What Lu Xiao didn’t know was that Shen Qingmo had first gone to Song Jinyao’s courtyard to seek her permission before leaving the residence to fetch Wan Yuetao.
“Madam? Are you really letting that restless one into the residence?” After Shen Shi left, Baishuang couldn’t help but ask.
Song Jinyao raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with schadenfreude as if watching a play: “Fetch her, of course we must fetch her.”
Wouldn’t this make things more lively?
Otherwise, that beast would still have her dear daughter-in-law waiting on him.
The wounds on Shen Shi’s hands earlier had pained her heart greatly.
Those recovering from injuries tend to have short tempers, especially with Second Son’s explosive nature. If Wan Yuetao didn’t bear the brunt of this gunpowder smell, wouldn’t that make her too kind-hearted?
More importantly, bringing Wan Yuetao into the residence had another benefit—it could help Shen Shi make up her mind about seeking a divorce.
In her previous life, after she was driven out by her several sons, Shen Shi had repeatedly secretly brought her food and clothing.
When that unfilial Lu Xiao found out, Shen Shi suffered numerous beatings.
Song Jinyao lived by one principle: repay kindness with kindness, and vengeance with vengeance!
Reborn into this life, aside from changing her own tragic fate from the previous life, she also needed to alter the destinies of those who had shown her kindness before.
After the noon meal and a short nap, the maid Qiu Ling arrived.
“Old Madam, Third Master has regained consciousness. Qiao Shi has voluntarily gone to attend to him.”
“Oh?” Song Jinyao became interested. “Qiao Shi showed no signs of disgust or dissatisfaction?”
“No, Third Madam is attending to him quite meticulously. She personally prepares the medicine, feeds him, and changes his dressings without letting anyone else intervene.” Qiu Ling replied. She had been shooed away by Qiao Shi, forbidden from helping attend to Third Master, which is how she found time to come report to Old Madam’s courtyard.
Hearing this, a subtle glint flashed in Song Jinyao’s eyes.
It seemed Qiao Shi had made up her mind.
Probably at this moment, her foolish son remained completely unaware of the approaching danger, still lost in self-pity.
“Collect some of the medicinal herbs Qiao Shi uses to prepare the medicine,” Song Jinyao instructed Qiu Ling.
Remembering something, she turned to Baishuang and asked, “Have all the maids and servants you selected been assigned?”
“They have been placed in various courtyards according to your instructions, Madam. Only two matrons skilled in martial arts await your arrangements.”
“Mm.” Song Jinyao nodded with satisfaction. “Assign those two matrons to Chen’er. Instruct them to watch over the young master carefully, especially keeping him away from water—”
In her previous life, Chen’er had been drowned by that wretched Third Son. Although many events had changed in this life, and Third Son was now severely injured and bedridden, making it impossible for him to act personally,
Song Jinyao still felt extremely uneasy.
That beast despised Chen’er for being simple-minded, but hadn’t she herself in her previous life also grown to dislike this youngest son?
With this thought, Song Jinyao felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
Endless guilt washed over her.
“Go, bring the young master here. Prepare his favorite dishes for dinner. I want Chen’er to dine with me tonight.”
Just as Baishuang was about to leave to carry out the order, Song Jinyao called her back. “First, summon the eldest young lady, then go fetch Chen’er.”
During the recent family funeral, her son-in-law had said he would come on the burial day, but even two days after the funeral, that Zhao Yuanzhi still hadn’t shown up.
In her previous life, it had been the same, but back then her mind was in such turmoil that she hadn’t had the chance to inquire. In this life, she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Before long, Lu Wenyin entered, dressed in a plain, unadorned gown.
Song Jinyao’s eyelid twitched at the sight of her eldest daughter’s excessively simple attire.
The girl still didn’t know that Lu Xiuyuan, that old scoundrel, had only faked his death. She was wearing mourning clothes for her father.
Ah!
Song Jinyao sighed. She hadn’t yet found the right moment to reveal the truth to her eldest daughter and her husband. It seemed she would have to speak up soon.
Otherwise, the stark white of her daughter’s clothes was piercing her heart, making her feel stifled.
