Duke Ying had correctly calculated that his son would always remain his son, and his grandson his grandson. No matter how well Duke Dingguo treated Song Mo, ultimately Song Mo would wholeheartedly protect the Ying Dukedom.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.
In her previous life, Song Mo had personally severed the lineage of the Ying Dukedom!
If the old Duke had known this from the grave, would he have regretted his decision that day?
Song Shize noticed the cold expression flashing across Dou Zhao’s face. Realizing that Dou Zhao was also a daughter-in-law, he felt a chill and instinctively defended the old Duke: “The old Duke had his reasons for doing this…” He hesitated, “When the Duke was young, he once kept a mistress…”
A mistress?
Dou Zhao was shocked, nearly jumping up.
In Song Mo’s descriptions, she had thought that while Song Yichun and Madam Jiang couldn’t be called a perfect couple, they at least respected each other. How did a mistress suddenly appear?
Moreover, after Song Yichun and Song Mo became estranged, Song Mo dug up everything about Song Yichun. If Song Yichun had kept a mistress, Song Mo couldn’t have been completely unaware. Madam Jiang’s death was most likely related to complications in her relationship with Song Yichun, yet Song Mo never considered this angle when analyzing the cause of Madam Jiang’s death. Song Mo had never heard of this matter either.
Such a secret affair must not have been simple.
Her expression hardened.
Song Shize hurriedly explained, “That was all in the past. After the old Duke personally killed that woman, the Duke never transgressed again. The people of the Ding Dukedom have fierce temperaments. The old Duke’s wariness of Madam Jiang was only out of fear that she would seek revenge after gaining power, jeopardizing the future of the Ying Dukedom. He had no other intentions…”
Dou Zhao could no longer listen to his explanations and interrupted him sternly: “Tell me exactly what happened! Why has no one in the family ever mentioned this? Who else knows about this?”
Song Shize hesitated, “Besides the old Duke, Old Madam Lu, the Duke, Madam Jiang, myself, and two deceased old stewards, even the Jiang family at that time wasn’t fully aware of this matter.”
“To explain this, we need to start with the Duke and Madam Jiang’s marriage.”
“Initially, the old Duke favored Madam Jiang mainly because the women of the Jiang family were known for their fertility. Secondly, despite her young age, Madam Jiang had already been assisting Madam Mei in managing household affairs, handling the matters of the Ding Dukedom efficiently and with ease. She was considered one of the most virtuous ladies in the capital’s noble circles. However, the Duke wasn’t entirely satisfied. He had his heart set on marrying a woman from a scholarly family, believing that Madam Jiang, coming from a military family, couldn’t have been well-educated. It was Old Madam Lu who arranged for the Duke to meet Madam Jiang, after which he gladly agreed to the marriage.”
“After the Duke and Madam Jiang were married, their relationship was good at first. But Madam Jiang often spoke of her elder brother’s achievements, which increasingly irritated the Duke. Once, they even had an argument where the Duke threw a cup of hot tea at Madam Jiang, angering her to the point of turning pale. She didn’t speak to the Duke for nearly half a year. If not for Old Madam Lu’s mediation, they might have continued their feud.”
“It was during this period that the Duke went to Wanming Temple to clear his mind. There, he met a young lady whose father had passed away early, leaving her to live with her widowed mother and brother. Somehow, the Duke became involved with this woman and even set up a small residence behind Wanming Temple, where he would meet her in secret.”
“This matter was quietly reported to the old Duke by one of the Duke’s servants.”
“The Jiang family had a tradition of taking many concubines, so the old Duke wasn’t concerned about the Jiang family’s reaction. However, he felt that this young lady’s conduct was questionable, as she was unmarried yet involved with the Duke. He sent the now-deceased Steward Chen to investigate.”
“Steward Chen discovered that the young lady had been previously engaged, but the engagement was broken off due to rumors of an affair with her cousin.”
“How could the Duke allow such a woman to enter the family?”
“Steward Chen was instructed to end the matter.”
“However, Steward Chen returned with news that the woman was three months pregnant with the Duke’s child.”
“The old Duke was stunned.”
“The Ying Dukedom had few descendants, and the old Duke was somewhat reluctant to let this go.”
“At this time, news came that Madam Jiang was also with child.”
“The old Duke was torn. He worried that if the mistress gave birth to the eldest son and Madam Jiang to the legitimate eldest son, the close age gap between the two children would be detrimental to the dukedom. He also feared that if the mistress bore a daughter and Madam Jiang a son, it would cause unnecessary resentment in Madam Jiang. His greatest concern was that the mistress might bear the eldest son while the family’s child turned out to be a daughter, leaving a potential threat to the Ying Dukedom.”
“Old Madam Lu learned of this situation.”
“It was Old Madam Lu who had the clearer mind.”
“She said that regardless of whether the mistress gave birth to a boy or girl, the child would be illegitimate and couldn’t be kept.”
“There would be plenty of grandchildren in the future, and even if Madam Jiang didn’t have a son, they could properly take in a woman from a good family to continue the Ying Dukedom’s lineage.”
“The old Duke agreed and sent Chief Steward Li with a maid from Old Madam Lu’s side to administer medicine to the young lady.”
“However, the young lady was cunning. After Steward Chen left, she went into hiding.”
“The old Duke was furious, believing even more that this young lady had ill intentions. He recalled Old Servant from Baoding and sent him with Chief Steward Li to find her.”
