"Ah—"
A maidservant cried out in surprise. Tiao Hong’s first reaction wasn’t to retreat, but to stand even more firmly in front of Song Chaoyu.
"Tiao Hong!"
Song Chaoyu stepped forward, her hand gently touching Tiao Hong’s face with concern.
"Miss, I’m fine."
Tiao Hong’s eyes were clearly red with grievance, but she still pulled Song Chaoyu behind her.
"Second Young Master! What are you doing?"
The matchmaker slapped her thigh in distress, "It’s a joyous occasion! Second Young Master, please don’t act impulsively!"
"Hmph!"
Lin Zhaofeng cast a disdainful glance at the matchmaker. "So what if it’s a joyous occasion? If a servant makes a mistake, can’t I, the master, discipline them?"
"Apologize!"
From their side, Song Chaoyu’s voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Zhaofeng was startled and looked at Song Chaoyu in surprise. "What did you just say?"
Song Chaoyu stared at Lin Zhaofeng fearlessly. "I said, you must apologize to my maid!"
"Ha!"
Lin Zhaofeng burst into laughter as if he had heard something amusing. "Me? Apologize to your maid? Is there any reason in this world for a master to apologize to a maid?"
He even stepped forward, pulling Tiao Hong aside, and then moved even closer to Song Chaoyu. "Who do you think you are? You’re just an illegitimate daughter raised in the outer chambers, someone who can’t see the light of day! It’s your good fortune for three lifetimes that I fancy you! And now you’re putting on airs in front of me?! You—"
"Slap—"
This time, it was Song Chaoyu’s turn to slap Lin Zhaofeng across the face!
Her slap stunned not only Lin Zhaofeng but also everyone standing around them into silence for a moment.
Song Chaoyu’s eyes, cold as ice, fixed on Lin Zhaofeng. "Young Master Lin, please mind yourself! Today is a joyous occasion for Lin Fu and the Song Manor. Don’t ruin this festivity because of you alone!"
"You dare hit me?! You wretched girl!"
It was the first time in Lin Zhaofeng’s life that a woman had hit him. Although Song Chaoyu’s force wasn’t great, he was furious. He lunged forward, grabbing Song Chaoyu’s hand. "Today, I must make you understand the consequences of hitting me!"
"What do you want to do?!"
Song Chaoyu strained with all her might, ignoring the pain in her wrist, trying to pull her hand free from Lin Zhaofeng’s grip. "What good would it do you to ruin today’s event? Second Young Master Lin, you call me an illegitimate daughter, but at least I behave myself. Don’t forget your own status. If we escalate this, you might not fare any better than I do!"
She scanned the surroundings, seeing more and more people looking their way, her gaze growing colder. "Today, you are the host, and I am the guest. With so many people here as witnesses, I have nothing to fear. I only ask that Second Young Master control your behavior and let me go. Otherwise, if I call for help, you’ll see whether these people help you or me!"
"You—"
When had Lin Zhaofeng ever been threatened like this?
But he remembered that he had caused trouble recently and had been treated coldly by Prime Minister Lin these past few days.
Deep down, he truly didn’t dare to escalate the matter.
He finally let go of Song Chaoyu’s wrist and pointed to his cheek. "So, you hit me, and that’s it?"
Song Chaoyu retorted, "You hit my maid, and that’s it?"
Lin Zhaofeng took a deep breath, realizing he truly couldn’t out-argue Song Chaoyu!
The matchmaker grew even more anxious. "Second Young Master Lin, stop causing trouble! If the Prime Minister really comes over, you’ll be in for a difficult time! Hurry, stop this!"
"Song Chaoyu, you just wait!"
Lin Zhaofeng, clutching his cheek, retreated while pointing at Song Chaoyu and shouting angrily, "You just wait, I won’t let this matter rest!"
With Lin Zhaofeng gone, the servants naturally wouldn’t linger.
Song Chaoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Tiao Hong’s reddened cheek. "Tiao Hong, would you like me to find some medicine for you? Or perhaps you should go back to the manor to rest?"
"Miss cannot be without someone by her side."
Her tears were welling up in her eyes, but she was determined to stay by Song Chaoyu’s side.
Song Chaoyu didn’t say anything further and led her to Lin Muyang and Song Xiuxiu’s bridal chamber.
Outside, the gongs and drums blared, and guests were boisterous. Inside the room, Song Chaoyu looked around and finally managed to sit down on a chair to rest.
As soon as she sat down, she saw a young girl peeking in from outside.
The girl appeared younger than Song Chaoyu, with a cute face and wearing a light pink jacket with a rounded collar.
Judging by the pink gemstone hair ornaments she wore, she was also a lady from a prominent family.
She peeked into the bridal chamber and, upon seeing Song Chaoyu sitting inside, exclaimed, "You’re not the bride?"
Song Chaoyu smiled, her first reaction being to like the girl. "I’m not the bride! I’m the bride’s younger sister. The bride is still outside performing the wedding ceremony!"
"Oh, you’re so beautiful! Then the bride must be even more beautiful, right?"
The girl wasn’t shy at all. She skipped into the room and smiled at Song Chaoyu. "My name is Hu Xiaoye. I’m from General Anrong’s family. Have you heard of me?"
General Anrong Hu family?
Song Chaoyu had heard of them in her previous life!
The Hu family was a military lineage, highly respected in the capital.
However, in this generation, Lord Hu only had three daughters.
The eldest daughter entered the palace as a concubine, and the second daughter married the Governor of Liangzhou and was away from the capital for most of the year.
Therefore, the youngest daughter of the Hu family was doted on by her parents and sisters.
So, it seemed that this Hu Xiaoye before her was the youngest daughter of the Hu family.
In her previous life… Song Chaoyu had never met her, only heard that she had a pure disposition and was straightforward.
Meeting her today, it was indeed true.
Seeing her happily enter the room, she took Song Chaoyu’s hand. "The bride is from Minister Song’s family, so you must be Sister Song? But why haven’t I met you before? Second Sister Song is elegant like a fairy, and Third Sister is lively. Which sister are you?"
Song Chaoyu didn’t pull her hand away and smiled, "I am the fourth daughter of the Song family. My name is Song Chaoyu."
"So you’re Fourth Sister! I’ve heard of you! They say you’re very beautiful, and even though you were raised in the outer chambers, you have a pure and gentle disposition—Oh dear!"
As she spoke, she suddenly let go of Song Chaoyu’s hand and covered her mouth. "I’m sorry, Fourth Sister! My mother told me not to mention that you were raised in the outer chambers. I didn’t mean to say it. I’m sorry, Fourth Sister!"
It seemed that Madam Hu was also a reasonable person, which explained why she had raised Hu Xiaoye so well.
Song Chaoyu quickly shook her head. "It’s alright, it’s the truth, and there’s nothing that can’t be said."
Seeing how adorable Hu Xiaoye was, Song Chaoyu couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart.
In her previous life, Hu Xiaoye’s life had not been so pleasant.