Lady Lin looked nervous for a moment. “There is no need for so many people to serve someone living a quiet life. Mu Xue alone is enough.”
Mu Xue suddenly dropped to her knees. The timid look she once had was gone, replaced by a cruel expression.
She knocked her head on the ground three times before Yang Yuyao.
“Thank you, Madam!”
“Go. Serve Lady Lin well. Lady Lin is kind. She was even willing to sleep with a married man to ‘save’ him, and she treated the soldiers at the border like brothers. I’m sure she will treat you like a real sister.”
The smile on Mu Xue’s face slowly became twisted.
“Lady Lin has always treated this servant very well. I will definitely repay her properly.”
Lady Lin could not help but shiver.
Mu Xue… had four older brothers!
Yang Yuyao smiled but said nothing more. She ordered someone to take the two women to the Buddhist hall.
Just then, Zhao Di walked over. Looking at the two shaved heads, she curiously asked Song Haiming,
“Cousin, who are those two?”
Song Haiming leaned close and whispered in a delicate voice,
“They are nuns Mother invited to pray for your blessings.”
Although the two women were not wearing blue monk robes, they were dressed in plain clothes, so Zhao Di believed him.
The Great Qi Dynasty had only recently become stable. Ordinary people were lucky just to have warm clothes. They did not dress in neat matching robes like in television dramas, where everyone looked like they were wearing school uniforms.
She was not stupid.
Their shaved heads already proved they were nuns.
“Mother is so good to me!”
“Of course. You’ve been studying too hard these past few days. Mother was worried your body couldn’t handle it.”
“Cousin, why did you come out today?”
Zhao Di smiled. She was already used to Song Haiming’s feminine mannerisms. She simply treated him like a sister.
“I have something to tell Father today.”
Song Haiming smiled and nodded.
“Perfect. Father wanted to see you too.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yannian said,
“The clan elders have already settled in the front courtyard. Today we will open the ancestral hall and add Zhao Di’s name to the family genealogy.”
Everyone in the family was happy.
Zhao Di finally relaxed.
She had finally waited for this day.
Everything was already decided.
Song Li, you fool. So what if you’re the real daughter? So what if everyone in the Song family likes you?
You’ll still be my maid and use your life to protect me.
Don’t worry. I won’t let you die.
At most, I’ll make you kneel and wash my feet.
Song Li was shocked.
[How can my father still stay calm and lead everyone after being scolded?]
[Is it because as long as he doesn’t feel embarrassed, everyone else will?]
[Father’s mental strength is amazing! No wonder he’s a great general!]
Song Yannian suddenly froze.
…Does my daughter mean… I only became a great general because I have thick skin?
It’s over!
My heroic image in my daughter’s heart!
Sob…
Yang Yuyao covered her mouth and pretended to cough, trying hard not to laugh.
The others also wanted to laugh. They covered their mouths with their fists to stop themselves.
After eating a simple vegetarian meal and washing their hands before burning incense, Zhao Di followed Song Yannian to meet the clan elders.
The others walked behind them.
Zhao Di felt delighted.
Today she was the main character.
This was her big day to officially return to the family.
Surely Song Li wouldn’t steal her spotlight this time!
She secretly watched Song Li behind her, making sure Song Li never walked ahead of her.
When the clan elders arrived, the first person they had to see would be her!
They walked all the way to the ancestral hall.
The doors were still closed.
It seemed the clan elders had not arrived yet.
Wait!
Zhao Di suddenly became alarmed.
Didn’t that mean the clan elders were walking behind them?
Just as she thought that, she heard a large group of people entering from behind.
“We finally found her! Now the second son’s wife can finally rest easy.”
“If things hadn’t been so urgent back then, she wouldn’t have needed to take such a risk.”
“Forget the past. Thanks to our Song ancestors for protecting them and letting the second son’s family reunite safely!”
“…”
“Huh? Could this be…”
“Second Girl!”
“It has to be the Second Girl!”
“If I’m wrong, I’ll ride a horse upside down!”
“She looks exactly like your father! One look and you know she’s part of the Song family!”
“Second Girl, I’m your Second Great-Uncle!”
“I’m your Great-Uncle!”
