Soon, Song Ci learned that Song Qianqian was bumping into walls everywhere, finding no one to turn to for help.
At this moment, Song Qianqian was hiding in her room, sulking and furiously smashing things.
Song Ci's heart stirred.
"I remember that in Furong Garden, there's a vase gifted by the Old Madam. Amber, where did you put it?"
"Miss didn't like that vase, so this servant placed it on the top shelf of the curio cabinet, to keep it out of your sight."
Song Ci recalled that in her previous life, Song Qianqian had visited the ailing original body and accidentally shattered that vase.
That evening, when the Old Madam found out, she scolded Song Qianqian for not cherishing the elders' intentions.
Ignoring that the original body was still ill, she made her kneel in the Ancestral Hall to reflect for two hours.
This worsened the original body's condition, leaving her bedridden.
Song Ci beckoned and whispered a few words in Amber's ear.
Amber nodded repeatedly and immediately went to carry them out.
The little maids left in Furong Garden were all formerly used by Song Ci, so it was easy to pull some small tricks.
Once Amber left, only Song Ci and Cui Zhu remained in the room.
"Eldest Miss, have some tea."
Song Ci took the teacup in a good mood: "Song Qianqian has probably forgotten that asking others is not as good as asking oneself."
Cui Zhu was full of question marks.
Her mind was filled with confusion.
She didn't understand.
"Miss, what riddle are you speaking?"
Song Ci enlightened her.
Song Qianqian was running around everywhere, simply trying to fish out the Zhao Family father and son.
But the people of the Marquis's Mansion had no relation to the Zhao Family, so naturally they would evade.
Song Qianqian forgot that she had already transformed; she was no longer that powerless Merchant's Daughter, but a genuine Marquis's Daughter.
Although the Yong'an Marquis Manor had declined, as the saying goes, a broken ship still has three thousand nails.
As long as Song Qianqian dared to borrow the Marquis's authority and put on the airs of a Marquis's Daughter,
even the Jingzhao Yin would have to show her some respect.
Unfortunately, Song Qianqian was blinded by a single leaf and forgot all this.
Song Ci certainly wouldn't kindly remind her.
Since the Zhao Family father and son dared to frame her, they had to be prepared to wear out the prison floor.
Cui Zhu felt satisfied hearing this, but still had some worries.
"Eldest Miss, aren't you afraid that the Second Young Lady might be driven to desperation and cause you trouble again?"
"As long as she dares to come, I'll make sure she regrets it."
Song Ci didn't mind teaching Song Qianqian a lesson.
Soon, Amber returned and nodded at Song Ci.
Then Song Ci had Amber leak some information to the maids in the Old Madam's courtyard.
She believed that given the Old Madam's dislike for the Eldest Branch, she would certainly be willing to teach Song Qianqian how to behave.
Amber immediately went to handle this.
Just thinking about the Second Young Lady suffering a setback made her happy.
Cui Zhu was itching for action.
"Eldest Miss, you see Amber is so busy; this servant can also share the load."
Song Ci naturally wouldn't play favorites. These two maidservants had grown up with her. Although Cui Zhu was not as fiery as Amber, she was equally loyal.
In her previous life, after the original body died, Cui Zhu was the one who collected the bodies for her and Amber.
In this life, Song Ci naturally wouldn't treat her unfairly.
"There is indeed one thing I want you to do."
Song Ci handed a letter to Cui Zhu and told her to leave the mansion and deliver it to the Jingzhao Yin.
Upon receiving the letter, the Jingzhao Yin couldn't help but show a troubled expression.
"What does this Eldest Miss of the Yong'an Marquis Manor mean? How dare she order me around?"
"Master, it's only thirty strokes for that merchant. You might as well do her a favor and agree. Miss Song has the Yong'an Marquis Manor behind her. As the saying goes, a starved camel is bigger than a horse. It's best not to offend these nobles."
"The beating must be carried out, but I don't like being led by the nose, especially by a young girl still wet behind the ears."
The Senior Secretary's eyes darted, and he leaned in to whisper.
"Miss Song feared you might find it difficult, so she specially offered a hundred taels of silver as a token of filial piety."
A hundred taels?
The gloom on the Jingzhao Yin's face vanished instantly.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me misunderstand Miss Song. Quickly instruct the Yamen runners: give him a full thirty strokes, and tell the Eldest Miss Song that those ten extra strokes are my gift to her."
"Rest assured, Lord. Your subordinate will handle it properly."
"Take these ten taels as a reward from me."
