Song Yue merely scoffed, “I know Eldest Brother can’t stand me, but there’s no need to frame me with such filthy methods, is there?”
“What are you saying?” Song Hengchuan frowned.
Yundong puffed out her chest, “Miss, this servant saw Eldest Young Master place these things on the table just now.”
Song Hengchuan immediately turned his gaze toward Yundong, causing her to shrink back in fear as she muttered softly, “Miss, this servant truly saw it.”
Song Yue found this girl increasingly endearing.
“Nonsense! These things were clearly already on the table!” Song Hengchuan wished he could tear Yundong’s mouth apart. He glanced behind him, “Did all of you see it?”
“Reporting to Eldest Young Master, these items have been on the table all along. This subordinate saw them as soon as we entered,” a guard replied.
Song Hengchuan sneered disdainfully, thinking Song Yue had some trick up her sleeve, but it seemed she was nothing special after all. “Enough with the chatter! Tie her up!”
Song Yue remained silent, standing leisurely in place. Though her frail and slender frame appeared delicate, she exuded an intense aura of killing intent that made others hesitant to approach.
Seeing the guards behind him hesitate to step forward, Song Hengchuan angrily grabbed one of them, “You useless fool! Are you deaf?”
“Move!”
At his command, dozens of guards surged forward.
Song Yue clicked her tongue twice and turned her back, unwilling to witness the impending slaughter.
The moment she turned away, Ling appeared just in time, his sword in hand as he moved with eerie agility among the guards.
One strike, one kill.
The stench of blood filled the air.
Yundong covered her eyes in terror, her legs trembling uncontrollably.
Looking at the corpses strewn across the ground, Song Hengchuan gritted his teeth in fury. The remaining guards dared not advance further, retreating one after another.
Only when she heard no more movement did Song Yue turn back around. She gazed expressionlessly at the bodies on the ground before casually lifting her head to glance at Nanny Yang.
That single glance nearly frightened Nanny Yang out of her wits.
Third Miss was truly terrifying—so young yet killing without batting an eye, showing no panic even after committing such deeds.
“Eldest Young Master, Third Miss, Grand Madam requests your immediate presence at Ning’an Tang,” a steward reported, nearly vomiting at the sight of the room’s condition.
Song Yue took Yundong’s hand, “Let’s go pay our respects to Grandmother.”
“You’re asking for death!” Song Hengchuan snarled through clenched teeth, “I’ll see how you try to weasel your way out of this!”
Ning’an Tang
Mama Wang lay on the ground, weeping bitterly, her back already a bloody mess as she cried out for Grand Madam to uphold justice.
The steward hurried back to report to Grand Madam what had just transpired at Yuhan Courtyard, causing Grand Madam’s expression to stiffen.
“Grandmother,” Song Yue and Song Hengchuan bowed in succession.
Grand Madam’s gaze settled on Song Yue.
Song Yue stood there with graceful composure, allowing herself to be scrutinized.
“Third Miss!” Mama Wang recoiled as if she had seen a ghost, both furious and resentful, “This old servant merely spoke a few words to you, yet you dared to punish me privately. How vicious you are!”
Despite Mama Wang’s slander, Song Yue remained calm and composed from start to finish, until Grand Madam finally asked, “Did you do this?”
“Grandmother, the evidence and witnesses are all here—it was her. Keeping such a malicious person in Duke of Jing’s Mansion will only harm us. She should be sent away as soon as possible,” Song Hengchuan argued.
Grand Madam’s face tightened, her eyes still fixed on Song Yue, “Speak!”
Song Yue shrugged fearlessly. “Since the Duke’s Mansion cannot tolerate me, I’ll just leave. Why go through all this trouble to set up a scheme?”
Grand Madam’s eyelids twitched. “What do you mean by that?”
“After returning from Grandmother’s place today, I stayed in Yuhan Courtyard the entire time without stepping out even once. So, how could I possibly sneak into Grandmother’s courtyard alone, injure Mama Wang, let Mama Wang see my face, and then foolishly leave evidence on the table for others to find?” Song Yue questioned.
