After being divorced, she overturned the capital and seized the empress's position!

"Grandmother, I would rather die than marry that scoundrel Han Feng!" Song Yao said, her eyes red and her neck stiff.

The old lady glanced at Song Yao indifferently, the coldness in her eyes instantly softening Song Yao's temper.

Seeing this, Yuan Fuling quickly pulled Song Yao behind her and met the Grand Madam's gaze: "It's not too late to talk about it after this matter has calmed down. She doesn't necessarily have to marry Han Feng."

Song Hengchuan, who had come to his senses, also pleaded for Song Yao. The Grand Madam did not express her opinion, but questioned Yuan Fuling, "You searched Yuehua Pavilion and caused such a scene. You will personally go and apologize to Yue'er later."

Yuan Fuling wanted to refuse, but when she met the old lady's murderous gaze, she had no choice but to compromise.

"Alright, all of you may leave." The Grand Madam waved her hand and gave the Duke of Jingguo a wink.

After everyone had left, only the mother and son remained in the room. The old lady asked, "What exactly did that girl say to you?"

"She said that the Emperor already knew that the Duke of Jingguo's mansion was colluding with the Shen family and the Prince of Zhennan's mansion in secret, and that he was thinking of choosing another ruler. The Emperor was not dealing with the Duke of Jingguo's mansion because of her two children. If she could not protect them, the Duke of Jingguo's mansion would be doomed."

The Duke of Jingguo gave a brief account.

The old lady was terrified: "This..."

"Mother, perhaps the Emperor wants to use Yue'er's words to give us a warning."

After thinking about it, this is the only possibility.

The old lady was so shocked that her limbs went weak. When she came to her senses, she scolded Yuan Fuling for being so short-sighted: "Now that she's been brought back, she should stay here properly. I think this girl has a lot of guts, a hundred times better than that pampered Yao'er."

"Yao'er has already ruined her reputation and will only bring trouble to our Duke's mansion. It would be better to get along well with Yue'er. She's only thirteen years old. With a couple more years of proper guidance, she might be able to change her temperament."

She now regrets not speaking up for Song Yue today and letting things develop as they were.

Duke Jingguo remained silent, unwilling to admit it aloud, but in his heart he acknowledged Song Yue's composure in the face of danger, which showed the demeanor of a great general.

If Song Yue had been raised in the manor back then, how outstanding she would be today?

"Does Mother think Yue'er can be tamed?" The Duke of Jing felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of Song Yue's gloomy and murderous eyes. He had a feeling that he couldn't control Song Yue at all.

"After all, they are father and daughter. Treat them with care and gradually ease the tension. This girl responds better to gentleness than force." The Grand Madam believed that Song Yue's ability to protect her servants meant that her character wasn't too bad.

The Duke of Jingguo nodded.

Then the old lady said, "It's time to give Fuling a talking-to. There's been a lot of trouble at the Duke of Jingguo's mansion lately. I plan to hand over the management of the household to the second branch of the family. They've been too hasty in their pursuit of that marriage with the Prince of Zhennan's mansion."

The second branch is the family of the Duke of Jingguo's younger brother. They live in the west courtyard and are currently away. They should be back in a couple of days.

Duke Jingguo nodded; "Very well."

Rose Courtyard

Song Yao cried uncontrollably, shouting, "Mother, I would rather die than marry Han Feng."

Yuan Fuling rubbed her temples, her mind a mess. She still didn't understand why Zhang Mama had betrayed her. She had clearly given Zhang Mama a thousand taels of silver and held the indenture in her hand. What did Zhang Mama have to fear?

With no one around, Yuan Fuling stopped hiding her words: "Cry, cry, all you do is cry. Now the whole family is afraid of that wild girl. What good will your crying do? How many people will speak up for you?"

Song Yao sniffed and pursed her lips, frightened by Yuan Fuling. In the end, she didn't dare to make a scene and could only admit defeat. When Yuan Fuling looked up and saw Song Hengchuan coming, she immediately said, "It's because you and Pei Zhao are not destined to be together. Your current status is no longer worthy of Pei Zhao. Just give up on this idea. It's not that your mother doesn't want to help you, but you were being schemed against without even realizing it. I can't let the entire Jingguo Duke's Mansion be ruined because of you. Your eldest brother hasn't gotten married yet. If you delay your eldest brother's wedding, I won't forgive you!"

