Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 4 - The Wife's Younger Sister and the Brother-in-Law

Winds and Rains of the Eight Directions!

Nine-Bend Winding Corridor!

Ten-Layered Heavenly Palace!

After a casual flip-through, black lines appeared on Song Yan's forehead.

He had originally thought this 'Hundred Treasures Compendium' might be a poetry collection left by some scholar, hence the elegant name. Who could have thought it was actually a little yellow book that introduced women's constitutions?

It really is about the 'hundred'?

On the spot, Song Yan had the urge to tear this thing to shreds.

In the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

After all, this thing looked quite old. What if it was an antique? One shouldn't casually destroy ancient books; that would be bad.

Speaking of which, according to the introduction inside, this 'Hundred Treasures Compendium' really was a martial arts secret manual.

There were also some simple line drawings. Though just a few strokes, they were vivid, simple, and clear. Most were of various different positions. There were also a few diagrams that specifically showed the various acupoints of the human body.

Song Yan didn't seek a deep understanding, just roughly flipped through it page by page.

This should be a dual cultivation secret manual.

It generates the qi of yin and yang during sexual intercourse, converts the yin and yang qi into internal breath, and then uses internal force to strengthen the physical body, tempering the muscles, bones, and flesh.

There were no moves or lightness skills or anything of that sort.

His memory was very good. Although he only skimmed through it once, he already remembered seventy to eighty percent of it. He glanced at the doorway, then quickly wrapped the 'Hundred Treasures Compendium' in a tattered cloth and reburied it under the floor tile.

He had no choice. Although it was a martial arts secret manual, he couldn't cultivate it right now. After all, relying solely on his right hand couldn't generate the power of yin and yang.

……

A magnificent mansion, definitely the most luxurious in Ningping County.

This was the Luo Mansion.

Luo Yuheng loved extravagance. Even when banished to suffer in a small county town, she still had to build the most luxurious mansion for herself.

Rumor has it that this was Luo Yuheng competing with the Ning Emperor. She just wanted to tell the Ning Emperor that even after leaving the capital and losing her status as Grand Princess, this old lady could still live very well.

Doing whatever it took to vex the Ning Emperor was very much in line with Luo Yuheng's character.

The study, with fragrant incense smoke curling up.

Two rows of hollow-carved bookcases displayed all sorts of books, with no lack of ancient and rare editions. The calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, and the porcelain displayed on the cabinets, were mostly from the hands of famous masters.

The Luo residence had many female family members in its inner quarters, and outside men were generally not allowed to enter. Even the servants were mostly women. But at this moment, a middle-aged man in magnificent clothes was sitting at the desk, engrossed in an ancient book. He was the only one in the entire study. Apart from the occasional sound of a page turning, the atmosphere was exceptionally quiet.

Perhaps tired from reading, the middle-aged man closed the book, rubbed his temples, and spoke faintly:

"That person, how goes the investigation?"

Three breaths later, an ethereal voice came from behind the bookshelf. The voice was old, sharp, and hoarse, not like that of a normal person:

"Song Yan, the ninth son of Duke Song, Song Hongtao. In reality, the thirteenth son. Before Song Yan, four concubine-born sons died prematurely.”

"He will be sixteen in two months. Intelligent in his youth, he was later imprisoned in the Duke Song's mansion's backyard for nine years. During those nine years, Yang Shi poisoned him six times. Five times with slow-acting poison, which had no effect. One time with a fast-acting poison, which was blocked by his mother who sacrificed her life.

After his mother's death, his actions became even more cautious. Yang Shi attempted to arrange for trusted aides to beat him to death three times, but all attempts were resolved. It was not until Miss Tianxuan's illness worsened and the rumors of a marriage to ward off ill-fortune spread that Yang Shi, wanting to use this child to replace Song Zhen, temporarily gave up on the idea of eliminating Song Yan.

The day before yesterday, he was granted permission to leave the mansion to pay respects to his birth mother, but he did not go to the mass grave. Instead, he prepared to leave Ningping County."

"He was later found by the servants of the Duke Song's mansion. There were seven Wokou corpses nearby, all killed with a single blow. The perpetrator's strength is at least Eighth-Rank."

"Song Yan killed them?" the middle-aged man frowned.

"No." The sharp, hoarse, old voice betrayed no emotional fluctuation:

"This old slave has observed him up close. This child has never stepped into the path of martial arts."

"In that case, there are no problems with his birth and background." The middle-aged man's expression softened slightly:

"He is indeed a person of deep fortune. If he can wash away the illness from Xuan'er's body, what's the harm in giving him a lifetime of wealth and honor?"

To be able to survive six poisonings and three assassination attempts could indeed be considered having deep fortune.

"When the three Young Masters and Miss Tianyi were leaving the Duke's mansion, this child took out a few tablets, saying they could cure consumption."

If Song Yan were here, he would definitely be scared into a cold sweat. This old man understood him better than he understood himself. Song Yan had already forgotten some things, yet this old man recounted them as if listing his family heirlooms. He was even crystal clear about what had just happened in front of the Duke Song's mansion's gate. Simply monstrous.

The middle-aged man, however, suddenly showed ripples on his calm face: "For real?"

"The Third Young Master also made a bet with him. If it can really cure consumption, he will eat shit while doing a handstand... Three jin!"

"Uh..." The middle-aged man's voice got stuck in his throat. If one looked closely, his face even turned a little red, as if from shame. His gaze drifted, and he let out two awkward little coughs:

"Well, Tianyang is pure and kind by nature, honest and simple... so it's not... not strange."

Good-for-nothing brat.

After a pause, the middle-aged man spoke again: "Do you think that... medicine can really cure consumption?"

