Song Xinlan stormed into the main courtyard with aggressive momentum.
"Mother, Aunt has been working tirelessly to manage all the affairs of the household for you. How could you still withhold money from her? Are you deliberately making things difficult for her?"
The eight-year-old child stared at her, full of accusations, with not a trace of respect or affection for her mother in her eyes.
"Miss Lan, you mustn't speak to the Madam like that!" Even Nanzhi couldn't bear to listen any longer.
"I'm speaking with my mother. What right does a servant like you have to interrupt?" Song Xinlan shot a cold glance at Nanzhi.
Slap!
Shen Qingqing slapped her across the face.
Song Xinlan was stunned by the blow, looking at Shen Qingqing in disbelief.
Nanzhi was also dumbfounded. Wh-why did she hit her? After all, Miss Lan resembled the Madam so much—it couldn't be confirmed that she wasn't the Madam's child.
"You hit me? How could you hit me?" Song Xinlan covered her face and cried.
"How have I usually taught you? To be so disrespectful? Without me, what would you even be?" Shen Qingqing scolded coldly.
It was probably Yang Wanqing's influence again. Yang Wanqing loved emphasizing hierarchy and status, despite her own background being nothing remarkable.
Song Xinlan stared at Shen Qingqing in shock; she had never seen her mother so stern.
"You're bullying me! I'm going to find Father!" She tried to run away crying, but Shen Qingqing grabbed her. "Apologize to your Aunt Nanzhi first!"
"Why should I? She's just a servant! I'm the master of this household!" Song Xinlan retorted defiantly.
"Oh?" Shen Qingqing smiled, but the smile made Song Xinlan feel uneasy. She instinctively stepped back in fear, but her arm was held firmly by Shen Qingqing, preventing her from leaving.
"I am the mistress of this household, and you are merely a child. I gave birth to you—your very life comes from me."
"Nanzhi, bring the ruler!"
At the mention of the ruler, Song Xinlan's eyes widened in terror, and she shook her head frantically. "No, Mother, please don't bring the ruler! I'll apologize to Aunt Nanzhi!"
Shen Qingqing gently stroked her cheek and said, "Lan'er, you're not admitting your mistake—you're just afraid."
Trembling with fear, she saw Nanzhi return with the ruler and struggled desperately, screaming, "Help! Mother is going to beat me to death!"
Her cries were so loud that the servants heard, and even Song Xinyin came running over on her short legs to see what was happening.
Lvyun, who had been diligently practicing her calligraphy, quietly slipped out to investigate upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Shen Qingqing's stern and severe expression frightened her, but she felt certain it couldn't be the Madam's fault. The Madam was so gentle—it must be the eldest young miss's wrongdoing.
She resolved to behave well from now on and not do anything wrong to anger the Madam.
"Mother, what's happening?" Song Xinyin asked. The two sisters didn't have a particularly close relationship and often competed for favor.
"Lan'er wants me to give money to Aunt. But I was thinking, shouldn't all my money be saved for you two sisters as dowry? If I give it to others, your dowries will be smaller, and wouldn't you be laughed at?"
"I refused, and Lan'er accused me of making things difficult for Aunt and talked back to me."
The child's possessiveness was instantly triggered. This money was meant for her—how could it be given to someone else?
She immediately reproached Song Xinlan, "Sister, how could you talk back to Mother? You're already attending the Academy—didn't your teacher teach you about filial piety?"
Song Xinlan was left speechless and could only stand there sobbing.
"Hold out your hand," Shen Qingqing commanded with a frosty expression.
"Mother, I know I was wrong, truly. I shouldn't have spoken back to you or been disrespectful. It's just that when Auntie said those things, I got angry and came to take the money."
Oh? Shifting blame now?
She really has been corrupted by Yang Wanqing. Shen Qingqing remembered how well-behaved and adorable Song Xinlan had been as a child.
"You dare speak ill of your aunt? Song Xinlan, when you make mistakes you should take responsibility instead of pushing it onto others!"
"Sister, you'd better hold out your hand. If you resist, you'll only get beaten more," Song Xinyin said. Though she wanted her sister punished, she didn't wish for excessive beating.
Song Xinlan knew she couldn't escape this punishment forever – the beating was inevitable.
Trembling, she extended her hand to receive the punishment.
Shen Qingqing struck her palm hard with the ruler three times before stopping. Song Xinlan cried out in pain, her palm red and swollen.
Whenever Shen Qingqing remembered how this child had contemplated killing her own mother at just eight years old, she found herself capable of striking without mercy!
Compassion toward enemies is cruelty toward oneself!
"Yin'er, accompany your sister back to her room."
"Let's go, sister." Song Xinyin took Song Xinlan's other hand and led her away.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Song Xinlan roughly shook off her sister's hand. "Happy now? Instead of pleading for me, you added fuel to the fire!"
"Who told you to be disrespectful to Mother?" Song Xinyin retorted with an eye roll.
"You!" Song Xinlan raised her hand to strike, but Song Xinyin quickly dodged away. "If you hit me, I'll tell Mother! Then you'll get beaten again for disrespecting Mother and bullying your younger sister!" She stuck out her tongue mockingly.
The sisters' poor relationship stemmed largely from everyone praising Song Xinlan's beauty while merely calling Song Xinyin "pretty and cute." Over time, Song Xinyin grew resentful, while Song Xinlan felt displeased that since her sister's birth, both their aunt and mother had shifted their attention to the younger girl.
News of Shen Qingqing punishing Song Xinlan quickly reached Yang Wanqing and Song Yu.
"She actually hit Lan'er?" Yang Wanqing found this unusual. "Last time she made Lan'er kneel in the snow. What's happening with her?"
"Probably because Lan'er pushed her into the lake. She feels she can't indulge her anymore and needs to teach her proper manners," Song Yu analyzed.
Song Yu stood up. "Auntie, I'll go check on Mother first." With that, he left Song Zhu Study.
"Mother, I've returned from school." Song Yu bowed to Shen Qingqing.
"You and Lan'er went to Auntie's first?" Shen Qingqing asked mildly.
Of her three children, Song Yu was the most calculating. He and Song Lingxiao were cut from the same cloth – both skilled at pretense.
"Yes, Lan'er wanted to ask Auntie for some money to buy things, so I accompanied her."
Hah, another one shifting blame.
It appeared the three siblings didn't get along well. With just a little maneuvering, their relationship could easily fracture.
"Don't I give you monthly allowances?" Shen Qingqing frowned.
"Little girls buy many things and spend quickly. Auntie usually gives her extra money, so she's developed careless spending habits."
"You're her older brother – why don't you watch over her? If she develops such spending habits, how will she manage a household after marriage?"
"It was my mistake. I will keep a closer eye on my younger sister from now on. Please punish me, Mother!"
Shen Qingqing nodded with satisfaction. She quite liked this kind of act—it was you who asked for punishment, after all.