Song Hengchuan brandished the whip in his hand, angrily pushing aside Song Yao and Yuan Fuling. “Today, I will take the place of our deceased mother and teach you a harsh lesson.”
Looking at Song Hengchuan’s gritted teeth, it seemed less like disciplining a stubborn younger sister and more like confronting an enemy.
Yuan Fuling pulled Song Yao aside, feigning concern as she cried out for him to stop.
Song Hengchuan raised the whip high and swung it toward Song Yue.
Song Yue stood there, unmoving, a faint trace of mockery curling at the corner of her lips.
The expected crack of the whip never came. Instead, it was caught firmly by Ling, who channeled his inner strength, causing the dragon-bone whip to shatter into several pieces that scattered carelessly on the ground.
Song Hengchuan was stunned. “How dare you! Who are you to destroy my whip?”
That whip had been crafted by a master artisan over several months, and he had believed it to be indestructible. Yet, it had been effortlessly destroyed by a mere guard.
“He is my guard. When I am in danger, what is wrong with him protecting me?” Song Yue curled her lip, casting a disdainful glance at the shattered whip.
“You!”
The Grand Madam of the Duke’s Mansion hurried over, her stern voice cutting through the commotion in the courtyard.
“Enough!”
Everyone fell silent.
Song Yao, her face still bearing the mark of a slap, approached the Grand Madam and said tearfully, “Grandmother, not only did Yue sister hit me, but she also defied Eldest Brother and insulted Mother.”
Seeing the slap mark, the Grand Madam frowned deeply, her solemn face flashing with displeasure as she turned to Song Yue. “Did you do this?”
“Yes,” Song Yue admitted openly and without hesitation.
Song Yao hadn’t expected this little fool to confess so quickly. Covering her face, she sobbed pitifully, appearing even more wronged.
The Grand Madam’s breath hitched.
“Song Yao openly slandered me, claiming I was violated. She deserved to be hit. As for insulting Mother, I never did such a thing. I merely disciplined an ill-mannered concubine. And as for defying Eldest Brother…” Song Yue paused thoughtfully, pointing at the shattered whip on the ground. “I was only defending myself.”
Seeing her sharp-tongued defense, the Grand Madam grew even more furious. How many juniors had dared to act so insolently before her all these years?
“Who told you she is merely a concubine? You were raised in the countryside for so many years and have no sense of propriety!”
Watching the Grand Madam scold Song Yue, the others couldn’t help but gloat.
Especially Yuan Fuling, whose eyes reddened as she choked back tears. “Mother, please calm down. Yue’er is young and doesn’t understand the rules. When I have time, I will teach her properly.”
“You? How dare you!” Song Yue pointed at Yuan Fuling without hesitation, sneering coldly. “If you are the rightful wife, then what does that make my mother, Princess Jiahua?”
Yuan Fuling gasped sharply. She quickly glanced at the Grand Madam’s darkening expression, inwardly cursing Song Yue for her audacity.
The Grand Madam’s voice turned icy as she glared at Song Yue. “What did you say?”
Song Yue scoffed, addressing the Grand Madam word by word. “The Duke’s Mansion owes its present standing entirely to my mother, Princess Jiahua. By stubbornly elevating a concubine, where does that leave my mother’s contributions?”
“You!” The Grand Madam was left speechless with rage, her vision blurring and her fingers trembling as she pointed at Song Yue.
Song Yue showed no fear. With that face of hers, the Grand Madam couldn’t help but see Princess Jiahua standing before her once more.
At the thought of Princess Jiahua, the Grand Madam couldn’t suppress a twinge of guilt.
“Grandmother…” Song Yao pouted, shaking Grand Madam’s arm. “Yue sister is too outrageous. Now she doesn’t even show you any respect.”
Song Yue, however, felt not the slightest fear. She knew Grand Madam was equally anxious inside. Since the Emperor of Beichu ascended the throne, Grand Madam had lived in constant fear, worried that the emperor would find an excuse to target the Duke of Jing’s Mansion.
If it were anyone else slandering Yuan Fuling today, she certainly wouldn’t have stood by idly.
But Song Yue, with that face of hers, had returned aggrieved. If this matter were blown out of proportion, and in a few days when the Emperor of Beichu was to meet Song Yue, what if she spouted more nonsense?
Therefore, Grand Madam gently pushed Song Yao’s arm away. “Yao girl, you are a young lady from a respectable family, not a shrew from the streets. How could you say such things to your sister?”
Song Yao was stunned.
“Apologize to Yue girl at once!” Grand Madam scolded.
Song Yue was not at all surprised, looking at Song Yao with a faint, mocking smile. In her past life, Song Yao had married into the Zhennanwangfu alongside her. Though bearing the title of Noble Concubine, her treatment was no worse than Song Yue’s as the legitimate wife.
