The crowd looked toward the source of the sound and saw Madam Li carefully supporting the haggard-looking Madam Zeng as they entered.
Song Sanliang hurried over to give Madam Zeng a hand, "Mother, why have you come?"
Madam Zeng didn’t answer him but patted his hand and said to those present, "We can’t just go to the yamen like this. If we are to go, we must discuss it thoroughly first."
Now that Wong Dahai had been found, the case should be closed. But Wong Dahai kept saying that Song Sanliang wanted to kill him; if they went to the governmental authorities like this, Song Sanliang could be sentenced to immediate execution or at least be exiled to a distant place for three thousand miles.
Madam Zeng could not let her precious son end up with such a fate.
At that moment, Ninth Master Song and Song Daliang also came to their senses.
If Song Sanliang were to be taken into custody, they might be implicated as well.
Especially Ninth Master Song, who thought even further ahead.
As a scholar, he had to take the imperial examinations each year. If he were to get involved in such a case, it was highly likely he would be rated as the lowest grade by the chief examiner. Three consecutive years of being rated as the lowest could lead to the revocation of his scholar privilege.
He quickly sided with Madam Zeng, "Yes, yes, yes, let’s first discuss it thoroughly before going to the governmental authorities to avoid offending the officials at the yamen."
With the backing of Ninth Master Song, Madam Zeng felt considerably relieved.
She glared sharply at Song Jiyun but her heart was thumping nervously.
Her granddaughter had a fiery temper, disrespected her elders, and was vicious and merciless — she would not back down even in the slightest and was even harsher when angered. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Madam Zeng had witnessed Song Jiyun’s ferocity several times and was not sure if Song Jiyun would give her any face.
However, that was not a huge concern.
If Song Jiyun were not to show her respect, it would be a good opportunity to let everyone see how unfilial she was.
Thinking this, Madam Zeng felt somewhat more confident.
But to her surprise, Song Jiyun asked them as if there were absolutely no grudges between them, "What do our respected elders think?"
Madam Zeng had intended to wait for Ninth Master Song to speak first, but Madam Li was too anxious, incessantly tugging at Madam Zeng’s sleeve, and seeing her son’s distressed expression, Madam Zeng couldn’t bear it and blurted out before Ninth Master Song could speak, "Wong Dahai was originally just a shop assistant at the Song Family Kiln Factory; with the second son gone, the third son had him do something, and it’s possible that they didn’t explain things clearly for the moment. At the government office, we can just say it was all a misunderstanding."
Ninth Master Song, upon hearing this, swallowed what he was about to say.
If Madam Zeng was going to stand up for Song Sanliang and as long as Song Sanliang was safe, it naturally meant that he and Song Daliang would be safe too. Song Jiyun was no pushover, and it was better for him not to get involved.
He stroked his beard, adopting an air of letting others have their way.
Seeing this, Song Jiyun responded as if she had nothing to do with the matter, "Grandmother, you are an elder. Since you have spoken, even if I have suffered a great injustice, I definitely cannot let the elders be displeased. However, as I’m not the wronged party, whether this approach is feasible should be discussed with Head Shopkeeper Wong first."
Madam Zeng felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders.
What was Wong Dahai but a lowly commoner that depended on their family for a living?
She recalled how Wong Dahai fawned over Song Youliang but wouldn’t even glance at her.
She had not expected Song Jiyun to be so amenable.
Unable to contain her joy, Madam Zeng announced, "Then it’s settled!"
But before the sound of her words had faded, Wong Dahai, wiping tears with his sleeve, asserted, "We must definitely go to the government office to close the case."
In that instant, Madam Zeng felt as if she had been slapped hard across the face, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Her expression darkened, and she spoke in a tone that was half threat and half warning, "Wong Dahai, don’t be foolish!"
"Old lady, I don’t want to either!" wailed Wong Dahai, "Third Old Master insists that I conspired with Miss to frame him. Such a grave accusation—I cannot bear it! If I don’t clear this up while I have the chance today, how will I live with myself in the future?"
Before Madam Zeng could respond, Song Sanliang could no longer hold back and began to scold Wong Dahai, "Don’t play the victim after benefiting from the situation. Don’t you know how you got up to our family’s loft? You should be grateful I didn’t kill you, and you still want to go to the yamen and sue me. I tell you, even if we do go to the yamen, money talks and my Song Family will still have the final say..."
Song Jiyun coughed loudly to interrupt him and said gently, "Third uncle, be cautious with your words! The affairs of the government office are beyond our criticism, and our Song Family is not a gang of bandits or tyrants."
Song Sanliang, having already convinced himself Song Jiyun was the one who set him up and wishing he could strangle her, wasn’t in a mood to hear such talk. But then he remembered the thirty lashes he had received in the governmental authorities and his chest heaved with rage. Ultimately, he could only end with a resentful "This isn’t your place to speak."
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