Luo Shuyi frowned, not wanting to clash with Huo Sijia.
This only emboldened her, and she pressed on step by step: ”Sister-in-law, everyone praises you as virtuous and good at managing the household, but in my opinion, the reputation is undeserved.”
The words were grating to hear. Song Wan lowered her head with a frown, and just as she was about to speak, she heard Huo Manting step forward.
Her eyes were still a little red, but her words were direct.
“Aunt, that’s not right. Eldest Sister-in-law and I were merely bickering. What does that have to do with the First Madam?”
Well done!
Song Wan gave Huo Manting a mental thumbs-up.
Every time they paid respects to Old Mrs. Huo, Huo Sijia always found an excuse to stir up trouble.
In the past, her fire had always been aimed at the First Madam and Huo Manting.
They were the women of the first branch, after all, and Huo Sijia simply couldn’t stand the sight of them.
Luo Shuyi was the First Madam, so Huo Sijia didn’t dare go too far.
But toward Huo Manting, this aunt was far less courteous.
That was why the two of them didn’t get along—eight times out of ten, they would end up arguing whenever they met.
Huo Manting was the slowest of the bunch, and without Old Mrs. Huo’s protection, she was punished almost every time.
But she was stubborn and a bit single-minded, never learning her lesson—in fact, she seemed to grow more determined with every defeat.
Huo Sijia was no pushover either, and immediately turned her fire on Huo Manting.
“Tingting is seventeen this year, isn’t she? In a couple of years she’ll be married off. She ought to take propriety more seriously, lest she become a laughingstock in her husband’s family.”
Huo Manting stuck out her neck and curled her lip.
“And Aunt dares lecture us about propriety? You married beneath your status against everyone’s objections, and now you’re a widow squatting in your maiden home—is that dignified?”
Song Wan involuntarily raised her eyes. Huo Manting was quite the fighter, actually.
Marrying down and being widowed was the greatest humiliation of Huo Sijia’s life.
If not for Old Mrs. Huo’s doting, and the fact that the Eldest Master was her own full brother, she would never have been able to return to live at the Huo Family estate with her children.
Huo Sijia’s sore spot had been struck, and her face instantly turned livid as she snapped: “How dare you! Who are you, a little girl, to meddle in my affairs? No respect for your elders—you’ve truly been spoiled rotten!”
Huo Manting couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
Here we go again. Huo Sijia always pulled rank as an elder to crush people.
She was going to be confined to her quarters anyway; a few more days wouldn’t make a difference.
But just then, Song Wan, who had been silent, spoke up at just the right moment: “Aunt is right. You are our elder, and we wouldn’t dare talk back.”
Huo Manting shot her an eye-roll too. She knew this woman would kick her while she was down.
Even Luo Shuyi gave Song Wan a displeased look.
She was indeed no longer as meek as before, but in handling matters, she still lacked backbone.
Luo Shuyi couldn’t help sighing inwardly. As expected, she shouldn’t have held out any hope for them.
At this point, it was time for her to step in.
But before she could speak, she heard Song Wan continue: “However, Tingting is the eldest young lady of the Huo Family. Her future in-laws will surely be from a prominent family as well. As long as she conducts herself properly and manages her household well, who would dare gossip about her?”
She deliberately emphasized the words “prominent family,” a reminder to this proud aunt.
Back then, it was Huo Sijia herself who, lovesick and foolish, insisted on marrying down. She ruined her whole life, and her in-laws even spread rumors that she had jinxed her husband to death.
It was all her own doing. If she truly wanted revenge, she should take it out on her in-laws.
Not return to the Huo Family to lord it over everyone, as if the Huo Family owed her something.
Huo Sijia originally disdained to speak with Song Wan at all—in her eyes, Song Wan wasn’t even worthy of carrying her shoes.
Now she narrowed her eyes at Song Wan, her gaze full of disdain. “Are you mocking me?”
“How could I? You’ve misunderstood, Auntie,” Song Wan said with dignified poise. “You’re the one who said the Huo Family values decorum above all. As an elder, you should lead by example even more.”
