Song Tangxue withdrew her hand and looked at her leisurely: "Can't I hit you? A mere adopted daughter of unknown identity, pointing fingers at the legitimate daughter, is this how your grandmother taught you manners?"
"If word gets out, who knows what people will say about the Song family." Song Tangxue's sarcastic words stung Song Tangli deeply.
With a pained expression, Song's mother pulled her daughter back and gently wiped the finger marks on Song Tangli's face with her fingertips through a handkerchief. Her gaze as she looked back at Song Tangxue was as cold as if it had been tempered with ice.
"Song Tangxue, this is your sister. You dared to hurt your family today. Who knows what kind of foolish things you might do tomorrow! Apologize to your sister right now."
Song's mother's words were forceful, hiding Song Tangli behind her. Song Tangli sniffed, tears welling up in her eyelashes, and looked at her mother timidly, shaking her head pitifully: "Sister didn't mean it."
"This is the mistress of the Song family. She protects an adopted daughter without distinguishing right from wrong, while abandoning her own flesh and blood."
Song Tangxue took a small step back, allowing the people peeking out from the alley to see her more clearly.
Enraged, Madam Song raised her hand to strike her, but when she met the burning gaze from behind her, she turned to the servant at the door and said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and close the door."
"Close the door and start hitting people! Is the matriarch of the Song family going to punish the eldest daughter?" Haitang shouted loudly outside, kneeling at the entrance of the Song family, which silenced Madam Song.
Looking up at Haitang, Song Tangxue nodded in satisfaction: "Today I will establish the rules for the eldest sister, otherwise people will still think that Song Tangli is the eldest daughter of this Song family."
Song Tangli, who was hiding behind her mother, froze, and resentment flashed deep in her eyes.
"I don't know what I did to upset you, sister..." Her delicate and innocent words, coupled with her half-tearful face, made her seem utterly innocent.
Leng Songtangxue snorted coldly: "You don't know? First of all, you shouldn't call me 'elder sister,' you should call me 'elder sister.' You should know your own status and position."
Song Tangxue's eyes slowly swept over the people outside: "If every aristocratic family is as ignorant of etiquette as you, sister, what use is their family's heritage?"
"If everyone were addressed like a country bumpkin, with whatever they wanted, wouldn't that create chaos?"
Words flowed slowly from Song Tangxue's lips, as she savored Song Tangli's resentment, anger, and unwillingness to accept defeat.
She deserves all of this; she certainly won't get everything by crying and complaining in this lifetime.
"As the eldest daughter, I am naturally obligated to fulfill my responsibility to teach my good-for-nothing adopted sister a lesson. Is that wrong?"
Song Tangli's tears flowed even more fiercely, and she sobbed, clutching her mother's sleeve, "Mother..."
Old Madam Song tapped her cane, making a dull thud: "You dare to talk about your sister? I think you're the most ill-mannered person in this family!"
"You have no respect for elders! You didn't even say goodbye to this old woman like me. Do you even have any regard for your grandmother?"
Taking advantage of the situation, Madam Song tried to salvage some face.
Song Tangxue looked at her with amusement: "Grandmother, you're mistaken. I've already come of age, and I'm just going out to acquire some property. Is that not allowed?"
“You’ve cleaned your room thoroughly, isn’t that a farewell?” Song’s mother retorted, holding Song Tangli’s trembling body with tenderness.
Song Tangxue pointed innocently at the small bag lying on the ground: "Can such a small bag hold all my things in the Song family mansion?"
Madam Song was speechless and dared not nod. If she did, the Song family's harsh words against their eldest daughter would be impossible to clear.
Which legitimate daughter's room only contained a small bag when all her belongings were put away? She was just a laughingstock.
"Did Song Tangli tell you that I was leaving?" Song Tangxue stood straight, the cold wind not even bending her neck: "This morning she came over and made sarcastic remarks to me, and when she got back she exaggerated and told you all about it."
Song Tangxue's gaze fell directly on Song Tangli: "What a good sister! I have never missed paying my respects to my elders morning and evening for three days in a row, and I am filial to my elders. But you've completely distorted the truth in your mouth, sister?"
Before her rebirth, Song Tangxue did these things impeccably. She wanted to gain the attention of the Song family, and she did every detail perfectly.
But the Song family still only had eyes for Song Tangli.
"You're trying to sow discord between me and the Song family, trying to create a 'beautiful, strong, and tragic' persona for yourself. You're really putting yourself through a lot," Song Tangxue sneered.
"But what's so miserable about you? You've been in the position of the Song family's young lady since birth, a position that doesn't belong to you. Your food, clothing, and housing are better than mine, your elder sister's. You've had such a smooth life for so many years, what are you still complaining about?"
As if stating facts, Song Tangxue tore open the scars that Song Tangli was trying so hard to cover up one by one.
It's laid out in front of outsiders, allowing them to judge and criticize it.
Those gazes seemed to pierce through her body and melt away her self-esteem.
"And I, the true legitimate daughter of the Song family, am being made things so difficult just because I went out to acquire property. Who do you think should be crying?"
Song Tangxue's gaze slowly swept over the crowd in front of her. Song Tangli had usurped the position, yet she showed no gratitude, which was inseparable from the Song family's arrogance.
Song Tangli wiped away her tears, hardened her heart, and knelt down in front of Song Tangxue. Song's mother, who was standing next to her, was shocked and reached out to pull her away.
Song Tangli gently brushed her hand away, looking at Song Tangxue with teary eyes: "Elder sister, I was wrong. I was just worried about you, afraid that you wouldn't have enough to eat or wear outside. I told Mother before I understood the truth of the matter."
Song Tangxue frowned, feeling irritated.
“I know my status is not respectable. I have been able to live a life of comfort and security all these years thanks to my parents’ love and care. It is understandable that you are angry, sister. I will accept it if you hit or scold me!”
Song Tangxue almost laughed in anger. When did I ever hit her?
"But you shouldn't have upset your mother and grandmother. Your grandmother was worried about you today, that's why she rushed over. You shouldn't have done that..."
With just a few words, Song Tangxue attributed the old hag's beating to the mischief of the man. She squinted at Song Tangli.
He has some skills, but they're all unsavory and unremarkable.
Placing her on the rack to roast like this really put her in a dilemma, seeing that Old Madam Song was already putting on an act, clutching her heart and leaning on her cane.
The maids around her were in a panic, and Qiu Xiang even shouted at her, "Miss, you should help the old lady back to her room first. We can discuss anything when we get back. The old lady is still your grandmother, after all."
Filial piety is the most important of all virtues. No matter the dynasty, filial piety has always been considered extremely important. Song Tangxue did not miss the look of pleasure that flashed in Song Tangli's eyes.
If she closes this door today, things will definitely not go well for her.
As Song Tangxue was lost in thought, the sound of horses' hooves slowly approached from afar.
The horses' hooves broke through the chill, and the swaying curtain was gently lifted, revealing a face meticulously sculpted by heaven.
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