But how could matters in this world be so easily judged as right or wrong? Besides, if it really came down to determining right and wrong, naturally he was the one in the wrong, no question about it.

But just because he was wrong this once, did Song Chuyi and Song Yan refuse to acknowledge him as their father?

Cui Shi was indeed their biological mother, but he was also their father, wasn’t he? Who in this world doesn’t make mistakes? He had merely made the mistake that all men make. Moreover, he had never originally intended to do anything to Cui Shi—the thought of divorcing his wife had never even occurred to him. He came from a distinguished family and understood what things could be done and what boundaries couldn’t be crossed.

If Cui Shi hadn’t later died in childbirth, Li Shi would have remained nothing more than his outer chamber until her death…

Thinking of these distant matters from the past, then recalling Old Master Song and Old Madam Song’s repeated admonitions, Song Yi’s mood couldn’t help but sink considerably.

Li Shi had truly done too much wrong. She had killed Cui Shi and made him into a heartless wretch, ensuring he could never hold his head up before his children again…

Song Yi couldn’t help but feel he had been wronged—Li Shi had done all these things behind his back. Even later when Cui Shi died, he had been forced into marrying Li Shi—because Li Shi was after all carrying his flesh and blood. He had risked being reviled to plead with Old Madam Song, nearly breaking relations with her, before finally managing to successfully bring Li Shi through the doors. He believed he had already done right by Cui Shi and also done right by Li Shi.

But in the end, one of these two women was killed by the other, and the other was then exposed for her crimes and driven to death by the first one’s children. It seemed he had wronged them both.

He couldn’t figure out the threads of logic in all this, nor did he want to think about it. Many times when he dreamed of young Song Chuyi being held in Cui Shi’s arms, he would wake with a start, and after waking would feel prolonged melancholy—Song Chuyi and Song Yan clearly bore him ill will. Although Old Madam Song’s letters home often said Song Chuyi and Song Yan missed him, he knew these were all Old Madam Song’s embellishments.

The two of them already hated Song Chuning to the point of framing her for arson, let alone himself, who could be called an indirect murderer at the time.

He let out a heavy sigh, forcing out a smile to comfort Song Chuning. “How is any of this your fault? No matter what, it can’t be blamed on you. You’ve also been dragged down by your mother and me.”

That’s why she ended up disliked by her grandparents and nearly sent to the family temple.

He patted Song Chuning’s shoulder, putting on an excited appearance to ask her, “Your Fourth Brother has become a student under the great scholar Tang Mingzhao. This is truly an extremely good thing. I’m at a loss as to what gift to send his teacher. You’ve always been clever as ice and snow—come, help Father come up with an idea.”

No matter what, he still only had Song Yan as his one son. If he became successful in the future, it would also be his own glory.

Song Chuning inwardly sneered, somehow suddenly feeling extremely bored—this past half year she had worked so hard to be a caring little padded jacket at Song Yi’s side, helping him resolve difficult matters, managing the back office in perfect order, even managing his several concubines so submissively that he was extremely pleased. But even under such gradual influence, Song Yi still worried greatly about Song Yan and Song Chuyi, the two siblings.

She didn’t know if all parents under heaven were like this—saying with their mouths that they would absolutely never care for them again in the future, treating it as if they had never been born, yet their hearts contradicted their words as they constantly worried about their safety every moment.

But on the surface she only smiled wryly, pretending to be naive as she asked him, “Gifts for teachers all have old precedents to follow. We can add more, inquire whether this Master Tang has anything he particularly loves, try our best to buy it and send it to him to curry favor for Brother Yan, so the teacher will be more attentive toward him. But did Brother Yan mention in his letter anything he himself likes? I remember in the past he always loved clinging to Father asking for things. If we knew what he’s been lacking recently, we could also send it to him and make him happy.”

Song Yi’s remaining words couldn’t help but stick in his throat, feeling somewhat awkward for a moment.

Speaking of this news, it was actually Old Master Song and First Master Song who had written to tell him. As for Song Yan, he hadn’t written a letter from beginning to end, let alone tell him such matters or ask for anything he liked.

His heart grew increasingly irritated. Beyond feeling guilty and ashamed, there was also anger churning in his heart—he was Song Yan’s father after all, yet he had been completely unaware of such important news beforehand. Not only that, Song Yan had already set out for Shu, and only then did he receive the news.

Seeing Song Yi remain silent for a long time, Song Chuning’s heart bloomed with laughter.

No one knew Song Chuyi’s personality more clearly than she did. Such a stubborn person, combined with Song Yi’s favoritism—how could she possibly still warm her face to press it against a cold rear?

As for gift-giving matters, it was entirely Song Yi being hot on one end while the other remained cold.

Song Yi had no good answer. After being embarrassed for a long while, he suddenly felt somewhat humiliated. With Song Chuyi and Song Yan, the number of times he felt humiliated was increasing, making even himself find it somewhat unbearable.

There was no reason for him as a father to have to bow and scrape to cater to his juniors. After feeling uncomfortable for a long while, he set it aside, pursing his lips to say indifferently, “He didn’t write to say what he likes. I estimate it’s probably just the four treasures of the study and such. A small child—what else could he like? When you go to the back courtyard later, make a trip to Concubine Qin’s room and have her prepare various gifts for me. I’ll send someone to deliver them to Shu.”

Song Chuning couldn’t help but open her mouth in some surprise. “To Shu? Fourth Brother has already reached Shu?! How is it we hadn’t heard any news before? If we’d known, we should have made preparations early…”

What was there to prepare? They didn’t consider him their father anyway, and hadn’t thought to notify him. If not for Old Master Song and First Master Song, he probably wouldn’t even know about this matter.

Song Yi shook his head coldly. “We can’t control that. The family naturally has the family’s arrangements. We just need to do what we should do. The weather is cold—be careful on your way back. Tonight Magistrate Zhou sent an invitation asking me to drink wine. I won’t be dining with you. Whatever you want to eat, instruct the kitchen to make it.”

Song Chuning seemed to want to persuade him further, but after thinking about it, she could only sigh helplessly, her voice mournful as she acknowledged with a “yes,” looking very pitiful indeed.

Song Yi himself felt wronged on her behalf, but thinking it over he had no solution—Song Chuyi and her brother clearly now thoroughly detested Song Chuning. No matter how hard Song Chuning tried, it probably couldn’t change this fact.