Wan Xing answered truthfully, “The Marquis ordered us to wait outside the door, so I did not hear their conversation.”
“How did Third Uncle look when Song Tang left?” Mu Changxiao pressed.
Wan Xing recalled that when the Marquis returned, he had looked utterly exhausted. Yet, the moment he opened the door just now, Wan Xing seemed to catch a faint trace of a smile on the Marquis’s face. However, this was not something he could mention to Mu Ziyu.
He chose his words carefully, “Heir, it would be best to conclude the matter of canceling your engagement with Miss Song Tang as soon as possible. The Marquis is occupied with military affairs and has many pressing matters to attend to recently.”
From Wan Xing’s words, Mu Ziyu suddenly realized that perhaps Song Tang had wanted to retract her decision just now but was refused by Third Uncle.
Third Uncle was probably fed up as well. Over a mere life-saving favor, she first canceled the engagement and then wanted to take it back—it seemed Song Tang was truly too willful and capricious.
Song Tang must still love him; she was just heartbroken and acting out of spite, using the life-saving favor to ask Third Uncle to cancel the engagement. Having already used the favor once, she tried to use it again, and Third Uncle certainly did not indulge her.
Now that there was no way to turn back, Song Tang had deliberately spoken to him that way earlier, using coldness to mask the pain in her heart in front of him.
Returning to Tianlin Yuan, Song Tang felt somewhat uneasy. She was about to cast her net to catch the fish.
Mu Changxiao had originally intended for her to do nothing and simply wait to marry him. When the time came, he would ensure she entered his household with great fanfare. As for the rumors and gossip, he would handle them himself.
But Song Tang was unwilling. She wanted Song Wei to marry Mu Ziyu first, and then she would become the Madame of Marquis Mu in a grand and glorious manner.
Only by giving the petty people a chance to gloat could she steel herself to trample them a few more times.
But ultimately, it was Song Tang’s own selfishness at play. She did not want to take risks. She feared that if Song Wei learned she was to marry Mu Changxiao, Song Wei would secretly scheme to sabotage her marriage.
There was no deep affection between her and Mu Changxiao to begin with. If Song Wei were to employ the same tricks on Mu Changxiao as she had on Mu Ziyu, Mu Changxiao might also become infatuated and spellbound.
If that happened, Song Wei would once again succeed in stealing what was hers. Mu Changxiao was a powerful backer; even if she did not marry him herself, she absolutely could not allow Song Wei to scheme her way into marrying Mu Changxiao!
She would never let such a situation occur. She had to plan carefully, step by step, ensuring every move was under her control.
However, an unexpected complication arose.
Madam Sun adamantly refused to allow Mu Ziyu to marry Song Wei, on the grounds that Song Wei’s status was unworthy of becoming the Heir’s wife. No matter how much the Song family tried to elevate her, Song Wei was simply not fit!
The drama of tears, tantrums, and threats of suicide unfolded right in the Mu Jia mansion. It was said that Madam Sun was so emotionally agitated that the situation nearly spiraled out of control.
Madam Sun had never thought highly of Song Tang to begin with, considering her merely the legitimate daughter of an Earl’s mansion. Knowing her own son’s shortcomings, she had hoped he would marry into a family of higher status. Thus, she had long wanted to cancel the engagement, but with Mu Changxiao’s pressure, she had no choice but to swallow her resentment.
Now that Song Tang was willing to cancel the engagement on her own, it should have been excellent news. Yet, her own son actually turned around and wanted to marry Song Tang’s cousin, Song Wei!
Song Wei’s parents had passed away early, and to facilitate future marriage arrangements, she had actually become the Song family’s adopted daughter. This was utterly ridiculous, and Madam Sun could not accept it at all.
Mu Ziyu pleaded with Mu Changxiao several times, but Mu Changxiao remained stern-faced and paid him no heed.
Originally, Mu Changxiao had instructed Mu Ziyu to publicly announce the cancellation of the engagement the very next day, but Mu Ziyu had instead informed his mother, Madam Sun, first.
He had played a clever trick, hoping to stir up trouble and let Mu Changxiao settle it in the end. This way, neither he nor Song Wei would bear the blame, and he could still marry Song Wei as he wished.
However, Mu Ziyu never expected his mother, Madam Sun, to oppose it so vehemently, even threatening to take her own life. Meanwhile, his third uncle, Mu Changxiao, completely ignored their plight.
Mu Ziyu now found himself in a desperate situation, with no one to turn to. In truth, this idea had been suggested to him by Song Wei, and he felt somewhat resentful. Yet, when he thought of Song Wei’s delicate and pitiful face, he couldn’t bring himself to blame her.
Song Wei was naturally aware of Madam Sun’s stance, but what did it matter if Madam Sun disliked her? She was determined to secure the position of the Heir’s wife in the Marquis’s Mansion!
Even if it meant humbling herself for a few years, she would either win Madam Sun’s approval or wait until Madam Sun passed away to remove the obstacle. One day, she would become the true mistress of Mu Fu.
Feeling she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, Song Wei took action, and soon Song Tang was summoned by Song Congzhi and Madam He.
As soon as she entered the room, Song Tang saw Song Wei sitting to the side, wiping away tears. Song Congzhi and Madam He wore expressions full of worry, clearly troubled over Song Wei’s situation.
“Greetings, Father and Mother,” Song Tang said with a slight bow, her mind clear as day. She knew exactly why they had called her here.
Madam He’s eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying as well. She forced a smile and said to Song Tang, “Tang’er, you’re here. Please, have a seat.”
Song Tang walked to the empty seat and slowly sat down.
Song Congzhi looked at Song Tang with a grave expression but remained silent.
It was Madam He who spoke first: “Tang’er, we called you here today regarding your sister’s marriage to the Heir.”
“What does their marriage have to do with me?” Song Tang replied calmly, turning her gaze toward Song Wei.
Song Wei’s eyes were misty with tears, and the corners of her lips curled slightly, as if pleased by Song Tang’s indifferent tone.
“You insolent girl! How can you say it has nothing to do with you? If you hadn’t taken it upon yourself to cancel the engagement with the Heir, how could Wei’er have agreed to marry him for your sake?” Song Congzhi couldn’t help but scold angrily.
Madam He quickly tugged at Song Congzhi’s sleeve, signaling him to calm down. She then turned to Song Tang and spoke earnestly, “Tang’er, as the eldest legitimate daughter of the Song family, you must take responsibility. Besides, you were the one who initiated the cancellation of the engagement. You cannot simply stand aside.”
“You must have heard about the recent events at Mu Fu. Things have escalated to this point, and it’s truly difficult to resolve. Your sister Wei’er is young and inexperienced. As her elder sister, you should help and support her.”
Song Tang glanced faintly at Song Wei. “Mother, what kind of help are you referring to?”
“Naturally, we want you to find a way to make Mu Fu accept this marriage. You once saved Marquis Mu’s life, so he will surely grant you a favor,” Madam He said, her tone tinged with expectation.
Song Tang lowered her eyes, pretending to ponder, and did not speak immediately.
Crack! The teacup in Song Congzhi’s hand shattered. “Song Tang, what is the meaning of this?”
“Father, please don’t make things difficult for Sister,” Song Wei said tearfully, her voice soft and choked.
One playing the villain, one playing the mediator, and another putting on a tearful act—what a grand performance!
Song Tang looked up at Song Congzhi, her tone calm. “Father, your daughter is thinking of a way.”
Hearing Song Tang say she was thinking of a solution, Song Congzhi’s expression, though still gloomy, softened somewhat.
“What solution? You can just go and talk to Marquis Mu directly.”