Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 46 - Could it be That None of Them Are Biological?

Regarding Song Hongtao's health, Song Yan was still very concerned.

He could die, but not now.

Although Yang Miaoqing's status in the Duke's mansion had recently been lowered due to some of her vexing actions, she still had a great deal of say. Once Song Hongtao was angered to death, Yang Miaoqing could easily take control of the Duke's mansion and directly push Song Zhen into the Duke's position.

Before, he hadn't been tactful enough and had almost angered Song Hongtao to death, so this time Song Yan chose a more roundabout, tactful method.

It's just that he had clearly overestimated Song Hongtao's psychological fortitude. The moment his words fell, he saw Song Hongtao first freeze, then his old face turned a purplish-red, immediately followed by a deathly pale. His heartbeat and breathing seemed to stop at this moment. His fingers were clenched tight, and his body was trembling violently.

Unlike Song Zhen, Song Zhe was a son on whom he had placed high hopes.

From a young age, Song Zhe had displayed astonishing talent. He began his studies earlier than other children, had already achieved the rank of Xiucai at the tender age of fourteen, and became a Juren at eighteen.

Such talent, I daren't say it was unprecedented, but those who could be compared to him were absolutely few and far between.

Truly the Qilin Son of the Song family.

Song Hongtao believed that his branch of the family would flourish as never before in Song Zhe's hands.

Before this, he had indeed suspected that Song Zhe might be his second brother Song Jincheng's bastard. But after gradually calming down, Song Hongtao had extinguished this thought. He found countless reasons to comfort himself. But who could have thought that a single sentence from Song Yan would completely crush all his false illusions. He knew that since Song Yan dared to say so, he must have sufficient evidence or have noticed some anomaly.

At this moment, Song Hongtao didn't know what kind of mood he was in. His heart felt as if a piece had been dug out, a tangled knot of pain.

Beside him, Wang Qingshan sighed a little helplessly. Why was it that every time this kind of thing was discussed, he had to be there to hear it? Luckily this was just an ordinary noble household. If it were in the imperial family, he, an insider to the secret, would probably lose his head too.

Song Yan's eyelids drooped as he waited quietly. As expected, after Song Hongtao gradually digested the shock of this news, his expression had calmed down. He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled: "Is this also from those three old women?"

He nodded.

"It was Song Jincheng?"

Song Yan was a little surprised. He glanced up at Song Hongtao. He had originally thought this was just a poor wretch whose wife had cheated and who was raising another man's child, but now it seemed this Song Hongtao still knew a few things.

He silently nodded again.

"Heh..."

Song Hongtao let out a strange sound. He seemed to have been drained of all his strength. His whole person slumped into the chair, not saying a word. Only his two eyes shone with the light of a mad dog.

The entire study fell into an unsettling silence. It seemed even the candlelight was affected by this unease, flickering irregularly. After a while, Song Hongtao said:

"What did those three old women say?"

After a moment's pause, Song Yan chose his words.

"Those three old women said... that when the Song and Yang families first discussed marriage, the one Yang Shi took a fancy to... was Second Uncle."

"It was only because you are the eldest legitimate son, and the Yang family felt you had a greater chance of inheriting the title, that they insisted on marrying Yang Miaoqing to you."

Yang Guifang was Yang Shi's wet nurse, and that old woman Lai was also an old servant who had taken care of Yang Guifang since she was little. They were all very close people... Even if these things were done behind their backs, they would still have heard some rumors.

Unable to endure Liang Qiaofeng's torture, Old Woman Xiao and Old Woman Lai did indeed confess. They spewed out everything they knew. Of course, some of the content would not be told to Song Hongtao.

Song Hongtao let out another 'heh'. Eldest legitimate son? Greater chance of inheriting the title?

Perhaps that was part of the reason, but now it seemed that the factor of him being less intelligent than his second brother and thus easier to control was a bit greater.

"To the north of Ningping County, there is Suhua Temple."

Song Yan's voice was like a clear, cold stream flowing through his heart:

"Legitimate Mother often goes to Suhua Temple to offer incense, and then..."

Places like temples have been dens of iniquity since ancient times. There were actually not many proper temples. It often happened that the wives of great families or the daughters of scholars would use the pretext of offering incense to have a secret rendezvous with their lovers in a temple.

Just like that Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang, or Zhen Huan and the Prince of Guo!

Song Hongtao's face grew even grimmer. Yang Miaoqing did indeed go to Suhua Temple to offer incense. Thinking back carefully, almost every time she went to offer incense at Suhua Temple was when his second brother was home for a visit. Normally, she didn't seem particularly keen on praying to Buddha. For instance, in the past half a year, she hadn't been to Suhua Temple even once.

"Why is it Song Zhe?"

"According to that old woman Lai, before she was pregnant with Song Zhe, Yang Miaoqing went to Suhua Temple, saying she wanted to pray for another son. To show her sincerity, she fasted at Suhua Temple for seven days."

Song Hongtao opened his mouth. He was just about to say that on that visit, his second brother had only stayed for one day before leaving, but the words were swallowed back down. Staying for only one day was clearly to deceive him. The rest of the time, he was probably fooling around with Yang Miaoqing at Suhua Temple?

And he had even thought that Yang Shi, just because her brother-in-law was back, had gone to Suhua Temple to avoid suspicion. He had even thought that Yang Miaoqing understood etiquette and the bigger picture.

After Yang Miaoqing returned, she shared a bed with him once and then became pregnant with their sixth son, Song Zhe. He had even thought Suhua Temple was so efficacious that he specially sent someone to deliver a thousand taels of silver as an incense donation. Looking at it now, it was probably all the result of Song Jincheng's 'plowing' there.

