Chapter 20

Madam Zeng had been living in the second branch of the family, and though Madam Qian lived the closest, she arrived the latest.

Song Daliang acted like the head of the family, sitting in the Baoxia with several clan elders of the Song Family and Old Master Zeng, drinking tea.

Seeing Song Jiyun and the others, he waved at Yuan Yunzhong, "Come, Young Master Yuan, sit over here with me. We were just discussing the arrangements for your father-in-law's funeral procession, and you should listen as well."

The sooner they could determine who would perform the ritual of breaking the mourning bowl, the better.

He also instructed Song Jiyun and her siblings, "Mother hasn't woken up yet, and Sanliang is currently accompanying Doctor Huang to take her pulse. You all hurry over and take a look."

It was an attitude that suggested men should handle affairs while women should not interrupt with too much talk.

Madam Qian and Song Jiyun exchanged glances, then approached with Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jixue to greet everyone with customary formalities.

Everyone returned the greetings.

Old Master Zeng, however, snorted coldly, turned his body aside, and ignored them with his back facing them.

Yuan Yunzhong took his seat to the right of Song Daliang, directly across from Old Master Zeng.

He leaned back in his chair, looking indifferent, with his hands resting naturally on the armrests and his legs slightly parted.

It was a comfortable and leisurely pose, yet it subtly exuded an air of authority.

Sitting in a subordinate seat, he nonetheless managed to make it seem as if those in the principal seats, like Ninth Master Song and others, were merely guests.

It was as if he was the true master of the Baoxia.

Song Jiyun's brow twitched at the sight.

Ninth Master Song and the others also started to feel a bit uneasy.

Yet Yuan Yunzhong casually glanced at Old Master Zeng, with a look of contempt so blatant that it made everyone exchange uneasy looks.

Was he implying disdain for the lack of propriety in the Song Family's in-laws?

Everyone's gaze couldn't help but fall on Old Master Zeng.

Only then did they notice the mud splatters on his shoes, dust on his fingers, and damp stains on his clothes that might have been tea or some other form of dirt.

The expressions on everyone's faces became slightly awkward.

Feeling the scrutiny, Old Master Zeng's face even turned red, and he coughed lightly twice, sitting up straight and dignified once again.

Ninth Master Song inspected his own attire from top to bottom, and not finding any impropriety, his expression relaxed.

Song Jiyun couldn't help but lower her head and silently laughed for quite a while.

If it hadn't been for Song Sanliang coming out with Doctor Huang, she might have given herself away.

"The old lady is not in any serious trouble," Doctor Huang, who was over sixty, said. "She just received a bit of a shock, a few sedative and qi-boosting prescriptions will suffice."

Everyone's demeanor reflected a sense of relief.

As Doctor Huang prescribed the medicine, Song Sanliang had the servant boy fetch the herbs right away, but when he turned around, his eyes reddened as he pointed at Song Daliang, "Big brother, it's good that mother is alright. Otherwise, I would have fought you to the death!"

Song Daliang sneered, "Don't think fetching medicine makes you a filial son. That servant boy, he's from the second branch, right? If you're so devoted, why don't you pay for mother's medicine?"

Just as the two brothers looked like they were about to start arguing, Ninth Master Song, as if afraid of being looked down upon by Yuan Yunzhong, gave Yuan a glance and shouted loudly, "Enough! Your mother is still lying in bed!"

The two men, like fighting cocks, slowly retracted their ruffled feathers.

Suddenly, the high-pitched voice of Madam Li came from inside the room, "Mother, Mother, you've awoken!"

Song Daliang and Song Sanliang rushed toward Madam Zeng's room on foot.

Old Master Zeng also stood up.

Song Jiyun, pulling Song Jixue along with Madam Qian, followed them.

A wave of stifling heat hit them as they entered.

Song Jiyun hesitated for a moment, only to see Song Sanliang kneeling by Madam Zeng's bedside, gripping her hand and choking with sobs, calling "Mother," while Song Daliang stood by the bed, his face full of concern, asking Madam Zeng, "Do you feel any better now?"

Madam Li, Madam Wang, and other female relatives serving Madam Zeng surrounded the bed.

Song Jiyun didn't move closer, instead pushing Song Jixue to stand by the window and whispering in her ear, "Stand here, and after you've greeted your grandmother, go find your maid."

