The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 59 - Shock

Nanny Yu had to run to keep up, panting heavily as she leaned against the door, trying to ease the pain in her throat from running too fast.  

Li Shi had already started smashing things in the room. She never had a good temper and had always endured for the sake of Song Yi. However, this time, she simply couldn't hold it in any longer. Song Yi was going on an official assignment for three years, and Old Lady Song didn't allow her, the rightful wife, to accompany him. Instead, she insisted on sending a concubine along!  

What kind of reasoning was this?!  

Li Shi smashed a complete set of blue-and-white porcelain tea sets from the imperial kiln and reached for the crystal ornaments on the cabinet.  

Knowing that Su Zhi and Su Xin were anxiously pacing back and forth but dared not step forward to advise her, she fumed. When Li Shi got angry, she could be quite unpredictable and often hurled things at others.  

Fortunately, Nanny Yu stumbled in and rushed forward to snatch the items away, pulling Li back with some force. "My Lady, what are you doing?!"  

Li Shi shook off her hand and glared at Su Zhi and Su Xin, who were trying to close the door, feeling rage surge within her. "What am I doing?! What do you think I'm doing?! What kind of life am I living right now... knowing full well I can't be separated from my husband—why can't I go?! That old witch!"  

Su Zhi and Su Xin hurriedly closed the door. They exchanged glances, fear evident in their eyes.  

Nanny Yu was also terrified, nearly losing her composure as she hastily covered Li's mouth. "My lady, are you trying to ensure Old Lady Song hears you?!"  

Li Shi was relentless, tears streaming down her face as she angrily shook off Nanny Yu's hand, trembling all over. "What does it matter whether she hears or not?! She doesn't like me; she's deliberately targeting me! No matter how well I do, she won't see it! I try to please her, but what's the result?! What's the result?!"  

With a loud bang, the door was pushed open, and everyone paused to look.  

Song Chuning entered expressionlessly, cradling a small kitten in her arms. She sat down on a nearby chair without glancing at anyone and smiled at Li Shi, "Go ahead and make a scene, Mother. Sister Yulan is still outside; if you're dissatisfied, just keep making noise. She can hear you."  

With a bang, Su Zhi hurriedly closed the door again.  

Li Shi stood there in a daze for a moment, feeling flustered under her daughter's gaze. She couldn't help but irritably push and shove her. "You have the nerve to say I'm causing a scene? I said before that maybe I was too hasty, but you insisted there was nothing wrong! That old witch is quite shrewd; she must think I'm using her son as a pawn... You just love to be clever..."  

Not being able to accompany Song Yi on his official assignment felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her, drowning her in uncontrollable anger.  

Song Chuning stared at her for a while before suddenly standing up.  

Li Shi felt uneasy under her gaze and couldn't help but take a step back.  

Song Chuning forcefully threw the small kitten she had been holding onto the ground, as if tossing aside a lifeless object.  

The little kitten struggled and weakly cried out, trying to crawl back up.  

Song Chuning reached for the crystal ornament that Nanny Yu had snatched away moments earlier and violently hurled it toward the kitten, who was trying to jump onto the stool to escape through the window.  

Everyone in the room was stunned by her actions. It wasn't until she picked up the crystal ornament that Su Zhi finally reacted, trembling as she rushed to snatch it from her hand.  

"If you're unhappy, go find the person who makes you unhappy," Song Chuning said, watching the feeble little kitten jump down from the windowsill. She turned back to Li Shi, her expression cold. "You could just throw this ornament at her head until she can't say anything to upset you. Don't take your anger out on unrelated people; they owe you nothing."  

Li Shi felt a twinge of guilt as she looked at her daughter, staggering backward and leaning against the table to steady herself.  

A mere six-year-old girl could turn on a pet she had just claimed to love, brutally punishing it in an instant. The cruelty made everyone shudder.  

Looking into her daughter's eyes, Li Shi saw only a cold, emotionless snake, and a chill crept into her heart.  

Nanny Yu was so frightened she couldn't utter a word, her face pale as she stared at the little girl she had watched grow up.  

The previously chaotic and noisy Second Madam's courtyard finally fell silent. Song Chuning reached for a surviving teapot, poured herself a cup of cold tea, took a sip, and then flung the cup to the floor.  

With a loud crash, the cup shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere.  

"Miscalculated," she said calmly, staring at the chaos on the floor. "That fool is making some progress."  

No one in the room dared to respond to her words.  

Song Chuning let out a laugh, one that seemed both mocking and filled with resentment. She raised her hands to take a look at the wreckage, speaking to herself slowly, "You want us to stay? Then I'll stay and show you."  

Li Shi's initial anger had been overshadowed by overwhelming unease. She trembled as she stepped forward, wanting to grasp Song Chuning's hand but hesitated just before making contact.  

She couldn't forget the expression on Song Chuning's face when she had thrown the kitten, nor could she dismiss the shock of her earlier actions.  

Although the girl was her own flesh and blood, she suddenly felt as though she had never truly known her daughter.  

Song Chuning brushed off Li Shi's attempt to touch her, stood up, and looked at her mother with the same indifferent expression as before. "Since she told you to stay, don't entertain other ideas. Don't you know she's shrewd? You're not capable enough to go against her."  

Nanny Yu rushed forward to grab Li Shi, trying to quell the turmoil in her heart while echoing her agreement.  

"What I said about Yulan being outside was a lie." Song Chuning turned to the stunned group, her gaze finally settling on Su Zhi and Su Xin. "If any news comes out tomorrow, you two, along with the night watch outside, should all head to Changsha."  

Changsha? More like the netherworld... Su Zhi and Su Xin nearly cried, nodding hurriedly.  

Li Shi watched as they left, feeling as if all her strength had drained away as she slumped onto the couch, her right eyelid twitching furiously. She irritably pressed a sheet of white paper against her eyelid, instructing Nanny Yu, "Go... keep an eye on her..."  

But what could she possibly watch over? This little ancestor didn't need anyone to look after her; she was frighteningly precocious. It would be a miracle if she didn't cause trouble for others.  

Nanny Yu hesitated and didn't move, while Li Shi buried her head in her arm, feeling lost.