“We’re all family here. Damaging the harmony will only give outsiders something to gossip about.”
Huo Manting was surprised—almost shocked—as she looked at Song Wan. Was this woman actually speaking up for her?
A flash of approval crossed Luo Shuyi’s eyes. Song Wan still knew how to hold her tongue—neither servile nor arrogant, leaving no room for criticism.
But Huo Sijia cared nothing for that. “You lowly actress, how dare you lecture me?”
With that, she raised her hand high and swung it viciously toward Song Wan’s face, fast and ruthless.
She struck so suddenly that no one anticipated it.
Luo Shuyi hadn’t reacted in time; by the time she thought to intervene, it was too late.
Huo Manting was startled, only one thought in her mind: “Sister-in-law has a baby in her belly—what if she’s hit and miscarries?”
Instinctively, she moved to shield Song Wan.
Just as Huo Sijia’s slap was about to land, Song Wan stepped back and dodged it cleanly.
This time Huo Sijia was truly enraged with humiliation. “You dare dodge? Hold her down for me. Let’s see where you can run!”
“Stop!” Luo Shuyi snapped sternly.
Huo Manting’s voice was even louder. “No! Sister-in-law is pregnant—you can’t hit her!”
The moment those words left her mouth, the whole room fell silent.
Luo Shuyi’s pupils trembled; her face was full of disbelief as she turned to look at Song Wan.
Huo Sijia froze in place, shock flashing across her face before giving way to suspicion. “What did you say?”
The Huo Family had always struggled to produce heirs. A-heng had only just gotten married, and now this little actress was already pregnant?
She simply didn’t believe it, staring at Song Wan’s belly again and again.
Song Wan instinctively shielded her stomach, her eyes wary.
“You’re really pregnant?” Luo Shuyi was the most surprised of all, hurrying to Song Wan’s side.
“How far along? When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell us?”
The barrage of questions left Song Wan no chance to explain.
“Tingting, how did you know?”
Luo Shuyi still felt a lingering fear recalling what had just happened. Early pregnancy was when miscarriage was most likely.
Song Wan had first been upset, then nearly struck—surely nothing had happened to her body?
Seeing Luo Shuyi’s poor complexion, Song Wan explained softly, “I only found out last night. We got back late and didn’t dare disturb the elders’ rest.”
“I meant to tell everyone this morning, but I never expected… there were so many unexpected events, I never got the chance.”
It wasn’t just unexpected events this morning—it had been a circus of demons. Song Wan hadn’t expected such liveliness either.
Watching Luo Shuyi fuss over the little actress with such concern, Huo Sijia sneered, “Actresses are nothing but liars. She could even make up a pregnancy.”
The Huo Family had always struggled with heirs. When she married into the Li Family, she’d had a hard time conceiving herself.
That was why Huo Sijia refused to believe Song Wan had gotten pregnant right after entering the family. The eldest branch must be lying on purpose!
Song Wan didn’t even lift her eyelids, too lazy to look at her. Instead, she comforted her mother-in-law, “I’m fine, really. My stomach doesn’t hurt at all.”
Only after seeing that her complexion showed nothing unusual did Luo Shuyi gradually relax.
“Enough, stop pretending. Even if this actress really is pregnant, who can guarantee the child is A-heng’s?”
“Silence! She is A-heng’s wife, the eldest young mistress of the Huo Family. ‘Actress’ this, ‘actress’ that—what kind of talk is that!”
Supported by a servant, Old Mrs. Huo slowly descended the stairs, her gaze sweeping over everyone.
“Mother?” For the first time, confusion appeared on Huo Sijia’s face.
Clearly, she didn’t like the wife A-heng had brought into the family either, so why had her attitude changed now?
Following behind Old Mrs. Huo was Huo Jingheng. He came to Song Wan’s side and asked with a frown, “Are you all right?”
Song Wan shook her head. “No, Mommy and Tingting protected me. I wasn’t hurt.”
Huo Manting said awkwardly, “It has nothing to do with me.”
Meanwhile, Old Mrs. Huo said sternly, “Family members arguing in public, and even resorting to violence—have you no regard for the rules at all!”