Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Delighting in Others’ Misfortune
Isn’t it true that it’s important to have a reliable and trustworthy servant by your side who can help you make decisions, and give you a hand when you’re stuck?
Of course, this only applies if they’re truly reliable. If they just cause trouble, they might add fuel to the fire, and everything will end up in chaos.
With Aunt Zhou’s advice, Mrs. Lu quickly calmed down, thinking about plans for herself and her children. After all, her children were her life and her support for the future.
As for Song Zhiqing, after finding out he had someone new, half of her heart died.
Men are unreliable; you can only rely on yourself. Mrs. Lu came to this realization.
But, when the night is quiet, there’s still a lingering unease, a feeling of injustice and anger over betrayal. Especially when she thought of herself alone in an empty room while he enjoyed soft beauty and warm fragrance, it felt like a huge stone was pressing on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.
All these feelings left Mrs. Lu sleepless and looking haggard.
Mrs. Lu’s discontent also made the servants in Plum Garden nervous, not daring to even breathe heavily.
As the leading lady of the mansion, Madam Song couldn’t possibly be unaware of the tense atmosphere in Plum Garden. With a little inquiry, she knew what was going on.
"Oh, isn’t the third son supposed to be a devoted romantic? He was even willing to bear the reputation of being unfilial for her. Yet, in less than ten years, he’s no longer that way?"
Aunt Fang looked outside and lowered her voice, "Madam, at least keep your voice down."
Madam Song pursed her lips, "These are matters in my courtyard; let’s see who dares to spread them."
Aunt Fang: "..."
Seeing Aunt Fang’s disapproval, Madam Song coughed and said, "Alright, alright, being women, I won’t gloat over her misfortune, is that better?"
Aunt Fang smiled and said, "Madam has a kind heart."
Madam Song snorted, somewhat smug from the compliment, and sighed after a moment, "There’s nothing good to gloat about, men are just like that. How many can truly stay loyal, especially when she and the third son are separated by such a distance."
Though feeling a bit of schadenfreude towards Mrs. Lu, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of shared fate as a woman in such matters.
They are all women, who knows if one will walk the same path in the future? If Song Zhiyuan finds someone new, what about her?
With this thought, Madam Song shed her look of gloating over others’ misfortunes and stopped discussing it, saying, "Over at Plum Garden, see if they have enough staff. If not, send a couple of people over. If anyone gossips, dismiss them directly.
"Madam is benevolent."
Madam Song waved her hand and added, "Over at Chrysanthemum Garden, are all the chrysanthemums prepared? Don’t wait for the guests to arrive and find the garden looking untidy, it wouldn’t look good."
"Everything is ready. The guest rooms and pavilion in Chrysanthemum Garden have also been cleaned. Whether the young ladies and madams wish to admire chrysanthemums or drink chrysanthemum wine, or wish to rest in the guest rooms, it’s all been taken care of," Aunt Fang replied with a smile.
"Okay. The small kitchen at the old lady’s place has been taught how to make those soft cakes, tell the kitchen to start baking them early so the guests can have a taste when they arrive," Madam Song said. "These cakes are different from those sold outside, and it’d be nice for them to see that Song Mansion’s hospitality is both novel and sincere."
Following Song Ci’s instructions, Madam Song arranged a small chrysanthemum viewing banquet and sent invitations to the Shen Family to come over and play. To avoid others noticing, she also invited her family, serving as a cover.
Aunt Fang: "This old servant has noted it all down."