"You've certainly become more eloquent since I last saw you," Nie Rong said crossly.
Song Ruotang replied with a smile, "Mother, you're overpraising me."
Wen Fang watched the mother - daughter bickering from the side and found it quite interesting. She knew that Nie Rong didn't like Song Ruotang, and she also knew the reason why Song Ruotang was out of favor.
But after her encounter with Song Ruotang today, she thought the girl was quite likeable.
"You're a bit late. The birthday banquet started a while ago. Let me show you to your seat," Wen Fang interrupted their silent battle and took Song Ruotang's hand.
A corner of Song Ruotang's sleeve was lifted, revealing a pure white jade bracelet. Song Wanying paused, her eyes changing abruptly, and she suddenly shouted.
"Isn't this my bracelet?" Song Wanying rushed forward in a hurry, grabbed Song Ruotang's hand, lifted it up, and stared at her in disbelief. "I was wondering why my white jade bracelet was missing. I thought I'd lost it, but it turns out you have it, sister..."
"Sister, you must be mistaken. This bracelet was a gift from my husband. How could it be yours?" Song Ruotang tried to pull her hand back, but Song Wanying held on tightly. "Impossible, sister. When I visited your mansion last time, weren't you wearing a jadeite bracelet?"
She looked at Song Ruotang disappointedly. "This was a birthday gift from mother. It's of great significance. I know you haven't been with our parents in the manor for the past few years and might be envious, but you can't just take my things. Taking something without asking is stealing."
Everyone among the officials who knew the Song family was aware that Song Ruotang had been sent to the manor. So, when Song Wanying said this, people's looks towards Song Ruotang changed.
Wen Fang naturally knew that Song Wanying and Song Ruotang were at odds. However, she was skeptical of this claim and just watched to see how Song Ruotang would handle it.
"Sister, just now you said there was something wrong with my birthday gift. I've already proven that it's a genuine product from Taoxiang Pavilion. That gold hairpin was a gift from my husband, and so is this jade bracelet. If my husband can give me a genuine product from Taoxiang Pavilion, can't he give me a jade bracelet?"
Song Ruotang's tone was calm and slow, but her voice was clear, making people nod in agreement. What she said made sense.
Song Wanying opened her mouth, looked around nervously, and was about to argue when Song Ruotang spoke again. "Since you claim this bracelet is yours, what evidence do you have to prove it?"
"I..."
"She surely can't, but I can," Nie Rong, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up and stepped forward to stand in front of Song Wanying. "I gave her this jade bracelet. How could I not recognize it? You stole your sister's thing and are still so argumentative. You're really ruining the reputation of our Song family!"
Nie Rong spoke firmly. Song Ruotang looked at her calmly. She had long known that Nie Rong wouldn't side with her, but she never thought Nie Rong would lie in public to help Song Wanying.
"What? No words to say?" Nie Rong was sure of Song Ruotang's isolation and said aggressively, "Now I order you to take off the bracelet immediately and return it to your sister. Then apologize to her until she forgives you."
Song Ruotang pursed her lips. "Apologize?" She slowly walked up to Nie Rong, lifted her hand to show the bracelet, and asked, "Are you sure this is the one you gave to Song Wanying?"
"Can there be any falsehood?" Nie Rong grabbed Song Ruotang's hand and tried to take off the bracelet roughly. As the crowd stirred, she seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure.
"Give it to me!" Song Wanying also stepped forward and tightly grasped her wrist. The mother - daughter duo managed to take off the bracelet. Song Ruotang's wrist instantly turned red and swollen, with bloodstains from the scratches made by Song Wanying and Nie Rong.
After getting the bracelet, Song Wanying took the opportunity to push Song Ruotang hard. She took a few steps back and fell to the ground like a fluttering butterfly.
"You still wanted to refuse to return it. You're really shameless!" Nie Rong scolded angrily. Song Ruotang's eyelashes trembled, and there was a look of grievance in her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly. "Mother, I didn't."
She propped her hands on the ground. Her clothes were already plain, but now they were stained. Her hairpin was a bit loose, and a few strands of hair fell down. A gentle east wind blew, and the strands of hair fluttered, making her look pitifully beautiful.
Song Zhen, who had been absent, showed up at this moment. Song Wanying quickly stepped forward and complained coquettishly, "Father, sister stole my bracelet and refuses to admit it. Now she's putting on this act. It's really..."
Song Zhen gave a cold look at Song Ruotang who was lying on the ground and snorted. "The jade bracelet was selected by Rong'er and me for Aying. Such a precious birthday gift, yet you stole it. Now you're putting on a show of being bullied. You're really embarrassing!"
Hearing Song Zhen's words, Song Ruotang sneered in her heart. Truly, birds of a feather flock together. People of the same kind are in the same family. Song Zhen could lie without a blush or a heartbeat.
The whispering among the crowd gradually grew louder. Now that Song Zhen and Nie Rong had testified, the public opinion was almost one - sided. There were endless jeers and sneers, all blaming Song Ruotang.
"Sure enough, a girl raised outside has no manners. She even steals from her sister."
"No wonder the Song family sent her away. With such behavior, she would surely cause trouble at home."
"I heard she was willing to be a concubine. Maybe she just fancied the family's wealth and power. Who knows if she lost her virginity before marriage?"
"It's hard to say. I heard she seduced her brother - in - law before she got married..."
"Her brother - in - law? Isn't he the eldest son of the Pei family, the fiancé of Miss Song?"
The crowd was enjoying their gossip, and Song Wanying was happy to see it. The pride and satisfaction in her eyes were obvious.
Song Ruotang deserved to be trampled under her feet. She still wanted to turn the tables? Dream on!
Song Zhen was still scolding her for pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy, and Song Ruotang just wanted to laugh.
But her act wasn't for them. It was for...
"What's going on?"
A cold voice came from behind the crowd, carrying a sense of intimidation. It was like the gavel in a courtroom, instantly silencing the noisy crowd.
The crowd stirred and automatically made way.
Pei Zhiyan was dressed in a snow - white robe with cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. It was simple, elegant, and imposing.
He looked up and met Song Ruotang's eyes. His expression changed slightly, and he walked over a bit faster.
As soon as Song Wanying saw Pei Zhiyan, she went up to him and explained actively, "Uncle, Song Ruotang stole my thing. My parents and I caught her red - handed, but she's pretending to be weak instead."
Pei Zhiyan didn't look at Song Wanying. He only walked up to Song Ruotang, looking at her red and injured arm and dirty clothes. Anger gradually welled up in his heart.
He wanted to bend down to help Song Ruotang up, but he saw her shaking her head with tears in her eyes.
She was concerned about his reputation. If he did so, their relationship would be deeply explored.
Pei Zhiyan slowly tightened his hand hidden in his sleeve. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, then turned to look at Song Wanying.