When the two of them stepped into Old Madame’s Fuluyuan, several people were already seated inside the room.
Only Concubine Liu from the main branch stood beside Old Madame, having taken over the duties of the maidservants.
When she saw Pei Yanzhou arrive, she greeted him with a fawning tone, calling him Shizi Ye.
"Our Shizi truly cares for Old Madame, arriving so quickly."
Pei Yanzhou did not lift his eyes to look at her, nor did he respond to her words.
He simply took a seat in the position below Old Madame and picked up the tea handed to him by a maidservant.
Liu Shi, having been snubbed, showed no annoyance and continued smiling as she massaged Old Madame’s shoulders.
Madam Qi from the second branch, seeing Liu Shi’s embarrassment and glancing at the frail Song Jinyin following behind, couldn’t help but cover the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, concealing a hint of mockery.
"Though Shizi Ye wasn’t raised by our Concubine Liu, how is it that in Concubine Liu’s eyes, she can’t even see her own daughter in such a state, and only has eyes for our Shizi Ye?"
"Madam Qi, what are you saying?"
Liu Shi glanced at her lightly. "Jinyin Guniang no longer calls me mother now. Besides, with Old Madame and Shizi both present, Madam Qi should not jest at my expense."
"How would I dare?"
Madam Qi flicked her handkerchief and turned her gaze toward the silent Song Jinyin behind her.
"It’s just that I’m soft-hearted. Seeing Jinyin Guniang in such a pitiful state reminds me of her father’s early passing, and I couldn’t help but say a word more. Who would have thought that now she doesn’t even have a mother anymore?"
"There are many pitiable people in this world. If Madam Qi is so kind-hearted, why not join me next month to set up a soup kitchen outside and distribute porridge?"
Liu Shi remained unruffled, replying to Madam Qi from the second branch unhurriedly, her hands never ceasing their gentle massage, nor did she spare even a glance for the pale-faced girl.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Truly someone who handles great matters."
Seeing that her words could not wound Liu Shi in the slightest, Madam Qi’s tone grew increasingly sharp.
She simply couldn’t believe that Liu Shi could truly be so heartless, watching Song Jinyin face death time and again.
With that thought, she abandoned Liu Shi and turned her attention to the silent girl.
"After all, Jinyin grew up right before our eyes. Though she carries some ill fortune of having brought misfortune to both parents, she did stay in our Shizi Yuan. In the future, if Shizi tires of her and sends her away, we should still find her a good place to go."
As soon as Madam Qi finished speaking, even the usually quiet third branch couldn’t help but frown.
Such words were undeniably malicious.
Once the rumor of bringing misfortune to both parents spread, no family would want this girl, and Liu Shi, who was said to have been brought misfortune, would also be subjected to an unwarranted curse of death.
Yet even so, Liu Shi, standing beside Old Madame, remained as composed as ever.
Not a trace of pity flashed in her eyes as she allowed the solitary young girl below to bear the brunt of these sharp, gossipy remarks alone.
Pei Yanzhou continued to sip his tea leisurely, his emotions unreadable.
After a long while, the seemingly isolated woman spoke.
She bent her knees slightly, her delicate face tilting upward, and her previously lowered eyes met Madam Qi’s gaze.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she spoke slowly, "Madam Qi, please choose your words carefully. Although this servant has no mother, my mother is alive and well. Moreover, my father was not brought to his death by my misfortune. He died for his aspirations, with honor and integrity."
For a moment, silence fell over the room.
Even Madam Qi herself had not expected this usually indifferent girl to suddenly step forward and refute her words.
But Song Jinyin was, after all, a maidservant.
Being shown up by a maidservant—especially one who was Liu Shi’s daughter—made it even more intolerable for Madam Qi.
Somewhat angered, she rose to seek a punitive measure from Old Madame when she heard the sound of Pei Yanzhou setting down his teacup.
The lid lightly clinked against the rim, producing a crisp, clear sound.
Everyone instantly sobered up.
Song Jinyin was indeed a maidservant, but she was a maidservant from Shizi Yuan.
Madam Qi trembled slightly, reining in her temper a little, but knowing that this Shizi despised Liu Shi and her daughter, she did not feel overly fearful for having spoken up.
Seeing that Pei Yanzhou remained silent, Madam Qi steadied herself and turned her gaze back to Old Madame above.
"Mother, Guogongfu has always upheld distinctions between noble and humble, with clear rewards and punishments. A servant who offends their master should be taught a lesson."
Old Madame raised a hand to rub her forehead.
How could she not know that the second branch was resentful of her having Liu Shi assist in managing the household and was trying to find fault with Liu Shi in a roundabout way.
"What do you propose?"
"I am not one to press an advantage unreasonably. A minor punishment as a warning—just lock her in the woodshed for three days."
"Three days?"
Old Madame frowned slightly.
In this kind of weather, locking Song Jinyin in the woodshed for three days would be tantamount to taking half her life.
"Three days is not acceptable. I would not be at ease without a girl looking after things in Yanzhou’s courtyard."
"But—"
Madam Qi was about to say more when she saw displeasure appear on Old Madame’s face.
She tightened the handkerchief in her hand, secretly resenting Old Madame’s favoritism toward the main branch—even this lowly mother and daughter could be elevated so highly—while also fearing she might truly anger the old lady.
She could only purse her lips and withdraw her words. "Then let her kneel and admit her mistake. A servant is a servant after all; she should understand that no matter what the master says, she must accept it."
With no other choice, Old Madame looked toward her grandson, who had remained silent for so long.
"Yanzhou, what do you think?"
"Let her kneel then."
The icy tone held not a hint of hesitation, directly deciding the matter for Song Jinyin.
Madam Qi lifted her chin, casting a haughty glance at Liu Shi, trying to find a trace of defeat on her face.
But there was none.
In her eyes, Song Jinyin was not even as precious as the cup of tea she had carefully served to Old Madame.
The person walking forward moved somewhat slowly.
Perhaps due to the earlier kneeling, her steps were still somewhat stiff.
Pei Yanzhou looked at her and suddenly recalled the flowers blown down in the courtyard when autumn arrived.
From vibrant and delicate to utterly lifeless.
A shadow flickered in his eyes, so fleeting that even Pei Yanzhou himself did not notice the brewing storm of cruelty gradually deepening in their dark depths.
Just as he could barely restrain himself from pulling her back, he saw Song Jinyin curtsy again, as if resolved to risk everything, neither subservient nor arrogant, and say, "If Second Madam orders this servant to kneel, this servant naturally dares not resist. But this servant’s father was not cursed to death. Even if Second Madam were to take this servant’s life now, this servant would not admit it."
The girl before him seemed so fragile that a light push might topple her, yet at this moment, she maintained her curtsy, standing as tall and straight as a pine in the mountains, waiting only for the Second Madam before her to respond to these words.
Her father was a county magistrate who loved the people as his own children, a humble parent-official who sacrificed his small family for the greater good.
Even if this identity must remain hidden from others, she would never allow anyone to treat her father's life and death with such contempt.
No one could.