“General, please have mercy on Yan’er!”
Madam Lin knelt and knocked her head hard against the ground. Her forehead quickly became swollen and red.
Song Yannian had spent many years on the battlefield. He had seen every kind of situation. Even if he was being cheated on, he could still keep a calm expression.
He narrowed his eyes and was about to speak when Yang Yuyao gently grabbed his finger.
“Very well. I will grant your wish.”
Zhou Lüchuan was truly ruthless. He had sent his own wife and son to drive a wedge between them. He was even willing to use his own family as bait.
Fine.
She wanted to see whether this family of three was really as united and trusting as they claimed.
She hoped they would not disappoint her.
“Starting today, you will shave your head and devote yourself to Buddhist practice in the prayer hall. Song Yan will attend the Imperial Academy.”
A cold, mocking smile appeared on Yang Yuyao’s lips. She looked every bit like a strict head wife.
“Shave my head?” Madam Lin cried sharply. “I only said I would become a vegetarian and pray to Buddha. I never said I would shave my head!”
Yang Yuyao sneered.
“If you truly want to devote yourself to Buddha, then you should let go of worldly attachments and go to a peaceful place. Or are you only pretending?”
“Of course not. It’s just… there is no need to shave my head… Isn’t that the same as becoming a nun?”
“If you don’t have that level of determination, then don’t say such things. Stop pretending. He’s only a concubine’s son. We don’t expect him to inherit the family or bring honor to our ancestors. Even if he studies well, what does it matter? Let him fend for himself.”
After more than ten years of marriage, Song Yannian and Yang Yuyao understood each other perfectly.
The atmosphere had been built up enough.
Song Yannian knew it was his turn.
“My wife.”
He wore a troubled expression and gently scolded her.
“If you’re angry, take it out on me. Why make things difficult for the child?”
Madam Lin had been anxious, but seeing Song Yannian defend her immediately gave her confidence.
So he still had feelings for her after all.
He only acted cold because Yang Yuyao was too strong. She could not tolerate Madam Lin’s existence, forcing him to distance himself.
“Song Yannian, are you trying to favor a concubine over your wife?”
“What nonsense are you saying? Madam Lin saved my life back then. By chance, she became pregnant with my child. How could I repay kindness with cruelty?”
“You could have sent someone to fetch me! Instead, she shamelessly took advantage of you while you were under an aphrodisiac and forced herself on you! And I’m supposed to be grateful to her?”
Madam Lin had planned to stay quiet and watch, but she had no choice but to explain.
“The General had been poisoned with an extremely powerful aphrodisiac. Too much time had already passed. By the time he was carried back, he had completely lost consciousness. If I hadn’t sacrificed myself to save him, he would have died from the poison. Yet now everything has become my fault…”
“I originally planned to raise Yan’er by myself. If Yan’er hadn’t become seriously ill, I would never have come to the Song family asking for help.”
“If Madam believes I should shave my head, then I will do it.”
“My conscience is clear, and I have no regrets. Even if I had another chance, for the unity of the Great Qi Dynasty and the peace of the border people, I would make the same choice.”
Yang Yuyao waved her hand.
“Then shave it.”
Song Li thought,
【That feels so satisfying!】
【Is my mother really this amazing?】
【I feel completely refreshed now!】
【Nothing can shake her.】
【I was almost persuaded by Madam Lin’s words, but Mother stayed as steady as a rock. No wonder even the Empress doesn’t dare provoke her.】
【Today really opened my eyes!】
Yang Yuyao thought helplessly.
Although my daughter admires me… I really don’t want to be compared to an old dog.
And that saying about the knife… she actually used the idiom like that?
Madam Lin opened her mouth but could not think of anything else to say.
She had already used all the eloquence she had in her life.
Yet Yang Yuyao showed not the slightest sympathy.
So…
Had everything she said only been for herself?
Fortunately, Song Yannian was still here to keep Yang Yuyao in check.
Madam Lin looked at Song Yannian with hopeful eyes. Her lips trembled silently.
The woman who had once feared neither wind nor rain on the battlefield now looked so weak and helpless.
Any man would find it hard to disappoint her.
Song Yannian was no exception.
He kept trying to persuade Yang Yuyao.
But Yang Yuyao refused to change her mind.
“Unless Madam Lin shaves her head, there’s nothing more to discuss.”
“Y-you…”
Song Yannian was so angry he could barely speak.
“Completely unreasonable!”
He flicked his sleeve and walked away.
Madam Lin was stunned.
He just… left?
He abandoned her here?
How blind had she been to fall for such a man?
