The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 65 & 66 - Sudden Change

The Fifth Lady, Wang Shi, stood in Old Lady Song's room with a rebellious expression, showing not a trace of guilt.

Old Lady Song hurled the bracelet at her face and sneered coldly, "Wang Jinshi, a person needs to have a conscience! You know very well how we've treated you all these years. Despite all your wrongdoings, everyone gave you some leeway, but to harbor such a venomous heart... you are unworthy of being human!"

The Fifth Lady's head tilted from the blow, and a red mark quickly appeared on her fair face. She calmly touched her cheek, then slowly picked up the bracelet and put it on, looking at Song Chuyi, who stood behind Old Lady Song, with a smirk. "This bracelet? Isn't it beautiful? The craftsmanship is first-rate, and the tortoiseshell inlaid in it is hard to come by these days. Why, does Little Sixth not fancy it?"

Her indifferent demeanor, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, made Old Lady Song's anger flare.

Song Chuyi, however, knew that the Fifth Lady had a cold and heartless nature. She didn't even show a shred of motherly love to her own children, let alone to the Song family. No amount of scolding would affect her in the slightest.

Holding Old Lady Song's hand, Song Chuyi leaned in and whispered softly, "Let it go, Grandmother. It's pointless to reason with someone like her."

How could you reason with someone who has no conscience?

Old Lady Song closed her eyes briefly, then turned her gaze to the two maidservants standing beside Wang Jinshi—Tangyuan and Yuanbao.

"From now on, your Lady will stay here under my watch, and I will assign people to serve her. As for the two of you, the First Lady will reassign you to serve elsewhere."

Tangyuan and Yuanbao were filled with unease, but they dared not speak and, suppressing their fear, kowtowed before leaving.

Suddenly, the Fifth Lady exploded in anger, taking several steps forward and pointing at Old Lady Song. "The people serving me were personally chosen by the Empress Dowager. I've grown used to them. I won't allow them to be replaced!"

Old Lady Song gave her a sidelong glance, and Ziwei stepped forward, brushing off the Fifth Lady's hand with a mocking smile. "Oh dear, Fifth Lady, be careful. The Old Lady's health isn't great. With those fierce looks, you might just scare her."

Old Lady Song, too, gazed at her, seemingly puzzled. "I remember when you knelt before the Empress Dowager and swore that from then on, you would regard the Song family as your world. How long has it been, and you've already forgotten?"

The Fifth Lady's face flushed pale with fury as she bit her lip and finally erupted. "Don't bring up the past! The past?!" She flung her wide sleeves, her once-ladylike demeanor gone. "How dare you mention the past?! If it weren't for your arrogance, accepting that imperial marriage decree..." She choked on her words, her voice breaking.

If the Song family hadn't accepted the imperial decree, the Duke of Ying's family would have.

The Duke of Ying's family had long been close with the Duke of Cheng's family, visiting each other like relatives. She and Shen Xiaohai had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, and their futures had been tacitly approved by both their parents...

But then the Song family accepted the imperial marriage decree. She had pleaded with the Empress Dowager for half a month, refusing food and even trying to starve herself, but to no avail.

Thinking back to those dark days, a fierce hatred burned in the Fifth Lady's eyes. "You ruined my life! And now you still expect me to regard the Song family as my world? You're dreaming!"