Master Zhao gripped the railing tightly, trapped in his cell, unable to save his son. He could only watch helplessly as Zhao Cheng's hoarse shouts turned into sobs, his buttocks soaked in blood.
Master Zhao's eyes were bloodshot.
He felt hatred.
Hatred for the Senior Secretary.
Hatred for these butchers in the Yamen.
Hatred for Song Ci, and even more hatred for his own powerlessness.
"Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen..."
The jailer's cold counting was like a knife, carving into Master Zhao's heart with each number.
"The prisoner has fainted!"
"Cheng'er..."
Master Zhao wept bitterly.
"Officer, this old man kowtows to you. Spare my son's life, I beg you."
Bang!
Master Zhao's head hit the ground heavily, again and again, making a muffled sound.
In just a moment, blood appeared.
Seeing that the time was right, the Senior Secretary waved his hand.
"Stop! No one is a saint, and everyone makes mistakes. In consideration of Master Zhao's face, I will give Young Master Zhao a chance to reform."
"Thank you, Officer!"
Master Zhao was full of gratitude.
The Senior Secretary said: "Send him back to the cell, and call a doctor to look at him."
Master Zhao immediately broke down in tears.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Officer. I am immeasurably grateful."
The Senior Secretary smiled and leaned close to Master Zhao's ear, speaking in a low voice.
"Master Zhao, don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank the Eldest Miss Song. If she hadn't specifically instructed us to spare Young Master Zhao, he would have been in grave danger. You know how the jailers' canes can kill people."
Master Zhao's heart jumped, and he heard the Senior Secretary continue.
"The Eldest Miss Song asked me to give you a message: these thirty canes today are just a small lesson. If the Zhao Family provokes her again, she will root them out completely. Master Zhao, think carefully..."
Root them out completely?
Master Zhao shuddered. Looking at his bloodied son, then at the Senior Secretary's cold smile, a chill shot straight to his brain.
Song Ci... would she really dare?
Seeing that Master Zhao remained silent, the Senior Secretary continued: "The Eldest Miss Song knows you care about your daughter. But put yourself in her shoes: you would go through fire and water for the Second Miss Song. Has she ever done anything for you?
Now that she is a Marquis's Daughter, she could say a word and get you out.
But did she?
Don't be muddled, old sir. Can a daughter be closer than a son who shares your blood?
The Second Miss Song is no longer a member of the Zhao Family."
The Senior Secretary's words cut into Master Zhao's heart like merciless knives.
He wanted to defend Qianqian, but the facts were right before him.
What could he say?
Master Zhao's back instantly hunched, as if his spine had been pulled out.
His face was ashen.
After a long silence, he spoke unwillingly.
"Thank you for your advice, Officer. Please tell the Eldest Miss Song this: from now on, the Zhao Manor and the Second Miss Song will go their separate ways."
"That's right."
The Senior Secretary patted Master Zhao's hand. Soon a doctor was brought in to bandage Zhao Cheng's wounds.
Having completed the task, seeing Master Zhao's fear of Song Ci, the Senior Secretary admired her even more.
The Eldest Miss Song's move of killing the chicken to warn the monkey was truly brilliant.
The dungeon fell silent again.
Soon, Song Ci received Master Zhao's verbal message.
Her slender fingertips tapped the letter, and the corner of her mouth curled into a satisfied smile.
This money was well spent.
By striking at the Zhao Family, she had cut off one of Song Qianqian's arms.
Would she cry when she found out?
But for now, Song Qianqian could barely save herself, and probably had no time to worry about the Zhao Family.
Just now, Amber had brought news that after the Old Madam learned Song Qianqian had smashed a vase, she immediately summoned and scolded her.
Both human and material evidence were complete. Song Qianqian couldn't deny it and had to admit fault.
The Old Madam's words were harsh, bringing up Granny Hua and then the Zhao Family. Her last remark about being a Merchant's Daughter struck Song Qianqian's sore spot.
Unable to bear it, Song Qianqian talked back, asking the Old Madam if she had ever treated her as a real granddaughter.
The Old Madam had never been humiliated by a grandchild before. She had always disliked the Eldest Branch, and had little affection for Song Qianqian, a granddaughter who came home halfway.
