Song Zhiyao’s voice trembled slightly, soft and careful, every word measured so as not to frighten Lu Jianwei.
But the cabinet remained completely still.
Of all the people present, the one Lu Jianwei trusted most was Lu Jianshen. Now, even his voice carried no weight.
Lu Jianshen was still calling for his sister, his choked voice full of guilt. It was all his fault for not protecting her.
Song Zhiyao looked at Lu Jianshen and noticed his face was battered, his eyes swollen like a panda’s, his small face puffed up.
“Shenshen, you’re hurt.”
“No need for you to worry about it,” Lu Jianshen snapped.
Madam Lu sighed, “I already advised him,” but Lu Jianshen refused to listen.
Song Zhiyao kept her tone patient. “Shenshen, let me talk to Weiwei for a moment. You can go take care of your injuries, alright?”
“You’ve already tried, she won’t come out. There are too many people, she’ll just get scared.”
Her eyes were earnest. “Shenshen, please, give me a chance, alright?”
Lu Jianshen, still angry, found his temper oddly calmed by Song Zhiyao’s gentle voice. He hesitated, lips pressed together, partly convinced.
Song Zhiyao seized the moment, glancing subtly at Madam Lu, then at Lu Yanzhi, before naturally saying, “Husband, please take Shenshen to tend to his face.”
Lu Yanzhi blinked in mild surprise, then nodded. “Follow me.”
Even so, Lu Jianshen couldn’t help looking back every few steps.
Once the father and son left, Song Zhiyao turned to Madam Lu. “Mother, please have some tea in the flower hall.”
Madam Lu cast her a deep glance, then left.
Now, only Song Zhiyao remained in the room.
She leaned close to the cabinet. “Weiwei, it’s just Mommy now. Can Mommy come in?”
“If you don’t speak, I’ll take that as agreement.”
She closed the door gently, making soft noises that Lu Jianwei could hear. Step by step, she approached the cabinet.
The cabinet door twitched slightly.
Song Zhiyao paused. “Good. Mommy will stay here with you.”
She didn’t force Lu Jianwei out. Instead, in a soft voice, she began telling a story, as she had done with both children over the past few days.
“Once upon a time, there was a little lamb…”
The room was filled only with her gentle narration.
In the story, the little lamb encountered a great demon king. Song Zhiyao paused at the crucial moment.
Silence filled the room.
After a long moment, the cabinet door moved again.
Song Zhiyao knew Lu Jianwei wanted to hear the rest. She asked gently, “Weiwei, do you want to know what happens next?”
“If it’s Mommy telling it, Weiwei will let the door move again, okay?”
The cabinet door twitched.
Good—she was willing to communicate.
Song Zhiyao continued, and in the story’s end, the little lamb, together with her parents and brother, defeated the demon king.
“Weiwei,” Song Zhiyao said, “in Mommy’s heart, you are the bravest little lamb.”
“If you don’t want to come out or speak right now, that’s alright. Mommy will stay right here with you, okay?”
From her observations over the past days, she had learned Lu Jianwei was thoughtful, clever, and obedient.
Soon, the cabinet door creaked open just a bit.
A tear-filled big eye peeked through, wiping away the streaming tears with a small hand.
Adorable as she looked, Song Zhiyao’s heart ached seeing the bruises on her face.
Song Zhiyao, usually composed, felt her nose sting, tears welling up. Perhaps this was the instinctive, mission-driven worry only a mother could feel.
The cabinet door slowly opened fully.
Lu Jianwei clutched a handful of cotton, her eyes wide with confusion and hurt.
“My little lamb… my little lamb is broken,” Song Zhiyao thought.
“Weiwei,” she stepped forward, skillfully lifting her into her arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Mommy will make ten, a hundred little lambs for you, alright?”
More than the lambs, she worried for the bruises on Lu Jianwei’s face.
Her fair skin made the purples stand out. “Weiwei, does it hurt a lot?”
“I’m sorry… Mommy didn’t protect you.”
Outside, Lu Jianshen’s face had been treated. He immediately rushed back to the cabinet door.
Seeing it closed, he instinctively tried to enter, but Lu Yanzhi stopped him.
Lu Jianshen paced anxiously outside.
What should he do? The wicked woman didn’t hurt Weiwei in there, right?
He knew better than to trust her.
Just as he nearly lost patience and reached to push open the door, it opened.
Song Zhiyao stepped out, holding Lu Jianwei.
Lu Jianshen’s heart leapt. He rushed to check on her. Though still tearful, she showed no fear toward the woman; instead, she clung tightly to her neck.
Relieved, he knew Song Zhiyao hadn’t harmed his sister.
Lu Yanzhi, however, was focused on the bruises. The little girl had clearly cried heavily; her eyes were red and swollen, her face bruised. A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
Together, Song Zhiyao and Lu Yanzhi treated Lu Jianwei’s injuries, changed her clothes, and gave her calming medicine. Soon, the little girl fell asleep in Song Zhiyao’s arms, still clutching her sleeve in anxiety.
