As soon as Song Yao spoke these words, Han Qingfeng’s expression darkened further. “How dare you speak to me like that? I am your husband!”
Song Yao retorted without hesitation, “Even if you are my husband, you should first take a look at that letter in your hand before criticizing me.”
“You haven’t even glanced at it, yet you keep blabbering on and on. It seems to me that the Marquis of Yunzhou is nothing more than this!”
Song Yao’s blunt words caused Han Qingfeng’s expression to grow increasingly grim.
He was about to argue further when Song Yao’s tone suddenly sharpened. “I told you to look at it, so just look! Why all this nonsense!”
The entire household was silenced by the mistress’s sharp voice, not daring to utter another word.
Han Qingfeng glared at Song Yao for a long moment before finally raising the letter in his hand.
His gaze lingered on the words “replaced” for a moment, and his expression shifted from confusion to fury.
After reading the contents of the letter and clearly seeing the seal at the end, he said, “Zhi’er’s position as a vanguard lieutenant in the military camp has been taken by someone else.”
Han Qingfeng turned to Song Yao again, his tone harsh. “You promised that Zhi’er would start as a vanguard lieutenant as soon as he entered the camp. Now, why has his position been taken by someone else?”
Song Yao sneered coldly. “Ask your precious son. Don’t come to me with every little thing!”
Han Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back. “If I don’t ask you, who else should I ask?”
“You were the one who assured me that by the time I returned, Zhi’er would definitely be a vanguard lieutenant in the military camp.”
“Now that his position has been taken, if I don’t ask you, who else can I ask?”
Song Yao raised her hand and pointed at Han Zhi, saying to Han Qingfeng, “I brought the food right to his mouth, ready to feed him.”
“But he stubbornly refused to enter the camp. He wants to wander the jianghu.”
“I almost knelt down to beg him, but I still couldn’t convince him to agree.”
“Because your precious son delayed reporting for duty, the other side grew impatient and let someone else take his place.”
“Since he wants to wander the jianghu, I’ve agreed now. His belongings are already packed, and his wish will soon be fulfilled.”
After saying this, Song Yao turned to look at Han Zhi. “Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and go wander your jianghu!”
Han Zhi stood in front of Chunlan Xiu.
At this moment, he didn’t dare to utter another word.
Sure enough, Han Qingfeng saw that Han Zhi was carrying a bundle.
Song Yao shifted her gaze away from Han Zhi and continued, “He wouldn’t listen to me. He insisted on doing this. Fine, I’ll grant his wish now, so he won’t resent me or think I’m a cruel mother.”
After hearing Song Yao’s words, Han Qingfeng looked at Han Zhi again.
A father knows his son best, and Han Qingfeng had already guessed what had happened.
Han Qingfeng’s tone lost its earlier arrogance. “Madam, children are immature and act impulsively. How can you take it so seriously?”
“I’ll discipline Zhi’er properly when I have the chance. I promise he’ll listen to you in the future.”
“For now, can you think of a way to get Zhi’er back into the camp as a vanguard lieutenant…”
Before Han Qingfeng could finish speaking,
Song Yao interrupted, “Do you think the military camp is your own home? That he can go whenever he pleases?”
“Do you have any idea how many connections I had to pull to ensure he could start above others as soon as he entered the camp? Now that it’s fallen through, I’m actually quite relieved.”
Song Yao poured out everything she wanted to say in one breath, and suddenly felt the pent-up frustration in her heart ease considerably.
Although Song Yao felt relieved inside, the group listening grew increasingly uneasy the more they heard.
Han Qingfeng turned his gaze to Han Zhi. What kind of problem his own son had, how could he not know?
Before leaving home for the capital, he had originally thought that with Song Yao taking charge, Han Zhi would surely be able to enter the military camp and secure a promising future.
Now that he had returned, the result was like this. Han Qingfeng truly felt the urge to slap his own son to death.
Angry as he was, he still pondered—what exactly had happened?
Given Song Yao’s usual temperament, even if Han Zhi refused to go to the military camp, she would have tried every possible means to send that “rebellious son” into the camp.
How could it be that the military camp allowed a replacement so easily? Where exactly did things go wrong?
Han Qingfeng wanted to question Song Yao again.
But Song Yao said, “Don’t look at me. If you have any questions, ask your son.”
“Han Lingyue and Han Zhi—you can take charge of disciplining them from now on. I really can’t manage them anymore.”
“As for Zhang’er, he is still sensible. I will continue to nurture him.”
“Zhang’er has already promised me that he will go to Wuwei Academy and study diligently under Mr. Liang.”
Song Yao looked at Han Zhang. “Zhang’er, Mr. Liang is not someone just anyone can study under.”
“When you arrive at the academy and meet Mr. Liang, you must be respectful.”
“You also know that Wuwei Academy is not a place where just anyone can study.”
“The students who can attend Mr. Liang’s lectures at Wuwei Academy are all noble children from prominent families.”
“Although our Yunzhou Marquis Manor is not bad, compared to other high-ranking households, our manor is still somewhat inferior.”
“You must show respect to everyone you meet. Do you understand?”
Han Zhang immediately responded, “Mother, rest assured. When I go to the academy, I will build good relationships with everyone and not bring shame to our manor.”
Han Zhang’s response made Han Qingfeng unconsciously furrow his brows again. Why did his son agree so readily?
Setting aside for now why his eldest son agreed to Song Yao’s arrangement so smoothly, Han Qingfeng thought for a moment and said, “Fine. Since Zhi’er cannot go to the military camp due to his own reasons, I will not pursue this matter further.”
“Then what about Lingyue? How did her marriage fall through? Surely this isn’t the child’s fault either.”
“This isn’t the child’s fault…” Once again, before Song Yao could finish speaking, Han Qingfeng interjected, “If it’s not the child’s fault, then it must be your fault. Song Yao, is this how you manage the household? I was clearly mistaken about you.”
“I trusted you so much and confidently handed the manor over to you to manage. You are truly too disappointing.”
Song Yao clicked her tongue twice. “I ask you, where did your Han family learn this habit of jumping to conclusions and wildly speculating about others based on imagination?”
“The failure of Han Lingyue’s marriage is indeed not Han Lingyue’s fault. It is the fault of Han Lingyue, her mother-in-law, and her elder sister-in-law—all three of them.”
“If you have any questions, you can ask those three directly. Don’t ask me about everything!”
Han Qingfeng instinctively glanced at Chunlan Xiu, only to see her subtly gesturing to him, clearly signaling him not to ask any more questions.
Song Yao’s gaze was indeed fixed on Han Qingfeng, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught Chunlan Xiu’s subtle movement.
Han Qingfeng fell silent.
Song Yao also couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him.
She simply changed the subject, “Since you’re back, you should sit down and eat first. I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t be joining you for the meal.”