Chapter 3: Internal Strife (2)

Madam Feng shifted uncomfortably before forcing herself to sit upright. “The steward made a mistake—sending him to the estate is already lenient. What, do you want to bring him back? You unfilial child, if you keep talking nonsense, you'll be thrown out of the manor!”

Sang Hongyun hadn’t expected that so soon after her grandfather’s death, the household would fall into such disarray. Her grandaunt, merely a concubine, now held the purse strings of the entire family, while her mother, the rightful matron, faced such hardship. The second and third branches, both born to the grandaunt, dared to bully her mother and younger brother so brazenly—surely there was more at play here.

If that was the case, then her father’s worries were not unfounded. It seemed that someone had already extended their reach into the Sang family.

Sang Hongyun spoke calmly, “Grandaunt, perhaps it would be better for you to recite a few more sutras for the dead, to ease Grandfather’s soul.”

Madam Feng could hold back no longer. She sprang up from her seat, pointing at Sang Hongyun. “Why is she still standing here? Throw her out!”

The second and third branches rose as well, their eyes shining with undisguised and reckless triumph.

Sang Hongyun, however, turned away and declared, “All stewards outside, listen to my command. Tonight, aside from the attendants of the second and third branches and Grandaunt, everyone else is to remain on standby within the manor. Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy.”

She forced these words out through clenched teeth, then strode from the main hall toward the mourning chamber.

A gust of wind swept past, fluttering Sang Hongyun’s already disheveled robes and hair.

In the main hall, the coffin of Sang Cheng, patriarch of the Sang family, rested solemnly.

Sang Hongyun lit incense with reverence, the flames in the brazier leaping upward. Ashes of ritual paper money drifted down from the air.

“Sang Yu, take the list and bring everyone on it before the spirit tonight after midnight.”

“Sang Ye, go to each gate and register every maid, boy servant, and doorman. From this moment, no strangers are allowed in or out of the manor, save those coming to offer condolences.”

Sang Ye frowned slightly—if anyone harbored ill intentions, they would surely use mourning as a pretext. Still, she accepted the order and left.

“Sang Ling, keep an eye on the kitchen staff. Make sure no one tampers with the food.”

“Sang Miao, you’ll stay with me.”

After giving all these instructions, Sang Hongyun finally felt a wave of fatigue. Even so, she forced herself upright, gazing at her grandfather’s coffin, unable to blink for a long time.

Suddenly, a vision flashed before her eyes—An Zichen’s wedding robe, so glaring, so painful. An Zichen, how could you do this?

Grandfather, what truly happened? Why did you pass so suddenly?

Beside her, Madam Yang of the Sang family and her little brother Sang Zhen watched Sang Hongyun in bewilderment as she finished her rituals. Sang Zhen whispered, “Sister, who taught you all this? Was it Father?”

He meant, had she learned to stand unafraid before Grandaunt and the second and third branches as soon as she entered the manor?

Sang Hongyun turned and smiled faintly at him. “Yes. You should learn more too, not just focus on your studies.” This house was now a nest of vipers—she feared he would lose himself, or worse, come to harm.

Perhaps he already had.

Madam Yang finally found a chance to ask, “How is your father?”

“He’s all right for now, but his heart is heavy,” Sang Hongyun replied.

“Your grandfather’s death was a big blow to him, wasn’t it?”

Sang Hongyun pressed her lips together and fell silent.

That year, fighting against the Tartars, the original owner of this body had stood on the battlefield with her grandfather at just thirteen. They said a tiger father has no dog of a child—his granddaughter was no less courageous. Yet, for lack of experience, she fell into an enemy trap and died in a field exercise. She had only been a mere nurse, her life insignificant, but her family’s love was lost forever. When a powerful force drew her into this body, she heard the departing soul’s final words: “Protect my family. Don’t let them suffer the slightest harm. They are worth your devotion.”

If only that family did not include the second and third branches.

Then came half a year of relentless war, driving the Tartars back to their lands. During that campaign, she saved Zhao Liran—Prince Li. Though his life was spared, rumor had it one leg would never walk again.

Later, she returned to the capital with her grandfather and moved into the Sang manor.

A year passed in a blink, and she journeyed to the northwest with her current father, Sang Zhongyang. Yet in just half a year, Sang Cheng—who had no blood relation to her, but loved her as his own granddaughter—was gone. The pain of losing such a cherished family member was almost unbearable.

She had truly become Sang Hongyun.

Composing herself, she turned to Madam Yang. “I still have matters to handle tonight. Mother, Sang Zhen, go and rest.”

Sang Zhen refused, and Madam Yang hesitated.

“There’s me here, isn’t there? Go on. Grandfather would not blame you.”

Madam Yang, gentle and soft-hearted, and Sang Zhen, only fifteen, were better off not knowing too much.

Once they had left, Sang Miao entered from outside, dragging a maid by the arm.

“Miss, she was eavesdropping!”

Sang Hongyun said coolly, “Cut out her tongue if she won’t say who sent her.”

Without another word, Sang Miao drew a dagger from her boot and pressed it to the maid’s face.

The maid blanched with terror and fell to her knees. “Spare me, Miss! Spare me! It—it was the Second Madam who sent me to listen!”

Sang Miao remembered exactly how she had caught the maid outside; the girl dared not play any further tricks in Sang Hongyun’s presence.

“What did she want?”

“I don’t know!”

“Sang Miao—”

“Ah, Miss, I remember now! The Second Madam told me to keep an eye on you, to see what you would do.”

The maid’s voice trembled. Sang Hongyun turned and stood. “What did you see?”