Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 40 - Love

Song Zhe!!!

His eyelids drooped. No one could see the color in Song Yan's pupils.

Within the Duke Song's mansion, Song Zhe was a rather special existence.

Song Yan's level of disgust for him was relatively low. This so-called sixth brother generally wouldn't bully him like Song Zhen did. Occasionally, when he saw other servants humiliating him, he would even speak up and scold them, although it was of no use.

Sometimes, he would even send some food and clothing to the small courtyard, even though it was a handout like one would give a beggar.

But he had never expected that Song Zhe was actually the most venomous and most sinister one among Yang Shi's eight sons. As expected of the Song family's Qilin Son. The year his mother died, Song Yan was only nine years old. That Song Zhe was only thirteen or fourteen at the time. A boy of thirteen or fourteen, yet his temperament was already so vicious.

Song Yan knew that a concubine who had already gone mad was not a big threat to Yang Shi. The person they really wanted to kill was him…

On a daily basis, it was always he who would eat a small bite first, then sit still for an hour, and only after confirming there was no problem would he take it to his mother to eat. But who could have thought that on that day, his mother, who had long since gone mad, would suddenly rush over and snatch the food, then desperately stuff it into her mouth.

That night, his mother passed away.

Even though she had already gone mad, his mother still used her life to trade for his chance to live on.

His long eyelashes trembled gently.

To this day, Song Yan still couldn't understand why Yang Shi had such great hatred for the concubine-born sons, daughters, and concubines. In this world, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate was extremely severe. What's more, Yang Shi had eight legitimate sons of her own. A concubine's son like him could not possibly pose the slightest threat to her. Furthermore, she had the Yang family backing her.

Even if she wanted to plot for the Duke's title, it had nothing to do with him, a concubine's son.

It was as if that hatred wasn't directed at him, nor at the other illegitimate brothers and sisters... It was as if she wanted to cut off all of Song Hongtao's bloodlines.

"Liang Qiaofeng, your information is very valuable."

After a very long time, Song Yan let out a breath and looked up, a slight smile on his lips

"For the next few days, you will still live here, but you won't have to be tied up anymore, and you won't be beaten again. You will also get enough food every day. If you can remember anything else important, I will consider letting you go."

Liang Qiaofeng was immediately overjoyed, her body trembling with excitement.

As long as she no longer had to endure that kind of torture every day, she was already content.

Then he pointed at Xiao Cuilan and Lai Qiuju:

"These two are yours."

A strange light began to shine in Liang Qiaofeng's eyes. For some unknown reason, a sadistic urge welled up in her chest.

"You two think about it as well, see if there are any other important things you haven't said. I will come again in a few days. Of course, don't think about fooling me. I will naturally go and verify whatever you say."

Saying this, Song Yan let out a breath and left the dungeon.

As the door closed tightly, the sounds of screams from behind were also cut off. Liang Qiaofeng should be 'taking good care' of Xiao Cuilan and Lai Qiuju.

He looked up at the sky. The sunlight was glaring.

But Song Yan felt a chill all over his body.

A breeze rolled past. A fallen leaf slowly drifted down before Song Yan's eyes. He reached out and caught it. With a slight squeeze, a snapping sound was heard, and the withered yellow leaf turned into fine powder.

Song Zhe must die.

Just then, Zhao Hu returned.

"Young Master-in-law, I followed them all the way and discovered those trackers meeting with someone in a teahouse. That person..."

"It's Song Yun, right?" Song Yan stretched his arms and said lazily.

Zhao Hu's eyes showed some surprise. He hadn't expected the Young Master-in-law, while at the Luo Mansion, to be so clear about these matters.

"Young Master-in-law, should I..." Zhao Hu made a slicing motion across his neck with his hand.

Song Yan chuckled and shook his head.

"No need. Let him hang for a few days. When he can't take it anymore, then we'll give him an opportunity."

This time, let's make a big scene!

"Young Master-in-law, what are you thinking about?" Gu Banxia's gentle voice came from beside him.

"Nothing. Is Mother-in... Mother back?"

"She's back. I heard you had something to see her about. She's waiting at the pavilion."

……

The back courtyard, the pavilion.

It was the same place where he had met that middle-aged man before.

Luo Yuheng sat there quietly, her two long, slender fingers gently pressing her temples, her face showing a visible weariness.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, she raised her eyebrows, and her expression immediately brightened.

"Yan'er is here."

"Sit."

Song Yan, who was about to bow, had to give up the idea. In front of Luo Yuheng, tedious formalities would only make her feel annoyed.

"Yan'er, you have something to see me about?"

Song Yan nodded, then took out that list of names from his bosom and handed it to Luo Yuheng. He was very clear about his own status. Even if he knew these things, there was nothing he could do. In the entire Ningping County, only Luo Yuheng had the qualification and the ability to handle this matter. There wasn't much room for him to maneuver.

As for whether Luo Yuheng would believe it, and whether Luo Yuheng cared more about her conflict with the Ning Emperor or the empire her ancestors had built, that was Luo Yuheng's business, not something he could control.

The expression on Luo Yuheng's face was a little strange. This was the Yang family's marriage alliance list. She naturally knew about these things. It's just that for a moment, she didn't quite understand what her son-in-law meant by showing her this.

"Mother probably doesn't know, but an interesting thing happened at the Duke Song's mansion today." Song Yan said with a chuckle, seemingly casually.

"That Song Zhen seems to not be Song Hongtao's biological son. His biological father should also be from the Yang family, the Huilong Yang family."

