Seeing Chun'er's breathing gradually weaken, Song Zhiyu's lips moved slightly, about to speak and call for a halt, when a clear, cold male voice came from outside the courtyard gate, with a hint of anger in it.
"stop!"
When Shen Yuzhou was wheeled in by Chang De in his wheelchair, the anger on his face had not yet subsided.
"What are you doing?" Shen Yuzhou's face was tense and his tone was harsh.
The tone of the question was so matter-of-fact that it made Song Zhiyu frown.
"Continue." She ignored Shen Yuzhou, glanced at the guards carrying out the execution, and spoke in a light tone that sent chills down one's spine.
Several guards shivered instantly, and under Song Zhiyu's extremely oppressive gaze, they raised the board again.
"I said stop." Shen Yuzhou frowned, his anger rising, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, completely unlike his previous gentle and refined gentlemanly demeanor.
The executioner was inwardly groaning, his hand holding the paddle frozen in mid-air, unsure whether to move or not.
The masters are at odds, but it's the servants who suffer.
Shen Yuzhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his anger. "How did you become like this?"
His words were full of disappointment and accusation, as if Song Zhiyu had done something heinous.
If it were the old Song Zhiyu, she might have been heartbroken by his words, and would have constantly reflected on herself, taking responsibility for everything, right or wrong.
But now she felt nothing at all, and even wanted to laugh a little.
As expected, Shen Yuzhou is always like this.
Regardless of the truth or the outcome, he indiscriminately accused her and even attempted to force his ideas onto her.
If you repay evil with kindness, how will you repay kindness?
Kindness doesn't always guarantee equal treatment.
Moreover, Shen Yuzhou was merely being generous with her money.
She's the one who got hurt, so why should she be expected to have no resentment or hatred? That's utterly ridiculous.
She didn't believe that she could stab Shen Yuzhou in the back and he would still forgive her with a smile.
"I've always been this way, it's just that you've never truly known me. Shen Yuzhou, do you think you know me well?" Song Zhiyu smiled sarcastically, she didn't know where Shen Yuzhou got the nerve to question her.
Shen Yuzhou's face stiffened, his anger gradually dissipated, and reason returned.
His visit to Songxi Courtyard today was not intended to deepen the estrangement between them, but rather to have a proper talk with her.
Unexpectedly, he witnessed Song Zhiyu brutally beating a servant to death, and in a fit of rage, he lost his composure.
"No matter what these servants did wrong, you shouldn't punish them with such cruel methods." Shen Yuzhou glanced at Chun'er's bloodied back and frowned, feeling a sense of unease.
What kind of mistake could Song Zhiyu have made to do something so ruthless?
Song Zhiyu twitched the corners of her mouth, a half-smile playing on her lips. "These servants are thieves; they stole my things and won't admit it. I'm just teaching them a lesson according to the rules of the Marquis's mansion."
If you don't like it, there's nothing I can do. If you're unhappy, just keep it to yourself; I'm not going to change anyway.
Song Zhiyu paused, her smile deepening. "Just as Young Master Shen said, I'm the kind of person who holds grudges and isn't a good person, so naturally I can't repay evil with kindness."
Shen Yuzhou had always said she was vicious and intolerant of others. Well, today she's proven that accusation true.
Moreover, she disciplined these servants according to the rules of the Marquis's mansion, and Shen Yuzhou knew perfectly well who was the most ruthless.
Hypocrites are masters at deceiving themselves and shifting all blame onto others, and she just happened to be the scapegoat.
“The servants are dishonest; you can leave it to Steward Lin to handle. He will give you a satisfactory explanation.” Shen Yuzhou choked, and surprisingly felt somewhat guilty.
Song Zhiyu played with the jade bracelet on her wrist, her smile deepening, but her words were anything but polite, "Young Master Shen, if I remember correctly, this is my Songxi Courtyard, not your Songzhu Courtyard. You have no right to point fingers at me."
"Besides, I don't need you to teach me how to do things." Song Zhiyu's eyes sharpened, and she loosened her grip, causing the emerald green jade bracelet to slip from her hand and shatter into several pieces on the ground.
Shen Yuzhou's shoulders trembled slightly as he stared blankly at the bracelet that had fallen to the ground, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
This jade bracelet was a birthday gift he casually gave to Song Zhiyu; it was just a bonus from Shen Jinshu, but she always treasured it and was even reluctant to wear it.
But now, she has smashed it to pieces with her own hands.
Shen Yuzhou pursed his lips and spoke, but his throat felt as if it were filled with sand, his voice low and hoarse, "I am your brother, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Zhiyu ruthlessly interrupted him, "I am not worthy of Young Master Shen."
The mocking tone and disdainful expression were like a sharp sword, mercilessly stabbing into his heart and leaving bloody marks.
“Your father arranged a new courtyard for you, which is his way of acknowledging your status. He has no other intentions. You shouldn’t misunderstand him, and you certainly shouldn’t hurt Shu’er.” Shen Yuzhou changed the subject, subconsciously avoiding Song Zhiyu’s gaze.
Thinking of Shen Jinshu's chapped palms, Shen Yuzhou couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache and let out a long sigh.
Song Zhiyu's prejudice against them runs too deep; she probably won't be able to resolve her inner conflict anytime soon.
Shen Yuzhou thought that he was still different from Song Zhiyu after all.
Perhaps only he can make Song Zhiyu turn back and return to her former self.
He wasn't one to be easily swayed by others, and the question of who was right and who was wrong regarding the gift was still open to debate, but Song Zhiyu's various actions made it impossible for him to trust her.
As he finished speaking, Shen Yuzhou's breathing became unsteady again. "And Mingyi's hands, if they don't get timely treatment, they might be ruined. You know how important those hands are to him."
“I know.” Song Zhiyu’s casual remark left Shen Yuzhou speechless.
Song Zhiyu raised the corners of her lips, her face was smiling, but there was no smile in her eyes, only boundless indifference and gloom. "How can you call it killing someone's heart if you don't destroy what they cherish most? This is a lesson that Shen Mingyi taught me personally."
Seeing the astonished look on Shang Chenyu's face, Song Zhiyu felt much happier.
By not making things difficult for herself but instead making things difficult for others, she indeed experienced a different kind of enjoyment.
"Drag these people away and hand them over to Steward Lin. My Songxi Courtyard cannot afford such disrespectful servants." Song Zhiyu casually waved his hand, and several guards, upon receiving the order, immediately covered the mouths of the men and forcefully dragged them out.
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