Han Zhang and Han Zhi exchanged a knowing smile.
Han Zhang settled into a nearby chair. “Once little sister marries into the General’s household, I’ll have a brother-in-law who’s a general.”
“In the future, no matter what trouble I run into outside, I just need to drop my brother-in-law’s name, and who wouldn’t show me some respect?”
Han Zhi, his face still smarting, also began to indulge in wishful thinking. “Right! In the future, when Song Yao sends me to the military camp, I’ll say who my brother-in-law is. With the General’s household backing me, I’ll surely rise through the ranks quickly.”
Chunlan Xiu smiled happily. “As long as you three live well, your mother’s lifelong wish will be fulfilled.”
After a pause, Chunlan Xiu asked Han Zhi, “Song Yao said she wants to send you to the military camp. How are her preparations coming along?”
Han Zhi snorted. “She brought it up the day before yesterday. I had a big argument with her.”
“The more I refuse, the more she tries every possible way to persuade me. I plan to ‘hold out’ for a few more days, then reluctantly agree.”
Old Madam Jin returned to her seat at the head of the room.
The old lady’s eyes gleamed shrewdly. “Zhi’er, that’s enough. When Song Yao brings it up again, you should agree promptly!”
Han Zhi understood why the Old Madam said this.
He replied, “Grandmother, rest assured. I know my limits. The longer I hold out, the more anxious Song Yao will become!”
Recalling Song Yao’s actions today, Chunlan Xiu had a different perspective. “Zhi’er, Zhang’er, you weren’t present today. You didn’t see how decisively and firmly Song Yao refused your sister’s marriage proposal.”
“I advise you both: whatever Song Yao pressures you to do next, know when to stop. Don’t let things end up like today again.”
Han Lingyue was quite dismissive. She came over and linked arms with Chunlan Xiu. “Mother, you’re overthinking it. I think Song Yao’s sudden change in attitude today was clearly just an act.”
“If she really didn’t want me to marry into the General’s household, why would she immediately go there to speak well of me?”
“If you hadn’t given Song Yao face today, she wouldn’t have been able to save her dignity either. You gave her a way out, and she hurried off after the matchmaker.”
“Her urgency is precisely because she’s afraid that if she goes too late, Madam Huagui might say something inappropriate to General Su, making it hard for her to salvage the situation.”
Han Lingyue’s reasoning won the approval of her two elder brothers.
The three siblings had been raised under Song Yao’s care since childhood. For their sake, Song Yao was even willing to die. So how could she possibly truly abandon them?
The brothers felt their younger sister’s analysis was spot on.
Han Zhang said, “Mother, don’t worry. We three know Song Yao’s nature very well. She won’t truly abandon us.”
“Once she fights for everything we need, she’ll have served her purpose. When she’s completely useless, we’ll kick her out.”
“Then we three siblings will stay with you, our father, and our grandmother. Our whole family will close our doors and live happily together.”
The Old Madam was overjoyed to hear her precious eldest grandson’s words.
Jin smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with wrinkles. “Lanxiu, listen to the children. Just wait quietly for good news from Song Yao.”
“Let that outsider fight and scramble for us!”
“With Song Yao charging ahead for our whole family, you don’t need to worry too much.”
A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Chunlan Xiu’s lips.
Yes, with that fool Song Yao charging ahead, fighting and scrambling for the whole family, why should she be anxious?
Chunlan Xiu sat down.
Setting aside that family of ungrateful wretches for now, they resumed their conversation about how to make Song Yao prepare a lavish dowry for Lingyue when she married into the general’s manor.
…
Despite hurrying as fast as they could, Song Yao and Hong Yu failed to catch up with Su Xueqing.
Only when the carriage stopped at the entrance of Dingyuan General’s Manor did she finally see Su Xueqing’s figure again.
Su Xueqing was directing the servants to carry the gift boxes into the manor.
“Xueqing!” Song Yao called out, lowered the carriage curtain, and quickly stepped out of the carriage.
Su Xueqing turned around and saw Song Yao, supported by her maid, descending from the carriage and stepping onto the ground.
Song Yao approached her.
Su Xueqing was momentarily taken aback before stepping forward to meet her.
Su Xueqing was quite puzzled—why had Song Yao chased her all the way to the general’s manor?
Su Xueqing assumed Song Yao had come to retract her words of rejecting the marriage, intending to renew the marital ties with the general’s manor.
Meeting her, Su Xueqing spoke first, saying that since this marriage alliance had already been called off, no matter what Sister said now, there was no turning back.
Song Yao repeatedly clarified that she had not come to beg the general’s manor to renew the marital alliance with the Marquis Manor.
She had made this trip specifically for two reasons: first, to apologize, and second, she had a matter for which she needed General Su’s help.
As Song Yao explained her purpose, her eyes involuntarily reddened.
Seeing this, Su Xueqing urgently expressed that she did not blame Sister and urged her not to be sad.
Song Yao’s reddened eyes were indeed due to sorrow, but not the kind Su Xueqing imagined.
The reason for her sorrow was difficult to explain in a short while.
Dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, Song Yao asked, “Xueqing, is your elder brother at the manor?”
Su Xueqing replied, “My brother has been very busy lately. I don’t even know if he’ll be back for dinner tonight.”
“Since you’re not here for that pretentious family, come, let’s go inside first.”
“We can sit and talk while waiting for my brother.”
“If he still doesn’t return tonight, you can tell me what you need, and I’ll relay your words to him exactly as they are.”
Song Yao followed Su Xueqing into the general’s manor.
Su Xueqing led Song Yao all the way to the manor’s reception hall.
As Su Xueqing was Su Chuang’s biological younger sister, she was considered half a mistress of the general’s manor.
After the errand boys served tea and snacks as instructed by Madam Huagui, they withdrew from the reception hall.
Sitting in a chair in the reception hall, Song Yao could no longer hold back her tears, which overflowed from her eyes.
Su Xueqing asked with concern, “Sister, don’t just cry! What exactly has happened?”
After releasing her tears for a while, Song Yao let out a long sigh. “Xueqing, I’ve wronged you all.”
Song Yao’s abrupt statement left Su Xueqing stunned once again.
Su Xueqing said, “You start by apologizing to me! I told you, the general’s manor doesn’t blame you for today’s matter.”
“If anyone is to blame, it’s that family. In all my years, I’ve truly never seen anyone like them.”
“Sister, the person you should apologize to isn’t me. You owe yourself an apology. I know that without you, the Yunzhou Marquis Manor would have ceased to exist long ago.”
“If it weren’t for you holding up the entire Marquis Manor, those three wouldn’t have had the chance to put on airs of superiority before me today.”
Song Yao wiped her tears while smiling bitterly, “Even an outsider like you can see that their whole family has been sucking me dry like nutrients, and yet I remained foolishly unaware all this time.”
Su Xueqing paused slightly, her brows furrowing, “Sister, what do you mean by saying this…”
Through tear-blurred eyes, Song Yao met the gaze of the person sitting beside her, “Xueqing, it wasn’t until today that I finally understood—my inability to bear children wasn’t because I truly couldn’t conceive.”
“When I married Han Qingfeng, Old Madam Jin secretly fed me the Sterility Potion without my knowledge. That’s why I’ve been unable to bear children all these years.”