Chapter 32: Letting the Wolf In
Song Hemei spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but to Mother Song's ears, it was like a thunderclap crashing down.
"Child, what nonsense are you speaking!"
Song Hemei walked forward slowly, her expression unchanging. "How is it nonsense? If Shao Wen'ang couldn't bear the loneliness while observing mourning and fooled around with his personal maidservant, then why can't I seek a little amusement for myself?"
These words truly sent Mother Song into a panic. She stopped in her tracks and grabbed her daughter's wrist. "Don't ever speak such improper words again. If word gets out, how will others see you!"
Song Hemei was aggrieved. Thinking of her mother's earlier words about heartache only made it more absurd. A rebellious spirit rose within her, and she raised an eyebrow in retort. "Why should I care?"
Mother Song had never imagined her daughter would talk back like this. She was both frantic and furious, her lips trembling. "How can you even ask that? A young lady's reputation and chastity are of utmost importance! You say 'why should I care' — this is the rule passed down by our ancestors!"
Song Hemei gazed deeply at her mother, but none of the resentment and discontent within her could be voiced aloud.
Ancestral rules were insurmountable. Just as Mother and Father had tacitly accepted that she would be the one to make concessions for the Song family. It wasn't as if this was something new that had started today or yesterday. She would just stop listening. In secret, what she wanted to do, what she would do, no one could control anyway.
She hummed a light "Mm," then shook her wrist. "Can you let go of me now, Mother?"
That call of "Mother" seemed to awaken the maternal affection within Mother Song.
She also felt heartache for the difficult days her daughter would face from now on. The words of admonishment she had intended to say were stifled back down. She simply decided to overlook her daughter's unseemly attitude, heaved several long sighs, and personally escorted her back to her courtyard.
By evening, when Song Yunyao returned home, his expression was far from pleasant.
After the family had finished their evening meal, they sent Song Jilang off to rest first. The remaining members gathered in the study to recount the entire sequence of events to Song Yunyao from the beginning.
Song Yunyao had been personally mentored by Father Song. His considerations on such matters were naturally extensive. Hearing the account, he immediately glanced at Song Hemei, his eyes filled with heartache.
Song Hemei gave him a faint, tight-lipped smile, not taking this heartache to heart.
She supposed her elder brother's heartache was the same as Mother's — merely a token gesture of sympathy, ultimately useless.
But her brother did bring back another piece of news.
"I heard about this too. I sent someone to investigate. That horse is extremely precious — it was recently acquired by Third Master Lu. Now that it's thrown someone and caused such severe injuries, bringing about this huge disaster, I have no idea how the Shao family will negotiate with him."
Father Song picked up the thread. "Third Master Lu, the one from the Capital?"
Song Yunyao's face was etched with worry. "Yes. If it weren't for him, this matter wouldn't be so thorny. The supervision of the city wall repairs is being handled personally by his elder brother, Lord Lu. The Shao family is desperate to curry favor with them; how can they possibly demand compensation? Third Master Lu has a stubborn and mischievous nature, but Lord Lu dotes on him excessively. This trip to Changzhou is supposedly to broaden Third Master Lu's horizons, but in reality, it's just taking him along for sightseeing."
He looked at his younger sister. "Mei'er publicly ordered that fine steed to be seized. I wonder if the Lu family will hold a grudge against us."
Ultimately, this matter depended on how the Shao family negotiated with Lord Lu. After all, their only son had suffered such a grievous injury that his ability to bear children in the future was in jeopardy. Just how many benefits would the Shao family have to extract to calm this storm?
A man lived for his descendants, for the continuation of his family line. After this incident, with half a lifetime's efforts possibly amounting to nothing due to a lack of heirs, if they truly lost their composure and fell out with the Lu family, given Third Master Lu's erratic temper, it was entirely possible he would take his anger out on them.
Father Song, acting as the family's pillar of support now, shook his head firmly. "I disagree. If not for Xiao He detaining that horse, what evidence would the Shao family have? Besides, first, Xiao He is a woman; making a fuss over every little thing would make her seem graceless. Second, if the Shao family can't protect their own son's future, let alone their daughter-in-law, then they simply have no face to speak of."
