Volume One, Chapter Four: Yes, I Am Unworthy

Song Qinghuan's cheeks burned with pain.

She had heard such curses countless times in her past life.

These words could no longer pierce her heart.

Aunt Finruo, who accompanied her in the carriage, was stunned by the scene awaiting Song Qinghuan upon her return to the Song family, so much so that she forgot to even step out of the carriage.

Song Qinghuan raised her eyes to look at Song Shuche. “Today is our first meeting after ten years apart as siblings.”

“So what?” Song Shuche’s face twisted with contempt.

Not only were Song Qinghuan and Song Shuche full siblings, but they were also twins—a dragon and phoenix pair.

Seeing the brother who had been born and raised alongside her now beating her mercilessly, Song Qinghuan’s lips curled with disdainful sarcasm.

“Qinghuan merely stopped by the imperial palace before coming home to personally thank the Empress Dowager for bringing me back.”

Upon hearing this, the sneer in Song Shuche’s eyes deepened.

“Bah! The Song family isn’t worthy of you entering the palace. Don’t you even consider your own status?” Song Shuche narrowed his eyes, examining her with a knowing look. “You’re so sycophantic, running to the Empress Dowager’s palace as soon as you return to Tianqi. I suppose back in Rongdi, you survived by crawling on your knees, flattering the enemy?”

“A lowly woman like you disgraces the Song family’s century-old honor.”

“Just seeing you makes me feel unlucky!”

Heh.

At these words, Song Qinghuan only smiled. “Third Brother, don’t forget, it was by the Empress Dowager’s decree that I was brought back.”

“Are you implying that Third Brother finds the Empress Dowager unlucky?”

Song Qinghuan looked at him steadily, leaving no room for reply.

“You!” Song Shuche was incredulous.

He hadn’t expected that after a trip to Rongdi, Song Qinghuan would become so sharp-tongued, lacking even the slightest gentleness expected of a woman.

Now, with her coarse appearance and unruly behavior, she had utterly disgraced the Song family. Compared to Mingzhu, she was worlds apart.

Such a person was unworthy of returning to the Song household!

His face darkened like ink as he shouted, “Enough, Song Qinghuan! Your clever words and defiance have brought shame to our Song family!”

“Mother said, with your current status, it’s inappropriate for you to dirty the Song household’s reputation by entering the main residence.”

“The Song family has arranged a separate courtyard for you outside. From today onward, you will stay there quietly and never bring disgrace to the family again!”

Song Shuche swept his sleeves and left, clearly showing his impatience with Song Qinghuan.

Her gaze was shallow, memories flooding back to the past.

The separate courtyard prepared by the Song family for her was hardly any better than the harsh prison of the Rongdi Department of Punishment.

That place was dilapidated, remote, bitterly cold in winter and unbearably hot in summer.

Moreover, the servants there were cruel, seeing her as an unloved young lady and tormenting her with neglect and deprivation, leaving her malnourished and gravely ill.

Living there was worse than living in a doghouse.

Fully aware of the Song family’s shamelessness, Song Shuche’s insults barely scratched her.

She glanced covertly at Aunt Finruo still inside the carriage and deliberately asked, “Third Brother, if you want Qinghuan to live in the separate courtyard, what about the courtyard that once belonged to me?”

“Of course, Mingzhu lives there now!”

In the past, Song Qinghuan had been favored in the Song family.

As the only legitimate daughter, she once held the best residence.

But in her previous life, all of that was stolen by Song Mingzhu.

This time, she vowed to reclaim everything that was taken.

Her belongings, even if broken or lost, would never be given away willingly.

Feigning confusion, Song Qinghuan said, “Third Brother, what nonsense is that? Why would Mingzhu live in my courtyard? Even if she is a distant relative of the Song family, how can she be worthy of residing in my place?”

Hearing this, Song Shuche grew impatient. “What distant relative? Mingzhu is not someone a lowly woman like you can humiliate!”

“Since you left the capital, Mingzhu has moved into the Marquis Residence.”

“Mother has already decided to acknowledge Mingzhu as her own daughter.” Upon hearing Mingzhu’s name, an arrogant and proud gleam flashed in Song Shuche’s impatient eyes.

“Heh,” Song Qinghuan laughed.

“You already have a daughter but want to claim another as your own.”

“Don’t you fear becoming the laughingstock of others if these words spread?”

“Silence!”

“How dare you compare yourself to Mingzhu?” Song Shuche narrowed his eyes with disdain. “You spent ten years in Rongdi and never showed filial piety before Mother. Mingzhu has been the one who accompanied her all these years.”

“Though she is not Mother’s biological daughter, she is more like one and naturally qualifies to be adopted under Mother’s care!”

Song Qinghuan was not angered but stepped slowly toward Song Shuche.

“Yes, I am unworthy.”

“Song Mingzhu has lived well these past ten years, eating well and dressing lavishly, living freely and comfortably, unlike me, who wakes earlier than the rooster, sleeps later than the dog, and eats worse than a pig.”

“But if it weren’t for your battlefield failure and missed opportunities, how would I have fallen into the Rongdi court?”

Coldness filled Song Qinghuan’s eyes.

In terms of national strength, Tianqi and Rongdi were almost evenly matched.

If the Song family’s forces had not been misled by Song Shuche’s tactical errors, giving Rongdi a chance to exploit, Tianqi would not have lost. Nor would Song Qinghuan have been forced to replace the princess as a hostage to Rongdi to atone for the Song clan.

All of this was caused by the Song family.

Yet they had the nerve to despise her for merely surviving, to scorn her coarse appearance and unruly temperament, and to transfer their so-called ‘family love’ to another—it was despicable.

Surprised by Song Qinghuan’s relentless advance, Song Shuche’s expression darkened further.

He was the legitimate heir of the Marquis of Jing’an, while Song Qinghuan was nothing but a lowly woman who had consorted with barbarians and survived only by slavishly flattering the enemy. How dare she speak so confidently in his presence?

How could she be worthy?

“Fine, fine, if you’re so stubborn, then kneel down and reflect in front of the Marquis Residence!”

With that, Song Shuche gave a signal to the servants nearby.

Two men immediately rushed forward and reached out to press Song Qinghuan down.

“Song Qinghuan, since you are heartless and ungrateful, returning only to offend your brother, today I will teach you a lesson in place of Mother!”

Song Shuche narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, raising his foot to kick Song Qinghuan’s knee.

The sudden pain made her face pale instantly. She raised her head and glared at Song Shuche.

“Song Qinghuan, kneel down and apologize immediately!”

Song Shuche’s face was like a wolf’s, more repulsive than the bandits of Rongdi.

Seeing Song Qinghuan stubbornly refuse, Song Shuche sneered coldly, showing no regard for their past ties.

After searching nearby for a moment, he grabbed a thick stick by the door and swung it towards Song Qinghuan’s bent leg.

At the critical moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the carriage.

“Stop!”