Old Madam Song's wound on her right wrist had mostly healed, but her wrist bones were shattered, the tendons rendered useless, and several finger bones had been crushed at the time. The scar running across it was hideous and terrifying, and her entire right hand was twisted in a bizarre way.
Now, she couldn’t even hold a heavy object, let alone a spoon or pen, without trembling.
Not far in front of her stood a bronze mirror reflecting an old woman whose face was gaunt. Old Madam Song noticed the young girl on the ground before her, with delicate brows and eyes filled with tears, looking particularly pitiful. Especially her slender and beautiful hands, resembling fine white porcelain. It was as if she had been stabbed in the heart. She immediately raised her foot and stomped down hard on the girl’s hand.
“Ugh…” The maid nearly cried out in pain, but sensing Old Madam Song's hostility, she remembered the few servants who had been killed by the unpredictable old woman and how they had been tossed out wrapped in a straw mat, and felt a chill run down her spine.
She bit her lip tightly, afraid to speak, and in just a moment, cold sweat began to bead on her forehead. Her face turned pale as she knelt on the ground, trembling all over, tears hovering in her eyes, afraid to fall.
“You little brat, how did you provoke the old madam again?” Nurse Qi, who served Old Madam Song, hurried in. Seeing the mess on the ground and the maid, who was pale and on the verge of fainting from pain, she rushed forward.
“Old Madam, please calm down. Don’t hurt your health.”
“Lowly thing!” Old Madam Song had vented enough by torturing the servant. With Nurse Qi's support, she lifted her foot and coldly snorted, “Drag her out and make her kneel in the courtyard.” The sun was blazing outside, and the sunlight was somewhat scorching on her skin.
Nurse Qi looked at the maid’s bloodied hand, feeling a bit reluctant, but she didn’t dare to plead in front of the unpredictable old madam. Instead, she pretended to be angry, saying, “Why don’t you hurry up and go kneel?” After driving the girl out, she helped Old Madam Song sit down beside her. “It’s all these servants who don’t know better. Old Madam, please calm your anger. The doctor said you can’t get too upset now.”
She carefully helped Old Madam Song to relax, and after a moment, the old lady finally snorted, “What time is it?”
“Almost the hour of Wei.”
“It’s already this late, why hasn’t Zou shi returned?” Nurse Qi cautiously replied, “It’s still early; it’s a banquet at the Cheng Wangfu. Although the eldest madam and the lord are going to reconcile with the lady, there are still other nobles at the banquet.”
“The lord's current situation isn’t good; he probably won’t be back soon. Old Madam, why don’t you take a nap? I’ll come to call you when the eldest madam returns.”
Old Madam Song couldn’t sleep at all. Ever since she got injured, whenever she closed her eyes, she could remember Song Tangning's face and the humiliation she suffered that day in Jiyun Alley.
“In the past, how could our Duke’s mansion be so humble? Who didn’t try to get an invitation when there was a banquet? But now, we actually have to go plead with Cheng Wang to socialize with others.”
“Jin Xiu's bright future is ruined beyond repair. Those families who were originally interested in marrying him are now just watching the wind; everyone is laughing at our Song Duke's mansion—all because of that little wretch, Song Tangning.” She lowered her gaze at her hands, filled with resentment, her expression dark as she gritted her teeth.
“Why didn’t she die with her mother back then…”
“Old Madam!” Nurse Qi suddenly exclaimed, abruptly interrupting Old Madam Song's words.
Old Madam Song froze for a moment and realized what she had just said. Her lips quivered, and she pressed them tightly together, frowning with a dark expression.
Nurse Qi's heart raced: “Old Madam, we can’t bring up the past.” Those secrets, if revealed even slightly, could lead to disaster for the entire family. She lowered her voice, saying, “I know you’re angry and dissatisfied with the lady’s actions, but she is no longer the same as before. Our Duke’s mansion can’t withstand any more turmoil.”
In the past, the second house’s young lady cared about the people in the mansion, appearing bright and lively but actually being very gentle. They could manage her however they liked. But ever since she returned from the mountain, the once obedient young lady seemed like a different person. Not only was she cold and ruthless towards the eldest lord, but she also showed no fondness for the others in the mansion. She was no longer the young lady who used to pout and cry when Old Madam Song scolded her.
Nurse Qi pressed down her anxiety and advised, “It’s not easy for the Cheng Wang to coax the lady to put aside past grievances, allowing the lord and lady to reconcile. If Old Madam doesn’t want to see her, that’s fine, but please don’t start another quarrel with her…”
“Am I afraid of her?!” Old Madam Song’s brows furrowed in anger. After speaking, she noticed Nurse Qi had fallen silent, her face turning extremely angry and embarrassed. She wanted to scold a few words, but the words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
She was indeed afraid of Song Tangning.
That wretched girl was no longer what she used to be. Relying on the protection of the Cheng Wangfei and that eunuch with the surname Xiao, they were completely unable to do anything to her. Old Madam Song resented Song Tangning for being so ruthless and hated her for turning against her. She conspired with that eunuch Xiao Yan to cut off her hand and caused her to lose her title, making the Duke’s mansion the laughingstock of the capital.
However, she had to admit that now they were the ones begging Song Tangning to return.
After Song Tangning left the Song family, no one dared to say anything because she was under Xiao Yan’s protection. Yet the Song family was thrown into chaos because of her, and only if she returned could the gossip outside come to an end. Only by repairing their relationship with the girl could Song Jin Xiu have a future.
They were the ones begging Song Tangning.
Old Madam Song felt extremely aggrieved in her heart, and the atmosphere in the room was stifling. Just then, someone suddenly rushed in from outside, barging in without announcing themselves.
“Wretch, are you looking for death by being so reckless?!” Old Madam Song, already furious, grabbed a teacup and smashed it at the intruder. The servant was immediately dazed by the blow, clutching his bleeding forehead as he cried, “Old Madam, someone from outside has barged in to take someone.” Take someone?
Take who?
Old Madam Song frowned angrily, “What are you talking about? Who dares to invade my Duke’s mansion…”
“It’s the Black Armored Guards. It’s Lord Xiao leading the Black Armored Guards.” Old Madam Song stood up abruptly, and Nurse Qi also raised her head in shock. Before they could speak, they heard the courtyard door crash open, and soon after, screams of maids and servants rang out.
The sound of armor clanking and footsteps shook the ground, and through the window, Old Madam Song and her servants saw the intruders pouring into the courtyard. They were all so frightened that they stood frozen, their faces pale as paper.
…
The Black Armored Guards were extremely menacing. Once they entered the Song Duke’s mansion, they seized everyone they saw. At first, there were people from the Song family who tried to stop them, but after several heads rolled, no one dared to resist any longer when faced with the bloodstained blades of the Black Armored Guards.
When Song Qin, Song Ru, Old Madam Song, and Song Shulan were all taken to the front courtyard, they finally saw Song Tangning and Xiao Yan standing in the yard.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 132 here
No way! They were implicated in the death of her parents!
ReplyDeleteThe Song family is a den of wolves, did they have something to do with the death of Little Haitang's parents?
ReplyDelete