Eldest son Lu Yuan had confined himself to his room for two days without stepping outside, with even his meals being delivered directly from the main kitchen.
According to the servants in the courtyard, Lu Yuan was searching for the midwives who had delivered his birth mother years ago.
They often heard the sound of knife sharpening coming from the young master’s room, particularly during the middle of the night – an utterly chilling sound.
A servant asked Song Jinyao with trembling legs: “Madam? Do you think the young master is planning to kill someone?”
Song Jinyao listened without concern.
Lu Yuan was a good child. Even after uncovering the truth later on, he would never commit patricide.
Judging by his behavior, it seemed Lu Yuan already mostly believed what she had said.
She had only mentioned it briefly, yet Lu Yuan had begun to doubt his biological father.
This wasn’t her being meddlesome – it simply showed how utterly Lu Xiuyuan had failed as a person, and even more so as a father.
His own son had little trust in him.
However—
More than twenty years had passed. Those two midwives would likely be difficult to find.
With no reliable people at his disposal, Lu Yuan would face numerous challenges in his investigation.
It seemed she needed to help the child, otherwise he might become obsessed.
She couldn’t stand by and watch a good child be ruined by that beast Lu Xiuyuan.
“Ying Qi, arrange for someone to help the young master find those two midwives, along with anyone else who might have known about the situation back then,” Song Jinyao instructed after dismissing the servant.
That day, shortly before dinner time.
Shen Shi came to Song Jinyao’s courtyard.
When she entered, her expression was solemn, her face haggard, but her eyes shone brightly, radiating a sense of renewal throughout her entire being.
Seeing this, Song Jinyao immediately understood why Shen Shi had come.
“Made your decision?”
Song Jinyao asked with a smile. Today marked exactly the end of the three-day period – time for Shen Shi to give her definite answer.
“Yes.” Shen Shi nodded, her demeanor relaxed. “Mother, I wish to divorce Lu Xiao. I beg for your assistance.”
As she spoke, Shen Shi fell to her knees with a thud.
Her head struck heavily against the bluestone floor.
The loud thump made Song Jinyao’s heart ache. “Child, just speak your mind. There’s no need for kowtowing.”
She then called to the maid Chunzhi: “Quickly help your young mistress up.”
Since she had decided to divorce, Shen Shi could no longer be addressed as Second Madam.
Chunzhi helped Shen Shi up, then knelt down herself. She kowtowed three times to Song Jinyao with loud thumps.
The kowtows were truly sincere – after three strikes, blood marks appeared on her forehead.
Song Jinyao sighed, yet felt comforted. This was a loyal maid.
With a devoted servant by her side, Shen Shi’s future days would be somewhat easier.
“Speak your mind.”
“Wah—” The young maid began crying before she could say anything.
“Please help my young mistress, Old Madam! Just now, Second Master said that after moving out of the mansion, he would elevate that mistress Wanyue Tao to equal wife status, and demanded that our young mistress hand over her dowry.”
“Moreover, Second Master insisted that for the separate residence, they should use the old Shen family mansion that our master left for the young mistress.”
“He’s forcing the young mistress to transfer the property deed.”
“When the young mistress refused, Second Master threatened to divorce her under the Seven Reasons for Divorce.”
“A divorced woman cannot keep her dowry. Second Master said all those things would still belong to him regardless.”
“The servant sees that Second Master has already set his sights on the young lady’s dowry. I’m afraid it will be difficult to achieve an amicable separation.”
As she spoke, Chunzhi couldn’t help but burst into loud sobs.
She had seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless!
Song Jinyao wasn’t surprised by Lu Xiao’s utter shamelessness.
What conscience could such an unfilial son who would scheme against his own mother possibly have toward his wife?
In her previous life, that beast Lu Xiao had forcibly taken Shen Shi’s dowry.
The only reason he hadn’t divorced Shen Shi later was because he recognized her talent for business.
For Lu Xiao, keeping a wife who worked like an ox without complaint and could also earn money—merely giving her the title of wife—was simply too good a deal.
“Stop crying. Since I promised earlier that I would help with this matter, I definitely won’t go back on my word. There will only be an amicable separation, never a divorce.” Song Jinyao said.
Suddenly, Song Jinyao asked: “That beast mentioned the seven grounds for divorce—did he specify which one?”
Shen Qingmo pursed her lips: “Childlessness!”
“……”
Song Jinyao made a constipated expression.
“That’s… really fucking shameless!”
That beast had never even shared a bed with Shen Shi—how the hell was she supposed to have a child?
If she really had given birth, would that beast dare raise it?
Song Jinyao laughed in anger!
“Since that little beast is so shameless, if he refuses to agree to an amicable separation when the time comes, then we’ll just have to arrange for him to become a deceased husband.”
Shen Shi: “……”
Chunzhi: “……”
The Old Madam was truly ruthless!
Chunzhi swore that if this succeeded, she would burn three sticks of incense daily from then on, worshipping the Old Madam like a bodhisattva.
Song Jinyao didn’t know the little maid had such thoughts. If she had known, she probably would have said: There’s really no need for that! She wasn’t dead yet.
Outside the door, Lu Yuan had been standing there for quite a while—long enough to overhear the entire conversation among the three women.
Actually, given his position, he shouldn’t have been listening to this, as it was ultimately others’ private matter.
But for some reason, when he heard that Shen Shi wanted to separate from his second brother, he found himself unable to move.
Then, hearing about his second brother’s shameless behavior, rage surged in his heart, making him forget he should leave.
When he heard Song Jinyao’s curse, he touched his nose.
Actually, he had quite wanted to go in just then and remind his mother to use different words when cursing next time.
Even after severing ties, she was still his “mother.”
There was no need to curse herself along with that beast.
