The bluestone path was wet and slippery after the rain.
As soon as Song Jiyun stepped into her grandmother Madam Zeng’s courtyard, she heard her third aunt Madam Li’s shrill, piercing wails: “Mother-in-law, you must save our master!
“That Wang Zhubu is ruthless and heartless, turning his back without a second thought. He holds sway over everything in our Liang Xian, and even the newly appointed Xianling has to show him some respect. Now that our master has offended him, what are we to do?”
Song Jiyun curled her lip. Without waiting for the maid on duty at the door to announce her, she lifted the curtain and strode inside.
In the center of the hall, Song Sanliang lay face down on a door plank, covered with an autumn-fragrance-colored plain silk quilt, groaning in pain.
Madam Zeng sat upright with her eyes closed on the luohan couch in the main hall, her face as still as water as she fiddled with the eighteen-bead sandalwood prayer beads in her hand.
To her lower left sat Madam Li, sobbing softly; to her lower right sat Qian Shi, looking somewhat panicked. Behind them stood a bright-eyed, fair-skinned young girl.
It was her cousin Song Tao.
Everyone in the room turned to look at them as they heard the commotion.
Song Jiyun let out a startled “Oh!” and ran to Song Sanliang’s side, saying, “How could this happen? When the yamen administers beatings, aren’t there real ones and fake ones? Did Third Uncle not pay enough silver?”
The room fell silent.
Qian Shi glanced awkwardly at Madam Li, quickly rose, and pulled Song Jiyun aside, saying, “Why have you come here?”
She neither scolded her for failing to first pay respects to Madam Zeng and the others nor reprimanded her for speaking harshly, her protective intent quite evident.
Madam Li was displeased.
Song Jiyun pretended not to notice and said loudly, “Didn’t Third Uncle say he would go with me to the silver shop early this morning to withdraw ten thousand taels of silver for Wang Zhubu? After Wang Zhubu called Third Uncle away, I went to the silver shop as agreed.
“But I waited all morning at the silver shop without seeing Third Uncle, so I had no choice but to return.”
She asked Madam Li with a mix of guilt and concern, “Third Aunt, could it be that Third Uncle was beaten because he failed to deliver the silver in time? Can Third Uncle still get up? Would it still work if we delivered the silver now?”
“This…” Madam Li looked embarrassed.
Just then, Nanny Zheng barged in, flustered and shouting loudly, “Old Madam, Eldest Miss, something terrible has happened!”
Madam Zeng was forced to open her eyes.
Song Jiyun’s face darkened as she said, “Shouting and making a scene in Grandmother’s presence—have you no sense of propriety?”
Nanny Zheng hastily offered an apology, wiping sweat from her forehead as she said anxiously, “People outside are spreading rumors that Third Master has been using Wang Zhubu’s name to swindle others, extorting ten thousand taels of silver. He was given thirty strokes of the rod and sent back.”
“What?!” Song Jiyun widened her eyes in shock, looking from Song Sanliang to Madam Li.
Madam Li, whether from anger or shame, flushed bright red. She took a few steps forward and raised her hand to slap Nanny Zheng across the face.
Song Jiyun pulled Nanny Zheng aside, avoiding the slap, and said, “Third Aunt, let’s talk this out properly. There’s no need for violence!”
Madam Li cursed, “I’ll teach her to spread such nonsense!”
Nanny Zheng said indignantly, “I’m not spreading nonsense. Everyone is talking about it in vivid detail, even recounting exactly what Wang Zhubu asked Third Master.”
As she spoke, she cautiously glanced at Madam Zeng and murmured, “Third Master was trying to swindle our family out of that ten thousand taels of silver!”
“What?!”
Qian Shi was shocked, dumbfounded, and unable to believe it.
Song Jiyun felt the same way: "Third Uncle, how could you do this?
"I am your own niece!"
Song Sanliang played dead.
Madam Li jumped up, shrieking, "No! Lies! It's all false! If I hear you slandering our Master again, watch out—I won't be polite with you!"