"The Huilong Yang family?" Luo Yuheng seemed to have become interested.

Well, this kind of gossip always has elements that can attract attention.

Song Yan then briefly explained the matter of the Duke's mansion.

Luo Yuheng's expression became even stranger. The Huilong Yang clan was more than a thousand li away from Ningping. That Yang Zhen traveled so far, just to 'borrow a seed'?

[N: 1 li = 500 meters]

She wasn't too surprised. Not to mention things far away, even within that imperial palace, things like a prince seducing the emperor's concubine happened from time to time. And the number of lonely concubines seducing guards was countless. Otherwise, why would the guards responsible for guarding the rear palace be turned into eunuchs?

But messing around with a cousin was a bit too much. This was in*est. Although the bloodline of the Huilong Yang clan and the Langya Yang clan had long since thinned, they were, after all, from the same ancestor. It was too much, really too much.

But surely her son-in-law wouldn't have come looking for her in such a hurry just for a filthy affair like this? Thinking this, Luo Yuheng couldn't help but look at the list again.

Gradually, Luo Yuheng's originally cheerful expression sank, and her eyes grew solemn. After a long while, Luo Yuheng slowly placed the yellow paper on the tabletop, her fingers caressing her teacup, it was unknown what she was pondering. After another period of time, she finally spoke:

"You just said that Yang Shi instigated Song Hongtao, wanting to establish Song Zhen as the Heir Apparent of the Duke Song's mansion?"

"Yes."

"You suspect that a situation like Song Zhen's is not only happening in the Song family, but could also be playing out in other noble households. If so, then nearly one-third of the nobles in the entire Ning Kingdom would actually have the blood of the Yang family flowing in them."

"You even suspect, the First Imperial Prince..."

The First Imperial Prince was the son of Noble Consort Yang and the Ning Emperor.

Because all the previous heirs had died young, this one had become the First Imperial Prince. If there were no accidents, he would be the future Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace.

Those previous princes and princesses, one died for every one born. But ever since the First Imperial Prince was born, the situation had suddenly taken a turn for the better. In all these years, only two princesses had died prematurely; the other imperial heirs were mostly safe. Therefore, some said that the First Imperial Prince was the reincarnation of a lucky star and would surely bring good fortune to the Ning Kingdom.

Song Yan gave a disdainful smile: "How could that be? I just thought this matter was very interesting and wanted to share it with Mother, that's all."

Luo Yuheng also smiled gently. She leaned her upper body forward, her long, slender, and fair fingers ruffling Song Yan's head. His originally neat hair became a bit messy, but Luo Yuheng clearly didn't use much force; her movements were very gentle:

"In the future, if anyone asks, don't answer like this."

"You must ask in return, 'What are you talking about? I don't understand.'"

"Remember?"

"Leave the rest of the matter for Mother to handle."

After a brief pause, Luo Yuheng stretched her arms: "Who else knows?"

The image of Butler Wang appeared in Song Yan's mind, but he still shook his head.

Suddenly, Luo Yuheng flicked the rim of her teacup with her finger, making a crisp sound, as if to indicate that this matter was now closed:

"Oh right, Yan'er, what are your plans for the future?"

"What?" Song Yan didn't understand for a moment.

"I mean, what do you plan to do next? Study the way of medicine, or study for the imperial examinations?" Luo Yuheng seemed a little tired, so she lay down on the table, lazy, like a golden silk cat.

Her fine body was squashed a little flat. She really didn't care much for formalities.

"If you want to study poetry and literature, the Luo Mansion has tutors; if you want to do business, the Luo Mansion has a hundred shops under its name, you can do with them as you please; if you want to practice martial arts, although you've missed the golden age, there are still household guards who can teach you fists, kicks, blades, and spears."

Song Yan blinked his eyes: "I'm preparing to... plant some fields, and do a little business?"

"Huh?" Luo Yuheng's big eyes fluttered, her long, trembling eyelashes conveying her disbelief.

"Your skill in medicine is very impressive. Tianshu also said you have a quick mind. I thought you would want to continue studying the way of medicine, or study for the imperial examinations."

"As for medicine, let's forget it."

He had indeed studied the medical books stored in his mind: ‘Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases,’ ‘Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold,’ ‘Compendium of Materia Medica,’ and especially... the ‘Barefoot Doctor's Handbook,’ which could be considered the greatest compilation of medical books from ancient to modern times.

In terms of theoretical knowledge alone, there was probably no one in the four kingdoms of the Central Plains who could compare to him. What he lacked was just experience.

"As for the imperial examinations, could it be that Mother has forgotten? I am a live-in son-in-law. In the Ning Kingdom, live-in son-in-laws cannot participate in the imperial examinations," Song Yan said with a smile.

Luo Yuheng was stunned. She had forgotten this point: "You have been wronged."

Although she said this, in her heart, she was pondering what she could do to get this law changed.

As a mother, one must always do something for one's child.

By the time Song Yan left, the sky had already grown a little dark. He made a portion of sweet and sour pork ribs and had someone send it to his little sister-in-law.

He had promised, so he couldn't go back on his word.

Too many things had happened on this day. Even Song Yan felt a bit tired. When he returned to the bedroom, he found that Gu Banxia was not there... For so many days, he had already grown accustomed to having Gu Banxia by his side every day. For her to suddenly be gone, he actually felt a little lonely.

The bed, however, had already been made.

Oh well, I'll just have a good night's sleep tonight.

Swoosh.

As he was thinking this, Song Yan suddenly felt a gust of cold wind blow from behind him. A figure had already appeared silently behind him.