Madam Jin also stepped forward, and from her appearance, it was clear that Zhang Qiuhuo was in a worse state.
So she turned to question Song Chaoyu, "This is your first day at the academy, and you've already caused such trouble?"
The surrounding people looked on as if watching a show. Not only Song Yanrou, who was already waiting for Song Chaoyu to make a fool of herself, but even the usually gentle and considerate Song Yanjiao did not speak a word in Song Chaoyu's defense.
Song Chaoyu suppressed the coldness in her eyes and explained earnestly to Madam Jin, "Madam, please be discerning. I only intended to stand up and ask you a question, and I certainly did not mean to spill the inkstone on Sister Zhang! I also cannot understand why Sister Zhang's inkstone ended up on my side?"
She looked at the inkstone on her right with confusion, then at Zhang Qiuhuo's inkstone on her left. Madam Jin immediately understood.
Song Chaoyu, looking even more wronged, pointed to the area between them where Zhang Qiuhuo's belongings were piled up, "I did not cross the boundary, so I should have accidentally knocked over my own inkstone. I truly don't know why I spilled Sister Zhang's inkstone. If Sister Zhang says I did it intentionally, I am truly wronged! But I am willing to apologize to Sister Zhang."
Sometimes, taking a step back is another way of moving forward.
In front of everyone, Song Chaoyu politely performed a lady's curtsy to Zhang Qiuhuo, "Sister Zhang, I am truly sorry. I didn't realize your inkstone was placed on the left. I will be more careful in the future."
Zhang Qiuhuo's maid had already brought a small basin and was helping Zhang Qiuhuo wipe her face with water, but the more she wiped, the more smudged it became.
Zhang Qiuhuo was almost in tears, "You spilled it all over me, and you say it wasn't intentional?!"
Madam Jin walked up to them, her path blocked by Zhang Qiuhuo's book chest. She pointed to the chest and asked, "Whose is this?"
Song Chaoyu replied obediently, "It's Sister Zhang's. My book chest is under the desk!"
Madam Jin lowered her head slightly and saw Song Chaoyu's book chest. She also noticed that Song Chaoyu was sitting in the corner, and now Zhang Qiuhuo had pushed her so far into the corner that there was barely any room left for Song Chaoyu.
After all, she was a madam from the palace. How could Madam Jin not see through Zhang Qiuhuo's little trick of "trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice"?
She let out a cold snort. Regardless of Zhang Qiuhuo's current disheveled state, she angrily said to her, "Look at where you and your belongings have pushed Fourth Miss Song! You are disorderly in your actions and have no rules for placing your things. I suspect you are used to being overbearing! You placed the inkstone in this spot and then blame Fourth Miss Song for knocking it over? Do you expect her to sit outside the window before you'll be satisfied?"
Song Chaoyu knew that Madam Jin must have seen that Zhang Qiuhuo had deliberately tried to harm her, but ended up harming herself.
However, Madam Jin was also a shrewd person. She couldn't completely offend the Zhang family, nor could she wrongly accuse Song Chaoyu.
So she decided to treat the matter as an accident. Although it was not enough to punish Zhang Qiuhuo, it was enough for Song Chaoyu.
Zhang Qiuhuo's makeup was now completely smudged, and her clothes and book chest were all dirty. It seemed she had truly drunk a bellyful of the fine ink.
Having lost so much face, this punishment was sufficient.
"Wuwuwu—"
Zhang Qiuhuo cried, gasping for breath.
Seeing Madam Jin's anger, the surrounding people dared not say anything more.
Madam Jin personally stepped forward and pulled Zhang Qiuhuo up, "You should return home early to wash and change. You will not attend today's class. After school, I will personally go to your manor to explain to your father and mother. The incident was an accident, but you still need to learn your manners properly. And your maids, who allow you to place your things so carelessly, they deserve to be punished!"
At this point, Zhang Qiuhuo and those who wanted to see Song Chaoyu make a fool of themselves had no other recourse.
Zhang Qiuhuo was helped away from the classroom by her maids. Madam Jin then ordered someone to clean up the mess and, as if nothing had happened, continued to teach everyone.
Without Zhang Qiuhuo's disruption, Song Chaoyu felt much more at ease.
When the morning classes ended at noon, Song Yanjiao walked over to Song Chaoyu, looking at her with concern, "Is Fourth Sister alright? Were you frightened just now?"
Everyone was packing their belongings. Who wouldn't praise Song Yanjiao for being gentle and considerate?
Song Chaoyu stood up and gave Song Yanjiao a slight smile, "Thank you for your concern, Second Sister. I am fine."
Song Yanjiao then affectionately extended her hand to Song Chaoyu, "There's still some time before lunch. I'm going to see Eldest Brother, are you coming?"
In fact, ever since Song Chaoyu and Liu Shiyi Niang returned, they had said they wanted to visit Song Jiaoyang, the eldest legitimate son of the Song family.
He was now seriously ill, and was the apple of Song Yuan and Madam Song's eyes.
However, Song Jiaoyang's wife, Madam Nie, did not want anyone to disturb Song Jiaoyang. She also lived a secluded life, only caring for Song Jiaoyang, and had always refused Song Chaoyu's visits.
Now that Song Yanjiao had taken the initiative, it would be difficult for Song Chaoyu to refuse.
Fearing a trap from Song Yanjiao, she looked at Song Yanrou, "Shall we bring Third Sister along?"
Song Yanjiao shook her head, "Look at her mood today, and she's not good with words. Sister-in-law dislikes Third Sister the most. Eldest Brother's illness hasn't been good these past two days either. If we anger Sister-in-law, we will be at fault. Let's go together. Eldest Brother will surely be happy to know you visited him."
Song Jiaoyang remained unconscious, so it was unclear where the happiness came from.
However, since she could not refuse, Song Chaoyu had no choice but to pack her belongings and follow Song Yanjiao to Pingyuan Garden.
Song Yuan, at over forty years old, only had one son, Song Jiaoyang, whom he doted on dearly. Song Jiaoyang was very accomplished, having passed the imperial examination five years ago and later joining the Ministry of War.
Three years ago, Song Jiaoyang married Madam Nie, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Minister of War, Nie Juanjuan. They had no children, reportedly due to Song Jiaoyang's gradually weakening health.
A year ago, Song Jiaoyang suddenly fell gravely ill.
The doctor said that Song Jiaoyang had a very serious wind illness and had missed the best time for treatment. Therefore, he fell into a coma at such a young age, and his life was likely nearing its end.
Song Yuan naturally spared no effort to save his only legitimate son. In the past year alone, the Song family had spent countless efforts just to save Song Jiaoyang.
Unfortunately, Song Jiaoyang remained in a coma, and his condition could only be managed, with no signs of improvement.
In her previous life, around the time Concubine Liu was six months pregnant, Madam Song had "discovered" that Concubine Liu, in order to secure her unborn child's place in the Song manor, had poisoned Song Jiaoyang, the Song family's only legitimate heir, making him appear to have a wind illness when in fact he had been poisoned, causing his prolonged lack of recovery.