Song An and Song Chao walked over at this moment. Song An spoke first, “Song Tang, today is Wei’er’s hair-pinning ceremony. Can you behave yourself?”
“Yes, Song Tang, it’s just a bracelet. Mother already said she’ll buy you another one later. Don’t make a scene—everyone is watching,” Song Chao chimed in.
Song Tang’s anger flared up instantly. This was beyond endurance!
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, just because today is Song Wei’s coming-of-age ceremony, does that mean I can’t seek justice for myself? This bracelet is grandmother’s bequest, and she specifically instructed that it be left to me. Why was it taken and given to Song Wei without my consent?”
Song An, the eldest legitimate son, felt Song Tang’s words were increasingly out of line and reprimanded her, “Song Tang, what do you mean by that? What do you mean ‘without consent’? Everything in this household belongs to Father and Mother. What’s wrong with Mother giving the bracelet to Wei’er?”
“Hah, I’m ‘Song Tang,’ but she’s ‘Wei’er.’ You’re all so Double Standard. Ever since she came to our family, you’ve all favored her. Song Wei is nothing but an adopted daughter…”
Slap! Before she could finish her sentence, Song Tang felt a searing pain on her right cheek—she had been slapped!
Song Tang looked up and saw that it was Father Song, Song Congzhi, who had struck her!
“Father, you hit me?” Song Tang’s voice trembled. She never expected Song Congzhi to hit her in public, all for Song Wei’s sake.
Song Congzhi’s face was dark with anger. He said sternly, “Song Tang, what are you making a fuss about again? Today is Wei’er’s big day, yet you’re here causing trouble and embarrassing the Song family!”
Song Wei bit her lower lip tightly, her heart in turmoil.
Madam He liked Song Wei because she was her sister’s daughter.
Her two elder brothers liked her because Song Wei knew how to act delicate, warm, and subtly flirtatious.
But Song Tang couldn’t understand why Song Congzhi was also so protective and biased toward Song Wei. What was this family even trying to pull?
“I’m making a fuss? I’m embarrassing the Song family? Fine, since you all blame me, then let’s all forget about saving face. Let’s all be embarrassed together.”
Song Tang walked up to Song Wei. “Are you satisfied now?”
Before the words had fully left her mouth, she raised her hand and slapped Song Wei hard across the face.
She couldn’t break the law by hitting Song Congzhi, but hitting the instigator, Song Wei, was just as good!
Song Wei stood frozen in place by the sudden slap, disbelief in her eyes, though inwardly she was overjoyed.
Madam He hurried forward to shield Song Wei, glaring at Song Tang with a sharp voice, “Song Tang, what are you doing! Whose face are you slapping? Do you even see me as your mother anymore?”
“Mother? In your heart, there’s only Song Wei. When have you ever treated me as your daughter?” Song Tang’s voice was cold and hard.
If this were her previous life, she would have been heartbroken at this moment. But now, her heart had long been scarred and numbed beyond feeling.
Song Wei covered her slapped cheek, tears welling in her eyes. “Father, Mother, I’m fine. Don’t blame Sister. It’s all my fault. I don’t want the bracelet anymore.”
“What do you mean you don’t want it? Is this bracelet even yours? This was left specifically for me by Grandmother! What right do you have to say you don’t want it?” Song Tang directly reached out and pulled the bracelet off Song Wei’s wrist.
As she put it on her own wrist, her sneer deepened. “Stop pretending to be a white lotus. When you asked Mother for it, why didn’t you think about how it was left to me by Grandmother?”
After all, Mu Ziyu was Song Tang’s nominal fiancé, and with so many guests present, he felt he should step in.
So he strode over. Mu Ziyu looked at Song Tang and said, “Song Tang, today is after all Song Wei’s hair-pinning ceremony. With so many guests here, could you rein in your temper a little and not be so willful?”
Hearing Mu Ziyu’s words, Song Tang grew even more furious inside. What nonsense was he spouting? If he didn’t know how to speak, he should just shut up.
Song Tang looked at Mu Ziyu with a dark expression. “Heir, what do you mean? Are you saying I’m deliberately throwing a tantrum?”
“I didn’t say you were deliberately throwing a tantrum.” Mu Ziyu was also bewildered. Today’s Song Tang was like a firecracker, daring to explode in front of so many people. He even regretted not bringing his mother, Madam Sun, along.
Song Tang sneered, “Mu Ziyu, as my fiancé, don’t you know what this bracelet means to me? Not only did you fail to consider me, but you even spoke up for an outsider. You’re really something, aren’t you?”
Mu Ziyu was momentarily speechless. He truly hadn’t considered Song Tang just now.
Originally, he had liked Song Tang, but later, her temper grew increasingly strange and unpredictable. He often saw Song Tang scolding Song Wei over trivial matters, and each time, Song Wei would be reduced to tears, hiding in a corner and weeping pitifully…
“Song Tang, Song Wei is already going to return the bracelet to you. Can you show some mercy where it’s due?”
“Shut up! Are you really good at being chivalrous, huh?” Just as Song Tang was about to say more, she heard Song Congzhi’s furious roar.
“Enough! This matter ends here today. Song Tang, go back to your room immediately and reflect on your actions!” Song Congzhi shouted angrily at Song Tang.
Song Tang straightened her back and retorted righteously, “Why should I go back to my room to reflect?”
“Song Tang, what kind of attitude is this? How dare you talk back to your father? You’re becoming more and more outrageous!” Madam He couldn’t help but scold her as well.
“Mother is right. Song Tang is truly outrageous. Hurry up and apologize to Father.”
“Yes, hurry up and apologize, Song Tang!” Song An and Song Chao chimed in.
Song Tang looked at these so-called family members, her heart chilling. “I’m not wrong! Why should I apologize?”
Song Congzhi glared at Song Tang furiously, his voice almost squeezed through gritted teeth. “Song Tang, look at yourself now. Is there any trace left of a young lady from a noble family?”
Song Tang met Song Congzhi’s gaze without fear. “Father, what have I done wrong? I merely suffered an injustice and wanted to seek justice. Is that wrong?”
“You… you…” Song Congzhi’s face turned livid with anger. His finger trembled as he pointed at Song Tang, and another slap was about to land.
However, after a moment, Song Tang did not feel the force of a slap on her face.
She opened her eyes. Song Congzhi’s hand was tightly gripped by another hand.
Song Tang thought it was Mu Ziyu, but when she looked up, the person restraining Song Congzhi was actually Marquis Mu, Mu Changxiao!
“Lord Song, that’s enough. Let it end here.” Mu Changxiao’s voice was very cold, so cold that Song Congzhi shuddered.
Mu Changxiao had campaigned for years, achieving numerous military merits. Even His Majesty held him in high regard, so Song Congzhi naturally dared not argue.
“Marquis Mu, my daughter is indeed somewhat unruly. I apologize for the embarrassment. Please forgive us.” Song Congzhi withdrew his hand, somewhat awkwardly.
Mu Changxiao’s voice grew even colder, tinged with a hint of anger: “Song Tang is unruly? I don’t see where she’s unruly. Everyone present just witnessed everything that happened—she merely wanted to reclaim what was rightfully hers. What did she do wrong?”