“Well, everyone’s here!” Han Qingfeng’s voice suddenly rang out.
This drew everyone’s attention.
They turned their heads to see the travel-worn man returning!
Han Qingfeng’s appearance made Madam Jin unable to sit still any longer. She tried to rise, and Han Lingyue, being closest to the old lady, hurriedly supported her grandmother.
Madam Jin went to meet her son. “Qingfeng, you sent word that you’d arrive around dinnertime. Why are you back so early?”
Han Qingfeng caught his mother, chuckling as he said, “I just wanted to give you all a surprise.”
Han Qingfeng was genuinely smiling, but having just returned home, he noticed that everyone’s expressions seemed a bit off.
His gaze swept over their faces, and he grew extremely puzzled. “What’s wrong with all of you?”
No one answered.
Except for Song Yao, everyone else looked somewhat dejected.
Not receiving a reply, Han Qingfeng continued on his own, “Why are you all standing? Sit down.”
No one sat.
Han Qingfeng grew even more confused. “What exactly is going on with each of you?”
Han Lingyue and Han Zhi remained silent. Han Zhang, however, took the initiative to greet his father with a bow, but he too said nothing.
Chunlan Xiu bowed to her returning brother-in-law.
Then she was the first to speak up. “Brother-in-law, you’ve finally returned.”
“If you hadn’t come back, we wouldn’t know what to do next.”
Han Qingfeng couldn’t help but frown. “Sister-in-law, what happened?”
Song Yao quietly watched the adulterous couple putting on an act in front of her.
Chunlan Xiu’s face showed bitterness, and after letting out a heavy sigh,
she informed Han Qingfeng that Zhi’er’s entry into the military camp had fallen through!
Even Lingyue’s marriage arrangement had completely collapsed. What should they do!
Before leaving home for the capital, Han Qingfeng knew that Song Yao had been planning futures for Lingyue and Zhi’er.
Before he left, Song Yao had told him she would strive to secure a marriage alliance with the General’s Manor for their daughter.
At that time, Han Qingfeng had spoken lightly, saying everything should follow fate and not be forced too much.
In reality, he very much wanted to form a marriage alliance with the General’s Manor.
He thought that, given Song Yao’s competitive and persistent nature,
even if he voiced a few objections, Song Yao would still do everything possible to finalize the marriage between the General’s Manor and the Marquis Manor.
As for their sons’ futures, it went without saying. Song Yao treated them as her own, genuinely caring for the children. The prospects of the eldest and second son didn’t require his concern at all.
Having been in the capital for so long and now returning after his audience with the emperor, he suddenly heard from Chunlan Xiu that his daughter’s marriage and his second son’s future were ruined.
Han Qingfeng’s expression immediately darkened. Without even understanding what had gone wrong, he straightforwardly directed his blame at Song Yao.
“Madam, before I left home for the capital, you said you would take care of Lingyue’s marriage and secure a good future for Zhi’er.”
“Although I didn’t quite agree with your methods, I still consented. Since you were managing everything at home, I left it all to you.”
“You made those promises, so why is it that now, Lingyue’s marriage and Zhi’er’s entry into the military camp have both come to nothing?”
Song Yao blinked twice. “Your daughter’s marriage falling through and your son failing to enter the military camp—you blame me…”
Song Yao’s words carried a double meaning, though it was unclear whether those listening had caught it.
Han Qingfeng didn’t wait for Song Yao to finish speaking before interjecting, “You took it upon yourself to arrange a marriage for Lingyue and send Zhi’er to the military camp.”
“You said it yourself, so you should follow through.”
“Yet you went back on your word and broke your promise. How can you bear the responsibility of being the Head Mistress of our Yunzhou Marquis Manor?”
Listen, is this even human speech coming from the Marquis of Yunzhou!
Song Yao did not answer or refute Han Qingfeng’s questioning.
Instead, she turned her gaze to Chunlan Xiu, Madam Jin, and Han Lingyue.
Song Yao said sarcastically, “Mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and my dear daughter, could the three of you kindly explain to the Marquis exactly how the marriage arrangement with the General’s Manor fell through?”
“No matter how much I say, I’m afraid it won’t be clear enough, after all, the three of you are the ones directly involved.”
When Song Yao asked them to speak, they all hesitated and stammered, looking as if they had something to say but found it difficult to express.
This left Han Qingfeng utterly confused.
Chunlan Xiu had originally stepped forward to stir up trouble upon seeing Han Qingfeng’s return.
But now, after being confronted so directly by Song Yao and recalling past events, she could no longer find any grounds to pick a fight.
Instead, she kept trying to smooth things over, saying, “Brother-in-law, don’t be angry with your wife.”
“Lingyue’s marriage arrangement has already fallen through. What we need to do now is find another good match for the child. Missing out on the marriage alliance with the General’s Manor is unfortunate, but it’s not the end of the world.”
“However, the most important issue right now is Zhi’er. The plan to send Zhi’er to the military camp as a junior vanguard officer has completely fallen through.”
“What do you think we should do about this?”
Han Qingfeng, still without asking for the full story, immediately directed his anger toward his wife.
“Song Yao, you personally promised to send Zhi’er to the military camp, so you should keep your word. What’s going on now?”
Han Zhang wanted to tell his father to stop, that it wasn’t his mother’s fault.
Before Han Zhang could speak, Song Yao took the letter from Chunlan Xiu’s hand.
She handed it directly to Han Qingfeng, saying, “You just returned home and know nothing about what happened, yet you immediately start blaming me. Marquis, isn’t this completely unreasonable?”
“For the sake of this family, I’ve been busy managing everything, attending to every need, big or small, for everyone in the household.”
“You didn’t even ask me whether I’ve been working hard while you were away. Instead, you immediately targeted me.”
“Marquis, aren’t you afraid of being criticized behind your back for saying such things?”
Han Qingfeng, holding the letter, was clearly taken aback.
What’s wrong with Song Yao today?
In the past, Song Yao had always been respectful and deferential to him.
Why was she speaking so sharply today?
Without even glancing at the letter Song Yao had handed him, Han Qingfeng continued with his earlier line of questioning, “Why would I target you for no reason?”
“Didn’t you tell me before I left that you would send Zhi’er to the military camp for training? And that you would arrange a good marriage for Lingyue, aiming for an alliance between our Marquis Manor and the General’s Manor?”
“Although deep down, I disdain such methods.”
“But as the Head Mistress of this household, haven’t I always followed your arrangements in all matters, big or small?”
“You said it to my face, so you should keep your word. Why has it turned out like this now?”
“You assured me back then that Zhi’er could enter the military camp. Why is it impossible now? Don’t you owe me a reasonable explanation?”
Song Yao was truly at a loss for words. She said, “Marquis, I already handed that letter to you.”
“Could you please lower your head and take a look at it first before blaming me?”
“You don’t even understand what happened, yet you’re here complaining without reason. Why does your whole family have this same bad habit!”