Old Madam Song’s thoughts drifted somewhat far away. Suddenly, for some reason, she recalled the scene from many years ago when Xiang Yunzhang came to the Earl Manor to propose marriage. At that time, the Earl Manor still grew vast expanses of crabapple flowers. She had stood with Song Linlang in the Old Friends Pavilion, looking down from above at the spirited and graceful young man moving through the great expanse of crabapple trees.
She also remembered Linlang kneeling before her, eyes shining with light, saying with such determination that she would marry no one but him, and Xiang Yunzhang’s attitude at that time, which had been quite sincere.
But how many years had passed since then? All those solemn promises from back then had become nothing but dreams and bubbles. The young man who had knelt before her and Song Chengru with clear eyes, saying he would certainly not disappoint this pearl of the Earl Manor, had now become a wolf who abandoned his wife and child.
Perhaps Little Yi was right. Xiang Yunzhang’s promises back then may not have been insincere, but promises couldn’t compare to offspring, couldn’t compare to the endless stream of beauties by his side.
When making promises, everyone thinks they can keep them, but those who truly do so are ultimately very few.
“Whose idea was it to have you return seeking help?” Old Madam Song looked at Yunshang, her brows shrouded in dark clouds. “Before, her second and third brothers both went, even her nephew went, but she gritted her teeth and drove them all back. I don’t believe she suddenly had a change of heart.”
Yet how much she wished in her heart that Song Linlang truly had come to her senses, given up on Xiang Yunzhang, and finally for her own sake and her daughter’s sake had shown some backbone and thought of her natal family as a safe harbor.
Song Chuyi followed Old Madam Song’s gaze to look at Yunshang. For some reason, she too hoped that Song Linlang herself couldn’t bear it anymore and had decided to break decisively with Xiang Yunzhang, which was why she had sent someone back to the capital. After all, someone like her who could be reborn and have another chance at revenge was an anomaly. How she wished someone could rein in at the cliff’s edge and cut losses in time, without having to wait for an uncertain next life to make up for regrets.
Yunshang smiled bitterly. By now she had calmed her emotions, only occasionally unable to restrain a sob. “In answer to Old Madam, it was Madam’s own idea. She personally wrote the letter, personally instructed me, telling me I must deliver the letter into the hands of her parents and brothers.”
Old Madam Song slowly narrowed her eyes, somewhat relieved as she touched Song Chuyi’s head, smiling in a way that was both happy and not. “At least she’s not beyond saving. She’s finally hit the south wall and turned back.”
Yunshang understood Old Madam Song’s meaning and couldn’t help but speak up softly in Song Linlang’s defense. “Madam is not someone without backbone who listens to Master in everything. Initially, Master wasn’t unkind to Madam either.”
It was just that the Xiang family was merely a modest farming and scholarly household. Having suddenly married a famous noble lady from a high-ranking household in the capital, they always harbored sensitivity in their hearts.
Old Madam Xiang wanted to assert her authority as mother-in-law before Song Linlang, but Xiang Yunzhang staunchly protected Song Linlang. After Song Linlang had stood on ceremony before Old Madam Xiang for only a few months, she became pregnant. Xiang Yunzhang then made a fuss, refusing to let Song Linlang suffer anymore.
At that time, Old Madam Xiang only took advantage verbally, making sour remarks about how other families’ daughters-in-law still served tea and water to their mothers-in-law morning and evening even when pregnant, but ultimately didn’t dare make Song Linlang attend to her day and night anymore. After all, Song Linlang came from an aristocratic clan—her conduct and bearing were worlds apart from the Xiang family’s. Old Madam Xiang wanted to assert her authority as mother-in-law, yet before her daughter-in-law’s splendid garments and natural nobility, she unconsciously felt herself a grade lower. As time went on, some friction and grudges gradually formed a barrier between them.
After Song Linlang gave birth to Xiang Mingzi, Old Madam Xiang was no longer satisfied with just verbal admonitions. From time to time she would cry before the Xiang family ancestors’ memorial tablets, saying that Xiang Yunzhang and his wife were unfilial, not even leaving the Xiang family with an heir. Sharp words were constant, and at festivals when relatives gathered, she would openly and subtly accuse Song Linlang of monopolizing her husband yet being unable to produce even a son.
Their feelings were worn away bit by bit like this. Making matters worse, after giving birth to Xiang Mingzi, Song Linlang truly never had any more news of pregnancy. Old Madam Xiang’s harassment became increasingly frequent. Song Linlang, who had previously kept yielding, finally lost her temper. Caught between the two women, Xiang Yunzhang found it increasingly difficult, gradually becoming reluctant and afraid to return home.
They finally managed to wait until Xiang Yunzhang took up an external post, thinking they could have a few years of peace and quiet, but Old Madam Xiang began stuffing beauties into Xiang Yunzhang’s quarters. Initially, Xiang Yunzhang still regarded the agreement about not taking concubines before forty and childless, stubbornly refusing. As time went on, however, he was pressured by Old Madam Xiang until he had no choice. Once there was a first, a second and third followed naturally. Song Linlang initially gave Xiang Yunzhang the cold shoulder—for a full half year she didn’t speak to him and wouldn’t let him enter her room. Xiang Yunzhang also transformed from initial overwhelming guilt to a heart of stone. Their feelings were ground away bit by bit until little remained.
After the birth of the first son by a concubine, the situation became even worse.
Old Madam Xiang personally went to Qingzhou to see her grandson, ostentatiously having pure gold bracelets and longevity locks made, demanding before all the elders that Song Linlang register this son by a concubine under her name.
Song Linlang refused the first time. Slowly there came a second son by a concubine, a third son by a concubine. Every time a son by a concubine was born, the old matter would be brought up again. In recent years, even Xiang Yunzhang himself began pressuring her to acknowledge one son by a concubine to raise under her name as the legitimate heir.
As Yunshang spoke, she couldn’t help but sob again. “Madam has a proud temperament. She refused to let her natal family laugh at her for choosing the wrong person back then. She preferred to bear everything alone rather than yield, determined not to satisfy Old Madam Xiang’s wishes. She insisted on occupying the positions of legitimate wife and legitimate daughter, just to spite Old Madam Xiang and Master.”
Old Madam Song’s expression grew increasingly worse. As early as the second year, she had known that Old Madam Xiang was difficult to get along with. At that time, after Third Son went to Sichuan and returned, he was worried day after day, saying that Old Madam Xiang didn’t give Song Linlang much face even in his presence. Moreover, when the Song family went, they brought great quantities of gifts, but when they returned, although the gifts were also abundant, upon careful inspection they were all from Song Linlang’s dowry. Her heart both resented her own lack of caution back then in not seeing through people clearly, and hated Old Madam Xiang for being harsh and mistreating her own daughter. For a moment, fierce murderous intent erupted on her face, which had always been calm and unruffled, as she ground out the word “good” through clenched teeth.
“Little Yi, listen carefully.” Though she was grinding her teeth inwardly, her face quickly returned to calm. She lowered her head to instruct Song Chuyi, “Also learn this lesson well, so that in the future you’ll see people clearly. Having already had your aunt and your second sister, our family will never repeat this mistake again!”
Song Chuyi only felt her heart sink heavily as if falling into an icy cavern. People in this world could all change and deceive. Sometimes even if you grew up with them from childhood, you still might not be able to guess their true thoughts. Wasn’t Shen Qingrang the best example of this?