Song Jiyun ignored her, looking at Song Sanliang with an expression of deep distress: "Third Uncle, if you needed silver, you could have just told me.
"Ten thousand taels isn't such a huge sum.
"We younger ones could have saved it for you by cutting back on a few pieces of jewelry or buying fewer clothes.
"Why did you have to deceive us? And not only deceive us, but do it under the pretense of Wang Zhubu?
"But by doing this, how are we, the younger generation, supposed to face others in the future?"
These words struck a nerve.
Madam Li, furious and embarrassed, lashed out at Song Jiyun: "How dare you speak like that? Is this how a junior should behave? You ill-bred thing!"
Qian Shi trembled with anger, rising to shield her daughter behind her, and said to Madam Li, "Sister-in-law, is our child wrong? You bully us, a widow and her daughter, and you think you're in the right?"
Madam Li feared Song Jiyun's father but had no fear of this gentle-natured sister-in-law. She retorted bluntly, "Who told you to fail to bear a son!"
Song Jiyun overturned the table with a crash, her words sharp as blades: "My father never said anything about it while he was alive. What, now that he's gone, do you think you can rule our household, Third Aunt?"
Song Tao, who had been standing quietly nearby, was caught off guard, her face turning pale with fright. She stumbled back two steps before steadying herself.
Qian Shi burst into tears.
Madam Li, still defiant, glared and was about to say more when Madam Zeng slammed the table with a sharp shout, cutting her off: "Enough! What are you all trying to do? Aren't you ashamed enough? I'm not dead yet!"
Everyone fell silent.
Madam Zeng, weary, said to Qian Shi and her daughter, "You two go back first. Whatever needs to be discussed, we'll talk after we've seen the second son laid to rest."
Qian Shi nodded, sobbing.
But Song Jiyun fixed her gaze on Madam Zeng for a few moments.
Her dark eyes seemed to reflect everything like a mirror, seeing all clearly and understanding everything.
Madam Zeng's expression shifted slightly.
Song Tao, her face still pale, stepped forward and bowed to Madam Zeng, saying, "Grandmother, I'll see Second Aunt off."
Madam Zeng gave a faint "Mm" of acknowledgment.
Song Tao and Song Jiyun each took one of Qian Shi's arms and, accompanied by Nanny Zheng and others, left Madam Zeng's courtyard.
"Don't take Grandmother's words to heart, Second Aunt and Cousin Yun," Song Tao gently consoled Qian Shi and Song Jiyun. "We juniors shouldn't argue with our elders."
Qian Shi, who had three daughters of her own, was especially affectionate toward her nieces. Hearing this, she comforted Song Tao instead: "Good child, you must have been frightened! Your cousin Yun has a bad temper—please bear with her."
Song Tao smiled at Song Jiyun and said, "You go ahead. I'll stay here and hide for a bit."
She meaningfully glanced back toward Madam Zeng's room.
She seemed quite lively and cheerful.
Song Jiyun raised an eyebrow.
This cousin of hers was very different from before.
In Madam Zeng's room, Madam Li wept bitterly: "I told him this wasn't reliable, but he insisted it was fine. Now look—not only was he beaten, but my dowry painting was lost too. And to be mocked by juniors! What are we going to do about Wang Zhubu?"
"It's that wretched girl Song Jiyun!" Song Sanliang, who had been lying against the door panel without uttering a word, suddenly raised his head and shouted as if waking from a deep dream. "She's the one who reported it to Lord Wang!"
Madam Li and Madam Zeng both jolted in unison, exclaiming, "What did you say?"
Song Sanliang recounted the incident through gritted teeth and added, "No one else knew about this except her."
Madam Zeng pondered silently, her fingers toying with her prayer beads.
Madam Li, however, burst into a furious tirade: "So young, yet so malicious. What will she become when she grows up? It's a good thing she's just a girl—if she were a boy, how would we elders ever survive?"
Song Sanliang, delighted, called out "Mother!" and eagerly added, "Exactly! Marry her off! Once she's married, the second branch will be left without a leader."