The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1589 - 1584: Never Offend Her

Lady Gao originally had some listless eyes, but upon hearing this, her entire gaze was filled with anger, her eyes shining terrifyingly bright, almost unable to hold the teacup in her hand.

She squeezed out a sound from between her teeth: "They actually dare to be negligent at Mother’s funeral?"

Although her expression was somewhat grim and terrifying, it was more appealing than her previous lifeless appearance.

The old woman beside her almost burst into tears: "Isn’t it just so! Madam, we must pull ourselves together! Not for anything else, but for the county monarch to have a dignified farewell, we must hold on!"

Lady Gao stood up with a cold smile: "Even though Mother is gone, I’m not dead yet!"

With these words, she led a group of people with murderous intent straight to the inner hall.

Wang Yongzhu watched Lady Gao’s departing figure, curiously glanced at the two old women still kneeling before the spirit, and turned her head to ask: "Who are the women kneeling before the spirit?"

Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu didn’t have many chances to come to the Gao family, just recognizing them as vaguely familiar, and said in confusion: "They seem to be the sisters from County Monarch Rongyi’s side."

Little Lady Hou swallowed and said softly: "Those are County Monarch Rongyi’s dowry maids, who never married due to old age, became the sisters by the county monarch’s side. They are the most trusted elders by the county monarch. After the county monarch largely stepped back from house affairs, these two sisters have been managing things here—"

The Hou family and the Gao family were related by marriage, and later became closer because of the maternal aunt Hou.

Originally, County Monarch Rongyi selected the maternal aunt Hou to enter the Song Family, and the Hou family regularly came to pay respects and show filial piety to County Monarch Rongyi to demonstrate loyalty.

So Little Lady Hou knew more than the Song family people.

Wang Yongzhu didn’t expect Little Lady Hou to actively answer her question, but couldn’t help looking back at Little Lady Hou.

Little Lady Hou squeezed out a smile when she saw Wang Yongzhu looking her way.

This woman was terrifying, not just because of her incredible strength but even more so because, with just a few words, she roused the lifeless Lady Gao to a cold fury.

Little Lady Hou felt that her little bit of wit was certainly inadequate in front of Wang Yongzhu, so she decided to be honest.

Understanding Wang Yongzhu’s intention, she nodded.

Little Lady Hou breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Gao went into the inner hall and didn’t come out for a long time.

Shortly after, the evening vegetarian feast was set up, and everyone casually had a bit to eat before they started to take their leave.

By rights, Lady Gao should return to the Duke Weiguo Residence today and come back early tomorrow.

Yet Wang Yongzhu and others waited for quite a while; just as the guests were about to leave, a woman by Lady Gao’s side came out with an apologetic face and bowed to Wang Yongzhu: "Wife of the Heir-Apparent, Madam is too grief-stricken today, and after kneeling for half a day, her body is overwhelmed, and she fainted at the back, making it difficult to move her. So today she can’t return home, and we entrust the residence to the Wife of the Heir-Apparent; if there’s anything, just go ahead and make decisions."

Wang Yongzhu immediately understood that Lady Gao intended to stay at her mother’s home to deal with her half-brothers and their wives.

She also wanted to take charge of organizing the funeral for County Monarch Rongyi, to personally manage and give the county monarch a grand send-off.

This was indeed the heart of a daughter. Although Wang Yongzhu knew it was not quite appropriate, she said nothing.

She simply reminded Lady Gao to take care of herself and not to grieve too excessively, then deftly took her leave.

The woman had originally been worried that Wang Yongzhu would say Lady Gao’s actions were unreasonable, but seeing that Wang Yongzhu didn’t mention it and just left, she couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.

She hurriedly went back to the backyard.

Lady Gao was in the room where County Monarch Rongyi usually lived, surrounded by the elderly people that County Monarch Rongyi had been accustomed to.

Upon hearing the woman’s report, her expression softened a bit.

The elderly people next to her nodded; now that the county monarch was gone, their lady, although the Lady of the Duke Weiguo, had no children after all, and the princely heir and his wife were not her biological children.

These older people were most worried about their lady, but seeing the Heir-Apparent’s wife act this way, it relieved Lady Gao a bit.

But Lady Gao soon put these thoughts aside and gave a cold snort, slapping the table: "Bring those people to me—"

Outside, the servants who had been waiting like wolves for a long time dragged up several men and women, who were the very same half-brothers of Lady Gao and their wives who had earlier been kneeling and crying before the spirit.

※※※※

Just as Wang Yongzhu led the Song family out, the men of the Song family were already waiting at the door.

Song Hong was also in mourning clothes, and when he saw them coming out, he glanced around and didn’t see Lady Gao.

He couldn’t help but ask: "Where is Madam?"

Wang Yongzhu repeated what the woman had said.

Song Hong’s face immediately turned cold: "Foolish! Isn’t this breaking the rules?"

He was about to order someone by his side to go inside and bring Lady Gao out.

Wang Yongzhu hurriedly stopped him: "Lord Duke, after all, we’re outside, and it wouldn’t look good to make a scene. Besides, Madam is doing this out of filial piety; the county monarch is gone, and Madam is feeling sad. Letting her spend more time with the county monarch’s coffin isn’t a bad thing."

"Moreover, the rules ultimately align with human kindness. Even if others find out, they will only say Madam is sincerely filial, and they will also think Lord Duke is magnanimous. Madam would surely be endlessly grateful to Lord Duke too!"

Really, never seen such a rotten man. Not to mention how Lady Gao is herself, she’s been so compliant and attentive to Song Hong for years, managing the household. She may not have achieved much, but she’s certainly worked hard, hasn’t she?

Not to mention, when the Song Family was in dire straits before, it was marrying Lady Gao that helped them through the crisis, and it was also thanks to County Monarch Rongyi mediating in front of the Empress Dowager.

For this reason alone, County Monarch Rongyi has rendered a great favor to Song Family, hasn’t she?

Now that County Monarch Rongyi has passed, and she has only Lady Gao as her only daughter to fulfill her filial duty, it’s understandable.

Though it may not be entirely reasonable, everyone turns a blind eye, and no one pursues it.

Song Hong insists on sticking to the rules, which is simply disheartening.

Wang Yongzhu thought, if she were in Lady Gao’s position and found out about Song Hong’s actions, she might rush out and beat Song Hong, that lousy man, to a pulp first!

The Song family brothers and Little Lady Hou, beside her, didn’t expect Wang Yongzhu to actually dare stop Song Hong.

They couldn’t help but shrink back, taking a few steps back.

Song Chongjuan’s two sisters looked at Wang Yongzhu worriedly, wanting to speak, but ultimately didn’t dare.

Yet Song Hong, having heard these words and seen Wang Yongzhu’s expression of disbelief in his rottenness, almost couldn’t catch his breath.

After brooding for a while, he finally flung his sleeve, snorted coldly, and mounted his horse.

Looking around, it was over just like that?

Only when the chief attendant urged them, saying their father had ridden a long way, did the sons who were still dazed regain their senses, sluggishly mount their horses, and follow up.

Over here, Wang Yongzhu calmly boarded the carriage.

Little Lady Hou looked at Wang Yongzhu’s back like she was looking at a god.

She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva and decided to keep her distance from this woman in the future, and never to offend her.