Madam Jiang nodded solemnly.
“But do you know what life your sister is living in the governor’s residence?”
Song Nianyun’s gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, as if she could see that devouring inner courtyard.
“It is fear hidden beneath fine clothes and jade ornaments. It is a hollowed body beneath luxurious silk robes. It is terror so deep that even a simple question can make one tremble uncontrollably!”
“That is true suffering—suffering that eats away at the heart and erodes the soul!”
Her tone was firm, carrying a clarity beyond her years.
“Daughter would rather follow Mother and live on plain porridge and simple meals, at peace and without guilt, than be slowly drained of flesh and blood in that seemingly glorious fire pit and become the second sister!”
Madam Jiang was deeply shaken by her words. Tears flowed again, but this time they were not of despair. They carried heartache, guilt, and a faint sense of release.
Her daughter was far stronger and clearer than she had imagined.
“Good! Since Yibai is not afraid of hardship, then Mother promises you—if your father insists on pushing you into that fire pit, I will divorce him!”
Madam Jiang’s voice was not loud, but it carried a decisive force, as if she had severed her final hesitation.
“Mother…”
Song Nianyun’s heart trembled.
She knew how much courage it took for Madam Jiang to make this decision—and how much she would have to give up.
At that moment, Song’s father walked in.
Madam Jiang turned her face away and refused to look at him.
Song’s father sighed.
“Madam, I know you blame me for Yilan’s matter. I admit it—I was the one who sent her into that fire pit.”
“But you know the situation back then. Governor Liu took a liking to our Yilan. If I refused, the Song family’s business in Lingyang Prefecture would have been completely obstructed.”
“As the head of the family, I had to consider everyone’s survival…”
Madam Jiang suddenly turned around, her suppressed grief and anger erupting completely.
“Consider everyone’s survival?”
“So you sacrificed my Yilan?”
“Song Wenmo, she is our daughter! Not some commodity you can trade away!”
“You keep calling yourself the head of the family—but have you protected this family at all? You are nothing but someone currying favor with power, using your daughter’s suffering to pave your own path!”
Her voice trembled with rage. Five years of suppressed pain exploded at once.
“Yes, we cannot afford to offend Governor Liu—but did you even try to resist?”
“Did you think of any other way?”
“You never even asked Yilan if she was willing! You just sent her into that devouring place! And now look at what she has become!”
“Do you ever dream of her terrified eyes at night?”
Song’s father staggered half a step back, his face filled with shame and helplessness.
“Now what’s the point of saying all this…”
“Yes, there’s no point anymore!”
Madam Jiang’s tears streamed down her face.
“Yilan has already been ruined by you! I will never let Yibai suffer the same fate! This marriage with the Chen family must be annulled! If you insist, I will take Yibai back to my maiden home!”
Her stance was unwavering.
Song’s father’s anger surged again.
“Nonsense! Do you think marriage is a joke? Cancel it whenever you want?”
“Think carefully! Chen Yunli is the top scorer of the county exam—talented and promising!”
“The Chen family may be poor now, but that is exactly why this marriage is beneficial! It is an act of timely support!”
He became more confident as he spoke.
“When he rises in the future, Yibai will become the principal wife of an official household!”
“How many families in Lingyang Prefecture would beg for such a match? And yet you call it a fire pit?”
He turned to Song Nianyun:
“Yibai, you have always been sensible. You should understand your father’s intentions. This marriage is the best choice for you and for the Song family.”
“Rest for now. After lunch, I will take you to the manor to apologize to the Chen family.”
“I will also give them some silver, and this matter will be settled…”
Madam Jiang, seeing that Song’s father remained stubborn, turned to leave with Song Nianyun.
But Song Nianyun did not move.
Madam Jiang looked back in confusion.
“Yibai… don’t be afraid. Mother will take you away from this devouring Song family…”
“Mother.”
Song Nianyun interrupted gently with a smile.
“You and Father have been married for over twenty years. You cannot divorce because of me—it would make me seem unfilial.”
“Besides… it is not yet to the point of divorce.”
After all, life after divorce would not be as simple as just “a bit of hardship.”
A married daughter was like water poured out.
Even if her maternal grandparents loved her, there would still be uncles, aunts, cousins, and sisters-in-law. Living under someone else’s roof meant constantly reading faces.
Even if she set up an independent household, life would not necessarily be easy.
The world was harsh, and human nature often preyed on the weak.
A helpless mother and daughter would become easy targets for exploitation and bullying.
She could not let her mother be dragged into such a situation.
Moreover, she still had her own ambitions.
Without money, even basic supplies like books and writing materials would be difficult to maintain. Without study, how could she enter an academy? Without exams, how could she return to the capital?
She would go back one day.
One day, she would stand before the imperial throne and ask why the Emperor Beiming Jin had chosen to save Jiang Lingyue and abandon her.
Had he not said the person he cared about most in this life… was her?
Song Nianyun gently squeezed her mother’s hand, offering reassurance, then turned toward her father.
She curtsied slightly, calm and composed.
“Father, please calm down. Mother speaks out of concern for me. If her words were inappropriate, please forgive her.”
She gave him a step down, easing the tense atmosphere.
Song’s father’s expression softened slightly.
“Yibai, can you understand your father’s intentions?”
“Of course I understand.”
Song Nianyun lifted her gaze, clear and calm like autumn water.
“What Father values is Chen Yunli’s status as county top scorer, his potential to achieve success and rise in official rank.”
“Even if the Chen family is greedy, Father is willing to tolerate it temporarily because you hope he will eventually become a pillar of support for the Song family.”
“After all, although the Song family is wealthy, we have no foundation in officialdom. Over the years, we have suffered many injustices in business dealings with officials. Father hopes that one day we can escape such oppression.”
“Am I correct, Father?”