CWTGD Chapter 12 - Tangning Hates Him

Slap!

Fu Laiqing slapped the hand off his collar. "What are you pretending for?!"

"Did you not consider the danger she might face when you left Miss Song in the forest? Snow-covered mountains, dark and slippery roads, and wild beasts frequently lurking in the woods, yet you abandoned her there?"

"You were so intent on escorting your mistress to the Qian family's banquet to protect her from any slight discomfort, but did it never occur to you to send someone to search for the sister you abandoned?" Fu Laiqing's voice dripped with sarcasm, cutting through the silence that had fallen over the crowd. "Lord Song's heart is harder than stone."

Song Jinxiu's face paled suddenly. How could this be... He clearly remembered telling Tang Ning to return to Lingyun Temple. The place wasn't far from the temple...

He had been worried about Shulan's safety and had protected her, leaving with her. But there were still Xie Yin and Lu Zhinian. Those two were so close to Tang Ning; how could they not have left guards to protect her?

Seeing his expression, Fu Laiqing sneered disdainfully before turning and walking away.

The people who had gathered around wore varied expressions. The events at the Qian family in the morning had spread by now, and everyone who needed to know already knew.

In the past, the eldest son of the Song family had always spoken and acted with propriety, conducting himself with such precision that no fault could be found. The Song family's reputation was impeccable. But who would have thought that Song Jinxiu could be so cruel to his own sister while treating an illegitimate daughter like a treasure?

Many people shook their heads. Though they said nothing, their gazes pierced Song Jinxiu like needles, making it impossible for him to stay even a moment longer.

Song Jinxiu hurried away, and the crowd dispersed, discussing among themselves. The Song family had become the hottest topic in the capital that day.

When Song Jinxiu returned to the Song household with a grim face, the Old Madam and Song Hong were already waiting in the front hall. Song Shulan knelt on the ground, her figure frail, her plain long skirt stained with mud.

"Father, what is the meaning of this?" Song Jinxiu strode in and immediately reached out to help Song Shulan. "Why are you kneeling? The ground is cold; stand up first."

"Brother..." Song Shulan's lips were pale, and her eyes welled up with tears as she looked up.

The Old Madam, seated on a chair with a solemn expression, said, "Let her kneel!"

"Grandmother!" Song Jinxiu frowned disapprovingly. "Tang Ning's situation has nothing to do with Shulan..."

"If it's not related to her, then who? If she hadn't egged you on, would you have been so foolish?" The First Madam's anger flared. Her son was a man of great worth, always composed and never making mistakes. He was praised for his temperament all over the capital, but yesterday's events made him a laughingstock.

"Song Shulan is nothing more than an illegitimate daughter. I didn't stop you from feeling sorry for her and wanting to elevate her status. But did your grandmother and I not warn you not to go too far?"

"Your father acknowledged her as a concubine's daughter, which was already a kindness. The plan was to find a suitable match for her and marry her off, showing the Song family's benevolence. But you, you let her trample over Tang Ning!" Song Shulan trembled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Song Jinxiu couldn't bear it. "Mother, Shulan never intended to step over anyone. It was Tang Ning who was narrow-minded and constantly made things difficult for Shulan. That's why I couldn't help but reprimand Tang Ning."

"The incident at the mountain yesterday was my fault. I didn't think things through, which made Tang Ning angry. I will explain everything to her properly when she returns..."

"Explain? Do you know that Tang Ning has gone to Prince Cheng's residence!" Song Jinxiu froze.

Song Hong, who had been standing nearby, spoke in a low voice. "At the Qian family today, Xiao Yan personally escorted Tang Ning there. Everyone now knows what you and Xie Yin did at Lingyun Temple yesterday."

"The princess consort of Prince Cheng was so furious that she publicly slapped Xie Yin. Tang Ning also exposed Shulan's identity, and afterward, the princess consort took Tang Ning directly back to Prince Cheng's residence." Song Jinxiu hadn't expected Tang Ning to involve Xiao Duozhu in this, nor had he anticipated that she wouldn't return home.

He thought Tang Ning had already returned.

Song Hong seemed to read his thoughts and said with a heavy gaze, "Tang Ning fell off a cliff due to a startled horse yesterday. If Xiao Yan hadn't happened to pass by, she would have died. Even though she was fortunate enough to survive, she was severely injured."

"Today, at the Qian family banquet, everyone witnessed Tang Ning being carried in by Xiao Yan's people, with not a single uninjured spot on her body." Song Jinxiu turned pale.

He had thought that Fu Laiqing was deliberately provoking him with exaggerated words in the palace. But how could Tang Ning be so seriously injured from just a brief moment in the mountains?

"Do you know what people are saying outside now?" The Old Madam's face was cold and stern. "They say you are a heartless man who harms his own sister. They say the Song family is despicable and shameless, bullying the orphaned daughter of the second branch."

"Tang Ning is the only bloodline left of your second uncle and aunt. If she had truly died on that mountain yesterday, the rumors outside would have shattered your backbone."

Song Jinxiu's face lost all color.

The Old Madam continued, "I originally thought that, given the princess consort's temperament, she would come to confront us about Tang Ning's situation. Even if she, like punishing Xie Yin, hit you or took out her anger on Song Shulan, lifting the roof off our house, at least it would show that there was still room for discussion. At worst, I could use my old bones to plead on your behalf. The princess consort and Tang Ning might have considered my feelings and let the matter pass."

"But from morning until now, since Tang Ning entered the Prince Cheng's residence, not a single person has come to the Song household, nor has anyone come to question us. Do you know what that means?" The Old Madam's words left Song Jinxiu's mind blank.

How could he not understand what the Old Madam meant?

If the princess consort had come to make a fuss, it would mean that Tang Ning felt wronged and had complained to her. The princess consort would have stepped in to defend her, seeking justice for her.

But the princess consort didn't come, which meant that Tang Ning didn't even want to mention the Song family.

Tang Ning resented him.

The Old Madam said, "If Tang Ning wanted to return, the princess consort wouldn't have remained silent. You have chilled her heart, and she is tired of the Song family."

"As long as she stays in the Prince Cheng's residence, people will continue to criticize you and the Song family. As long as her injuries remain unhealed, everyone will remember how the Song family mistreated her, and how you, as her elder brother, abandoned her."

"After your grandfather's passing, your father should have inherited the title of Duke, but His Majesty has delayed this matter, holding your father back from inheriting the title. You finally entered the court, with a bright future ahead, destined to surpass your father. But now, with this scandal, your reputation is ruined, and the Song family is disgraced."

"Your father can forget about inheriting the title, and how will you be able to stand in the court in the future?" Song Jinxiu's face was as pale as a ghost. "Grandmother..." He had never thought about any of this before, nor had he ever considered that Tang Ning might resent him.

He just didn't want her to be so domineering. He just thought she was no longer as obedient and sensible as before.

She was so intolerant of Shulan, always making things difficult and aggressive. If word spread, people would laugh at her for being ill-mannered.

As her elder brother, he just wanted the sisters to get along, to teach Tang Ning a lesson. He had never intended to hurt her, let alone put her life in danger...

"I will go to Prince Cheng's residence and apologize to Tang Ning. I will bring her back."

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