Consort Xian ordered the Lu family to retrieve the betrothal gifts from the Song family, thus severing the marriage alliance between the two families. The Song family was also quite uncomfortable about this, and Song Hanzhi felt rather resentful about it.

Lu Yujie claims her innocence is intact, but is that really true? All the maids and servants around her are dead; who can prove it? Even if they could, they are all members of the Lu family; how could the Song family believe them?

Even if Lu Yujie truly proves her innocence, the fact remains that she was kidnapped for so long. This fact is like a leaf blocking Song Hanzhi's path. He cannot see through this leaf to appreciate the other wonderful aspects of this woman.

"Let's try to arrange this marriage with the Lu family again. If we, the Song family, just ignore the girl now, we'll inevitably be the subject of gossip." Song Chengzhang sighed.

The Song family is no longer what it used to be. Song Zhao has lost his position as Grand Tutor, and none of his descendants are capable of taking his place, leaving the Song family without anyone in the court.

Song Chengzhang himself was also very anxious, especially since his grandfather had now returned to his hometown, leaving him with no one to consult.

For some reason, at this moment he thought of his daughter who had married into the Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion and whose life was getting better and better.

At first, everyone thought she should be sacrificed so that she could marry into the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion in place of Song Wenyue. Unexpectedly, she actually gained a foothold in the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion.

Song Chengzhang didn't know how she did it, but if she really had no tricks up her sleeve, could she have controlled someone like Xie Liwei?

"Send a message to the Prince of Xiaoyao's residence; I'll go see the Princess Consort there later." After thinking for a moment, he added, "Have Madam prepare some gifts."

When Madam Lin heard that Song Chengzhang was going to the Prince Xiaoyao's residence, she immediately had gifts prepared and wanted to go with him. Song Chengzhang had a sudden idea and said, "Pack a few more clothes and stay at the Prince's residence for a while."

Lin was momentarily stunned, then heard Song Chengzhang say, "Yao'er is your first child. It's been so long since you two had this child, so there must be many things you don't know. It's only right that you, as her mother, go and take care of Yao'er."

Lin immediately beamed with joy, but when she thought of her eldest son's situation, her face fell again.

"If Qingyuan divorces Luo, who will manage our household?" After handing over so many trivial matters, Lin felt that her days of chanting scriptures and praying to Buddha were quite pleasant. The thought of taking over those things again gave her a headache. She only hoped that the marriage with the Lu family could continue, so that her second daughter-in-law could take over the household chores once she entered the family.

"That's none of your business!" Song Chengzhang now only felt that he should have cultivated a good relationship with his daughter, Song Yaozhu, but unfortunately there's no going back, and he regretted it too late.

Song Yaozhu was somewhat surprised to learn that Song Chengzhang and Madam Lin had come to visit.

Have someone invite the two of them in.

"Father and Mother, is there something you need at this time?"

Song Chengzhang smiled and said, "Your pregnancy is a big deal. Your mother is worried about you, so she wanted to come and take care of you personally."

Song Yaozhu's almond-shaped eyes fell on Song Chengzhang's face. Strangely enough, even though Song Yaozhu was so much younger than him, he felt that the woman's eyes could see right through him.

She noticed his petty, shameful schemes, but because she didn't care, she didn't expose them. Like a cat that has caught a mouse, she wasn't in a hurry to kill it, but rather toyed with it slowly to satisfy her own perverse pleasure.

"Father and Mother are too kind, but I have everything I need in the Prince's Mansion, so Mother need not worry."

As soon as she finished speaking, tears began to fall from Lin's eyes.

She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and said, "Yao'er still hates her mother, doesn't she? It's my fault. If I hadn't adopted Wenyue back then, we wouldn't be so estranged after we recognized each other."

Song Yaozhu watched Lin Shi wipe away her tears quietly; she was not the kind of person who would be swayed by the tears of the weak.

"If Mother really felt indebted to me, why didn't she treat me well when I first returned to the manor?" Song Yaozhu's tone was very calm, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Lin was stumped by Song Yaozhu's question. In fact, she had been thinking about this question all along. Because she was constantly regretting things, and every time she did, this question would surface in her mind.

Why didn't I treat Song Yaozhu well when I first found her?

Because she can't accept it!

She couldn't accept that the thin, bony little girl with sallow, dark skin was her daughter!

She stood next to Song Wenyue, who looked like a fairy, with her delicate features.

In addition, she had poured too much effort into Song Wenyue, who was proficient in all the arts, while her own daughter couldn't even read!

She couldn't accept that this child was her biological daughter, so she chose to ignore her. Every time she saw her, she felt disgusted.

Now, the elegant and graceful woman before me has been completely transformed, showing no trace of the timidity she once had from the countryside.

Her demeanor and speech were more like those of a well-bred young lady than Song Wenyue's; this was the kind of daughter she wanted!

The more Lin looked at her, the more proud she became, but at the same time, she felt sad. If she hadn't neglected her at first, her daughter wouldn't have become so distant from her.

"It's all my fault." Madam Lin wiped away her tears, then thought of Song Wenyue's coldness. She had raised this child, yet Song Wenyue possessed a dark side she knew nothing of. "Yao'er, I know I was wrong. I chant sutras before the Buddha every day, hoping only that you and the child will be safe and sound. Yao'er, please give me another chance!"

Song Yaozhu said calmly, "Mother, there is a saying that 'belated affection is cheaper than grass.'"

Her words left Lin speechless. Seeing his wife's incompetence, Song Chengzhang couldn't help but feel anxious. But he no longer dared to assert his authority as a father, and simply said gently, "Yao'er, we are, after all, your parents!"

“Yes, you are, after all, my biological parents,” she said softly. “So, from now on, this is how things will be. I don’t need my father’s and mother’s love, and my mother and father shouldn’t expect me to be filial to you. After all, the Wang family has already repaid the kindness of taking you in for a few months.”

Song Chengzhang was choked by her words, and a surge of anger rose in his chest.

"How do you plan to repay that debt of gratitude?" Song Chengzhang could barely keep his composure.

Song Yaozhu chuckled contemptuously, "The fact that I didn't kill you is already repaying the Song family's debt of life."

Her words were so arrogant and disrespectful that they left Song Chengzhang speechless.

He clenched his fists, took a few deep breaths, and then said, "We are family after all; even if we break bones, we are still connected by tendons!"

Song Yaozhu leaned back in her chair. "So, is Lord Song here today to discuss business with me? If so, that's fine too."