Hearing this, Song Wan felt somewhat flustered. Regarding her father, she dared not and could not disobey.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.”

Song Fu calmly reassured Song Wan. The two rose and walked outside to greet Song Lan’an.

“This junior greets the clan elders and Father.”

“Wan’er greets the clan elders and Father.”

Madam Song stood behind the group with lowered eyes, very quiet.

“This residence is quite nice. Fu’er has excellent taste.”

With a light word of praise, Song Lan’an strode into the central hall without even glancing at Song Wan. The two elderly clan elders wore grave expressions as they followed Song Lan’an and sat down.

Madam Song smiled and said, “Wan’er is dressed so festively today. She looks much healthier than when she was at the marquis manor.”

Hearing this, Song Lan’an snorted coldly. Song Wan lowered her head in silence.

“A woman’s great virtue lies only in respect and obedience. You injured your husband first, then fled the manor privately afterward. Such unchaste and unworthy conduct truly ruins the reputation of our Song clan women.”

“Please calm your anger, clan elder.”

Madam Song had Heng Zhi and Heng Wu bring tea and water, while she herself smiled and said, “Clan elder, please don’t be angry. That day the capital was in chaos—Marquis Chengyang likely sent her here out of concern for Wan’er’s safety. Moreover, didn’t Marquis Chengyang say earlier that once his health recovers, he’ll come fetch Wan’er back to the manor?”

“Wan’er, Marquis Chengyang is now gravely injured. You shouldn’t be hiding here alone. Today, tidy up with your mother. Later, your mother and father will escort you back to the marquis manor.”

Madam Song’s tone was gentle, her manner very soft and graceful.

Song Lan’an picked up his teacup and lightly stirred the foam, silently sipping his tea.

“Wan’er has already severed all ties with Jiang Xingjian. The clan elders’ arrival today is fortuitous. Song Fu requests that you two serve as witnesses to dissolve this marriage.”

“Outrageous!”

The senior clan elder, who had remained silent until now, shouted furiously, “Our Song clan has not cast out a married woman in a hundred years. This precedent absolutely cannot be set.”

“Such actions that violate Heaven’s way, defy one’s husband and disobey one’s father—our Song clan can never tolerate them. If she doesn’t repent, either she goes to the marquis manor’s family temple to accompany Buddhist lamps and ancient scriptures, or let me bring out the clan law to beat to death such an unchaste and unfilial woman.”

Madam Song furrowed her brow, hiding the contempt in her eyes.

Song Wan’s face turned deathly pale, yet she couldn’t open her mouth to defend herself even once.

If she opened her mouth to make excuses, she would completely confirm the accusations of being unchaste, unfilial, immoral, and shameless.

“The marquis manor insulted our Song clan daughter first, injured Qianbai afterward, and Jiang Xingjian’s favoring of concubines over his wife is known throughout the capital. I don’t care whether the Song clan has cast out married women before or not, but my sister’s proud spirit absolutely cannot be broken in the Marquis Chengyang manor and at Jiang Xingjian’s hands.”

“Regardless of whether the clan supports it or not, my full-blooded sister Song Fu has already severed all ties with Marquis Chengyang Jiang Xingjian.”

“If anyone has ideas about sending Wan’er back to the marquis manor, don’t blame me for turning ruthless.”

“Song Fu, how dare you!”

The two clan elders stood up trembling. Song Lan’an set down his teacup and said leisurely, “Is this how you speak to your clan elders?”

“This son wouldn’t dare.”

“Hmph, I think you dare quite a lot.”

The furious elders looked at Song Lan’an in unison, about to have him properly discipline Song Fu, but unexpectedly he picked up his tea and began drinking again.

Song Wan pressed her lips together, her eyes stinging with emotion.

Her father probably also felt heartache for her.

Previously, for the clan’s reputation, he had no choice but to make her endure, but now that things had reached this point, what difference was there between returning to Marquis Chengyang’s manor and walking straight into humiliation?

She knew that as clan patriarch, her father had to maintain certain appearances even if he was unwilling.

Looking at her silent father and Song Fu who always stood before her, Song Wan forcefully held back the hot tears in her eyes.

