FYM - 71

Sure enough, as soon as Madam Wan finished speaking, Song Dan’s expression darkened, and his gaze toward his youngest daughter grew increasingly stern.

“Shuyan,” he said, as if warning her, “you must not show disrespect to your elder brother.”

What a laughable statement—especially since the red marks left by her eldest brother’s grip on her wrists were still vivid, and the stinging pain from her third sister’s slap was still fresh. It seemed palmistry was indeed accurate; her bond with her parents was truly as fragile as it had been foretold.

“Disrespect?”

Finally, she couldn’t help but raise her eyes to look at her father. For the first time in her life, she cracked open the shell she had built around herself in front of him, revealing the sarcasm and coldness she had hidden for years. Perhaps the last shred of dignity between them lay in their mutual effort to avoid voicing their resentment.

“In the past, you taught me that filial piety and fraternal love are the duties of children. But kindness from parents and harmony among siblings should always be reciprocal. Today, my third sister attacked me out of jealousy, and my eldest brother sided with her without discerning right from wrong. I wonder where this accusation of ‘disrespect’ comes from, and how you expect me to endure humiliation and bow to others?”

Song Dan was momentarily stunned. It was the first time he had seen his youngest daughter display such sharp defiance. Her eyes, so much like her late mother’s, now stared at him unflinchingly, leaving him both startled and embarrassed.

“How dare you—”

Madam Wan interrupted before he could finish, rising angrily in a manner that exuded menace. At that moment, she was simply a mother fiercely protecting her children, ready to tear apart anyone who dared challenge them.

“So... you really think you’ve grown wings now, daring to speak to your father like this! He raised you with immense kindness, and yet you repay him with ingratitude, disregarding the bond between father and daughter! Do you truly believe marrying into the Fang family gives you the right to act recklessly and arrogantly?”

“Kneel down this instant!”

Her torrent of scolding effortlessly shifted the conflict between Shuyan, her eldest son, and third daughter onto Song Dan. The command to kneel was perfectly logical, allowing her to punish Shuyan alongside her precious child.

But Song Shuyan didn’t even spare her a glance. Her indifferent eyes remained fixed on Song Dan. Perhaps there was still a faint hope within her that he might remember his affection for her late mother and treat her more kindly. She asked, “Father, do you also think I’m wrong?”

“… Should I kneel too?”

Though phrased as a question, her words struck Song Dan as an accusation. With his wife, children, and servants watching, he felt as though his youngest daughter had slapped him across the face, leaving a burning heat on his cheeks.

“What? Do you think you’re blameless?”

His anger finally flared up, though he didn’t realize he was merely using it to mask something far more shameful.

“Is it not your fault for allowing your maid to speak out of turn?”

“Is it not your fault for ignoring advice and fighting with your third sister?”

“Is it not your fault for defying authority and acting above your station in front of your elders?”

“Your mother didn’t misjudge you! Song Shuyan, you’ve become utterly arrogant!”

“Song Shuyan…”

It was almost amusing. Her mother had lovingly chosen the nickname “Yingying” for her, yet her father hadn’t used it once. Now, this harsh, resolute “Song Shuyan” rolled off his tongue without hesitation. She felt the last remnants of hope within her shatter into dust, scattered by the wind and vanishing without a trace.

“‘Mother’?”

She laughed again, no longer sharp or biting, but tinged with a hint of sorrow.

“Father, perhaps you’ve forgotten… She is not my ‘mother.’ She was merely a concubine elevated after my birth mother passed away.”

These words pierced through the room like a knife, striking deep. Madam Wan’s face turned even fiercer, her eldest son looked ready to strike, and even her kneeling third sister rose to confront her again. If not for her second brother desperately holding them back, the long-buried words she had kept inside might never have been spoken.

“I no longer have a mother…”

She spoke to Song Dan, word by word. Though her heart was heavy with sadness, not a single tear fell from her eyes.

“If I did, Father wouldn’t have sent me to Qiantang to be raised by my grandparents. You wouldn’t have punished me severely for a lantern when I was five. You wouldn’t have let me kneel in the hall while my stepmother took away the screen painting gifted to me by Third Brother. And you wouldn’t now accuse me of imaginary faults while excusing my third sister and eldest brother…”

“Father… I truly don’t know what I’ve done wrong…”

“I never expected favoritism from my elders. After returning home at the age of five, I only considered myself a guest here—but even guests deserve fairness. Why have you treated me so harshly?”

“Was my mother’s death my fault?”

Ignoring the commotion around her, she finally voiced the confusion and grievances she had buried for years.

“Did I cause Father to lose his wife?”

“Did I make Father elevate a concubine, leaving him too ashamed to face my maternal grandparents?”

