When Pei Jingzhe saw Song Jinyao’s red, rabbit-like eyes, he felt an inexplicable surge of anger and curled his lips.
“I struck your son, Madam Song—do you have any objections?”
“You jest, my lord. That unfilial son attempted matricide. This humble woman is only grateful for Lord Pei’s life-saving grace,” Song Jinyao replied calmly, her expression unreadable.
Heartache?
From the moment she was reborn, she would rather feel pity for a stray dog on the street than waste any sympathy on this ungrateful son.
Lu Yue, who was lying face down on the ground, abruptly lifted his head upon hearing this. How could his mother admit that he had tried to kill her? Shouldn’t she be defending him and explaining things at a time like this?
If this accusation stuck, his life would be ruined!
The kick he had just received had already left him breathless and his blood boiling. Now, hearing Song Jinyao’s words, he could no longer hold back.
“Pfft!”
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Wiping it away roughly, he felt utterly miserable.
Never in his life had he been in such a wretched state.
“Mother, by falsely accusing me like this, are you trying to destroy me?”
Lu Yue clenched his fists tightly, grinding his teeth until they creaked, his eyes blazing with hatred.
He was the most promising child in the family, the one who would bring honor to their name in the future. How could his mother treat him like this?
What good would ruining him do her?
By doing this, she was clearly abandoning him!
He swore silently to himself: since his mother was being heartless, he would not hold back either. Originally, even if he seized the family assets, as long as his mother remained obedient and continued to dote on and protect him as before, he would have treated her with filial piety.
But now, things were different!
He vowed that once he took control of the family wealth, he would definitely drive this vicious woman out! He would make her taste the bitterness of being cast aside!
Although the external properties and shops had been sold, there were still the ancestral home and Song Jinyao’s dowry, weren’t there?
Besides, Song Jinyao might still have valuable items left by her maternal grandparents.
Hmph!
Once he took possession of all these things and achieved a high rank in the imperial examinations, he would use the wealth to curry favor and secure connections. He was bound to rise to greatness, and then he would see how Song Jinyao would regret her actions!
But!!
For now, he had to shake off the accusation of matricide and win Song Jinyao over. Otherwise, his future would truly be doomed.
Thinking this, Lu Yue suddenly looked up.
For the first time, he softened his tone.
His face was full of remorse and self-reproach, and even his voice carried a hint of humble pleading: “Mother, I acted impulsively just now and lost control. I truly never meant to harm you. Could you please explain this to Lord Pei?”
“Mother, I know I was wrong. Won’t you forgive me?”
“Please help me, Mother. Clarify things with Lord Pei.”
Yet, Song Jinyao remained unmoved. She merely glanced at him indifferently before turning away, her expression one of utter despair, as if her heart had died.
Lu Yue continued to speak softly, adopting an extremely submissive posture.
In the midst of this, the Sixth Elder couldn’t help but interject: “Madam Song? Was… was there some misunderstanding earlier?”
The Fifth Elder chimed in as well: “Yes, Madam Song, this might just be a misunderstanding. Although this unfilial son has done wrong, we have already punished him as necessary. After all, this is a family matter. We should resolve it behind closed doors—there’s no need to make it a big issue.”
“Lu Yue is fundamentally a kind-hearted child at his core.” The Fifth Elder’s intentions were twofold: first, to make Song Jinyao admit that the alleged matricide was purely a misunderstanding, and second, to have Song Jinyao remove Pei Jingzhe from the case—whether it involved grave desecration or theft of burial silver, they didn’t want the authorities involved.
Lu Yue was a promising scholar, but the clan elders were divided on how to handle him.
The Fifth and Sixth Elders were among those who wanted to protect Lu Yue.
This didn’t mean they weren’t angered by the risk of damaging the Lu family’s fortunes, but they hoped to consult a Daoist priest first, asking if there was a way to resolve the situation without sacrificing Lu Yue.
They would decide after that.
After all, nurturing a clansman wasn’t easy.
As for whether he truly committed matricide, to be honest—
Thinking this, the two old men glanced at Song Jinyao.
She was just a daughter-in-law who married into the family!
How could she compare in importance to a descendant of the Lu family?
Song Jinyao paid them no mind—hadn’t she known this all along? When it came to critical matters, the Lu clan would only protect their own!
If she hadn’t understood this, she wouldn’t have orchestrated such an elaborate scheme.
Without maternal relatives to rely on, how else could she escape this den of wolves unscathed?
Her expression indifferent, she said coolly, “Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, Lord Pei has eyes to see. Fifth Elder, Sixth Elder, surely you don’t mean to question Lord Pei’s judgment?”
At this moment, Song Jinyao felt immensely grateful that Lord Pei had arrived so timely.
She had calculated everything meticulously but never anticipated that beast Lu Yue would suddenly go mad and become wary of her.
Hearing this, Pei Jingzhe’s mouth twitched—this woman really knew how to use him as a shield!
He had been here for a while, sipping tea without rushing the interrogation, precisely because he was uncertain of her stance.
After all, the person groveling on the ground was her son—who knew if Song Jinyao might be swayed by maternal instinct?
Now, however, he had a clearer idea.
The next instant, he shot a glare at the two elders.
“Hmm?”
