As soon as Song Yue spoke, Nanny Zhang’s eyelids twitched. “This old servant…”
“You, continue!” Grand Madam snapped.
Nanny Zhang awkwardly fell silent.
Song Yue continued, “I am, after all, the legitimate daughter of a Duke’s Mansion. To think I’m not even worth the price of a counterfeit rug—if word gets out, people might think the Duke’s Mansion has fallen so low it can’t even afford to live decently.”
At these words, Grand Madam’s expression darkened another shade.
“And these porcelain pieces, antiques, and paintings—the fakes are just too obvious. Grandmother, was this truly your intention?” Song Yue blinked innocently at Grand Madam.
Grand Madam frowned. “Nonsense! How could the Duke’s Mansion possibly display counterfeits?”
Yuan Fuling’s eyelids twitched, and she quickly chimed in, “Perhaps Sister Yue has mistaken them. How could there be fakes here? It’s understandable that you can’t tell the difference after staying in the villa for so long.”
Still trying to argue!
Song Yue bent down and picked up a torn painting from the floor, pointing at the seal. “Who is Liu Xiangzi? I only know of Liu Xiangyu from the previous dynasty, whose talent was renowned throughout the land, with his calligraphy being nearly impossible to obtain. And this vase—it claims to be from the official kilns of Lingnan, but Lingnan has never produced porcelain. That would be Lingbei.”
She casually picked up a few more items and presented them to Grand Madam. As Grand Madam glanced over them, her breathing grew slightly labored.
“I smashed these things to protect the reputation of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion,” Song Yue declared confidently. “As the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s Mansion, now that I’ve returned, guests will surely visit in the future. If such crude mistakes were discovered, would people say the Duke of Jing’s Mansion is in decline, or that someone has mistreated this motherless legitimate daughter?”
Her words were both reasonable and well-founded.
Grand Madam’s gaze toward Song Yue had already shifted.
Though she had been left to grow up in the villa for so many years without care or attention, her demeanor was nothing like that of someone raised by servants. Standing calmly and confidently in the center of the crowd, she even carried herself more impressively than Song Yao, who had been meticulously groomed for over a decade.
At that moment, Grand Madam became convinced of the importance of pure lineage.
“Sophistry!” Song Hengchuan snorted coldly.
Song Yue retorted, “Eldest Brother came to the courtyard and, without asking a single question, tried to lay hands on me. That was far too reckless. And to be unable to defeat even an ordinary guard shows that all these years, Eldest Brother has never truly cared about the future of the Duke’s Mansion.”
Humiliated by Song Yue’s words, Song Hengchuan’s expression could no longer be described as merely unpleasant.
“Impatient, easily swayed, and unable to distinguish right from wrong…” Song Yue continued listing his faults.
“Enough!” Song Hengchuan could bear no more. As the legitimate eldest son of the Duke’s Mansion, he was praised wherever he went. When had he ever been humiliated like this?
How outrageous!
Yet Grand Madam felt a newfound appreciation for Song Yue. Turning to Song Hengchuan, she said, “Sister Yue is your own legitimate sister. Today, you were indeed far too careless.”
“Grandmother?” Song Hengchuan was stunned.
“Someone, take the Eldest Young Master to the ancestral hall to kneel for two hours,” Grand Madam ordered, waving her hand to have Song Hengchuan escorted away.
Yuan Fuling’s expression shifted slightly.
All these years, Grand Madam had doted on Song Hengchuan as if he were the apple of her eye. Back when Princess Jiahua left, both siblings were supposed to be sent away, but Grand Madam had fought hard to keep Song Hengchuan, raising him herself until he was nine before entrusting him to Yuan Fuling’s care.
Who would have thought Grand Madam would punish her legitimate eldest grandson for Song Yue’s sake?
Song Yue smiled sweetly at Grand Madam. “Thank you, Grandmother, for upholding justice.”
Grand Madam wore a smile on her face, but the mirth did not reach her eyes. She glanced at Nanny Zhang and said, “Nanny Zhang has spoken disrespectfully and offended her master. Guards, drag her out and beat her to death!”
Nanny Zhang’s face turned deathly pale as she kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy. “Grand Madam, spare my life!”
Before she could utter another word, she was gagged and dragged away.
Yuan Fuling and Song Yao stood to the side, so frightened they dared not even breathe loudly.
“It is already late today. You shall stay in Yuhan Courtyard for now. Tomorrow, I will have Yuan Fuling clear out Yuehua Pavilion for you to move into,” Grand Madam said.
“Mother?” Yuan Fuling looked up in astonishment. Had she heard correctly?
Clear out Yuehua Pavilion?
