Chapter 4: Just You?

The maid was momentarily stunned when she saw a pair of black deerskin boots appear before her eyes.

"Hmm...?"

She immediately prostrated herself on the ground, pressing her forehead, lips, and nose to the floor. "Miss... Ah! Please have mercy, young mistress! I will never dare again. I did see someone standing outside the mourning hall, but I won't tell Second Madam. I beg you, young mistress!"

Sang Yu had already swiftly identified the people on the list.

The maid, still speaking, heard no reply and couldn't help but look up.

Sang Hongyun was gazing down at her.

Seeing her lift her head, Sang Hongyun noted that although the maid spoke words of panic, her eyes betrayed a calculating glint of luck.

Sang Hongyun glanced at her slender fingers. Such hands, if offered to serve as a companion for one of the mistresses in the second branch, would surely make a fine prop to attract attention.

Just then, Sang Ling entered, sword in hand. "Miss, the area outside the mourning hall is surrounded!"

The maid, groveling on the floor, abruptly straightened up. "Young mistress, Second Madam said that as long as you behave and obey, she will look after the main branch's family!"

A sharp slap cracked across the maid's face, leaving a vivid imprint of five fingers.

"Cut out her tongue, sever her tendons, and throw her to the crowd outside!"

"You can't do this, young mistress, how cruel you are! You—ah!"

Sang Miao seized her jaw, and with a swift motion of the knife, something red fell from the maid's mouth.

Immediately afterward, her hand tendons were cut. Sang Ling and Sang Miao then dragged the maid out of the mourning hall.

Soon, a commotion was heard outside.

Apart from the four maids at her side, six others had entered the mourning hall.

"Young mistress, we will follow your orders in all things!"

Steward Liu Shuang of the outer court and the other five men spoke in unison.

"Steward Liu, forgive me for the hardship. In times like these, words are unnecessary. Come with me. I want to see who dares act so boldly!"

Steward Liu had always served under Sang Zhongyang. After being wounded on the battlefield, he returned to the residence to act as steward of the outer court. There were many such people in the Marquis Dingguo's household—those who had loyally served their masters and were left as confidants for the next head of the family. In the future, Liu Shuang would surely serve as Sang Zhen’s trusted aide.

With concern, Steward Liu said, "Young mistress, many outside do not know the truth. The concubine must have her reasons. She wants to wipe us out!"

Sang Hongyun’s brows drew cold and sharp as she replied, "To seize Father’s title is not difficult. If they would only speak plainly, I would have Father yield the title. But they have never known their place. For years, Grandfather has been too kind to them, making the concubine believe he was dissatisfied with Father."

Was it not so?

The main wife and Sang Zhen had not lived well in the household. The old marquis turned a blind eye, but everyone saw how the main wife and young master Sang Zhen suffered.

Sang Hongyun had risked her life alongside her father and had long since learned many family secrets from Sang Zhongyang. Now that they made their move, she would not stand idly by.

There were those in the court who hoped for chaos within their household.

In such times of internal and external strife, if they did nothing, more would intervene.

Her father’s position would become even more precarious. If he were gone, the Sang household would not exist either.

Sang Hongyun was no longer the battlefield nurse of her past life. The courage and resolve forged in fire and blood were not so easily subdued.

Outside the mourning hall, a dense mass of people had gathered, weapons in hand, ready to draw blood at a command. Concubine Feng sat triumphantly on her sedan chair, with Sang Zhongli standing nearby, his eyes swollen and lustful, staring fixedly at Sang Hongyun.

The wife from the third branch sat carelessly to one side, while the master of the third branch, Sang Zhongshi, watched Sang Hongyun with a look of amusement.

Sang Hongyun curled her lip in disdain. "What, do you seek rebellion? Or do you want the title? If it’s rebellion, I tell you now, even with your courage, you will not succeed. If you want the title, fine—Second and third branches, you have eaten our food and drunk our wine. Now you are not content and want more? Go to the battlefield, then. There is plenty to be won. Whoever claims victory in a battle may claim all the glory and choose from mountains of gold and silver!"

Feng shot her a glare. "Listen to her! Is this how a daughter of the Sang family speaks? No wonder the An family accepted you only as a concubine and not a primary wife. It’s only right. You broke off the engagement in public, thinking you could sever ties with the An family. Today, let me tell you, that’s impossible. The marriage contract is in my hands. If you do not behave, you will not leave the Sang household alive. If you obey, I might still consider letting you be An’s concubine."

Sang Hongyun responded with a fierce gaze, then suddenly softened, as delicate as spring blossoms in March. "Aunt, you are right. The marriage is still in place, and naturally, I cannot act rashly. But as for the An family..."

At the mention of the An family, a suffocating tightness seized her chest. Sang Ling stepped forward to ease her, but Sang Hongyun waved her off gently. "As for the An family, they are not worthy. So this marriage contract is void. I, Sang Hongyun, swear before the heavens—if anyone dares try to shed blood today or use this as a threat, they have misjudged me! Why are you still here? Stand down!"

The first part was addressed to the concubine, but the latter was meant for the armed servants.

These servants were not ordinary—they were all battle-hardened and wounded men. If a fight broke out, both sides would suffer heavy losses.

Among the servants, some looked at Master Zhongli, then turned again to Sang Hongyun.

"If you make a move, be ready to collect your father’s corpse!"

Feng suddenly spat out these words, halting Sang Hongyun in her tracks as she was about to step forward. The fury she had held back surged forth. "You? Just you?"