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Early in the morning, after tidying up the mess on the bed and herself, Meng Liu, dragging her two exhausted legs, had just sat down when the courtyard door was suddenly pushed open. A group of people rushed in, followed by Chun Tao's startled exclamation.
"This is Madam's courtyard! How can you barge in here?" Chun Tao shouted with authority, accompanied by some servants. Before she could finish her sentence, it turned into a gasp as Meng Liu hurriedly opened the door and stepped outside.
The courtyard, which was not very spacious, was crowded with dozens of people, all of whom were guards who usually followed Zhao Han. The household servants were no match for them; even Chun Tao was knocked to the ground, and several guards held her down with sticks.
"What are you doing?!" Although Meng Liu was not someone who often lost her temper, she couldn't help but feel furious at this scene. She had been cautious since arriving at Song Residence, yet she never expected to be bullied so directly.
"Apologies, Madam, but this is the Second Young Master's order." One familiar-looking Captain of the Guards stepped forward and gestured for the guards to pull Chun Tao up from the ground. With a perfunctory smile on his face, he explained to Meng Liu.
"His order? Even if he is the Second Young Master, he needs a valid reason to take someone from my courtyard!" Meng Liu looked at Chun Tao's tear-streaked face, filled with panic. Chun Tao had been with her since childhood; after her mother passed away, she became the most important person in her life. Meng Liu could not bear to watch Chun Tao being taken away like this.
"Don't you understand why we are taking her away, Madam?" The Captain of the Guards wore a mocking expression but pretended to be humble. "Lady Liu was poisoned today with a substance that could drive one insane in her medicinal meal. The Second Young Master sent someone to investigate, and it led directly to your servant Chun Tao."
Upon hearing this, Meng Liu's brows furrowed tightly. She instinctively felt it couldn't be true but saw Chun Tao's face turn pale as she was held down by the guards.
"No! Your Highness, I only asked someone to add Castor Bean to Lady Liu's meal out of momentary nausea! It was just Castor Bean; there’s absolutely no poison involved! I swear I didn’t do this!" Chun Tao's small face turned ashen as she spoke haltingly, on the verge of tears.
"Madam, you heard that. This servant is still arguing at this point. But no matter how stubborn she is, once she's in Guards Captain Zhao's hands, she'll have to tell the truth. Madam, please hand her over to us; otherwise, if this wretch keeps lying and makes baseless accusations against you, it won't end well." The Captain of the Guards spoke in a sarcastic tone, implying that Meng Liu was behind this incident.
"I will not hand her over to you! Have Zhao Han come here himself to speak with me!" Meng Liu commanded the few household servants inside to surround the entrance firmly, making her stance clear.
"Madam, if you insist on this course of action, don’t blame us for being rude—" The Captain of the Guards began to threaten when a familiar voice rang out from the entrance.
"Weren't we supposed to act discreetly and just bring someone over? What are so many people doing crowding Madam's courtyard?!" Song Yuan appeared at the door in his military attire, his brow furrowed with obvious displeasure. As soon as he entered, he looked towards Meng Liu standing in the courtyard and relaxed upon seeing she wasn't harmed before scanning his surroundings again.
"Yes, yes! It's Madam who refuses..." The Captain of the Guards tried to explain but was kicked down by Song Yuan.
"Is it really that hard to follow my orders? If you have such ideas, why not take my position instead?" Song Yuan didn't stop after kicking him down; he stepped on the Captain's calf and ground it down. The Captain’s previously lewd expression was instantly replaced by pain as he cried out on the ground.
"I won't let you take Chun Tao away; she didn't do anything wrong." Meng Liu didn't care why Song Yuan suddenly decided to deal with the Captain; all she knew was that she had to protect Chun Tao.
Song Yuan looked up at her; his dark eyes revealed many complex emotions that Meng Liu couldn't comprehend due to his recent changes. However, for Chun Tao's sake, she could only endure her discomfort and confront him.
"But Lady Liu’s people have evidence proving that it was Chun Tao who acted." Song Yuan spoke up with a slightly hoarse voice.
"That evidence is fabricated!" Meng Liu retorted sharply, her eyes reddening from emotional turmoil.
"Madam, that's unreasonable. My lady has always been gentle; regardless of your noble status as a princess or just her character alone, she would never fabricate evidence to frame others! Not allowing anyone to interrogate Chun Tao suggests that Madam has something to hide and is afraid!" Liu Nian Nian, who followed Song Yuan closely behind, spoke indignantly.
