She hurried back to her room, and Haitang smiled as she took off her cloak: "I feel better today. Second Miss really doesn't act like a proper young lady at all. She was already having an ambiguous relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince before."

Song Tangxue sat on the wooden chair and took a sip of tea. The tea tasted unpleasant, with a bitter flavor, clearly not a good tea.

Looking around, the furnishings were simple; apart from the necessities, there wasn't even the simplest decoration. You could believe it was a servants' quarters.

A diligent little bee named Haitang was tidying up, patting and sweeping away the dust that had settled on the bed. The dust was inhaled into Haitang's nose: "Cough cough cough."

"Stop sweeping, let's pack our things and move out." Song Tangxue held Haitang's hand tenderly; it was icy cold.

The house is drafty; if you sleep here for a few nights, you're bound to catch a cold.

A cool breeze rushed in through the gaps, clinging to Song Tangxue and Haitang in wisps.

"Alright, Miss, please have a seat for a while. I'll go pack my things."

There wasn't much to tidy up; it was a room where you could see the whole thing at a glance.

"Sister, this house has been unoccupied for a long time. I wonder if you'll like living here, little sister." Song Tangli saw her from afar, turned around and walked into her courtyard, speaking sweetly.

Looking around, she stood outside the courtyard with disdain: "It's a pity that you're staying here, sister. Should I go and talk to Mother and ask for a better place?"

Snow-white embroidered shoes stepped on the bluestone steps without getting a speck of dirt on them.

"I don't need your pretense. I've lived here for over ten years, and I haven't seen you show up earlier than before." Song Tangxue walked over and stood inside the door, her eyes calmly fixed on Song Tangli.

"Stop your pretentious act, it's disgusting." Song Tangxue slowly closed the door: "I don't keep livestock here, so I won't entertain you."

Haitang became wary the moment Song Tangli appeared. She put down her things and stood next to Song Tangxue, staring intently at Song Tangli.

Song Tangli was furious, but as her thoughts raced, she remembered the luggage being packed and tidied up inside the house. With patience, she gently knocked on the door.

Haitang stopped Song Tangxue, saying, "Let me go, Miss. You should rest for a while. You must be tired today. Those Song family members are too bullying."

He pinched Haitang's soft cheeks and let her go open the door.

Song Tangli, standing outside the door, had a cold expression: "What are you packing your things for? Are you moving to another courtyard? Every courtyard in the Song family has a purpose; don't move things around arbitrarily, understand?"

“Once we move out of the Song family’s area, it’s none of your business, right?” Haitang slammed the door shut again. Song Tangxue gave her an approving look.

Looking at the rickety door, Song Tangxue considered putting up a sign at the entrance that read: "No Song family members or dogs allowed."

Is Song Tangxue leaving the Song family?

This won't do. Song Tangli gripped the handkerchief in her hand so tightly it was deformed. If she didn't keep it at the Song family's house, how could she bully her?

The snow-white shoes hurriedly trod across the bluestone path, disappearing into the distance.

“Mother, I just went to ask my sister if she needed anything, but…” Song Tangli looked troubled: “My sister wants to run away from home.”

"What!" Mother Song felt a tightness in her chest and a sense of suffocation: "I only said a few words to her, is this child making a fuss about separating from the family?"

"This is utter nonsense."

Thinking of the enormous wealth that Song Tangxue held in her hands, Mother Shen couldn't face it calmly. She twisted her sleeves and comforted Song Tangli, "Your sister is just biting the hand that feeds her. Don't worry about it, A-Li."

"Let's go to the old lady's courtyard and ask her to make a decision for us." Song's mother led Song Tangli hurriedly towards the old lady's courtyard.

Qiu Xiang, a maid in the old lady's courtyard, led the two inside.

A faint, woody fragrance filled the room. Fresh fruits and vegetables were offered before the Buddha, and three sticks of incense burned continuously throughout the day.

Supported by Qiu Xiang, the old lady walked up to the two of them and asked, "What is it?"

Madam Song pulled Song Tangli down to bow: "Madam, my unfilial daughter Song Tangxue disrespected her elders today and had a fight with the elders in the clan. Now she is making a scene and wants to run away from home."

She gently dabbed a non-existent tear from the corner of her eye with a silk handkerchief: "I am powerless to discipline my daughter-in-law, and I would like to ask the old lady to help her."

Taking a small sip of tea, the old lady sighed, "The children are all grown up and have their own ideas, which is a good thing."

The fragrance of incense rose slowly behind her and dissipated into the air.

She gently turned the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, the wooden beads clinking together with a soft, crisp sound: "But the Song family is, after all, her own family. How can they be so disrespectful, not even asking me, an old lady, for permission!"

Song Tangli and her mother exchanged a quick glance. Song Tangli lowered her body and said, "Grandma, don't be angry. If you hurt yourself, I'll worry about you."

"Let's go, let's go take a look." Old Madam Song slowly propped herself up with her snake-head cane.

Song Tangxue stood at the entrance of the courtyard, pondering the idea of ​​burning the place to the ground, but after a long while she put it aside.

Footprints lingered on the stone path. Song Tangxue looked up at the sky and felt that everything was bright and clear.

As they approached the gate of the Song family's residence, a series of chaotic and noisy footsteps came from behind.

"Where are we going?" Old Madam Song's voice was strong and powerful, her weathered eyes fixed on Song Tangxue.

Song Tangxue bowed respectfully, "Grandmother, I'm not even allowed to go out anymore?"

"Did you ask me? Your mother told me everything that happened today. She acted too rashly!" Old Madam Song raised her hand and slammed her cane heavily on the ground, raising a small cloud of dust.

"Is Grandmother going to pay off the debts for my uncles?" Song Tangxue looked at the old woman. In her past life, this old woman had always taken advantage of her age and made things difficult for her.

She outwardly presented herself as a kind and compassionate person, and outsiders all said that the old lady of the Song family was a kind and gentle person.

No way, you old hag with a Buddha's mouth and a snake's heart.

Old Madam Song's brows furrowed, and her cane flew through the air: "Today I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the Song family ancestors!"

Song Tangxue nimbly pulled Haitang aside, pushed open the Song family's gate, and pushed Haitang outside, allowing the cold wind that had found a way in to pour in.

"Old Madam Song is hitting people!" Haitang darted outside the door in a flash, hiding to the side in fear, and shouted at the top of her lungs.

This alley was inhabited by prominent figures who frequently visited each other to maintain contact—a common practice among officials and businessmen.

Many of the surrounding houses opened their doors and people peeked out to watch the commotion, but those who were prominent and influential naturally wouldn't do that.

If these servants go back and spread the word, it will become common knowledge.

Old Madam Song cared most about her reputation. When had she ever been treated like a monkey by others? Looking at the fearless figure standing at the door, she gripped her cane tightly.

Mother Song supported Old Madam Song, patting her back to help her breathe.

Song Tangli walked a few steps in front of Song Tangxue, pointed at her, and said, "Didn't you see that Grandmother was angered by you? Hurry up and kneel down to apologize and ask to be punished at the ancestral hall!"

"Smack!"

A crisp sound pierced the cold wind. Song Tangli turned her head in disbelief, covering her face: "You hit me?"