As Wen Wan descended the mountain, her knees still throbbed with pain.

Previously, she climbed the mountain, kowtowing every three steps. By the time she reached the top, her knees were worn raw. To ensure her devotion, she didn’t apply any medicine. Today, she came in a hurry, hiding it from the family, and without bringing any maid. By the time she reached the foot of the mountain, her face was pale from pain.

Uncle Lin, the coachman, upon seeing this, wanted to support her but felt it inappropriate. He could only stand aside, concerned, "Madam, would you like me to get a doctor from the nearby town?"

He had seen Madam climb the mountain earlier, and knowing the steep stone steps, he could imagine her legs couldn’t bear it.

Wen Wan shook her head, "No need, let’s go back quickly."

The news of the Song family mourning has already gone out, and many guests are sure to come for condolences today. She couldn’t leave the mansion for too long, fearing her second sister-in-law might not manage well, causing trouble.

Uncle Lin, seeing her refuse medicine, sighed quietly and bent down to place a small stool by the carriage for Wen Wan to step on as she boarded.

Upon arriving at Song Mansion, just as Wen Wan stepped off the carriage, she heard that people from Kang Ding Bo Mansion had arrived—specifically, Lady Kang Ding and their current Fifth Miss Li Huairu, who was once Sanyang.

Wen Wan was somewhat surprised and asked the housekeeper, "Where is Fifth Miss Li resting now?"

The housekeeper hesitated for a moment, "Fifth Miss went straight to the woodshed. According to the maids there, she gave our Second Lady a severe beating."

Wen Wan gasped, hearing the housekeeper add, "Previously, there was no interaction between Kang Ding Bo Mansion and our family. At the Eldest Lady’s funeral, Fifth Miss Li cried profusely at her memorial, and now with our old lady passing, she came straight in and asked where Second Lady was held, and once inside, gave Second Lady two big slaps, then whipped her like our old lady. A maid secretly reported to the old master and the eldest young master. The old master didn’t say a word, and the eldest young master said to let it be, leaving you to decide, Madam..."

Wen Wan laughed softly, shaking her head, "That’s what the second branch owes her; let her be. When she’s tired of beating, bring her to the inner courtyard for tea, serve the best tea, and treat her well."

The housekeeper was astonished; what is the background of this Fifth Miss Li to command such lenience from the old master, madam, and the eldest young master? It’s truly baffling!

The housekeeper was still in a daze when Wen Wan asked, "Where is the master?"

"Several officials came, and the master is now entertaining them in the front hall for tea," answered the housekeeper. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

At least he’s willing to sit down for tea and conversation.

Wen Wan momentarily relaxed, but her heart ached again when she thought of the task she had to undertake.

...

West Courtyard woodshed.

Mrs. Yao stood outside with two maids from Li Mansion, while there were several coarse maids responsible for watching over Song Qi on the side. Inside the woodshed, persistent cries and pleas for mercy from Song Qi echoed as she was whipped.

"Sanyang, Sanyang, I was wrong, I truly know my mistake, please stop hitting me, if you continue, I... I might truly die."

Holding the whip, Li Huairu looked at the bloodied, disheveled Song Qi lying on the ground with a cold voice, "At Hongwen Academy, you would sneak to the gates of Imperial College every day to peep at Young Master. Coming home, you were restless, running to Liang Mansion to seduce your brother-in-law. How could the Song family have such a shameless daughter as you?"

Upon hearing this, Song Qi’s already bloodless face turned even paler.

Years ago, during a meeting when Song Jiao and Liang Jun had gone for a spring outing, she had met Li Run, the young man who had won her heart at first sight.

Later, at Hongwen Academy, she realized that only one street separated Imperial College and Hongwen Academy. Once, she accidentally saw Li Run entering and exiting Imperial College, knowing then that he studied there too. Since then, she would look for opportunities to wait at Imperial College gates, pretending to wait for someone, but in truth, it was just to catch a glimpse of Li Run.

On the day of the Qixi Festival, half of the young women in the Capital went to Fahua Temple for Yun Liulang, while she went hoping to encounter Li Run, because she overheard the day before that Li Run and several others were going to Fahua Temple for prayer.

Unfortunately, there were too many people that day, and all she saw were young women. Not only was there no encounter, she didn’t even catch sight of Li Run, which left Song Qi depressed all day, unable to muster any spirit upon returning home.

She had never told anyone about her feelings for Li Run, how did Sanyang know?

Before she could think further, Li Huairu struck her again, rendering Song Qi unable to even cry, tears streaming uncontrollably, "Sanyang..."

Thinking of her wrongfully dead eldest sister and grandmother who was angered to death by this despicable woman, Li Huairu’s eyes involuntarily reddened.

