Chapter 27: Was She Bullied Again?

The servant gestured toward Yuanguo. "It was Miss Yuanguo, the Second Young Lady's maid, who said it."

"And what did she say?"

"She cried, 'Help! The Eldest Young Lady pushed our mistress down! Someone come quickly!'" The servant mimicked her with practiced ease, repeating every word exactly.

Song Tang’s gaze turned icy as she shifted her focus to Yuanguo. Her tone was sharp. "Which eye did you see me use to push her?"

Yuanguo felt a jolt of anxiety, but she steeled herself and insisted, "Slave... slave saw it with both eyes." She then knelt before Madam He. "Madam, it truly was the Eldest Young Lady who pushed our mistress."

Zishuang burst out in anger, "You're spouting nonsense! How dare you lie through your teeth? Our mistress never touched yours!"

"It was the Eldest Young Lady! If you don't believe me, ask Qiuling from your own courtyard. She is always honest and would never lie," Yuanguo insisted, pinning the blame on Song Tang.

"Yuanguo!" Song Wei scolded her with feigned anger, then turned to Madam He. "Mother, please don't listen to her nonsense. I fell by myself; it’s not Sister's fault." Song Wei’s eyes welled with tears, her voice carrying a perfectly measured note of vulnerability.

Madam He said with concern, "You sweet child, to think you're still trying to protect her. Are you hurt anywhere? Let Mother look."

"This tired, old act—over and over again. When will it end?" Song Tang gave Song Wei a look of utter disdain.

Madam He’s face darkened. "Song Tang, your sister is trying to cover for you, yet you still speak this way! It’s not the first time you’ve bullied Wei'er. Today is your big day; how can you still be so unrepentant?"

Song Tang looked directly into Madam He’s eyes. "Who, exactly, is the one who needs to show some restraint?"

"Qiuling, you tell me—what actually happened?" Madam He, her temper rising, pointed at Qiuling. Qiuling was a maid she had personally assigned to Song Tang; knowing her background, Madam He trusted her implicitly.

Qiuling stepped forward and knelt. "In reply to Madam, I did see the Second Young Lady fall near our mistress, but as for whether our mistress pushed her, I dare not say."

"Dare not say? Are you afraid to speak, or did you not see it?" Madam He demanded, her face grim.

Qiuling feigned terror, bit her lip, and looked up cautiously. "I truly dare not say."

Zishuang, standing nearby, was flushed with fury. Seeing Qiuling’s response, she knelt down as well. "Madam, our mistress did not push her! It was the Second Young Lady who reached out and grabbed our mistress first. I pulled the Second Young Lady’s hand away, and she fell on her own."

"So you are the maid Song Tang brought back with her," Madam He said, glaring at Zishuang. "I’ve thought you were trouble all along. To think you would dare slander your mistress in front of everyone! Someone, drag her away and give her twenty lashes!"

At Madam He’s command, the servants stepped forward.

Song Tang stepped directly in front of Zishuang. "Stop! Zishuang is mine. Who dares touch her?"

"Miss?" Zishuang was stunned. Her master was actually standing up for a servant like her? She had always been taught loyalty and obedience—to be ready to die for her master—but she had never imagined that a master would stand up to protect a servant.

Song Tang looked at Yuanguo, who stood beside Song Wei, and spoke again. "Yuanguo, since you claim to have seen me push your mistress with your own eyes, tell me: did I use my left hand or my right?"

"Your right hand," Yuanguo replied without a moment’s hesitation.

"Wrong. I used my left hand!"

Upon hearing Song Tang admit it, Yuanguo quickly scrambled to correct herself. "Right, it was the left! I just misspoke for a moment!"

Caidie immediately countered, "You're lying! Our mistress couldn't have used her left hand to push her. Your mistress fell to the left; if she had been pushed with a left hand, she should have fallen to the right!"

Yuanguo was struck dumb by Caidie’s logic, her face flushing red and then turning deathly pale.

Song Tang scoffed. "Indeed. Do you think I have the power to push people through thin air? Yuanguo, it seems you didn't see anything at all! You are slandering your mistress!"

"Mother, you just said that lying and slandering a master warrants twenty lashes. Does that still hold true?" Song Tang turned to Madam He.

Madam He’s face turned livid. She was not a fool; she understood exactly what had happened. However, she did not want Song Wei to lose face in front of everyone, especially since today was the day Mu Changxiao was bringing his betrothal gifts. She felt she had to indulge Wei'er.

Madam He spoke slowly, "This matter requires further investigation. Everyone, disperse."

"Mother, what is the meaning of this?"

Before Song Tang could finish, she saw Song Congzhi and Mu Changxiao approaching.

"Why are you both here?" Madam He hurried to greet them, forcing a smile onto her face.

Mu Changxiao spoke first. "It is fortunate that I came by. How is it that Song Tang is being bullied again?"

"Hm?" Song Tang looked at Mu Changxiao, surprised. Everyone always accused her of bullying others; this was the first time someone had claimed she was the victim.

Mu Changxiao walked to Song Tang’s side. "Do not be afraid. Tell me, who is bullying you?"

Before Song Tang could speak, Madam He interjected, "It is merely a misunderstanding, just children playing around. There is no need to trouble the Marquis."

"A misunderstanding? Is it a misunderstanding when one is about to be whipped?" Mu Changxiao finally had a chance to back Song Tang, and he intended to make the most of it.

Song Congzhi glanced at Madam He. "What is going on?"

Madam He looked embarrassed. "It was just a small maid by Wei'er’s side who misspoke and slandered Tang'er."

"A mere servant girl daring to slander her master? Magistrate Song, how can this be tolerated?" Mu Changxiao’s expression was dark.

Song Congzhi flew into a rage. He turned to Madam He and said, "Then why investigate? Deal with her at once!"

"But Yuanguo has been with Wei'er since she was a child. She didn't mean any harm," Madam He said, looking distressed.

Thinking of how Song Wei had lost her parents at a young age and that Yuanguo had been her companion since childhood, Song Congzhi felt a pang of reluctance. "Since it was not intentional, have her kneel for a day—a light punishment to serve as a warning."

"Magistrate Song, I have heard that your household maintains strict discipline. If this matter is not punished severely today, will it not invite scorn upon the reputation of the Song family?"

Mu Changxiao’s words carried heavy weight. Many guards and servants from outside the Song household were present; if word got out, it would undoubtedly damage the family’s standing.

Song Congzhi wanted to plead for Yuanguo again, but seeing the coldness in Mu Changxiao’s eyes, he had no choice but to bite the bullet. "How does the Marquis suggest we handle this?"

"Since this is a family matter of the Song household, it is not my place to say. However, if this had happened in the Mu household, she would have been beaten to death."

Upon hearing that she might be beaten to death, Yuanguo turned deathly pale. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, crying out to Song Wei, "Miss, save me! Please, save me!"