“Did I force Father to act hypocritically, mistreating the daughter of his late wife and then despising himself?”

“Father…”

“… Was it me?”

… She had gone too far.

It was like a poisoned dagger thrust suddenly into flesh, blood gushing forth and threatening life. The shock and pain made it hard to recover one’s senses.

… But she was right.

She saw through his cold-heartedness and selfish cowardice. In truth, hadn’t he known all along that Mrs. Qiao’s frail constitution made childbirth perilous? Yielding to family pressure to marry Madam Wan and Mrs. Wu was one thing, but his insatiable desire for a legitimate son from a principal wife ultimately led to tragedy. His foolishness and partiality caused her death—a disaster born of both natural calamity and human error.

He knew the gravity of his unforgivable mistake, which was why he avoided visiting his late wife’s parents for years. Even when he did, it was half-hearted and eventually abandoned altogether. As for the child she left behind, he couldn’t bear to see her—the resemblance to her mother only deepened his guilt and pain. Ultimately, he chose escape, sending her to Qiantang to be rid of her.

The truth couldn’t be spoken. To do so would shatter the fragile facade of peace and expose the self-deception that fueled shame and rage. Song Dan was no exception. Even faced with the daughter he had wronged most in life, he lashed out ferociously. Slamming his fist on the table, his fury echoed louder than Madam Wan’s earlier outburst. No one in the household had ever seen their master so enraged. When he raised his hand, no one doubted he intended to strike his fragile fourth daughter to the ground.

“Father—”

Seeing this, Song Mingzhen quickly stepped in front of his sister, desperately shielding her and urging her to flee. But Madam Wan wasn’t about to let him succeed. She signaled to the strong maids nearby, ordering them to seize Song Shuyan and pin her to the ground, hoping her husband would beat her to death that very day.

“Who dares—”

Song Shuyan neither fled nor flinched. Standing tall and proud, she exuded an unexpected air of authority. The servants suddenly remembered that this fourth young miss was no longer the same—once she became Lady Fang, she would outrank even the mistress of the Song household.

But Song Dan was beyond reason, consumed by wrath. Pushing his second son aside, he was determined to silence his youngest daughter once and for all. Just as the confrontation reached its peak, a commotion arose outside the hall. It was Ding Yue, the private retainer of the Fang family, arriving uninvited and loudly declaring, “Master Song, please stop—”

His voice struck like a thunderclap, instantly silencing the room. Moments later, he stepped forward, firmly placing himself in front of Song Shuyan, his commanding presence reversing the dynamics of the situation.

Madam Wan, ever astute, immediately realized the Fang family intended to protect this “lowly” fourth daughter. But with Fang Xianting far from Jinling, surely they couldn’t always have their way? With a sly glance, she incited Song Dan again: “The Fang family may be the most prestigious clan of our time, but their servants are shockingly rude and overbearing! How dare outsiders interfere in our family affairs? Leave at once!”

Her tone was haughty, but Ding Yue remained unfazed. Bowing to Song Dan, he calmly stated, “Before departing north, my lord specifically commanded me to ensure the safety of Fourth Miss. Please, Master Song, do not trouble her.”

This…

Song Dan’s anger had yet to subside, and he still breathed heavily, his reddened eyes glaring at Ding Yue. Coldly, he demanded, “Ridiculous! Must I seek Lord Fang’s permission to discipline my own children? Though Lord Fang holds immense power and prestige, his hand should not reach into the inner chambers of the Song family!”

“Master Song jests…”

Ding Yue’s expression remained unchanged, standing firm before Song Shuyan without fear.

“Though Fourth Miss is of the Song family, she will soon become the mistress of the Fang household. Our lord cherishes her deeply, and we hope Master Song will be understanding.”

“You—”

Madam Wan was livid, unable to comprehend how Song Shuyan had managed to secure such meticulous protection from Lord Fang, even from afar. Ding Yue ignored her, addressing Song Dan directly: “Our lord has indeed departed north. Had he been here today, he would undoubtedly prevent Fourth Miss from being humiliated. Master Song, with your discerning eye, I trust you will not trouble our lord further.”

This carried a veiled threat, characteristic of the authoritative demeanor of those serving military marquises. Song Dan’s previously raised hand slowly retreated behind his back, though his face remained flushed with lingering anger.

Ding Yue glanced at him, then surveyed the room silently. His gaze swept over Madam Wan, the eldest son, and the third daughter before turning back to Song Shuyan with a respectful bow. Speaking meaningfully, he said, “Fourth Miss has surely read the letter from our lord. May I inquire if there is a reply you wish me to convey? If there are any unresolved matters, you may express them fully in your letter, and I will ensure every word reaches our lord without omission.”