Miao Ansu was secretly surprised upon hearing this.
Lady? Which lady?
From the tone, it seemed she was accompanying guests.
It must be someone from Duke Ying’s mansion.
That hateful Third Madam of the Song family!
Whose children’s marriage doesn’t involve haggling over dowry and betrothal gifts? Yet she took it to heart, as if the Miao family owed her something, treating her with disdain. Miao Ansu had been sitting here for ages, yet the Third Madam hadn’t even introduced her.
Miao Ansu smiled coldly.
The first, third, and fourth branches of the Song family were merely side branches of Duke Ying’s mansion. For now, she would let it go. Once she established herself, there would be time to deal with her.
Thinking of this, she finally felt somewhat better.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao was seeing off the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family and the Third Madam of Duke Jing’s mansion.
As a relative of Song Yichun’s maternal family, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family couldn’t leave first while others could. So after the bride entered, she sat coldly in the hall drinking tea.
Naturally, Dou Zhao had to keep her company.
Madam Zhang had stayed only out of respect for Dou Zhao, so she also joined the conversation while Dou Zhao chatted with the Lu family’s eldest daughter-in-law in the hall.
Jiang Yan stuck close to Dou Zhao, not leaving her side for a moment.
Seeing that she had fulfilled her duties, the Lu family’s eldest daughter-in-law rose to bid farewell.
Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan escorted the two to the outer gate.
Seeing people leaving, those in the bridal chamber also began to disperse.
Dou Zhao and Jiang Yan stood at the gate to see off the guests.
The bridal chamber quieted down.
Miao Ansu immediately lashed out.
“Ji Hong, I told you to give rewards to the little maids, why aren’t you moving?” Her face was as cold as frost, in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere in the room. “Have you forgotten the rules?”
Ji Hong’s eyes reddened as she said softly, “The master only gave me a dozen or so red envelopes. I was afraid the young ladies and gentlemen of the Song family and their relatives’ children might come in to serve you tea…”
Not giving rewards to maids could be excused, but if there were no red envelopes for Song Han’s siblings and the Song family’s relatives who came to offer congratulations, it would be embarrassing.
As it happened, the two brothers from the Song family’s first branch were acting as elder uncles, helping to entertain guests in the front and couldn’t come to make merry in the bridal chamber. Song Jun from the third branch and Song Yao from the fourth branch, though they were younger brothers-in-law, were held back by the Third Madam who disliked the Miao family and wouldn’t let Song Jun come to the back courtyard.
The Fourth Madam, not wanting to stand out, followed the lead of the First and Third Madams, tightly holding Song Yao’s hand. Song Jin, always pampered at home, had been taught a lesson at Duke Ying’s mansion last time and now viewed it as a place to be avoided. She cried and made a fuss, refusing to attend Song Han’s wedding, so the Third Madam had to say she was ill.
Those relatives were even more clear-eyed, none willing to get involved in the Song family’s affairs. Only adults came to attend the wedding feast, not a single child, resulting in none of the Song family’s aunts coming to make merry in the bridal chamber.
Miao Ansu immediately gritted her teeth, saying, “He took sixteen thousand taels of silver as betrothal gifts from the Song family, yet won’t even give me the face of a few taels of silver. Is he trying to force me to my death?”
Miao Ansu’s wet nurse, Shi, was startled upon hearing this and quickly said, “My good young miss, today is your big day of joy. You must not speak such inauspicious words!” As she spoke, she made several bows towards the west and recited a few lines of scripture.
Miao Ansu held back again and again, barely managing not to say even more unpleasant words.
She asked Ji Hong, “Was the one wearing the silver-red jacket in my room earlier the heir’s wife, Lady Dou?”
Being new to the place, anyone would naturally survey their surroundings first.
Miao Ansu couldn’t move, but Ji Hong had been smilingly building relationships with the maids and servants arranged by the Song family in the bridal chamber, calling them “sister” and “auntie,” curiously inquiring about who was who, and had indeed recognized a few faces.
“That was the First Madam of the Song family, Lady Tan,” Ji Hong shook her head. “The heir’s wife has been accompanying the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family and the Third Madam of Duke Jing’s mansion, drinking tea in the hall.”
Before marrying into the Song family, the Miao family had already thoroughly investigated the Song family’s relatives. Though she hadn’t met them in person, Miao Ansu had memorized these relationships and knew who was who as soon as she heard.
She was stunned and asked, “The heir’s wife didn’t come to the bridal chamber?”
Ji Hong knew her young miss was extremely proud and couldn’t bring herself to say that Dou Zhao hadn’t entered the bridal chamber.
She tactfully said, “There were too many people in the bridal chamber. The heir’s wife stood at the door for a while but had to retreat with the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family and the Third Madam of Duke Jing’s mansion.”
Tired from a long day, Miao Ansu’s spirits were low, and she didn’t carefully ponder Ji Hong’s words. Instead, she asked, “What does the heir’s wife look like? Does she seem easy to get along with?”
Remembering how stunned she was when she saw Dou Zhao, Ji Hong said softly, “The heir’s wife is quite beautiful, with a graceful demeanor. She speaks calmly and slowly; her temperament should be good.” Then she smiled and said, “Anyway, you’ll be formally meeting the family early tomorrow morning. The young miss will see for herself then whether she’s easy to get along with.”
Miao Ansu nodded.
Song Han didn’t return to the room until after the third watch of the night.
He was drunk and had to be supported into the bridal chamber by his servant, Zeng Quan.
Miao Ansu quickly ordered someone to bring hangover soup for Song Han.
However, Song Han fell asleep as soon as he hit the wedding bed.
Song Mo returned to his room around the same time as Song Han.
When he returned, Dou Zhao was still leaning against the large pillow reading a book, waiting for him.
Seeing him return, Dou Zhao immediately put down her book and asked, “How was the wedding banquet in the outer courtyard?”
“It was fine,” Song Mo said, not wanting to elaborate. “At least we’ve gotten through this.”
A young maid brought in water for Song Mo to wash up. Dou Zhao personally helped him with his change of clothes and said, “I’ve prepared a welcoming gift for Lady Miao, following what mother gave to the eldest sister-in-law when she first came. Do you want to add or remove anything?”
Given what Song Han had done, Dou Zhao didn’t even want to look at him. But Lady Miao was innocent, and she was doing this entirely for Lady Miao’s sake.