Song Jixue obediently nodded.

Song Tao somehow made her way to Song Jiyun's side and whispered softly, "Younger Sister Yun, you've come."

Song Jiyun, startled, smiled and greeted her.

Song Tao glanced at her father and uncle, who were playing the role of filial sons, and tugged at Song Jiyun's sleeve, gesturing toward the corner of the room.

Song Jiyun thought for a moment, and walked over with her.

Song Tao asked her in a low voice, "How did you suddenly come up with a marriage proposal? I've never heard of it before. Do you know who the other family is? They're not taking advantage of Uncle's absence and trying to deceive you into marriage, are they?"

Logically speaking, Song Tao's question was not unreasonable.

The two were cousins, and Song Tao was curious, her reminder out of concern for her was only natural.

But the problem was, she didn't have a close relationship with Song Tao.

What Song Tao could know, everyone would know.

What Song Tao shouldn't know, did she really think she would tell her?

Still, she smiled faintly and gave her the same explanation she gave to everyone else, "I was young at the time, and our families were distant and out of touch. My father was afraid of delaying my prospects, so he never made it public."

Song Tao still looked very worried, and said, "Are you sure that man is the one who was mentioned in the marriage talks? I've heard that some audacious people dare to even impersonate the County Magistrate! It's best to be careful."

Song Jiyun was secretly astonished.

With such a big issue uncovered at home, shouldn't ordinary people be accusing her of forcing marriage during the mourning period?

Was Song Tao saying this because she was siding with the Zeng Family?

Song Jiyun took a closer look at Song Tao and said politely, "Thank you, Sister Tao. With Mother watching over me, nothing will go wrong."

Song Tao listened and couldn't help but feel stifled.

Song Jiyun still spoke as impeccably as she had in her previous life.

She felt some regret.

She should have associated with Song Jiyun right after she was reborn, instead of waiting until now.

Song Tao clenched her teeth, wanting to ask more, but just then, Madam Zeng's wailing came from the room, "You two brothers are doing this, how will I face your father when I die! You might as well poison me with a bowl of arsenic now, so I won't have to watch you brothers turn against each other with my own eyes!"

Song Jiyun was just looking for an excuse to get away from Song Tao.

She excused herself in a low voice to Song Tao and went over to Madam Qian's side.

Song Tao watched her figure, her expression complex and grim.

Where did things go wrong?

Since her rebirth, she had been an indifferent observer, even regarding the death of her second uncle, she didn't warn Song Jiyun.

Why was this life completely different from the previous one?

Song Tao saw Song Jiyun supporting Madam Qian and standing at the foot of Madam Zeng's bed, she hid in the corner, quietly biting her fingernails.

In her previous life, her third uncle hadn't extorted property from the second branch of the family, and her grandmother hadn't forced Song Jiyun to marry during the mourning period.

No one knew the seal of her second uncle had ended up in Song Jiyun's hands, until after the seventh seventh day following her second uncle's death. Then, Song Jiyun used that seal to make a deal with her third uncle, who then rightfully took over the second branch's properties and drove their family out. Only then did they learn the reason behind everything.

In this life, she merely hinted to her father that her second uncle's seal might end up in Song Jiyun's hands, but her father was skeptical. He only assigned Steward Lin, who was eager to please her father and kick the second branch while they were down, to watch Song Jiyun's every move.

But it ended up backfiring.

Later, there was the incident of Registrar Wang searching their house.

Was the mistake here?

Song Tao began to bite her fingernails again.

But what was the connection between the two?

She couldn't figure it out.

Song Tao felt like Song Jiyun was like an enormous cloud, looming over her head in both her past and present lives, ready to engulf and crush her.

She paced fearfully in the corner.

No, it definitely won't happen!

In this life, she wouldn't be divorced and sent back home, she wouldn't have to grovel and please Song Jiyun just to barely secure a place like a dog.

A sharp pain came from the tip of her finger.

She was reborn, and she would certainly, like Song Jiyun, earn her own money and do as she pleased.

What Song Jiyun could do, she could do too!

She took a deep breath, slowly calming down.

But the most urgent matter was to figure out what was going on with Song Jiyun's fiancé!