Chapter 587 - 365: Xie Linlang’s Battle of Wits with Her Mother-in-law

Chapter 587: Chapter 365: Xie Linlang’s Battle of Wits with Her Mother-in-law

Song Yunzhao heard the latest about the Ji Family from Princess Ming’an. Ever since becoming the youngest Duchess, it had become much easier for Princess Ming’an to request an audience at the palace.

Before, even though she was a County Princess, she had to be brought in by Princess Zhenbei to enter the palace.

Now she could request an audience on her own. However, she rarely came to the palace, mainly because she didn’t want to cause trouble for Yun Zhao.

This time was different. With all the commotion both inside and outside the palace, she was genuinely worried and had submitted a request.

The two were delighted to see each other. Yun Zhao observed her rosy complexion and high spirits, a clear sign that life with her husband’s family was treating her well.

Speaking of the Cao Family, He Lan Yun had no complaints, aside from finding Cao Jitong a bit too serious. She had enough praise for her mother-in-law to write a thick biography, the main point being that her mother-in-law was even more lenient with her than her own mother.

Song Yunzhao thought of the Empress Dowager. ’Sigh, I’m not the Empress, so I can’t expect the Empress Dowager to be kind.’ To put it bluntly, even as a high-ranking concubine, she was still just a concubine.

It was just that this particular type of concubine was gilded with the splendor of the Imperial Family.

She really envied He Lan Yun for having such a godsend of a mother-in-law. Not everyone was so lucky.

As they chatted, the topic turned to Xie Linlang, and He Lan Yun became much more talkative. "Madam Ji is really something else. Looking back now, I’m so glad I didn’t marry Ji Yunting. With my temper, I would have ended up in a feud with her so scandalous it would have made us both infamous."

The word "infamous" suddenly seemed very fitting.

Of course, the one with the ruined reputation wouldn’t be Madam Ji, but the daughter-in-law who couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law.

"Linlang is no fool. When she first married into the family, Madam Ji was constantly falling ill. She knew Madam Ji was faking it to wear her down, so after a few days of enduring it, her face turned a pale, bluish-white. She timed it for when Ji Yunting was due back home and collapsed right in front of him. Tending to the sick until she fell sick herself. Only then did that muddle-headed fool Ji Yunting realize what was going on at home. I heard he took a few days off from the government office to personally attend to Madam Ji. After all, his own mother had tormented his wife into sickness, hadn’t she?"

Song Yunzhao smiled. She knew Xie Linlang wasn’t the type to let others bully her. However, this tactic wouldn’t solve the root of the problem.

"After that incident, Madam Ji would have a headache one day and a foot ache the next. In short, the illnesses were never long, but they were always an excuse to make Linlang bow and scrape before her. But Linlang is no pushover. She picked a day when the Left Minister was also home and, with great fanfare, summoned a doctor to the residence. The examination revealed that the Ji Family’s young mistress was indeed in poor health. This alarmed the Left Minister, who gave Madam Ji a stern scolding. After that, Madam Ji toned it down a lot."

"But in the sparring between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Madam Ji only has that one trick up her sleeve, though she no longer dares to feign illness every single day. Linlang knows how to fight back, too. She always manages to make Madam Ji slip up in front of the Left Minister and her own son."

"Just a few days ago, Madam Ji fell ’ill’ again. Linlang had a special soup prepared and waited on her all day. Then, timing it perfectly for when Ji Yunting would come to pay his respects to his mother, she brought the soup over. She had just arrived when Madam Ji started finding all sorts of fault with the soup, which Ji Yunting overheard perfectly clearly. When Madam Ji was holding the soup bowl, who knows if her hand trembled or just grew tired, but the whole bowl spilled onto the back of Linlang’s hand. Ji Yunting saw it all, plain as day. The mother and son had an unhappy argument because of it."

"Now, I hear Ji Yunting is seeking an official post outside the capital. The Left Minister knows his son is serious about leaving this time, so he gave Madam Ji a harsh scolding. I think things will be quiet for a few months."

Song Yunzhao frowned slightly. ’Xie Linlang has been playing this game with Madam Ji for so long, but she’s only making these small moves. I’m afraid she has other plans.’ Ji Yunting’s actions this time were at least manly. The Left Minister was just trying to smooth things over, but of course he’d be biased toward his own wife over his daughter-in-law. Nothing wrong with that.

That’s how family matters are. Sometimes it’s truly difficult to distinguish right from wrong.

He Lan Yun sighed. "It seems to me that Linlang is living such a frustrating life, but she herself seems quite happy. I really can’t figure her out."

Song Yunzhao explained, "Madam Ji looks down on Linlang’s family background. The marriage only happened in the first place because of Ji Yunting’s health issues. Now that Linlang is married into the family, Madam Ji was bound to vent her frustrations."

After all, Madam Ji wasn’t a broad-minded person, but she also didn’t resort to the kind of particularly cruel and malicious tactics that are too shameful to even speak of.

’Anyway, when Mrs. Cai was dealing with me back then, she used far more disgusting methods. Madam Ji is a world apart from her.’

’Xie Linlang is suppressing her own temper to fight with Madam Ji like this, probably to let Madam Ji vent her anger. Once she gives birth to a child for the Ji Family, she’ll naturally have a stronger footing.’

’Xie Linlang is willing to swallow her pride for the sake of future family harmony. She genuinely wants to be a good wife to Ji Yunting. Otherwise, with her ’innocent damsel’ persona from the book, she would have turned the Ji Family upside down long ago.’

He Lan Yun looked at Song Yunzhao. "You sound just like Xie Linlang. Anyway, I could never do that. Let’s not talk about this anymore. Linlang said she won’t have to put up with this for much longer. I hope that’s true. It’s just a pity her background isn’t more prominent, otherwise Madam Ji would never dare to act like this."

"The business with Baozhuang Building has blown up so much. Are you okay? The Empress Dowager hasn’t been giving you trouble, has she? I wanted to have my mother come to the palace, but she’s too conspicuous. I was worried about you, so I forced myself to send you a request. I’m not causing you trouble, am I?" For most of her life, He Lan Yun’s main principle had been to do as she pleased. But ever since making these troublemaker friends, she had actually learned to use her brain.

Song Yunzhao looked at He Lan Yun. The concern in her eyes was genuine, and a wave of warmth washed over her. She said softly, "I’m fine. The Empress Dowager doesn’t really dare to give me too much trouble these days. An Shutong has already entered the palace and been named a Xiaoyi. If the Empress Dowager dares to make things difficult for me, I’ll make sure An Xiaoyi pays the price."

He Lan Yun was speechless.

She had forgotten. Out of all of them, Song Yunzhao was the most cunning. How could she possibly let herself be taken advantage of?

"But the court is divided on the matter of Baozhuang Building. Aren’t you worried?"

"I am one of the Emperor’s concubines. If there’s an issue in court, the courtiers will naturally go to the Emperor. What does it have to do with me? I haven’t broken any laws or regulations. What is there to be afraid of?"

So self-assured. This was indeed the Song Yunzhao she knew.

"About your Baozhuang Building, I heard the Six Departments are causing trouble. I can’t help with that, so you’ll have to be careful. Cao Jitong said the waters run very deep."

"Duke Cao actually sent a warning for you? Then I must thank him properly." Song Yunzhao smiled. He was using He Lan Yun as a mouthpiece to remind her.

"That’s nothing. But I did have Cao Jitong look into the Ling Family. Guess what he found?" He Lan Yun said with a smile.

This time, Song Yunzhao was genuinely surprised. ’She actually had the Ling Family investigated? Was she afraid I’d be sabotaged by them?’