The Dou Zhao family was in high spirits when a young maid reported that Miao Ansu was seeking an audience. Song Mo’s brow immediately furrowed, and he said impatiently, “What does she want? Doesn’t she know to send a calling card first? The Duke Ying’s mansion isn’t a vegetable garden where people can come and go as they please!”
The little maid trembled in fear, not daring to utter a word.
Dou Zhao, considering that they were sisters-in-law without any apparent rift, thought it proper to maintain appearances. She smiled and instructed the maid, “Please show the Second Madam to the flower hall.” Then she explained to Song Mo, “I’ll go see her first. If she says or does anything inappropriate, I won’t let her get away with it. You should trust me on this.”
Song Mo was merely annoyed at her untimely arrival and said, “Don’t waste time chatting with her. Go and come back quickly.”
“I understand,” Dou Zhao smiled, giving Song Mo’s hand a gentle squeeze before heading to the flower hall.
Miao Ansu was sitting absentmindedly in the flower hall’s armchair. Hearing movement, she quickly stood up and curtsied to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao noticed her red eyes as if she had just been crying. Unaware of the reason, she couldn’t comment directly, so she pretended not to notice and smiled, instructing the maid to brew fresh tea for Miao Ansu.
Miao Ansu hurriedly said, “No need, I’ve only just sat down.”
Dou Zhao, who had merely tidied her hair and changed into a lined jacket before coming out, knew this was true. She didn’t insist and got straight to the point, smiling, “You’ve come to see me so late, is there something urgent?”
At this prompt, Miao Ansu recalled asking the maid about Dou Zhao’s whereabouts upon arrival and being told that Dou Zhao was playing with the children in the warm room with Song Mo. Tears began to fall again as she recounted to Dou Zhao how Song Han was now favoring her maid and pitting her against Miao Ansu.
As Dou Zhao listened, her anger rose.
This Song Han was truly a hopeless case!
She hadn’t noticed before, but now she found him increasingly distasteful.
Fortunately, Song Mo had early on found a way to separate him and have him live independently. If he had still been lingering in Duke Ying’s mansion, he would have corrupted the family’s reputation.
She also felt conflicted.
If she were Song Han’s sister-in-law by blood, with Lady Jiang no longer around, it would be acceptable for her to personally go and teach Song Han a lesson, or even sell off that maid called Liu Hong. But now… she could only say, “Why don’t you speak to the Duke about this? ‘If a child is not taught, it is the father’s fault.’ With the Duke present, it’s not our place as in-laws to intervene.”
Miao Ansu was well aware of this.
But the Duke had always looked down on her background, never giving her a second glance. Seeking his help would only invite humiliation.
Miao Ansu began to cry again, “Sister-in-law, have you ever seen parents-in-law side with a daughter-in-law when their son is at odds with his wife?”
This was indeed true.
Even if they appeared to side with the daughter-in-law, it would be merely superficial, just to quickly smooth things over.
And Miao Ansu had no formidable family backing to make Duke Ying’s household wary.
Dou Zhao sincerely said, “Just as illnesses require specific treatments, so does managing one’s life. If he were fond of women, you could place a few attractive ones in his household, making it clear that whoever bears a child first would be elevated to concubine status, letting them fight among themselves. But from what you’ve said, the Second Master is merely trying to provoke you. I’m at a loss for what to advise… You’ll have to decide for yourself on this matter.”
Miao Ansu’s expression betrayed her disappointment upon hearing this. She sat in the flower hall for nearly half an hour before rising to take her leave.
Dou Zhao immediately relayed this incident to Song Mo.
Song Mo listened with a cold laugh, saying, “I’ve always wondered how he could be so patient. It turns out he found an outlet. Well, ‘to cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to all’ – if he can’t even manage his household affairs, how can he achieve great deeds? We should just stand by and watch the show unfold.”
Dou Zhao nodded, sighing for Miao Ansu.
A few days later, news spread through the Four Alleys that Miao Ansu had fallen ill. When the Miao family came to visit, they found only Ji Hong attending to Miao Ansu, with no sign of the other main maid, Liu Hong.
Miao’s mother grew suspicious and quietly questioned the nanny who had come as part of the dowry.
The nanny, who had always felt that Song Han dared to bully Miao Ansu because she was too docile, embellished the story as she whispered in Miao’s mother’s ear.
Miao’s mother was so enraged she nearly fainted. She immediately stormed off to the front courtyard’s study.
Liu Hong was standing on the steps, directing several young maids to clean the courtyard.
She was wearing a peach-red jacket embroidered with flower branches that had been part of Miao Ansu’s dowry and even wore one of Miao Ansu’s pure gold hairpins.
Miao’s mother nearly collapsed.
These were items she had personally prepared for her daughter!
She rushed forward, grabbed Liu Hong by the hair, and slapped her several times.
Liu Hong screamed in terror.
The servants from the study, who attended to Song Han, quickly came forward to separate the two.
Miao’s mother shouted that she would sell Liu Hong.
Liu Hong cried, looking like a rain-drenched pear blossom.
Song Han, furious, said to Miao’s mother, “Fine, when you take your daughter’s dowry away, remember to take your daughter with you as well.”
Miao’s mother was stunned and said, “My daughter was married to you by the Empress’s decree.”
Song Han sneered, “Wasn’t it your family who was dissatisfied with me as a son-in-law? How has this become my fault?”
Seeing his utterly indifferent attitude, Miao’s mother suddenly deflated.
Miao Anping, however, disregarded all this and moved to strike Song Han.
Song Han stepped back, supporting Liu Hong as he turned to enter the study.
Miao Anping was instead beaten by Song Han’s servants.
How could the Miao family swallow such an insult?
They carried Miao Anping on a door panel and placed him at the entrance of Song Han’s residence.
Onlookers blocked all four alleys to watch the spectacle.