Chapter 40 Clash of Rivals...

"I was just joking."

She gave an awkward laugh, said nothing more, and simply tilted her head back and drank another glass of wine.

When someone has something on their mind, they forget their feelings and become unrestrained when they drink. Only when they are drunk and their consciousness is blurred will they reveal a truth.

She cried and said, "Songji, I really like Yan Changjun so much, so much. He's a cold person, but he's not a bad person. He always indulges me. No matter how much I bully or humiliate him, he never holds it against me. He even praises me for being genuine. He's so foolish. I didn't want him anymore, but he still came back. Why didn't he come sooner..."

She spoke incoherently, saying whatever came to mind, "The Yan family looks down on me. After Father Emperor passed away, they all bullied me, saying I could only be a concubine. I don't want that!"

"Actually, it's not that I think concubines are inferior to others, or that I'm inherently inferior. I just can't stand their haughty attitude. When they needed me, they used the military power given to them by the Emperor to marry me. It hasn't been that long... Heh, those aristocratic families are too much. They deliberately humiliated me, wanting to see me fall from grace and make a fool of myself. Humph, I won't let them have their way!"

Song Ji naturally understood the feeling of suddenly falling from the clouds into the mud. He didn't try to persuade her, but just listened quietly, letting her cry and vent her emotions. When she was tired from crying, she fell asleep on his shoulder.

Songji gently patted her back, stroking her like he was comforting a child, and whispered, "I know, this time I won't leave again."

He spoke softly, as if making a promise.

"I will always stay with the princess."

Unfortunately, no one could hear what he was saying anymore.

...

When Yan Ning caught him in the act, Song Ji was not flustered at all. Like a newlywed husband taking care of his wife, he slowly carried her to the bed, tucked her in, and watched her fall asleep before turning his head to look at the person outside the door.

"Let's talk in the courtyard."

He said, instructing Shu Yun to take good care of Li Yunru, "She drank too much alcohol, and I'm afraid she'll feel nauseous and vomit later. Please keep a close eye on her."

Shu Yun had served the princess alongside him for many years and was used to Song Ji's actions, but she felt that something was different tonight. However, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different, and simply replied, "I understand."

"Um."

Song Ji strode out the door, invited Yan Changjun to sit down in the courtyard, and asked someone to bring over a pot of hot tea.

Yan Changjun was very dissatisfied with his behavior. He frowned and coldly reminded him to be mindful of his status and not to forget his place.

Song Ji looked at him and just smiled: "Young master, you know how to advance and retreat, and you understand the proper measure, so why don't you use these methods? You can't even get through the door."

Yan Changjun: "..."

That's incredibly rude!

Yan Ning never imagined that one day she would be so embarrassed and speechless.

He gripped the teacup, its contents churning like angry waves.

After a while, Yan Ning finally managed to regain his composure, raised his eyes to stare at the person, and said, word by word, "Liyang and I only had some misunderstandings and a falling out. It's normal for husband and wife to have minor disagreements when they are together day and night. But you, sir, come from a prestigious family, how could you not know this? For your own selfish desires, you have disturbed the peace of the master's family. How will you find a place to live in the future?"

The winter wind was bleak, and a tense atmosphere permeated the two of them.

Song Ji narrowed his eyes and stared at the person. He said slowly, "My lord, you don't need to threaten me. Since you know that I come from a prestigious family, you should know that that person is long dead. The one who is alive now is just a commoner retainer by Princess Liyang's side. He is favored and supported by the princess and only obeys her. He would go through fire and water for her and die with honor."

Yan Ning harbored deep resentment and bitterness towards him, disgusted by his lack of discretion and hating his important position in people's hearts, which made him hesitant to act against him.

He was jealous. A man of integrity shouldn't have such emotions, but he simply couldn't deceive himself and ignore the existence of such a person.

His princess would cry, make a scene, and even threaten to kill him because of this person.