“Yin’er?” Song Jinyao took her eldest daughter’s hand and spoke carefully, “Has something happened in the Zhao family these past few days? Yuanzhi—”
Being mother and daughter, Lu Wenyin understood what her mother was asking as soon as she spoke.
She couldn’t hold back, her eyes reddening. Afraid that Song Jinyao would notice something amiss, she hastily averted her gaze.
But Song Jinyao’s eyes were fixed on her daughter’s face—how could such a small gesture escape her notice?
Her heart sank.
So something had indeed happened!
How could she have been so blind and oblivious in her previous life, failing to notice her eldest daughter’s distress?!
“Did that Zhao Yuanzhi do something to wrong you?” Song Jinyao asked coldly.
“No, it’s not my husband’s fault,” Lu Wenyin explained, her eyes flustered.
“Then it’s your mother-in-law?”
This time, Lu Wenyin did not deny it. Song Jinyao sighed inwardly—it seemed she had guessed correctly.
“What was the reason?” Even though mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships were often difficult, a mother-in-law wouldn’t bully her daughter-in-law without cause. There had to be a reason.
“Actually, it’s my own fault. I can’t blame my mother-in-law. I’ve been married into the Zhao family for many years and have never been able to conceive—” Lu Wenyin said softly, her voice filled with self-reproach and shame.
Hearing this, Song Jinyao suddenly recalled that in her previous life, her eldest daughter had indeed never borne children, while Zhao Yuanzhi’s concubine had given birth to one child after another.
Considering the timing, that concubine should already have been taken into the household by now. As for whether she was pregnant at this point, Song Jinyao couldn’t quite remember.
“Did your mother-in-law arrange for Zhao Yuanzhi to take a concubine?” But even so, with her family in mourning, it was unthinkable for a son-in-law not to pay a visit.
“Yes,” Lu Wenyin nodded, tears of grievance welling in her eyes. “Before I left the estate, the concubine suddenly showed signs of an unstable pregnancy. My mother-in-law accused me of being jealous and deliberately giving her poisoned medicine to secure the pregnancy. My husband was originally going to return with me, but my mother-in-law called him back.”
Before she left, her mother-in-law, Sun Shi, had harshly scolded her, telling her to stay at her parents’ home until the concubine gave birth, lest she, the venomous woman, harm the Zhao family’s descendants again.
Otherwise, even if she returned early, she would be sent to the Manor.
These words, Lu Wenyin didn’t dare tell Song Jinyao.
Even without her saying it, Song Jinyao had guessed a little, given that her eldest daughter hadn’t once mentioned returning home in the past two days.
The old master of the Zhao family had once served as a prefect. Overall, he hadn’t made any major mistakes during his tenure and was considered a good official. Unfortunately, his life was cut short, and he passed away early.
Sun Shi, left as a widow with a young son, had to support the family alone, which shaped her into a strong-willed and domineering woman.
Zhao Yuanzhi, as the only male heir, was doted on and treasured by Sun Shi, which in turn made him weak and indecisive.
In all matters, whatever Sun Shi said was law; Zhao Yuanzhi wouldn’t dare contradict her. In conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, one could imagine that young man wouldn’t speak a single word in his wife’s defense.
Back when she had married off her eldest daughter into that family, it was under the condition that Sun Shi would use the connections left by Old Master Zhao to help secure the release of her second son, Lu Xiao, from prison.
Because of this, Sun Shi likely looked down on Lu Wenyin even more.
“Knowing you were wronged, did Zhao Yuanzhi speak up for you?” Song Jinyao didn’t believe for a moment the accusation that her daughter had poisoned anyone. If only her daughter had such capability, it might have been better.
Sure enough, at Song Jinyao’s question, Lu Wenyin’s face fell with disappointment.
Whenever her mother-in-law gave her a hard time, Zhao Yuanzhi would only urge her to endure it—never once did he stand up for her. Even when he knew full well it wasn’t her fault, he would use the excuse that his mother had raised him with great difficulty, pressuring her to yield and admit wrongdoing.
But—
Lu Wenyin’s feelings were somewhat complicated.
