There was a lot of chatter outside. Hang Li was thinking about returning to the manor to report to Song Tangning and figuring out how to deal with the box that Lu Zhiyen had left behind when a soft and low voice came from behind him.
"Guard Hang."
"Young lady, why are you out here?"
Hang Li turned around, surprised. He hadn't noticed when Song Ru had come up behind him.
Unlike the worn-out clothes she had worn that night, today, Song Ru was dressed in a pink long dress that added a bit of color to her appearance. The hair tied up on her head made her once thin and weak face look much cuter.
Feeling people’s gaze on her, Song Ru instinctively wanted to hide. But then she remembered that the person in front of her was someone close to her sister, and this was the Tang Manor, not the Song family home. Only then did she steady herself and refrain from stepping back.
"I just saw Lord Lu bullying my sister."
Song Ru said softly, "The Lu family is prestigious, so the things they send to their future granddaughter-in-law must be considered valuable. And since my sister wants to sever ties with the Lu family, it’s important to make things clear. Guard Hang, why not have someone carry this box over to the Lu family, and at the same time, deliver these two slips directly to Lord Lu?"
Seeing Hang Li looking at her in surprise, Song Ru clenched her fists nervously and said, "My sister doesn’t want to be entangled with the Lu family, so it’s best to clear things up with them face-to-face. Since the things are valuable, it’s better to have many people around when delivering them. Walk through the busiest streets, and if possible, let people know what my sister is returning to them. That way, there’s no chance the Lu family can turn around and falsely accuse her later."
Hang Li paused for a moment, then quickly understood what Song Ru meant, his face showing a hint of astonishment.
That night, although he had witnessed a different side of this seemingly timid Song family daughter, he had still thought of her as a soft, docile little bunny—shy and fearful of causing trouble. He had never imagined she could come up with such a plan.
If they really did what Song Ru suggested, not only would Lu Zhiyen lose face, but the entire Lu family would be utterly humiliated.
Such a crafty scheme! And this young girl thought of it?
"Guard Hang?"
Seeing that he was staring at her, Song Ru grew nervous. She knew she shouldn’t have said such things if she didn’t want to draw attention, but the Lu family had bullied her sister, and Lu Zhiyen was a terrible person. Clutching her sleeves, she whispered, "If you think it’s not appropriate, you can ask my sister and Commander Xiao first..."
Hang Li saw her pale face, her fingers twisting the fabric of her dress in anxiety, and he turned abruptly to the people standing nearby. "Go gather some men, bring drums, and carry the box. Take the things the Lu family sent to our lady and return them."
"Make sure everything is handed directly to Lord Lu himself, and in front of everyone, count the items clearly, so no one can say our lady took advantage of the Lu family."
Immediately, someone replied, "Yes."
Seeing the young girl breathe a sigh of relief, loosening her wrinkled sleeve, Hang Li asked, "I need to go inside to report to the lady. Would you like to come with me, young lady?"
Song Ru quickly shook her head. Commander Xiao and the head of the Gu family were both with her sister. Although she wanted to see her sister, she didn’t want to draw attention or seem too close to her sister’s associates.
"I'm feeling a bit tired. I’ll rest for a while and see my sister later."
After saying that, the young girl lifted the hem of her dress and ran off without waiting for Hang Li to respond.
Hang Li frowned, glancing up at the blazing sun. "Tired at this time of day?"
"Commander, are we still going to the Lu family?"
"Go!"
Hang Li shook off his jumbled thoughts and said to the person beside him, "Get more people, and bring more drums. Make sure the whole capital knows that our lady has severed ties with the Lu family."
The people of the Tang Manor were all sent by Xiao Yan’s side and knew how much the commander cared about their lady. Moreover, Song Tangning treated them well, always gentle and kind. Everyone was disgusted by what the Lu family had done, and Lu Zhiyen was clearly not a good person. Knowing they were about to "cause trouble" at the Lu family, many people enthusiastically volunteered. In the end, over a dozen people carrying a small box and beating drums set off for the Lu family.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhiyen, still disheveled after returning home and changing out of his torn clothes, was trying to figure out how to face Lu Chongyuan and Old Madam Lu when he suddenly heard the loud clamor of drums outside.
