Song Yili, standing to the side, heard his mother's past being exposed in public. Overcome with shame, he lowered his head, his face burning red.
Old Madam Song usually doted on this youngest grandson, and seeing him throwing such a tantrum, she immediately felt a headache coming on.
Song Mingsi curled her lips slightly, stepped forward, and gently pulled her brother: "Zeyue, you must not be unruly. Grandmother has just recovered and cannot handle such agitation. Besides, that is Second Uncle's bloodline; Brother Yili and Sister Yi'an would be very hurt."
Madam Xu looked at the pale-faced Madam Gu, seemingly apologizing while actually speaking for her youngest son: "Sister Yan Ran, please do not take it to heart. Zeyue is still young, just a child. Children say things without thinking; please do not hold it against him."
Song Yi'an, who had been pushed over, stood up and calmly brushed the dust off her legs.
She looked at her brother, who was at a loss, her mother, who was overcome with shame, and then at Madam Xu, who was watching from the sidelines, and Prime Minister Song, who was tacitly allowing all of this. She understood everything in her heart.
She tugged gently on Madam Gu's skirt with her small hand, looked up, and asked, "Mother, are you a courtesan?"
This question was like pouring ice water into boiling oil. The hall fell into a deathly silence, and everyone stared at Madam Gu.
The young daughter's sharp question was no different from tearing open her most bleeding wound in public. Madam Gu's face turned as pale as paper, her hands and feet went cold, and she squeezed a single word from her dry throat: "...Yes."
How was she supposed to explain this unbearable past to her son and daughter?
Song Yi'an asked again, "Then why did Mother enter the brothel? When I was kidnapped by thieves, the thief also wanted to sell me to a brothel for money. Did Mother go in voluntarily?"
Madam Gu shook her head in a panic, her eyes suddenly turning red: "Mother did not, Mother... Mother was... forced by your maternal grandfather to be sold to pay off debts."
Song Yi'an tilted her head, her logic clear: "Then Mother's father is also a bad person. I was lucky enough to escape from the thieves, and Mother just escaped a bit later. Mother didn't steal, didn't rob, and didn't go in voluntarily, so why should we be scolded by this thing that is nothing?"
The young daughter's words were like a thunderbolt, leaving Madam Gu stunned on the spot, followed by tears streaming down her face.
The world only said she came from a brothel, but no one ever asked why she had fallen to such a state.
People only see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear; they do not care about right or wrong.
Song Zeyue was still young and did not immediately understand that he had been scolded.
Madam Xu, however, heard it clearly and was so angry that she stood up with a start.
"You wild..." The words were on the tip of her tongue, but upon meeting Prime Minister Song's sharp, knife-like gaze, she forcibly changed her words: "You sharp-tongued girl, who are you calling 'nothing'?"
Song Yi'an blinked her clear, large eyes and met Madam Xu's gaze calmly: "I am still young, just a child. Please do not hold it against me."
She returned Madam Xu's words exactly as they were.
Madam Xu was momentarily speechless, her face flushed red. In terms of age, Song Yi'an was even a year younger than Song Zeyue.
She was furious and wanted to argue further.
"Enough." Prime Minister Song spoke in a deep voice, his authority instantly manifesting.
The hall fell silent at once. Song Zeyue was so scared he shrank into Madam Xu's arms.
Prime Minister Song stood up and walked straight to Song Yi'an.
Although his temples were gray, his back was straight, and his stature was tall. The aura of someone who had long held a high position was imposing without anger.
He lowered his head to examine the little girl in front of him.
Song Yi'an did not back down, looking up to meet his gaze.
A flash of admiration crossed Prime Minister Song's eyes very quickly.
Ordinary children would either hide or cry when they saw him, but this little girl was not only unafraid, she even dared to look him in the eye.
This little girl was not only unafraid, she even dared to confront him.
Everyone thought Song Yi'an was about to be severely punished.
