"What happened to your sister? Why is she acting like this?" Song Myun asked, noticing Song Jae's unusual behavior. song jae clung to her father's arm, tears streaming down her face. "Appa, I missed you so much! I was very scared today," Song Jae said while crying in his arms.
Song Myun and Song Ji was surprised by Song Jae's display of affection, as she had never acted cute with their father before, although Song Jae's appearance was endearing, her behavior was quite the opposite. She would often punish the servants or argue and curse like a shrew, causing Song Myun to overlook the fact that she was still just a twelve-year-old child.
"Let's go inside and talk about this," Song Myun suggested, aware that the crowd was still watching them and it was not the right place for such a discussion.
He held Song Jae's hand and led her inside the residence, while the others followed behind them, when they finally entered the main country yard, he led them to the waiting room. "Okay, now tell me what's going on," Song Myun asked once they were inside. How could Song Ji possibly agree when Madam Jin and her daughters were also with them.
"Father, let's go to your study. I don't want another fake rumor about my sister to circulate again." Meanwhile Song Nabi was quick to defend herself, "Oppa, what do you mean by that? Are you trying to say that my mom and I spread fake rumors about my sister?" even though Song Ji hadn't mentioned anyone specifically.
Madam Jin was furious with her daughter's foolish mistake. Song Nabi also didn't know what was wrong with her, she was usually very smart, but lately, she had been struggling to think clearly. Whenever she needed to use her brain, she would suddenly become dull and say what she wasn't suppose to say.
After all he never called anyone name, wasn't she was essentially admitting her own guilt. Madam Jin quickly intervened to diffuse the tension,
"Song Ji, how could you think such a thing about your mother and sister?" As she spoke, she wiped away her tears, which were falling like rain. "Everybody knows how I've treated Song Jae," she continued. "I have never bullied or mistreated her."
"You didn't mistreat her, but you didn't exactly educate her well either. I'm amazed at how well-behaved and humble your daughters are. In contrast, my sister is behaving poorly. If she were to stand alongside them, she would seem like a spoiled and useless young miss in comparison. Song Ji retort angrily.
"Okay, stop the argument, Song Ji. You shouldn't have said that about your mother," Prime Minister Dong quickly intervened. "And Nabi, how can you speak to your elder brother like that?" Song Myun quickly suggested, "Let's go to the study and talk.
Madam Jin turned to her husband, "Are you suspecting me too? "Don't think I'm oblivious to why you've been acquiescing to Song Jae and agreeing with her on everything all this time." You know what you've done in the past few years. I won't argue with you about it, but don't think about playing those tricks in the future."
"Husband, listen to me!" Madam Jin cried, but Song Myun, Song Ji and Song Jae had already walked to the study and shut the door. Seeing how her brother handled the situation, Song Jae felt happy knowing that her father had started to suspect the second madam.
Once a seed of doubt is planted in someone's mind, they will become suspicious of everything she does. Madam Jin continued crying, like that of someone who had been bullied, which could easily evoke a protective response in men, her pitiful face stirring a strong instinct to comfort and shield her.
"Now she understands why her father always favored Madam Jin over the host mother. After all, which man doesn't prefer a woman who shows affection, and relies on him, rather than those who usually act aloof or distant."
"She understands why the host mother was utterly defeated by Madam Jin. Despite being in her late thirties, Madam Jin still exudes the radiance of a woman in her early twenties.
It's not that the host mother wasn't beautiful; it's just that she wore a cold expression every day, whereas Madam Jin knows how to charm with her coquettish ways. 'Don't cry, second madam,' she said reassuringly."
'I'm sure father didn't mean what he said. After all, everyone knows how much you love me more than your own children, right and you've always given me everything I want.' Madam Jin was taken aback by Dong Jae's sarcasm, as Song Jae had previously only known how to act arrogantly. After speaking her mind, Song Jae took her leave."
"As Song Jae walked towards her pear country yard, she desperately wanted to catch up on her sleep. After all, she felt extremely exhausted, having wasted a lot of energy treating that wicked prince. Meanwhile, in the main country yard, Madam Jin had cried so much that she had no more tears left to shed.
She was dismayed to see that Song Myun hadn't even sent a servant to appease her, nor had he come to visit her himself."
"She knew he was serious. The only reason he hadn't spoken up before was that he and Song Jae hadn't been close, and Song Ji hadn't bothered to say anything in his presence either. However, now that Song Ji had analyzed everything for him, he felt suspicious of her.
'Let's go back for now, mother,' he said reassuringly. 'I'm sure father didn't mean what he said.'"Seeing her two daughters trying to comfort her, Madam Jin finally stopped crying and stood up from the ground. After all, she couldn't continue to make a fool of herself in front of the servants.
"She was grateful for having two daughters who she could rely on, unlike her two unreliable sons, who rarely lifted a finger to help her. While other people's sons would protect and care for their mothers, hers were different - they were solely focused on studying for their exams, leaving her to fend for herself."
Song Geon, in particular, was too cold towards her." "While Song Chul was too soft-hearted to take a stance when an argument arose, Madam Jin left the main country yard and retreated to her moon palace, (author: her private quarters within the yard.)
"Meanwhile Song Ji and Song Myun conversed in the study."what happened to Song Jae in the market, seeing there was nothing more to talk about, Song Ji stood up and decided to take his leave."
"Father, before you head to court tomorrow, please take a moment to meet up with my sister and offer her some comfort; she was deeply shaken by today's events."
Hearing his son finally making a request of him, Songyun couldn't deny it and Song Jae was also his daughter so that was what he should do.
"But he also felt a surge of frustration upon hearing his son's formal tone, I know I haven't been a good father to you and your sister, but I'm making a promise to you now, from this day forward, I'll do better.
I don't expect anything from you; just knowing that you'll be there to take care of her while I'm serving in the army brings me comfort and peace of mind."
"Leaving the study, Song Ji went to his peace country yard, which his mother had named when she was alive. The next morning, Song Jae woke up to find it was already daylight. She got out of bed and walked towards the door to call for Song Sena.
After the maids finished helping Song Jae get dressed, Song Mi Cha brought her breakfast to the room, so she could eat.
Just as she finished eating, she heard Song Min announce the arrival of the prime minister's, and Song Jae quickly stood up to welcome him."