Before he could order someone to check, the gatekeeper hurried in with a strange expression, reporting that people from Tang Manor had brought a box over, specifically requesting him to receive it.
"They said that Miss Song ordered them to send the box and reminded the lord to remember the three-day deadline. There’s quite a crowd outside now, and the noise from the drums is deafening. They’re holding two slips and said you must personally go out to accept them."
Lu Zhiyen’s vision went black.
"My lord!"
Song Mo rushed forward to support him, feeling how icy cold his skin was.
Barely managing to steady himself, Lu Zhiyen tasted blood in his mouth, his head spinning as he ground his teeth.
"Song! Tang! Ning!!"
She was ruthless!!
…
"Hahaha, brilliant, brilliant!"
Gu Helian, having just witnessed Lu Zhiyen being thrown out by Song Tangning, could already imagine the Lu family’s reputation in ruins after this. It wasn’t hard to picture how chaotic things would be once the box was delivered to the Lu family.
The anger Gu Helian had felt earlier because of Princess Cheng completely dissipated. Filled with curiosity, he approached Song Tangning and asked, "Where did you learn such tactics, little girl? You’re nothing like your grandfather’s side of the family."
Grand Tutor Rong was an upright man, full of righteousness, unable to tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes.
Madam Rong was gentle and serene, while Rong Yue had a hot temper and was impulsive but simple-minded.
Song Tangning, though still young and looking quite innocent, had just dealt with Lu Zhiyen so ruthlessly, peeling away every last bit of his dignity and reputation layer by layer.
Song Tangning didn’t sense anything off at first, but later she picked up on it—Gu Helian and Xiao Yan were practically at each other's throats, and her unpredictable and temperamental uncle seemed on the verge of being driven mad by her own older brother. She quickly spoke up from the side.
“The estate is so large, there are plenty of places to stay. Why send Uncle away?”
Song Tangning thought seriously for a moment, furrowing her little brows as she said, “I know Uncle doesn’t like to be disturbed. The west wing is quiet, with few people around, so no one will bother you there. Besides, Auntie is resting in the main courtyard and won’t easily see anyone from the outer courtyard. I’ll have the servants block off the middle path so neither of you will run into each other, preventing any arguments.”
“If that still doesn’t work for you, there’s a separate courtyard in the northwest corner that’s cut off from the rest of the estate. If we block off the door from our side, you can come and go through the side gate. What do you think, Uncle?”
Gu Helian: “...”
Not at all!
He was choking on his own words. Was this girl doing this on purpose? Or was it intentional?
“Uncle?” Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Song Tangning assumed he was dissatisfied with her arrangements. She quickly added, “If you don’t like that, then feel free to pick any spot in the estate that suits you, and I’ll have the servants clean it up for you.”
Gu Helian’s face alternated between blue and white, while Xiao Yan observed his little sister, head tilted, earnestly discussing how best to keep Gu Helian and the Princess Consort apart. A low chuckle unexpectedly escaped his throat.
“As the host, we follow the guest's wishes. Your arrangements are excellent; I'm sure the esteemed Gu family head will be very pleased.”
Gu Helian: “...”
Pleased, my foot!
Gu Helian’s face was ashen with anger, wanting to storm off in a huff. He felt that this little begonia flower was just as heartless as Rong Yue. But catching Xiao Yan’s faintly mocking gaze, he forced himself to endure and gritted his teeth, saying, “I’ll stay in the west wing!”
Song Tangning immediately broke into a smile. “Great, I’ll have someone prepare it right away.”
She turned and instructed Hua Wu to tell the servants to clear out the largest courtyard in the west wing for Gu Helian and his accompanying attendants from the Gu family.
Meanwhile, Gu Helian wore a forced smile as he glanced at Xiao Yan. “Xiao Duzhu’s skill at burning bridges is truly admirable.”
Xiao Yan smirked. “Once the bridge is burned, it’s burned. And yet the Gu family head still willingly plays the woodsman?”
As long as the Princess Consort was here, Gu Helian wouldn’t dare walk away.
=============
You can read ahead to chapterr 182 here
Song Ru is so clever.
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