After a long while, Song Yanrou walked out from behind.
She had changed into a new set of clothes, but her hair was still a bit damp, so she had only tied it up.
Although she looked much better than before, her complexion was still somewhat pale. Her spirits were not good, and the scars on her face, despite being covered with medicinal powder, were still clearly visible.
The old madam looked at Song Yanrou, her brows furrowed. "What were you thinking? You were so determined back then, doing what you did, and insisting on marrying this man. Now, you've only been married for two days. If you regret it, how will the Song family explain themselves? Where will your father's reputation in court be placed?"
Ultimately, it was still the matter of "face" that couldn't be overcome.
Song Yanrou understood the old madam's meaning.
She lowered her head, not speaking, perhaps unable to utter the words.
Song Chaoyu also knew why Song Yanrou couldn't speak. She gently comforted her, "Third Sister, now that things have come to this, there's nothing you can't say. Although Grandmother might not be able to come up with a perfect solution for you, it's still better than living in hell like this, isn't it? Third Sister, this might be your last chance. If you have any thoughts, you must speak them out."
Whether it was Nie Pingshu's patience or something else, Song Yanrou, after listening to Nie Pingshu, finally began to nod. "I... I'll say it!"
Her eyes welled up again. "Grandmother, your granddaughter regrets it! I've regretted it for a long time! In fact, I regretted it even before I got married! But I didn't know what to do. Your granddaughter made a terrible mistake, please save your granddaughter!"
As if she had completely come to her senses, she fiercely wiped the tears from her face. "Even if your granddaughter becomes a nun or a concubine on a mountain in the future, or is confined to her room forever, she doesn't want to spend another moment in that place! I beg you, Grandmother, save your granddaughter!"
After saying that, she knelt before the old madam again and began to kowtow forcefully.
"Dong dong dong—"
She struck her head with great force, only stopping when the maids and servants came forward to restrain her.
Her face was also streaked with tears, and the skin on her forehead had turned red from the impact.
The Song family's old madam was not heartless. Seeing Song Yanrou in such a state, she could only sigh. "If you were not yet married, perhaps there would be a way. Now, what do you want us to do?"
Song Yanrou's eyes were filled with despair.
But the old madam's tone shifted. "However, letting them bully our Song family's girls like this is unacceptable! If you ask me, you should hold on for another three to five months. Once we find their fault, we can naturally find a way to have them divorce. Since you've returned now, they won't dare to bully you too much."
As she spoke, the old madam turned to look at Song Chaoyu. "Fourth Girl, this time you will personally escort your Third Sister back. Give them a good talking-to, and let them understand how they should treat the Song family's girls in the future."
Song Chaoyu was a little surprised. Such a matter had fallen upon her?
However, she did not refuse. Song Yanrou also grabbed Song Chaoyu's hand. "Fourth Sister, it was all my fault before! I shouldn't have treated you that way! I beg you, save me!"
The old madam was tired of Song Yanrou, but she couldn't ignore her. She also wanted to train Song Chaoyu.
So she stood up and said to Song Chaoyu, "Alright, Fourth Girl, you can handle this matter as you see fit! Remember one thing, although our Song family in the capital is not a particularly high-ranking family, we are not afraid of a mere servant's family! Do what you need to do, and don't worry about anything else. You sisters can talk amongst yourselves; I'm going back to rest."
She turned and left, leaving the Madam of the Household somewhat bewildered. "This... this is quite a mess. It seems to have nothing to do with me, the mistress of the household?"
But looking at Song Yanrou, her gaze was as if she were looking at a plague god. "Alright, alright, stop crying! Don't you have your Fourth Sister now? You two go and sort things out, and don't disgrace the Song family."
Song Chaoyu watched her leave, and felt Song Yanrou grip her arm even tighter. "Fourth Sister, thank you!"
Song Chaoyu shook her head. "Third Sister, you can stay with me tonight, and you can tell me about their family situation."
—
This night, the moonlight was faint and dotted with stars, and the boudoir was warm and gentle.
Song Chaoyu's room was warm, but Song Yanrou felt a little uneasy.
She looked around and sighed. "Everything from the past in the Song family feels like a dream. Now... I finally know what it feels like to wake up from a dream. Before, my aunt and I coaxed the Madam of the Household and the Second Sister so much, but when trouble really came, not one of them cared about us!"
After the Second Aunt had an accident, Song Yanrou had actually understood this.
But when she got married, she still hoped that the Madam of the Household might treat her well out of past affection.
Who knew that despite her repeated pleas to the Madam of the Household, she had turned a deaf ear.
Even knowing how miserable her wedding day was, the Madam of the Household had not paid her any attention.
In her helplessness, she had to find a way to seek help from Song Yanjiao, hoping that Song Yanjiao could help her.
But she couldn't even enter the gates of the Ning Prince's mansion!
She waited at the gate of the Ning Prince's mansion for a long time, only to be met by a maid from Song Yanjiao's side.
She would never forget the maid's disdainful look as she looked at her. "You are merely a concubine's daughter of the Song family. Our Princess Consort is very busy right now! You still want to see the Princess Consort? Save yourself! The Princess Consort doesn't want to see you. No matter what it is, don't come looking for the Ning Princess Consort again! The Ning Princess Consort doesn't want others to know that she has a sister who married a servant!"
Song Yanrou's eyes reddened as she spoke, and she even felt a hint of hatred. "At that time, I vowed that I would never go to her place to find trouble again! But where else could I go?"
Thinking of her previous life... Song Chaoyu felt that she could understand Song Yanrou.
She sighed softly. "I'll go back with you tomorrow. While I can't promise you'll be as comfortable as you were in the Song mansion, it's still better than your current situation."
This time, Song Yanrou truly looked at Song Chaoyu. "Fourth Sister, thank you! I wronged you before, and I will never be like I was before. I never expected that the only person willing to help me now would be you."
"It's alright, Third Sister."
If Song Yanrou could understand, Song Chaoyu naturally did not want to become her enemy.
That night, Song Yanrou slept exceptionally peacefully, as if she hadn't felt so at ease in a very, very long time.
By dawn, when she got up, Song Chaoyu had already risen.
Outside, Pillar's family had already come to "pick up" Song Yanrou.