The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 106 - Old Accounts (Part 2)

Things were no easier on Song Ren's side. Although Cui Yingshu wasn't as direct as First Lady Cui in showing her displeasure, he didn't hold back either. Upon arrival, he presented Lianyi's testimony and even brought along Nanny Zheng, the midwife who had delivered Cui Tingting.

Completely unprepared for the Cui family's sudden visit after several years, especially to investigate Cui Shi's death, Song Ren was shocked and had no idea how to respond. On this hot day, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He had no knowledge of the events from back then, but it was clear that the Cui family came fully prepared, with witnesses and evidence all in hand. There was no room for denial.

"This..." Eldest Master Song, never one skilled at arguing, was utterly flustered, stammering, "This..."

Song Jue was even more dumbfounded. The second aunt he had always respected turned out to be such a vicious person—pregnant before marriage, causing the death of the previous second aunt...

Suddenly, he felt that the Song family's rules were laughable. If the Cui family hadn't come to confront them, would they have continued letting someone as heartless as Li Shi manage the affairs of the second branch and control the lives of Song Chuyi and Song Yan?

Realizing that the situation was beyond what he and his father could handle, Song Jue quickly went out and found a servant, instructing him to ride to the yamen and fetch Song Chengru.

Nanny Yu was on the verge of tears, utterly helpless, and looked at Song Chuning with wide, desperate eyes.

She had no idea how to handle the current situation. With the murder plot being exposed, knowing the personalities of Old Lady Song and Old Master Song, Li Shi would undoubtedly face severe consequences.

Suddenly, Su Zhi, who had been waiting for news at Ningde Courtyard, burst through the door. Nanny Yu stood up quickly: "How is it?! Have they decided what to do? Where's the lady?!"

Su Zhi's face was even paler. After running around in the hot weather for half a day, she panted heavily before finally catching her breath and urgently said, "It's bad now, First Lady Cui is here!"

First Lady Cui?! Nanny Yu didn't immediately grasp the situation. But when it sank in, she collapsed onto the ground in shock.

First Lady Cui, the legitimate daughter of Prince Zhuang, niece to the current emperor, and married into the esteemed Cui family... The only person Old Lady Li feared more than Old Lady Cui was First Lady Cui herself.  (Translator Xiaobai: I'm glad our Chuyi has such a powerful aunt!)

But now, this terrifying figure had traveled all the way from Jinzhong, clearly having caught wind of something... Even if she hadn't, her arrival would undoubtedly force Old Lady Song to harshly punish Li Shi. This First Lady Cui was not only of noble birth but also domineering, indulged even by the emperor. Old Lady Song would have to show her some respect, and besides, Li Shi had indeed done wrong...

Song Chuning cast a cold glance at Nanny Yu, feeling uneasy as well. She had seen First Lady Cui in her dreams. After Song Chuyi's death in the dream, First Lady Cui had stormed into their home and slapped Shen Qingrang more than a dozen times, looking as though she wouldn't stop until he was dead—even though, by then, the Cui family had been suppressed by the newly enthroned Prince Duan.

Clutching her temples, she could feel the veins throbbing under her skin.

"It's all over..." Nanny Yu stared at Song Chuning. "Miss, you must think of something... Think of something!"

Of course, she had to think of something! Even though she didn't have a real mother-daughter bond with Li Shi, they were still mother and daughter by blood. If Li Shi were to be cast out, how would she find her place in the future?

"Send someone quickly to find my maternal grandmother," Song Chuning whispered to Nanny Yu, carefully lowering her voice. "Do it fast! Explain everything. I have no voice in this matter, and no one else in the house will speak up for my mother. We can only rely on my grandmother now!"

It was Old Lady Li who had ordered the attempt on Song Chuyi's life. When the time comes, they can find a few servants from the Li family to take the blame. At worst, they'll face some scolding from the Cui family... That would be better than Li Shi being isolated and forced to bear the full burden of this crime.

There was no better plan at the moment. Nanny Yu dared not delay and immediately sought out a few of Li Shi's personal maids.

Li Shi, now backed into a corner, found herself losing ground step by step. First Lady Cui's sharp words, backed by solid evidence, stabbed into her like knives, leaving her utterly defeated.

"I've seen shameless people, but never anyone as shameless and inherently wicked as you!" First Lady Cui, ignoring the First Lady's attempts to stop her, pointed directly at Li Shi's face and cursed, "You call yourself a lady from a respected family? Ha! I've never seen any so-called 'lady' seduce another woman's husband, let alone one who would provoke the wife with letters after stealing the man! And you even dared to bribe a midwife to cause the wife to have a difficult labor..."

First Lady Cui, enraged, finally couldn't hold back and slapped Li Shi across the face. "Where did you get the nerve?! How dare you think you're worthy of being addressed as 'Second Lady' like Tingting?! She came from a truly noble family, a proper lady from a prestigious clan, while you're nothing but a crow trying to pass off as a phoenix with fake feathers!"

Because of Li Shi's guilt and the disparity in status, no one in the room dared to intervene. Li Shi wept pitifully, gasping for breath as she stumbled backward.

First Lady Cui kicked Li Shi behind her knees, causing her to stagger, then turned to face Old Lady Song. "Old Lady, you've always been fair and just. How do you plan to handle this?"

As she spoke, she let out a low, mocking laugh. "If you can't make a decision, I'll have no choice but to ask my uncle to step in."

Li Shi collapsed onto the floor, finally regaining some sense. She crawled over, clutching Old Lady Song's legs, crying uncontrollably. "Old Lady... please save me... I didn't..."

Old Lady Song was already furious, and her elderly mind, often slow to process, only now fully grasped the source of First Lady Cui's anger. It wasn't just because Li Shi had gotten involved with Song Yi before marriage, but because Li Shi was implicated in Cui Tingting's death!

Though Li Shi came from a decent background, she was nowhere near the stature of Cui Tingting. Moreover, Cui Tingting had been formally and rightfully married, while Li Shi had shamelessly thrown herself at Song Yi without regard for her reputation.

Old Lady Song's heart filled with rage and disappointment from being deceived. With a fierce kick, she sent Li Shi sprawling.

The Cui family had come storming in for justice, armed with evidence. If the Marquis's residence dared to protect Li Shi, not only would the ties between the Cui and Song families be severed, but the Song family's reputation would be utterly ruined.

She could not, and would not, sacrifice the Song family's name or their relationship with the Cui family for such a morally bankrupt daughter-in-law.

"Send someone to invite Old Master Li and Old Lady Li here," Old Lady Song turned to instruct the First Lady. After watching her leave, she faced First Lady Cui and said, "Today, the Li family will have to give both our families an explanation!"

She was on the verge of losing her own dignity because of Li Shi. Years ago, she had thought Li Shi's only fault was getting involved with Song Yi before marriage, but she never imagined that Li Shi had been carrying the burden of Cui Shi's death on her conscience.