When Song Hengchuan was dragged away, Song Yue glanced back at him, curling her lips into a smirk and silently mouthing the word “idiot!”
Furious, Song Hengchuan nearly jumped up to hit her.
Fortunately, the guards promptly knocked him unconscious and dragged him away.
“Song Yue.” Grand Madam forced herself to remain patient as she helped Song Yue up. “You’ve had quite a fright today. Go back and rest.”
“Grandmother…” Song Yue shook her head timidly. “I dare not return to Yuhan Courtyard. The floor is covered in blood, and every time I close my eyes, all I can see are scenes of murder. Grandmother, I wish to stay at a temple for a while.”
Grand Madam’s lips twitched slightly, and she naturally refused Song Yue’s request. “For today, you may stay in Ning’an Tang. Once Yuan Fuling has cleared out Yuehua Pavilion, you can move there.”
Song Yue pressed her lips together and nodded obediently.
Grand Madam was already exhausted from the ordeal. As she was about to leave, Song Yue spoke again. “Grandmother, I would like to retrieve all the indentures of the servants who served me in Yuhan Courtyard.”
Grand Madam paused, her expression grave as she looked at Song Yue.
“Or perhaps I could go to the slave market and buy new maids myself. Otherwise, with these servants physically here but their hearts elsewhere, I won’t feel at ease using them.” Song Yue insisted.
The two exchanged a glance. Grand Madam was growing impatient and waved her hand dismissively. “As you wish!”
“Thank you, Grandmother!”
Song Yue obediently expressed her gratitude, planning to ask Yuan Fuling for the indentures the next day. She followed a maid to a side courtyard to rest.
The courtyard was small but clean and tidy. As a temporary residence, she didn’t mind.
After the commotion had settled.
Song Yue sat in a chair and poured herself a cup of tea.
Seeing that no one else was around, Nanny Yang knelt on the floor with a thud. “Third Miss, this old servant is willing to follow you to the death.”
It was terrifying—the young lady was simply inhuman.
Even with solid evidence, she had effortlessly turned the situation around.
Not only that, but the one who had accused her had lost their life.
How could someone like her ever be overthrown?
Song Yue helped Nanny Yang up. “I hope Nanny will not disappoint me.”
Nanny Yang gave an awkward smile, hastily assuring her she wouldn’t dare.
…
Yuehua Pavilion
Yuan Fuling had just attended to the Duke of Jing and was lying shyly in his arms to rest when she frowned at the noise outside.
“Duke, let me go see what’s happening.”
The Duke gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.
Yuan Fuling put on her clothes and got out of bed. She went to the side, where a trusted maid whispered about the events of the night. Yuan Fuling’s face paled.
“Grand Madam was so angry that she had Mama Wang beaten to death and punished the eldest young master with an extra day of kneeling. Third Miss is now staying in Ning’an Tang, waiting only for you to vacate Yuehua Pavilion before moving in.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Fuling’s chest heaved with anger. She had grown accustomed to living in Yuehua Pavilion and had no intention of moving out, still trying to think of ways to avoid it.
Who would have expected tonight’s incident?
“What happened?” The Duke, noticing her prolonged silence, couldn’t help but ask curiously.
After hesitating, Yuan Fuling finally told him the truth. The Duke’s eyes widened in shock, and his expression grew darker. “Such a thing actually happened!”
“Duke, Mother has already dealt with it. Please don’t intervene. After all, Song Yue and Song Hengchuan are siblings. If only Song Yue’s temperament were milder, why would Song Hengchuan target her everywhere?” Yuan Fuling sighed.
Thinking of Song Yue’s temper, the Duke also felt a headache coming on. “In a few days, we must find a way to send her away.”
If this continued, there would be no peace in the household.
Yuan Fuling forced a smile.
The next morning
Yuan Fuling had just finished helping the Duke of Jing dress neatly and was preparing to see him off to court when a maid announced that Third Miss had arrived. The Duke’s eyelids twitched. “Why is she here?”
“Father!” Song Yue hurried over and curtsied to the Duke. “Your daughter pays her respects.”
Seeing Song Yue’s thin, frail figure and the fear and unease on her small, delicate face, the anger in his heart subsided by a third.
“Did Third Miss come specifically to pay her respects?” Yuan Fuling asked with a smile.