“Just as Old Servant received his orders, the Duke rushed to plead with the old Duke. He claimed responsibility for hiding the young lady and asked to be punished in her stead. He admitted to a moment of confusion and said he continued to support her only because she carried his child. He promised the old Duke that once the child was born, he would sever all ties with the young lady. Regardless of the child’s gender, it would be given to a good family for adoption, with no future connection to the Song family.”
“One might disown a woman, but there’s no reason to disown one’s child.”
“How could the old Duke agree?”
“The Duke then went to beg Madam Jiang.”
“Madam Jiang was reasonable. She said if the Duke liked the woman, it wouldn’t be a problem to bring her into the family, but the child couldn’t be kept due to the close age difference. If the young lady agreed to terminate the pregnancy, Madam Jiang would immediately arrange for her to enter the Song family.”
“The old Duke’s expression darkened.”
“Old Madam Lu, however, thought this was an excellent solution.”
At this point, Song Shize let out a long sigh, his expression turning somber.
“The Duke was overjoyed upon hearing this. He thanked Madam Jiang profusely, holding her hands, and affectionately embraced Old Madam Lu, calling her ‘Mother’ before excitedly leaving.”
“The old Duke soon learned that the young lady was hiding in Wanming Temple.”
“Moreover, the young lady was willing to terminate the pregnancy, asking only to be allowed into the Song family.”
“The old Duke immediately kicked the Duke, glaring at him with reddened eyes: ‘You still want to bring such a woman into our family? Are you finding life too peaceful and looking for trouble?'”
“The Duke, stupidly holding the spot where the old Duke had kicked him, asked in confusion: ‘Didn’t you all say that if she was willing to terminate the pregnancy, she could enter the family? Now that she’s agreed, why are you going back on your word?'”
“As he spoke, the Duke seemed to realize something and started running out, shouting: ‘I knew it, you were deceiving me! After tricking me into revealing Tiao Niang’s hiding place, you planned to deal with us. You never intended to let her into the family…'”
“The old Duke was furious. He had his servants restrain the Duke and left him in my care. Then, taking Steward Li with him, he went to Wanming Temple.”
“The old Duke returned shortly after.”
“He said wearily that the matter had been handled.”
“The Duke, who had been pacing restlessly in the room like a caged beast, suddenly pushed past the old Duke and ran out.”
“Concerned, I followed him with the old Duke’s tacit permission.”
“The bedding on the kang was covered in blood. The young lady lay there, her face devoid of color, with an expression of terror.”
“The Duke held the young lady, weeping loudly.”
“I stepped forward to check for breath, but there seemed to be none, so I retreated.”
“Soon after, one of the young lady’s maids arrived with her brother.”
“He pushed open the door in a daze and entered.”
“Shortly after, anguished cries could be heard.”
“Later, the young lady’s brother and the Duke began to fight.”
“Seeing the Duke not resisting the blows, I pulled him away and accompanied him to a small tavern near Wanming Temple. We had a few drinks, and when he was drunk and confused, I brought him back to the manor.”
“The old Duke then sent me to handle the aftermath.”
“The young lady’s brother was a tough man. He threw out all the silver the old Duke had given as compensation. His widowed mother, however, was more practical. As soon as her son turned his back, she came out to collect all the silver and even bargained with me for an additional two thousand taels in banknotes.”
“Afterwards, I returned to Baoding, and Steward Li was assigned to serve the Duke.”
“I heard from Steward Li that the Duke never strayed again after this incident.”
“Moreover, since it was the old Duke who disapproved of the young lady’s character and prevented her from entering the family, Madam Jiang felt even more justified. The Duke, on the other hand, seemed to feel guilty about the matter and became submissive towards Madam Jiang. Especially after the birth of the heir, when the Duke was implicated in Duke Guangen’s troubles, Madam Jiang, heavily pregnant with the second young master, pleaded for the Duke. After that, the Duke became even more compliant with Madam Jiang’s wishes.”
“The old Duke watched this and shook his head.”
“After several unsuccessful attempts to advise them, he had no choice but to entrust the Ying Dukedom to Madam Jiang and left a few people to assist the heir.”
Dou Zhao listened in disbelief.
She never imagined that Song Yichun had done such things in his youth.
But what did this have to do with the rift between Song Yichun and Song Mo?
Surely Song Yichun wouldn’t kill his wife of over a decade and his legitimate heir over an old affair?
Was he really that sentimental?
It seemed too unreasonable!
Even if that were the case, in her previous life, Song Mo couldn’t have possibly killed his father and brother, ending the Ying Dukedom’s lineage, just because Song Yichun had caused Madam Jiang’s death, could he?
Dou Zhao thought of the maids in Xixiang Courtyard.
Could it be that Song Yichun was essentially a lecherous man? Had he been suppressing his desires for so long because of Madam Jiang that it caused psychological changes?
But that didn’t seem right either!
As the old Duke had correctly judged, the Jiang family had a tradition of taking many concubines. Madam Jiang shouldn’t have been too concerned about such matters. If Song Yichun wanted to take a beautiful woman as a concubine, Madam Jiang wouldn’t have interfered. Why did Song Yichun need to put on an act?
Or was Madam Jiang different from others? Having seen too many conflicts between wives and concubines, did she particularly resent others taking concubines?
Dou Zhao felt a headache coming on.
Not knowing about this incident was one thing, but now that she knew, she felt even more entangled in the past events, becoming more confused.