Song Xilan bit her lip hard, tears glistening in her eyes.
Zhou Junlin's brows had been tightly furrowed, and he was about to speak up for her when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
He looked up to see Su Huaqing slowly shaking his head.
'This is the Song Family's private affair. Besides, as Song Lianhe's fiancé, he should, by all rights, be on her side, seeking justice for his late mother-in-law!'
The previous General's wife was no ordinary woman. She was the sole daughter of Marquis Xuan Chang and had earned her own military honors fighting alongside Song Xingfeng on the battlefield!
This was why the Holy Emperor had decreed the marriage, bestowing upon them supreme glory.
Even though Mrs. Liu had already entered the Song household—a deathbed request from one of Song Xingfeng's old generals who entrusted his daughter to him—she still had to accept the position of a concubine. And no matter how much Song Xingfeng doted on her, he only ever promoted her to the title of "Second Madam" after his wife's passing.
Though only a single word separated "Madam" from "Second Madam," the difference was a mountain that had weighed on Mrs. Liu her entire life!
So, it would be highly unwise for Zhou Junlin to speak up for Mrs. Liu and her daughter. If word of this reached the imperial court, some official would inevitably seize the opportunity to file a memorial against him.
Zhou Junlin pressed his lips together, his expression stern, and remained silent.
'Putting aside the fact that he loved Song Xilan, he also held the late General's wife in high esteem. If Song Xingfeng really was throwing a grand celebration on the anniversary of her death, then his actions were indeed inappropriate. It was no wonder Song Lianhe was lashing out.'
Seeing the tide turning completely against them, Mrs. Liu was so enraged she swayed on her feet. Fortunately, Nanny Tian was quick to react, rushing forward to steady her. "Madam…"
Mrs. Liu whispered urgently, "Quick, make her shut up!"
'She couldn't understand when Song Lianhe had become so articulate. In the past, her only way of showing displeasure was to throw a fit. The angrier she got, the bigger the scene she made, and she always ended up a laughingstock. Song Xingfeng would be too busy flying into a rage to even remember that it was the anniversary of his late wife's death!'
'But today, it was as if Song Lianhe had suddenly had an awakening. She didn't cry or make a scene. With just a few calm words, she had torn away all their masks.'
'Especially when Lianhe said that *they* were the true family, Mrs. Liu could feel several questioning gazes land on her.'
As Mrs. Liu's trusted confidante, Nanny Tian understood immediately. She shot a look to the servants on either side and announced in a loud voice, "The Second Miss's old ailment is acting up again, and her mind is clouded. Hurry and escort her back to her room to rest!"
Su Huaqing heard this and shook his head, muttering to himself, "Ah, a poor move."
And just as he predicted, when the household servants moved to drag Song Lianhe away by force, she simply lifted the lid of the wooden box held by Shuang Ye and respectfully brought out a memorial tablet…
"Mother, today is the anniversary of your death. I've brought you here so you can see with your own eyes how these people treat your daughter. If you are watching from the great beyond, perhaps you can visit them at midnight and claim justice on my behalf."
With that, Song Lianhe clutched the memorial tablet and placed it at the head of the main table.
The moment they saw the memorial tablet, everyone froze.
She was practically summoning a spirit to battle. What servant would dare step forward now?
—
Outside the banquet hall, a man in black robes stood with his hands folded.
Only at the moment Song Lianhe brought out her mother's memorial tablet did his once-languid eyes slowly lift. His gaze fell on the woman's graceful figure.
The corner of his lip twitched into a smirk. "Not entirely stupid, then."
A dark-faced guard beside him asked in a low voice, "My lord, are we still going in?"
The man glanced inside. "Today is the anniversary of General Li Hua's death. It would be inappropriate to shed blood."
The guard watched his master stride away. 'That's not what he was saying before we came!'
'His exact words were:'
'"No one will stop me today. I'm going to flay that woman alive!"'
—
As Song Lianhe departed, clutching the memorial tablet of her mother, General Li Hua, her mood had visibly brightened.
She passed by Zhou Junlin. For the first time, he lifted his gaze to focus on her. It was the first time he had truly looked at his fiancée since their engagement was announced.
But Song Lianhe didn't spare him a single glance. With her beautiful eyes half-lidded and the corners of her lips curled up, she didn't seem to care in the slightest who saw her triumphant expression!
Zhou Junlin's jaw tightened. He didn't even seem to notice his own fist clenching after he looked away.
"Tsk, tsk. How interesting! Very interesting indeed!"
Su Huaqing fanned himself with his feathered fan, a rare glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
"Ziyin, this fiancée of yours is truly fascinating!" Ignoring the icy glare shot his way, he deliberately poked at the sore spot. "Heh, you see? She didn't even glance at you as she left. It seems the rumors of her being devoted to you until death are not entirely true, are they!"
Zhou Junlin's brows snapped together as he shot Su Huaqing a cold glare.
Su Huaqing paid him no mind, his smile unwavering. "Don't glare at me. I'm not the one whose affections have strayed."