“This matter is already over, why are you still holding onto it?” Seeing her mother’s pale face, Song Yao stepped forward to explain: “What good does it come to you by making a fuss about this? You are…”
“Yao Yao!” Yuan Fuling promptly stopped Song Yao.
Thus preventing Song Yao from uttering those unspeakable words.
How could a young lady from a noble family speak such vulgar words?
“I am what?” Song Yue took a step forward, coming face to face with Song Yao: “Yesterday, Second Sister wouldn’t allow me into the mansion, despising me for being defiled. I’d like to know where these rumors came from, or is Second Sister simply unhappy about my return?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? I never said such things,” Song Yao hastily denied.
Song Yue scoffed and turned her gaze back to the Duke of Jing: “Father must investigate this matter quickly and clear my name. Otherwise, if the Jingzhao Yin uncovers it first, some things may be beyond Father’s control.”
It was both a reminder and a threat.
She knew the Duke of Jing must have discovered some clues.
Even if he didn’t investigate.
Someone else would continue to look into it.
“What we need to do now is to calm things down, not cause chaos for your sake alone!” Song Yao scolded: “Because of you, Father hasn’t returned home all night. Why can’t you be considerate of him?”
Song Yue looked at Song Yao as if she were an idiot. She was giving the Duke of Jing one last chance. If this matter were to be uncovered by the Jingzhao Yin and presented before the Emperor of Beichu, it would give the Emperor a perfect excuse to punish the Duke of Jing.
It must be known that there are two people the Emperor of Beichu despises most in this world: one is the long-dead Emperor Taizu, and the other is the Duke of Jing.
Back then, the Emperor of Beichu was still young and no match for the Duke of Jing in power and influence. He could only watch helplessly as the Duke of Jing married his beloved Princess Jiahua.
How could he not despise the Duke of Jing?
The Duke of Jing understood this simple logic all too well. While outsiders might not know, he saw it clearly. In court, any suggestion he made would be rejected by the Emperor of Beichu.
Such repeated targeting was noticeable even to the untrained eye, causing many once-friendly ministers to distance themselves from him, fearing the Emperor’s resentment.
“Enough!” the Duke of Jing interrupted Song Yao sharply: “You are a young lady of noble birth, not a market shrew. Song Yue has just returned, and not only do you not accommodate her, but you also oppose her at every turn. Is this how I taught you to behave?”
Scolded by the Duke of Jing, Song Yao was stunned and immediately teared up.
“Father, Yao Yao is only concerned for your safety. Before Song Yue returned, wasn’t our family harmonious? And just now, Mama Wang must have been wronged. Song Yue is cunning; she must have deliberately shown herself in front of the Eighth Prince to make him laugh at our family’s expense.”
Song Hengchuan quickly stepped forward to defend Song Yao, not forgetting to blame Song Yue: “It’s all your fault!”
Song Yue rolled her eyes in exasperation.
What fools!
Spoiled and pampered, they had no idea of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion’s current predicament.
Mentioning the Eighth Prince only reminded the Duke of Jing that now, besides the Jingzhao Yin, another person knew about Song Yue’s situation.
“Father, you don’t know, Song Yue has somehow acquired highly skilled martial artists around her. Yesterday, they went on a killing spree in Yuhan Courtyard…”
Before he could finish, the Duke of Jing could no longer contain himself and slapped Song Hengchuan, cutting him off.
Smack!
The sound was crisp and sharp.
Song Hengchuan’s words abruptly ceased, his face turned to one side, his ears ringing.
“You unfilial son, she is your own sister!” The Duke of Jing was furious, pointing at Song Hengchuan. “Get back and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors!”
Song Hengchuan couldn’t understand why everyone was siding with Song Yue. It was clearly Song Yue who had been rebellious and stirred up trouble, causing the Duke of Jing’s Mansion to lose face.
His grandmother had punished him by making him kneel in the ancestral hall, and his father had struck him in front of everyone.
Was he still the legitimate eldest son of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion?
Why?
“Brother Chuan, go back quickly.” Yuan Fuling stepped forward in time to grab Song Hengchuan’s arm, lowering her voice to persuade him. “Sister Yue has just returned. Don’t provoke your father’s anger.”
Only then did Song Hengchuan’s agitated heart calm down.
“Duke, Brother Chuan has always been well-behaved and steady. Please calm your anger. I will definitely talk to him properly.” Yuan Fuling then approached the Duke of Jing, whispering words of persuasion.
The Duke of Jing’s expression softened slightly.
No wonder that fool Song Hengchuan sided with Yuan Fuling—with just a few words, she had given both men a way out.
Yet she was the one who had been wronged.
But now everyone was banding together, as if she were the aggressor, pushing her aside.
Recalling the suffering from her past life, Song Yue suppressed the hatred in her heart. She lifted her delicate face toward the Duke of Jing and said, “Father, it was my sudden return that disrupted the peace of the mansion. It was my fault for taking Second Sister’s clothes and defying Eldest Brother. I beg Father to send me back to the estate of the Duke’s Mansion.”
The Duke of Jing’s recently calmed anger was instantly reignited by Song Yue. The villa fire hadn’t been fully investigated yet, and now chaos had erupted in the mansion.
The Duke of Jing pushed Yuan Fuling’s hand away and said to Song Hengchuan, “Go back and reflect on your mistakes. You are not to rise without my permission.”
Song Hengchuan’s face paled. Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Song Yue, then angrily stormed off with a flick of his sleeve.
Seeing this, Song Yue couldn’t help but ask innocently, “Father, is Eldest Brother unhappy with your punishment and angry?”
Hearing this, Song Hengchuan’s steps faltered.
The Duke of Jing breathed heavily. “Chang Song, you personally supervise the Eldest Young Master kneeling for twelve full hours!”
“Yes.”
Song Yue curved her lips slightly.
Just twelve hours—she had often knelt for much longer. She wondered if the pampered Song Hengchuan could endure it.
Yuan Fuling watched as the emotions of both father and son, which she had just soothed, were easily stirred up again by Song Yue. She gave Song Yue a deep look.
Meeting a faint, ambiguous smile, Song Yue grinned at her. “Lady Yuan, I wonder how the preparations for Yuehua Pavilion are coming along?”
Yuan Fuling’s eyelids twitched.
“What Yuehua Pavilion?” the Duke of Jing asked.
The Grand Madam cleared her throat from behind. “Yesterday, I asked Lady Yuan to vacate Yuehua Pavilion for Sister Yue.”
Yuan Fuling immediately looked at the Duke of Jing with a pitiful expression, hoping he would stand up for her.
But this time, the Duke of Jing was overwhelmed with troubles and had no mind to defend Yuan Fuling. He nodded and said, “Mother’s arrangement is excellent. Fuling, vacate the courtyard as soon as possible. Also, prepare a few sets of luxurious clothes and jewelry for Sister Yue. All expenses will come from my private funds.”
Yuan Fuling nearly gritted her teeth in fury but managed to force out a “Yes.”
With things having reached this point, naturally no one was in the mood for breakfast. The gathering ended unhappily.
Only Song Yue was in good spirits.
“Sister Yue!”
The Grand Madam called out to Song Yue, asking her to stay behind.
After everyone else had left.
Grand Madam pulled Song Yue to sit down, her eyes brimming with tears: “Song Yue, you have suffered. It is Grandmother who is useless and could not protect you.”
Seeing Grand Madam’s reddened eyes and tears, Song Yue was not at all surprised, because in her previous life, Grand Madam had used this very trick, fabricating lies that the Emperor of Beichu was jealous of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion holding real power, so he had schemed to frame them, demanding that she keep the secret and not speak carelessly.
She spoke of blood being thicker than water, claiming that sending Song Yue away back then was also a last resort.
Half foolish and half naive, Song Yue naturally believed it, only remembering not to speak recklessly.
Before the Emperor of Beichu, she never once spoke ill of the Duke of Jing, and even after her illness was cured, she never said a bad word about him.
She even pleaded for leniency on behalf of the Duke of Jing, which made the Emperor of Beichu show mercy.
“Your Fu Qin has struggled alone to support this family, and it has not been easy. Song Yue, all these years, your Fu Qin has actually always been thinking of you…” Grand Madam choked up.