“Look at that posture! She stands as straight as a spear! Even though she grew up outside the family, she still carries the dignity of the Song family!”
“…”
Song Li thought,
[This is fate.]
[Hahaha…]
[Zhao Di, even Heaven is helping me. What can you possibly use to fight me?]
Zhao Di was speechless.
Watching all the clan elders surround Song Li, she nearly ground her teeth to pieces.
Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms.
Only the pain kept her from losing control.
Why was it like this again?
Why was it Song Li again?
Even on such an important day, she had to steal the spotlight?
Why hadn’t the clan elders come earlier and waited here?
Then they would have seen her first!
And why did no one in the Song family explain the misunderstanding?
Did they all suddenly become mute?
Fine!
If none of you will say anything, then neither will I.
Let’s see who ends up embarrassed!
Zhao Di felt so dizzy that it was like her brain had run out of oxygen.
She grabbed Song Yannian’s arm to keep herself from fainting.
Finally, Song Li explained,
“Honored ancestors of the Song family!”
“I’m not a Second Girl.”
“I’m only a little maid…”
“Nonsense!”
“You’re back home. Why are you still calling yourself a maid?”
“Second Son, what exactly have you been telling Second Girl?”
“Don’t listen to your father. Listen to your Great-Uncle.”
“You are Song Second Girl!”
The clan elders refused to listen.
Song Li never even had a chance to explain.
In the end, Song Yannian had to step forward.
He brought Zhao Di before the elders.
“Honored elders, she is the daughter of the Song family who was lost outside.”
Silence suddenly filled the courtyard.
Zhao Di could not hold back her tears.
She felt terribly wronged.
She was the one returning to her family, yet every single time, Song Li met her relatives first and stole all the attention.
What a…
Shameless woman!
The elders looked at the crying, delicate young lady in front of them.
Then they looked at Song Li, who stood confidently with a heroic posture.
For a moment, they simply could not accept it.
Was the Song family a band of mountain bandits?
How could they produce such a delicate little girl?
The Second Great-Uncle quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Ah! This is Second Girl! She looks exactly like her mother!”
But…
Her mother had been famous for being fierce.
How could she give birth to such a soft and delicate daughter?
As he spoke, he became more and more confused.
Wasn’t the first girl really the right one?
Had they made a mistake?
Before they could keep guessing, Song Yannian spoke firmly,
“Please open the ancestral hall and let Zhao Di officially return to the Song family.”
The elders nodded.
They lined up in two rows before the ancestral hall.
Since the second son had already confirmed everything, they decided not to worry about it anymore.
Song Yannian stood in the middle with Zhao Di.
Everyone else stood behind them to watch the ceremony.
The oldest Great-Uncle gave the opening speech, remembering the ancestors and thanking them for their blessings.
Then four clan elders worked together to open the doors of the ancestral hall.
The sound of suona horns and ceremonial firecrackers filled the air.
Everyone burned incense together to honor their ancestors.
The entire ceremony took two hours.
By the end, Zhao Di was exhausted and dizzy.
Meanwhile, Song Li, who was only watching the ceremony, spent the time eating and drinking.
A-Huang smelled the food and ran over.
Everyone happily played with the dog.
When Zhao Di saw this, she was not jealous.
Instead, she felt pleased.
Song Li, keep playing with your dog.
I’m the one whose name is about to be added to the family genealogy!
Finally, Great-Uncle brought out the family genealogy and placed it before the ancestors’ memorial tablets.
Normally, he should have written Zhao Di’s name into the genealogy himself.
Unfortunately, he could not write.
A few of the other elders could write a few simple words, but their handwriting was so ugly that they were afraid it would offend the ancestors.
So they called Song Yannian over.
“It’s your daughter. You write it.”
Song Yannian had Zhao Di kneel outside the ancestral hall.
“Women are not allowed inside the ancestral hall. Wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Zhao Di nodded obediently.
Then she suddenly remembered something and grabbed Song Yannian’s sleeve.
“Father, I don’t want to be called Zhao Di anymore. I…”
Song Yannian gently patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.
“I understand.”
“I’ve already prepared a good name for you. Don’t worry.”