The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 103 - The Confrontation

Li Shi had been so anxious lately that her tongue had developed sores. She had sent people out ten days ago, but there had been no news. In her mind, dealing with a little girl like Song Chuyi should have taken only three or four days, even with Song Jue and Song Ren around. After all, they were busy dealing with the Tatar soldiers and couldn't spare much time for Song Chuyi.

Thinking about this, she found the teacup in her hand unbearably hot and set it down heavily on the table.

It's fine, it must be fine, she reassured herself.

Perhaps no news is the best news. After all, Tongzhou is filled with Tatar soldiers now, making it difficult to send messages back and forth.

Her mother had said she specifically hired idle beggars and thugs, about twenty in total, and even equipped them with sharp hunting bows. Most importantly, the person she sent to deliver clothes to Song Chuyi would also relay information to them. With such inside and outside coordination, Song Chuyi couldn't possibly escape, even if she had wings.

No matter how she tried to comfort herself, her heart felt like it was weighed down by a stone, making her uneasy. The door opened, and sunlight poured in as Nanny Yu entered.

Li Shi stood up abruptly, her expression anxious. "How is it? Is there any news?"

Nanny Yu's face looked troubled. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and tried to keep her voice calm. "The master and young master have returned with the sixth young lady! They should be at the second gate by now. It seems the sixth young lady is unharmed..."

"How is that possible?!" Li Shi was speechless, her eyes wide with shock. She had to support herself on the table to keep from collapsing. She raised her voice and demanded, "How is that possible? She came back safe and sound?!"

What were those thugs doing? They couldn't even handle a little girl under ten! She had paved the way for them, found an insider, and even handed them the weapons, yet they still failed!

Nanny Yu, also in a panic, supported Li Shi and said nervously, "What should we do now, My Lady?"

There had been no news from the thugs they sent out. Who knew if they were dead or alive? If Song Ren and Song Jue had captured them, it would be a disaster!

Li Shi angrily pushed her hand away, feeling a surge of heat rising within her. All the worry, frustration, and anger of the past few days came flooding back. She slammed the teacup on the table, shattering it and sending pieces flying.

"What do you mean, what should we do?!" Li Shi sneered through gritted teeth, feeling the pain in her jaw. "She came back safe and sound, without a scratch. What could possibly happen? Even if something did happen, who can prove it was me? What does it have to do with us?!"

The thugs had no direct contact with her; it was all arranged through Old Lady Li. Even if they wanted to point fingers, they had no way to do so.

Besides, they were just small-time thugs. How could they implicate a noble family?

"Yes, yes," Nanny Yu quickly soothed her, patting her back. "It has nothing to do with us. Don't worry, don't worry."

"How could she not be anxious? Li Shi felt a lump in her chest, unable to go up or down, feeling so uncomfortable that she wanted to scream.

But as a loving stepmother, she not only couldn't scream, but had to suppress all her anger to comfort this daughter who had experienced the 'Tartar Rebellion.'

Her face turned red from holding back, and she finally managed to calm herself down. She suppressed her unease and anger, changed her clothes, and headed to Ningde Courtyard with Nanny Yu and Song Chuning.

At this moment, Old Lady Song was so shocked that she couldn't speak. She looked at the row of people kneeling below with shock and anger, pointing at them several times, but in the end, she couldn't say a single word.

The thick stack of papers in Nanny Huang's hand clearly told her that everything Song Chuyi said was true.

But how could she believe it?

Not to mention that Li Shi had always behaved with utmost virtue and kindness over the years, even if Li Shi wanted to do such things, she didn't have the capability. She was a marquis's wife who never stepped out of the house, how could she hire thugs to do such things?

As soon as Li Shi entered the door, she saw the extremely strange atmosphere.

The First Lady sat beside the old lady with an uneasy expression, her face looking worse than ever.

Something had happened. Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay calm. She rushed forward and hugged Song Chuyi, her eyes turning red: 'Little Sixth! You're back. Mother heard that something happened in Tongzhou and was so worried... Thank heavens you're safe...'"

Old Lady Song looked at the mother and daughter with a strange expression, her heart already in turmoil.

Such a scene had played out in front of her countless times, but never had she felt such a strong urge to sneer.

Song Chuyi had already struggled out of Li Shi's embrace, her face stubborn yet tearful as she pointed at the group of people kneeling on the ground and asked, "Thank heavens? Mother, do you hope something happens to me, or do you hope nothing happens to me?"

Song Chuning's gaze suddenly turned cold, staring at the group for a long time, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

Li Shi felt a boom in her heart, her whole body stunned, looking at the group of people unable to speak for a long time.

They were caught. So many people were all caught!

Useless! She cursed in her heart, then felt resentment towards her own mother. She had always said to find trustworthy people, preferably from the manor, but her mother wouldn't allow it. How could these thugs care about loyalty? They must have confessed everything.

But then she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Even if these people confessed, so what? Even if they accused her, so what?! Where was the evidence? The witnesses? They hadn't even seen her!

"Little Sixth!" She suddenly rushed towards Song Chuyi again, grabbing her arm with an incredulous expression: "What do you mean by this? Are you saying that mother did something wrong?"

The First Lady's gaze fell on the stack of testimonies, and her face instantly turned cold.

From beginning to end, Song Ren and Song Jue knew nothing about this... Song Chuyi only caused a scene after returning home and seeing the Old Lady... What does this mean? Does it mean distrust towards the main family, thinking they are colluding with Li Shi? Or does it mean that only the Old Lady can make decisions in the family?

Song Chuning's sobs echoed in the room, and only then did Old Lady Song realize that besides the adults, there were also children present. She quickly ordered someone to take all the girls out.