Back in her courtyard, Song Tangxue felt even more tired than usual, letting herself slump over the table, staring blankly at the carved ceiling.
Haitang brought in tea and, seeing her like this, closed the door behind her and asked with some concern, "What's wrong, Miss? Did something happen last night?"
Last night, when she and Cuixi missed the carriage and were about to return to get help, someone from Lord Xie's residence came to inform them that Miss Song was at their residence, which put their minds at ease.
When Song Tangxue returned this morning, she seemed absent-minded and her body appeared somewhat weak.
It didn't seem like he had rested all night; it was more like he had been working hard all night without rest.
Song Tangxue's eyelids twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but recall the erotic scene from last night, causing a blush to involuntarily rise on her cheeks.
"It's nothing. It's just that Lord Xie noticed I wasn't feeling well last night, and since his residence isn't far from there, he kindly offered me a place to stay for the night."
The captivating charm in her eyes and brows seemed impossible to conceal, revealing her allure at a glance.
Haitang's heart trembled violently. Considering that her mistress still held the identity of the Crown Princess and was acting like Lord Xie, she was truly worried.
Haitang smiled and said, "Then I can rest assured."
How can anyone feel at ease with this?
The blush on her face was more delicate than spring flowers, it was practically an admission of guilt. Haitang spared her young mistress's feelings and did not press the matter, but she was filled with worry.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and Cui Xi walked in quickly with a frown: "Old Madam Song wants to see you over, Miss. There are many people in the courtyard, and they all look unwell. Please be careful, Miss."
Song Tangxue nodded, roughly guessing the reason. She hadn't returned home all night, and the old lady was probably looking for a reason to interrogate her.
When they arrived at the old lady's courtyard, Song's father, Song's mother, and Song Tangli were all there.
Upon seeing her arrive, Song Tangli cast a subtle glance at her, carrying a hint of mockery, as if she were watching a good show.
Let you be so cocky. The old lady is here to teach you a lesson. Today, she'll teach you a lesson you won't forget.
The old lady squinted slightly, sitting in the main seat, leaning on her cane. There was no empty seat beside her, clearly indicating that no seat had been reserved for Song Tangxue.
Song Tangxue didn't care and stood aside casually: "I wonder why Grandmother summoned me here?"
The old lady opened her eyes and snorted coldly: "How dare you ask that question? Your engagement to the Crown Prince is imminent, and you are an unmarried young lady, yet you haven't returned home all night. What will others think of you, what will they think of the Song family!"
The old lady's voice was muffled, like a suffocating summer breeze, as she cried out in anguish, "How am I supposed to explain this to the imperial family!"
Song Tangxue glanced coldly at the old lady, completely unaffected by her words: "How I explain myself is my business, what does it have to do with you?"
She now looks down on the Song family more and more. In her past life, she was truly blinded by greed, wholeheartedly considering the Song family, which was like feeding dogs with all her good intentions.
He would seize any opportunity to tear a piece of flesh from her body.
“You’re becoming more and more immature. How could the Song family produce such a shameless person like you? You didn’t come home all night, wandering around outside. You’re so indecent, and when you come back, you treat your family who care about you like this!” Song’s father stood up and reprimanded.
Song Tangli stood up with him and whispered, "Sister didn't do it on purpose. Maybe those people outside misled her and made her do something wrong!"
These words not only failed to quell Song's father's anger, but seemed to add fuel to the fire.
"You're a girl, always running around outside, getting to know those shady characters and hooligans. Why don't you learn from your sister and stay put?" Mr. Song took a few deep breaths, his face showing his anger at his daughter's lack of self-control.
Song Tangxue snorted coldly. Meekly stay in the manor, be their Song family's moneybag, an obedient puppet? To end up like in her previous life, that wasn't her destiny.
She won't accept her fate.
"Father need not worry. With Lord Xie and the Princess backing us up, no one will dare to bully me."
The implication was that the connections the father had been seeking were easily obtained through his own efforts, and these connections were none other than the shady characters the father had mentioned.
"Alright! There's no point in saying more. Tang Xue, look at what you've been doing lately. It's so disappointing for your grandmother. Although your grandmother is reluctant, I must punish you today. Don't resent your grandmother for being heartless."
"Otherwise, if everyone follows your example, the Song family will be in complete chaos."
A look of triumphant satisfaction flashed across Song Tangxue's face, but she feigned concern and pleaded for her sister's life: "Grandmother, my sister didn't mean it, please forgive her this time."
Song Tangxue felt nauseous: "According to Grandmother, should we punish Song Tangli first? She keeps calling me 'elder sister.' I've reminded her many times. How will outsiders view her for such a lack of distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?"
Song Tangli's figure trembled violently: "Grandmother..."
"We're all family, do you really have to do this?" the old lady said, feeling sorry for him.
"Ha, do you have the magnanimity of a family? I didn't steal or rob, yet you insist on saying I'm unreasonable and how I'm not proper outside. Honestly, are you really not biased?" Song Tangxue didn't want to suffer this undeserved disaster.
The old lady was furious. Song Tangxue's temperament had suddenly changed, and she couldn't control her at all. Thinking of the thousand taels of silver that Song's mother had complained about, she was even angrier.
"Aren't you so ambitious? You boasted to the Empress about promising a thousand taels of silver, why make the Song family bear the cost for you?"
"Now you're saying the Song family has no say in your affairs and is biased towards your sister? It's as if the Song family owes you something."
"If you really don't want the Song family to take care of you, then take out this thousand taels of silver!"
"Don't take advantage of the Song family's reputation without wanting to take responsibility. What kind of good thing is that in this world?"
So this is where they were waiting for her. Song Tangxue lowered her eyes and smiled, trying to use this as an excuse to get her to return the money. She was truly hypocritical and stingy.
Why would I return the money that I finally managed to get back?
Madam Song also said, "The Song family is already poor. Without this thousand taels of silver, the servants won't even get their monthly stipends next month..."
Not wanting to hear Song's mother's complaints, Song Tangxue interrupted him: "Didn't Grandmother ask me where I went yesterday?"
The old lady looked at her. She didn't know where Song Tangxue had gone last night, and the people she sent to inquire today knew nothing about it either.
But she was really anxious about the thousand taels of silver. Having finally found this mistake, she was determined to seize it and make Song Tangxue return the thousand taels of silver.
For no apparent reason, after Song Tangxue asked that question, the old lady's eyelids twitched a few times, and a bad premonition rose in her heart.
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