How could a young girl endure such accusations?
Most of the Song clansmen wore grim expressions, feeling that Jiang Zhaoying was not only vicious in her methods but outright treasonous—ten drownings wouldn’t be enough punishment!
Clan Leader Song gritted his teeth with hatred toward Jiang Zhaoying.
If not for her, Madam Song’s affair with him would have remained a secret forever. Now, with her stirring up trouble, twenty years of careful planning had collapsed overnight.
He didn’t want Song Chengyu to die either, but given Madam Song’s vengeful nature, she would never forgive him easily.
What worried him most now was whether Madam Song had already set her sights on his son, his wife, and his daughter!
“Drowning punishment is all well and good, but what about the dowry? According to tradition, it must be returned in full—wouldn’t that be letting the Jiang family off too easily?”
During the wedding procession, the entire capital had been stunned by the ten-mile-long dowry procession. Even if all their combined assets were pooled together, they likely wouldn’t match Jiang Zhaoying’s wealth.
“What a pity. Why not choose another method, something more discreet?”
Several ladies whispered among themselves, eyeing the exquisite and intricate hairpins in Jiang Zhaoying’s hair with intense jealousy.
Only Madam Song the Third kept her gaze lowered, silently sipping her tea, neither joining the others nor speaking.
Earlier, on her way here, a maidservant had cautiously stopped her and presented her son’s memorial tablet, saying Jiang Zhaoying had rescued it from the fire.
Though Madam Song the Third didn’t know why Jiang Zhaoying had suddenly saved her son’s tablet, to her, it was an indescribable act of kindness.
This son had been their lifelong sorrow and their lifelong love. Since his death, they had only had a daughter and never bore another child.
Madam Song the Third slowly raised her eyes, discreetly observing this newlywed bride, inwardly sighing at Madam Song’s blindness.
Such a lovely and spirited young woman, yet she couldn’t see her worth, insisting on elevating that Shen Yuefu instead.
Just a niece—was she really that important?
In the end, unable to bear it any longer, she spoke calmly.
“From beginning to end, all I’ve heard is your endless cursing. Jiang Zhaoying hasn’t said a word. First, Chengyu’s feigned death was blamed on her, and now the ancestral hall fire is also blamed on her. Second Sister-in-law, do you think you’re the only one in the entire capital with eyes?”
“You have no right to speak here!”
Madam Song’s sleeve lashed out fiercely toward Madam Song the Third.
Seeing his wife insulted, Third Master Song sprang to his feet in anger.
“Why are you cursing my wife? Second Sister-in-law, why don’t you ask Zhaoying herself before pinning the blame on her? How can a young girl endure such accusations?”
Third Master Song was tall and imposing, his shadow falling over Madam Song and startling her into taking a step back.
Especially when his beard bristled and his eyes widened, he took on a somewhat fierce and menacing air.
If nothing else, he was quite intimidating.
Earlier, his wife had secretly told him that Jiang Zhaoying had discreetly retrieved their son’s memorial tablet. He knew then that something was amiss.
“What more is there to ask? Since she entered our household, there have been deaths and fires—isn’t it obvious? I say she came to the Song family to harm us.”
“Was it our Jiang family that forced your Song family to marry her?”
Chief Astronomer Jiang’s icy voice thundered through the hall, startling everyone into turning around.
They saw Chief Astronomer Jiang, his face dark, striding into the main hall with a large group of people, exuding an imposing aura.
“Father, Eldest Martial Brother, Second Martial Brother.”
Jiang Zhaoying stepped forward to bow, but as she raised her eyes, she noticed Shen Liuguang also standing in the procession. A flicker of surprise crossed her gaze, and Shen Liuguang bowed in return.
“Shen Liuguang of the Crown Prince’s residence greets Miss Jiang.”
“Greetings, Guard Shen.”
