Chapter 58: Chapter 58: If Her Father Hadn’t Exchanged a Life for a Life

First, Nanny Tian suffered a “ghost’s haircut,” losing all her hair overnight. Then her son got into trouble, his legs broken in a dispute before he was carried home.

Nanny Tian had her son late in life and couldn’t bear to let him go out to work, so she begged Mrs. Liu for a cushy job to keep him in the manor. Banking on his mother’s status as a senior nanny and one of the madam’s favorites, the son did nothing but eat and laze about, often running outside to stir up trouble.

No one in the manor was surprised that he had his legs broken. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

But he was Nanny Tian’s only son, and she doted on him like he was the apple of her eye. As soon as she recovered from the initial shock, she ran to find Mrs. Liu.

Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Liu quickly sent someone to summon a doctor.

Seeing her son, Nanny Tian started wailing uncontrollably. One moment, she was saying she would report it to the authorities; the next, she was cursing the person who harmed him to a gruesome death.

Mrs. Liu also went to visit, but her brow furrowed the moment she saw the scene. After mustering a few words of comfort, she had her maid help her leave.

When Song Lianhe heard the news from Shuang Ye, she said in surprise, “Did Nanny Tian offend someone? First, her head was shaved bald, and now her son’s legs have been broken… Hey, what do you mean by looking at me like that?”

Shuang Ye looked at her mistress and said darkly, “Nanny Tian only just offended you yesterday, and today so much has happened. To call it a coincidence… well, then it can only be a coincidence!”

Song Lianhe scoffed. “If you can’t explain it convincingly, you don’t have to bother explaining it for my sake.”

Ah Yu, meanwhile, looked up at Xuan Mei.

Song Lianhe and Shuang Ye looked at her as well.

Xuan Mei raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to go kill him now?”

The three of them averted their gazes in unison.

’Okay, so it wasn’t her.’

Regardless of who did it, or if it truly was a coincidence, Song Lianhe never wasted brainpower or time on irrelevant people.

After breakfast, she got ready to go out.

“Sister Mei and Ah Yu, come with me to the shop. Shuang Ye, you watch the house.”

Having given her instructions, she led them out of the small courtyard.

Who would have known she would be stopped just as she reached the manor gate.

“The Madam has given an order: the Second Miss may not leave the manor.”

Song Lianhe was taken aback. “Why can’t I leave the manor?”

“These are the Madam’s orders! Second Miss, please return!”

Now Song Lianhe was not happy.

’I wasn’t even thinking of going to cause you trouble, but you’ve decided to restrict my freedom first!’

She shot a sideways glance at Xuan Mei.

Without a word, Xuan Mei drew her sword with a flurry of slashes—SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!

Ah Yu shielded Song Lianhe and pulled her back. “Be careful, Miss.”

Song Lianhe nodded emphatically. “Once Sister Mei’s sword is unsheathed, it must draw blood… Be careful not to get any on you.”

The guards, who had been resisting, couldn’t help but fall back to either side upon hearing her words, clearing a path to the wide gate even as they parried.

Song Lianhe smiled. “That’s more like it. Harmony brings wealth.”

With a crook of her finger, she led Xuan Mei and Ah Yu away, swaggering out the gate.

On the road, she turned back to ask Xuan Mei, “Have you thought about it? How about coming to work for me?”

’The villain’s underlings are all so valiant and skilled in battle. They couldn’t be more impressive!’

Xuan Mei glanced at her and said only, “The Prince was my benefactor,” before dropping the subject entirely.

*

In the Imperial Garden, the fifth month brought a riot of colorful blossoms and the long shadows of willows.

This flower-pinning banquet, hosted by Empress Chun De, was the first imperial banquet of the year. Ostensibly, it was to entertain the imperial concubines and various officials’ families, but in truth, everyone knew it was a matchmaking event for the palace’s unmarried princes. Therefore, all those in attendance were the impeccably dressed, high-born ladies from prominent families.

Originally, both Mrs. Liu and Song Xilan had been on the invitation list. But ever since she was publicly mocked by some of the officials’ family members, Mrs. Liu had stopped appearing at such occasions.

Mrs. Liu knew very well that she was not a lady from a great house; her own father was a mere fifth-rank military official. If she hadn’t saved Song Xingfeng’s life at the cost of her own, she would never have even dared to dream of her current wealth and status.

But in the eyes of some, this kind of coerced marriage was contemptible. Furthermore, with Lin Shuniang holding rank above her, no matter how beautiful or charming she was, she was still just a concubine who couldn’t be presented in high society. Forget the arrogant wives from other officials’ families; even the Empress, who affected a kindly demeanor, held disdain in her eyes for her.

Besides, she didn’t want to drag her daughter into it.

After all, her daughter was considered one of the top young ladies in Ling’an City. If she stayed out of the public eye, she could spare her daughter the humiliation of being mocked on her behalf.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep