Chapter 470 - 248: Who’d Want That Son of Hers

Chapter 470: Chapter 248: Who’d Want That Son of Hers

Madam Song reached out and took it. She knew Xie Jinshu was a steady and thorough person, and as expected, he had already prepared a gift list. She scanned it carefully, then had someone bring her a pen to make a few additions and deletions.

"The Ji Family is a scholarly family with a long literary tradition. The value of the gift isn’t what matters, but we cannot give them something they would look down upon or dislike," Madam Song said. "Forget about vulgar things like gold and silver. The Ji Family has always valued its reputation and certainly wouldn’t accept them. I have a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals of Gu Liang. I heard a few years ago that the Left Minister was searching for an authentic copy, so let’s add this to the list."

Xie Jinshu was shocked to hear this and immediately said, "We can’t possibly do that! Since it’s an authentic copy, it must be one of your treasures, Madam. How could we take it?"

’If we accept this, how could the Xie family ever repay this kindness?’

Madam Song said, "It’s not just for Linlang, but also for Song Zhaoyi’s sake. Just accept it."

Madam Song glanced at Xiang Yin. Xiang Yin immediately went into the inner chamber and quickly came out holding a wooden box, which she presented to Xie Jinshu with both hands.

The box felt as if it weighed a ton in Xie Jinshu’s hands. He took a deep breath before saying, "I will engrave this immense kindness upon my heart, Madam."

Madam Song waved her hand. "We’re all family, there’s no need for such formalities. Go back and prepare for now. I will send a formal visit request to Madam Ji. We’ll wait for their reply."

’Madam Ji is a proud woman. In her eyes, the Song Family is nothing special. Even if I send a request, it doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be granted an immediate audience.’

As it happened, the very Madam Ji who Madam Song was thinking about was currently gazing at her son’s leg, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. ’What sin had I committed to deserve this?’ Her wonderful son had been gifted and intelligent since childhood, a diligent scholar with a far-reaching reputation.

Ever since he broke off his engagement with Princess Ming’an, his luck had been terrible. He stubbornly sought an official post outside the capital, only to suffer terribly and return in defeat. And now, so soon after coming back to the Capital City, he had broken his leg.

In her youth, Madam Ji had been the apple of her family’s eye. After her coming-of-age ceremony, she married the Left Minister, her ideal husband. All the children she bore were exceptional. She had lived the first half of her life in glory, but now, in her middle age, she was facing one misfortune after another.

’Perhaps,’ she thought, ’my own life has been too smooth, and as a result, my son’s path must be difficult.’

She would rather suffer herself than see her son in pain.

Ji Yunting’s leg was already in a splint. He was propped up against the headboard, watching his mother cry. He no longer knew how to console her. He had already said everything he could, and the things he couldn’t say were impossible to voice.

When Madam Ji had cried her fill, she slowly calmed down. Looking at her son, she said, "We certainly can’t let this matter go."

"I chose to save them, Mother. Please don’t bring this up again," Ji Yunting said.

"You may have chosen to, but if Sixth Miss Huang’s horse hadn’t bolted, would you have rushed to save someone and broken your leg? I’ve always said that Marchioness Yongjia spoils her daughter too much. Look at how she’s raised her! It’s one thing for the girl to cause her own mother grief, but now she’s dragged you into her mess to suffer too!"

It had only been a few days since that incident she caused in the palace quieted down. The Marquis Yongjia Mansion didn’t keep a proper eye on her, and here she was, causing trouble again.

Madam Ji didn’t care about the truth of the matter. All she knew was that her son’s leg was broken!

"And that Miss Xie, she’s just a merchant’s daughter. Was she even worth saving?" Madam Ji’s mood soured whenever she thought about it. She suspected her son hadn’t intended to save Miss Xie, but rather He Lan Yun.

’Thank goodness Duke Qin rescued her instead. If my son had been the one to save He Lan Yun, just the thought of it makes my head spin.’

Because of the broken engagement, the two families weren’t mortal enemies, but they certainly acted as if they would never associate with each other again.

