Volume One, Chapter Five: Immediately Clear Out Deer Song Residence!

Inside the carriage, Aunt Fenruo could no longer stand by and watch.

Even if Song Qinghuan had achieved nothing in the past ten years, she certainly did not deserve to be treated with such cruelty—especially not by the third son of the Song family, her own twin brother, born of the same mother!

Song Shuche was shocked to find that Aunt Fenruo, a trusted attendant of the Empress Dowager, had accompanied Song Qinghuan back to the manor. He glared at his sister, his eyes filled with fury. This wretched woman had not only brought someone from the palace but had deliberately kept it from him to make him lose face in front of the Empress Dowager!

Though his teeth were clenched in rage, Song Shuche dared not lash out. He forced himself to bow his head and offer a salute. "Aunt Fenruo, what brings you to the Marquis's manor?"

"Does the Third Young Master really need to ask?" Aunt Fenruo gave a cold scoff, her gaze filled with disdain. "Had I not come, I would never have known the life Miss Song has been forced to endure in this house."

Seeing that Aunt Fenruo was there to back Song Qinghuan, Song Shuche’s resentment only deepened. Song Qinghuan was truly shameless, fawning over the Empress Dowager to get her way. The Song family had always prided itself on integrity and purity, like the noble chrysanthemum; how had they produced such a thick-skinned, disgraceful daughter?

Aunt Fenruo ignored him. She glared at the servants who were restraining Song Qinghuan and, once they released her, ignored Song Shuche’s protests and led her straight into the manor.

To Song Qinghuan, her past life felt like a fleeting glimpse. Returning now, she found with a daze that many things she had once cherished had been replaced by things preferred by Song Mingzhu. Even with a heart turned to stone, she could not help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Song Shuche followed behind, his face dark.

"Someone," Aunt Fenruo commanded, "clear out Luming Pavilion. Restore it exactly as it was when Miss Song lived here!"

"Yes!" Several palace servants who had traveled with her stepped forward immediately.

Seeing this, Song Shuche exploded. "Fenruo! I respect you as an elder of the palace, so I have held my tongue, but you will put down my sister’s things this instant!"

"How noisy," Aunt Fenruo said, narrowing her eyes with a cold sneer. "The Third Young Master truly has his priorities upside down. You ignore your own flesh and blood standing right before you, yet you spend your days doting on someone else's sister."

"I am here under the Empress Dowager's decree to look after Miss Song. If you are dissatisfied, you are welcome to enter the palace and explain your grievances to her yourself." She turned back to the servants, her expression icy. "What are you waiting for? Get this pile of junk out of here."

Just then, Song Mingzhu hurried back. Seeing her belongings being hauled out of Luming Pavilion, her eyes welled up with tears. She rushed forward, clutching her skirts. "My things!"

"Third Brother, what is happening? Have I done something wrong to deserve this?" Song Mingzhu was a master of performance; she began acting before she even understood the situation. She tugged at Song Shuche’s sleeve, tears trembling on her lashes, looking utterly pitiful.

When Song Shuche remained silent, she bit her lip and looked around. Spotting Song Qinghuan standing in the courtyard with Aunt Fenruo, she immediately grasped the situation. She put on a look of pleasant surprise. "Sister Qinghuan, you’ve returned! This is wonderful..."

She reached out to take Song Qinghuan’s hand, but was rebuffed. Sensing the rejection, a flash of disdain crossed Song Mingzhu’s eyes, though she quickly suppressed it. She glanced at Aunt Fenruo and realized the truth: this wretch, Song Qinghuan, had sought the Empress Dowager’s protection the moment she returned.

Her eyes darted, and the tears she had been holding back spilled over. She put on a look of profound grievance and apologized. "Sister Qinghuan, I didn't mean to! You were far away in Rongdi, and since you are the only daughter of the Song family, there was no one left to serve Mother. That is why I came to the Jing'an Marquis manor."

"Please, Sister, look clearly—I never intended to usurp your place. Even if I had the courage of a tiger, I would never dare do such a thing..." As she wiped her tears, she watched Song Qinghuan closely. Seeing her remain cold and impassive, Song Mingzhu grew frustrated. She gritted her teeth and turned to run. "Since Sister Qinghuan is back, it is time for me to leave! Third Brother, I can no longer serve Mother..."

She covered her face, sobbing as if her heart were breaking.

Song Shuche’s heart twisted with pain. His Mingzhu was so virtuous; she had lived in this manor for ten years without ever suffering a grievance or shedding a single tear. Now, because of that wretch Song Qinghuan, she was weeping! How dare she!

"Mingzhu!" Song Shuche grabbed her hand. "You have served this family with all your heart, and Third Brother knows it. The whole house knows it. Do not worry—I will not let you leave in such a state!"

Song Mingzhu felt a surge of joy, though she continued to play the part of the dutiful sister, shaking her head while wiping her eyes.

Aunt Fenruo and Song Qinghuan watched the scene. Aunt Fenruo’s expression remained frigid. Having accompanied the Empress Dowager from the rank of a minor concubine to the pinnacle of power, she had seen every dirty trick in the book. She had seen many people like Song Mingzhu—twisting facts and putting on a show—but she had never seen anyone so shamelessly brazen. If she hadn't intended to "usurp the magpie's nest," why would she have replaced everything in the room?

The Empress Dowager had said it clearly: Song Qinghuan had gone as a hostage for the sake of the Tianqi Empire. To slap Song Qinghuan’s face was to slap the face of the entire empire.

"Someone!" Aunt Fenruo commanded. "Pass on the Empress Dowager's decree: clear out Luming Pavilion immediately. Replace everything with new items and prepare it for Miss Song to move in!"

Song Mingzhu turned pale. Song Shuche glared at her with hatred, but Song Qinghuan remained cold, offering him no warmth at all.

The palace servants were efficient. Soon, Song Mingzhu’s belongings were discarded like trash.

Across two lifetimes and a span of ten years, Song Qinghuan had finally returned to her own home. Everything felt like a world away. Watching the shamelessness of the Song family, Aunt Fenruo couldn't help but sigh. She wondered for whom Song Qinghuan had sacrificed herself to become a hostage; such an ungrateful group of people had truly wasted a decade of her kindness.

Aunt Fenruo took Song Qinghuan’s hand. "Miss Song, stay in your own quarters. No matter what happens, come to the palace and find the Empress Dowager. She will back you."

"Thank you, Aunt," Song Qinghuan replied with a faint smile, looking around her.

Reclaiming Luming Pavilion was only the first step.