She abruptly stepped forward, snatched the jade pendant, and examined it closely. After confirming its authenticity, she lifted her head, her gaze firmly fixed on Yun Yiniang:
"Yun Yiniang! This jade pendant… where did you obtain it?"
Yun Yiniang was startled by her sudden shift in demeanor. Sighing softly, she whispered:
"It was… found on Hongxiu's person."
"Hongxiu?"
Song Yiqiu frowned, "Song Sangyu's former personal maid?"
"Yes."
Yun Yiniang nodded,
"She was imprisoned in the woodshed for framing you, Eldest Miss… That very night… she hanged herself."
"Dead?!"
Song Yiqiu was shocked,
"Suicide?"
She had been in the main residence yet knew nothing of this. Given Hongxiu's cowardly, social-climbing nature, why would she choose to end her own life?
Yun Yiniang said quietly:
"Yes. When the servants were dragging her corpse to the mass burial ground, this pendant fell from her robes. I could tell it was extraordinary—its color is rare, and it bears inscriptions. I feared it might have significant origins… Not daring to make it public, I could only secretly keep it."
Alarm bells rang in Song Yiqiu's mind.
Clutching the pendant, her eyes sharp as torches, she probed:
"Yun Yiniang… do you know this pendant's true origins?"
Yun Yiniang shook her head blankly:
"This humble one does not know. I only sensed it was no ordinary object and dared not handle it recklessly."
Song Yiqiu continued testing, softening her tone:
"Then… why didn't you give this to Mother, instead bringing it secretly to me?"
Yun Yiniang raised her eyes, her gaze profound, and slowly replied:
"Perhaps because… this humble one feels that Eldest Miss is someone worthy of trust."
Song Yiqiu couldn't quite decipher Yun Yiniang's hidden motives, but she sensed this gesture was far more complex than it appeared.
She calmly stored the pendant away:
"Thank you, Yiniang. Please accept this silver—use it to supplement Ziyu and your daughters' provisions. Additionally,"
She paused,
"For the flower-viewing tea party three days hence, I'll have invitation cards delivered to Sanchun and Ruo Ling. Have your daughters prepare properly to attend together."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yiniang's eyes filled with gratitude.
As a concubine, she naturally had no right to attend mansion banquets, and her daughters had almost never received formal invitations. Song Yiqiu's gesture undoubtedly offered them a rare opportunity.
She immediately performed a solemn bow to Song Yiqiu:
"This humble one… thanks Eldest Miss for your grace!"
Song Yiqiu made a token gesture of assistance:
"There's no need for such courtesy, Yiniang."
After seeing off the profusely thankful Yun Yiniang, Baimei watched the retreating figure and couldn't help complaining:
"That Yun Yiniang is truly peculiar! Usually holed up in that desolate Hibiscus Courtyard without uttering a word, today she comes spouting all this mystical nonsense—I didn't understand a single sentence!"
But Qingzhu rushed over urgently:
"Miss! This—this is the Old Madam's jade pendant! She never parts with it!"
Song Yiqiu nodded gravely:
"You remember it?"
Qingzhu said anxiously:
"How could I forget! The Old Madam treasured it like a jewel, often saying she'd give it to Eldest Miss as a dowry. How could it end up in Hongxiu's hands?"
Song Yiqiu traced the small characters on the pendant, her eyes icy:
"Yes, I too would very much like to know… how this pendant ended up in the hands of my dear sister's maid."
Just then, urgent knocking came from Mama Li at the door.
"Young Mistress! Young Mistress! Are you there? This old servant has urgent news to report!"
Qingzhu instantly retreated to the side, resuming her feigned foolish state, squatting in the corner to continue playing with ants.
Seeing this, Baimei stepped forward to open the door. Mama Li hurriedly squeezed through sideways, too flustered to observe proper etiquette, only giving a quick curtsey while struggling to catch her breath:
"Young Mistress, something terrible has happened! The main hall… the main hall is in chaos!"
Song Yiqiu swiftly tucked the jade pendant into her sleeve, her expression returning to calm as she lifted her gaze:
"Mama Li, don't panic. Catch your breath first and tell me slowly. What exactly has happened?"
Mama Li patted her chest to calm herself, her face showing an awkward expression.
Her voice dropped even lower, as if revealing some disgraceful scandal:
"It's… it's the Third Young Master. The Third Young Master has suddenly returned from the academy. And… and he brought back a woman! She looks… looks to be five or six months pregnant, weeping and sobbing, now kneeling in the main hall!"
Song Yiqiu's brows furrowed slightly.
It's happening! And earlier than in her previous life!
She remembered clearly that in her past life, her third brother's romantic entanglement had erupted only after the flower-viewing tea party.
This time, some events had indeed changed due to her rebirth.
Baimei widened her eyes in surprise nearby:
"Heavens! Third Young Master? Wasn't he supposed to be studying diligently at the academy all day? How could this…"
Mama Li wore a pained expression:
"That's what everyone thought. The Master and Mistress were furious on the spot, unleashing their anger. The main hall is in complete chaos now."
"The Mistress… the Mistress ordered this old servant to fetch you, saying… saying you should go to uphold justice."
Hearing this, a barely noticeable cold smile tugged at Song Yiqiu's lips.
Uphold justice? She wasn't a magistrate.
She leisurely picked up the slightly cooled tea beside her, took a sip, and spoke in a detached tone:
"If they want justice upheld, they should go to the authorities. Why come to me?"
I can only uphold 'maternal' justice.
Seeing her unmoved, Mama Li grew even more anxious, her wrinkles deepening as she pleaded:
"Young Mistress! The Mistress specifically sent me to fetch you. If I return empty-handed… I, this old servant, am too advanced in years to withstand the Mistress's temper…"
"I beg you to have mercy on this old servant… I have no other choice…"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, clearly terrified of bearing the blame.
Seeing Mama Li's fearful state, Song Yiqiu recalled how she had spoken up for her during the family discipline and remembered drinking her milk for two months in childhood. Her heart softened slightly.
She set down the teacup and stood up:
"Very well. I'll go with you. Baimei, come with me. Lock the door. Qingzhu stays in the courtyard."
Mama Li looked as if granted amnesty, nodding repeatedly and exclaiming:
"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Young Mistress! Thank you, Young Mistress!"
Baimei followed behind Song Yiqiu, muttering quietly:
"Miss, since we know it's troubled waters, why wade in?"
Song Yiqiu gazed straight ahead, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear:
"Mama Li nurtured me in my early years and spoke up for me last time. Consider this repaying her kindness."
"Besides, even if we don't go now, they'll find countless ways to force us. Better to go willingly and see how they intend to perform this play."
…