Hearing this, Song Nian abruptly sat up. “What did you say?”

“What happened?”

She stared at Yinsu, her eyes full of shock. “Why would Mother suddenly go to the family temple? And even if she went to the family temple, why would Second Sister escort her? And why do this at night without telling anyone?”

“How could Second Sister suddenly fall down the mountain?”

Yinsu shook her head. “This servant does not know. I only heard it from servants in the outer courtyard.”

“Early this morning when I rose to find Granny Zhang in the kitchen, as I approached I saw her whispering with others. I moved closer to listen and heard her say that yesterday Madam cut off her own hair, saying she wanted to go to the family temple to keep company with the Buddha lamps.”

“I inquired about it. At the time, many people in Madam’s courtyard heard these words. Qiushui even injured her arm over this matter and bled all over the courtyard.”

“Why would Mother suddenly want to go to the family temple?”

Yinsu said in a low voice, “The servants all say Second Miss forced her.”

“After Madam and Second Miss quarreled, Tanzhou went to find the family head. When the family head arrived, he sent everyone away, so no one knows what happened after that.”

“Yesterday both Madam’s and Second Miss’s courtyards were completely quiet. I went to look and they were indeed both sealed up.”

Yinsu’s eyes reddened. “Miss, what should we do?”

Song Nian clutched her skirt, also panicking.

After thinking for a long while, she finally said, “What about Lan’er?”

“Currently being cared for by Nanny Song. The young master’s situation is fine.”

“Let me think.”

Song Nian lowered her eyes for a moment, irritably wiping the sweat from her palms.

“Where were Elder Brother and Sister-in-law yesterday?”

“Always in the master’s study, never coming out.”

“What about Nanny Song?”

“This servant does not know.”

“Did anyone come yesterday to receive Mother and Elder Sister?”

“I have not heard of anyone coming to the mansion yesterday.”

Song Nian slumped dejectedly onto an embroidered stool, her eyes slightly red. “Even if Mother felt distraught and wanted to stay by the Buddha lamps, she should not have been sent away overnight. Elder Brother doing this must mean Mother said something or did something that displeased him greatly.”

“Second Sister, she…”

She probably recklessly said something deadly.

Though Elder Brother was not particularly close to them, he was not a petty person who would seek revenge over trifles. For him to do this, Second Sister must have done something foolish that endangered the Song clan.

In just a moment, Song Nian guessed about seventy to eighty percent of what Song Yao had said.

She pressed her lips together, tears sliding down her cheeks to her collar.

“It is all my fault. I should not have said those things in front of Second Sister. Since I knew her character, why did I tell her those deadly speculations?”

Those words, if heard by Elder Brother, might not necessarily lead to anything, but if heard by the Song clan patriarch, how could Second Sister have any way to survive?

Song Nian covered her face, crying endlessly.

“Miss, this servant does not understand.”

Yinsu lowered her voice. “Miss means that Second Miss’s death came from within the household… why?”

“She either spoke nonsense to besmirch the Empress’s chastity, or she wanted the Song household to leverage His Majesty’s deep affection for Elder Sister for her own selfish gain.”

Thinking of yesterday’s imperial decree for the arranged marriage, Song Nian gripped her handkerchief tightly.

Yinsu’s eyes widened. “Miss means Second Miss wanted the Song household to use the Empress’s influence to overturn the imperial marriage decree?”

“This… this…”

Hearing these words, Song Nian could no longer hold back and covered her face, crying softly.

Even Yinsu could see this clearly—why did Second Sister not understand?

Elder Sister being honored as Empress seemed like icing on the cake for the Song household, but how was it not also a precarious situation? Yun Fei and the Third Prince were in Nanqing. It seemed His Majesty trusted the Song household completely, but wasn’t Elder Sister in the palace also there to restrain Imperial Consort Yun?

During this period, even the usually improper Third Uncle had tucked in his tail and behaved himself, yet her Second Sister repeatedly caused trouble without end…

Some time ago, she had clearly calmed down, but because of her foolish words, she fell into obsession again.

Song Nian cried bitterly, deeply regretting that she had not restrained her temper that day and insisted on arguing with Song Yao over those useless matters.

“Miss, please stop crying. The household has not yet… has not yet announced Second Miss’s mourning. Perhaps the servants are speaking nonsense.”

“There will be no mourning announcement, at least not at this time.”

Song Nian cried, “The imperial decree was just issued yesterday, and Second Sister had an accident immediately after. It is too suspicious. Elder Brother will report this matter to His Majesty, but publicly there will be no words spoken.”

“Why?”

Yinsu did not understand.

“Informing His Majesty shows loyalty. Not announcing mourning is to preserve the Song household’s dignity.”

Her Second Sister could only depart so quietly, and the story of falling down the mountain was merely an excuse to placate the servants.

This excuse was full of holes and invited far too much speculation, but precisely because of this, those servants would keep their mouths firmly shut, fearing they might violate the masters’ taboos.

For a moment, Song Nian did not know whether to resent Elder Brother’s ruthlessness or hate herself for her sharp tongue that had harmed Song Yao.

As master and servant were secretly wiping tears in the room, Zhuye entered from outside.

“Miss, Nanny Song is looking for you.”

Song Nian stood up and wiped the tears from her face, knowing that Ming Xiang must have words for her.

The servants in the household and the other two branches might not need to know about this matter, but she could not remain ignorant of the truth.

Moreover, Sister-in-law also needed to see her reaction to this matter.

After washing her face, Song Nian slowly walked out.

In the Song household’s main hall, Ming Xiang was discussing matters with several head servants. Seeing Song Nian arrive, she waved her hand slightly to dismiss everyone.

Her movements were natural and fluid. Though her face still carried some youthful inexperience, her gaze and the authority she emanated were unmatched. Song Nian lowered her eyes slightly, unable to recall what Ming Xiang had looked like when she first married into the Song household, when her speech was still not quite smooth.

“You have come. Sit.”

Casually pointing to the chair before her, Ming Xiang said, “What did you hear people in the household say today?”

“What are your thoughts?”

Song Nian remained silent, momentarily not knowing how to answer.

After a long while, she finally said, “Were her words disrespectful, or was she relying on favor to act arrogantly?”

Her question seemed to come from nowhere, but hearing it, Ming Xiang smiled faintly, inwardly praising her.

“I always knew you were clever, but I did not know you were this clever. Since you can ask this question, it shows you understand propriety.”

“Your elder brother feared you would develop resentment toward the household, which is why he had me come to explain things to you.”

Ming Xiang sighed deeply. “Before I married into the Song household, I did not understand why Father would allow Wan’er to go to the Marquis Chengyang’s household to be a widow. But now I understand.”

Her tone carried helplessness. “Some matters—as an elder brother one can remain indifferent, but as clan patriarch one cannot fail to act.”

“Lan’er will be raised in my quarters going forward, and Nanny Song will also be there to teach him.”

Song Nian’s mouth opened slightly. Her heart ached, yet she had to say that Sister-in-law had worked hard.

Seeing that Song Nian showed no resentment, Ming Xiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Song Nian was not like Madam Song and Song Yao. This was truly gratifying.