Since Song Qingyao knew about the drugging, today’s incident must be connected to her.
Song Zhaoran looked at Song Jiuning in shock. “Xiao Jiu, is what she said true?”
Before Song Jiuning could speak, Song Shaoqin quickly interjected, “Father, don’t believe her! I personally witnessed Prince Gongning treating Xiao Jiu with respect and courtesy. There was absolutely no inappropriate behavior!”
Song Jiuning looked at Song Shaoqin with gratitude. Her eldest brother had always been upright and principled—this was the first time he had ever lied, all to protect her.
Seeing Song Shaoqin’s reaction, Song Qingyao grew even more confident. “I’m afraid by the time Big Brother arrived at the Wangfu, it was already too late.”
She then turned to Song Jiuning. “If Sister has a clear conscience, why are you afraid to let Mother verify your purity?”
Song Shaoqin grew anxious. “You vile creature, shut your mouth!”
Song Jiuning pulled Song Shaoqin back and raised the corner of her lips. “Why would I be afraid?”
Song Shaoqin was taken aback and frowned at Song Jiuning. “Xiao Jiu!”
Song Jiuning gave him a reassuring look before turning back to Song Qingyao. “Little Sister is so certain I’ve lost my purity. Could it be that today’s incident has something to do with you?”
Song Qingyao hurriedly denied it. “I didn’t! It was you who told me you were going to engage in intimate relations with Tenth Highness!”
Song Qingyao was now speaking recklessly, determined to throw all the blame onto Song Jiuning. She firmly believed that as long as everyone saw Song Jiuning had lost her purity, they would believe her.
Song Jiuning couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Sister, to frame your own sister, you’ll say anything, won’t you? No matter how lowly I, Song Jiuning, may be, I would never discuss matters of the bedchamber with you as gossip. However…”
Song Jiuning’s expression turned cold. “Since Little Sister is so curious, there’s no need to trouble Mother. I’ll show you myself.”
With that, she lifted her sleeve, revealing a small red mole on her wrist.
Song Qingyao’s face paled, and her eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible! How could this be?
Song Jiuning chuckled softly. “Little Sister, don’t tell me you don’t recognize what this is.”
Seeing the chastity mark, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“You poisonous woman! How dare you frame your own sister? I can no longer keep you here!”
Song Zhaoran flew into a rage, grabbing a rattan whip from beside him and striking Song Qingyao with it.
Crack!
The whip cut through the air, tearing open Song Qingyao’s skin with a single blow.
Song Qingyao cried out in pain and fainted on the spot.
As Song Zhaoran raised the whip to strike again, Song Jiuning stopped him. “Father, calm your anger.”
Song Zhaoran frowned, slightly displeased. “Xiao Jiu, haven’t you suffered enough because of her? Why plead for her now?”
Song Jiuning had no choice but to be honest. “Daughter is not pleading for her. It’s just that we still need her to deal with Shen Yunting. Daughter suspects that today’s poisoning was Shen Yunting’s doing.”
Song Zhaoran understood the underlying reason immediately and said angrily, “Was it to frame Prince Gongning?”
Song Jiuning replied, “Exactly. But the one who administered the poison is already dead and cannot testify. Song Qingyao is the only one who knows the truth. She must be kept alive.”
Song Zhaoran nodded approvingly. “Well said. Calm and composed—this is the daughter of the Song Family!”
Song Jiuning hugged her father’s arm affectionately. “That’s because Father taught me well.”
Afterward, Song Jiuning ordered that Song Qingyao’s mouth be stuffed with a rag and had her temporarily locked in the woodshed.
Once peace was restored, everyone turned their gaze to Song Jiuning, each with a different expression.
Especially Song Shaoqin, who had clearly seen the red marks on his younger sister’s arms and neck—how could they have disappeared so quickly?
Could he have been mistaken?
Eldest sister-in-law Ye Shutong was the first to speak up: “Xiao Jiu, what exactly is going on?”
She hadn’t missed Song Shaoqin’s reaction; the truth likely wasn’t as it seemed.
Song Jiuning looked at Ye Shutong. The saying “an elder sister-in-law is like a mother” fit her perfectly. Being young, Song Jiuning was practically treated like a daughter by Ye Shutong.
In the end, to protect the Song Family’s matriarch and the other sisters-in-law, Ye Shutong was nailed to death on the Song Family’s gate by the imperial guards.
Fortunately, Song Jiuning had returned.
The tragedy would never repeat itself.
Song Jiuning smiled faintly and explained how Song Qingyao had been inciting her and Shen Yunting all these years, as well as the poisoning incident that day.
Naturally, she omitted the part about how Shen Wenjing had detoxified her.
Ye Shutong nodded. “Song Qingyao’s scheming nature is just like her mother’s. You mustn’t be soft-hearted now.”
Everyone in the Song Family looked down on Song Qingyao, yet only Song Jiuning had been blind, treating her with genuine sincerity.
Song Jiuning nodded.
Ye Shutong then tentatively asked, “That’s good. It’s late now, you should go back and rest.”
Song Jiuning shrank her neck slightly. “Alright.”
After a long and exhausting day, Song Jiuning was indeed tired. After bidding farewell to everyone, she returned to her room to sleep.
The maids Xun Mo and Fu Zui had been waiting for her in the room. Seeing their young lady return unharmed, both were overjoyed.
Song Jiuning was truly exhausted. After exchanging a few words, she sent them off to rest.
Moonlight poured in, and by the faint candlelight, Song Jiuning gazed at the “virginity mark” on her arm.
On her way back, she had been surprised to find that all the red marks on her body had disappeared.
Even the thick calluses on her hands from practicing archery had smoothed out, looking as good as new.
This “virginity mark” was naturally fake as well. Initially, she had only intended to deceive her parents, but it had unexpectedly come in handy.
She really had to thank Song Qingyao—now she didn’t even need to bother fabricating a story.
Song Jiuning pulled out a golden hairpin from her hair and lightly scratched her arm.
Then, she watched as the mark slowly faded away.
Overjoyed, she realized that upon her Rebirth, she had gained such a remarkable ability.
Enduring the pain, Song Jiuning pressed harder, this time even drawing blood.
The wound healed at a visible pace, completely disappearing in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
It seemed that any injury on her body would slowly repair itself, though the healing time varied depending on the severity of the wound.
She just didn’t know if fatal injuries would heal as well.
Lying in bed, Song Jiuning was indeed exhausted but still tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She had been delighted to see Shen Wenjing earlier, but who would have thought he felt nothing for her?
She couldn’t afford to become the laughingstock of all Shengjing again, as she had when chasing after Shen Yunting.
Still, since Shen Wenjing had promised to marry her, he probably wouldn’t go back on his word, right?
Gongning Wangfu.
Shen Wenjing lightly tapped the table with his fingers, his expression cold and stern. “Have you identified the person who drugged her?”
Pei Yu bowed and replied, “Your Highness, we have. That person was not from the Wangfu. Following the trail, I discovered he was brought in by the Tenth Highness.”
Shen Wenjing raised an eyebrow slightly. “It seems I need to have a serious talk with this tenth brother of mine.”
Pei Yu looked puzzled. “Your Highness, what would you have me do?”
Shen Wenjing raised a hand. “Not for now. I have something more important for you to do.”
His thin lips parted slightly as he uttered a name: “Investigate immediately.”
Pei Yu accepted the order: “Yes!”
Compared to Shen Yunting, that woman seemed far more intriguing.
No matter what her intentions were, they would be laid bare before the Yellow Springs Pavilion.
Shen Wenjing picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.
His consort could not remain shrouded in mystery.