Setting aside the troubles with her mother-in-law and the concubines in the household, in private, Zhao Yuanzhi treated her quite well.
Seeing the constantly shifting expressions on her eldest daughter’s face, Song Jinyao knew exactly what she was thinking.
She patted Lu Wenyin’s hand. “Stay here at home for now and rest assured. Meanwhile, I’ll have someone help regulate your health and see where the issue lies. Once things settle down a bit, I’ll go with you to the Zhao residence.”
Her daughter couldn’t bear children?
Song Jinyao had her doubts about that.
In her previous life, Zhao Yuanzhi had taken in quite a few concubines, yet only one of them had ever borne a child.
Whether a child could be conceived wasn’t solely a woman’s issue—did it have nothing to do with the man?
Nonsense!
Just as she was thinking this, two physicians happened to be visiting the residence. Song Jinyao sent someone to summon them to examine Lu Wenyin.
As expected, after taking her pulse, both physicians gave the same diagnosis.
There was nothing seriously wrong with Lu Wenyin’s health; she was merely suffering from excessive worry and a deficiency of qi and blood.
It would absolutely not affect her ability to bear children.
So, if her daughter’s body was fine, then the problem must lie with that young man, Zhao Yuanzhi.
But—
Then why did that one concubine become pregnant?
This was getting interesting.
This matter would have to wait until a physician had examined Zhao Yuanzhi. Only with solid evidence could they discuss it further, so Song Jinyao set the thought aside for the time being.
A short while later, Baishuang and Baizhi brought her youngest son, Lu Chen.
The little one was also dressed in plain mourning clothes.
His moon-white robe was embroidered with a few ink-bamboo motifs only at the hem.
Song Jinyao immediately frowned and said, “Baizhi, go back and fetch a set of colored clothes for the young master to change into. The mourning period is over. Inform the entire household that there’s no need to wear plain attire—dress as you normally would.”
For the evening meal, Lu Wenyin stayed and dined with Song Jinyao.
In the middle of the meal, Lu Wenhui, hearing the news, came over to join the gathering.
Ever since Song Jinyao had confided those secrets to her heart-to-heart, Lu Wenhui had grown much closer to her, frequently visiting whether there was a reason or not.
Song Jinyao knew that the young girl was probably still worried about the matter of breaking off the engagement, so she brought it up during the meal.
“In a few days, I will go to the Xue family to annul the engagement.”
Faced with the reality, Lu Wenhui felt both joy and anxiety. “Mother, the Xue family isn’t an easy one to deal with. Do you think… will breaking off the engagement go smoothly?”
Lu Wenhui felt it wouldn’t be that simple. At this moment, she began to worry that Song Jinyao might suffer insults.
A faint, determined light flickered in Song Jinyao’s eyes. What did it matter whether it was easy or not?
Having been reborn, since she had decided to make amends to her daughter, she would face any challenge head-on.
If she were to fear this little difficulty now, how could she ever walk the path ahead?
Once her younger uncle helped her arrange for personnel, she would immediately send a visiting card to the Xue family.
At present, she had few people she could rely on, making many tasks inconvenient.
In her previous life, she had clung to pride and suffered for it, unwilling to seek help from her uncles in Jing City. In this life, she had come to understand—what did face even matter?
That stuff was worthless!
Nothing was more important than living well.
Coincidentally, her younger uncle had sent someone to check on her, so she swallowed her pride and asked him for some personnel.
Each of them was a former covert guard, highly skilled in martial arts.
After the evening meal, while the children had not yet left, Fang Momo entered with a smile.
“Eldest Miss, the personnel you requested from the younger uncle have arrived,” Fang Momo whispered softly into Song Jinyao’s ear.
Song Jinyao’s eyes lit up.
Now, everything was in place!
“Yin’er, Hui’er, tomorrow your mother will take you somewhere. Remember to invite your eldest brother along.”
Song Jinyao tapped her fingers on the table, a cold smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
Xinghua Hutong—Lu Xiuyuan’s little love nest with his mistress!
She had to take the children to see with their own eyes just how despicable their father truly was!