"Mother, a life was at stake. In that situation, how could I stop to consider whether the person was worth saving?" Ji Yunting said with a slight frown.

Madam Ji was worried that this Miss Xie might get ideas because he had saved her. Seeing that her son seemed to have no such thoughts, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

’My son’s temperament is sometimes just like his father’s—a bit stuffy.’

"In any case, it’s best if you avoid such situations in the future. When you get hurt, do you think I, as your mother, feel any better? When the child is hurt, the mother’s heart aches."

Ji Yunting was helpless. "It’s not like these things happen every day. You’re overthinking it."

Madam Ji was about to say more when her maid, Ruan Qiu, entered. She bowed and whispered, "Madam, a formal visit request from Madam Song of the Song Family has arrived."

’Madam Song?’

Who in the Capital City didn’t know that the current Madam Song was Song Zhaoyi’s paternal aunt-in-law?

Madam Ji frowned slightly. "What is it about?"

"The nanny who delivered the request said that Madam Song wishes to come and express her gratitude."

"Express her gratitude?" Madam Ji looked at Ruan Qiu with suspicion.

Ruan Qiu quickly explained, "The Miss Xie our young master saved is Second Madam Song’s niece from her maiden family."

Madam Ji was a little surprised, and her brow furrowed involuntarily.

’Our family has never had any dealings with the Song Family. Surely Madam Song isn’t using this as a pretext to build a connection with us?’

At this thought, Madam Ji’s expression soured. She stood up and said to her son, "You get some rest. I’ll come see you again later."

Ji Yunting had actually overheard some of the conversation, but since his mother didn’t seem inclined to discuss it, he didn’t ask.

Once she left her son’s courtyard, Madam Ji said directly to Ruan Qiu, "Go and send her people away. Tell them the matter ends here. The young master saved the girl out of a sense of duty, so the Song Family and the Xie family need not take it to heart."

Ruan Qiu nodded. "I will go at once."

Madam Ji returned to her own rooms with a dark expression. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She was afraid that Miss Xie would try to latch onto them because of this life-debt. ’Just a merchant’s daughter,’ she fumed internally. ’And that Madam Song is just as clueless.’

Nanny Zhao had gone with a smile on her face but returned from the grand Left Minister’s Mansion with a dark one.

After hearing Nanny Zhao’s report, Madam Song’s expression was quite calm. "Is that really what they said?"

"I wouldn’t dare misrepresent a single word," Nanny Zhao said immediately. "That is what the Left Minister’s Mansion said."

Madam Song let out a soft laugh. ’The matter ends here? Out of a sense of duty?’

’Madam Ji is afraid the Xie family will latch onto the Left Minister’s Mansion and take a bite out of them!’

Madam Song looked at Nanny Zhao and said, "Go to Second Young Master Xie and tell him exactly what happened. This path through Madam Ji is blocked. After his father arrives at the traveling palace, I will have someone help pass a message to the Left Minister, and we’ll have Mr. Xie express his gratitude in person."

’If the Left Minister also refuses to see them, then we will have fulfilled our social obligations, and the Ji Family will have nothing to criticize.’

Xie Jinshu hadn’t expected Madam Ji to be so rude. He went to see Madam Song again to personally apologize, since she had been caught in the middle and insulted on the Xie family’s behalf.

When Xie Linlang heard what had happened from her brother, she didn’t take it to heart. After all, a woman who could raise a son as muddle-headed as Ji Yunting couldn’t be a very clear-headed person herself.

’In the end, she just looks down on me and is afraid I’ll try to entangle myself with Ji Yunting.’

Ptooey!

’As if anyone would want her son!’

Outside, the families involved in the incident with the bolted horse were running around in a frenzy. Meanwhile, inside the traveling palace, Yun Zhao was eating a peach and listening to a storyteller.

Feng Yi had specifically made time to accompany her. He had thought that since both He Lan Yun and Xie Linlang were injured, Yun Zhao would surely fly into a rage. To his surprise, she was exceptionally calm.

Her reaction was so out of character that it made Feng Yi even more worried.