She now understood why her brother had brought up the Eastern Palace Crown Prince earlier. If Father and the clan truly decided to support the Fifth Prince’s ascension, then she would inevitably have to return to the marquis manor in the future.

Once back at the marquis manor, she would no longer be the exemplary widow of six years with excellent virtue and conduct, but rather a shameless and immoral woman who had privately fled the manor.

Without a good reputation to her name, her circumstances would only grow worse and worse.

So her brother’s mention of the Eastern Palace likely meant he had thoughts of switching allegiance to the Eastern Palace.

All of her brother’s plans were for her sake.

Unable to help her father and brother in any way, she instead caused them trouble at every turn. This truly pained her heart.

“This son was wrong.”

“Where were you wrong?”

Song Fu replied expressionlessly, “This son was wrong in speaking thus to the clan elders.”

“Good that you know.”

After Song Lan’an finished speaking, he leisurely resumed drinking his tea. Only then did the two clan elders understand his attitude.

Though furious in their hearts, they were helpless.

After all, the entire Song clan now relied entirely on Song Lan’an’s support. Though Song Lan’an usually showed great respect to the clan, if he truly made up his mind to support Song Wan leaving the marquis manor, they dared not force him to yield.

Even so, just thinking that the Song clan had produced such a lowly woman as Song Wan filled them with shame.

If outsiders learned of this, they would only say the Song clan was lax in teaching their daughters, which would certainly implicate marriage prospects for all the clan’s sons and daughters.

The clan elder thought for a moment and said coldly, “It’s not that the clan is forcing an ignorant woman, but the Song clan’s hundred years of pure reputation cannot be destroyed in your hands alone. If you insist on not returning to the marquis manor, then seek a clear name for yourself and depart cleanly.”

“Depart where?”

Song Lan’an glanced at Song Wan. The thoughts Song Wan had just formed suddenly dispersed.

Song Fu also glared at that clan elder, his eyes full of fury.

Seeing the situation grow tense, Madam Song said, “Master has an appointment with Minister Chen of the Hanlin Academy this afternoon. The time is nearly upon us.”

Song Lan’an stood up, still without glancing at Song Wan once, and strode out.

The two Song clan elders, seeing this, followed with iron-gray faces.

Just after leaving Song Wan’s residence, one of them said in a gloomy tone, “The patriarch seems inclined to favor his own legitimate daughter? If you act privately for your daughter today, how will you command respect in the future?”

“It’s not that I, Song Lan’an, favor that girl. Clan elder, you don’t understand—Song Fu’s wings have grown hard, and I have no way to handle him. If you have a method, by all means make Song Fu agree to take Wan’er back to the marquis manor. I’ll have no objections. As for me, I absolutely dare not offend the Grand Princess.”

After speaking, Song Lan’an bowed and boarded the carriage.

Madam Song sat in the carriage, pondering for a long while before saying, “Has Master considered Yao’er and Nian’er’s future?”

“What about Yao’er and Nian’er?”

Madam Song pressed her lips and said no more. Song Lan’an was silent for a long time before lowering his eyes and saying, “If Jiang Xingjian were devoted to Wan’er, then Wan’er would be of some use at the marquis manor. Since Jiang Xingjian has no heart or feeling for Wan’er, why should I, Song Lan’an, send my perfectly good daughter to him to torment?”

“Unable to control Jiang Xingjian, Wan’er is no different from a useless child. Better to do Fu’er a favor and save him from looking at me, his father, with displeasure every day.”

“Master speaks correctly.”

Madam Song clutched her handkerchief, full of pent-up frustration.

What talk of controlling Song Fu—wasn’t it really about valuing this pair of legitimate children? If today it had been her Yao’er or Nian’er who fled the manor privately, he would have beaten them to death immediately to preserve the Song clan’s pure reputation.

Madam Song turned her head, no longer looking at Song Lan’an.

“Don’t be afraid, Wan’er. Stay here with peace of mind and don’t concern yourself with other matters.”

“I’ve caused trouble for elder brother.”

“What kind of talk is that?”

Song Fu raised his hand and gently passed it over her head, his heart warmed seeing his sister safe and healthy.

“Will elder brother stay to dine together? I’ll brew tea for you.”

“Good.”

Seeing Song Wan busy warming the tea implements, Song Fu said, “Are you well acquainted with Jiang Yan?”