He used to not understand why Li Yunru cared so much about his cousin Cui Wan or other women who appeared around him, and he would always argue and quarrel with her about it. But now he understands.

If you truly care about someone, you can't bear to see them with someone closer than you.

Even if you know perfectly well that there is no transgression between you two, you still can't help but secretly ponder these thoughts in your heart. These little thoughts, like ants, burrow into your heart, eating away at it until it is riddled with holes, making it difficult to maintain your previous gentlemanly demeanor.

Hearing him say that, she felt a little relieved. She was afraid that he didn't care about Li Yunru and had other ulterior motives. If he did care, things would be much easier.

Yan Ning touched the jade thumb ring on his hand and said, "The past is gone, but the future can be pursued. If you give up on yourself so easily, wouldn't you be letting down your family's high expectations? You have been well-versed in poetry and books since childhood and are very learned. You are also an excellent student in the Six Arts of a Gentleman. You are capable of establishing a great career and continuing the family's glory. If you are willing, I can also help recommend you."

Song Ji smiled.

"My lord is indeed a refined man. He wants me to leave the princess, yet he speaks of it so tactfully and sweetly. It's a pity. I've already said that I've survived to this day thanks to the princess's grace, and I will only listen to her. If the princess doesn't want me to leave, I won't leave. As for my family?"

Song Ji laughed heartily again, looking at him and saying, "That's what you care about, my lord. You've worried so much about it, even at the cost of hurting the princess. But to me, it means nothing. Those ancestors, I've never met them, and I have no feelings for them. Those relatives..."

He chuckled twice and didn't say anything more, only emphasizing one thing: in his heart, the princess was the most important person, and he was willing to do anything for her, even at the cost of his life.

“I admire the princess, and the princess treats me with different affection. Instead of doing these trivial things that disturb my mind, my lord, why not sign the divorce papers and allow her to be free, thus fulfilling our love?”

"Don't even think about it!"

Yan Ning slammed her hand on the table and stood up, grabbing his neck and glaring at him fiercely with wide, angry eyes.

"Song Ji, you are utterly audacious and arrogant!"

Beneath his fine clothes, his chest heaved violently with the turmoil of his emotions.

"Do you know that based on just those few words, I could kill you and banish you from this manor!"

How dare this man speak to his face like that, coveting his wife!

"You're getting angry already?"

Song Ji showed no fear on his face, his eyes were clear, and he said with a faint smile, "It seems that this Jiangzuo Gentleman is not as magnanimous as the legends say."

He said, "The princess is exceptionally beautiful and has many admirers. People like me are as numerous as carp crossing a river. Since you consider yourself the princess's husband and her principal wife, you should be dignified and magnanimous. We should get along well and serve the princess properly, instead of competing with me like this and causing her worry."

This is getting more and more absurd!

absurd!

This is absolutely absurd!

Enraged, Yan Ning tightened his grip. Under the cover of night, the handsome and austere man was gripped until his face turned red, his breathing became uneven, and he was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

But he remained calm and composed, showing no fear whatsoever.

"If you touch him, I'll kill you!"

I'll kill you!

The sound of despair, like the wailing of a death knell, grew louder and louder until finally... he let go.

Song Ji's face was deathly pale, but she looked at him with a smile: "Why don't you make a move, my lord?"

Yan Ning snorted coldly and said, "I'm letting you off the hook this time because you're someone close to her. But if there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"hehe."

Song Ji laughed and said, "Then I should thank you for sparing my life, my lord?"

Yan Ning ignored him and got up to walk into the house.

Song Ji called out to the person.

"Don't you think my words just now sound somewhat familiar, my lord?"

Yan Ning: "..."

It is familiar.

It is common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. As the principal wife, she should be generous, manage the household frugally, and not be jealous or confrontational, which would disturb the peace of the home and make things difficult for her husband.

Aren't these the kinds of words that a mistress or husband often uses to instruct and admonish his wife?