If, if at the beginning it was Second Sister who was abandoned, and she stayed with their father and mother, today, her eldest sister should still be living peacefully, soon able to have her own little treasure, and grandmother would coldly demand to hold him, talking disdainfully, yet cherishing him more than anyone.

The more she thought, the harder Li Huairu’s hand struck, until Song Qi fainted.

She pushed the door open and walked out, facing Mrs. Yao’s full face of tension.

"Ruru, how is she?" Although Mrs. Yao didn’t like Song Qi after hearing what happened, it was still a life. If she really died, the Li Family would have no shortage of troubles.

"She won’t die." Li Huairu said indifferently, having already restrained the rage she had felt earlier.

Having experienced the despair of being abandoned in an earthquake, she always thought she was invincible. But when she actually heard that something happened to her relatives here, especially her kind eldest sister and her grandmother who never scolded her as a worthless girl, she realized she was just an ordinary person, someone with all the seven emotions and six desires.

"Ruru, are you alright?" Mrs. Yao noticed her emotional state wasn’t right.

"I’m fine, mother, let’s go." Li Huairu no longer wanted to stay in this place; every moment was nauseating to her.

When Second Lang’s wife heard the news that Sanyang came to mourn the old lady, she temporarily handed her tasks to Ye Ling and hurried over. She saw Mrs. Yao holding Sanyang’s hand, coming out of the West Courtyard, followed by two maids from the Li Mansion.

Second Lang’s wife stood there in a daze, mouthed open as if she wanted to say something, but Sanyang ignored her. She walked quickly, soon leaving the West Courtyard entirely and heading towards the memorial hall.

Second Lang’s wife pursed her lips, and all the words she didn’t say turned into a helpless sigh.

At this moment, the maid responsible for watching over Song Qi approached her. "Second Madam, the Second Miss was beaten unconscious by that Fifth Miss Li."

"Go in and see, if she’s not dead, then don’t bother with her." Second Lang’s wife instantly turned her sadness cold.

When she had left Sanyang behind back then, taking this wretch to the Capital, causing her own sister’s death and angering the old lady to death... Sanyang must resent her, hate her, even look down on her, right?

Thinking of these things, Second Lang’s wife felt even more blocked at heart.

...

After Mrs. Yao and Li Huairu finished mourning in the memorial hall, they were taken to the inner courtyard by the housekeeper, who originally wanted to arrange a tea house for them to sit and have tea. However, Li Huairu requested to see Wen Wan.

The housekeeper was somewhat troubled; the Madam had not given such an instruction.

Li Huairu had long since discarded the viciousness from whipping Song Qi. At present, she was just a clear-eyed little girl. She softly said, "Please bother Mama to report this."

The housekeeper had no choice but to go to the Qingteng Residence to relay the message from the Li mother and daughter.

Wen Wan anticipated that Li Huairu would come to see her, showing little surprise on her face. She instructed the housekeeper to bring them in, asked Yun Cai to pour tea, and before long, Mrs. Yao and Li Huairu appeared at the Qingteng Residence.

Wen Wan had just secretly applied some medicine, her knee still aching, but her expression was calm and amicable, revealing no peculiarity.

After the two were seated, Wen Wan said, "During Jiaojiao’s funeral, I heard the Kangding Bo Mansion attended. The Song family thanks you for this kindness on her behalf."

Mrs. Yao sighed lightly, "She was Ruru’s own elder sister. We couldn’t be one family in life, but after death, our Ruru should fulfill this courtesy for her."

Li Huairu looked at Wen Wan, "Third... How does Mrs. Song plan to deal with Song Qi?"

Wen Wan could see that Li Huairu cared a lot about this issue, as if she feared that the Song family, for the sake of reputation and the bigger picture, would protect Song Qi.

"That child committed an offense." Wen Wan said, "But she didn’t directly kill anyone. I can’t send her to the government to be sentenced, so I can only use family rules and clan rules to deal with her. As for how, there is no conclusion yet."

"If you let her go, it would truly be chilling." The little girl clenched her fists, her words spoken through gritted teeth.

Wen Wan smiled faintly, "I must give you an account for your deceased sister and grandmother."

...

With her knee injured, Wen Wan feared that going out might reveal her abnormality, so she rested in her room for half the afternoon. When Song Wei returned after sending off the last batch of guests, he found her lazily lying on the beauty couch, her legs stretched straight.

Knowing she had been exhausted recently, Song Wei sat down, intending to massage her calves, but Wen Wan skillfully avoided him. She lowered her eyes, "Third Son, I have something to tell you."

Wen Wan usually called him "husband," occasionally "Mr. Song," but seldom addressed him directly as "Third Son."

Song Wei’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm, "What is it?"

Wen Wan looked away, "When the coffin is returned to our hometown, I won’t go along. Once mother’s funeral is over, let’s get separated!"