Song Yaoyao could not help clicking her tongue:
*[Guagua, when this woman gets ruthless, I don't even know what to say!*
*Just one word: badass!]*
Guagua agreed:
[A woman must be ruthless to hold her ground! Respect! Respect!]
These old serving women were shrewd as could be. Somehow, they had found an awl.
Song Yaoyao asked Guagua:
[Guagua, where do you think these old women got that awl? Don't tell me they carry one around?]
Guagua: *[Host, you actually guessed right.*
*One of them happened to buy some new needles, thread, and other sewing supplies this morning, including an awl. She had only just returned to the residence and hadn't even put her purchases down before following Madam Kong here. Now the awl has come in handy.]*
Song Yaoyao clicked her tongue in wonder again:
[There really is no story without a coincidence!]
One old serving woman held the awl and jabbed it toward the mistress's face with a trembling hand.
Watching her, Song Yaoyao once again posed a soul-searching question:
[Guagua, why does it look to me like that old woman is making her hand shake on purpose?]
Guagua agreed:
*[Host, you're right. She is doing it on purpose.*
*With an unsteady hand, doesn't she get to stab her a few extra times?]*
Song Yaoyao: *[Tsk, tsk, tsk. The dark dealings of the inner courtyard really are...*
*Their methods of tormenting people are beyond imagination!]*
The mistress let out a piercing scream. Another old serving woman quickly took off her sock and stuffed it into the mistress's mouth.
Just then, a gust of wind blew past, carrying the stench of the sock toward Song Yaoyao. She promptly retched.
Song Yaoyao cursed inwardly: Fuck you and all your ancestors! You damned old hag! I only came to watch the show. Why do you have to torture me like this?
The people standing beside Song Yaoyao hurriedly covered their mouths and noses as well, silently cursing the old woman nonstop.
Song Yaoyao had not eaten breakfast yet, so she could only dry-heave.
After retching, Song Yaoyao quickly took out her handkerchief and covered her mouth and nose before saying:
*[Guagua, when that wind blew past just now, I could smell that filthy sock even from here. It reeks worse than a cesspit that's been sitting for decades.*
That old woman really has no standards!
*I'm sick to my stomach!]*
Despite the sock's powerful stench, the spectators merely covered their mouths and noses. Not one of them left.
It seemed they were all seasoned gossip enthusiasts!
When Song Yaoyao looked at the mistress again, her eyes had rolled back, and her entire face was drenched in blood. It was a terrifying sight.
An old serving woman said:
"Madam, this little slut has fainted."
Madam Kong sat there and said:
"Continue."
"Yes, madam."
What should have been finished quickly dragged on because the old woman's hand shook so badly that she kept stabbing the wrong spots. The mistress suffered over a dozen extra jabs.
Once the stabbing was done, the old serving women poured honey over the mistress's face, then placed the ants they had prepared in advance onto it.
Song Yaoyao's scalp prickled at the sight.
One old serving woman said:
"Madam, it's done."
Without looking, Madam Kong ordered:
"Take her to the authorities."
"Yes, madam."
Several old serving women dragged the unconscious mistress away to the authorities.
The show was over, and the crowd gradually began to disperse.
Song Yaoyao was also about to turn and leave when Madam Kong finally spotted her in the crowd. She hurried a few steps to catch up:
"Little Lord Song."
Song Yaoyao turned around, saw that it was Madam Kong, and bowed in greeting:
"Hello, Madam Kong."
Madam Kong held an imperially bestowed second-rank title, while Song Yaoyao was only of the Subordinate Sixth Rank, so she had to bow to her.
Even without her official position, she would still have had to bow as a member of the younger generation.
With easy familiarity, Madam Kong took Song Yaoyao's hand and asked:
"Little Lord Song, what brought you here?"
Song Yaoyao felt rather awkward. Could she say she had come specifically to watch the spectacle?
Of course she could not. All Song Yaoyao could say was:
"I came to this area with my father. I happened to see a crowd gathered here, so I came over to take a look.
"I never expected to run into you here.
"What a coincidence!"
Nothing was more awkward than being caught watching a spectacle by the very person at its center.
Madam Kong knew perfectly well that Song Yaoyao had come specifically to watch, but she did not expose her. Instead, she said with a smile:
"Little Lord Song, I have a younger daughter at home who is about your age. Come visit our residence when you have time."
Song Yaoyao nodded. "All right."
Madam Kong continued:
"There are still plenty of matters waiting for me at home. Another day, when I'm free, my husband and I will be sure to pay you a visit."
They absolutely had to visit. If Song Yaoyao had not exposed all this, who knew how thoroughly that bastard Yu Ling Tian would have deceived them?
Song Yaoyao did not understand why Madam Kong wanted to visit her family's residence, but she could hardly ask now!
Madam Kong and Song Yaoyao walked together all the way out of Apricot Blossom Alley before parting.
As they parted, Madam Kong repeatedly urged Song Yaoyao to visit their residence whenever she had time.
Song Yaoyao agreed to every invitation.
Song Yaoyao hurried over to her family's carriage and climbed inside.
Assistant Minister Song put down his book, glanced at his troublesome daughter, and asked:
"Did you buy the pastries?"
She had been so excited watching the spectacle that she had forgotten all about buying pastries.
How embarrassing was that?
But who was Song Yaoyao? Without blushing or missing a beat, she said:
"I couldn't find the new pastry shop. Let's have one of the serving women from home buy them next time!"
Assistant Minister Song said nothing. He sighed and told the driver:
"Back to the residence."
Once home, Song Yaoyao changed out of her official robes and charged straight into the dining room.
She was starving to death!
At the table, Madam Song looked at her husband and her youngest daughter, who was wolfing down her food, and asked:
"Why did you come back so late today?
"We've already had breakfast. Only you two haven't eaten."
Before Assistant Minister Song could speak, Song Yaoyao said:
"Mother, Father and I went to Apricot Blossom Alley to buy some pastries, but we couldn't find the shop, so we came back."
Madam Song said nothing and turned her gaze toward Assistant Minister Song. He shook his head without speaking.
Seeing her husband's reaction, what was there for Madam Song not to understand? Something must have happened!
Madam Song knew her youngest daughter's temperament well.
The girl might be greedy for food, but there was absolutely no way she would travel that far just to buy pastries!
Song Yaoyao's laziness outweighed even her appetite. If she could lie down, she would not sit; if she could sit, she would not stand.
Only after Song Yaoyao had eaten her fill and left did Madam Song ask:
"What exactly happened?"
Assistant Minister Song sighed, then recounted what had happened at court that day.
"After court, Yaoyao insisted on going to Apricot Blossom Alley to watch the spectacle. That's why we came home late."
Madam Song reproached her husband:
"She wanted to go, so you just took her?"