Song Zhiyao placed her gently on the bed, patting her. “Lu Yanzhi, scissors.”
Lu Yanzhi looked puzzled but obeyed.
Song Zhiyao cut off the part of the sleeve Lu Jianwei had grabbed, tidied herself, and stepped outside.
The servants of Zhi Mo Courtyard were still kneeling.
Song Zhiyao paused. “You may rise.”
Not all blame fell on the servants today.
She looked at Lan Xin. “I’m going out for a moment. Watch over Weiwei. If she wakes, tell her Mommy will be back soon.”
Lu Jianwei had grown dependent on her.
Song Zhiyao left at a brisk pace, heading straight for Lu Jinyu’s courtyard.
After a few steps, she noticed Lu Yanzhi trailing behind.
“What are you following me for?” she asked.
“What are you planning to do?” he countered.
“Revenge,” Song Zhiyao answered naturally. “Why, are you going to stop me?”
Lu Yanzhi almost laughed in disbelief, tone heavy. “I am their father.”
Seeing his children abused like this, what was there to stop? He, too, was going for revenge.
Song Zhiyao raised an eyebrow, admiration in her eyes. “Together?”
He couldn’t deny it.
They arrived together at Qingshan Courtyard.
Lu Jinyu, freshly released from punishment at the Jingzhao Mansion, saw Lu Yan battered from head to toe.
Apparently, he had been beaten by Lu Jianshen.
Both Lu Jinyu and Lin Guanguan were furious.
Lu Jinyu, forced to lie on the bed, felt his anger surge. Lin Guanguan cried, holding the equally bruised Lu Yan, saying, “Jinyu-ge, Lu Jianshen is your brother! How could he hurt Yan’er like this?”
Lu Jianshen hadn’t held back at all. He’d beaten Lu Yan brutally.
Two of Lu Yan’s teeth had been knocked out; tears and snot streaked his face, making it hurt even more.
“Ha-ha, he… he hit me…” Lu Yan wailed.
Lin Guanguan felt utterly wronged. “Jinyu-ge, I know they’ve never respected me, but Yan’er is your child!”
“It was Song Zhiyao’s shamelessness. They not only turned things around, they disregarded your face and insisted on reporting it to authorities.”
“The eldest son’s behavior shows he never treated you as a brother.”
“Lu Jianshen bullying Yan’er is like spitting in your face, Jinyu-ge.”
The more Lu Jinyu heard, the darker his expression became. His fists clenched, anger boiling.
Finally, he soothed Lu Yan. “Yan’er, don’t cry. Father will make this right.”
He wanted to question his elder brother. If Guanguan insisted on involving the authorities, fine. But why involve Yan’er?
“Someone!” Lu Jinyu’s voice was icy. “Go fetch my elder brother.”
His injuries made moving painful; he could only order someone to call Lu Yanzhi.
Before his words finished, a servant’s urgent voice came from outside: “Second Young Master, Miss Lin, the eldest son and eldest young mistress are here!”
Lu Jinyu froze. They came?
Perfect timing!
He looked to the door and saw Lu Yanzhi and Song Zhiyao walking in side by side, stern-faced, imposing—like a pair of judges coming to deliver justice.
Lin Guanguan spoke first. “Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Mistress, you’re here just in time. Lu Jianshen beat Yan’er so badly—”
“Serves him right,” Song Zhiyao cut her off.
“Song Zhiyao!” Lu Jinyu roared. “How can you be so cruel? Even if you’re upset with me, Yan’er is still a child!”
“Hmph,” Song Zhiyao sneered. “Being a child doesn’t give him the right to act as he pleases. He barged into Zhi Mo Courtyard and hurt Weiwei.”
“So young and yet so ruthless, striking his cousin. Being beaten only this much shows Shenshen held back.”
Many servants witnessed the entire scene. Song Zhiyao needed to clarify events to secure the moral high ground.
Lin Guanguan and Lu Jinyu froze, exchanging glances, then looked incredulously at Lu Yan.
So Lu Yan had initiated the conflict?
“Impossible!” Lin Guanguan exclaimed. “Yan’er is the most obedient! How could he do such a thing?”
“Eldest Young Mistress, you can’t twist the truth like this!”
Slap!
Song Zhiyao didn’t waste words, striking Lin Guanguan across the face.
Her gaze was icy. “Countless servants witnessed the events. Don’t twist right and wrong.”
“I didn’t come here to reason with you.”
Before Lin Guanguan could react, another slap landed.
Lin Guanguan screamed, stumbling back, trying to escape.
But Song Zhiyao grabbed her arm. “Lin Guanguan, your son hurt my daughter. But don’t worry—I’m not touching him.”
Violence wasn’t ideal, but it was effective.
Lin Guanguan wailed. Lu Jinyu, lying on the bed, was furious but unable to move without severe pain.
“Song Zhiyao, let go of Guanguan. Come at me if you must!” he shouted.
His words barely left his mouth before an icy gaze landed on him—Lu Yanzhi.