Song Chaoyu naturally understood without him needing to say it.
She nodded, a sense of indescribable discomfort settling in her heart.
Mu Changxi was the first to smile, "Alright, I can't stay here too long. You'll see me less often in the future. We... we should just be well, each in our own way."
"Be well, each in our own way." The phrase sounded like a farewell.
Song Chaoyu lowered her head slightly, then heard the sound of Mu Changxi's wheelchair gradually receding.
It was only after he had been gone for a long time that Song Chaoyu looked up, gazing in the direction he had left, a single phrase echoing in her mind: fate plays cruel tricks.
—
Song Chaoyu didn't know how long she had been sitting there before someone approached. "Fourth Miss, the servants have been looking everywhere for you! The eldest brother will be toasting everyone shortly, so Fourth Miss should quickly wash up and return to the banquet!"
Song Chaoyu stood up and nodded. As she followed the maids back to the banquet, she heard that the Prince of Ning and the Prince of Chang had already departed.
The banquet itself was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.
Song Jiayang seemed to be in good spirits. He used tea as a substitute for wine and offered many words of gratitude.
Seeing Song Chaoyu return, the Old Madam waved her over and gestured for her to sit beside her.
As soon as Song Chaoyu sat down, the Old Madam asked, "Fourth girl, have you seen Xiu girl?"
Song Chaoyu paused, looked around, and indeed, did not see Song Xiuxiu.
She paid particular attention and also didn't see Lin Muyang.
Song Chaoyu shook her head, "I haven't seen my cousin. Has she had too much to drink and already gone back?"
The Old Madam didn't think much of it. "She followed you right after you left, I thought you were together. Never mind, she wasn't that important anyway, let her be!"
Later, Song Chaoyu noticed that they only returned almost as the banquet was ending.
Song Xiuxiu came back first, and Lin Muyang followed right behind her. Seeing their normal expressions, Song Chaoyu still felt there was something amiss between them.
As the wine flowed, the sun began to set lower in the sky.
Many people, having drunk too much, started to lose their composure.
The first among them was Song Yanrou.
By this time, most of the guests had already left. Song Yuan had also been helped outside by the First Madam to sober up.
Not many people remained seated in the room. The Old Madam, being elderly, had returned after eating, saying that if she stayed, the younger generation wouldn't be able to enjoy themselves freely.
Aunt Liu had not attended the banquet due to discomfort from her pregnancy. Song Chaoyu should have also risen to leave.
Unexpectedly, as Song Chaoyu stood up, Song Yanrou suddenly darted out from behind and grabbed her arm, "Fourth sister, where are you going?"
Her breath reeked of alcohol, causing Song Chaoyu to frown. "Third sister, you've had too much to drink. You should go back and rest early!"
"Heh—"
Unexpectedly, Song Yanrou let out a cold laugh, her grip on Song Chaoyu's hand not loosening at all. "Come! Everyone, come and see! This is my fourth sister! She's no ordinary person! She's the daughter of an outside mistress, a wild girl raised in the countryside!"
The words were nasty. Although most people in the hall had left, some guests still remained.
Everyone turned their attention towards them. Song Chaoyu's brow furrowed deeply. "Third sister, please let go of me! Today is my eldest brother's happy occasion. Don't cause more trouble. You've had too much to drink, go back and rest quickly!"
"I won't! I want everyone to see!"
Song Yanrou became even more insistent. "Let everyone see what kind of abilities this outside mistress raised in the countryside has! Why does everyone praise you? Say you're good? You're just a wild girl!"
As she spoke, she even began to push and pull Song Chaoyu. "Today, I will tear your mouth apart and disfigure your face, so that everyone can see clearly what kind of person you are!"
As she said this, with her other hand, she pulled a sharp hairpin from her hair!
Fueled by the alcohol, her mind went blank, and she lunged at Song Chaoyu with the hairpin. "I want everyone to see what kind of person you truly are!"
Has she gone mad?!
Song Chaoyu never expected Song Yanrou to descend into such madness!
Song Yanrou's speed was fast, and Song Chaoyu didn't react in time.
"Miss, be careful!"
In a flash, Tiao Hong also saw Song Yanrou's action and lunged forward from the side.
She shielded Song Chaoyu and, amidst the gasps of everyone, let out a muffled groan—
"Tiao Hong!"
Song Chaoyu rushed forward to support Tiao Hong, only to see the hairpin in Song Yanrou's hand had already pierced Tiao Hong's back!
In an instant, blood began to seep from Tiao Hong's back.
Yet, Tiao Hong still struggled to look at Song Chaoyu and smiled, "Miss, it's nothing, just a flesh wound."
"What are you two doing?!"
Behind them, Song Yanjiao's voice rang out. "On a day like today, are you two being too excessive?!"
She put on an air of an elder sister upholding justice and stepped forward, signaling her maid to pull Song Yanrou away.
She stepped forward and knocked the hairpin, stained with Tiao Hong's blood, from Song Yanrou's hand. "Third sister, have you gone mad?! What are you doing? Quickly, put down the hairpin in your hand!"
After saying this, Song Yanjiao looked sternly at Song Chaoyu. "Fourth sister, how did you provoke third sister to make her do such a thing on a day like this? What face do you have for Father and Mother?!"
Indeed, anything that came out of Song Yanjiao's mouth seemed to turn into the fault of others.
Today, Song Yanrou clearly provoked first and even injured someone, yet it was Song Chaoyu's fault?
Song Chaoyu's eyes gradually turned cold. "Second sister, I don't understand what you're saying. So many people are present today, and I haven't done anything. Everyone has seen it. I don't know why third sister suddenly went mad. Regardless, she injured my maid today, and this matter cannot be overlooked. Why don't we go before Father, Mother, and Grandmother together and discuss the matter?"
She raised her eyes to stare at Song Yanjiao with imposing dignity. "If this matter today was indeed caused by me, and I was in the wrong, I will naturally apologize and accept punishment from third sister."
"You..."
Since Song Chaoyu entered the Song mansion, when had Song Yanjiao ever seen Song Chaoyu so assertive?
For a moment, she truly didn't know what to say.
Instead, Song Chaoyu turned and bowed to the other guests in the hall. "My apologies to everyone for showing you such a spectacle today. However, among sisters, who doesn't fight? My third sister has a straightforward temperament, and perhaps I provoked her to be this way. I hope this incident has not ruined everyone's enjoyment today. I apologize to all the guests here."