Song Xizhi was also very surprised at this moment. She looked at He Yunce's dejected figure with surprise and raised her eyebrows slightly.
She knew that He Yunce would not have an easy time after this incident.
But she never expected that her maternal grandfather and uncle would be so supportive in front of the emperor, even making He Yunce kowtow to her.
This must be incredibly awesome!
Thinking it over, Song Xizhi suppressed the smile on his lips and hurriedly walked to the side of Marquis Anding, his legs moving swiftly, leaving only a blur.
He Yunze looked up, drenched in sweat, and stared at Song Xizhi in front of him.
Feeling her pointed chin slightly raised, the corners of her mouth turned up, and her whole demeanor exuded an indescribable smugness.
He Yunze felt that the humiliation and resentment in his heart were about to overwhelm him.
His heart ached, his body was chilled, and he trembled with rage: "Father, we're already in the Marquis's mansion. Even if we don't comply, it's the same! No one will know what we've done."
Upon hearing this, Madam Huang hurriedly stepped forward to block He Yunze's path:
“Husband! Yun Ce is a grown man, and Song Xizhi is even younger than him. How can you make him kneel before Song Xizhi? Aren’t you afraid that she will die young? Even if he doesn’t kneel, no one will know!”
Song Ruoan stared intently at He Yunce's disheveled figure, feeling utterly humiliated.
"No, Father! A man's knees are worth gold. Yun Ce is such a proud man, how can we let him kneel before my sister! How will Yun Ce save face in the future? How will he stand in front of the servants?"
As Song Ruoan spoke, she looked at Song Xizhi again:
“We’re all family, and I’m sure my sister wouldn’t want things to look so bad. If you apologize to her verbally, she’ll be more than satisfied.”
Upon hearing this, Song Xizhi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Are my mother-in-law and sister trying to defy the imperial decree?"
"There are no secrets that stay hidden forever. If the Marquis's mansion is outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and this gets back to His Majesty, how will the Marquis's mansion face the consequences?"
“My mother-in-law and sister are bold, but I am timid and would never dare to disobey His Majesty’s wishes!”
Upon hearing Song Xizhi's words, the Marquis of Anding was also startled, and he looked at Madam Huang with great displeasure:
“A doting mother spoils her son. He Yunze has been raised by you to be so womanly. The Marquis’s mansion is doomed! Look at Xizhi, that’s what you call thoughtful.”
"He Yunze stirred up trouble and framed loyal ministers, and he was already despised by the people. Do you want to put the Marquis's mansion in even more trouble now?"
Upon hearing this, Huang gasped and clutched her chest, coughing violently with anger.
Song Ruoan also bit her lip, her fingers clenched into fists hidden in her sleeves, but she dared not utter another word.
Now, her husband, whom she was so proud of, was kneeling before Song Xizhi, drenched in sweat, looking as pathetic as a dead dog.
How could she possibly accept this?!
But to her surprise, Song Xizhi smiled and spoke to her again: "Ruo'an, you and Yun Ce are deeply in love, you feel sorry for him, and you are afraid that the servants will ridicule him. I can understand all of this."
Song Ruoan suddenly raised her head, staring at her warily, her words laced with a probing tone:
"So, sister, you don't want your husband to kowtow to you either, do you?"
Song Xizhi shook her head: "What I mean is that the Emperor's decree cannot be changed, but you can choose to bear it together with your husband."
As she spoke, she tilted her head again, her eyes full of cunning: "Ruo'an, if I remember correctly, you also owe your sister a kowtow apology, don't you?"
Song Ruoan's face turned pale in an instant. Her lips trembled as she stared at Song Xizhi's incessantly chattering mouth, completely dazed.
But Song Xizhi continued, "Since you care so much about Yun Ce, why don't you do it today and kowtow with him?"
"No...no..."
Should she be made to kneel down and apologize to the lowly Song Xi?
The thought of this possibility sent chills down Song Ruoan's spine. She muttered to herself and took a few steps back, her breathing becoming incredibly difficult.
"When have I ever owed you an apology? Never! Absolutely not!"
To her utter surprise, Madam Huang suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed, "That's it! There is such a thing!"
"Song Ruoan, you owe Song Xizhi a kowtow and apology for your unauthorized marriage arrangement in the past!"
"Go and kowtow to her now! Together with Yun Ce!"
Song Ruoan turned her head in disbelief, looking at Huang Shi, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Marquis An Ding was already getting impatient. He lowered his brow and asked, "What are you still hesitating about?"
"Is it really this difficult for you to apologize to your sister-in-law?"
Upon hearing Marquis Anding's words, Song Ruo'an dared not delay any longer. She took a few steps forward like a ghost and stood in front of Song Xizhi.
She gritted her teeth and knelt down with a thud, kneeling beside He Yunce.
Feeling Song Xizhi's condescending gaze, Song Ruoan felt a surge of intense humiliation and injustice, and her eyes welled up with tears in an instant.
She was a pampered and privileged girl!
Song Xizhi was nothing more than a weed in the Song family, and everyone in the capital looked down on her. Now, she actually had to kowtow to Song Xizhi!
"What about your apology? What about your head? Kneel down now!" Marquis An Ding urged.
Song Ruoan opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
She tried to lift her face, forcing back her tears, and then slowly bent down and kowtowed to Song Xizhi.
When her forehead touched the cold ground, Song Ruoan could only see the surface of Song Xizhi's embroidered shoes.
Her voice choked with emotion: "Sister, it was my fault, I shouldn't have arranged the marriage..."
He Yunze felt Song Xizhi's ambiguous smile and tried his best to remain calm, wanting to appear unperturbed. However, when he opened his mouth to speak, his fingertips couldn't help but curl up.
“It was He Yunce who made a mistake. I misunderstood my sister-in-law and ruined her reputation in front of the emperor. I kowtow to my sister-in-law to admit my mistake and beg for her forgiveness.”
His head hit the ground, and he almost bit his lips until they bled.
Why?
Why? !
Such a thing never happened in his previous life! In his previous life, Song Xizhi carefully flattered him and admired him. Why would he ever need to be so humble in front of Song Xizhi?
Where exactly did things go wrong?
Song Xizhi looked down at the back of the two heads lying prostrate on the ground. The two were so angry that their voices trembled as they spoke.
She paused for a moment before saying, "Get up, all of you. Don't do such despicable things again. Look how angry Father is!"
Upon hearing this, Marquis An Ding covered his swollen forehead with his hand, so moved that he almost cried.
Finally, someone cares about him! Heaven knows what he went through today.
Upon hearing this, He Yunze and Song Ruoan, whose faces were ashen, finally managed to stand up, their faces streaked with tears.
At this moment, Madam Huang hurriedly stepped forward and said with concern, "Yun Ce, are you feeling unwell? Quickly, come back with me, come back with me!"
Upon hearing this, Marquis An Ding strode to the offering table, picked up the silver whip from it, and then said:
"Song Ruo'an can leave, but He Yunce will stay here for me!"
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