The ladies tried to pull Song Yaozhu away, but were stopped by the maids and servants.

"How dare you!"

"How have we been presumptuous! If the Princess hadn't denied it, we wouldn't have acted this way! Even if we were before the Emperor, we would still be in the right!"

They were standing in the front courtyard of the temple, a place where people came and went. Because of the loud noise, they attracted frequent glances from passersby.

"You keep saying I won't admit to anything, but show me the accounts first! You don't even have any receipts, and you expect me to admit it with just empty words? Won't I be a victim of extortion every time I go out?"

The ladies' faces darkened. This kind of clandestine effort to get someone into the academy was beneath them. And many families refused, secretly slipping money into the academy with their dowries—where was the proof or evidence?

Song Yaozhu sneered, "Since you all say you gave me money, then may I ask when, where, and by whom you received this money?"

“It was your sister Song Wenyue’s maid who took it!” someone immediately said.

Song Yaozhu was shocked, and then asked, "Then why are you looking for me? I didn't take the money!"

"It was Song Si who said that as long as the money is in place, the Princess is willing to help us mediate!"

Song Yaozhu snorted coldly: "My relationship with the Song family is so-so. After marrying into the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion, I've been even more cautious, afraid of making a mistake. How could I possibly agree to such a thing? I'm afraid someone is using my name to swindle and tarnish my reputation! In that case, please come with me to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine and ask her to clear my name!"

Upon hearing this, no one dared to respond.

Such things cannot be discussed openly! Their talk of seeing the officials was merely a ploy to manipulate Song Yaozhu!

If this matter really reaches the Imperial Concubine, it will surely alarm the Emperor. If it leaves a bad impression on the Emperor, it might affect her son's future prospects!

But how could they swallow this insult and accept defeat like this?

"Please don't be offended, Your Highness. We were deceived by treacherous people and that's how we fell into their trap." Someone immediately changed their attitude, bowed to Song Yaozhu, and was about to leave.

Those who knew better followed suit, and soon the group dispersed.

Only then did Madam Yin walk towards her. She had been squeezed out by the crowd and couldn't get in. However, she had heard most of what had happened.

"I never imagined your sister would be using your name to swindle people!"

Song Yaozhu also pretended to be angry and said, "Please come with me to the Song residence, sister-in-law. I can't let this insult go to waste."

Lady Yin, who was always quick to avenge wrongs, immediately agreed.

Once inside the carriage, Madam Yin watched as Song Yaozhu calmly sipped her tea, showing no anger whatsoever. She thought to herself how good-natured her sister-in-law was. If she were wrongly accused, she would have overturned the table!

The group rushed to the Song residence, and Song Yaozhu said to Song Chengzhang, "Father's good daughter is using my name to swindle and cheat people. She took money from them, saying that I would help them get into the Xie family academy. I haven't even had a chance to settle down in the Wangfu (Prince's Mansion) yet, how could I agree to such a thing!"

Song Chengzhang was shocked and looked at Madam Lin.

"Is this true?"

Lin looked equally bewildered. "I don't know!"

"So, after all these years of raising her, Father and Mother, Song Si isn't on your side at all! Tens of thousands of taels of silver notes, if they're not with you, they're with Second Uncle and Second Aunt! She can't possibly have all those silver notes by herself!"

Upon hearing this, Song Chengzhang and his wife's faces turned extremely grim. Years ago, Madam Lin was heartbroken after losing her daughter. To comfort her, she adopted Song Wenyue from the second wife's family. Over the years, the two families had maintained a harmonious relationship, and because of Song Wenyue, they were very close.

If what Song Yaozhu said is true, and Song Wenyue took so much money but didn't give it to the couple, but instead gave it to his second wife, then it would be as disgusting as swallowing a fly!

After finishing her words, Song Yaozhu turned and left the Song family.

After leaving the Song residence, Song Yaozhu happily took Yin Shi's hand and went to a restaurant, also packing some good dishes for Xie Liwei.

Madam Yin felt something was amiss, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. After eating and drinking her fill, she returned to the Prince Xiaoyao's residence, washed up, and lay down in bed. She told Xie Mingyue about what had happened that day, and Xie Mingyue clapped her hands and laughed loudly, "Sister-in-law, you really know how to pull off a honey trap!"

Madam Yin was skeptical. "You mean, your sister-in-law cheated people out of their money and made Song Wenyue take the blame?"

Xie Mingyue was overjoyed. "She had no real connection with the Song family to begin with. Song Si was acting as a go-between for those ladies, and besides money, he probably had other motives. If someone really gets into the Xie family academy, who knows what might happen in the future? My sister-in-law has made a fortune this time, and now she has a legitimate reason to turn against the Song family!"

Xie Mingyue is right. Song Yaozhu has never completely broken ties with the Song family, firstly because she is waiting to see Song Si suffer the consequences of his actions, and secondly because she has no reasonable grounds to do so.

To outsiders, she was a lucky Song family girl who had been wandering for many years and was taken in by the Song family, who even went to great lengths to arrange a marriage for her. They felt that the Song family had been extremely kind to her, and that she would be bound to the name "Song family girl" for the rest of her life.

She needed a reason to sever this family bond.

Since Song Wenyue has been the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch of the Song family for so many years, let her continue to be one!

Meanwhile, inside Tingxue Courtyard, Xie Liwei finished his meal and had the table cleared. He picked up a handkerchief and slowly wiped his lips, saying, "Your Highness, I heard you've earned quite a bit of money."

Song Yaozhu was rolling up her fan when she heard his words. She turned her body slightly to the side, turning her back to him.

Seeing her action, Xie Liwei laughed angrily, "What are you doing? Do you think I would covet your little bit of private money?"

“Your Highness is magnanimous and would naturally not covet my meager savings. However, I am not as generous as Your Highness, who can share his private earnings with others. I will not share profits with those who do not work.”

Xie Liwei was even more speechless. "How dare you? You swindled money under the Xie family's banner, and now you want to pocket it?"

Song Yaozhu shrank further inside, pretending not to hear.

"I don't want your money, but have you thought about how you're going to handle this? What if things really escalate?"

Song Yaozhu looked at Xie Liwei, "Isn't the Prince backing us up?"

Xie Liwei smiled slightly, and had to admit that he and Song Yaozhu were thinking the same thing.

The Xie family academy is located in the capital, and deciding which students to accept and which to reject is a difficult decision. The capital is not like Chenliu; if one offends someone by refusing to accept students, it could leave a stain on one's reputation in the future.

After all, you can only be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days.

"Speaking of which, Your Highness, how do you plan to clean up this mess for me?"