Ran Niang had nothing to say and could only watch Song Yaozhu go to bed.

She was anxious, but she knew there was nothing she could do. Madam Wang was also anxious, so as soon as she learned that Song Yaozhu had returned to the city, she immediately sent Ran Niang to intercept her. She thought Song Yaozhu wouldn't come, but to her surprise, she actually did.

Ran Niang sighed and went back to her room to keep watch over Lin Shi. In the middle of the night, Lin Shi woke up and asked for water. Ran Niang told her about Song Yaozhu's return.

Mr. Lin was both shocked and delighted.

"She really came back!"

Seeing that Madam Lin was feeling better, Ran Niang was also happy. "Yes! When the Princess Consort learned that you were ill, she immediately brought the doctor from the Prince's residence to see you!"

When Ms. Lin found out, she was so happy that she couldn't sleep well for the rest of the night, but when she woke up the next day, she was in great spirits.

When Song Yaozhu saw Lin Shi early in the morning, her complexion was as if she had regained her strength before death, which startled her.

"Is Mother much better now?"

Ran Niang immediately replied, "Madam is happy to see you back!"

Song Yaozhu smiled faintly and remained silent, her aloof attitude causing all of Lin's joy to falter.

"Yaoyao, are you still blaming your mother for making you marry in her place?" Madam Lin asked awkwardly, she had so much to say but didn't know how to say it.

"Why is Mother bringing up things from the past? Could it be that she sees I'm doing well now and wants to get Song Wenyue's marriage back?"

Her words were like an invisible knife, stabbing Lin's heart and lungs with pain.

So this is how her biological mother is perceived by her daughter!

"Your Highness, the lady is not fully recovered yet, why say such hurtful things!" Ran Niang was eager to protect her mistress.

"It was Mother's fault!" Madam Lin sobbed. "It was my fault! I shouldn't have disregarded your wishes and made you marry in my place!"

Song Yaozhu was annoyed to hear people crying all morning. Besides, if she really loved her daughter, why didn't Lin Shi soften her heart when the original owner cried and begged her not to marry her off?

Now that the original owner of this body is dead, she, as the mother, has suddenly had a change of heart and wants to make amends to her. How ridiculous!

"My mother said directly that she had called me back for something."

She didn't believe it was just to take care of someone who was ill.

Madam Lin sobbed, unable to believe that Song Yaozhu could be so cold to her. Back at the manor, her daughter would always rush to her side with immense joy the moment she turned around!

"Yaoyao, how have you changed... I know I made a mistake, but haven't you also benefited from this misfortune?" Madam Lin stubbornly defended herself, "Your mother would never harm you. Aren't you doing very well now?"

Song Yaozhu was so speechless that she didn't know what to say for a moment.

What, now that she's doing well, she's grateful to the people who tried to harm her? Isn't her good fortune and hard work the result of her own good luck?

"Mother is quick-witted, so her illness doesn't seem too serious. I, as a married woman, probably don't need to take care of her. Where is Fourth Sister?"

Ran Niang forced herself to say, "The Fourth Miss and the Old Master went to the hunting grounds to accompany the Emperor."

"Her mother's illness didn't start overnight; she abandoned her seriously ill mother and ran away. She's truly unfilial!"

Madam Lin moved her lips slightly, unsure what to say. She inwardly agreed with Song Yaozhu's assessment. Song Si was her child, spoiled rotten from childhood, and now, in order to marry into the royal family, she was stepping on her sister and abandoning her ailing mother!

Lin was filled with mixed feelings. When Song Chengzhang returned at noon, he only gave Song Yaozhu a look before unleashing his fury on Lin.

"What a fine son you've raised! He locks himself in his study all day, getting completely drunk! This is the crucial time to prepare for the imperial examination, but he's neglecting everything!"

Song Chengzhang was furious. He had been hoping that his eldest son would pass the imperial examination and redeem himself!

"Shouldn't Father be disciplining the eldest brother? What are you doing coming to Mother? Do you expect Mother to drag her sick body to help you discipline your son? Father, haven't you heard the saying, 'If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault'?"

Song Chengzhang glared at Song Yaozhu. Since her marriage, this daughter had become more assertive and no longer meek. Now she even dared to provoke her father!

"As a married woman, the princess should not concern herself with the affairs of her natal family!"

Song Yaozhu glanced at him indifferently. Just then, a little maid ran in crying and shouting, "Master, the young master and the young mistress are fighting! The young mistress... she's lost her virginity!"

The entire main branch of the Song family was thrown into chaos.

Originally, it was Wang who complained that after the exams, Song Qingyuan didn't help her with the household responsibilities and only knew how to drink, which was not the behavior of a man. Song Qingyuan angrily rebuked her for not understanding his suffering and only knowing how to criticize. Then he decided to go to his aunt's room, but Wang made a few more cold remarks to him. Song Qingyuan was extremely angry and hit her.

Before her marriage, Wang was a pampered young lady, and she couldn't stand being treated like this. She immediately called her dowry maids, who pinned Song Qingyuan to the ground and beat him. Song Qingyuan fell flat on his back, and while struggling, he kicked Wang in the stomach, causing her to bleed immediately.

"The young mistress is still in her early stages of pregnancy and has a history of delayed menstruation. We never expected she to be pregnant." The maids wept, secretly despising their son-in-law.

Madam Song, despite her illness, came to see Wang Shi, weeping uncontrollably. Holding Wang Shi's hand, she said, "Don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation!"

Song Chengzhang was furious and ordered Song Qingyuan to be tied up. He planned to make an appearance and administer family punishment when his in-laws arrived.

Song Qingyuan sobered up at this point and regretted his actions, crying his eyes out.

After watching the whole farce unfold, Song Yaozhu suddenly asked, "Who did you buy the questions from?"

Song Qingyuan trembled, looking at Song Yaozhu in horror, shaking his head frantically, "What are you saying! I don't know! I don't know! I don't understand!"

Seeing his son's expression, Song Chengzhang immediately understood why his son had been behaving strangely these past few days. He slapped his son across the face and dismissed the servants.

"How could I have given birth to such a rebellious son! Are you trying to ruin the reputation of the Song family?!"

Seeing that his secret could no longer be kept, Song Qingyuan cried out, "Father, save me! Father, please save me! I was bewitched! I saw everyone else buying them, so I spent some money too... I thought it was just ordinary exam practice, I never imagined it was..."

Before he could finish crying out, Song Chengzhang slapped him across the face again.

Song Qingyuan regretted his decision. He had thought his classmates were being tricked when they talked about the past exam questions, but he figured it was fun and the questions weren't expensive, so he bought a copy to take a look.

When he sat down in the exam room and saw the exact same questions, he knew he was doomed, completely doomed!

Leaking exam questions is a serious crime, as is buying and selling genuine exam questions.

He's been terrified these days!

"Father, you mustn't tell Grandfather, or he'll beat me to death!"

Song Chengzhang was also in a state of utter confusion. This was his son! But he had no connections in the court.

In his anxiety, he looked at Song Yaozhu, who was sitting leisurely sipping tea to the side, "Your Highness..."