No wonder he didn’t even touch her while under the aphrodisiac.
He was a coward!
Song Li thought,
【Eh? Why did my unlucky father run away so fast?】
【Is that legendary lightness skill?】
【A huge man disappeared the moment I looked up. It’s like a bear was chasing him.】
【Good thing he left. Now this fake victim can only be squeezed by my mother. Being the evil head wife is awesome! Woo! My mother is the strongest!】
Yang Yuyao’s heart warmed.
A child never thinks her mother is ugly.
Even if I were a fierce tigress, Song Li would still think I’m wonderful.
“Madam Lin, allowing you and your son to stay here is already generous enough. Don’t test my limits. Matters inside this household are not something even the General can interfere with.”
Madam Lin felt uneasy.
But she had already spoken.
For her son’s future, she finally gritted her teeth.
“As Madam wishes. I will shave my head.”
Hair would grow back.
After Zhou Lüchuan seized military power, she would shave every hair off Yang Yuyao’s body and throw her into the military camp to repay today’s humiliation.
Seeing the hatred in Madam Lin’s eyes, Yang Yuyao calmly said,
“Good. Make sure it’s completely clean.”
Madam Lin was speechless.
What a vicious woman!
Since Song Yannian had left, there was no reason for her to stay.
“I will take my leave.”
She left unwillingly.
As soon as she was gone, Song Yannian returned with Old Zhuang.
“It seems my wife has already sent away the troublesome person. Your health isn’t good, so don’t waste your energy getting angry at unimportant people. It’s not worth harming your health. Let Old Zhuang check your pulse.”
He helped Yang Yuyao back to the warm room.
Only in front of Yang Yuyao would he speak so much.
This time, Yang Yuyao did not avoid him.
She even leaned against him slightly.
Song Yannian’s heart immediately warmed.
My wonderful daughter!
She cleared my name the moment she came home.
I must reward her well.
She likes hidden weapons. I’ll give her my Green Snake Sword.
It’s short enough for a woman, and it has hidden holes that can be filled with poison powder.
She’ll definitely love it.
Meanwhile, Song Li carried A-Huang over to Yang Yuyao.
She wanted to see whether a dog with maxed-out traditional Chinese medicine skills could tell if someone was pregnant.
As soon as A-Huang approached Yang Yuyao, it stared at her stomach.
Its little head tilted from side to side as though it heard something.
To confirm it, it sniffed her belly with its tiny black nose.
After completing its examination, it seemed to reach a conclusion.
It placed one paw gently on her stomach and barked.
“Woof!”
“Hahaha…”
The whole family burst into laughter.
“This dog is truly intelligent.”
“Could Mother have a baby in her belly?”
Song Li silently gave Song Yihuan a thumbs-up.
【Big Sister is the smartest!】
Song Yihuan smiled.
Little Sister is the best!
Yang Yuyao smiled too, though she felt a little nervous.
After Song Li had gone missing years ago, she had been so heartbroken that she had never conceived again.
She never expected that after Song Li returned home, she would become pregnant again.
Song Li truly was her lucky star.
Old Zhuang checked her pulse for only a moment before smiling and cupping his hands.
“Congratulations, General. Congratulations, Madam. It’s a pregnancy pulse!”
“But Madam’s blood and energy are both weak. She needs careful treatment. I’ll prepare several prescriptions and some medicinal meal recipes. Madam must take them on time.”
“I certainly will.”
Yang Yuyao no longer had any worries.
Her daughter had returned.
She was loving and filial.
Her husband had never betrayed her.
Everything suddenly felt wonderful.
The children were also excited.
“I’m going to be a big brother!”
“I’m going to be a big sister!”
Song Li was thrilled too.
【I’m going to be a big sister too. That’s wonderful!】
Without the painful memories of the triplet younger brothers from her previous life, becoming an older sister now seemed like a beautiful thing.
Old Zhuang stood up and walked toward Song Li.
“A-Huang, it’s time to come home with me.”
Song Li blinked.
“Isn’t this my puppy?”
The little dog affectionately licked her hand.
“Woof!”
Old Zhuang narrowed his tiny eyes into slits.
If Song Li hadn’t mentioned it, he almost would have forgotten.
A-Huang could dig up herbs, gather medicine, judge the perfect heat while brewing medicine, obey commands, and even always relieved himself in the same place.
Old Zhuang already treated A-Huang like his own grandson.
He wanted to take him everywhere.
How could he bear to return him?
Surely Heaven had made a mistake.
A-Huang was supposed to belong to him.
Seeing that A-Huang refused to come over, Old Zhuang took out some sweet candy to tempt him.