They deliberated back and forth for a long while. Song Hemei sat to the side, fiddling with teacups, her mind wandering.
Their every word and sentence seemed to be for her benefit and related to her, but in the end, she derived not a single advantage from the entire discussion.
The tip of her finger accidentally touched the tea, which seeped from her nail into the creases of her fingers. Song Hemei immediately lost her interest in drinking. She simply propped her chin on her hand and leaned against the desk, staring blankly into space.
In the end, they couldn't come to any definitive conclusion. Rushing to get involved would certainly not do; they had to wait. Still, compared to the frantic, head-scratching anxiety of the past few days, things were already much better. At least now they could sleep soundly through the night.
Once Father Song gave the word to disperse, the children rose and returned to their respective courtyards.
Qiu Wan, who had been unable to get a word in edgewise the entire time, finally managed to approach her husband. She straightened his outer robe and said with tender concern, "It's still a bit chilly at night. You should add another layer, husband."
She was gentle and thoughtful, but a married woman, even in a kind and harmonious in-law's home, inevitably faced some grievances.
Her husband's family always treated her as an outsider. No matter how crucial the matter, they never discussed it with her alone. She had followed her sister-in-law around all day today and yet, such a momentous event concerning the Shao family was known to everyone else except her.
Her heart felt sour. The only way to feel truly integrated was to shower her husband with care and receive his response in return.
But today, Song Yunyao shot her a cold glare. He looked at her with palpable displeasure, furrowed his brow, and pushed her a few steps away. "No need for your concern. Mind your own business."
Qiu Wan's face paled. She already felt like an outsider in this family, and now, facing her husband's cold treatment, her heart felt even more bitter. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes. But since they had just left her father-in-law and mother-in-law's courtyard, even if she felt wronged, she had to wait until she returned to her own room to speak. There were still servants present. If she made a scene, she would be the one to lose face.
Song Hemei, walking behind her elder brother and sister-in-law, witnessed everything and found it rather unusual.
Her brother had always been good to her sister-in-law. They had been married for years and he had never taken a concubine. Even when her sister-in-law miscarried their child, her brother hadn't uttered a single inappropriate word. Otherwise, she wouldn't have remained oblivious for so many years to the fact that her brother was also a man who kept a mistress.
She stepped forward and gently patted her sister-in-law's shoulder, giving her a meaningful look. Then she moved to her brother's side. "What's wrong with you today, brother? You're in such a foul mood."
She matched her brother's pace, walking slowly down the corridor. "If you're upset because of my affairs, please don't take it out on sister-in-law."
Song Yunyao walked with his hands clasped behind his back. He turned slightly to glance at his wife behind him, then furrowed his brow and turned back, his face a mask of displeasure. "It's not about you! It's all her!" His tone was harsh. "You have no idea what a muddle-headed thing she's done! That useless younger brother of hers caused a huge mess at the gambling den. The people from the gambling den came looking for me! I was wondering why she's been so evasive lately, always asking for money, even taking off her hairpins. I couldn't be bothered to argue if she wanted to quietly help her natal family. But do you know she was muddle-headed enough to pawn the jade bangle Mother gave her!"
Song Hemei's eyelid twitched. "The bangle that's been passed down in our family?"
That was a heirloom from the Song ancestors. When it reached their generation, it had been passed down to her elder brother and sister-in-law. Mother had said that once a daughter-in-law married in, she was family. Keeping it hidden would make the daughter-in-law feel alienated. Also, it would prevent a situation in the future when their third brother married, where having the bangle still in the mother-in-law's hands would become a hot potato — given to anyone, it would seem wrong.
Song Yunyao's face was a mixture of anger and frustration. "What other bangle could it be? Our family finances are strained as it is. We've had a lot of capital tied up in the city wall repairs. The warhorse business is locked in a dead end. Since the Capital shows no intention of sending troops, we have to let it lie idle. And if the Shao family won't help us make the connections, no one will take those horses off our hands, and we'll have to take the loss. This is adding insult to injury, and now I have to spend money to redeem the bangle." He was so angry he slapped his own cheek with his hand. "Do you know how much face I've lost, your brother? All my life, it's been others coming to our family for favors. When have I ever had to go begging to someone else? People will think the Song family is truly down and out!"
