Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Lodging a Complaint "My daughter is not for you to lay a hand on!" Cui Lingrong's rare outburst struck fear into those present. Even Song Shulan was startled. How many times had this been now that Cui Lingrong had lost her temper? Before Song Shulan could react, Song Zhizhi burst into loud wailing. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, are you just going to watch her hit me?" She then knelt before her mother. "The moment I returned to Bianjing, I thought only of coming to see you. It was just a hairpin—if Yu-jie wouldn't give it, then so be it. But look at my face, Mother! Has Eldest Sister-in-law gone mad?" In all her years, Song Zhizhi had never been struck like this. On her cheek, the mark of a slap was clearly visible. A burning sensation followed, and Song Zhizhi wept, demanding that her mother seek justice for her. Old Madame Song's expression was equally grim. "Lady Cui, what is the meaning of this? Have you no sense of hospitality at all?" Song Yu quietly recounted the events. "It wasn't my fault. Aunt insisted on snatching my hairpin, and I didn't talk back to her—she was the one who blocked my way and wouldn't let me leave. She even asked what gifts you had prepared for her." Cui Lingrong patted her daughter's arm and walked toward the Old Madame. She had never liked Song Zhizhi, but she had always thought it better to keep the family harmonious. The Old Madame and the Marquis doted on Song Zhizhi, so Cui Lingrong had refrained from making a fuss over small matters. But year after year of this had led Song Zhizhi to believe she could take whatever she wanted from the eldest branch. Cui Lingrong paid her respects to the Old Madame, then said slowly and deliberately, "Old Madame, a young lady's deportment is of the utmost importance. Look at this—what did Yu-jie do wrong that Zhizhi should yank the hairpin from her hair in front of everyone?" The Old Madame had no answer to that. She averted her gaze from Cui Lingrong. "It was only a hairpin. Must you mother and daughter make such a fuss over it?" "Yes, a hairpin is nothing much. But if Zhizhi wanted it, couldn't she simply ask? To grab it outright, leaving Yu-jie's hair in disarray—what kind of reasoning is that?" The more Cui Lingrong spoke, the angrier she grew. "If no one else had been present today, it would have been one thing. But if there had been, how could Yu-jie have shown her face?" Seeing that the Old Madame was about to speak again, Cui Lingrong pressed on with greater emphasis. "If Zhizhi hadn't raised her hand just now, I wouldn't have either. The Old Madame dotes on her daughter, but I too cannot bear to see my own daughter wronged." With that, Cui Lingrong turned to look at Song Zhizhi and changed her form of address. "Eldest Young Madam Sun, if you feel aggrieved, by all means, bring the Sun family here. I am willing to reason with your husband and mother-in-law—let them judge who is right and who is wrong!" "Lady Cui, are you threatening me?" Song Zhizhi shot to her feet. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Her cheeks burned, and her mother-in-law disliked her and would not come to her aid. As for her husband, he was still on the road and had not yet reached Bianjing. "Naturally you aren't afraid of me, but you have chilled my heart. The Old Madame instructed me early on to prepare a proper welcome for you, and I did everything according to propriety. Yet you humiliated my daughter in public. Enough. You have always disliked me, so I won't stay here to be an eyesore to you." Cui Lingrong called out, "Yu-jie," and went over to take her daughter's hand, leading her away. Song Yu watched, dumbfounded. Her mother, who had always prized propriety above all else—what had gotten into her today? Back in Shouan Tang, Song Zhizhi began crying again. "Eldest Brother, look at how she treated me! If you weren't welcoming of me, why invite me over at all? Come, Qinqin, let's leave too—we're not staying here!" The Old Madame hastily grabbed her daughter. "What nonsense are you spouting now? I've been missing you so much I couldn't sleep. But you were indeed a bit hasty just now—how could you snatch a hairpin right off Yu-jie's head?" "Mother, how can you blame me?" Song Zhizhi's eyes went wide, and she felt even more wronged. Song Shucheng let out a dry chuckle. He had been bullied by his elder sister since childhood, and watching Eldest Sister-in-law slap her just now had been rather satisfying. "Sis, if you ask me, you're a married daughter now—water spilled from the family. If you want to throw a tantrum, do it at the Sun household. Coming back to the Song family to throw your weight around—who's going to put up with that?" Hearing this, Song Zhizhi lunged at him without a second thought, grabbing her younger brother by the collar to hit him. Song Shucheng was not one to suffer fools. He shook off Song Zhizhi's hand. "Mother, I'm tired. I'll go rest now—I won't keep you company today." Madame Jiang rose hesitantly, unsure whether to stay or go. Only Princess Rongjia went to soothe Song Zhizhi. "Dear sister, don't be upset. I don't know what's come over Sister Cui lately—her temper grows more volatile by the day. I hardly dare speak above a whisper in her presence. Today's affair isn't your