Mother had really changed so much!
She could now uphold justice for her daughter-in-law.
This version of Song Jinyao felt so familiar and dear to him.
Inside the room.
Song Jinyao took a sip of tea and continued: “Is Wanyue Tao not planning to enter the residence anymore?”
Ever since that day when Shen Shi went to fetch her, Song Jinyao had been planning to deal with that wretched woman.
Unexpectedly, the other party had turned into a quail.
She wasn’t coming!!
Shen Shi curled her lips in a self-mocking smile: “She probably heard from Second Master that we’ll be using the Shen family old residence as our home after leaving here, so she doesn’t want to bother making the trip.”
“She’s a clever one.”Song Jinyao’s eyes turned icy cold: “If she enters the residence now, not only would she have to endure this old woman’s displeasure, but she’d also have to work hard serving that troublemaker Lu Xiao.” Better to use the previous incident as an excuse to pretend to recuperate outside, while also making you look bad.”
“Shen Shi, your cunning is no match for hers.”
Hearing this, Shen Shi blushed in shame and embarrassment: “Yes, your daughter-in-law is indeed foolish, making Mother laugh at me.”
“Mother isn’t laughing at you. I just hope you’ll be more guarded against that woman in the future. Besides, this isn’t foolishness—you’re simply pure-hearted. There’s no need to compare yourself with that kind of brothel trash.”
“Mother is right.”
“Alright, Mother is tired, you should head back first.” With Shen Shi present, Song Jinyao couldn’t conveniently summon Ying Qi for questioning. Rubbing her temples, she feigned exhaustion to urge the other to leave.
“Regarding the separation matter, rest assured. Mother will surely grant your wish before that wretched one moves out of the estate.”
Outside the door, Lu Yuan paused upon hearing the conversation inside.
Shen Shi, wants?
Wants to come out?
Then, he… he better leave.
Lest Shen Shi feel embarrassed knowing such private matters had been overheard by him.
Just as he was about to turn away, a long-unheard voice sounded behind him: “Oh, Young Master? You… why are you standing outside Madam’s door? Since you’re here, why not go in?”
Du Momo had returned to the estate today after visiting her family last month. Planning to report to Song Jinyao first, she unexpectedly encountered Lu Yuan – who hadn’t entered the main courtyard in over a year – standing stiffly like a pillar before the door.
She voiced her surprise.
This exclamation startled Lu Yuan, and as luck would have it, Shen Shi also opened the door and emerged: “Elder Brother?”
Caught simultaneously by two people, Lu Yuan was instantly overwhelmed with embarrassment.
Eavesdropping just now had indeed been thoughtless of him, rather dishonorable.
He scratched his head sheepishly, offering an explanation that only confirmed his guilt: “I… I didn’t hear anything.”
After speaking, he realized this admission was tantamount to confessing without being accused.
Suddenly, his handsome face flushed crimson, his flustered manner resembling a child who had done wrong.
Shen Shi blinked, somewhat confused: “——” She hadn’t asked anything!
Why was Elder Brother’s face so red?
“Elder Brother? Are… are you unwell?”
“Ah?” Lu Yuan gaped foolishly.
Song Jinyao clearly witnessed everything outside the door.
She nearly laughed aloud inwardly – this child Lu Yuan could be quite simple-minded at times.
At his age, he still didn’t know how to interact well with women.
This was partly her fault – she had been biased before and never concerned herself with Lu Yuan’s marriage prospects.
Song Jinyao thought that after matters in Taihe Xian were settled, she ought to help the eldest son meet potential brides.
“Wahh—— Madam, you’ve suffered so much!”
An abrupt burst of crying suddenly dispelled Lu Yuan’s embarrassment.
Turning to look, he saw Du Momo wiping tears as she hurried toward Song Jinyao inside the room.
“Madam, with such major events happening in the estate, why didn’t you summon this old servant back?”
Du Momo wept bitterly. Upon returning to the estate, she had heard about recent events and her heart ached for her mistress. She couldn’t imagine how Madam had endured these past days – with the master passing away, Madam must have been deeply grieved?
And those young masters – how could they break Madam’s heart at such a critical time?
So utterly thoughtless!
Among the estate servants, only Baishuang and Fang Momo knew about Lu Xiuyuan’s feigned death.
The information Du Momo obtained from the gatekeepers was naturally far from the truth.
Tears also glistened in Song Jinyao’s eyes as she smiled wryly: “It’s not too late that you’re back now.”
Du Momo was her trusted confidante who had accompanied her from the Song Family when she married. Though not like Fang Momo who had followed from Jing City serving three generations of the Song Family, she had been with Song Jinyao for over twenty years.
Their bond was naturally profound.
Especially since in her previous life, only Du Momo had stayed with her until the end.
In this life, seeing Du Momo again, Song Jinyao couldn’t suppress the turbulent emotions surging in her heart.
The master and servant closed the door to talk until nightfall——
It wasn’t until bedtime that Song Jinyao summoned Ying Qi.
“Have you found out about Wanyue Tao?”
“Yes, Madam. Wanyue Tao was originally a peasant girl. At the age of ten, she was sold by her birth parents to a brothel. The madam, seeing her promising looks, hired a tutor to train her in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She began receiving clients at thirteen.”
“At first, she was a courtesan who only entertained with arts, not selling her body. But six years ago, she was forcibly taken by a bandit leader named Qian Erjin from White Bone Cliff. From then on, Qian Erjin became her regular patron, keeping her exclusively.”
“Later, about four and a half years ago, Qian Erjin disappeared without reason. Without this generous patron, the madam forced Wanyue Tao to sell her body and become a full-fledged courtesan.”
“Just one day before she was to start receiving clients in this way——”