At sunset, Wei Ling had just stepped through the gates of Liuying Pavilion when Bai Yi rushed over in alarm. “Master, Third Miss is here!”
Wei Ling cast him a sidelong glance and kept walking.
Bai Ze asked curiously, “So she came—why panic?”
Having followed their master for years, Bai Ze had rarely seen Bai Yi so flustered.
“Third Miss looked furious. She stormed straight into the rear courtyard. I only worry for Madam—her health is still fragile, and with Third Miss’s temper, few can withstand her…”
Before he finished, Wei Ling halted, his tone flat: “Bai Yi, next time you’ll accompany me outside.”
Bai Yi froze on the spot. If he were truly sent out to guard the master, he’d be dead within days. Every mission outside was perilous—each time they returned, both Wei Ling and Bai Ze bore fresh wounds. With his pitiful skills, Bai Yi knew it would be suicide.
While he silently despaired, the instigator had already entered the study.
Bai Ze gave him a sympathetic look. “Do your own duties. Don’t meddle in what isn’t yours.”
About half an hour later, a voice came from the study. Bai Ze entered. Wei Ling had changed clothes and was seated at his desk, reading something. Without lifting his head, he ordered: “Go see what’s happening.”
“Yes.”
Soon, Bai Ze returned with a report. “Third Miss is quarreling with Madam in the rear courtyard. No—actually, it’s only Third Miss shouting. I didn’t hear Madam answer back. But she brought quite a few people. Madam may not be able to hold her ground.”
“For what reason?”
“She accused Madam of stealing something.”
Indeed, in the rear courtyard, Wei Yujun stood with two matrons and three burly men, pointing furiously at Song Xian. “Song Xian, dare you let me search your rooms? My jade pendant was still with me this morning, but by afternoon it was gone. And earlier today, I only saw you and Sister-in-law. It must have been you—or one of your servants—who stole it!”
Song Xian had endured her for some time, but inwardly she was weary.
This Wei Yujun was nothing like Wei Ling—rash, spoiled, and witless. To think she could concoct such a clumsy excuse!
Such scenes were not uncommon, but never before had she made such a spectacle, demanding to search her rooms.
Perhaps something earlier in the day had left her dissatisfied, and now she sought amusement at Song Xian’s expense. And it was her own fault, too—always yielding for the sake of “family harmony” or because she was Wei Ling’s younger sister. She had gained nothing from it, only earned herself the reputation of being easy to bully, so that Yujun trampled her time and again.
“My jade pendant was a gift from Grandmother herself, priceless beyond compare.” She deliberately glanced around Song Xian’s furnishings, smacking her lips before sneering: “Of course a petty concubine-born girl like you would covet it. No wonder your hands are so dirty.”
“Today I *will* search this room. If you don’t want the matter blown out of proportion, then step aside at once!”
Song Xian thought for a moment. Since returning from Yin’an Hall that morning, only she and Wan Cui had entered this room. If Wei Yujun truly wanted to frame her, it could only have been during her absence from Liuying Pavilion.
But at that time in Yin’an Hall, she could not have anticipated Wei Ling’s sudden rebuke, so she wouldn’t have planted the jade pendant in advance. Clearly, she had only later decided to make trouble. Why insist on searching the room? Was there something here she needed?
Song Xian looked at her in puzzlement. Wei Yujun still carried herself arrogantly, but when their eyes met, she faltered, turning aside. “If you’re innocent, why fear me searching your rooms?”
With words pushed this far, Song Xian’s curiosity grew—what could possibly be in her quarters worth such a commotion?
Just as she was about to speak, faint sounds stirred at the doorway.
Moments later, Wei Ling appeared.
Song Xian was startled. Why had he come?
In the past, after moments of intimacy, she had dared to complain to him about Wei Yujun. He had shown only impatience, rising from the bed with a curt: “Yujun is still young—indulge her more,” and leaving without a backward glance. After that, he never intervened. To him, these were nothing more than petty squabbles among women.
Thinking of this, Song Xian felt a surge of anger. She did not want to hear him urge her to yield yet again. She had yielded enough, endured enough.
Wei Yujun, too, was shocked to see him. Song Xian did not miss the flicker of panic in her eyes—proof that there was indeed something amiss.
Wei Yujun quickly pressed close to Wei Ling, recounting the matter with righteous indignation, carefully omitting the insulting words she had flung at Song Xian.
“Second Brother, if Second Sister-in-law is innocent, why would she block me from searching? Everyone here can see—surely I wouldn’t frame her?”
Wei Ling listened, then glanced at the woman sitting quietly to the side. Her head was bowed, fingers tracing the embroidery on her sleeve, as if entirely unconcerned. Only then did he believe Bai Ze’s report—that it was Yujun alone making a scene.
His gaze returned to Wei Yujun. “Yujun, stop this nonsense. I’ll give you another jade pendant.”