fault. It was just a hairpin, and if Yu-jie hadn't grabbed for it, it wouldn't have fallen to the ground." "Exactly!" Song Zhizhi looked at Princess Rongjia. "You're the one who's gracious and considerate, unlike some people. It serves them right that their husband was taken away from them halfway!" This remark did not please Princess Rongjia. What did she mean, "taken away halfway"? Master Song belonged entirely to her. A flicker of displeasure passed through Princess Rongjia's eyes, but she still ordered someone to bring a boiled egg for Song Zhizhi to soothe her face. The Old Madame's mood had soured completely. She looked at her eldest son and sighed. "You saw that too, didn't you? Does Lady Cui still have any regard for me as her mother-in-law? Striking someone right in front of me, then walking off without another word. Shulan, if you don't give me a proper accounting of today's affair, don't call me Mother from now on!" This matter was not just about her daughter being hit—her own dignity had been compromised as well. Which matriarch of a household would strike someone in public? Old Madame Song still could hardly believe that Cui Lingrong would do such a thing! Of all people, she had always been the most composed and meticulous. What had gotten into her today? On the other side, Song Yu was equally eager to know what had come over her mother today. She followed her mother to Qiushuang Zhai, and only after Nanny Qiu had re-braided her hair did she cautiously edge over to her mother's side. Seeing her mother still calmly reading a book, Song Yu ventured, "Mother, earlier at Shouan Tang, you..." "Whether I pulled my hand away from your aunt's or slapped her across the face, her reaction would have been the same. Since that's the case, why not let myself feel a bit more satisfied? After all, I've wanted to hit her for a long time." Cui Lingrong set down her book. Song Yu's eyes flew wide in shock. "You... how could you have such a thought?" In her memory, her mother had always been gentle and soft-spoken—she had never even raised her voice, let alone resorted to physical violence. Cui Lingrong smiled. "Actually, I've always had such thoughts. It's just that in the past, I believed that harmony in the family brings prosperity, and your father disliked discord at home, so I endured whenever I could. And truly, I'm not someone who enjoys using her hands." As for why she had stopped enduring? Cui Lingrong couldn't quite articulate it either. At the time, she had reached the doorway and overheard Song Zhizhi lecturing her daughter. A surge of anger rushed through her. And when Song Shulan hadn't said a single word in defense of their daughter, she grew even angrier. By the time she entered the room and saw Song Zhizhi about to raise her hand, she decided to settle old and new scores together—and slapped her right back. Even now, Cui Lingrong felt as if she were in a dream. On any ordinary day, she would never have done such a thing. But indeed, it was satisfying. "Father, he..." At the mention of her father, Song Yu looked deeply disappointed. She lowered her head and said, "Mother, I don't like Father anymore." These were treasonous words that Song Yu had never dared to speak before. But today, after her mother had raised her hand, she finally wanted to say them. A tear slipped from her eye. Silently soaking into the floor tiles. Song Yu raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye. But Cui Lingrong felt only heartache. "Your father, he..." She paused, because she didn't know how to explain Song Shulan to her daughter. If she spoke ill of Song Shulan, it would affect the relationship between her daughter and Song Shulan. But if she were to speak well of him, she couldn't think of a single virtue of his worth praising. Just then, Nanny Qiu entered, saying that everything had been prepared. Song Yu looked over. "What things?" Cui Lingrong said, "I struck your aunt, and I did it right in front of your grandmother. Your grandmother is such a face-loving person—do you think she'll let me off easily?" Song Yu shook her head. "So I had Nanny Qiu prepare gifts to send to the Sun family, to inform them of today's events and apologize to Old Madame Sun on my behalf." Seeing her daughter's puzzled expression, Cui Lingrong asked, "What do you think my intention is?" Song Yu thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly brightened. "Old Madame Sun has never liked Aunt. Aunt was wronged at the Marquis's residence today, so she'll certainly go back and twist the facts. By sending Nanny Qiu, you can both provoke Old Madame Sun into disciplining Aunt and prevent the Sun family from being deceived by Aunt's lies." Cui Lingrong nodded approvingly. "Yu-jie has grown up. It's good that you can see through it." She then looked at Nanny Qiu. "Go quickly. When you see Old Madame Sun, be respectful. Say that I acted on instinct because I was protecting my daughter." "Rest assured, Eldest Young Madam. This old servant understands. You are renowned throughout Bianjing for your virtue and thoroughness. If something drove you to raise your hand, Old Madame Sun will certainly make things difficult for the Young Madam." Nanny Qiu suppressed a smile and hurried off, urging Er Shun to move faster along the way. She could hardly wait to deliver the news.