Old Lady Song looked at her granddaughter as if seeing her for the first time, giving her a deep, scrutinizing gaze.
"Child, falling off the cliff was an accident. How can you keep talking about death? If I had known you were so scared, I would have dragged myself out of bed, even when I was too sick to move, to come and get you." She reached out to hold Tang Ning's hand but realized her hand was heavily bandaged and injured.
Old Lady Song could only gently wrap her arm around Tang Ning's shoulder, her eyes reddening as she choked up. "It's all your grandmother's fault. I should never have let you suffer outside." As Tang Ning was held in her grandmother's embrace, she felt a chill creeping up her spine.
She had never felt so clearly how persuasive her grandmother was, nor how deceptive her affection could be.
If she hadn't experienced her grandmother's cold indifference in the past, she might have actually believed that the old woman truly favored her.
Tang Ning pinched the wound on her finger, and the sharp pain brought tears to her eyes. She leaned into Old Lady Song’s arms, crying softly with an air of dependence.
"It's not Grandmother's fault. It's Brother... Brother didn’t want me to live. He threw me into the woods. No matter how much I called out to him, he wouldn’t turn back."
"Grandmother, I'm so scared. Every time I see Brother, I remember that day... the hopelessness in that dark forest, where no one could hear me no matter how much I screamed. When he threw me off the cliff, all I could think was how much he must hate me... He really wanted me dead..." The girl sobbed quietly, her grief restrained but heartbreaking. Though her voice was soft, each whimper made Zou Shi’s face darken, and even Old Lady Song’s expression changed.
Zou Shi abruptly stood up in anger. "Tang Ning, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"The incident at the mountain was just an accident! Why must you make it sound so awful? How can you accuse your brother of wanting to harm you? He was just careless and forgot you were still in the woods. You’re old enough to know better than to go anywhere without a maid or servant. Now, when something happens, you slander your brother with such harsh words?"
Terrified, Tang Ning shuddered and hid her pale face in Old Lady Song's arms.
"I'm not lying. The incident at the mountain wasn't an accident. He left me there on purpose and took all the servants with him before he left. He knew it would get dark soon and that the mountain was cold and damp. Even when it started raining, he didn’t come back to look for me. He really wanted me dead..."
"Shut up!" Zou Shi’s fury was uncontrollable, and she stepped forward, only to be blocked by Old Lady Song, who still couldn’t suppress her anger.
"If you hadn't been so thoughtless, your brother wouldn't have had to discipline you. Besides, he was sending you to Lingyun Temple. It was still daylight when he left—how could he have known you'd wander off and almost get yourself killed?"
"Madam..." Tang Ning looked at Zou Shi in disbelief, unable to comprehend her malicious excuses.
Old Lady Song placed a firm hand on Tang Ning's shoulder and spoke in a more serious tone. "Tang Ning, though your aunt’s words may be harsh, you cannot speak of your brother like this."
"Ever since he found out about your accident, your brother has been filled with regret and sorrow, blaming himself for being momentarily angry and careless. If he could, he’d give his life to make up for it."
"You know how much your brother has doted on you. He's been in so much pain these past few days, his face pale with worry. You can’t let your anger lead you to make wild accusations. If word of this spreads, you'll ruin him..."
Bang!
Before Old Lady Song could finish her words, she felt Tang Ning suddenly push her away.
Tang Ning stared at her in disbelief.
"Tang Ning?" Old Lady Song reached out, but Tang Ning stood up abruptly, stumbling back a few steps, nearly falling.
"My lady!" Hua Wu, startled, rushed to support her.
Leaning on Hua Wu for support, Tang Ning barely managed to stay upright. Her face had drained of all color, and her eyes filled with tears. "So even Grandmother doesn’t believe me?"
"Tang Ning..." Old Lady Song panicked, trying to explain, but she saw Tang Ning's tears streaming down her cheeks.
"He was momentarily angry, so he could just abandon me? He scolded me a few times, so that meant he didn’t care whether I lived or died?"
"I tried to tell myself that Brother loved me, but he knew it was my mother's death anniversary, yet he still took Song Shulan to Lingyun Temple to flaunt her. He knew it was her fault, yet he didn't care about fairness and sided with her unconditionally."
"The mountain path is treacherous and the snow slippery, but he wouldn’t leave Song Shulan for fear she’d get lost, even though we were so far from the temple. He took her back to the city, took her to the lake, bought her jewelry, and personally escorted her to the Qian family banquet. Did he ever even remember the sister he left behind in the mountains?"
"Grandmother says he regrets and suffers. Isn’t that the least he should feel? He’s only lost his composure—I nearly lost my life!"
"You say I’ll ruin him, but what about him nearly ruining me? Look at my face! Look at me!"
Her body was covered in injuries, and her face was terrifying to behold. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her voice grew hoarse with grief and rage.
"I thought Grandmother truly loved me and came to see me out of care, but you came here for Song Jinxi. No wonder you didn't ask about me once since I returned to the capital. The moment he faced a complaint yesterday, you rushed over today."
Old Lady Song, furious at being questioned, rose and stepped forward. "Tang Ning, don't think like that. How could Grandmother not love you? I was just too ill to visit you earlier..."
"I don’t believe you!" Tang Ning slapped Old Lady Song's hand away with a sharp smack, her eyes red with fury. "If you loved me, why are you asking me to forgive Song Jinxiu when you know he tried to harm me?"
"He's your brother—"
"No, he’s Song Shulan’s brother. I don’t have a brother like him!"
Old Lady Song's heart skipped a beat, almost thinking that Tang Ning had discovered Song Shulan's true identity. But seeing only tears and resentment in Tang Ning's eyes, she realized it was just an angry outburst. She swallowed her panic and tried to soothe her with a gentle voice. "Don't say such things. You two are siblings by blood."
"I know you resent your brother for favoring Song Shulan, but he was just confused for a moment. Grandmother has already scolded him for you. Once you return home, I'll send Song Shulan away, all right? And I’ll have your brother apologize to you. You can punish him however you like..."
As she spoke, Old Lady Song moved forward to embrace Tang Ning.
"Be a good girl, Tang Ning. Come back with Grandmother, all right? Grandmother loves you."
Tang Ning sidestepped her embrace, tears still streaming down her face.
"You want me to return? Fine..." Old Lady Song’s joy was short-lived, as her smile froze.
"Make Song Jinxiu leave. Let him take Song Shulan and leave the Song family. Every time I see him, I’m haunted by nightmares, remembering how he threw me off that cliff."
"If you truly care about me, Grandmother, you’ll make Song Jinxiu leave. If he leaves the Song family, I’ll come home immediately."
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You can read ahead to chapterr 60 here
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