Seeing Ling Luoyi's somewhat strange expression, she said, "I don't like it either, but I am the eldest daughter of the Song family and cannot disgrace the family, so I must be composed in public. In fact, it's not just me; other young ladies and young masters from prominent families are the same, even my second cousin."
"I know and I understand, but I don't like it," Ling Luoyi said indifferently. "I don't like hiding behind a mask, nor do I think my true nature is something to be ashamed of."
"Because of you, my eldest cousin, you have strength, but I don't, so I must hide behind a mask, even though I dislike it."
Ling Luoyi said, "I don't want to persuade you about anything, and I respect your choice."
Song Qingyun was stunned, then smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this. I came back suddenly, and my friends came with me. Let me take you to meet them."
"Alright."
As the two sisters walked to the front hall, Song Qingyun stopped abruptly upon seeing the people inside.
Ling Luoyi followed her gaze and saw a woman in a bright red dress talking to a man. There were others nearby, but Ling Luoyi didn't recognize them.
"Cousin, what's wrong?"
"She is my father's concubine, and she is someone the family elders are keeping to succeed my mother. Let's go this way and avoid meeting them."
"Eldest Sister!"
Song Qingyun was pulling Ling Luoyi away when a young girl in the main hall saw them and shouted, walking over.
This shout also alerted the others in the hall, and they all looked over.
"So it's the Eldest Miss. Didn't Eldest Miss go out? When did you return?" the beautiful woman said as she approached.
Song Qingyun ignored her and pointed to the people, saying to Ling Luoyi, "Cousin, you can call her Concubine Yin. That man is Concubine Yin's brother, and this is Concubine Yin's daughter, also the second young lady of the Song family..."
Song Qingyun pointed out everyone in the hall to her.
Concubine Yin, seeing that Song Qingyun was ignoring her, did not get angry. Hearing Song Qingyun's words, she said with a smile, "So this is the eldest young lady of the Ling family. When did the eldest young lady arrive? Why didn't anyone inform this madam so I could prepare?"
"Exactly, Eldest Sister. When Miss Ling arrived, you should have informed my mother, otherwise, what if she is neglected?" the second young lady said with a hint of provocation in her eyes.
"Eldest girl, you did the wrong thing here..." Concubine Yin's brother also chimed in with a reprimand.
Song Qingyun ignored the others and stared hatefully at Concubine Yin.
Ling Luoyi tugged at Song Qingyun's sleeve, drawing her attention back, and asked, "Are they always like this?"
"Not in front of Father, but Father is often away, and Grandfather is in seclusion. No one in the manor supports us."
Ling Luoyi glanced at the main door, realizing they were not going too far by closing it.
"You can tolerate this?"
"What can I do? Father is away, Grandfather is in seclusion, and even Eldest Brother is in seclusion. My cultivation is not enough," Song Qingyun said helplessly.
Concubine Yin's brother, who had been ignored, pointed at them indignantly and reprimanded, "Eldest girl, Ling girl, you are too ill-mannered. Are you deaf when elders speak to you? It seems Uncle must teach you some manners!"
The man raised his hand and struck at Song Qingyun.
Song Qingyun tried to dodge, but she was immobilized by the man's oppressive aura.
Just as the man's palm was about to land on Song Qingyun's face, Ling Luoyi pulled Song Qingyun a step to the left.
The man did not expect the two young girls to evade his oppressive aura. Unable to retract his force, he was propelled forward by the momentum.
Ling Luoyi secretly flicked a small pebble, hitting the back of the man's knee. The man lost his balance and fell to his knees.
With a 'bang', everyone was stunned.
Hearing the commotion, Song Qingyun's friends, who had been resting in the garden next to the front hall to avoid entertaining Concubine Yin's relatives, all came over.
"Uncle!" the second young lady quickly reacted and helped him up.
"Brother! Are you alright?" Concubine Yin also reacted and hurriedly asked.
After seeing that he was unharmed, Concubine Yin pointed at Song Qingyun and reprimanded, "Eldest girl, your uncle was going to discipline you, how could you dodge? Second Mother must teach you a good lesson!"
Saying this, she struck at Song Qingyun.
"Qingyun, be careful!" Song Qingyun's friends cried out.
Seeing Concubine Yin's palm about to land on Song Qingyun's face, the second young lady maliciously thought, Mother, hit harder, preferably disfigure her face!
However, with Ling Luoyi present, her wish was naturally impossible to fulfill.
Before Concubine Yin's palm could reach Song Qingyun's face, Ling Luoyi blocked it.
Concubine Yin was first shocked, then heard Ling Luoyi's voice, tinged with suspicion.
"Concubine Yin? Is that right?"
Ling Luoyi, without waiting for a reply, flung her hand away.
Concubine Yin, not yet recovered, had her hand flung away, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.
"Mother!"
"Sister!"
Before the two could approach, a powerful oppressive aura enveloped them. They could not resist and were forced to the ground.
"If you are not allowed to speak, then shut up."
Ling Luoyi took a few steps forward, reached Concubine Yin, crouched down, and met Concubine Yin's fearful gaze, saying, "My cousin said you are your uncle's concubine, right?"
Concubine Yin dared not speak.
Ling Luoyi narrowed her eyes, "Speak!"
"I am the Second Madam of the Song family, not a concubine!"
"Second Madam?" Ling Luoyi looked at Song Qingyun and asked, seemingly confused, "Cousin, is she the wife of your second master?"
Song Qingyun was still in a state of shock and did not react to her question.
However, Song Qingyun's personal maid replied, "Reporting to Eldest Cousin, the Second Master's wife is not her, nor does she have the surname Yin."
"Is that so?" Ling Luoyi looked at Concubine Yin and asked, "Then what kind of Second Madam are you?"
"I... I..."
"If you can't say it, then you admit you are my uncle's concubine."
Concubine Yin gritted her teeth. She couldn't say it.
Ling Luoyi intensified her oppressive aura. The second young lady could not bear it and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Ruo'er!
Upon hearing the second young lady's cry of pain, Concubine Yin wanted to check on her but could not move.
Staring at Ling Luoyi's sinister gaze, Concubine Yin had no choice but to admit it, even if she didn't want to.
"Yes."
Upon hearing the answer, Ling Luoyi was satisfied. She withdrew her oppressive aura, sat down on a chair next to Concubine Yin, and signaled Song Qingyun's maid to help her young lady sit down.
The maid understood and helped Song Qingyun sit on the chair next to Ling Luoyi.
The oppressive aura in the hall disappeared. Seeing the actions of Song Qingyun's maid, the other maids also helped their mistresses up.
Concubine Yin's maid also wanted to help her mistress sit down, but Ling Luoyi tapped her finger on the table, and the maid immediately froze.
"Since Concubine Yin admits to being a concubine, then this young lady wants to ask if the dress you are wearing is something a concubine can wear?"
Those nearby looked at Concubine Yin's clothes and all shook their heads.
Concubines were not allowed to wear solid colors, only muted shades.
However, Concubine Yin had always considered herself the Second Madam, and no one in the manor had cautioned her. She also rarely saw the family head, so the family head was unaware.
"You are Concubine Yin's maid, aren't you? Why didn't you remind your mistress that she has overstepped?"
Concubine Yin's maid did not understand who Concubine Yin was at first, but sensing the anger emanating from the person she was supporting, she immediately reacted and said timidly, "Miss Ling, this servant... this servant..."
"Go and change it!"
"Yes! Second, no, Concubine..."
The two maids tried to help Concubine Yin back, but Ling Luoyi stopped them.
"Change it here, so you can remember it better."
"Yes!"