Elderly people always liked to be stubborn. First Madam Song glanced knowingly at Nanny Huang, smiled bitterly, and tried to persuade Old Madam Song: “A parent’s heart is the most pitiful under heaven—when have parents ever held grudges against their children? Others may not understand Young Aunt’s temperament, but don’t you? If she had even the slightest alternative, she would never have written home begging for help. This must mean she’s encountered some truly serious difficulty. Why are you acting like a child throwing a tantrum with your own daughter?”
Song Linlang was Old Madam Song’s only daughter. If Old Madam Song could truly let go, she wouldn’t have been thinking of her constantly all this time, regularly sending people to inquire about her.
First Madam, having been Old Madam Song’s daughter-in-law for so many years, felt she could still read this much of her thoughts clearly.
Old Madam Song spat in disgust, unable to prevent tears from brimming in her eyes. “Bah! But no matter how much we wish we could tear out our hearts and give them to her, she has to appreciate it! If only she had listened to me even once, how would things have come to this point?”
First Madam Song knew that Old Madam Song had no way to deal with Song Linlang. Hearing this, she sighed along with her. “But in the end, she’s your daughter. How can you hold so much against her?”
Old Madam Song naturally couldn’t truly disregard her own biological daughter’s life and death. Moreover, this was the first time Song Linlang had written home seeking help since marrying out all these years. No matter how much anger Old Madam Song harbored in her heart, she had never truly considered standing by and doing nothing.
Outside the room, the wind howled in waves, the gale beating against the windows with loud rattling sounds. The door curtain stirred slightly, and Old Master Song entered the room together with First Master Song, both covered in snow.
“A letter came from Qingzhou?” Old Master Song removed his cloak himself, urgently asking, “What did it say? How is Linlang?”
First Master Song also wore an expression of concern. Seeing several sheets of paper scattered on the floor, he guessed that Old Madam Song had thrown them in anger. He quickly picked them up and handed them to Old Master Song.
As Old Master Song read, his brows nearly knitted together.
“Outrageous!” He truly couldn’t suppress the fury in his heart and slammed his hand heavily on the table beside him, breathing raggedly. “This Xiang Yunzhang really thinks he’s someone important!”
Old Madam Song also sneered inwardly, snorted, and spoke in a rarely sarcastic tone: “Of course he thinks he’s someone important. If he didn’t think himself someone important, how would he dare commit such acts of favoring concubines and destroying his wife!”
Favoring concubines and destroying his wife?! First Madam Song hadn’t expected matters to be so serious. She was shocked speechless, unable to react for a moment—favoring concubines and destroying one’s wife was illegal in Great Zhou. Could this Xiang Yunzhang truly not care about his career prospects anymore?
First Master Song quickly stepped forward to take the letter from Old Master Song’s hand and read it through. This reading was no trivial matter—he nearly exploded with rage. Usually mild-tempered, he couldn’t help but curse Xiang Yunzhang repeatedly: “This wolf in human clothing! Does he really think that because the sky is high and the emperor far away, no one knows what he’s done? To so brazenly torment my sister!”
First Madam Song took the letter and read it, also unable to help gasping—the letter said that Xiang Yunzhang’s eldest son by a concubine had fallen seriously ill. A local witch doctor declared it was because Xiang Mingzi had brought him misfortune, and furthermore claimed that Xiang Mingzi was born with a solitary fate, not only bringing misfortune to her younger brother but also to her father, and would bring death to Xiang Yunzhang as well. Xiang Yunzhang believed these words and truly intended to disown this daughter and expel her from the Xiang family.
Although Song Linlang was surrounded by people brought from the Song family, she couldn’t withstand the fact that Xiang Yunzhang was a prefect with real power in the region. Xiang Mingzi had already been locked up, and it was said that in a few days she would be sent to the witch doctor for “treatment.”
How absurd and foolish! First Madam Song couldn’t bear to read further. She slammed the letter on the table and said angrily, “This is truly going too far! Does he really think our Earl Manor has no adults?”
For a full four or five years, they had never seen Xiang Yunzhang send anyone with festival or New Year gifts. If he truly regarded the Earl Manor in his eyes, how could he act to such an extent?
Song Chuyi had just entered when she heard First Madam Song’s scolding. Taking a slight glance at everyone’s expressions, she knew something must have happened to Song Linlang in Qingzhou.
This uncle by marriage truly had tremendous audacity, never showing any regard for the Song family, his powerful in-laws.
Old Madam Song gestured for First Madam Song to show the letter to Song Chuyi, while sneering: “That girl Linlang is also foolish. I originally didn’t want to manage her broken affairs anymore. But not one thing this Xiang Yunzhang has done is something a human being would do! Mingzi is his own biological daughter—how can he bring himself to harm her!”
Old Master Song stared at the letter with an ominous cold laugh, then turned to look at Song Chuyi. “Little Yi, would you like to meet this uncle of yours?”
After finishing this sentence, he looked at Old Madam Song and said, “Since he shows no benevolence, we need not show righteousness either. I’m about to depart for Jiangnan and cannot get away. You take Little Yi and Third Son, personally make a trip to Qingzhou, and arrange a divorce for the two of them.”
Third Master had requested leave and should arrive in the capital in the next few days.
Song Chuyi understood Old Master Song’s meaning. This wasn’t just about wanting Song Linlang to divorce from the Xiang family—he likely also intended to utterly destroy the Xiang family.
First Master Song felt this was somewhat improper. “But Mother is quite advanced in years, this… I could make the trip, it would be the same.”
“No!” Old Master Song coldly shook his head, looking at Old Madam Song with a tone that brooked no refusal. “Mingying, you must go personally. Also ask that good daughter of yours what exactly she’s thinking. If she’s willing to come back, that’s naturally good—we’ll support her and her daughter. But if she refuses to the death and remains the same as before, unable to be helped, then you tell her that from now on, her life and death will no longer be the Song family’s concern.”
Song Chuyi lowered her head, feeling somewhat like sighing. In her previous life, no matter how much she had loved Shen Qingrang, after finally seeing his true face clearly, her passionate devotion had cooled completely. But why could Song Linlang remain obsessed to this degree? Who knows whether, after what happened to Xiang Mingzi, she would wake up a bit and recognize Xiang Yunzhang’s true nature. People say that becoming a mother makes one strong. If she truly disregarded even her own daughter… then what Old Master Song said wasn’t without reason. Such a person’s life and death—no one could manage it.
Old Madam Song, having been married to Old Master Song for so many years, clearly understood that he had truly become enraged. This anger was directed not only at Xiang Yunzhang’s disrespect and cruelty, but also at their daughter’s lack of ambition and foolishness.
“I heard the one who came to the capital to deliver the letter was Yunshang. She’s also been an old servant by Linlang’s side for many years. This evening, once she’s rested, I’ll have her come and ask questions.” Old Madam Song didn’t directly answer Old Master Song’s words. “Since this matter has reached this point, if we don’t step forward, the Xiang family might truly think the Song family has no one. Since you’ve also said as much, when Third Son arrives, I’ll personally make a trip to Qingzhou.”