Chapter 22: The Wedding Night

  "I... I found that my tongue was tied and I couldn't say a word. This feeling I had never felt before, just like when students see the principal for the first time at school, their heart is tense and their palms are sweating."

  "Madam, it was I who accidentally fell down, she didn't notice, and today is her first day in the door, so don't blame her." Song Tang's face had turned pale as paper, no longer with the arrogant look from earlier, only moving his lips, tensely staring at Madam.

  "Tang Er, rest well, the mistress has her own plans." The madam smiled warmly at Song Tang, but her smiling eyes were devoid of any emotion, only a cold and unfamiliar chill.

  She poured herself a cup of tea, and looked at me faintly without saying a word, just sipping her tea. I looked at her slender white fingers holding the Qinghua porcelain bowl, and my heart grew colder. The pressure she gave me was too great, and she smiled at me like that, but I also became fearful.

  "Do you know what the three virtues and four moralities of women are?" She asked me after drinking a few sips of tea, the silence just now was surprisingly the most intimidating in front of me.

  I moistened my dry lips and relieved the tension in my heart, saying "I know!"

  She nodded in approval and said, "I've heard from your family that although you haven't read many books, you understand the principles of being a good person. That's why I'm willing to entrust this second son of the Song family to you." She paused for a moment before continuing, "Although the second son is not in good health, with your family background and appearance, becoming his legitimate wife is a great fortune, do you know that?"

  I'm not convinced, marrying a sick person to ward off bad luck. Perhaps before I arrived, everyone thought he was on the verge of death, yet one by one they said it's as if I've encountered the greatest good fortune in the world, as if this is an opportunity that only comes once every eight hundred years. I lowered my eyes, not letting her see my expression, and said: "I obey the great lady's teachings!"

  The madam nodded, but continued to lecture: "Today I'll let it slide since you're new here and it's your wedding night. However, remember that no matter how ill your husband is, he's still your husband and you can't abandon him. You must take care of him patiently. Although the Song family has many maidservants, they are all servants after all. Do you understand?"

  I nodded hastily, seemingly answering with a vague "yes".