As Song Jinyao finished speaking, the venom in Qiao Shi’s eyes was almost impossible to conceal.
She took several deep breaths to suppress her anger before continuing to weep and wipe her tears.
“How can you say such a thing, Mother? After all, blood is thicker than water. No matter what, you and my husband are mother and son by blood—how could there be lasting resentment between you?”
“I know my husband must have upset you somehow, but please, for the sake of the eldest grandson growing in my womb, tear up that severance document. My husband and I will surely care for you dutifully from now on.”
As she spoke, she cast a disdainful glance at Lu Yuan and paused briefly. “Mother, as the saying goes, a barrier in the womb means a barrier in the heart. Some people, if they’re not your own flesh and blood, will never truly be loyal. In the end, your only reliable support will be your own biological children.”
“If you go to the authorities now and withdraw the accusation of attempted matricide, I will mediate between you and my husband. I’m sure we can clear up any misunderstandings.”
“My husband is your own son—you should know him best. He is kind-hearted, though perhaps a bit hot-tempered, but he would never attempt to harm his own mother. There must be some misunderstanding between you.”
Qiao Shi straightened up, emphasizing her belly. “I’m about to give birth. If you drive us away, it will be difficult for you to see your eldest grandson in the future. Mother, don’t do something you’ll regret. Right now, in this family, the only grandchild is the precious one in my womb.”
After delivering this lengthy speech, Qiao Shi felt her mouth had gone dry from talking. She believed that by appealing to family ties and invoking the child in her womb, Song Jinyao would surely soften.
After all, her mother-in-law had always placed great importance on this unborn child.
Hmph.
If it weren’t for the fact that only Song Jinyao could withdraw the case with the authorities, she would never stoop to coaxing this old woman.
“Finished?” Song Jinyao sneered, not even glancing at Qiao Shi’s belly.
What?
That was her reaction?
Qiao Shi looked up in astonishment, completely bewildered.
“If you’re done, you may leave.” With that, Song Jinyao waved her hand dismissively, turned around, and took her eldest son Lu Yuan’s arm to lead him inside.
“——”
Qiao Shi was dumbfounded. When she regained her senses, she cried out urgently from behind, “Mother? How can you just walk away like that?”
Song Jinyao stopped and turned, her gaze falling on Qiao Shi as coldly as if she were looking at a stranger. “What else do you want to say?”
“Mother? Are you really not going to withdraw the case? If my husband is convicted, your grandson’s future will be affected too. Don’t you care?”
“This is your eldest grandson. When he grows up and learns how heartless his grandmother was today, he will surely resent you. Aren’t you afraid?” Qiao Shi’s voice grew increasingly shrill, almost shouting by the end. “Mother, I advise you to think carefully. Don’t do something you’ll regret. Otherwise, even if you come to regret it later, I will absolutely not speak on your behalf.”
Hearing this, Song Jinyao laughed. So Qiao Shi was threatening her with the child in her womb.
When soft tactics failed, she resorted to intimidation.
This daughter-in-law truly shared the same character as her third son—a perfect match, like two peas in a pod!
“If I don’t even care about my son, why would I care about a grandson?” How ridiculous.
As she spoke, Song Jinyao paused, her expression turning sharp: “Besides, Qiao Shi, how do you know what you’re carrying is a boy?”
“Of course, even if it is a boy, so what? Who knows if he’ll turn out decent or rotten when he grows up?”
“Qiao Shi, are you placing too much importance on that lump of flesh in your belly?”
Song Jinyao knew perfectly well that Qiao Shi was indeed carrying a boy this time.
But she hadn’t forgotten how in her previous life, when she was driven out by the third branch of the family, this very child had chased after her throwing stones.
When he grew older, he became completely lawless—not only did he abduct common girls, but when a chaste maiden refused him, the little bastard drove her parents to their deaths.
If not for the blood ties preventing excessive cruelty, she’d truly like to give Qiao Shi a dose of abortifacient tea, eliminating this future scourge early and sparing others from his harm.
And Qiao Shi dared to use the child as leverage?
Bullshit!
Did she care?
“Qiu Ling, take your mistress back to her own courtyard. Since she’s with child, she should rest properly there. Don’t let her wander out without reason. If anything happens to that belly, we won’t take responsibility. If this happens again, you’ll be punished too.” Song Jinyao coldly instructed Qiao Shi’s maid.
After a pause, remembering something, she added: “The clan has given you one month to move out. Instead of wailing here with me, you’d better hurry and look for a residence outside the manor, and start packing.”
“Yes.” The young maid responded with a bitter expression, feeling this task was truly difficult.
If only she could actually persuade the Third Madam. Even on ordinary days when she remained silent, she might inexplicably get beaten, let alone trying to dissuade her.
Qiao Shi was never an easy person.
At this moment, the young maid Qiu Ling wished more than anyone for the third branch to move out quickly. Her indenture wasn’t held by Qiao Shi—once the third branch left, she’d rather stay in the manor as a cleaning maid than follow Qiao Shi away.
The young maid thought that when she had time, she must beg the Old Madam not to assign her to Qiao Shi.
She wouldn’t stay in that den of demons anymore.
Inside the room.
Song Jinyao had Lu Yuan sit still in the chair while she fetched medicinal ointment and personally treated the scratches on her eldest son’s face.
“Does it hurt?”
