The moment Zhuang Qiaoyue saw Song Xilan, she launched into an embellished tirade.
"I just bought that golden hairpin today! I was planning to take it home as a gift for my mother, but it was gone the moment I left the shop. This little beggar here bumped into me right then. If he didn't steal it, who did? But this Second Miss Song can't even tell right from wrong. I think she's just trying to pick a fight with me!"
Zhuang Qiaoyue had long found Song Lianhe disagreeable, so she deliberately raised her voice. "Who in Ling'an City doesn't know that the Second Miss Song is used to being arrogant and domineering, oppressing the common people and bullying the weak! Now she's openly making excuses for a thief. She's showing blatant disregard for the laws of Da Cheng!"
This was a heavy accusation, and sure enough, voices in the crowd began to agree. Song Lianhe had a terrible reputation in Ling'an City. She was known for causing trouble everywhere she went, both at home and in public. The gazes from the onlookers were filled with disgust.
The little beggar grew frantic. "You're lying! I didn't steal..."
"Heh, as if anyone would believe the word of a beggar? If you didn't steal it, are you saying I framed you? Ha! What a joke. I am the dignified daughter of the Assistant Minister. Would I really stoop to bullying wretches like you in the middle of the street?"
"Miss Zhuang," Song Lianhe suddenly interjected, offering her a slight smile. "Allow me to offer a word of advice. Everyone walking this earth is here to cultivate themselves, to repay the debts of a past life and sow the seeds for the next. The beggar you so despise might just be your own fate in a future life."
Song Lianhe's tone was neither servile nor haughty, and her voice was clear and crisp.
From within the crowd, an old Daoist with half-lidded eyes stroked his medium-length beard and nodded in satisfaction.
Having seen enough of the show, he twirled his beard and turned to leave.
Ignoring Zhuang Qiaoyue's face, which was twisted in anger, Song Lianhe turned to the little beggar. Her pale, slender hand rested on his shoulder. He looked up, his eyes meeting the Fairy Sister's beautiful face. "I'll only ask you once. Did you steal it?"
The little beggar bit his lip and said, word by word, "I may be poor, but my mother taught me: 'Wealth and honor obtained through unrighteousness are to me as fleeting as a floating cloud.'"
"'Wealth and honor obtained through unrighteousness are as a floating cloud'—well said!" The Fairy Sister smiled and patted his shoulder firmly twice. "I believe you."
The little beggar's eyes instantly welled up.
Song Xilan frowned. She had been about to step in and mediate, but Song Lianhe suddenly spun around. Her sharp gaze fixed on Zhuang Qiaoyue. "You insist that he was the one who stole your hairpin. Are you willing to swear an oath on it?"
"Why should I—"
"Swear that if it wasn't him, your face will break out in boils, your head will be covered in sores, and you'll never get married in this lifetime!"
"You—"
Zhuang Qiaoyue gasped. "Song Lianhe, you're too vicious!"
A smirk played on Song Lianhe's lips. "You don't dare?"
Zhuang Qiaoyue's eyes flickered, and she immediately retorted, "Why should I lower myself to make such a vile oath over a thieving beggar?"
Song Lianhe cut her off with a sneer. "What status? You're not so special. You don't have an extra eye or a second nose. If you don't dare, just say you don't dare, and obediently..." She turned to glance at the little beggar. "What's your name?"
The little beggar stole a glance at her before quickly lowering his head, his voice barely a whisper. "Chao Junyu..."
Song Lianhe nodded. "Obediently apologize to our Ah Yu, and I'll drop the matter." As if suddenly remembering something, she tapped her forehead. "Oh, and I forgot to mention—he's with me now. And no one gets to bully my people!"
Chao Junyu's head snapped up. He stared at her, stunned, almost suspecting he had misheard.
Shuang Ye prompted from the side, "What are you waiting for? Thank the young miss!"
Chao Junyu was jolted back to his senses. Without a second thought, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times with a series of loud THUDS.
"Heh. Good boy."
Song Lianhe accepted his display of gratitude without any qualms.
"Song Lianhe, you—"
Seeing that Zhuang Qiaoyue was about to fly into a rage in the middle of the street, Song Xilan quickly grabbed her arm and said softly, "Qiaoyue, don't be angry. I know you feel wronged in this matter. I'll apologize to you on my sister's behalf. Whatever you lost, I will compensate you for it."
Zhuang Qiaoyue had always been on good terms with Song Xilan, but hearing this, she was filled with exasperation. "Xilan! Why do you need to take the blame for her? You're just too soft-hearted! That's why people walk all over you!"
She felt it was precisely because Song Xilan was so weak that Song Lianhe could walk all over her.