Chapter 25: Returning to Her Maiden Home

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Wen had already whisked Song Xirui over the back wall and returned her to her room.

When Luo Yun'er turned to look, the door was already open.

Song Xirui stared blankly at Luo Yun'er on the ground, a cold sneer tugging at the corner of her lips. "Luo Yun'er, what exactly do you want?!"

"Song Xirui?" Luo Yun'er blurted out instinctively, then realizing her mistake, she quickly corrected, "Cousin-in-law, you—you were in the room?"

Song Xirui’s gaze grew icy. "If I were not in my room, where should I be? Why are you making such an endless racket today and attempting to barge into my quarters?"

Panic surged in Luo Yun'er’s heart.

Impossible! Song Xirui was definitely not in her room today.

She cast a glance at Hongdou, frowning. "Little girl, my cousin-in-law is clearly not ill. Why did you say she was?"

Hongdou looked at Song Xirui, curled her lip, and said, "My Mistress has been suffering from headaches recently. Although she can get up, she feels extremely lethargic, which is why she wouldn't open the door!"

Song Xirui nodded. "That is exactly the case."

She stepped forward to stand before Luo Yun'er, her expression cold and stern. "Luo Yun'er, have you made enough of a scene? Have you forgotten your status, or do you need me to remind you?"

She assumed the posture of the mistress of the house, leaving Luo Yun'er at a loss for what to do.

Struggling to her feet, Luo Yun'er said, "If that’s the case, then let the Old Mistress decide!" With that, she turned and left.

Hongdou slumped onto the threshold, letting out a sigh of relief only after she watched Luo Yun'er run out of the courtyard.

Once Song Xirui went inside and the two closed the door, Hongdou began to sob, her mouth pouting. "Mistress! You’ve finally returned! The young cousin-miss knocked all afternoon; she gave me such a headache with all her noise!"

Song Xirui comforted her with a few words, and the two discussed the day's events.

As she spoke, she calculated in her mind how to extricate herself from the Su family. Luo Yun'er’s relentless pestering today meant she had surely discovered something. Furthermore, it would be increasingly difficult for her to meet with Xiao Yunci in the future.

Just as she was thinking this, Lady Li, instigated by Luo Yun'er, arrived.

As it turned out, the Su family had used the fifteen hundred taels of silver offered by Luo Yun'er to purchase grain, only for it to catch fire again today. Upon hearing Luo Yun'er’s claims that Song Xirui was up to something, Lady Li didn't care whether it was true or false; she had brought people and marched over in a fury.

Without a word to Song Xirui, she immediately issued orders.

"Take everything out of the young mistress's room, lest some unclean person steals it!"

The servants began to act.

"Old Mistress, these are all the Mistress’s dowry! How can you seize them?" Hongdou’s eyes widened in shock.

"Is it your place to speak, you little wench? Get lost!" Having been infuriated multiple times today, Luo Yun'er’s resentment toward her had boiled over, and she gave her a hard shove.

Song Xirui reached out to catch her, preventing Hongdou’s head from hitting the corner of the table. However, her hand was still grazed, leaving a red mark.

Song Xirui’s eyes sharpened.

Just as Hongdou was about to say she was fine, she heard Song Xirui cry out, "Hongdou, what’s wrong? Is your leg unable to move?"

Hongdou froze for a second, then immediately caught on. "Wuwuwu, Mistress, my leg hurts so much! Wuwuwu..."

"That’s impossible, I only gave her a light push," Luo Yun'er said hurriedly.

"Luo Yun'er, how cruel you are! You have already stolen my husband’s heart, and now you want to seize my position as the mistress of the Su family!"

Song Xirui gritted her teeth, her voice trembling as she addressed Lady Li. "Mother-in-law, if you are so fond of your niece, then let her be the mistress of the Su family! I am taking Hongdou back to the Song residence! I can no longer stay in this Su mansion!"

"No, you cannot!" Lady Li waved her hands in a panic, shouting, "Stop! Do not touch the young mistress's dowry!"

The servants halted.

Lady Li hurriedly tried to persuade her. "Xirui, you must understand, a woman returning to her maiden home is a great disgrace! I was only listening to Yun'er, who said your maid was troublesome; I feared she might take things from your room to sell, which is why I resorted to this! Would a mother-in-law really covet the things in your possession?"

"Whether you covet them or not, it no longer matters to me." Song Xirui’s eyes were red, her heart cold and weary. "I have been married into the Su family for a month, and disaster has followed disaster. Even my husband accuses me of causing trouble. Since that is the case, I shall leave and let your family of three live your lives in peace!"

Lady Li continued to plead, but Song Xirui barked a sharp order: "Someone, pack our things, let’s go!"

As soon as she spoke, the servants from her own courtyard rushed in.

Before Lady Li could stop them, Song Xirui said with grim satisfaction, "Mother-in-law, these are the servants I brought with me. I am taking them today, and you have no grounds to stop me!"

Lady Li was left speechless. Not daring to physically confront her, she could only watch helplessly as she packed her belongings and left.

Beside her, Luo Yun'er’s face turned deathly pale. Song Xirui was cutting the ground out from under them!

—

Half an hour later, at the Song residence.

"Young Miss, you’ve returned!?" The steward, having received word, hurried out of the mansion to greet her.

Song Xirui nodded gently. "Uncle Huang, is Father in the residence?"

Uncle Huang smiled. "He is. When the Master heard you were back, he rushed to change into a new robe, and the Mistress is waiting for you as well!"

Song Xirui’s eyes turned red. "Good, let’s go quickly."

When they reached the front courtyard, Lady Song walked over quickly and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

Feeling the warmth of her mother’s body, Song Xirui felt an immense sense of peace, and she choked out, "Mother."

"You child, why didn't you send word ahead of time!" Lady Song patted her back gently. "Have you been wronged? I told you to come home sooner, but you wouldn't listen!"

Song Xirui looked up from her mother’s embrace, tears spilling uncontrollably. "Mother, I didn't want you to have to step in for me; I wanted to handle it myself."

Before she could finish, a roar erupted. "Nonsense!"

Song Xirui looked up to see her father rushing over in a hurry, his face flushed with anger. "Did your mother and I raise you to be a lone wolf? If you are wronged and don't return home, don't call yourself Song Jing’s daughter!"

Seeing Song Xirui’s reddened eyes, his voice softened instantly.

"Alright, don't cry. Your father has heard everything. That Su Yun is an ungrateful wretch. If it weren't for you holding me and your mother back, we would have already gone to bring you home. Come inside, let’s talk."

Song Xirui nodded, breaking into a tearful smile.

After some pleasantries, she told her parents what had happened at the Su residence. Lady Song was so enraged she wanted to go to the Su family gate that very night to splash it with dog blood!

Song Xirui stopped her. "Mother, I misjudged the person. Fortunately, Su Yun and I have not yet consummated the marriage. Since he has betrayed me this way, I will ensure his reputation is ruined so that everyone knows he is a heartless scoundrel!"

"The fire has just started, and I am waiting to see the results."

Only then did Lady Song listen to her.

—

After the family talked intimately for a while, Song Jing called Song Xirui into his study.

"Xirui, you are actually in contact with Xiao Yunci?" Song Jing frowned. "Xiao Yunci’s achievements are great enough to threaten the throne, and he is particularly feared by the Crown Prince. He is currently injured; if something happens to him, it will surely implicate you."

He did not care if the Song family was implicated because of Song Xirui, but he feared that Song Xirui would fall into a desperate situation because of the Song family's affairs.