Lu Yuan: “……”
“It must hurt—these scratches aren’t shallow. Let me blow on them for you, blowing makes it better.”
Lu Yuan: “……” He was in his twenties, and Song Jinyao was treating him like a child?
“Later, I’ll have someone call the physician to check again, so no scars remain. Though men aren’t judged by their looks, our Yuan’er hasn’t married yet. If his face gets ruined, it could affect matchmaking prospects.”
Lu Yuan flushed with discomfort.
What was with Mother?
Being so gentle made him entertain wild thoughts.
As the saying goes?
Slap first, then offer dates—was Mother doing the reverse? Giving him dates first, with the slap to follow?
“Mother? Are you planning to drive me out too?”
Hesitantly, Lu Yuan finally spoke. Better a quick pain than prolonged torture—this gentle knife was hard to bear.
It was fine, he wasn’t sad. Hadn’t he already decided before that after Father’s mourning period ended, he would move out anyway?
But, for some reason, he still felt a bit dejected.
The light in his eyes dimmed instantly.
After Song Jinyao finished applying the medicine, Lu Yuan hung his head, shoulders slumped, looking as dejected as a man awaiting sentencing.
In his younger years, he had once yearned for Song Jinyao’s maternal love.
But as time passed, that expectation turned to despair, and later became numbness.
Just as Song Jinyao put away the medicine jar, she heard her stepson’s muffled words and choked up momentarily.
Ah!
Who could she blame?
Wasn’t it all due to the sins of her past life!
“Yuan’er, don’t overthink things. You are my son, and unlike your three younger brothers who committed acts of great unfiliality, I would never drive you away.”
Son?
Instantly, Lu Yuan froze. This was the first time Song Jinyao had acknowledged him as her son.
For a moment, his eyes grew warm, and his heart felt as if scalded.
Even if Song Jinyao was acting, this single sentence was enough.
He also knew his place well: “I… am not your biological son.”
“What does biological matter? Affection and conscience have never depended solely on blood ties. Mother knows she wronged you before. I apologize to you here, and it won’t happen again.”
When Lu Yuan left, his mind was still somewhat dazed. He felt light-headed, as if his current life was unreal.
Song Jinyao had actually said “I’m sorry” to him.
Was Mother truly willing to accept him?
He rubbed his face vigorously and slapped himself twice.
“Ouch!”
It hurt. It wasn’t a dream.
“Big brother? What are you doing? Why are you slapping yourself for no reason?” Just as Lu Yuan was about to break into a smile, he bumped into Lu Wenhui coming his way.
Caught in the act of doing something foolish, Lu Yuan felt embarrassed: “No, it’s nothing. Big brother was just swatting mosquitoes.”
“Before it’s even dark? There are mosquitoes already?” Lu Wenhui was skeptical but didn’t press further.
The young girl looked up cheerfully and asked, “Big brother, where are you headed?”
Lu Yuan was very tall, a full two heads taller than Lu Wenhui. Whenever they spoke too closely, she had to tilt her head back to see his eyes.
But Lu Yuan was also extremely thin, like a beanpole.
Lu Wenhui scanned her big brother’s features and, before he could reply, suddenly frowned and muttered, “Big brother, you’re so thin you’re almost unrecognizable. If you could gain some weight, you’d definitely be the second best-looking in our family.”
The best-looking was of course their fifth brother, Lu Chen, who resembled an exquisite porcelain doll. His looks were sure to captivate many girls when he grew up.
Unfortunately, Fifth Brother was simple-minded.
Lu Wenhui thought with both pride and regret.
“Mother asked me to bring Fifth Brother out. She wants you and Eldest Sister to come over tonight so we can have dinner together.”
“Mm, alright. I’ll go call Big Sister.” Lu Wenhui was about to run off. The girl was sunny and bright, her smiling face dazzling in the sunlight.
Ever since Mother promised to help her break off the engagement, Lu Wenhui’s mood had remained quite good, as long as she didn’t think about their scoundrel father and those ungrateful brothers.
Lu Yuan also smiled faintly, pursing his lips, and started to walk away but paused after two steps.
He remembered something and turned back to call out to Lu Wenhui: “Second Sister, Mother said to invite Second Sister-in-law Shen Shi as well. You go call her.”
With the propriety between men and women, it was improper for him, as the elder brother-in-law, to summon his sister-in-law.
“Understood.” Lu Wenhui acknowledged, and the two siblings went their separate ways.
Qiao Shi emerged from the shadows beneath the corridor, nearly grinding her silver teeth to dust.
“Song Jinyao, you venomous old hag! I swear I’ll make you pay!”
The messenger she had sent to gather news had just returned with word: Lu Yue had been caned eighty strokes by Lord Pei and was now being carried back, barely clinging to life.
Even worse, Lord Pei had personally decreed that Lu Yue was permanently stripped of his eligibility to hold office.
Her dream of becoming an official’s wife lay shattered.
How could Song Jinyao and the others still live so comfortably?
A bunch of heartless, low-born scum—just wait and see how she’d deal with them!
And that two-faced turncoat Lu Chuan, who bit the hand that fed him—she’d settle scores with him too!
“Eat, eat, eat—may you all choke on it!”
With a face dark as thunder, Qiao Shi stalked away.
The young maid Qiu Ling trembled in fear, thinking to herself that she must warn Old Madam later—this Third Madam was clearly plotting trouble.