Yan Ning sat back down. Just then, a servant brought over a pot of hot tea. Song Ji poured him a cup and said, "This is the princess's favorite Huangshan Cloud Mist Tea. You probably don't know that, sir?"

The person's hand, meant for drinking tea, remained suspended in mid-air.

He was truly unaware that their daily lives were taken care of by dedicated servants, requiring no personal effort from him. He would pay attention to the romantic and carefree days they spent together, noticing which fragrances she liked to use, what makeup she wore, and what fashionable hairstyles she sported, all of which enhanced her elegance and charm. Yet, he seemed to have never noticed these everyday things.

Seeing this, Songji understood everything. He said, "Young master says he likes the princess and is fond of her, but he has never really tried to understand what she likes or wants. Your liking, like the rules and upbringing of your noble families, is just a high-level thing, impractical. In the end, it will only move yourself."

This is about him, and also about his past self.

Those who think they are doing good deeds will ultimately find their fate unsatisfactory.

Song Ji continued, “The problem between you and the princess has never been between you. You have feelings for her, and the princess has feelings for you. However, these cannot overcome the views of the world. Your Yan family is a century-old family, revered by thousands. You are the eldest son of a family, bearing great expectations and heavy responsibilities. But the country has changed, and the princess is no longer a princess. The difference in your status has changed drastically. You love her and want to keep her, but you have overlooked the gap and barrier caused by this unequal status. Before, she was a princess, and she could not live happily in your Yan family. Now, if you go back, how will you face yourself?”

"I can protect her."

She wanted only him, and he could do that, which he did, but she remained stubborn and refused to back down.

He didn't understand why, but he was willing to give her time to figure it out, even though she was avoiding him like this...

"How can you protect her?" Song Ji asked. "Can you keep her by your side all day long, never leaving her side? Can you guarantee that she will be safe and sound outside your sight, and will not be ridiculed or bullied in any way? Or can you convince your parents and relatives to truly accept her as she is now and stop making things difficult for her? What if your parents threaten your life and force you to remarry? Would you choose the princess or your parents? If you can't answer these questions, how can you talk about protecting the Dharma?"

He said, “Perhaps you don’t know, but the other day, two boxes of clothing and jewelry were sent to your home. They said they were grateful that she was sensible and did not stay with the Yan family as you suggested. They also said that if she wanted to stay, she could be taken as a concubine… Degrading one’s wife to a concubine is such a humiliation.”

"impossible!"

Yan Ning denied it: "I have already explained it to my family, and my parents have agreed that as long as Li Yang is willing to come back, they will not..."

He realized he might have been scammed, but...

How could that be?

How could that be!

Song Ji said, "Whether it's true or not, you know in your heart. If you're not sure, you can go back and ask your mother what she did to the princess for the glory of your Yan family. I only said a few words just now, and even my husband couldn't accept it. How can the princess accept those admonitions and all the possibilities of going back?"

"My lord should think carefully about whether your family or the princess is more important. If you cannot get your parents and relatives to truly accept her, and you are unwilling to give up your current wealth and glory, then you should stop doing these meaningless things that only move yourself."

He paused for a moment and said, "Not only are you noble families human beings, but the princess is too. She has her own thoughts and feelings. She can cry and feel pain. She has self-respect and pride. She is not a puppet to be manipulated. If you can't do that and you keep pushing her so hard, you will eventually kill her!"

"My lord wouldn't want the princess to become a second Ding'an, bringing back only a skeleton to the Yan family in the future, would he?"

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Author's Note: Finally, a ranking list! Although it's considered unlucky, it's the result of everyone's hard work and the author's efforts. Thank you to everyone who clicked in and gave it a star; your support has made this book possible. This week, updates will follow the ranking list, with daily updates for the first five days, around 11 PM. No need to stay up all night waiting for updates; just check back the next morning! Love you all! [cat emoji][cat emoji][cat emoji]