Song Zeyue huddled in Madam Xu's arms, both mother and son wearing expressions of watching a show.
Madam Gu wanted to let Song Yi'an hide behind her, but to her surprise, her young daughter not only did not hide but stood in front of her to protect her.
Song Yili was also very afraid of this imposing grandfather and was worried for his sister.
Song Mingsi prepared to step forward to plead for her; after all, in the Song Manor, everyone knew Prime Minister Song loved her the most. If she spoke, Grandfather would surely listen.
Old Madam Song, however, calmly sipped her tea.
Unexpectedly, the question Prime Minister Song asked was: "How did you escape from the thieves?"
Song Yi'an was also slightly surprised that her grandfather would ask this. She omitted the part about the assassins and recounted the rest of her experience truthfully.
After listening, the admiration in Prime Minister Song's eyes grew stronger, and the chill between his brows unconsciously dissipated a little.
Although this girl was not as gentle as the eldest granddaughter, she excelled in courage, wit, and decisiveness. To be able to escape from human traffickers at such a young age and find her way to the Capital City alone, she was definitely no ordinary person.
Looking at the two grandsons, one was spoiled by Madam Xu and did not know the immensity of heaven and earth, and the other, while intelligent, lacked courage.
He reached out and ruffled Song Yi'an's hair, saying loudly: "Little one, you are truly remarkable."
Song Yi'an was a bit dazed. She had been prepared to be made things difficult for, and had even calculated that at worst, she would take her mother and brother back to Luo Town to make a living. She had the ability to build wealth; it was not as if they had to be confined to the Capital City.
Who would have thought that the other party would not play by the rules and instead acknowledged her.
He looked at Madam Gu and snorted coldly: "You have indeed given birth to a good daughter."
He then turned his head and ordered Nanny Zhou: "Take the Second Madam and the Second Miss to Bright Moon Pavilion, have them wash and change, and assign a few sensible and steady maids to go over and serve them."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was shocked.
The title "Second Madam" was equivalent to Prime Minister Song's recognition of Madam Gu's status. The very Madam Gu who had made the Song Manor a laughingstock in tea-time gossip had been personally acknowledged by the head of the household.
What was even more shocking was that Bright Moon Pavilion was one of the best courtyards in the manor. Everyone knew it was prepared by the First Madam for the Eldest Young Lady, and the furnishings were already set up. After the separation from Madam Xu's household, the Eldest Young Lady was supposed to move there. Now, it was actually given to the newly returned Second Miss?
Although Nanny Zhou was in a state of turmoil, she dared not hesitate for a moment and immediately replied: "Yes, Second Madam, Second Miss, please follow this old servant."
Song Yili, standing to the side, was reluctant to part with his mother and sister, and Old Madam Song did not force him to stay, waving for him to go along.
After the three of them left, Prime Minister Song returned to his seat, his tone returning to calm: "What are you still standing there for? Serve the meal."
Madam Xu was filled with resentment but dared not speak.
Song Mingsi's expression was calm, but she ate with no appetite.
...
"Second Madam, Second Miss, we have arrived at Bright Moon Pavilion."
Nanny Zhou was an old servant of the manor who had served Old Madam Song for many years and had a certain amount of authority in the house.
She ordered the maids to prepare hot water and well-fitting clothes, and while they were preparing, she took the three of them to familiarize themselves with the courtyard.
Along the way, Song Yi'an deliberately ignored Song Yili. His retreat and shame in the hall had left her deeply disappointed.
It was one thing not to defend their mother in Juhe Hall, but he had actually wanted to agree with them.
Seeing the siblings bickering, Madam Gu assumed it was just a common spat between children and did not pay much attention to it.
Back in Luo Town, Er Ya would often be jealous of her brother over small things, but they would soon make up.
Song Yili followed behind his sister, feeling anxious as he saw her ignoring him, but he was clumsy with words and did not know how to coax her: "Er Ya..."
Song Yi'an acted as if she had not heard him.
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