Chapter 352 — Sharp

Dou Xin sat serenely in the grand chair, as though Song Yi had been speaking of someone else entirely, not a trace of anger on her face. Calmly and composedly she said, "Father-in-law, that makes no sense at all! You saw with your own eyes what just happened. If Jinjie had not been the first to speak rudely, how would she have drawn the mockery of the household maids? I have not been married into the Song family long, and I do not know what rules the Songs keep, but in our Dou family, when a junior starts shouting before an elder has even spoken, the governesses step up and slap them—and after the slap, the mother must thank the governess and say, 'Well struck.' How is it that the Song family is so utterly different? Can it be that the Song family's rules do not even distinguish between elder and junior, high and low?

"This is a matter I must discuss thoroughly with you, Father-in-law.

"If word of this gets out, it is a small thing for the Yingzhen Ducal Manor to be laughed at. But Jinjie has already reached the age of discussing marriage. If she ends up with a reputation for being 'perverse and violent in temper,' that would be truly terrible. In any case, my child is not yet born, and is of the legitimate line. In ten or twenty years, when it comes time to discuss my child's marriage, who knows what circumstances the third branch will be in by then? And who will still remember this affair? It is only a pity for the Second Master—he will be dragged down and have difficulty finding a wife!"

These words both struck Song Cen in the heart and threatened Song Fengchun.

Song Cen was so furious he could not speak for a long while.

Song Fengchun, however, shot the Third Madam a fierce glare.

Song Maochun's family had long since learned how formidable Dou Zhiwei was. Song Maochun remained silent; Song Qin and Song Duo naturally dared not make a sound. The First Madam and Tan-shi stood far off, as though afraid of being caught in the blast.

The Fourth Madam frowned and was about to step forward to say a few words, but Song Tongchun grabbed her and whispered, "Think of Yue'er!"

Song Yue was only six years old this year. Song Yan already had Song Cen so suppressed he could not lift his head. In ten years, Song Cen would likely be nothing but an empty shell.

The Fourth Madam said no more, and taking her son by the hand, went to stand with the First Madam.

Song Fengchun looked as though he wanted to stamp his feet in desperation, and kept shooting glances at the Third Madam. But the Third Madam, her heart wholly set on her beloved daughter, had all her attention fixed on Song Jin.

She could not swallow this insult. Her eyes reddened with urgency, and unwillingly she said, "Second Brother, if you will not stand up for us, then our Jin'er will have been beaten by these two servant girls for nothing! We may be a collateral branch, but after all, two Song characters cannot be written differently. This is going too far! How are we supposed to hold our heads up before the maids after this?"

Song Cen's face darkened like storm clouds overhead. He barked at those beside him, "Drag these two maids out of here at once!"

"Hold!" Dou Yan shouted. Supporting herself on Ruotong's hand, she rose and said, "I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on my dowry maids without my consent!"

Several young servants looked at the furious Song Cen, then at the ice-cold Song Yan, and shuffled hesitantly toward Dou Yan.

Dou Yan had already said, "When did my maid ever strike Jinjie? It was clearly the personal governess attending the Third Madam who tried to strike my maid! If you want to determine right and wrong, then first beat the Third Madam's governess to death with clubs, and only then discuss Jinjie's offense against me—that would be proper!"

Round and round it went—the point being that her maid was in the right.

Song Jin burst into loud wailing: "Third Sister-in-law bullies me! Third Sister-in-law lets her maid beat me!"

Dou Yan sneered and said to the Third Madam, "To raise a daughter without teaching her is the mother's fault. Then let me teach her a lesson on your behalf." She then instructed Sulan, "Throw the eldest young miss into the firewood shed and lock her up. When she understands what she has done wrong, then let her out."

The Third Madam's brows bristled with fury. Clutching Song Jin, whose wails grew ever louder, she shouted at Dou Yan, "You dare!"

Dou Chi kept silent.

Sulan stepped forward and made to grab Song Jin.

Several of the Third Madam's maids rushed forward to block Sulan.

Sulan threw a punch left and a kick right, and in a few moves knocked the maids to the ground, where they lay clutching their waists and bellies, moaning without cease.

Only then did everyone in the room sense that something was wrong—a young girl in the prime of her youth, with such strength, was clearly a trained fighter.

Only then did the Third Madam take fright. Clutching Song Jin, she let out a shrill scream.

Song Jin, meanwhile, was frightened witless. Tears hung on her face as she stared blankly at Sulan.

Song Cen could bear it no longer. He slammed the table so hard it clanged: "Mutiny, mutiny! Do you even see me as the Ducal Lord?!"

A dead silence fell over the room.

If they saw you as the Ducal Lord, would they dare quarrel with their elders at the Little New Year's reunion dinner?

Dou Yan thought this to herself and shot Sulan a glance.

Sulan silently withdrew behind Dou Zhiwei.

Song Cen pointed at Dou Yan and roared, "If you dare stir up trouble again, I'll have Song Yan divorce you!"

Dou Yan's face was like a flower as she said, "Father-in-law, do not try to frighten me. I am not some poor girl from a humble household with no one to back her. If you want to divorce me, you must have a reason—because I complained that the open hall had no underfloor heating, you would have your son divorce me? Even if this case were brought before the Emperor, I fear you would be the one in the wrong." As she spoke, she called loudly for "Ruozhu," "Go at once to the Longhua Temple Alley and report: because I said one sentence—'the open hall is too cold'—the Heir's cousin jumped out to teach me a lesson, and after I taught her a few words in return, the Ducal Lord wants to force the Heir to divorce his wife on the charge of 'stirring up trouble.' I am not so shameless that after being roared at with 'Get out!' by my father-in-law, I could still stay in the Yingzhen Ducal Manor as though nothing had happened. Have them come inventory my dowry and take me home."

Ruotong wiped her tears and answered "Yes," then lifting her skirts, ran outside.

Song Cen was so furious he nearly fell backward.

Whether what Dou Yan said was true or false, if she really summoned the Dou family, then during this great New Year season, the Yingzhen Ducal Manor would become the laughingstock of all the capital.

He aimed a kick at Zeng Wu and said, "Go bring her back at once!"

Zeng Wu gave a startled "Oh," came to his senses, and ran out in pursuit—though inwardly he thought: The Heir's wife is truly formidable! Beating and scolding, her words like blades, she has actually cowed the Ducal Lord. In the future, when encountering the Heir's wife, it would be best to speak as little as possible.

Mindful of the separation between men and women, he quickly caught up with Ruotong and stopped her on the covered walkway, urging, "Miss Ruotong, why must you do this? The Heir's wife and the Ducal Lord are at odds—we servants ought to reconcile them, not add fuel to the fire. Go back inside quickly! If this reaches the Heming Temple Alley, no one will have any face left." He then called to the young servants who had followed him, "Quick, escort Sister Ruotong back to the open hall."

Ruotong had no choice but to "reluctantly" return to the open hall.

Song Cen had lost utterly.

His heart was consumed with rage!

Dou Yan had no intention of letting matters rest there.