Chapter 352 — Sharp
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
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!"