The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 130 - Estrangement

Translator Xiaobai: I have a deadbeat father so I'm even more angry at Song Yi. What kind of father would think that his daughter made things up to harm her stepmother? You are truly foolish and blind, Song Yi.

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Inside, the room was cool and pleasant, with occasional sounds of cicadas and frogs coming from outside. Through the skylight, the stars were twinkling. After laughing enough, Song Yi's face turned somber as he stood up. He couldn't accept that Li Shi was a scheming, ruthless woman—after all, they had shared a bed for six years, and he had spent the best years of her life with her. He couldn't forget the time she brought him a bowl of hot soup when he was punished to recite in the freezing snow. He remembered last year when Li Shi, lying in bed, softly apologized for her wrongs against Cui Shi and promised to be kind to Song Chuyi and Song Yan from then on. A pang of sadness struck his heart.

"Mother, why couldn't you wait until I came back? Even if you had convicted her, did you have to push her to death?!" He got agitated again, wanting to vent his anger by kicking doors or people: "Now she's dead. Of course, it's easy to lay any blame on her!

Old Lady Song wanted to slap him again, but she knew more slaps wouldn't wake him up. Disappointed and angry, she realized the Li family had the audacity to write to Song Yi, making them the villains.

"Nonsense!" Song Chengru suddenly burst into the room, not even changing his clothes. He swiftly kicked Song Yi and shouted, "Kneel down!" Naturally afraid of his father, Song Yi immediately dropped to his knees without hesitation.

His son had left his post and returned to the capital without a word, and now, without knowing the whole story, he was questioning his mother and suspecting Song Chuyi and the Cui family of framing Li Shi. Enraged, he slapped the back of Song Yi's head, "Is this how you speak to your mother?"

Done with discussing Li Shi's death, Song Chengru impatiently threw all the collected evidence in Song Yi's face. "If you think Li Shi is innocent, then look at these!" He watched as Song Yi picked up the testimonies, sneering, "Read them carefully and see if she's innocent or if you're just foolish!"

Presented with the facts, Song Yi's face turned a deep, liverish color. He sat dejectedly on the ground, trembling as he read the testimonies. The young girl he once adored, remembered for her shy smiles, had harbored such sinister intentions and orchestrated Cui Shi's death. He felt a whirlwind of emotions—hatred, resentment, guilt, and self-blame—leaving him disoriented, as if he might shatter at any moment.

Song Chengru watched him, feeling a sigh building up, but instead, he sneered, "Do you still think we falsely accused your wife? Do you think we didn't want to wait for you? Do you think I didn't want to divorce that immoral woman, Li Shi?! If she hadn't acted quickly, I would have called you back to divorce her myself!"

The room fell into an unbearable silence. Old Lady Song, seeing her son's deteriorating state, felt a pang of pity and took a deep breath, calling him to get up. "I know you cared for her, but think of Cui Shi. She respected and honored you, and Li Shi deserved her fate!"

"And think of your children..." Old Lady Song said, trying to console him, "They have had a hard time under Li Shi, especially Xiao Yi, who almost lost her life in Tongzhou... Li Shi deserved to die. If you let this ruin your relationship with your children, then you're not fit to be a father!"

Song Yi instinctively wanted to argue, thinking of how everyone had seen how well Li Shi had treated Song Yan and Song Chuyi over the years. But now, in such a short time, everyone had changed their tune. He said nothing, clenching his fists, and remembered Li Shi's tearful plea: "Xiao Yi is adorable, but what did Ning'er do to deserve this...?"

Song Chuyi and Song Yan were now cherished by Old Master Song and Old Lady Song, with the Cui family also protecting them, receiving all the care and attention. But what about Song Chuning? Song Yi felt a pang of sorrow as he recalled the tears and grievance in his daughter's large eyes.

Whether it was due to his inability to face the truth or a subconscious desire to escape out of guilt, he avoided mentioning Song Chuyi and Song Yan. Instead, he calmly looked at Old Master Song and Old Lady Song and said, "This time, I want to take Ning'er with me."

Old Lady Song, shocked, exclaimed, "What?!"

"Ning'er is too young. With Grandmother now taking care of little Sixth, it's difficult to look after her too. Leaving her alone in the Marquis's residence isn't suitable. I should take her with me to look after her," Song Yi said quickly, clutching the stack of testimonies tightly, "Especially now that her mother is dead. She must be frightened and anxious... I can't leave her here alone."

Song Chengru remained silent, his face stern. Meanwhile, Old Lady Song felt a growing heaviness in her heart—Song Yi was clearly not going to come around anytime soon. Who knew how long it would take for him to see sense? If they didn't let him take Song Chuning, there's no telling what might happen. But if he did take her while ignoring Song Chuyi and Song Yan, their resentment towards him would only deepen...

As the night grew darker and the wind picked up, the lotus lanterns hanging in the trees swayed gently. In the flickering light, Song Chuning slowly smiled. She had already said that even if Nanny Yu died, it would be in vain. Even if Old Lady Song and Old Master Song knew that Nanny Yu's death and the fire at Songtao Garden were connected to her, it wouldn't matter. Li Shi was already dead, and someone like Song Yi would only become more wary and guilty towards Song Chuyi and Song Yan, while feeling immense sympathy and pity for her.

At this point, suggesting that this six-year-old girl was capable of murder and arson would likely break him. Old Lady Song and Old Master Song wouldn't let Song Yi destroy himself. She would gradually drive a wedge between Song Yi and Song Yan and Song Chuyi, eventually turning them against each other. Thinking they were safe under Old Lady Song's protection? Song Chuning looked at her plump, youthful fingers and slowly drew a mocking smile across her lips.