The sound of footsteps came from outside the door. The old man's presence gradually faded. Before long, the door to the room was pushed open. A loose white robe could not hide a full, curvaceous figure, cinched only slightly at the waist to outline an alluring curve.

Her skin was snow-white and delicate, her appearance beautiful. She looked to be around thirty years old, yet she had a pair of large, moist almond eyes, full of charm in every glance.

This beautiful woman was none other than the mother of the three Luo family young masters and four young misses, and also Song Yan's future mother-in-law, Luo Yuheng.

The middle-aged man asked, "How is Xuan'er?"

"Not good." Luo Yuheng sighed and said slowly, her brow full of weariness and fatigue:

"The Divine Physician Sun said it's just a matter of these next few months."

Looking at Luo Yuheng's appearance, the middle-aged man's brow also showed a trace of heartache:

"It's been hard on you all these years."

"It's not hard at all." Luo Yuheng pinched the soft flesh on her waist:

"Away from the capital, there aren't so many troubles. I eat well, sleep well, and I've even gotten fatter."

"A little fatter is good. You were too thin before."

The two spoke in a very casual manner, and the middle-aged man was especially doting towards Luo Yuheng. If that beheaded Prince Consort knew of this in the underworld, he would probably suspect his head had turned green.

As they spoke, the sound of several people's chaotic footsteps came from outside again. Not long after, a knock on the door sounded:

"Mother..."

"Come in." Luo Yuheng also put away her slight playfulness, her expression returning to one of dignity.

The three Luo family young masters and Luo Tianyi entered in single file. Although they frowned slightly at the suddenly present middle-aged man, they didn't say much.

Luo Tianshu recounted what happened at the Duke Song's mansion today in detail, including the bet between the third Luo brother and Song Yan. Luo Yuheng's expression also gradually turned grim.

Her willow-leaf eyebrows stood on end, her eyes cold and sharp. She was clearly very dissatisfied with the Song family's conduct.

Luo Tianyi began to speak: "Mother, that medicine..."

"Huu..." Luo Yuheng let out a heavy breath: "Bring it up."

Luo Tianyi took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom, opened it, and nine white, tablet-like objects lay quietly inside. Luo Yuheng looked at these strange tablets with a peculiar expression, even lifting one to sniff it. Then she passed it to the middle-aged man beside her. That man also shook his head slightly after looking at it for a moment:

"I have never seen such a strange medicine."

Could it be just a ball of flour?

But even flour isn't this white.

The flour milling technology of this era was backward. The milled flour was brownish-yellow and dark in color, not like these tablets, which were so purely white, dense, and fine.

Luo Yuheng frowned slightly and said: "No matter what, there's no harm in trying. Hasn't Xuan'er tried all sorts of prescriptions over the years? It's just that, finding someone with consumption right now is not so easy."

The middle-aged man nodded: "I'll arrange it."

The three Luo family young masters and Luo Tianyi also left for the time being. Inadvertently, Luo Yuheng saw Luo Tianyi's back as she left. Her small, perky buttocks swayed from side to side, and her long, slender legs always moved a bit unnaturally, as if they couldn't close properly.

Luo Yuheng's expression changed slightly. As an experienced woman, she of course knew under what circumstances a woman would have such a change, unless she had lost her virginity…

Immediately, Luo Yuheng shook her head and chuckled in dismissal. This was impossible.

What kind of personality did her own second daughter have? Like a block of ice that wouldn't melt in a thousand years. Although her figure and appearance were impeccable, she had not the slightest interest in men. Although Luo Yuheng had once introduced some talented young men to Luo Tianyi, to see if she could make this ice block come to her senses.

The result was that Luo Tianyi struck out with her sword. The sword qi grazed the talented young man's forehead, cutting a few strands of hair while splitting a two-person-high rockery behind him in two. On the spot, that talented young man immediately smiled broadly, stating that he had twenty-eight lovers in the brothel, and that he also had a preference for married women, was without talent or virtue, and was truly not a good match.

As a result, Luo Tianyi was now eighteen and still unmarried. In the Ning Kingdom, unmarried women of eighteen were few and far between.

Perhaps it was just a small problem with her cultivation. Or maybe her monthly period had arrived early. Women, well, there are always a few uncomfortable days each month.

To say that her own daughter was really interested in some man, that would only happen if pigs could climb trees.

As she was thinking this, a sudden commotion arose in the courtyard.

Luo Yuheng subconsciously looked over, only to see several servants chasing a sow that was black all over, shiny, fat, and strong. It probably knew it was about to be slaughtered.

The sow went berserk with brute force, charged straight at a large tree as thick as a bowl, and with all four hooves moving, it slammed its head into the trunk.

Crack!

The tree trunk broke. The fat body burrowed into the branches and leaves, refusing to come out no matter what.

In an instant, Luo Yuheng's sandalwood mouth parted slightly, her eyelids twitching uncontrollably:

Does this count as a pig climbing a tree?

Could it be that Tianyi really has a man she fancies?

For a moment, Luo Yuheng's gossiping heart burned fiercely. A strong sense of curiosity arose in her heart. She wondered what kind of man could actually make an ice block like Tianyi's heart flutter, to make an iron tree bloom.

She even had the urge to cry tears of joy. Now she wouldn't have to worry about her second daughter not being able to marry. She decided, as long as it was a man Luo Tianyi fancied, even if he were a beggar on the street, she would agree. As long as she could get married off, it would be fine.

Ah, but not that Song Yan.

After all, he is very likely to be Tianyi's future brother-in-law. For a wife's younger sister to fancy her brother-in-law, that would be a sin!