She ordered the old women to teach Song Qianqian a lesson.
Song Qianqian was stunned by the beating.
Having never suffered such humiliation, she fought back.
This only intensified the Old Madam's dislike, and she ordered the old women to hold Song Qianqian down and beat her.
After five or six slaps, Song Qianqian's face was swollen.
Song Qianqian felt utterly disgraced and caused a scene.
But this was the Old Madam's courtyard; who would listen to her?
Song Qianqian's cries echoed through the hall.
Only when the Old Madam's anger was spent did she order them to release Song Qianqian.
The Old Madam picked up her teacup as if nothing had happened.
Song Qianqian's face burned with pain. She lowered her head, her gaze slowly turning cold.
Song Ci smiled with satisfaction.
Brilliant!
Absolutely brilliant!
It was worth using the Old Madam as a pawn to strike at the mountain and shake the tiger, shattering Song Qianqian's pride.
Now Song Qianqian must have lost all her filters for her grandmother, leaving only resentment.
Soon, Madam Fang heard that Song Qianqian had been beaten and rushed to Furong Garden.
Seeing Song Qianqian's swollen face, Madam Fang's heart ached, and she also grew resentful toward the Old Madam.
As soon as Song Qianqian saw Madam Fang, she cried.
"Mother, it hurts... wuwuwu..."
"Good child, don't cry. It breaks Mom's heart. Mom has some medicine to rub on you. This is a bruise and toxin removal cream granted by the Palace; it will help restore your face."
"Mother, my heart is bitter. It doesn't matter that Grandmother hit me, but she was slapping your face..."
Madam Fang felt even more choked up, but bound by filial piety, what could she do?
She advised softly.
"The Old Madam is not your real grandmother. In the future, stay away from her to avoid this unforeseen disaster."
"But..."
"Alright, no more 'buts.' Take good care of yourself. I'll find time to take you to the temple to pray and get rid of the bad luck."
Song Ci understood Madam Fang. Madam Fang valued face above all; she would not want to blow things up and would advise Song Qianqian to endure.
Song Qianqian was competitive and proud; she would not accept this easily.
Forcing her to swallow this bitter fruit would only backfire.
Song Qianqian would blame Madam Fang, hating that as the Marchioness, she was timid and lacked any real power.
Song Ci didn't care about Song Qianqian's mood. After this incident, Song Qianqian had learned her lesson, fell completely silent, and never troubled her again.
That was a good thing.
Of course, Song Qianqian also had no time to worry about the Zhao Family Father and Son. She stayed in Furong Garden to recover and refused all visitors.
In her previous life, Song Ci had been very busy, hovering around Madam Fang, around her elder brother, around the Old Madam.
But Song Ci would not let her guard down.
Song Qianqian hadn't truly given up; she was just conserving her strength, waiting for an opportunity.
With no one causing trouble, Song Ci finally had time to focus on her newspaper enterprise.
Shen Huaizhou sent word that the editorial staff had been finalized and were undergoing on-the-job training. Li Ji'an had already started working.
The workshop was ready and recruiting workers.
As for that green bead, it had been verified—it was indeed a Luminous Pearl.
If Shen Huaizhou hadn't mentioned it, Song Ci would have forgotten.
In her previous life, Song Qianqian had used this Luminous Pearl to latch onto the Empress Dowager as a powerful backer, was granted the title of County Princess, and quickly integrated into the Aristocratic Circle.
In this life, that backer belonged to Song Ci.
Indeed, taking someone else's stuff felt great.
Song Ci had tasted this pleasure, but she still had to wait for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet to use it.
Song Ci also wanted to taste what it felt like to be a County Princess.
Over at Mom's side, good news kept coming. Ever since she followed Song Ci's advice to spread the rumor about adopting a nephew, the Second Branch had quieted down, and the illegitimate sons and daughters had stopped causing trouble and started blaming each other.
They all kept urging her to think twice.
Cai Tingshu neither agreed nor refused, keeping them hanging and enjoying a few days of peace.
She raised flowers and plants, and taught Li Ji'an how to be a good Editor-in-Chief.
Everything was moving in a good direction. Song Ci was also preparing to start her first enterprise in this ancient era.
Little did she know, a greater storm was waiting for her.
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