Volume 1, Chapter 7: Sentencing Song Qinghuan to Kneel in the Ancestral Hall

Song Qinghuan lowered her gaze.

As a young woman sent alone to the land of the barbarians—a place that devoured people whole—what benefit could she possibly gain? She could only walk her path in utter solitude.

She remembered when she first arrived among the barbarians; to control her, they forced her to consume a poison that could trigger at any moment. The agony, piercing her heart and eroding her bones, was beyond description. She had been forced to grit her teeth and endure it with all her might.

She was thrown into the penal court, becoming the lowliest of slaves. Not only could the powerful figures of the Rongdi tribe bully her, but even the other servants imprisoned there could torment her at will. With no other choice, Song Qinghuan had to turn her own flesh and blood into thorns to strike back at them. Knowing that she was unwelcome there, she had long since stopped caring for their approval.

Song Qinghuan spoke indifferently, "Madam Song, now that you have seen me, I shall take my leave." She turned to walk away.

Seeing such insolence, Madam Chen gritted her teeth. "Stop! Who said you could leave?"

"You ill-mannered wretch! You dared to bully Mingzhu earlier—apologize to her at once!" Madam Chen signaled to the matron beside her. The woman understood and immediately stepped forward, grabbing Song Qinghuan’s arm to block her path.

Song Qinghuan lifted her eyelids and looked at Song Mingzhu, but remained silent.

Song Mingzhu watched this scene with disdain, then put on a mask of concern. She turned to Madam Chen and said, "Forget it. Sister Qinghuan is the true legitimate daughter of this house; it would be improper for her to apologize to me. Perhaps it is I who shouldn't be here. In that case, I had better leave."

As Song Mingzhu made to depart, this display of retreating to advance was truly cunning.

Seeing Song Mingzhu about to leave, Song Shuyan was immediately displeased. He reached out to stop her. "Mingzhu, why belittle yourself for that wretch? You are a daughter of the Song family, my own sister—you need not leave because of her!"

"Exactly!" Madam Chen agreed with a nod.

Song Mingzhu stood there, looking like a lost, helpless little beast, unsure of what to do next. Seeing her bewildered and aggrieved expression, Madam Chen’s face darkened further. She patted Song Mingzhu’s hand, ready to vent her anger on her behalf. She glared at Song Qinghuan and said, "Though you have returned from the Rongdi, you have brought back all the foul temper you cultivated there."

"You are no longer fit to be a daughter of the Song family."

"Now that you are back, as your mother, I must teach you a lesson so you understand your place!"

"Someone, drag Song Qinghuan to the ancestral hall to reflect on her actions!" Madam Chen commanded mercilessly.

The Song family’s ancestral hall was cold and damp at this time of year. In her past life, Song Qinghuan had been unwilling to anger Madam Chen, so she obeyed, kneeling in the hall until the dampness seeped into her old wounds, causing her such excruciating pain that she writhed on the floor in agony.

In this life, Song Qinghuan would no longer be obedient.

She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Madam Song, by doing this, are you not afraid of the Empress Dowager finding out?"

"What if the Empress Dowager finds out? I am an elder of the Song family; it is only right and proper that I punish you!" Madam Chen looked at her fearlessly, relying on her status as her birth mother to glare coldly at her.

Although she had long known how little the Song family cared for her, hearing it confirmed still brought a pang of bitterness.

The pain in her heart was dense and suffocating, like vines wrapping tightly around it.

Seeing Song Qinghuan standing motionless, Song Shuche grew impatient. He stepped forward to grab her arm. "Come with me!"

"Ugh!"

Song Qinghuan’s arm had been crushed under a horse’s hoof while being mocked by the barbarians; being yanked like this sent a wave of agony through her, causing her to instinctively squint. Song Shuche, as if he saw nothing, continued to pull her arm with force. "Today I will teach you some manners and make you understand your place!"

The next moment, a throwing knife flew in from outside.

*Whoosh—*

*Thud!*

The knife plunged into the back of Song Shuche’s hand!

"Aaaah!" Song Shuche clutched his hand and screamed, glaring at the doorway. "Who! Who is the one courting death who dares to do this!"

Just then, a figure slowly appeared at the threshold.