Song Hengchuan, who had just entered the room, overheard this and quickly came in to comfort Song Yao: "Mother, calm down. I will definitely find a way to resolve this matter. The Han family has a bad reputation and is not worthy of Yao Yao at all."

As for the Prince of Zhennan's residence, Song Hengchuan decided to go and ask Pei Zhao in person.

Perhaps after we explain things clearly, Pei Zhao will relent, after all, the two families have had a relationship for so many years.

"Brother Chuan, don't spoil her. She brought this on herself." Yuan Fuling said angrily.

Song Hengchuan shielded Song Yao behind him and said, "Mother, Yao Yao is my own sister, so of course I have to protect her."

With that, Song Hengchuan decided to go find Pei Zhao himself.

After everyone left, Yuan Fuling's lips curled into a mocking smile. Fortunately, she had a son she could use. She gently patted Song Yao's shoulder: "Right now, your father and grandmother are both angry. You should obediently go and copy the scriptures and pretend to reflect on your actions. As for your father, I have a way to appease him. We'll make plans after they've calmed down. You're my only daughter, how can I bear to see you suffer?"

Song Yao sniffed: "I'll listen to my mother."

After seeing Song Yao off, Yuan Fuling tidied herself up and went to Yuehua Pavilion. She was stopped at the door, and Yuan Fuling suppressed her anger: "Go and tell the Third Miss that I have come to apologize."

"What apology are you offering?" Song Yue appeared before them at some point, walking step by step to the threshold, looking directly at the other person.

"It was my moment of confusion. I shouldn't have questioned you, and I shouldn't have let people search for Yuehua Pavilion."

"Now that you know you're wrong, where's your sincerity?" Song Yue questioned.

Yuan Fuling frowned, her teeth itching at the smug look on the other person's face. She asked, "What do you want?"

"Anyone who comes to search Yuehua Pavilion will be given twenty strokes of the cane and sold off!"

Yuan Fuling hissed and gasped, "How can that be?"

If she punishes those people, how will she establish her authority in the Duke of Jingguo's mansion?

Who would be willing to serve me?

"Since you're not here to sincerely apologize, why bother with this pretentious visit? It's pointless." Song Yue crossed her arms. "Madam Yuan, please go back. You're not welcome here."

Yuan Fuling had managed the household affairs smoothly for over a decade, but in the past few days she had been repeatedly outmaneuvered by Song Yue. She was extremely resentful, but remembering the Grand Madam's instructions, she had no choice but to compromise: "Alright, I'll do as you say!"

Several old women were given twenty lashes and sold off in public. After the matter was settled, Yuan Fuling looked at Song Yue and asked, "Are you satisfied now?"

Song Yue raised her chin and nodded: "For now, I'm satisfied. If there's a next time, it won't just be a beating."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Fuling responded with a forced smile and even had some tonics delivered, displaying an image of gentleness and magnanimity.

Song Yue accepted them without hesitation.

...

Zhennan Palace

When the mother and son returned, Princess Zhennan dismissed all the maids, sat down in a chair, took a couple of sips of tea, and put it down.

She looked at Pei Zhao and coldly ordered, "From today onwards, you are not allowed to approach Song Yao again. She has ruined her reputation and is not even worthy of being your concubine."

This kind of girl is hopeless; she's not even as good as one of Song Yue's fingers. She panics as soon as something happens.

Unlike Song Yue, who was methodical, composed, and dignified.

Pei Zhao was somewhat embarrassed. He knew in his heart that there was no possibility between him and Song Yao, but he still couldn't help but defend Song Yao: "Mother, Yao Yao must have been tricked. She would not do such a shameless thing."

Princess Zhennan said earnestly, "Whether she was tricked or not is not important. What is important is that she was lying in Han Feng's arms, her clothes disheveled. Our manor cannot afford to lose face like that. She set up a trap but had no ability to control the situation and was led by the nose. Such a person is not worthy of you."

She only cares about the result.

What needs to be done now is to sever ties with Song Yao.

Pei Zhao remained silent.

He nodded at the Princess of Zhennan's instructions: "I will listen to my mother."

Princess Zhennan breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "Song Yue is your real fiancée. You should spend more time with her."

She disliked Song Yue, but Song Yue was popular and many ladies sympathized with her, especially Madam Jiang, who also valued Song Yue.

Based on these reasons alone, Princess Zhennan reluctantly agreed to let Song Yue enter the household.