Grand Madam’s expression darkened. “This matter is settled.”
Receiving a satisfactory response, Song Yue’s smile grew even brighter. Standing amidst several corpses while smiling so sweetly appeared particularly eerie.
The crowd came and went in a hurry.
The room was quickly tidied up.
Song Yue took a seat. The maidservants, who now dared not harbor any other thoughts, were practically ready to kowtow and apologize to Song Yue. Even the Eldest Young Master had suffered a loss at the hands of Third Miss.
What were they, mere maidservants, in comparison?
“All of you, leave. No one is to enter without my permission,” Song Yue ordered.
The maidservants swiftly withdrew.
Song Yue looked at Ling Yi. “Do you think I am too arrogant?”
Ling Yi pursed his lips and remained silent.
“Song Hengchuan intends to kill me. He shows no pity for the weak. Even if I begged for mercy and admitted my faults, I might not earn his compassion. All these years I suffered torment in the villa, and he never once came to see me.”
She did not blame him for being kept in the Duke of Jing’s Mansion against his will.
But as the Legitimate Eldest Son of the Duke of Jing’s Mansion, showered with favor and affection, had he exerted even a little effort, Song Yue would not have endured such hardship in the villa.
Zhang Dazhu and Wang Guihua would never have dared to bully her.
When she went hungry, wore thin clothes, and was beaten black and blue, Song Hengchuan was busy currying favor with Yuan Fuling, pampering Song Yao, and living the lavish, extravagant life of a carefree young master.
So why should she show Song Hengchuan any mercy?
Ling Yi lowered his gaze and no longer questioned her. “Miss, this subordinate was wrong to doubt you.”
Song Yue shook her head. Who could have imagined that siblings would turn against each other upon their first meeting?
Keeping Song Hengchuan alive was only for their mother’s sake.
She feared that if their mother ever returned, she might misunderstand her.
Song Yao, having been beaten, dared not argue and followed behind Yuan Fuling in silence. Only when they were alone did Song Yao finally vent her frustration. “Mother, why isn’t that little wretch acting foolish anymore?”
This also surprised Yuan Fuling.
“And how did that little wretch get sent back by the Jingzhao Yin? Were the two nannies incompetent?” Song Yao complained.
Yuan Fuling rubbed her temples. “Someone must have been secretly looking after Song Yue behind our backs. How infuriating! We were caught off guard. I should have gone to the villa myself to check earlier.”
But it was too late for regrets now.
“Mother, now that Song Yue is back, what about the marriage arrangement with Zhennanwangfu…” Song Yao’s eyes reddened. She only wanted to marry Brother Zhao.
Yuan Fuling gently patted Song Yao’s shoulder to comfort her. “Now the entire capital knows that Song Yue returned because her virtue was compromised. How could Zhennanwangfu possibly accept someone like her into their household? Don’t worry, what belongs to you cannot be taken away by anyone.”
Hearing this, Song Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yao Yao, go check on Brother Hengchuan. He is the future heir of the Duke’s Mansion. Only by keeping him close can we secure our footing,” Yuan Fuling reminded.
Song Yao nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother. That fool softens up as soon as I shed a few tears and will do whatever I say.”
“That’s good.” Yuan Fuling had spent ten years currying favor with Song Hengchuan to bring him to her side. With the legitimate eldest son supporting her, she feared nothing.
Song Yao obediently went to the ancestral hall to visit Song Hengchuan.
Having taken a punch from Ling, Song Hengchuan was lying on the ground, clutching his chest in pain. Hearing footsteps, he gritted his teeth and knelt upright.
“Big Brother,” Song Yao leaned in, her voice choked with sobs. “Are you alright? Mother sent me to check on you.”
To keep Song Yao from worrying, Song Hengchuan forced a calm expression and shook his head. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Tell Mother not to worry either.”
Song Yao lowered her gaze, tears streaming down her face. Seeing this, Song Hengchuan felt a pang of heartache. “Yao Yao, don’t worry. I will definitely protect you and Mother. As for that bastard, I won’t allow her to stay in the Duke of Jing’s Mansion any longer.”
He comforted her for a long time before Song Yao finally smiled through her tears.
“Big Brother, although Song Yue is unruly, she is still Father’s flesh and blood. Father may not necessarily drive her away. Today, Grandmother has already spoken, asking Mother to vacate Yuehua Pavilion for Song Yue to live in…”
“What? Grandmother is truly confused! How can she encourage her arrogance?” Song Hengchuan fumed, his chest aching with anger.
Song Yao bit her lip, looking troubled. “Big Brother, if we try to talk things out with Song Yue properly, perhaps we can coexist peacefully. If this conflict continues, it will only damage your sibling bond.”