This time, Song Hemei truly had nothing to say. Her sister-in-law had indeed been muddle-headed. No wonder their parents had insisted she cut ties with her own family before agreeing to the marriage.
But what good did cutting ties on paper do? A daughter's heart is always soft. Raised with love and care since childhood, how many can truly harden their hearts and watch their own flesh and blood suffer?
But muddle-headed was muddle-headed. Blindly indulging her would only lead to even greater mistakes in more crucial matters in the future.
Song Hemei sighed softly. "Then you should talk to sister-in-law gently. You still need to be careful not to hurt her feelings."
At the end of the covered walkway, they reached the fork leading to their two separate courtyards. Song Yunyao's tightly knit brow did not relax. He just waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, stop worrying. I know what I'm doing."
Song Hemei nodded and turned back towards her own courtyard. Qiu Wan, unaware of what the siblings had discussed, could finally release her pent-up grievances after entering the courtyard with her husband.
Once the bedroom door was closed, she sat down on a chair, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I know your family looks down on me. I can't help blaming my lowly birth for not being able to help you with business. It's only right that I'm not welcome."
Song Yunyao was also seething with anger. He slammed his hand on the table. "Who are you directing that snide tone at? I saved face for you in front of Mother and Father. Don't push your luck!"
Qiu Wan's eyes flew wide open. "What exactly have I done to offend you? What 'face'? Ever since I married you, I've worked diligently and conscientiously for you and the Song family. I may have let others down, but I have never let you down! I know, you're blaming me for losing the child. You've been holding a grudge against me all along—"
"Enough!" Song Yunyao pulled a signed contract from his bosom and slapped it down on the table. "The moment I say a word to you, you start dragging up unrelated things, bringing up the child. Take a good, hard look at this! This is your brother's signed IOU to the gambling den. Did you really think I wouldn't know about all your little schemes behind my back? Qiu Wan, I have truly spoiled and indulged you too much, letting you do such a muddle-headed thing! Where is the bangle Mother gave you? Dare you answer that in front of her?"
Qiu Wan's face went white. Staring at the contract, her body went weak, and she stumbled back a few steps, nearly collapsing back into the chair.
How could her husband possibly know?
The debt was clearly paid off. Her brother had promised her he wouldn't gamble anymore. Who else could have known?
All possibilities converged on one person. Recalling the scene moments ago where the brother and sister had walked and talked together right in front of her, Qiu Wan trembled with rage, her lips quivering. "Did Second Sister tell you?"
Wasn't it agreed to keep it a secret? How could she be so untrustworthy!
Hearing her drag his sister into it, Song Yunyao let out a cold, angry laugh. "If you don't want others to know, don't do it. Did your brother's troubles need anyone to tell me about? The Qiu family was once at its peak. It's only in your father and brother's generation that it's fallen. You have the nerve to slander my sister here. You'd be better off finding a feng shui master to see if your Qiu family graves aren't buried properly, to have produced such a rotten branch as yours!"
Insult a person, but don't insult their family. Qiu Wan's hand, pointing at the man before her, trembled. "My family is a rotten branch, and what is the Song family? Fine goods? Your sister has done such a rebellious and unorthodox thing. I think it's only a matter of time before the Song family is ruined because of her!"
Song Yunyao had always doted on his younger sister. Hearing this, how could he tolerate it? He hurled the teacup from the table to the floor with a violent crash. The tea splashed onto Qiu Wan's hem, startling her into taking several steps back.
"Say that again!"
Qiu Wan bit her lip. Even though she was already scared, she refused to lose face. "Why wouldn't I dare? Your sister is unfaithful to her wifely duties, indecent! She defied convention and secretly met a wild man, spending the entire night away from home! Not within a hundred miles could you find such a wanton young lady!"