"Impudent! How dare you, a mere servant, speak so recklessly to Madam?!" Song Yuan shouted angrily. The maid trembled in fear, lowering her head, but her gaze towards Song Yuan was still filled with resentment, as if she believed it was Song Yuan who was responsible for the wrongdoing.
"What are you pretending for in front of me? You sent so many people to take someone away, which only confirms my guilt in your mind," Meng Liu said coldly, looking at Song Yuan.
Song Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words. He had indeed suspected Meng Liu from the very beginning when he heard about the incident. However, he had sent people to capture Chun Tao out of consideration for Meng Liu's reputation. If he could secretly deal with Chun Tao and shift all the blame onto that maid, with him standing outside as a shield, at least Meng Liu would be safe.
"I..." Song Yuan looked at Meng Liu, whose eyes were reddening, wanting to explain. But with so many people around and their special identities, if anyone caught wind of something, it would ultimately be Meng Liu who would suffer. He could only lower his head in silence, tacitly agreeing with Meng Liu's words.
"Is there no duty outside today? Why are you all crowded in this courtyard?!" Zhao Han's cold voice came from the entrance. The Captain of the Guards, who had been kicked down by Song Yuan, seized the opportunity to scramble up and stood beside Zhao Han, quickly relaying the current situation.
"What is there to debate? Since an incident has occurred, it is only reasonable to take away the accused for questioning," Zhao Han said coldly, showing no leniency.
Meng Liu suddenly raised her eyes to look at Zhao Han, but he did not meet her gaze. He gestured for the Captain of the Guards to restrain Chun Tao, turning to lead them out of the courtyard.
"Stop!" Meng Liu called out. Each step she took caused pain in her lower body from last night’s excessive use; it felt as if she were bleeding from the abrasions. But she had no time to care about that as she staggered forward to block Zhao Han's path.
"Please do not obstruct the investigation, Madam," Zhao Han replied coldly, treating her as if she were a stranger. Just a day ago, they had embraced passionately in a secluded cave; now it felt like only Meng Liu remembered that absurd dream.
"You know whether this is an investigation or coercion. If it's an investigation, then let me participate as well. Do not touch Chun Tao within three days," Meng Liu insisted. The pain in her lower body made her look increasingly haggard; her once vibrant face now resembled a rose bouquet battered by wind and rain, on the verge of wilting.
Zhao Han instinctively tightened his grip on his sword at his waist. A gust of cold wind blew past, causing Meng Liu to sway as if she might fall at any moment. His hand almost reached out to catch her but pulled back just before contact, diverting his gaze from her face.
"How can a woman from the inner quarters conduct an investigation? If she truly did nothing wrong, then naturally justice will be served," Zhao Han stated firmly.
Yet, Meng Liu refused to step aside. Seeing that Zhao Han had no intention of supporting her, the Captain of the Guards suddenly stepped forward past him and pushed against Meng Liu's shoulder. Already unsteady on her feet, she stumbled backward. In that instant, just as she was about to collide with her sleeve, a tall figure appeared behind her and caught her securely in his arms.
"What a lively morning at the Song Residence," a man's voice rang out from behind. Instantly, Meng Liu's pale face turned as white as paper; all color drained from it.
The voice belonged to none other than the man who had intruded into her room and assaulted her last night!
"Wenren Zhou, what brings you to visit the Song Residence today? These servants are quite disrespectful; they didn’t even announce your arrival?" Song Yuan said with a cold expression as he stepped forward to confront Wenren Zhou, his gaze fixed on the hand resting on Meng Liu's waist.
"It was my oversight not to have them announce it. General Song is quite favored by His Majesty; as a leisurely prince encountering an issue in your courtyard, I must lend a hand," replied Wenren Zhou. After speaking, his cunning phoenix eyes glanced down at the stiffened form of Meng Liu, his tone flirtatious as always. "I wonder how long Madam intends to stay in my embrace? While I don’t mind having such beauty in my arms, there are still others watching..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Meng Liu abruptly pushed him away and staggered back a few steps to regain her balance. The scoundrel who had forced himself into her room last night was none other than the notorious adversary of the Song Residence, Wenren Zhou!
"Please be mindful of your words, for this is my brother's wife!" exclaimed Song Yuan, his expression darkening instantly as he glared at Wenren Zhou, filled with hostility.
"I haven't said anything inappropriate; why is Second Young Master so agitated? Is it because of his sister-in-law—" Wenren Zhou deliberately left his sentence unfinished while casting sly glances between Song Yuan and Meng Liu.
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