To everyone in the Song family outside the eldest branch, Jiang Yunniang was nothing more than a country girl—uneducated, inexperienced, timid by nature. Even after being acknowledged by the Jiang family, they believed she could never control Song Wenling. Otherwise, no matter how impatient he was, he would have waited to return to the Song household together with her.
Madam Xu’s words struck directly at Song Wenling’s true thoughts. He froze instinctively, unable to respond.
Madam Meng then spoke slowly, “Second sister‑in‑law, that question was unnecessary. Wenling’s marriage to the Jiang family was arranged from childhood. Our families lived so close, he grew up alongside Bairou. Naturally, there was affection from childhood. Ah, forgive my quick tongue, Yunniang, don’t take offense. That was all in the past. You are now the Second Madam of our Song family’s eldest branch.”
Jiang Yunniang sneered inwardly. In her previous life, hearing such words would have sent her home in tears. Madam Meng’s intent was to wound her, to make her resent Song Wenling and Jiang Bairou, so their affair would be exposed.
But Jiang Yunniang had no intention of breaking her façade. In the eyes of the second and third branches, she was useless—and that was exactly how she wanted it. She listened quietly, letting Song Wenling and Madam Zhang grow anxious instead.
Her silence left Madam Meng awkward.
As Madam Meng faltered, unsure how to continue, the Old Master spoke again. “Tell me, do you still think of Jiang Bairou?”
“Grandfather, I…” Song Wenling hesitated. He thought perhaps it was better to speak the truth. Living under Jiang Yunniang’s constant threats was suffocating. But before he could say more, his father interrupted.
“Father, you know Wenling’s temperament,” Song Qingbai said. “He is sentimental, even overly affectionate. But that proves his nature is good. Yunniang knows of this matter. I have been busy with official duties and failed to handle it properly. I deserve punishment.”
Faced with his eldest son, the Old Master’s expression softened. “Enough. She is just a woman. But she was expelled from the Jiang family—she is not fit to remain here. Give her some silver and send her far away.”
“No!” Song Wenling blurted out without thinking.
His refusal only deepened everyone’s curiosity.
Madam Xu immediately pressed, “So even that won’t do? Do you truly intend to take Jiang Bairou as a concubine?”
If Song Wenling admitted he meant to make Jiang Bairou his concubine, he would face censure from the second and third branches and disappoint the Old Master.
Madam Zhang quickly interjected, “Wenling only fears Yunniang will be hurt. Second sister‑in‑law, why press so hard? Always harping on Wenling’s private affairs—if word spreads, outsiders will speak ill of us.”
At this point, Madam Zhang could no longer spar with Madam Xu in circles. If she continued, the eldest branch would be dragged down entirely.
“You… what nonsense!” Madam Xu’s face flushed red. She turned to her husband, aggrieved, wanting to defend herself. But the Old Master slammed the table.
“Silence!” he thundered, breathing heavily. “Our Song family is a house of scholars, not a petty household from the streets. Such bickering is disgraceful! Eldest son, if you truly regard me as your father, send Jiang Bairou away at once.”
With the Old Master’s command, Song Qingbai dared not disobey. Even if Jiang Bairou carried a child, it did not matter. If this grandson were lost, others could be born. But he could not risk being branded unfilial.
“Your son obeys,” Song Qingbai answered.
But just as he spoke, Song Wenling froze, then suddenly found courage. Kneeling forward, he kowtowed heavily to the Old Master. “Grandfather, you cannot send Bairou away. She… she is already mine.”
At those words, the entire hall was stunned.
Madam Zhang and Song Qingbai were shocked that their son had spoken out so openly. The others were horrified too—Song Wenling had actually admitted to consorting with Jiang Bairou. After all, the Old Master had just declared that the Song family prized rules above all else.
Only Jiang Yunniang remained calm. Before coming today, she had already wondered whether Song Wenling might say such words. She wanted to see how much Jiang Bairou truly meant to him—whether Song Wenling valued reputation and future prospects more, or Jiang Bairou herself.
It seemed Song Wenling really was a fool for love.
Too bad. He should never have married her in the first place. Now that he had dragged her into the Song family’s pit, she could only climb upward by stepping on them. Any bitterness in her heart vanished when she recalled the ending of her previous life. Now she simply waited to watch the drama unfold.
“What did you say?” The Old Master’s brows furrowed. When Song Wenling went further and revealed that Jiang Bairou was pregnant, the Old Master seized a teacup and hurled it at his grandson’s forehead. “You wretched boy!”
The cup struck Song Wenling’s head, then shattered on the floor with a sharp crack.
In an instant, blood trickled down Song Wenling’s forehead, dripping onto the tiles and his hand.