That single, soft utterance carried a clear warning. The two old men immediately trembled with fear and dared not speak further.
Seeing that his pitiful act still hadn’t worked, Lu Yue—perhaps pushed to the brink by recent setbacks—completely lost his patience.
“Ha!” He suddenly laughed, his expression turning vicious.
Even his voice grew shrill and piercing.
“Mother, don’t forget—there are still elder brothers, younger brothers, and sisters at home. Some aren’t yet married. If I’m branded a matricide today, it will affect them too.”
“Moreover, Fifth Brother is simple-minded. After you pass away, he’ll still need us to care for him.”
“Won’t you really explain to Lord Pei? Did I actually attempt to kill you just now?”
If the people don’t accuse, the officials won’t investigate!
Lu Yue was utterly confident that, given Song Jinyao’s attachment to this family, his words would force her to compromise.
Everyone gasped at his audacity—this unfilial son had truly rebelled against heaven itself!
Wasn’t this an outright threat?!
With Lord Pei right here, how dare this beast act so insolently?
The Sixth Elder’s face was especially grim. He had just claimed this beast was inherently good-natured, and now reality had slapped him hard across the face.
Song Jinyao staggered as if struck a blow. Pei Jingzhe swiftly steadied her, but mindful of propriety between men and women, he quickly released his hold.
“It appears this son shows no remorse!”
Pei Jingzhe’s aura intensified as he swept a stern gaze toward Lu Yue, his authority palpable even without visible anger.
Lu Yue paled instantly under the imposing pressure.
Yet, cornered and desperate, he continued casting venomous glances at Song Jinyao.
Their eyes met across the room, Lu Yue’s gaze brimming with malice.
Song Jinyao inwardly scoffed.
This was the true Lu Yue!
“Are you using your fifth brother to threaten Mother?” As she spoke, Song Jinyao’s heart wrenched with pain, her eyes turning increasingly frosty.
The suppressed torrent of hatred spread through her like wildfire!
In her previous life, her Chen’er had drowned the year after the family division.
Everyone had called it an accident—after all, Chen’er’s mental slowness made him unaware of dangers. She too had believed it then, but during her three years as a wandering spirit, she accidentally discovered the truth: it was no accident!
Chen’er had been deliberately drowned by this wicked third brother!
Hah—
Reborn into this life, how could she ever expect this wolf in sheep’s clothing to care for her younger brother?
What a colossal joke!
Her elegant brows furrowed coldly as she suddenly bowed deeply to Pei Jingzhe, her voice hoarse with restrained hatred: “Lord Pei, this unfilial son murdered his mother. This common woman wishes to report him to the authorities!”
“Very well, I shall accept this case.”
“Your Honor, this common woman has one more request. Might I be permitted to settle one matter before the trial begins?”
“Granted.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Song-shi, if there are matters you cannot resolve or people you cannot control, I may assist you somewhat.”
“…”
Their exchange sent a collective buzz through the hall.
What was happening?
Why was Lord Pei agreeing to everything Song-shi said?
Was Lord Pei indicating he would support Song-shi?
Could they be having an affair?
No, impossible. Lord Pei just arrived in Taihe Xian—they couldn’t have known each other before.
Then… was this one-sided from Lord Pei? Did he favor this middle-aged beauty type?
The room filled with speculative thoughts. Even Yan Qing felt surprised, thinking his lord seemed unusual today.
Meanwhile, the second son Lu Xiao, witnessing this, surged with uncontrollable rage.
“Song Jinyao, you vicious woman! Don’t spout nonsense! Third brother clearly didn’t—” Blinded by anger, he blurted out disrespectful words.
His third brother was destined for Gongming—how could Song Jinyao do this?
Even if Third Brother really had killed their mother, Song Jinyao should have endured it quietly rather than ruin his future.
After all, Song Jinyao could have let them brothers live privileged lives, yet she stubbornly…
“Insolence!”
A thunderous roar shook the ancestral hall, sending everyone kneeling in terror, not daring to look at the enraged Lord Pei.
Even the previously shouting Lu Xiao curled into a frightened ball.
Song Jinyao glanced around uncertainly.
Everyone was kneeling… should she kneel too?
“You remain standing!” Pei Jingzhe saw through her hesitation and spoke timely.
A dark light flickered in his eyes as his heart clenched.
Her?
Was this the life she led?
With each son more unfilial than the last!
He wondered if her late husband had treated her well.
Several clan elders trembled with fear as they hastily bowed and apologized: “Lord Pei, please calm your anger. It’s the younger generation’s ignorance—we will discipline them immediately.”
Exchanging meaningful glances, the elders signaled for the Lu family’s younger members to step forward. They grabbed the three brothers by their collars and began slapping their faces.
Being struck again, Lu Chuan felt utterly aggrieved. Struggling with all his might, he broke free and wailed in plea: “It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!”
Why should he be punished when it was clearly Second Brother and Third Brother who caused the trouble?
Wailing—
He was terrified, truly terrified.
He had endured enough slaps and whippings over these past few days.
From now on, he would never dare oppose his mother again.
Even Lord Pei was backing his mother—indeed, only by following her could he have a bright future.
He!
Had decided!
He would abandon the darkness and embrace the light.