The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 83 - Confession

In her previous life, Li Jingshu seduced her father and caused her mother's death. She then married into the Song family as the second wife, making Song Chuyi and Song Yan call her mother for over twenty years.

The most despicable part was that she turned herself into a disgraceful waste and sent Song Yan to the underworld.

Song Chuyi felt a pain in her throat as the despair and unwillingness from the end of her life overwhelmed her. She clenched her fists and looked expressionlessly at Qingtao's parents.

Nanny Xu was terrified, thinking Song Chuyi was scared, and hurriedly patted her shoulder.

Where did Song Chuning get the confidence to say she hated her back then?

Her mother and daughter stole everything that should have been hers, even taking over her mother's place and causing her death. They received all of Song Yi's love and care, watching coldly as she and Song Yan were grateful to them.

After a long silence, she finally found her voice and looked at Qingtao's parents with a complicated expression: "I asked you to find out about the people who served my mother back then. I didn't expect you to be in the know."

Qingtao's father glanced at her nervously and immediately kowtowed repeatedly, speaking sincerely and straightforwardly: "Sixth Miss, it was wrong of us back then..."

Song Chuyi turned to look at Qingtao behind her, her heart surging with emotions.

Although Qingtao's parents ultimately stopped aiding the wicked, they later tried every means to get Qingtao into the Marquis's mansion, hoping she could serve Li Shi. This showed they still had a heart to repay Li Shi.

She had recruited Qingtao because she admired her intelligence, and now it seemed there were more benefits than one.

The room was silent for a while, and Song Chuyi's expression was very different from usual, making even Nanny Xu dare not speak.

It was Qingtao's mother who broke the silence first, crying sorrowfully: "Although we didn't actually do anything, we were still part of the Li family... If Sixth Miss resents us, we have nothing to say. But Xiaotao is truly loyal to you; otherwise, we wouldn't have revealed these secrets from years ago... Please, Sixth Miss, give her a chance for her loyalty..."

Song Chuyi finally came back to her senses. She looked at Qingtao, who was already in tears, and slowly shook her head: "I don't intend to blame you. You were just following orders. Besides, if it weren't for Uncle stopping in time, my mother might have been in trouble long ago."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh and then asked with renewed spirit: "Besides this, did you find any information about the servants who used to serve my mother?"

"Yes." Qingtao's father straightened up and said seriously: "The head of the estate back then was the one who handled it. I spent over a month dealing with him and finally got some information."

Nanny Xu was a bit excited, her face turning red with excitement, and she hurriedly asked: "Whose information? Do you know where they are?"

She had grown up with the people who served Lady Cui, and over the years, she had tried to find out about them but never succeeded. Hearing there was news now, she was so excited that she lost her composure.

"They were all given mute medicine..." Qing Tao's father's voice was somewhat hoarse. "They were sold far away to Guizhou..."

Guizhou is such a distant place. Li Shi is truly ruthless and cunning.

Nanny Xu felt a bit sad and cold-hearted, her eyes reddening uncontrollably. "What a sin..."

The four maids who used to serve Cui Shi were all so lively and beautiful. Who would have thought they would end up like this, given mute medicine and sold to Guizhou? Considering Li Shi's vicious nature, who knows what filthy places they were sold to.

Thinking about how they used to be more noble than ordinary young ladies, but now so pitiful, Nanny Xu gritted her teeth tightly, wishing she could eat Li Shi's flesh.

Song Chuyi was also a bit stunned. "Guizhou?"

So far away, and without knowing the exact location, finding them would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Seeing Song Chuyi's disappointment, Qing Tao's father dared not keep her in suspense any longer and quickly said, "One of them wasn't sold. The headman's son happened to take a liking to one of the maids and begged the headman to secretly keep her. It seems her name is Lian Yi, and now everyone calls her Second sister-in-law."

Hearing the familiar name, Nanny Xu quickly nodded at Song Chuyi. "Yes, yes, there is a Lian Yi!"

Song Chuyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "Have you had any contact with her?"

Qing Tao's mother shook her head. "Very little. The headman and his wife are cautious people and rarely let her out. She doesn't even have to do farm work, spending most of her time in the house cooking and taking care of the children. I once tried to talk to her, but was turned away."

"They are really well-guarded."

Song Chuyi pondered for a moment and then asked, "How far is Li's estate from here?"

"In Yongshun County, about half a day's drive," Qingtao's father replied, seeing through Song Chuyi's intentions. "But the headman is very cautious, making it difficult to talk to Lian Yi."

Yongshun? If she remembered correctly, Yongshun County suffered the most in her previous life. Amid her panic, a flash of inspiration struck Song Chuyi as she suddenly thought of Ye Jingchuan.

Perhaps she could use Ye Jingchuan's influence to rescue Lian Yi without anyone knowing.

With a plan in mind, her expression improved significantly. She looked at Qingtao's parents and nodded, "I have one more question for you. Qingtao said you had decided to follow me. Are you still sure about that now?"

If there was any uncertainty before, there was no hesitation now.

Qingtao's parents gritted their teeth and nodded repeatedly.

"Then you might as well not go back," Song Chuyi said with a smile. "My stepmother probably doesn't have much time to deal with your matters. If you go back and slip up, it might be unsafe. Just stay here at this estate for now. As for your servitude status, I'll find a way to handle it."

Qingtao's parents, worried about being troubled if they returned and nervous about revealing Li Shi's secrets, quickly agreed to Song Chuyi's suggestion.

Qingtao, with red eyes, came over to thank her. Song Chuyi supported her, preventing her from kneeling, and then got up and walked out of the room step by step.

Her previous life had been too bitter, so bitter that even living again couldn't bring her peace. Perhaps it was because she hadn't accumulated enough virtue. Thinking that she still had tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, with her grandmother and younger brother at home, her heart softened. She thought that if she treated others kindly and accepted those who showed her kindness, maybe the heavens would see her sincerity and be kinder to her family in this life.