Then, Song Hongtao suddenly thought of something. Since Yang Miaoqing often had secret trysts with Song Jincheng, and the sixth son was Song Jincheng's seed, then the other sons, could they also be...

Song Yan also thought of this point. His gaze towards Song Hongtao couldn't help but hold a bit more pity. If this was true, then the show would be really big. Eight legitimate sons: one belongs to the Yang family, seven belong to his brother... Perhaps I should have just grabbed a whole handful of leaves just now.

He could open a clothier's shop specializing in selling hats.

In fact, he shouldn't be called Duke Song anymore; 'Duke Hat' would be more appropriate.

Song Hongtao's body trembled, but he was still trying his best to suppress it, not losing control:

"Those three old women, did they say anything about Song Huai and the others..."

Song Yan shook his head.

"They did not. In fact, those three old women only know about the dirty affair between Yang Miaoqing and Song Jincheng. Even Song Zhe's identity is just speculation; there is no substantial evidence."

Evidence?

Once Song Hongtao had already determined it to be so in his heart, whether there was evidence or not was no longer important.

Song Yan couldn't understand what kind of mood Song Hongtao was in right now. Of course, he had no interest in understanding either. It's just that, because of the previous matter with Song Zhen, his ability to withstand things had indeed increased quite a bit. At least from his face, Song Hongtao had already calmed down.

He slowly got up and walked to the window. It seemed only the wind from outside could help him maintain his composure. The sound of insects chirping came from the grass in the courtyard. The multitude of stars blinked in the dark sky.

Song Hongtao suddenly had the urge to laugh.

Song Zhen is not biological, Song Zhe is not biological... Yang Guifang must have known about this, Liang Qiaofeng knew, Xiao Cuiping knew, and Lai Qiuju also knew. Perhaps there were many others who knew. Only he, the person involved, did not know.

He suddenly became a little curious. He wondered what kind of mood those insiders, especially that Song Jincheng and Yang Miaoqing, were in when they saw him doting on Song Zhe and Song Zhen.

They were probably very smug, and likely even laughed at him in their hearts for being a fool, right?

"Yan'er..."

"After you go back, find a way to pry open the mouths of those three old women. I want to know the situation with Song Huai and the others."

The night wind blew in from the window, stirring Song Hongtao's already somewhat messy hair and his wide long robe. His fingers were clenched inside his sleeves, his nails almost digging into the flesh of his palms.

Yang Miaoqing had killed three of his illegitimate sons... those were definitely his bloodline. What was that bitch trying to do? He had raised her children well, yet she wanted to cut off his line of descendants?

His body trembled. In that instant, the killing intent in his chest could almost no longer be suppressed.

Song Hongtao took a few deep breaths and sneered. Since you treat my children this way, how can I let your sons have it easy?

He turned his body. When he looked at Song Yan again, his eyes had changed even more.

Loyal, filial, and most importantly, his own flesh and blood.

"Regarding the matter of you being attacked, have you reported it to the officials?" Song Hongtao changed the subject a bit stiffly.

Song Yan shook his head: "I have not."

"After all, once these things get out, it would damage the Song family's reputation. Although it was something the Legitimate Mother did, it would also make Father lose face."

In an instant, Song Hongtao felt his nose sting, and his eyes became a little moist.

What a good child. He had clearly not valued him much before, and he had clearly suffered such great grievances, yet he was still thinking of him, his old father, in every way.

At this moment, Song Hongtao suddenly felt a little regretful. He shouldn't have let Song Yan marry into another family. How great would it be if this child could inherit the Dukedom?

The corners of Song Yan's mouth also curled into an arc.

What a pity. I really wanted to cause a single incident that would lead to the ruin of the entire Duke Song's mansion. I wonder what kind of expression Song Hongtao would have then? It would surely be wonderful, wouldn't it?

While he was contemplating, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

Perhaps Yang Shi had arrived. But listening to the sound, it should be more than one person.

Song Hongtao's eyes narrowed: "Yan'er, what should be done?"

"Slap her."

"But..." Song Hongtao's brow furrowed tightly.

Even knowing that Yang Miaoqing was a bitch who was habitually unfaithful, and knowing that his sons might not be his own, he still endured. He knew that now was not the time to have a complete falling out with Yang Miaoqing. Behind her was the Yang family. If he let the Yang family know that their plan had been exposed, he was afraid he wouldn't live for long.

Song Yan waved the bank note in his hand.

"There are no buts. You are very angry."

Song Hongtao suddenly understood. Anger could have many causes. It could be because his son was not his own, or it could be... that his son who had married out was attacked by assassins. The next second, he tried hard to control the expression on his face, which gradually changed from touched to calm, and then from calm to furious.

The door to the study was pulled open.

Yang Shi, holding the corner of her skirt, appeared at the doorway.

Seeing Song Yan and Song Hongtao in the room, her brow furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, Song Hongtao, like a mad dog, lunged over.

His right hand raised, as if using all the strength in his body, he fiercely slapped Yang Shi across the face.

Pa!

The crisp sound formed an echo, reverberating in the study.

Half of her fair face instantly became red and swollen. A speck of blood, mixed with a white object, flew from the corner of her mouth.

Perhaps a tooth.

Poor Yang Shi still had no idea what had happened, and was directly dazed by this one slap.

Just then, the enraged Song Hongtao had completely turned into an out-of-control beast. He grabbed Yang Shi's hair:

"Bitch, look what you've done!”