Hearing those words, Song Xian lifted her head, her expression tinged with amusement. So Wei Ling had already judged her guilty without even asking? Was she truly so unworthy of trust? Was this the “fortunate match” everyone said she had lucked into? If he gave her another jade pendant, the stain of this accusation would never be cleared.
Song Xian rose to her feet, looked directly at Wei Ling, and said firmly:
“Third Sister, search.”
The small room’s atmosphere shifted at once. The attendants scarcely dared to breathe.
Wei Yujun, emboldened by permission, led her people inside. Song Xian glanced at Wan Cui, who quickly followed.
Thus, only the husband and wife remained in the front hall.
The air was awkward, but Song Xian refused to speak to him. His trust no longer mattered much to her.
“You needn’t have done that,” Wei Ling said, sitting beside her, commenting on her decision.
“And you needn’t have done that either. Third Sister said the jade pendant was priceless—there’s no need to waste one on me.”
Wei Ling turned, startled, staring at her.
“Why look at me so, Second Master? Have you forgotten me after so long?” Song Xian smiled gently, her manner serene.
Before he could respond, she added: “Second Master returned last night without a word. Because of that, Third Sister mistook me for tattling to you. Truly unjust.”
Her heart felt lighter after speaking. She remembered well—whenever trouble arose, he never stood by her. Just as at noon today, he hadn’t spoken a single word in her defense.
In the past, she hadn’t dared blame him, only herself. But now she understood: her frail body was half the result of swallowing grievances—others’ slights, and her own self-reproach. Too great a loss.
Wei Ling, meanwhile, recalled the darkened rear courtyard from the night before. A strange unease stirred within him. In his work outside, he had learned to read people. Yet today, his wife seemed unfamiliar. Her tone was the same as always, but something felt different.
He glanced at her, calmly sipping tea, then said: “It was my neglect. I’ll explain matters to Yujun later.”
This time, it was Song Xian’s turn to be shocked. Her lips parted slightly, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Yujun has been spoiled since childhood, heedless of propriety. As her Second Sister-in-law, you must bear with her more.”
In that instant, Song Xian understood. He was still the same. He hadn’t changed at all. So what if she was spoiled—wasn’t he still defending her now?
Song Xian gave no reply. The one who had humiliated her moments ago was still leading people to search her rooms—how was she supposed to “bear with it”?
By then, Wei Yujun had finished searching. Disappointed, she returned to face them.
Wei Ling saw her expression and ordered sternly: “Apologize to your Second Sister-in-law.”
Wei Yujun opened her mouth to protest, but one look at his face silenced her. Reluctantly, she muttered: “Second Sister-in-law, I was wrong.”
“It’s nothing,” Song Xian answered coolly.
Wei Ling then left with his sister. Song Xian called Wan Cui over. “Did you notice anything?”
“They had too many people, scattered everywhere. I couldn’t see clearly. But from their manner, they seemed to be genuinely searching. Third Miss only stood by watching; she didn’t say much.”
Song Xian nodded thoughtfully. “Go check carefully—see if anything is missing.”
“Yes.”
Outside the study at Liuying Pavilion.
Wei Yujun kept her head lowered, not daring to meet the gaze of the man before her.
“Yujun, you’re already fourteen, nearly of age. Did the tutor at Jinshu Hall ever teach you what propriety is?” Wei Ling’s voice was low, his expression harsh.
“Even if the tutor didn’t, did Mother or Grandmother not teach you? A’xian is your sister-in-law—are those words fit for you to say? And to accuse someone of theft without proof—who taught you that? Even the magistrate’s court requires documents to investigate. Yet you barged into Liuying Pavilion with people—what were you thinking?”
Wei Yujun hadn’t expected him to keep her back just to lecture her. She didn’t know whether to feel angry or wronged. In the past, when she quarreled with Song Xian, he had never been this angry. Everyone in the household turned a blind eye—why was today different?
She never dared provoke Wei Ling. Head still bowed, she whispered like a mosquito: “Second Brother, I know I was wrong… isn’t that enough?”
“And another thing—your Second Sister-in-law never complained to me. You misjudged her.”
Wei Yujun looked up in shock, stunned that her brother was defending Song Xian.
“I think from now on you needn’t go out. I’ll speak to Mother later, have her teach you properly how to be a lady of the house.”
“Second Brother!” Wei Yujun cried out in panic. “You would confine me—for Song Xian’s sake?”
“Song Xian?” Wei Ling’s tone dropped.
Wei Yujun pouted, defiant: “I did nothing wrong. If Second Sister-in-law is innocent, why should she fear me searching?”
“Yujun, I don’t want to see this happen again. And another thing—the boy you dragged in from outside, I’ve already sent him back to his native place. As for those disreputable friends of yours, I’ve warned them once. If they dare approach you again, the consequences won’t be light.”
Wei Yujun was dumbstruck. She grabbed his sleeve in panic. “Second Brother, where did you send him?”
Wei Ling glanced down at her hand, then pulled it free. “You needn’t concern yourself.”
Turning to Bai Yi, he ordered: “Take Third Miss back. Keep watch—she is not to leave the house for a month.”