The Empress Dowager was furious, and everyone was too frightened to speak. The Song family members were especially trembling with fear and panic.
Song Ruoying, in particular, trembled violently, her eyes bloodshot.
His mouth was swollen and bleeding, and blood was oozing from his lips. His mind went blank, as if he was about to faint from fright at any moment.
At this moment, Shen Zhiyi suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, Ruoying is young and she did not know that the clay doll was a gift from the late Emperor, which is why she accidentally broke it. Please have mercy and do not hold it against her."
"Young?" The Empress Dowager scoffed. "They're of marriageable age, they're not young anymore!"
“An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. She dared to talk back to you in front of so many people. This shows what kind of person she usually is.”
"Gifts are about the sentiment, what? They're worthless, and your Song family doesn't even value them?"
"How dare you question the upbringing of the Duke of Zhenguo's family? This is the kind of good daughter the Marquis's family has raised!"
The Empress Dowager roared angrily.
Song Maozhang's back was already drenched in cold sweat: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It is this humble subject who has failed to properly raise my daughter!"
The Song family members hurriedly kowtowed, begging the Empress Dowager for forgiveness.
Shen Zhiyi looked up, "Empress Dowager—"
Her expression held a hint of pleading. The Empress Dowager sighed, "Alright, for Zhiyi's sake, get up!"
Just as the Song family breathed a sigh of relief, the Empress Dowager continued, "The Song family's daughter has behaved inappropriately, contradicted her elder sister-in-law, and deliberately damaged the imperial gift. She may be spared the death penalty, but she cannot escape punishment."
"He was confined to his quarters for a year and made to copy 'Rules for Women' and 'Admonitions for Women' a hundred times as punishment."
confinement...
A year?
The Song family was stunned.
Song Ruoying had just come of age, making it an auspicious time to discuss marriage.
Now, not only is he being harshly criticized by the Empress Dowager, but he's also being confined at home for a year. Won't he miss out on countless fine young men?
The key is:
With so many high-ranking officials and dignitaries present today, Song Ruoying was publicly reprimanded by the Empress Dowager. I'm afraid no one will want her in the future.
The Song family felt aggrieved but helpless, and had no choice but to kneel and thank the Empress Dowager for her mercy.
The Empress Dowager hummed softly, "Rise, all of you."
As she spoke, she walked up to Shen Zhiyi and personally helped her up: "You child, you're even willing to give away the things bestowed upon you by the late emperor!"
“Ying-ge and Ru-jie will be my children in the future. As a mother, I naturally want to give my children the best.” Shen Zhiyi smiled. “Quickly bring the two children over so that the Empress Dowager can see them.”
Yingge was probably intimidated by the Empress Dowager's imposing presence, and obediently bowed.
The Empress Dowager's expression was indifferent. She presented some gifts, offered a few perfunctory compliments, and then said, "A child's character is formed by age three; it is essential to teach them proper manners!"
The Song family nodded repeatedly.
It must have been Ying-ge who said the clay dolls were rubbish, and the Empress Dowager overheard him.
"Your Majesty, after talking for so long, you must be thirsty." Shen Zhiyi personally poured her tea, but out of the corner of her eye she saw the Regent Prince, who had already sat down as if no one else was there, behaving arrogantly and acting unruly.
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, and her eyes suddenly lit up: "What's in this tea? The flavor is so unique!"
"I had some herbs added. It tastes sweet and has a warming and nourishing effect. If Your Majesty likes it, please drink more."
Since the Empress Dowager said it was good, everyone should try it.
They all praised Chen Zhiyi.
"...Shen Zhiyi really went to great lengths to give the two children a proper send-off, even inviting the Empress Dowager." The guests whispered among themselves, "It seems she truly cares for the two children."
"It's a pity that the boy seems to be useless, as he even despises the gift bestowed by the emperor."
"The child is still young, he just needs to be disciplined. The girl from the Shen family is really kind. Her good intentions were ruined like this, and she even pleaded for them. The Song family's ancestors must have been very lucky to be able to marry her."
...
Everyone was talking at once, and the family reunion banquet continued.
As the atmosphere gradually warmed up, the Song family finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the Empress Dowager supporting them, they felt honored. After all, with the Empress Dowager around, no one would dare to look down on their two children in the future.
When it came time to be included in the family genealogy, all the elders of the Song family clan were present.
Respect heaven and earth, and report to the ancestors.
"Since no one objects, these two children will belong to our Song family from now on..." The elder of the clan was interrupted before he could finish speaking!
"I disagree!"
That sound...
The Song family members all held their breath and didn't even have time to react before they saw someone rush out from the crowd.
He then knelt before the Empress Dowager and the Regent.
"I beg the Empress Dowager and the Regent to do justice for this woman!"
"This humble woman wishes to sue the Marquis of Xuanhua for disregarding human life..."
"Murder and abduction of the child!"
As soon as the words were spoken,
The entire hall of the Marquis's residence fell into a deathly silence. Everyone gasped, not daring to breathe. The Song family members were especially trembling, for kneeling before the Empress Dowager and the Regent were—
It turned out to be the "dead" Lin Yaoyao!
Song Yuxiu's legs went weak, as if he had been hit hard on the head with a club, his body swayed and he almost fell.
"Husband?" Shen Zhiyi hurriedly supported him. "What's wrong?"
"I...I'm fine..."
The faces of the rest of the Song family members also fluctuated between light and dark, as they were panicked and disoriented by Lin Yaoyao's "resurrection".
The old lady was the calmest, but her fingers, gripping the prayer beads, were so tight that her knuckles turned bluish-white.
"Who are you?" The Empress Dowager frowned and looked her up and down. "Raise your head!"
When she looked up, many of the people present felt that she looked familiar.
"Lin Yaoyao, a commoner."
After she introduced herself, everyone suddenly remembered the person who fell into the water at the same time as Shen Zhiyi at the Pear Orchid Gathering. At that time, Prince Song saved her first, which caused some trouble.
"You just said that the Marquis's mansion killed the mother and seized the child?" The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow.
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