Song Yuan, initially filled with anger, found himself unable to unleash it upon seeing Song Chaoyu's wronged expression.
He frowned, staring at Song Chaoyu, "Tell me, what exactly happened today?"
Song Chaoyu glanced at the old madam, who nodded at her.
Then, she lowered her head and said to Song Yuan, "Actually... daughter doesn't know why Third Sister suddenly took issue with me. Since returning to the Song manor, I have been cautious in my words and actions every day, fearing I might offend anyone and bring immense disaster to my姨娘. Daughter doesn't know what I did to offend Third Sister, and now my heart is filled with trepidation. I fear that I, ultimately, still didn't understand the rules of the manor from my time on the estate. I beg Father to send me back to the estate."
Song Chaoyu's words were spoken with utmost seriousness and sincerity, "If my presence in the Song manor causes unrest in the household and displeases Third Sister, then I implore Father to send me back to the estate. I will certainly abide by the rules and restore peace to the Song manor."
Let alone Song Yuan and the old madam, even the First Madam and Song Yanjiao began to doubt if Song Chaoyu was speaking the truth!
Song Yuan's brows were practically twisted into the character "川" (chuan): "Fourth Girl, what are you saying? This matter was initiated by your Third Sister, and you are the victim. If you ask me to send you back to the estate now, wouldn't that make the world laugh at me, your father, for being unfair and unjust?"
As he spoke, he turned and glared at the First Madam, "I asked you to summon Third Girl and Second姨娘, why haven't they arrived yet?"
The First Madam was being unfairly blamed but dared not say anything more, only whispering, "Someone has already been sent to fetch them, but for some reason, they haven't come. Master, you have spoiled these three girls too much!"
Song Yuan was too lazy to argue with the First Madam. He turned to his attendant, "Go! You personally invite Third Miss and Second姨娘! I want to ask them what exactly they intend to do!"
After the attendant left, Song Yuan waved his hand at Song Chaoyu, "Fourth Girl, rise. You are a good child. I have also inquired with those around you and those around Third Girl. They all say they don't know why she suddenly attacked you today. As for returning to the estate in the future, you need not say such things again. If you say you lack manners, then I think Third Sister is the one who truly lacks manners! Go and sit by your grandmother's side. Today, I will certainly give you an explanation."
Rather than giving her an explanation, it was more like he wanted to give an explanation for the Song family's reputation.
But as long as there was an explanation, it was a good thing for Song Chaoyu.
She obediently sat beside her grandmother. For the first time, in front of so many people, the old madam directly took Song Chaoyu's hand, "You are a good girl. I can see it clearly. You have always endured silently these past few days, showing deference to your sisters in the family. If you, this girl, were sent back to the estate, I, this old woman, would have no one to speak with in the Song family anymore."
"What does Mother mean by that?"
The First Madam was naturally displeased upon hearing this, "Our family doesn't only have Fourth Girl. If you dislike Third Girl, don't we still have our Jiao'er? Moreover, Yang'er has also woken up. What do you mean by clinging to a concubine's daughter?"
Her first two sentences were fine, but the latter two caused even Song Yuan to glare at her.
Song Yanjiao quickly stepped forward to speak on behalf of the First Madam, "Grandmother, Mother is also worried about you. Our Song manor has many people. We always accompany Grandmother. Grandmother, please don't think that way!"
As they were speaking, the footsteps of Second姨娘 and Song Yanrou could already be heard from outside.
Second姨娘 entered first, still with her usual smiling and charming demeanor, greeting everyone with a smile.
Then, as Song Yanrou entered, Second姨娘's expression immediately changed, and she angrily reprimanded Song Yanrou, "Why aren't you kneeling yet!? Today, in front of your father and grandmother, I, as your姨娘, will hand you over to your mother! It is I who have not raised you properly, causing you to harm your own sister."
Song Yanrou knelt down, on the verge of tears.
However, Second姨娘 did not diminish her imposing aura, "What are you crying for? Do you still have the face to cry? It's fortunate you didn't actually injure Fourth Girl, otherwise, I would be the first to hang myself in this house, to go and speak with the ancestors of the Song family for your uselessness!"
She usually smiled at everyone in the manor and rarely spoke so fiercely.
Now, when she spoke, it left everyone unsure of how to react.
Song Chaoyu, however, heard the cleverness in Second姨娘's words.
By speaking first and scolding Song Yanrou, she prevented Song Yuan and the First Madam from continuing to speak.
She also specifically mentioned that although Song Yanrou had made a mistake, she had not actually injured Song Chaoyu, which was also a reminder to everyone not to punish Song Yanrou too harshly.
Song Yanrou had clearly coordinated with Second姨娘. From beginning to end, she only knelt on the ground, crying pitifully, and stopped her commotion. Even if Song Yuan was still angry, he had to give them a chance to speak.
Indeed, although Song Yuan snorted coldly, he still asked Song Yanrou, "Third Girl, what happened? Why did you attack your Fourth Sister?"
Song Yanrou wiped away her tears, her excuse already prepared, "It's all my fault! At that time, I had drunk too much wine, and illusions appeared before my eyes! Daughter didn't want to harm Fourth Sister, but I saw a demon entering Fourth Sister's body! It's all my fault!"
As she spoke, she looked up at Song Chaoyu with a timid gaze, clearly having learned this pitiful act from Second姨娘, "Fourth Sister, I'm sorry. Fortunately, you were not injured. If you had been injured, then I would have gone to see the ancestors and beg for forgiveness with姨娘! I saw a snake demon entering your body, I wasn't trying to hurt you!"
"Cough cough—a snake demon!"
The First Madam, listening from the side, actually believed half of it. She even covered her mouth with a handkerchief, revealing a pair of disgusted and fearful eyes as she glanced at Song Chaoyu, "I said it, Third Girl isn't usually so ill-mannered, how could she suddenly be like this? She actually saw a snake demon. Why don't we invite a master to exorcise evil spirits in our manor?"
As soon as she said this, let alone the old madam, even Song Yuan glared at the First Madam, "I am a dignified third-rank official, how can I believe such superstitious talk? Do not speak such words again in the future!"
He then looked at Song Yanrou, his eyes filled with suspicion, "Is this really the reason? Is there no other reason?"
"No, no more!"
Second姨娘 also stepped forward and directly patted Song Yanrou hard on the back of her head, "Look at you, for drinking so much wine again! Just because your elder brother woke up and you were happy, you shouldn't have drunk so much. Now you've really caused trouble!"