"Lord, you have been a benefactor to your subordinate. I would gladly serve you dog and horse without taking any silver."
"Enough, just take it."
The Jingzhao Yin stuffed the silver into the Senior Secretary's lapel.
The Senior Secretary was overwhelmed with gratitude, a smile plastered on his face: "Thank you, Master. Your subordinate will go handle the task immediately."
The Senior Secretary strode briskly, and a nearby Clerk couldn't help teasing.
"Senior Secretary, did you get praised by the Lord?"
"You speak well. This is for you."
The Senior Secretary tossed a tael of silver to the Clerk.
The Clerk immediately expressed his gratitude.
The Senior Secretary waved his hand, telling him not to be courteous, but inwardly savored the feeling—so this was what it felt like to reward someone.
It wasn't that he was generous, but that Miss Song had given far too much.
Since Miss Song thought so highly of him, he naturally had to do a good job.
Inside the dungeon.
Master Zhao was scolding his son.
"Cheng'er, you were too reckless. Didn't I tell you before I left not to act rashly? Why didn't you go discuss it with your elder sister first, and instead got yourself thrown in here?"
"Father, it's all because that Song Ci is too vicious. She set a trap to frame me."
Speaking of Song Ci, Zhao Cheng ground his teeth in hatred.
Even now, he couldn't understand how that little girl had led him around by the nose.
Master Zhao rubbed his forehead.
"Fortunately, you didn't commit a grave mistake. If you had killed Song Ci, we'd be in real trouble."
Zhao Cheng was puzzled: "If I killed her, wouldn't that be avenging elder sister?"
"You, you're thinking too simply."
Although Song Ci was not the Marquis's biological daughter, he had raised her for sixteen years. How could the Marquis have no feelings for her?
If she died, how could the Marquis not investigate?
If he seriously investigated, your elder sister wouldn't be able to escape blame either.
Zhao Cheng didn't believe it.
"Elder sister said that everyone in the Marquis's Mansion dotes on her. Why would they care about that fake, Song Ci?"
"What about a fake? Even if it were a dog, raising it for sixteen years would create feelings. The Marquis may not truly care about Song Ci, but if she were killed, the Marquis's Mansion would surely investigate. Nobles all care about face."
If they follow the clues and trace it back to your elder sister, she would lose favor, and how would she help the Zhao Family in the future?
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause sounded.
The Senior Secretary said with a smile.
"Not a bad analysis, Master Zhao. It seems that Young Master Zhao indeed attacked Miss Song."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't know? Men, bring Young Master Zhao out."
"What are you trying to do?"
"Lord, the boy is young. Spare him this once for my sake."
"Your sake? Who do you think you are, daring to posture before me? A fifteen-year-old is old enough to go to war. What kind of child is that?
If you can't teach your son, I'll teach him for you. Men, thirty strokes. Let Young Master Zhao learn his lesson well."
"Corrupt official, let me go! You're abusing your power!"
Heh heh...
The Senior Secretary sneered and slammed the Great Xia law codes heavily onto the desk.
"Attacking a noble: thirty strokes and exile."
Zhao Cheng was dumbfounded.
Master Zhao dropped to his knees with a thud, frantically stuffing banknotes into the Senior Secretary's hand.
"Officer! My son is ignorant. Please, Officer, be lenient..."
The Senior Secretary glanced at the banknotes.
"Thirty taels? Young Master Zhao's life is indeed cheap." He sneered: "A mere thirty taels wants to bribe me? Master Zhao thinks too little of me."
Master Zhao had been shrewd all his life; he could clearly hear the Senior Secretary's mockery. It wasn't that he didn't want to give more, but he simply didn't have it.
These past few days, he had been greasing palms everywhere, and the silver he had brought was nearly gone.
"Officer, don't misunderstand. This old man means no harm. This little filial piety is for you to buy some wine. Once this old man gets out..."
"What are you waiting for? Beat him!"
The Senior Secretary brutally cut off Master Zhao.
Though bribery was nice, one must not be greedy.
He had already accepted Miss Song's tribute. Failing to act would be dishonorable.
The Jailer pressed Zhao Cheng onto the bench and swung a club as thick as an arm down.
Ah!
Zhao Cheng screamed in pain.
The club struck his buttocks, causing a burning pain. After just a few blows, Zhao Cheng's entire back went numb. The piercing agony made him howl.
The blows landed on Zhao Cheng's body, but also on Master Zhao's heart.
His fingers trembled like a trapped beast, letting out a desperate roar.
"I beg you, stop! If you must, hit me instead! Hit me..."
✦✦✦