Madam Zhang had just risen when she saw the blood. Crying, she shielded her son. “All the fault is mine. I failed to raise him properly. Father, if you must strike, strike me first!”
“You…” The Old Master was truly enraged. Clutching his chest, he gasped for breath, then his vision went dark and he collapsed unconscious.
Chaos erupted in Hui’an Hall.
Song Qingyang and Song Qinglin rushed to carry the Old Master inside, while the eldest branch was barred from entering.
By the time the Old Master awoke again, it was already evening. The eldest branch still knelt in the front hall.
Jiang Yunniang’s knees ached, and when no one was watching, she shifted positions several times. Beside her, Madam Zhang whispered bitterly, “Now you’ve gotten your wish. Seeing the eldest branch humiliated—are you happy?”
“Mother, you are mistaken. I said Jiang Bairou could be brought into the household later, but you insisted on rushing her in. I only learned today that she was pregnant. As her mother‑in‑law, have you ever considered my feelings?” Jiang Yunniang replied coldly.
Madam Zhang knew she had no defense, but still felt Jiang Yunniang lacked propriety. If Jiang Yunniang had borne the blame alone, the entire eldest branch would not have been dragged down.
“Stop with these useless words. You married Wenling, so you should put him first. You’ll suffer for this. Now the second and third branches know everything—you have no leverage over us anymore.” Madam Zhang ground out the words, then turned anxiously toward the inner room as sounds came from within, praying the Old Master was not in danger. Otherwise, Song Wenling would truly be ruined.
Jiang Yunniang, however, remained serene. “Mother, you forget. The Song family knows, but outsiders do not.”
Even if the second and third branches wanted the eldest branch destroyed, they would not dare spread the scandal. They were still one family, not yet divided. If the eldest branch’s reputation collapsed, the other branches would suffer too. Their goal was only to make the Old Master despise the eldest branch, not to drag the entire Song family down.
Madam Zhang’s face turned pale. She raised her hand to strike Jiang Yunniang, but the inner door opened and the second and third branches emerged.
Song Qingyang spoke sternly. “Elder brother, normally it is not my place to lecture you. But Wenling’s conduct has gone too far. Fortunately, Father is unharmed. Otherwise, both you and Wenling would be branded sinners of the eldest branch.”
Faced with his younger brother’s reproach, Song Qingbai could not muster the authority of an elder sibling. He could only endure the scolding in silence.
“Yes, elder brother, Father has always valued you most,” Song Qinglin added. “We younger brothers should not interfere in the eldest branch’s affairs. But if Wenling is not properly disciplined, how will he uphold the Song family’s honor in the future?”
Whether in great aristocratic families or among ordinary households, the family estate was always passed to the legitimate eldest son. Song Qingbai was the eldest legitimate son, and by rights should have inherited the Song family’s estate. But Song Qingyang and the Old Madam were unwilling—Song Qingyang was also a legitimate son, and he had a capable son of his own. Why should Song Qingbai alone inherit the Song family?
For many years, undercurrents had flowed between the two branches. As the Old Master aged, those tensions gradually surfaced openly.
As for the third branch, Song Qinglin, compared to his half‑brother Song Qingbai, naturally leaned closer to the second branch.
And Song Wenling, as the eldest branch’s legitimate son, was expected under previous arrangements to inherit the Song family in the future.
After Song Qinglin finished speaking, he sighed. Song Qingbai felt his cheeks sting, as though he had been slapped hard several times, and he longed to go back and thrash his son.
At that moment, the Old Madam emerged from the inner room, her expression grim. “Qingbai, your father wants you and Wenling to come inside.” She sighed, then added with emphasis, “I have always thought you steady and reliable, and trusted you. But today, Wenling has made a grave mistake. Go in now, and remember—do not anger the Old Master. Whatever he says, you must listen.”
Song Qingbai, scolded again and again, could only grit his teeth and agree. He shot his son a fierce glare before heading into the inner room.
Once father and son had gone inside, Jiang Yunniang was finally able to rise. She rubbed her aching knees, curious what the Old Master would say, but she could not enter. Supported by Qiuyue, she returned to Chunxi Courtyard.
Night had already fallen. Seeing Nanny Sun waiting at the crossroads with a lantern, Jiang Yunniang quickened her pace.
Suddenly, a shadow leapt out of the bamboo grove, startling Qiuyue into a cry.
When Nanny Sun rushed over, Yunniang saw the man on the ground—his face pale, his body so thin he was little more than skin and bones. He tried to stand, but collapsed again and again.
Looking closely, she recognized him. In her previous life, after she had been crippled by poison, he was the only one among the Song family who had ever brought her food.