“Come on, A-Huang. Good boy. Come home with Grandpa.”
A-Huang ignored him.
Old Zhuang decided Song Li must be hugging him too tightly.
“Hehe, little Li. A-Huang is excellent at digging herbs. My eyesight isn’t very good. Let me borrow him for another two days.”
He only mentioned the abilities everyone already knew.
He dared not reveal the rest.
Otherwise everyone would fight him for A-Huang.
In two days, he planned to take A-Huang to the military camp on the northwest border.
Then grandfather and grandson could travel together happily and freely.
Just imagining it made him grin.
Song Li saw the old man happily dreaming and could not bear to ruin it.
She was afraid he might get too upset.
“Then A-Huang, go back with Grandpa Zhuang. Come back and see me tomorrow.”
Old Zhuang happily accepted the dog.
A dog can’t understand human language anyway.
How could he possibly come back?
You’re his owner, but you’ve spent little time with him.
A-Huang and I are the closest.
Old Zhuang left in high spirits.
That night, everyone was happy.
Except Madam Lin.
She thought about it again and again.
Even after making up her mind a hundred times, she still couldn’t bear to cut her hair.
Not even a single strand.
Much less shave it all off.
Even on the battlefield she always left two long strands beside her face because they made her look better.
Now she had to shave everything?
Madam Lin shook her head wildly.
“No. No.”
“In two more days.”
“Maybe Song Yannian will settle Yan’er’s enrollment at the Imperial Academy.”
“Then I won’t have to shave.”
…
Three days later.
A young maid stood beside her, trembling while holding a pair of scissors.
“Hurry up!”
Madam Lin stared at her reflection.
Several large patches of her head were already bald.
The more she looked, the angrier she became.
Who would have thought that a mighty general couldn’t even decide whether his own son could attend school?
He had legs.
He had hands.
He had a mouth.
Yet he never did anything useful!
Yang Yuyao was truly hateful!
She controlled Song Yannian completely!
The angrier she became, the harder she lashed out with her whip.
“Ah!”
The maid hugged herself.
Her clothes were already torn apart and stained with blood.
Madam Lin forced her to cut her hair.
But after every snip, she whipped the maid several times.
The girl could no longer endure the pain.
“What are you waiting for? Are you doing this on purpose just to torture me?”
“You little wretch! You just want to humiliate me!”
Crack! Crack!
Two more lashes landed.
“Ah! I’ll cut it! I’ll cut it! Please stop hitting me! Wuu…”
…
Early the next morning, the Song family returned from the training grounds.
They saw Madam Lin.
She was completely bald.
Beside her stood the maid, who was also bald.
Madam Lin simply could not bear being bald alone.
After the maid finished shaving her head, Madam Lin immediately forced the maid down and shaved hers as well.
“Madam, Mu Xue pitied how difficult my life of Buddhist practice would be. She insisted on shaving her own head to accompany me. We are going to the prayer hall now. I also ask Madam to keep her promise and allow Yan’er to enter the Imperial Academy.”
“I will keep my promise.”
Yang Yuyao called over the steward.
“Take Madam Lin to the small Buddha Hall. Unless she’s dead and carried out lying flat, if I ever see her walking out alive, none of you will stay alive either.”
“Yes!”
The steward answered fearfully.
Song Li thought,
【My mother looks so beautiful when she’s acting fierce!】
【I love this version of Mother! Hug hug!】
Yang Yuyao’s cheeks turned slightly red.
This child…
“How dare you imprison me! Yang Yuyao! I’ve tolerated you only because I didn’t want to make the General’s life difficult. Don’t push your luck!”
All the resentment Madam Lin had built up over the past few days exploded at once.
She no longer cared about keeping up appearances.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Three loud slaps landed on her face.
Both cheeks immediately became swollen.
“You dared to call the head wife’s name directly. You deserve to be punished.”
Yang Yuyao’s senior maid, Qiu Ming, was the one who slapped her.
Madam Lin glared at Yang Yuyao with hatred.
Then she looked at Song Yannian in despair.
“Yan’er is still young. How can he live without his mother? General, please say something fair!”
Song Yannian immediately stepped forward to mediate.
“My wife, give me some face. Please let her go.”
“Get lost.”
“All right.”
Song Yannian quietly backed away.
Madam Lin was speechless.
I actually still had hope in him.
I really deserve this.
“And bring Mu Xue’s family here as well. I want to ask them how they raised such a kind daughter.”
“Since she’s so concerned about Madam Lin, then her whole family can stay together and serve Madam Lin.”