Grand Madam was left speechless. After a moment of realization, her gaze toward Mama Wang shifted. Though she hadn’t spent much time with Song Yue, she could tell the girl wasn’t foolish.
Such a stupid thing was beyond her.
“Grand Madam, it really was Third Miss. This old servant is not lying,” Mama Wang panicked. It was clearly Third Miss who did it, so why didn’t Grand Madam believe her?
“Mama Wang, you were truly ruthless to yourself. At your age, how much silver did the person behind this offer you to take such a risk?” Song Yue mocked.
“You…!” Mama Wang was so furious she nearly spat blood.
She had seen false accusations before, but never one so blatant and unashamed.
Mama Wang gasped for breath. “This old servant did no such thing! Third Miss, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning for lying like this?”
Struck by lightning?
Why would she be struck by lightning for punishing the wicked?
Song Yue turned to Grand Madam. “Grandmother, why not investigate whom Mama Wang met after being punished today and search her courtyard?”
Upon hearing this, Mama Wang panicked. Under her bed, she still had the banknotes sent by Madam.
If they were discovered, how could she explain herself?
But how did Third Miss know?
“Still trying to deny it at this point!” Song Hengchuan shouted angrily, reaching out to grab Song Yue. But Song Yue nimbly dodged and questioned, “Today, Fu Qin clearly punished Eldest Brother to kneel for twelve hours. Calculating the time, Eldest Brother should still be kneeling. How is it such a coincidence that he brought people to Yuhan Courtyard?”
Song Hengchuan was stunned and stammered an explanation. “I heard the commotion outside and came to check on Grandmother’s safety. Stop changing the subject!”
“In that case, Eldest Brother should have easier access to Ning’an Tang,” Song Yue said with a faint smile, which infuriated Song Hengchuan. He raised his hand to strike her.
Song Yue lifted her head and stared directly at his hand. “If you dare hit me, I’ll cripple you!”
Intimidated by Song Yue’s aura, Song Hengchuan hesitated, unable to bring his hand down. Embarrassed, he flicked his sleeve and lowered his hand.
Song Yue lifted her skirt and knelt on the ground, her back straight. She kowtowed three times to Grand Madam. “Grandmother, for the peace of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion, your granddaughter is willing to leave immediately.”
But even if she wanted to leave, the Duke of Jing likely wouldn’t dare let her go.
Sure enough, Grand Madam scolded, “Nonsense! This is your home. Where would you go?”
“But some people cannot tolerate your granddaughter,” Song Yue sniffled, looking aggrieved.
Grand Madam rubbed her temples. Since Song Yue’s return, the mansion had not known a moment of peace. She knew some people couldn’t stand Song Yue and were eager to get rid of her.
But how could Song Yue die?
“Someone, go search Mama Wang’s courtyard!”
“Grand Madam!” Mama Wang panicked, kowtowing to Grand Madam and crying out her innocence.
Soon, a servant brought the banknotes found in Mama Wang’s search to Grand Madam. Grand Madam glanced at the amount—five hundred taels.
For a servant, this was a fortune.
“Where did this banknote come from, Mama Wang?” Grand Madam demanded.
Mama Wang panicked, stammering incoherently, unsure how to respond, and instinctively glanced toward Nanny Yang.
Nanny Yang had considered stepping forward several times to accuse Song Yue, but she watched as Song Yue single-handedly turned the situation around.
She withdrew her step, not daring to interject.
“Gag her, drag her out, and beat her to death!” Grand Madam ordered.
Mama Wang widened her eyes in terror, but before she could plead for mercy, she was gagged and dragged away.
“Grandmother!” Song Hengchuan protested, “This is clearly Song Yue’s fault. Mama Wang is innocent. Song Yue should be severely punished instead.”
“Song Hengchuan!” Grand Madam interrupted coldly, “Song Yue is your own sister. You should protect her, not punish your own sister for the sake of a servant.”
Grand Madam’s eyes already showed disappointment in Song Hengchuan—just as Song Yue had said, he was too impulsive.
“Grandmother…”
“Enough!” Grand Madam snapped, ordering Song Hengchuan to return and continue kneeling in punishment, adding an extra day to his penance.