couldn't be as carefree as Song Yunzhao. She cautiously had Hua Zhi go to Third Madam's residence to pay respects and ask to greet her, but Third Madam was too busy to see her. The tension in her heart finally eased. Having fulfilled her social obligations, she also collapsed into bed.
She was truly exhausted.
She slept so heavily that when Song Yunzhao finally woke up, the sky was already growing dark.
"Miss, you're awake?"
Song Yunzhao gathered her wits and looked at Jiangxiang, asking, "What time is it?"
"It's late afternoon. The family dines at 5:00 PM, so you must get up and get ready quickly," Jiangxiang said, bringing over a set of clothes and helping her mistress rise and change.
Song Yunzhao held out her arms, letting Jiangxiang dress her. She asked casually, "Where is my cousin?"
"She's already awake and is waiting to go to the main residence with you."
Song Yunzhao looked at Qiancao and said, "Go tell my cousin not to wait for me. She can go on to the main residence ahead of me."
Qiancao said hesitantly, "Miss, you and your cousin share a courtyard. If you go separately, I'm afraid the Third Madam will scold you again."
Song Yunzhao was unconcerned. "And if I don't do this, I *won't* get a scolding?"
The two maids felt a pang of pity for her. 'The Third Madam is just too biased.'
Qiancao turned and left anyway. When Xie Linlang received the message, she understood Song Yunzhao's intentions and went on to the main residence without hesitation.
Timing her arrival perfectly, Song Yunzhao arrived at the main residence at a leisurely pace. Song Qinghan and Song Jinxuan were already present. Aunt Che stood off to one side, the very picture of a dutiful attendant.
With Third Master Song yet to arrive in the Capital City for his post, Aunt Che, having returned to the capital ahead of him with the matriarch, was now completely at the woman's mercy.
Song Yunzhao had no fondness for Aunt Che or her daughter, so she went in, sat down, and pointedly chose a seat far from Xie Linlang, looking as if she were trying to avoid a plague.
Song Qinghan saw this and said with a smile, "Third Sister, are you feeling unwell? How come you've only just arrived?"
Song Yunzhao kept her gaze lowered, not even glancing at Song Qinghan. "If Eldest Sister had been willing to switch carriages with me during the journey, I might have arrived earlier as well."
Song Qinghan was left speechless.
'Such a two-faced schemer.' Song Yunzhao couldn't be bothered to deal with her, shutting her down with a single comeback.
Xie Linlang was dying of laughter on the inside, but her expression was one of a slight frown. She looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "Third Miss, how can you say such a thing? The carriages were assigned by the Third Madam. How could Eldest Miss have had any say in the matter?"
Song Jinxuan quietly pursed her lips. 'I know for a fact that Song Qinghan was the one who made it possible for Xie Linlang to come to the Capital City,' she thought. 'Tsk, and now she's already acting like her little lackey.'
She didn't get along with Song Yunzhao, but seeing her own mother still standing in attendance, her heart filled with bitterness. 'Unfortunately, with Father away, Mother and I are in the Third Madam's hands. We can only be cautious.'
But compared to Song Yunzhao, Song Jinxuan disliked Song Qinghan even more. So, she immediately spoke up, "Cousin, you shouldn't say that. Third Sister has always been frail. As the eldest sister, it's her duty to look after her younger sisters. Eldest Sister, wouldn't you agree?"
Song Yunzhao, for once, lifted her head to glance at Song Jinxuan. A flicker in her eyes and she understood why she'd said that. 'Tsk, this one's clever. She knows how to pull people to her side to gang up on someone.'
'Thanks for the invitation, but I'm not joining in.'
Facing Song Jinxuan, Song Qinghan's tone was much less polite. She said coolly, "Second Sister, you're an older sister too. Why didn't you offer your carriage to Third Sister?"
Song Jinxuan thought to herself, 'My carriage is even worse than Song Yunzhao's!' But saying that out loud would be a slap in the Third Madam's face. Back in Nanyu, with her father around, she wouldn't have been afraid. But now that he was gone, she had to be more careful. Only an idiot would hand the Third Madam leverage against her.
Xie Linlang seized the opportunity to twist the knife. "Eldest Miss has a point."
Song Yunzhao was applauding internally, but her face remained completely wooden. 'This Xie Linlang really is a character,' she thought. 'She's a natural at making enemies for Song Qinghan.'
It was at this moment that the Third Madam emerged. The room fell silent in an instant, and everyone rose to greet her.
The Third Madam went straight to the seat of honor and sat, her expression neutral as she looked at the assembled girls. "Today is our first day in the Capital City, so consider this a reunion dinner. From now on, you will take your meals in your own courtyards. Just come and pay your respects to me after breakfast."
Everyone chorused their agreement, and the Third Madam had the meal served.
The meal passed in surprising peace. The Third Madam's mind was preoccupied with the selection, and she was eager to send her eldest daughter to her sister's home. For the moment, she had no time to spare for her younger daughter's sullen face.
Aunt Che attended to the Third Madam as she ate. With Third Master Song away, she didn't dare cause any trouble. Song Jinxuan also tucked her tail between her legs, and for once, they all had a quiet meal.
After dinner, the Third Madam dismissed everyone except her eldest daughter. She said to her, "Tomorrow, you will first come with me to visit your aunt. It would be best if you could stay there with her. The others won't be a problem, but you must be wary of your aunt's stepdaughter. She is not an easy person to deal with, and I fear she will try to obstruct this matter."
A glint appeared in Song Qinghan's eyes. "Why don't we bring Third Sister along? If we don't, I'm afraid Aunt will ask about her, and it will be difficult for you to explain."
'With Song Yunzhao's temper, she'll be the perfect person to run interference with that stepdaughter, Chu Yuying. Even better, she'll serve as a foil to make me look gentle, kind, and magnanimous.'