When Jiang and her daughter Song Yue heard this, they could no longer sit still as the dirty water had been splashed on them.
Jiang shouted out in injustice, "My Lord, please investigate this clearly! This matter has nothing to do with me and Yue! Song Zhao is entering the palace tomorrow, who would dare to be negligent about such an important matter in front of the Emperor? Even if I look down on her, I would never make a joke out of the honor of the entire Song family!"
Song Yue also said, "Father, don't believe this wicked person's words! Let me tell you, this peach blossom powder must have been put in by Song Zhao herself in order to frame me and my mother!"
Hearing this, Song Zhao cried even harder, "Elder sister, why do you suspect me like this? If I wanted to frame you and mother, I could have done so long ago! Tomorrow is the day I enter the palace to meet His Majesty, why would I ruin my own future at this time to falsely accuse you?"
Looking at Song Shicheng, with tears in her eyes she shook her head, "Father, your daughter has shamed you. Your daughter will not enter the palace anymore! Just let your daughter bash her head to death. Tomorrow you can just report my death to the palace!"
After saying this, she really wanted to smash her head on the corner of the table.
Song Shicheng reacted quickly and grabbed her, "What are you doing? Don't be foolish!"
He certainly did not dare to let Song Zhao bash her head to death.
Although Song Zhao had not yet entered the palace, the imperial decree had been issued, so she was already considered a proper young mistress.
If she died at this moment, and the Song family could not deliver her to the palace tomorrow, they would be the ones to suffer.
In order to appease Song Zhao's emotions, Song Shicheng ordered, "Doctor Zhang, you and the steward search the residence and see if you can find the harmful dirty stuff!"
After searching around, they did indeed find some powder under the pagoda tree in Song Yue's backyard courtyard.
Doctor Zhang presented it to Song Shicheng and said, "My Lord, we found this powder in eldest miss's backyard courtyard. It is confirmed to be peach blossom powder!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yue's eyes widened in disbelief, "No, this is not possible! Father, it wasn't me, I...ah!"
Before Song Yue could finish her denial, Song Shicheng fiercely slapped her to the ground.
He was furious and pointed at Song Yue scolding, "She is your sister! By doing this, do you want her to die, for our Song family to die?"
Song Yue cried out injustice, "It wasn't me! Really it wasn't me Father! Mother! It really wasn't me!"
Jiang squatted on the ground, shielding Song Yue behind her, "Speak properly, how can you hit Yue?"
Song Shicheng pointed at the peach blossom powder and angrily said, "The powder was found in her courtyard, the evidence is conclusive! What more can you argue for her? This is the good daughter you have raised for me!"
Song Yue also did not know how the peach blossom powder had gotten into her backyard. Having been spoiled all her life, experiencing such a sudden change, she was stunned and at a loss.
Song Zhao meanwhile cried and asked her, "Elder sister...if I have offended you in any way, you can beat me and scold me. But I'm entering the palace tomorrow, after you have ruined my appearance like this, how will I conduct myself in the palace in the future?"
She was quite emotional as she said this, and after finishing she again tried to commit suicide, scaring Song Shicheng tremendously.
No matter what, Song Zhao had to enter the imperial palace tomorrow.
Not only if she contracted some incurable disease, even if her limbs were all severed and she only had one breath left, she would still have to be carried into the imperial palace and die in that cage surrounded on all sides by crimson walls.
But now Song Zhao felt she had lost face. She was bent on suicide and would not listen no matter how they persuaded her.
"Zhao'er, father knows you have suffered an injustice. Like this, father will restore justice for you!"
Song Shicheng also harbored resentment towards Jiang mother and daughter. He blamed them for destroying Song Zhao's appearance at this time and messing up his big plan, which now caused real damage to his interests. Only now would he put on this performance.
With a wave of his hand he ordered, "Come, lock the Lady and eldest miss in the firewood shed for a flogging punishment!"
Jiang and her daughter were filled with injustice, shouting out that they were being falsely accused.
But who would listen?
The stewards only uttered a 'forgive me', then dragged the two into the firewood shed.
After that, the entire Duke of Guardianship manor could hear the hysterical screams coming from the firewood shed.
On the surface, Song Zhao expressed gratitude to her father. But in her heart it was as clear as a mirror:
Over these years Jiang and her daughter had bullied her for not just one or two days.
In the past Song Shicheng had turned a blind eye, only because it did not harm his interests.
Now that her face was ruined, and she would not obtain a good position in the palace tomorrow, it directly damaged his interests, so only now would he put on this show.
People, only when the knife point pricks their own flesh, will they feel the pain.
Later that evening, Song Shicheng looked at Song Zhao after she had applied medicine, and urged her to rest early and not delay entering the palace tomorrow.
Lying in bed, Song Zhao's face still stung from the burning.
Soon, her maid Yun Shan came in to pass on: "Second miss, Doctor Zhang is here to change your medicine."
"Let him in. I haven't eaten dinner, so I'm a little hungry now. Go make me a bowl of porridge."
Song Zhao got up and went to the dressing table, looking at her swollen red face that was gradually subsiding, but still frightening.
Doctor Zhang stood next to her and bowed with clasped hands, "Second miss, I've come to change your medicine."
Song Zhao raised her hand to stop him, and slowly asked, "How many days?"
"If we follow the prescription I gave you, it should be better in three to five days. But the amount of peach blossom powder you used was too much. Although it won't scar, to fully recover, it will take at least half a month."
"I see." Song Zhao replied tonelessly, then took out a silver note from the dressing table drawer and handed it to him,
"You did this matter well. Take this silver for now. I heard your younger brother got into trouble in the palace and was punished to work at Xin Repository, and is not doing well. After I enter the palace, I will also find an opportunity to have him serve me, so he doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Doctor Zhang did not take the silver note. He bowed again and thanked her,
"I didn't really do anything, just took the opportunity during the search to sprinkle the peach blossom powder in eldest miss's courtyard, and said a few words in front of the Lord as second miss instructed.
In truth, it was second miss who took the risk and suffered. This silver I do not need. I only hope after second miss enters the palace, you can save my younger brother. Back when my family fell into hardship, because father was in dire straits he sent my younger brother into the palace to exchange for silver. He has a pitiful life, I really cannot bear to see him suffer more in the palace."
Song Zhao smiled lightly, "Don't worry, with him by my side, no one will have the ability to bully him. As for the silver, it is what you deserve for doing this matter well, so keep it."
After he took the silver note, Song Zhao carefully applied the medicinal ointment on her face, and said with a sardonic smile,
"When people are beaten, they will naturally be injured. With injuries, they naturally need medication."
Then looking up at Doctor Zhang, her eyes were like silk threads, smiling charmingly, "Doctor Zhang, you are clever. You should know how important my mother and elder sister are to me. So when treating their injuries, you must be extra attentive."
Doctor Zhang naturally understood Song Zhao's meaning, and laughed, "Second miss, rest assured, I will 'take good care' of treating them, and definitely not disappoint you."