Indeed, Song Yuan turned his gaze to the old woman Zhao, and without mercy, shouted to the outside, "Guards! Take this meddling, slanderous old crone out and whip her thirty times, then banish her from the estate. I never want to see her here again!"
It was known that Old Woman Zhao was the wet nurse who had raised Song Yanrou and had served Concubine Two for over a decade!
Old Woman Zhao immediately began to beg for mercy, and Concubine Two panicked, "My Lord, she was merely concerned for Rou'er. Is such punishment necessary?"
Song Chaoyu looked at Concubine Two like this, her eyes filled with even more grievance. "Perhaps Chaoyu is being overly sensitive, but I do not know what dissatisfaction Concubine Two and Third Sister have towards Chaoyu. Today, in Father's presence, I implore Concubine Two to speak her mind directly! If Chaoyu has erred, then I shall correct myself early and avoid causing further trouble. This accusation of poisoning my sisters, Chaoyu truly cannot bear it!"
"I—"
Concubine Two wanted to explain, but found herself utterly unable to!
Song Yuan was a Minister of State, and he was not a fool. How could he not see that something was amiss?
This time, even Song Yanjiao stood aside, not helping Concubine Two.
She stared at Song Chaoyu, her gaze cold, and inwardly mused: If she had escaped the previous two difficulties through luck, then this was the third time. This girl was surely not simple!
"My Lord, Doctor Zhou is here!"
A servant announced from outside. Song Yuan withdrew his stern gaze from Concubine Two. "Let him in!"
Then, his expression towards Song Chaoyu no longer held annoyance. "Yu'er, you may rise."
As Doctor Zhou entered, Song Yanjiao immediately stepped forward. "Doctor Zhou, you are finally here! My third sister is in agony. I will take you to see her!"
Her poised and enthusiastic demeanor caused a cold smile to touch Song Chaoyu's lips.
In her previous life, Doctor Zhou had firmly stated that Song Yanrou was poisoned by Grass Dust. She wondered if he would say the same this time!
Song Yuan watched Doctor Zhou enter the inner room, then rolled his eyes at Concubine Two. "If Doctor Zhou comes out later and says Third Sister is not poisoned by Grass Dust, let's see what you have to say then!"
Concubine Two shivered, bit her lip, and dared not speak.
As expected, Doctor Zhou emerged after his diagnosis and smiled at Song Yuan. "Minister Song, please rest assured, Third Miss is not poisoned. It is likely that the weather has become increasingly hot these past two days, and the young lady, seeking coolness, consumed too many cold and raw foods, leading to abdominal pain. However, the symptoms do indeed resemble those of Grass Dust poisoning, which is why people were misled. I will prescribe a dose of medicine, and after two days, she will be well."
Song Yuan nodded, signaling for Doctor Zhou and the servants to collect their rewards.
Then, his icy gaze fell upon Concubine Two. "You indulged Third Miss in consuming cold foods first, and then falsely accused Fourth Miss. From today onwards, you and Third Miss will be confined to Tingfeng Courtyard. You will both copy the 'Female Precepts' and 'Female Rules' daily, and you are not to leave without my permission!"
"My Lord! I did not do it intentionally!"
Concubine Two nearly collapsed before Song Yuan.
Song Yanjiao stepped forward and took Song Chaoyu's hand. "Fourth Sister, please plead with Concubine Two as well! Do not blame her. She was only concerned for Third Sister and misunderstood you!"
Song Chaoyu smiled back at Song Yanjiao. "Second Sister, I do not blame Concubine Two, nor will I blame Third Sister. This is Father's decision."
She then turned to the First Madam, who had been standing by with her head bowed, not speaking. "Mother, you were just giving Concubine Two advice, which shows you care for her. Please also plead with her, so that Father does not punish her so severely!"
Her words, rather than helping, reminded Song Yuan that the First Madam had also sided with Concubine Two in troubling Song Chaoyu earlier.
He waved his hand at the First Madam. "Anyone who dares to plead for her today will be confined with her! You are the First Madam of the Song household; how can you let this estate be so chaotic? She broke the rules for Third Sister and wrongly accused Fourth Sister. Do you not know to investigate the truth of the matter?!"
"Father!"
Seeing her own mother being dragged into it, Song Yanjiao still wanted to speak.
"Enough! All of you, be silent!"
However, Song Yuan was utterly exasperated by the affairs of the inner court and did not wish to hear another word. "From today onwards, if any more trouble arises in the inner court, I will show no leniency! This matter ends here! From now on, you sisters should get along well and never disgrace the Song family's name in front of outsiders!"
With that, Song Yuan turned and left.
Song Chaoyu knew that he likely understood that the First Madam had followed Concubine Two's lead in a conspiracy to harm her.
But he did not wish to delve deeper, because he simply did not care about her.
Song Chaoyu concealed the coldness in her eyes and performed a proper curtsy to the First Madam. "Mother, Third Sister, I shall return to look after my own mother."
The First Madam sneered. "Go."
Watching Song Chaoyu's retreating back, Song Yanjiao whispered to the First Madam, "Mother, this girl is by no means simple. We must be careful in the future."
---
Song Chaoyu returned to Huashu Courtyard. Facing Concubine Liu's inquiries, she lightly glossed over the events.
With Concubine Two and Song Yanrou confined, the Song estate finally enjoyed two days of quiet.
However, the capital was becoming lively.
This was because Prince Chang, the hostage sent to the Southern Kingdom twenty years ago, was soon to return to the capital.
Prince Chang was the son of the current Emperor and Consort Shu, the only imperial prince born to the Empress and Consort Shu. He had been sent to the Southern Kingdom as a hostage at the age of three. At that time, the Southern Kingdom was powerful, and it was heard that Prince Chang had even broken his leg in the Southern Kingdom due to an "accident."
Now, with the Southern Kingdom showing weakness and seeking to curry favor with Great Yue, they were willing to send Prince Chang back.
The Emperor and Consort Shu were overjoyed, and the capital was adorned with festive decorations. Everyone was discussing Prince Chang's return.
In her previous life, Song Chaoyu was confined to a side courtyard after her marriage, so she had never met Prince Chang.
These past two days, Song Yuan, as the Minister of Rites, had been extremely busy with matters concerning Prince Chang's return.
The Song estate was temporarily peaceful, but on the third day of Song Chaoyu's daily morning and evening greetings to her grandmother, her grandmother kept her behind alone.
In the vast Song estate, only this grandmother, Song Chaoyu felt, had clear eyes and a sharp mind.
But having not experienced this event in her previous life, Song Chaoyu did not know why her grandmother had kept her.
Until her grandmother had a nanny bring out a box—
Inside the box was a pink velvet flower, the very item Song Chaoyu had given to Song Yanrou!
Sitting before Song Chaoyu, the Old Madam Song frowned and asked with imposing authority, "Fourth Girl, seeing this velvet flower, do you have nothing to say?"
She had also navigated the treacherous waters of the inner court. Song Chaoyu knew that her grandmother had likely guessed most of it.
Thus, she knelt before the Old Madam Song and performed a deep bow. "Your granddaughter has erred. Please punish me, Grandmother."
"Oh?"
The Old Madam Song snorted. "What is your mistake? Is it not Concubine Two and your Third Sister who are at fault?"