Song Mo sneered coldly and released Song Han’s hand.
Song Han stumbled back several steps before regaining his footing. His eyes flickered as he rubbed his reddened wrist.
Miao Ansu bit her lip and shrank behind Dou Zhao, her body trembling slightly.
Exposing Song Han was easy, but the consequences would be severe.
Was what she did right or wrong?
She felt somewhat lost.
Meanwhile, Song Yichun attempted to muddy the waters by scolding Song Mo: “What are you doing? You’re brothers, how can you come to blows over a woman…”
Song Mo ignored him and turned to Dou Zhao, saying gently: “It’s getting late. Father’s inner courtyard is a mess without decent people. You and your sister-in-law should go rest first. I’ll deal with things here and then sleep in the study in the outer courtyard.”
Dou Zhao smiled and agreed, gesturing for Ruo Tong to support Miao Ansu. Surrounded by a group of maids and old women, they left Xiangxiang Court without so much as a glance at Song Yichun.
Feeling slightly relieved, Miao Ansu said to Dou Zhao: “I have a maid named Ji Hong. I don’t know where she is now. Please help me find her. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to warn the Young Master…”
Dou Zhao smiled and said: “Don’t worry, I’ll have someone look for her right away.”
After giving the order, she returned to Yizhi Hall. While the maids were preparing the guest room, she asked Miao Ansu: “Tell me, what exactly happened?”
At the time, she had been anxiously waiting for news from Duan Gongyi in her room when Liu Zhang suddenly brought Miao Ansu over, saying: “This is the Young Master’s wish, for you to protect the Second Madam’s safety.”
Only then did Dou Zhao learn of Song Yichun and Song Han’s sinister plot.
She immediately became extremely worried, fearing that Song Yichun and Song Han might not let Song Mo off even if their plan was exposed. So she decided to bring Miao Ansu to Xiangxiang Court, where they could speak face to face and clear things up. She couldn’t let Song Mo get entangled in such a scandal. Because of this, she hadn’t even had time to ask about what had transpired.
Hearing Dou Zhao’s question, Miao Ansu’s tears began to fall: “Song Han is not human! To frame the Young Master, he disregarded our marital bond completely and even plotted against me…”
Choking with sobs, she recounted how she had noticed Liu Hong’s strange behavior and sent Ji Hong to investigate. When that yielded no results, she still didn’t give up. Not only did she have people keep an eye on Liu Hong, but she also spent a large sum of money to bribe Song Han’s servants. She discovered that Song Han had been secretly in contact with people from the Prince of Liao’s mansion and that his words and actions had become somewhat arrogant as if he would soon be able to show up at Yizhi Hall.
Miao Ansu didn’t know what had happened, but she knew that Song Mo greatly disliked Song Han.
She wanted to use Song Mo to suppress Song Han but felt it inappropriate to mention it to Dou Zhao a second time, thinking she might consider it merely an inner court matter. So she sent someone to inform Song Mo, which led to him uncovering Song Han’s plot to frame him.
Dou Zhao was stunned.
She never imagined that what seemed like an ordinary, even trivial matter of jealousy within the inner court would lead to such a deadly affair.
She couldn’t help but say: “It’s fortunate that you were so attentive and told the Young Master about this. Otherwise, both the Young Master and you would have been caught off guard!”
“This is far from being caught off guard,” Miao Ansu said, her heart feeling as if it had been stabbed, blood gushing out at the mention of this incident. “He intended to destroy me completely—the Young Master could easily claim he had drunkenly entered the wrong room, but I would never be able to clear my name, even if I jumped into the Yellow River…”
She thought of Liu Hong, who had been beaten within an inch of her life, and Du Ruo, whose reputation had been utterly ruined.
If she hadn’t been extra cautious and secretly informed Song Mo about this matter, Liu Hong and Du Ruo’s fate would have been her own today!
She couldn’t help but lament: “At first, the Young Master didn’t know what they were planning to do, he just told me to be careful. When I was placed in Du Ruo’s back room and Song Han forcibly kept me from leaving, it seemed as if the Young Master had guessed what Song Han was up to…” Miao Ansu still couldn’t understand how Song Mo had been able to guess that Song Han would use her and Song Mo’s identities to create trouble.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “He told Ji Hong to stay by my side at all times and instructed me not to eat or drink anything from Xiangxiang Court. But I couldn’t bear to let Song Han, that heartless beast, off so easily, so I begged the Young Master to punish him. The Young Master then told me to act according to the situation and find a way to deceive Du Ruo and the others.”
“I noticed that Du Ruo’s hands were shaking slightly when she served me tea, so I secretly spilled the tea while pretending to have drunk it and feeling sleepy.”
“She fell for it and happily helped me to bed.”
“I then pretended to find fault with Liu Hong’s words and actions, criticizing her and sending her away.”
“Du Ruo went to comfort Liu Hong.”
“I instructed Ji Hong to find a way to delay Liu Hong and Du Ruo, while I quietly slipped out of the back room and went to the warm room behind the flower hall…”
As she was speaking, footsteps were heard outside, and a young maid came in to report that Liu Zhang had brought Ji Hong.
Miao Ansu immediately stopped talking and lifted the curtain to greet them outside the resting room.
The mistress and maid embraced each other, crying tears of joy.
After a while, Miao Ansu pushed Ji Hong away and asked: “Are you alright?”