Her long lashes trembled slightly as Jiang Zhaoying returned the courtesy, then turned her gaze to Xu Zhiyan. His handsome face was as dark as an impending storm. Jiang Zhaoying pursed her lips toward him, a gesture as light as a feather brushing against his heart, instantly dissipating much of the fury that had filled his chest.
Chief Astronomer Jiang showed no courtesy either, walking coldly toward the main seat.
Once seated.
He snorted disdainfully.
“To think it was truly my Jiang family who was blind, actually taking a liking to in-laws like you. Don’t keep trying to pin all the filth on my daughter. How this matter came about is something your Song family knows perfectly well. My perfectly fine daughter married into your Song residence, and from the moment she entered, she was subjected to all kinds of mistreatment. What? Does the Song residence think my Jiang family holds a lowly official position and speaks with little weight, that you can treat human life as worthless?”
“Chief Astronomer Jiang, one must speak with reason. How have we mistreated your daughter? Isn’t it true that disasters have followed her ever since she entered our doors?”
Madam Song slammed her palm on the table, forcefully twisting logic.
“Then let me ask you.”
Chief Astronomer Jiang did not back down either, sweeping the teacup beside him to the ground with a wave of his hand.
“Who orchestrated Song Chengyu’s feigned death?”
“This is not the time to dwell on such matters. I only ask Jiang Zhaoying: why did she set fire to the ancestral hall, destroying the foundation of our Song clan? This is a grave crime, one punishable by the extermination of an entire family.”
A flicker of guilt flashed in the eyes of Madam Song and Song Chengyu as they hastily cut off Chief Astronomer Jiang’s words, steering the conversation toward the most critical point.
Jiang Zhaoying glanced at the two aunties, Taxue and Tamei. They still maintained the strictness and decorum of the palace, but when their eyes met, Taxue gave Jiang Zhaoying a slight nod.
Since ancient times.
The ancestral hall has been the faith of an entire clan, the resting place for the souls of ancestors and kin, and the very core of a family’s unity.
But now.
The Song ancestral hall lay in ruins—what a monumental event this was!
“Zhaoying.”
Chief Astronomer Jiang looked at his daughter, his expression stern as he questioned her.
“Was the fire in the ancestral hall related to you?”
“It was not.”
Jiang Zhaoying stepped forward and bowed, recounting in detail what had happened earlier. She pointed to the dark medicinal stains on her clothes.
“Mother found an excuse to drench me, then used it as a reason to punish me by kneeling in the ancestral hall. Before I could even enter, I saw thick black smoke billowing out from inside, choking us until we could bear it no longer. We had no choice but to shout everywhere, calling the servants to come and fight the fire.”
After speaking, Jiang Zhaoying took a step closer.
“Mother, was it because the eldest uncle abandoned Song Chengyu, filling you with resentment, that you ordered someone to set the fire and then frame me for it?”
“You…”
Seeing the change in the Song clansmen’s eyes as they looked at her, Madam Song grew both furious and anxious.
Moreover.
What was going on with the Crown Prince’s residence? Why had they appeared at the Song residence again?
Jiang Zhaoying took in her flustered expression, then turned around.
“The two aunties have been with me the entire time. They saw everything clearly.”
“The two aunties?”
Xu Zhiyan spoke calmly, and Taxue and Tamei stepped forward.
“In reply to the esteemed officials, the fire was indeed not set by the Young Madam. We followed her closely the entire time. She had not yet stepped into the ancestral hall when black smoke was already billowing out from within.”
“The maidservant and the lady of the estate also tried to rush in. We vaguely saw many candles toppled on the table. It was likely that the left door was left open, and the strong wind caused the fire. The flames spread too quickly; we simply couldn’t extinguish them.”
“I don’t believe it!”
Madam Song’s eyes turned red with anxiety as she turned to look at the servants kneeling on the ground, their faces blackened by smoke.
“Did any of you see her set the fire? I am still in charge of this household. Speak boldly, and I will reward you handsomely.”