Chapter 20: The Troublemaker

"Brother, you have finally returned!"

A man, who looked just as refined as the young boy, stepped forward and approached Tang Wu. His face was full of smiles, yet there was an undercurrent of unnaturalness in his expression.

Tang Wu coughed twice. "Second Brother, why bring Mother all the way to the city gate to meet us? Waiting at the manor would have been the same."

Tang Wen’s gaze swept past Tang Chaochao. "Brother, you have been away for seven years. Mother missed you dearly and insisted on coming in person."

Tang Wu coughed again, and once he finally managed to stop, he said, "My health has not been great lately. Let us return to the manor before we continue this conversation."

Seeing this, Tang Wen could only nod. "Brother, how did you become so ill? Have you seen a physician?"

As Tang Wu nodded, the group led by Old Madam Tang approached. Seeing her eldest son coughing so violently, the Old Madam cast a look of deep dissatisfaction toward Song Rongzhi.

"How exactly have you been looking after your husband? When you left for Hua City, I gave you strict instructions to take good care of my eldest son. Is this how you have been looking after him?"

Song Rongzhi did not get angry; it was not as if the Old Madam had only been displeased with her for a day or two. She curtsied and replied, "The Old Madam is right. The physician said that the General’s illness stems from the excessive sorrow he felt over the death of Mumu. He will recover once he has had time to recuperate properly."

Old Madam Tang snorted coldly. "You failed to care for him properly, and instead of admitting your fault, you drag that dead girl into this? You think you are in the right?"

Hearing the Old Madam speak so heartlessly about Tang Mumu as a "dead person," not only did Song Rongzhi’s expression darken, but even the pale Tang Wu furrowed his brows.

"Grandmother, that is not a fair thing to say. The physician said Father’s illness was caused by his deep grief over the sudden passing of my elder sister. Does that mean you are a more brilliant healer than the physician, to discern at a single glance that Father’s illness was caused by Mother’s lack of care?"

Tang Chaochao’s sudden interjection drew everyone’s attention to her. Seeing her dressed in the robes of a Daoist nun, yet bearing a face so similar to Tang Mumu’s, everyone fell silent.

Tang Yuntao stepped forward, attempting to take Tang Chaochao’s hand with feigned intimacy, but Tang Chaochao dodged her. The smile on Tang Yuntao’s face stiffened, and she said with a touch of awkwardness, "You must be Sister Chaochao. I know that since Sister Mumu has passed, the household must be very saddened. But as juniors, we should not interrupt our elders so casually. It is quite lacking in manners."

Tang Chaochao curled her lips. It seemed that her second uncle’s family and the Old Madam were not kind-hearted people. The elder one was undermining her mother, and the younger one was trying to make things difficult for her. Very well.

Old Madam Tang looked at Tang Chaochao with disdain. "Is this the wild girl from the mountains? Yuntao is right; she has no manners at all. And what is she wearing? Don't think that just because the Emperor granted you the title of Princess that you can be so disrespectful to your elders! Since you are back in the capital, you must learn the rules properly, lest you bring shame to our Tang family!"

Tang Chaochao smiled upon hearing this. She reached out and grabbed Tang Yuntao’s arm. Before Tang Yuntao could react, she was yanked forward and stumbled. A loud, crisp slap echoed through the air.

Tang Yuntao clutched her face in disbelief, collapsing to the ground. Tang Chaochao had actually hit her? And right in front of her grandmother and elders!

Old Madam Tang was also stunned. Upon realizing what had happened, she pointed a finger at Tang Chaochao and shouted, "You insolent wretch! You’ve rebelled! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, will you try to tear down the heavens next?"

Tang Chaochao asked with feigned confusion, "Grandmother, what do you mean? I came from the mountains, so it is understandable that I don’t know the proper etiquette. But this younger sister of mine, knowing full well that juniors should not interrupt their elders, still saw fit to jump in and criticize me for having no manners. I was merely teaching her a lesson on your behalf, Grandmother! Why are you so angry?"

Old Madam Tang was so furious she nearly fainted. Her maids rushed to support her, but she shook them off and glared at Song Rongzhi. "Eldest daughter-in-law, is this how you taught your daughter? She is disrespectful to her elders and strikes her own kinswoman. She must be punished severely today, or you can go kneel in the ancestral hall yourself!"

Song Rongzhi replied in a soft, gentle voice, "Old Madam, please. Everyone knows that Chaochao is a daughter I only just recovered a month ago. As for her upbringing, I, as her mother, am deeply ashamed. If you must punish me for that reason, then I shall accept it."

Old Madam Tang’s eyelids twitched with fury at Song Rongzhi’s words. It was clear she was being accused of being unreasonable. She turned directly to her eldest son, Tang Wu, hoping he would stand up for her. But Tang Wu broke into another fit of violent coughing. "Mother, I am unwell and need to return to the manor to rest."

Old Madam Tang was too angry to speak. She glared at the mother and daughter. Tang Wen quickly stepped in to mediate. "Mother, Brother has just returned and is ill. Let us return to the manor so he can rest."

Over the years, Tang Wen had relied on Tang Wu as his backbone, allowing his career as a civil official to soar. He now held a fourth-rank position. Many in the capital envied his good fortune in having such a brother, but Tang Wen did not see it that way. He believed his success was entirely due to his own abilities; no matter how powerful his brother was, he was merely a warrior. However, superficial peace had to be maintained.

Old Madam Tang wanted to say more, but the Tang Wu family had already boarded their carriage.

As they reached the entrance of the Tang manor, Tang Chaochao looked up at the plaque and asked, "Do we not have a General’s Manor in the capital?"

Song Rongzhi patted her head. "This Tang manor is the General’s Manor. However, since your father and I have been living in Hua City for years, we let your second uncle’s family stay here for the time being."

These words were overheard by Tang Yuntao as she stepped out of her carriage. The slap she had received from Tang Chaochao had left her face red and swollen. Hearing this, her eyes burned with malice as she stared at Tang Chaochao’s back.

Tang Chaochao turned sharply, catching that gaze. Tang Yuntao tried to look away, but it was too late. Meeting Tang Chaochao’s mocking smile, she felt a flush of embarrassment.

Tang Chaochao remarked, "So, she is nothing more than a guest living under our roof, yet she dares to jump out and criticize me. If I hear such nonsense again, I will smash her face in!"

Before Song Rongzhi could speak, the Old Madam’s carriage arrived. Tang Yuntao immediately rushed over with tear-filled eyes, sobbing to the Old Madam who was being helped out by servants. Seeing her like this, the Old Madam felt a surge of pity. "What is the matter? Why are you crying so bitterly?"

Tang Yuntao choked out, "Grandmother, Sister Chaochao said that our second branch is just living here as guests. Tomorrow, I will ask Father to take us and move out!"

Hearing this, the Old Madam glared at Tang Chaochao. "You troublemaker! I knew we shouldn't have brought you back!"

Tang Chaochao rolled her eyes. "Grandmother, am I wrong? Was this manor not granted to my father by the Emperor? Was it granted to my second uncle?"

Old Madam Tang stamped her feet in frustration. She then saw Tang Chaochao tuck her arm into Song Rongzhi’s and continue, "Mother, you see, the plaque says 'Tang Manor' instead of 'General’s Manor.' People who don't know any better might think this was a manor granted to my second uncle by the Emperor! If the Emperor were to find out, would he think that our Tang family looks down upon the manor he bestowed?"