"Say one more word and I'll divorce you!"
Qiu Wan craned her neck defiantly. "Why wouldn't I dare? 'If you don't want others to know, don't do it.' I'll return those words to you. That one from the Yu family and your sister are always eyeing each other — maybe you're the only one who can't see it. What good ever comes from a man and a woman being alone together? It's just that one thing!"
These words exploded like peals of thunder in Song Yunyao's mind. He opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly, he remembered… wasn't it the Yu residence his sister had gone to on her wedding night?
He slapped his forehead and staggered back several paces, collapsing heavily back into his chair.
How could he be so stupid? Seeing his sister come out of another room, how could he not have given it a second thought?
He gasped for air, trying to quell the storm raging in his heart. Seeing his agitation subside, Qiu Wan's own blazing anger cooled. She rushed to his side to soothe him. "Husband… I… I didn't mean to anger you. Please calm down…"
Her tears fell like beads from a broken string. She knelt directly at his feet, hugging his legs and sobbing. "I had no choice! He's my own brother! He's the only family I have left… I truly didn't know what to do. I know I was wrong, Husband."
Song Yunyao slowly got his breathing under control. He looked at her coldly. Now, he had no heart to worry about her troublesome brother. Only one thing occupied his mind.
Was the matter between his sister and Yu Yeqing true or false?
He told himself not to be hasty, not to believe one side of the story. He needed to investigate thoroughly before taking any action.
If that scoundrel surnamed Yu had dared to seduce his sister, he would make sure to kill him!
He pushed Qiu Wan away roughly and pointed a finger at her. "Don't you dare speak nonsense! If I hear even a whisper of gossip about my sister, you'll see whether I take Qiu Mao's life or not!"
Qiu Wan's body went limp, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, not daring to say another word. Song Yunyao paid her no further attention. He staggered into the inner room.
Later that very night, news arrived from the Shao residence first.
Shao Wen'ang was awake.
Early the next morning, Song Hemei naturally dressed neatly to go to the Shao residence and assess the situation. Her elder brother happened to be leaving as well. After they had breakfast together, they headed for the side gate to board the carriage.
But all along the way, her brother kept looking at her with a strange expression. She instinctively glanced at him twice. "Brother, is there something you wish to say?"
Song Yunyao was silent for a moment. He said nothing.
Puzzled, Song Hemei hazarded a guess. "How did your talk with sister-in-law go last night?"
At this mention, Song Yunyao's expression grew even stranger. He stared at Song Hemei for a long time before finally saying, "I have instructed her on what she should and shouldn't do… and also what she can and cannot say."
He deliberately drew out the last sentence. Song Hemei glanced sideways at him, strangely feeling that his words carried some hidden meaning.
As they continued walking, they saw Yu Yeqing approaching from the other end of the covered walkway together with a tutor, apparently heading to Song Jilang's study for lessons. Upon meeting them face-to-face, Yu Yeqing clasped his hands and made a deep bow to her and her brother.
Song Yunyao nodded, dispensing with the formalities. But his gaze meticulously swept over Yu Yeqing, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
A scholar with no ordinary looks — the perfect type to easily deceive a young lady from a wealthy family. How could he have been so stupid, bringing a wolf into the house for so many years and never realizing it?
When exactly had this man started seducing his sister?
Seeing that her brother wasn't releasing Yu Yeqing from the formality, Song Hemei spoke first. "Sir, you needn't stand on ceremony. Jilang has already returned to the study in his courtyard. You may proceed directly, Sir."
Having said this, she looked at Yu Yeqing. Meeting his clear, gentle eyes, she felt a renewed, overwhelming revulsion at the thought of going to the Shao residence.
She dared not look at him for long, nor did she say anything more. She hastily averted her gaze.
But in Song Yunyao's eyes, this was a clumsy attempt to cover up the truth.
His expression was grim. Only after he had personally watched his sister board the carriage bound for the Shao residence at the side gate did he speak to the attendant beside him. "When the lesson is finished, the moment Yu Yeqing leaves the residence, bring him to me. Don't make a sound about it."
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment