"When I was falsely accused of pushing Jinshu into the water, didn't my father want to take me to the punishment hall to confess my crime?"
Father has always been fair, treating all his children equally. Why not let Shen Yanxi go to the punishment hall for a visit, and then let him out once he realizes his mistakes? What does Father think?"
She was afraid that making Shen Yanxi kneel before her would shorten her lifespan.
Moreover, she is now in the right, so how could she not make good use of this great gift from the Marquis's mansion?
Shen Feng thought for a moment and decided that sending Shen Yan west to the punishment hall was better than making him kneel before Song Zhiyu and lose face for the Marquis's mansion.
Moreover, the people in the Punishment Hall knew Shen Yanxi's identity, so they naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him; they were just putting on a show for outsiders.
“Okay, we’ll do it your way.” Shen Feng readily agreed.
Shen Yanxi did not refute this, clearly he had guessed Shen Feng's plan.
“The people in the Punishment Hall are all from the Marquis’s mansion, so it’s hard to guarantee they won’t show favoritism. In order to make others believe that Father truly wants to discipline his son, Father wouldn’t mind letting me arrange someone to supervise him, would he?” Although Song Zhiyu’s tone was questioning, his expression left no room for refusal.
Before Shen Feng could agree, Song Zhiyu turned to Zhou Xingzhi and asked, "Your Highness, would it be convenient for me to borrow someone from you?"
“Of course.” Zhou Xingzhi’s tone was indifferent, but his heart was in turmoil. He could not hide the smile hidden in his eyes. Without saying a word, he lent Jianghuai to Song Zhiyu.
After thanking him, Song Zhiyu smiled and watched the Shen family's ashen faces, saying seriously, "Jiang Huai is His Highness the Crown Prince's man. With him supervising, Father can rest assured."
Besides, the Punishment Hall will only injure Shen Yanxi, not endanger his life. This will teach him a lesson, showing him that some people are not to be trifled with.
She returned those words to Shen Yanxi verbatim, giving him a taste of his own medicine.
"Guards, take the Fourth Young Master to the Punishment Hall and handle him according to the rules. Do not show favoritism because of his status; do what is required." Shen Feng said the last sentence almost through gritted teeth.
Shen Yanxi was taken away in a daze, and Jiang Huai followed closely behind, following Zhou Xingzhi's instructions.
If he doesn't peel off a layer of skin from Shen Yanxi, his master will peel off another layer of skin from him.
The mother fainted from the shock, and the scene descended into chaos. The family reunion banquet ended on a sour note.
"Are you satisfied with things coming to this point?" Shen Yuzhou asked Song Zhiyu before leaving.
He couldn't understand why a person's temperament could change so drastically in such a short time.
Is it really because of them?
"Satisfied? That's a really funny question. The person who harmed me has been punished, why wouldn't I be satisfied?" Song Zhiyu smiled, her eyes crinkling, a look that made Shen Yuzhou momentarily dazed.
He seemed to see Song Zhiyu, who had just returned to the Marquis's residence, always smiling, especially when facing him, her eyes always sparkling with an inexplicable light.
But now, that light is no longer shining on him.
Shen Yuzhou snapped out of his daze, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Let's go."
"Miss, what should we do with these three people?"
After all the eyesores had left, Lu Bai nodded with her chin at the Song family of three huddled in the corner, not forgetting about them.
Song Zhiyu's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Naturally... crippled."
After saying this, he raised his hand and forcefully stuffed three black pills into the mouths of the three members of the Song family.
"What did you feed us?" Song's mother asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"Poison," Song Zhiyu said casually.
Song Zhiyu watched with great interest as the three men's expressions of fear appeared. She took the handkerchief Lu Bai offered and gently wiped her slender, jade-like fingers. "This poison will cause you excruciating pain every two days, as if your whole body is being torn apart. If you harbor any intention to harm others, you will die instantly."
"You vicious woman..." Song's mother was shocked and was about to start cursing when she felt a tearing pain in her heart. She knew that Song Zhiyu was not joking.
"Get out of here now."
Upon hearing this, Song's mother, enduring the excruciating pain, hurriedly got up, grabbed Song's father and Song Yaozu, and fled the Marquis's residence as if escaping.
Zhou Xingzhi stood aside, watching the three figures flee in disarray, a flash of coldness passing through his eyes.
Lu Bai felt that such a punishment was too lenient on the three members of the Song family. "Miss, are we just going to let them go like this?"
“This poison will make them suffer even more than killing them. Why smear your hands with their filthy blood and give them leverage?” Song Zhiyu shook her head; she wasn’t that kind-hearted.
Killing these three would only take one blow, but that would be too easy on them.
Kind people are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden.
Her past life's painful lessons taught her that being too kind would only encourage others to take advantage of her.
And she will never give anyone another chance to hurt her.
*
The main gate of the Marquis's residence.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry you had to see this today." Song Zhiyu saw the Princess and the others to the gate and then turned to apologize.
Even if she had no bad intentions, it is true that she took advantage of the princess.
Even if the Song family hadn't come to cause trouble, Shen Jinshu would never have allowed this family reunion banquet to proceed smoothly; she was merely playing along.
The eldest princess waved her hand dismissively, not taking the matter to heart, and said, "Of course I will attend your family recognition banquet."
"It would be best to let that blind fool Shen Feng see that our Zhiyu is not someone his Cheng'en Marquis's mansion can bully at will."
Ling Wushuang touched the whip tied to her waist, itching to use it. "Your Highness is right. If those people from the Marquis's Mansion dare to bully you again, just tell me and I'll teach them a lesson."
"Okay." Song Zhiyu smiled brightly and, not wanting to refuse Ling Wushuang's kindness, agreed gently.
For some reason, Ling Wushuang always treated her as a weak and vulnerable woman who needed protection.
Aside from her three older brothers and Zhou Xingzhi, Song Zhiyu experienced the feeling of being protected from others for the first time.
However, this feeling was quite nice, and she even started to enjoy it.
Zhou Xingzhi glanced at Ling Wushuang out of the corner of his eye, his eyes swirling with dark currents. His deep gaze fell on their clasped hands. His handsome, otherworldly face remained unchanged, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.
Ling Wushuang shivered and gripped Song Zhiyu's hand even tighter. She wondered to herself, "It's not even winter yet, why has the weather gotten so cold?"
"Come visit the Duke's Mansion more often when you have time. Your grandmother likes you very much."
"Okay." Thinking of the kind-hearted Old Madam Ling, Song Zhiyu agreed almost unconsciously.
Seeing this, the shadow in Zhou Xingzhi's eyes deepened.
The eldest princess followed Zhou Xingzhi's gaze and shook her head with amusement.
After all, he was her nephew, so the princess naturally had to create some opportunities for him; otherwise, when would he ever win the heart of the beauty?
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