Song Tangning’s lighthearted remark of “You win” drained all color from Song Shulan’s face; those words, filled with mockery, felt like a harsh slap landing on her cheek.
This was always what she wanted.
She was jealous of Song Tangning’s background, envious of her innate nobility. She harbored resentment, unable to fathom why, being of the same Song family bloodline, Song Tangning was so high and mighty, while she could only wallow in the mud.
She wanted to replace Song Tangning and become the apple of Song Jinxiu’s eye. She longed for a better life, to be the center of attention and glory, just like Song Tangning. So ever since she set foot in the Song family, she had been scheming to take everything around her, wishing to stomp on Song Tangning.
Yet, she never truly wanted this kind of victory.
What she sought was the wealth and grandeur envied by everyone. She wanted a lofty life, not to be thrown in prison alongside the Song family, forever enveloped in darkness.
Even Song Old Madam and the others found it hard to believe that Song Tangning would sever ties with her family.
She actually exiled herself.
How dare she?!
Xiao Yan stood to the side, allowing the furious young lady to vent her grievances. After she finished speaking, he coldly said, “Take her to the criminal division, seal off the Song family, and await His Majesty’s judgment.”
“You dare? I am the mother of the Vice Minister! I hold a title in the court! Without His Majesty’s decree, how dare you, Xiao Yan, to treat me this way!” Song Old Madam screeched, her voice shrill and sinister, but no one paid her any mind. The black-armored guards stepped forward to seize her and dragged her out, their ruthless actions causing her to scream in pain.
“Song Tangning, are you crazy? The Song family is your kin! Do you really want to destroy the Song family? A precious young lady like you leaving your clan will leave you as a rootless reed, and with such filial piety, even if your father knew, he would never rest in peace...” Bang!
The black-armored guard pressed the hilt of his sword against Song Old Madam’s back, forcing her forward. Seeing Song Tangning’s indifferent expression, her fury was swiftly replaced with panic.
“Song Tangning, you can’t treat me like this! I am your grandmother! I am your direct elder; you can’t do this to me...”
“Let go of me! You all let go of me!!” Song Old Madam’s hairpin fell apart, her clothes in disarray as she struggled violently.
Song Qin also pleaded with terror etched on his face, “Tangning, Tangning, spare me.” He never imagined that such a trivial matter would escalate to this point. Had he known it would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have brought Song Shulan back no matter what.
Filled with regret and unwillingness, as he was being dragged past Song Tangning, he desperately grabbed her arm.
“The matter of Xu Zhen has nothing to do with me! I don’t know anything! All of this was done by your grandmother and your uncle! I only brought Song Shulan back to the house to send her to the main room! I never wanted to wrong your father! It was your uncle and the others who pressured me, so I had no choice but to hide it for them.”
“Tangning... Tangning, believe in your third uncle... Your third uncle has always cared for you the most, and Jinnan cares for you the most. Your fourth younger sister is still so young; please spare your third uncle this once...” Bang!
Seeing Tangning being pulled off-balance, Xiao Yan kicked Song Qin at the ankle, sending him tumbling to the ground, then reached out to wrap an arm around Tangning’s shoulders, shielding the young girl behind him.
“Seems I forgot that there are others in the Song family. Thank you for the reminder, Third Master Song. Rest assured, I will send your wife and child to prison soon to meet you.” Song Qin’s face instantly turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground, ready to cry for mercy.
Xiao Yan, annoyed, said, “Shut him up and drag him out.” A ball of cloth was shoved into Song Qin’s mouth, nearly choking him, and two black-armored guards dragged him away. Behind them, Song Shulan, her face pale, was shackled and followed closely.
Tears streamed down her face, looking as pitiful as a withered pear blossom, crying bitterly. Unfortunately, none of those who would have felt sorry for her were there, and no one could protect her.
The guards pushing her along treated her delicate, tear-streaked beauty no differently than anyone else, their actions exceptionally rude amid the crowd.
...
The commotion caused by the black-armored guards was quite loud, and the Song Duke's residence was situated in a bustling area of the eastern city. At this time, the streets outside were already filled with onlookers.
When they saw the black-armored guards leading out the richly dressed yet disheveled Song Old Madam and others, the crowd erupted into noise.
“It’s the old lady of the Song family, and there’s Third Master Song…”
“What happened? Did the people of the Song Duke’s residence commit some crime? Why are there black-armored guards taking them in?”
“Yeah, this is the Duke’s residence! How can they just arrest them?” The black-armored guards stood at the entrance, addressing the crowd, “Vice Minister Song Hong conspired with the former officials of the Tyrant Prince, committed treason, and gave birth to a child with the daughter of a rebel. To conceal their identities, they fabricated a household registration, changing the name to Song Shulan, posing as the daughter of the second room, Song Xi, intending to harm the second room’s legitimate daughter, Song Tangning, and scheming for the legacy left by the esteemed tutor.”
“Now that the daughter of the second room has reported this, along with testimonies from others in the know, the Song family is found to be concealing evidence of treason. They are to be arrested and imprisoned, awaiting His Majesty’s judgment.”
The crowd erupted in a frenzy.
Previously, the uproar over the Song Duke’s residence was widespread; who didn’t know who Song Shulan was? And who hadn’t heard about the Song family’s illicit dealings?
This was already shocking enough; no one expected a twist today. It turned out that Song Shulan was not the daughter of Song Xi at all but the daughter of Song Hong, and that she was linked to the treasonous matter involving the Tyrant Prince.
Was the Song family insane?
People gazed at the Song family members being led out one after another, watching as Song Old Madam’s hair was disheveled and she was shackled, and even Song Qin and the young lady behind him were not spared.
Someone whispered, “The Song Duke’s residence is probably finished.” To be branded with the label of treason means their family would be exterminated.
The crowd murmured, with some cursing Song Hong for his shamelessness, while others scolded, “Song Hong is in the wrong, but the young lady of the second room is too ruthless. To report her elders like this is simply unfilial.”
“Bah.”
As soon as these words fell, someone next to them sneered, “The Song family members have no shame, stepping on the grave of their deceased father; they won’t spare even the dead. What’s wrong with Song’s young lady reporting them?” Everyone knew the rumors going around the capital; that Song family’s second master had been slandered beyond recognition, and Song’s young lady nearly lost her life at the hands of the Song family, not to mention Song Hong was guilty of treason.
“The Tyrant Prince acted despotically, harming the loyal and good, and how many died at his hands? The Song family dared to collude with the Tyrant Prince; they deserve to die! Are you saying that hiding a rebel is justified, or do you think the Tyrant Prince is a wise ruler?” The young scholar who spoke earlier suddenly changed colour, “How dare you talk nonsense! When did I say such a thing?!”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 132 here
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