Song Yue shook her head. “Besides paying respects, I’m also here to help Lady Yuan move.”
She didn’t call her “concubine.” Addressing her as “Lady” was already a courtesy.
The smile on Yuan Fuling’s face froze, and she looked at the Duke with a wronged expression.
“Are you in such a hurry? With so many courtyards in the estate, must it be Yuehua Pavilion?” the Duke said irritably.
Song Yue blinked, immediately looking aggrieved. “Does Father mean I should choose again, and that Grandmother’s words no longer count?”
The Duke was left speechless.
“Third Miss misunderstands. The Grand Madam is old and didn’t refuse you for the sake of family harmony. I’m used to living in Yuehua Pavilion and can’t move out right away. How about this—if you really dislike Yuhan Courtyard, I’ll arrange another courtyard for you. How does that sound?” Yuan Fuling spoke almost coaxingly.
Song Yue nodded obediently. “That’s fine too.”
This time, it was Yuan Fuling’s turn to be stunned. She looked at Song Yue suspiciously. Was this girl so easy to deal with?
“Alright, it’s getting late. You should spend more time learning etiquette from Nanny Yang,” the Duke said, rising to leave as it was almost time for morning court.
Song Yue turned and followed him. “Father, the Emperor has summoned me to the palace. I’ll go with you.”
Hearing this, the Duke halted and stared sharply at Song Yue.
Song Yue pointed to the palace attendant waiting outside the door.
The Duke glanced over—it was indeed the chief eunuch of the Emperor of Beichu. His breath tightened. This day had finally come. He fixed his gaze on Song Yue. “Don’t speak carelessly in front of the Emperor.”
“Does Father want me to deceive the Emperor?” Song Yue blinked her innocent, wide eyes.
The Duke nearly choked with anger. “When did I tell you to deceive the Emperor? Can’t you be more tactful? Family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public…”
Song Yue shrank her neck, looking frightened. She nervously twisted the handkerchief in her hands, mumbling without giving a clear answer, her eyes darting toward Yuan Fuling.
Yuan Fuling’s eyelids twitched, sensing trouble.
The Duke saw it too and took a deep breath. “Clear out Yuehua Pavilion today!”
“Duke?” Yuan Fuling protested.
“No more nonsense!” the Duke roared, summoning the steward to help Yuan Fuling move.
Only then did Song Yue respond. “Father, don’t worry. I definitely won’t say what shouldn’t be said.”
Before leaving, she instructed the steward, “Remember to uproot all the roses and daffodils planted in Yuehua Pavilion’s courtyard. They’re an eyesore.”
The steward nervously agreed.
Yuan Fuling was so angry her chest ached. She had specifically ordered the roses and daffodils planted so she could see them as soon as she opened her window. Now, with just one word from Song Yue, they were all ruined.
…
Father and daughter boarded the carriage.
The Duke’s breath was tense. He lifted his eyelids to glance at Song Yue, meeting her strikingly bright eyes, and carefully reminded her again not to speak carelessly.
Song Yue nodded perfunctorily.
Anyone could speak ill of the Emperor of Beichu, but she could not.
The Emperor of Beichu summoned renowned physicians from far and wide to treat her illness. Merely because she expressed her fondness for Pei Zhao, he leveraged imperial authority to pressure Prince Zhennan’s household, compelling them to marry her.
He even bestowed upon her a dowry fit for a princess, leaving others envious.
He hired tutors to teach her reading and writing, as well as self-defense skills, and engaged a top-tier toxicologist to instruct her in identifying poisons.
“In my lifetime, I have committed too many sins; countless people wish to harm me.”
“It is a pity that your mother is not by your side, unable to witness you grow into adulthood.”
“Yue’er, you resemble your mother so much. If she knew how much suffering you have endured, she would surely be heartbroken and blame me for failing to protect you.”
“Yue’er…”
In her memories, the Emperor of Beichu never spoke a harsh word to her, always showing her the utmost respect.
Once, a concubine in the rear palace merely scolded her, saying she was raised without a mother, and that very night, the Emperor summoned the concubine to his chambers. By midnight, she had died suddenly.
Later, she heard from palace servants that the concubine’s tongue had been torn out at the time of her death.