The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant-Chapter 1020: The Most Upright Grand Madam

Song Ci felt uneasy, and how much better could Song Zhiqing be? The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Unknowingly, he found himself at Madam Shen’s place.

Madam Shen was still setting the table under the grapevine. However, instead of brewing tea, she was brewing wine, light chrysanthemum wine, accompanied by a few plates of exquisite snacks. She held a book in her hand and was reclining on a beauty couch, flipping through it.

Looking at her, Song Zhiqing finally understood the saying "a person as calm as a chrysanthemum."

Since Madam Shen had been in the household for so long, she truly was the epitome of propriety and decorum, not a single flaw could be found in her. Daily, aside from paying morning and evening respects to Lady Lu, she rarely left her own Moyun Inn, turning it into a little paradise, cultivating various flowers and plants, brewing tea in summer, brewing wine in autumn. By winter, perhaps she’d be brewing wine to admire the snow?

This woman, not competing or vying, seemed very content, as if she regarded this mansion solely as a place to retire.

Song Zhiqing couldn’t quite describe how he felt in his heart, and he cleared his throat lightly.

Madam Shen turned her head, stood up, and bowed to him, then had someone fetch a new wine cup. She personally poured wine for him and handed it over: "Does Master have something on his mind again?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Song Zhiqing sighed.

Looking at Madam Shen’s face, he again had the urge to confide, carefully selecting and arranging his words before speaking.

Madam Shen thought to herself, she’d seen foolish people, but never truly foolish ones. This Fifth Rank official probably got his position through reliance on the Prime Minister, with some exaggeration. Otherwise, how did someone with this mind become an official?

She deliberated for a moment and said, "Master has probably heard many examples from noble families of Official Wives mistreating their stepchildren, right?"

Song Zhiqing was taken aback.

Madam Shen used her delicate fingers to stir a chrysanthemum flower floating in a glass dish and said, "When I served as a lady-official, I also heard many such stories. These examples of mistreating concubine-born children are really all too common, be it through harshness, abuse, or generous neglect. Many sons don’t live to adulthood, dying young or being smothered with love, while daughters, during girlhood, live apprehensively, eating while watching the faces of their legitimate mothers. When grown, they are often married off for family interests, frequently ending up with unsuitable partners."

Song Zhiqing frowned: "Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

"I just want you to compare, is there such a situation occurring with you and the grand madam?" Madam Shen said with a faint smile, "Master, a smart person always nips a crisis in the bud, not waiting until it’s fully fledged to act, then it’s too late. Even the dullest Official Wife wouldn’t do that."

Song Zhiqing somewhat understood now, with a faint awkwardness on his face.

"If the Old Madam wanted to suppress your rise, she had plenty of chances, like when you were young. But in reality? She still supported your education, allowed you to marry and have children, while the grand madam married into a prosperous family, and her husband now is also a Fifth Rank official, with no other women in his household. Isn’t the grand madam living comfortably? I’m just an onlooker, and even if you find it hard to accept, you have to hear me out: the Old Madam is as kind-hearted as they come."

"You certainly respect her," Song Zhiqing curled his lips, a trace of displeasure in his heart, "How do you know she isn’t doing it for her reputation?"

"I heard that when the Old Madam was young, she was someone who dared to fight scoundrels with a kitchen knife. Does she care about reputation? If it were for reputation, smothering you with love, who would’ve seen it as a problem when you were young?"

"It’s only natural for the Old Madam to worry. Succession is always a sensitive matter, and she’s right in what she says. Who else but the Prime Minister holds the Emperor’s favor? He’s not anxious; why should you be in a rush, what if you gamble on the wrong outcome?"

Song Zhiqing fell silent.