Ji Hong nodded repeatedly, her eyes red, and said: “As you instructed, I stayed by the bedside and didn’t let them lift the bed curtains. Later, when Liu Hong was screaming and making a fuss outside, I was worried about finding an excuse to leave, but unexpectedly, the maid who shared the courtyard with Du Ruo pulled me out…” She hurriedly told Miao Ansu what happened afterward. “I hid with that maid in her room until this young man came to find me.” She gratefully nodded towards Liu Zhang, then turned back and said, “Young Madam, are you alright? Did the Second Master harm you?”
“I’m fine too,” Miao Ansu said with a tearful smile. “The Young Master’s people found me and brought me to the Madam. By the time the Madam and I rushed over, it was Song Han and Du Ruo sleeping on the arhat bed!”
She laughed with great satisfaction and instructed Ji Hong to kowtow to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao had been quietly listening on the side, hearing most of the story. As for some details, she would probably have to wait until tomorrow to ask Song Mo.
She instructed Ruo Tong to serve the mistress and maid as they retired: “You two have been reunited after a harrowing experience and must have a lot to talk about. I won’t keep you any longer. The Young Master has always been clear about gratitude and grudges. You’ve helped him tremendously, so he must have plans for your future. For now, just rest here peacefully. If there’s anything you need, wait until you see the Young Master tomorrow to discuss it.”
The two gratefully bowed to Dou Zhao and withdrew.
Late that night, Ji Hong quietly asked Miao Ansu: “Second Madam, we are still people from the Fourth Alley after all. The Young Master can protect us for now, but not forever. We’ve now fallen out with the Second Master, what should we do in the future?”
She had been against getting involved in the conflict between Song Mo and Song Han.
But since Miao Ansu had made up her mind, she could only grit her teeth and follow along.
Miao Ansu sighed softly and didn’t speak.
Ji Hong’s heart immediately sank.
“Go to sleep!” Miao Ansu said. “We’ll discuss this after I’ve met with the Young Master!”
Ji Hong couldn’t sleep at all and lay awake until dawn.
Ruo Tong brought several young maids to serve them breakfast.
Miao Ansu politely said: “There’s no need for Miss Ruo Tong to trouble herself. Ji Hong here is enough.”
Ruo Tong didn’t insist and smiled: “Our Madam instructed us to follow the Second Madam’s orders and not disturb you. If you need anything, just let me know.” She then led the young maids away.
Miao Ansu couldn’t help but sigh: “They’re giving us space to talk! Such thoughtfulness, no wonder the Young Master cherishes her like the apple of his eye.”
Ji Hong knew that the “her” Miao Ansu referred to was the Young Master’s wife, Madam Dou.
Though both were married to Song family men, Madam Dou and the Second Madam were worlds apart.
Ji Hong’s expression darkened slightly.
Meanwhile, Dou Zhao was discussing them with Song Mo: “Song Han certainly won’t be able to accommodate them anymore. I think it might be best if Madam Miao claims to be ill, and you send people to escort her to the Song family’s country estate to recuperate.”
Song Mo thought this was a good idea and said: “Then go ask Madam Miao what she thinks. If she’s willing, I’ll arrange for people to accompany her to the estate right away.”
Dou Zhao nodded with a smile and brought up last night’s events: “Lu Ming just came to ask for Master Chen’s advice on what to do, and in the blink of an eye, you had already caught Song Han ‘in the act,’ making me worry for nothing!”
Song Mo smiled sheepishly and said: “I didn’t expect him to use such underhanded tactics again and again. Fortunately, Madam Miao was determined to part ways with Song Han, and Song Han was so smug about wanting to see me humiliated that he ran to my warm room to ‘catch us in the act’ behind Father’s and the Prince of Liao’s backs. This allowed me to put Song Han and Du Ruo in the same bed.”
Dou Zhao rather regretted not having the chance to see the expressions on the faces of the Prince of Liao, Song Yichun, and Song Han at that moment—it must have been quite a sight!
She couldn’t help but say: “You should have taken this opportunity to deal with Song Han properly, instead of giving him an excuse about being drunk and entering the wrong room…”
Song Mo’s gaze turned cold as he said: “Even if we had made a big scene, it would only have ruined Song Han’s reputation. How could that satisfy my desire for revenge? This way is better. Let him struggle in the mire of rumors, forced to rely on the Prince of Liao. When the time comes to deal with them both, that will be truly satisfying!”
Dou Zhao’s heart stirred, and she smiled: “Did you have this planned from the moment you let him establish his household?”
Song Mo smiled and said: “It’s called being prepared!”
How cunning!
How could Song Han possibly be a match for him?
Dou Zhao smiled, pressing her lips together, but then said with some concern: “Will Song Han’s downfall not implicate you?”
Song Mo replied: “That’s why I need to make sure everyone in the capital knows about our ‘brotherly discord’!”
The wet nurse brought Young Master Yuan over.
Yuan babbled “Papa” and insisted that Song Mo play with him.
Song Mo played with him for a while before heading to the government office.
Dou Zhao went to the guest room and relayed Song Mo’s intentions to Miao Ansu.
Miao Ansu thanked her with a smile, but there was a hint of hesitation in her expression.
Dou Zhao thanked her for warning Song Mo and patiently asked: “Do you have any other requests? I can help you convey them to the Young Master.”
After a long silence, Miao Ansu said in a low voice: “I want to divorce Song Han!”
Dou Zhao was dumbfounded.
Ji Hong, disregarding Dou Zhao’s presence, immediately jumped up: “Second Madam, your marriage to the Second Master was imperially bestowed! And if you divorce the Second Master, where will you go? Your uncle will never allow you to return home!”
Indeed.
Even if Song Mo could help her divorce, where could she go afterward?
Miao Ansu smiled bitterly.