As soon as she entered, Song Yao took charge of the household.
Pei Zhao favored her daily.
And Song Yue, confined to the courtyard, suffered no shortage of humiliation from Song Yao.
In places where no one could see, Song Yao ordered the matrons to prick her with silver needles—painful yet leaving no marks.
This debt, she would personally reclaim.
“Mother!” Song Yao looked at Yuan Fuling with grievance.
Yuan Fuling opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Grand Madam. “Yao girl!”
Seeing Grand Madam’s anger flare, Song Yao had no choice but to brace herself and apologize to Song Yue. “Yue sister, I spoke too bluntly. Please be magnanimous and forgive me this once.”
Song Yue nodded with an air of seriousness. “As long as Yao sister doesn’t say the wrong things, I won’t easily hit you.”
“You!” Song Yao gritted her teeth in anger.
That little fool, she was infuriating.
Knowing when to stop, Song Yue curtsied properly to Grand Madam. “Greetings, Grandmother.”
Grand Madam did not make things difficult for Song Yue either, acting as if the earlier unpleasantness had never occurred. She smiled and helped her up. “Good child, you’ve suffered.”
Song Yue pouted with grievance. “These past few days, I’ve indeed been quite frightened, Grandmother. You must stand up for me. And those rumors, who knows where they came from—they’re practically driving me to death.”
Though spoken without intent, the listener took it to heart. Yuan Fuling’s scalp tightened.
Grand Madam nodded perfunctorily. “You’ve just returned and should rest well. Matters concerning the Duke’s Mansion’s reputation must not be tolerated. Someone, take Third Miss to rest.”
“Grandmother!” Song Yue flashed a sweet smile at Grand Madam. “I want to stay in Mother’s Yuehua Yuan.”
“No!” Song Yao hurriedly refused. “That’s where my mother lives. Your courtyard has been arranged at Yuhan Courtyard.”
Ignoring Song Yao, Song Yue stared directly at Grand Madam.
“Song Yue, don’t push your luck and stir up trouble in the family!” Song Hengchuan threatened through gritted teeth.
Song Yue looked at Song Hengchuan with a pitiful expression. “Elder Brother, I’ve never seen Mother since I was born. Now that I’ve finally returned, is it wrong to want to stay in the courtyard where Mother once lived, to feel her presence?”
Song Hengchuan was left speechless, his expression turning awkward. Glancing at Yuan Fuling’s look of disappointment, he quickly added, “Mother’s belongings are still there. I’ll have someone pack them up and send them to Yuhan Courtyard.”
“Belongings?” Song Yue raised an eyebrow. It seemed Song Hengchuan still didn’t know the truth.
What a fool!
To be a thief and call oneself a mother, being played for a fool without even realizing it.
Grand Madam had a strong intuition that Song Yue must know something, so she quickly smoothed things over: “You can stay in Yuhan Courtyard for now. If you really can’t get used to it, you can move later.”
Song Yue knew she wouldn’t be able to move in today. Since she was already back, there was no need to rush certain matters. As for Yuehua Pavilion, she was determined to make Yuan Fuling vacate it personally.
“Alright, I’ll listen to Grandmother.” Song Yue nodded obediently, as if the arrogant and domineering girl from earlier wasn’t her.
Before leaving, she glanced at Yuan Fuling.
The other woman didn’t bother pretending anymore and returned her gaze with malicious eyes.
Song Yue curled her lips into a smile and followed the maid to Yuhan Courtyard.
Yuhan Courtyard wasn’t exactly bad, just rather remote. The courtyard was kept clean, and the layout was exactly the same as in her previous life.
It appeared luxurious and splendid, but in reality, everything in the rooms was fake!
In her past life, she had been worn down by Wang Guihua, illiterate, and not very bright, so she couldn’t tell the difference between good and bad items.
It wasn’t until her illness was cured and she was personally tutored for over a year by the Grand Tutor beside the Emperor of Beichu, cramming in a great deal of knowledge, that she learned to distinguish the quality of things.
“Third Miss, this is a top-quality cashmere rug. How could you just step on it?”
A startled exclamation interrupted her thoughts.
Song Yue recognized the newcomer—Nanny Zhang.
One of Yuan Fuling’s capable nannies.
Nanny Zhang stared at Song Yue with visible disdain, her heart aching for the cashmere rug on the floor.
Song Yue lowered her gaze to the faint footprint on the rug. As she lifted her foot, the mark quickly disappeared. It was just a rug—hardly worth making a fuss over.
“Third Miss probably hasn’t used such a precious rug before. This rug is meant to be looked at, not stepped on. Even if you must step on it, you should remove your shoes and socks first.” Nanny Zhang explained with a serious expression.