A cleaver lay glinting on the table, startling everyone present.
Song Qing broke out in a cold sweat. He felt as though he were standing one step away from death. If he had reacted even a moment slower, that cleaver might have split his head in two, spilling white and red all over the place.
The mere thought of it almost made Song Qing wet himself. Yao Liu, standing beside him, wasn't much better. He clung to a table leg, wailing as if the cleaver were already embedded in him.
Li Man'er found the scene rather amusing.
"What's this, you smash up someone's home and then just leave? You've ruined the business, trashed the place, and you expect to walk away without offering any explanation?"
Song Qing reached into his robes and pulled out a money pouch, tossing it onto the ground. "Young lady, is this enough?"
Li Man'er gave Green Robe a look. Green Robe stepped forward, picked up the money pouch, and inspected it. It contained nearly thirty taels of silver.
"Miss," Green Robe showed the pouch to Li Man'er.
Li Man'er motioned for her to hand it over to Song Sanniang and said to Song Qing, "You and Song Sanniang are family, from five hundred years ago. You should practice forbearance where possible! If this matter escalates, I will undoubtedly have to report it to the Grand Princess. At that point, I fear Steward Song, you will have suffered a loss greater than any gain."
Song Qing let out a cold laugh. "A fine sentiment about forbearance. Young lady, I have noted it."
Was that a threat?
Li Man'er remained unfazed, stating simply, "A debt must be repaid, and a life taken must be paid for with a life. It is the natural order of things."
Song Qing, perhaps remembering something, looked away guiltily. He scrambled to his feet and quickly departed with his men. That Yao Liu, crying and begging Song Qing not to abandon him, was a tall fellow, but he'd been scared witless by a cleaver.
"Everyone, please disperse, disperse!"
Song Sanniang, her heart in a flutter, could only urge the curious neighbors to leave. Once most had gone, Song Sanniang knelt with a thud before Li Man'er.
"Thank you, young lady, for saving me."
"Get up quickly." Li Man'er truly disliked how people in ancient times knelt so readily. "To be honest, I simply can't stand the behavior of those from the Grand Princess's estate. If this matter had nothing to do with them, I might not have intervened."
Song Sanniang offered a wry smile. "No matter why you intervened, you have been kind to me. Moreover, when those ruffians first arrived, you didn't know which household they belonged to, yet you still chose to stay. Sanniang is grateful for your kindness."
"Help her up quickly," Li Man'er asked Purple Mist to assist Song Sanniang. "Let's talk once you're on your feet."
However, Song Sanniang refused to rise, no matter what. "Young lady, Sanniang dares to beg for your help, begging you to uphold justice for Sanniang."
"Are you trying to pull a scam?"
A scam?
Song Sanniang instinctively shook her head. "No, it's just that Sanniang truly has nowhere to turn for justice. Apart from you, young lady, Sanniang doesn't know who else to ask."
"I am merely a lady of the inner chambers. For matters of life and death, you should seek out the Grand Court of Judicature," Li Man'er said. "You've been in the capital for some time now. Surely you know how to find the Grand Court of Judicature?"
Song Sanniang was stunned. She hadn't expected Li Man'er to be anything but a do-gooder.
"Sanniang is of little importance, and her words carry little weight. I fear... that officials might protect each other. Young lady, if you could help Sanniang seek justice, Sanniang would gladly become your servant in return."
"This is ungratefulness for kindness. I help you out of good intentions, and now you expect to cling to me?"
Purple Mist and Green Robe were both bewildered. Their young lady had initially seemed quite sympathetic to this Sanniang, so why had her attitude suddenly become so sharp?
Li Man'er cast a fleeting glance at her. "What qualifications do you have for me to seek justice on your behalf?"
"I..." Song Sanniang began to panic. "I am willing to sell myself to you as a slave."
"I don't lack for cooks," Li Man'er said, rising. She looked down at Song Sanniang from her superior height. "If you wish to kneel, then kneel. It has nothing to do with me. However, I would advise you to leave the capital as soon as possible. You are not the only one in this world who cannot speak of their grievances."
Li Man'er left, and Green Robe and Purple Mist could only follow their mistress. Song Sanniang was left alone, kneeling by her stall, unwilling to get up for a long time.
"Miss, why didn't you want to help Sanniang?" Green Robe asked. "I feel so sorry for her. Her family died under such unclear circumstances."
Purple Mist shot her a glare and shook her head, signaling her not to speak carelessly.
"Are there not many others whose deaths are unclear? If she wants to lodge a complaint and sue, she can go to the Grand Court of Judicature. Am I a lawyer?"
But the young lady was clearly a kind-hearted person, so why had her attitude changed so drastically?
The two maids followed Li Man'er back to the mansion, bewildered. As soon as they entered through the side gate, someone eagerly reported to Li Man'er that Old Madam Guo had arrived again, and this time she was making an even bigger scene.
"That old hag is here again. She says if you don't release Young Master Guo, she'll report you to the Grand Court of Judicature. Her words are quite unpleasant."
Li Man'er wasn't angry at all. Instead, she teased, "You call her an old hag. Be careful she doesn't ask your grandmother to sell you to a black coal mine."
Granny Jia chuckled, knowing Li Man'er was just teasing. "She doesn't have that much pull with Old Madam." Everyone knew that Old Madam Guo didn't have much favor with Old Madam. Although they were from the same lineage, there was a distinct difference between legitimate and illegitimate offspring. Even as young ladies, they had vied and struggled against each other. How could there be no underlying friction between them?
"I know what I'm doing. Go attend to your duties," Li Man'er gave a meaningful look, and Green Robe stepped forward to reward Granny Jia with a generous sum of money, saying, "You followed Miss out on the street today, and we didn't buy any interesting trinkets. This money is for you, a reward for your loyalty to Miss."
Granny Jia quickly bowed her thanks. "Thank you, Miss, for your generosity, and thank you, Miss Green Robe."
Green Robe hurried to catch up with Li Man'er.
Li Man'er did not return to Qingping Pavilion but went directly to Songhe Hall.
Indeed, upon entering the courtyard, she heard the incessant wailing of Old Madam Guo. One moment she complained about her own bitter fate, and the next she accused Li Man'er of being unreasonable and threatened to report her to the Grand Court of Judicature.
Cui Shi's head ached from listening, but she didn't retort, letting the old woman make a scene.
Li Man'er listened from the covered walkway for a moment and understood. Cui Shi, seeing that she could not control Li Man'er, had resorted to using others to suppress her. Old Madam Guo was undoubtedly the best candidate. The two families had some connections, and Guo Yongzhang was indeed in Li Man'er's hands. If their conflict wasn't resolved properly, it could truly turn into gossip for everyone to talk about.
If it escalated further and led to a lawsuit, what would become of Li Man'er's reputation?
Originally, Guo Yongzhang had attempted to commit indecent acts. If someone were to embellish the story, the rumors that spread would likely be even more unpleasant.
Li Man'er then walked into the flower hall.
"Young Lady is here." A young maid lifted the curtain for Li Man'er and curtsied to invite her in.
As soon as Li Man'er entered the room, she said, "Oh my, I could hear someone howling from afar. Anyone not knowing might think something had happened at home and that someone had come to report a death!"