CHAPTER 678: CHAPTER 678: THE SONG FAMILY HAS NO MEDIOCRITY

Song Ruqian was thinking about her daughter, and seeing that Madam Song was also tired, she left the main hall and headed towards Chunhui Hall.

Originally planning to take a shortcut back to Chunhui Hall through the moon gate of Plum Garden, she heard a mocking and sarcastic voice. Turning to look, she saw a maid with her hands on her hips, scolding two people standing in front of her at the entrance of Plum Garden.

One was also dressed as a maid, while the other wore a plain winter outfit, looking somewhat thin and frail.

"Who is that?"

The leading maid glanced over, curtsied, and said, "In response to Eldest Miss, that is Concubine Bai and her maid Shuang Lu."

Song Ruqian realized, Concubine Bai, her third uncle’s concubine.

"Mother is too busy to manage the household. Second Aunt and Third Aunt are all helping with the management, which is already quite chaotic. Tell them not to cause quarrels and add to the troubles." Song Ruqian said calmly.

The maid received the order and went over to convey Song Ruqian’s message.

Song Ruqian was the legitimate eldest daughter, and her husband’s family was also a noble clan. No one in this mansion dared to look down on her, including those who were arguing; they all came over to pay their respects.

It was the first time Song Ruqian had seen this Bai Shuilian. She discreetly assessed her and returned a half-courtesy.

When they got closer, Song Ruqian naturally repeated what she had just said, only more tactfully.

The crowd was extremely fearful.

There was no comparison between having a maid verbalize the message and having the person in charge personally explain it, especially as the latter was the noble legitimate eldest daughter of the household. Song Ruqian had already taken over the management of the household affairs in the Gu Family, exuding an intangible matronly authority.

Her tone was gentle and her words not overly punitive, but they nonetheless sent a chill down one’s spine.

The face of the maid of Plum Garden turned pale, and without thinking, she knelt down: "This maid deserves to die."

Seeing her kneel, the maid on Bai Shuilian’s side had no choice but to kneel as well.

Bai Shuilian apologized softly: "It was my lack of strict discipline that disturbed you, Eldest Miss. It is my fault."

Her maid Shuang Lu said, "Eldest Miss, this has nothing to do with our Concubine. The Master loves plum blossom wine, especially when brewed by our Concubine herself. As the winter plums in Plum Garden are the most abundant, Concubine wished to come here to pick some. But who knew Sister Ru Yi would speak ill, and this maid couldn’t bear it, so argued a few words. I beg Eldest Miss to understand."

"Shuang Lu, do not be rude to the Eldest Miss." Bai Shuilian gently reproached.

Song Ruqian frowned, glancing at the indignant yet resentful Shuang Lu, and asked, "The plum blossoms in Plum Garden are indeed concentrated, but it’s not the only place in the Prime Minister’s Mansion to have them. There are a few ancient trees on the back hill as well. Moreover, if you came to Plum Garden to pick plums, did you ask Third Aunt? I heard that Third Aunt is particularly fond of these winter plums and tends to them regularly. It would be best to get her permission before picking them, as she is the master of Plum Garden, after all."

Bai Shuilian’s face turned slightly pale.

Song Ruqian’s words bore more than one implication. Picking plum blossoms was the surface issue, but implicitly, she was hinting at who the genuine mistress of the house was.

There truly were no mediocrities in the Song Family!

Bai Shuilian feigned calmness and bowed to Song Ruqian: "In response to Eldest Miss, without the Madam’s permission, I wouldn’t dare to pick them on my own. I merely wished to ask the Madam. Unfortunately, as someone lowly, I had no way in and disturbed you. It is my guilt. Eldest Miss has reminded me, since this is the Madam’s cherished item, I’ll go to the back hill to pick them."

Song Ruqian watched Ru Yi’s eyes flicker, her eyes flashed just as she was about to speak, but then saw Lady Lu walking over from the courtyard gate of Plum Garden and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.