"What a bizarre experience!" Song Qijin realized, and with a deep sense of shock, managed to squeeze out just those two words.
"Holy crap!"
He suddenly burst into laughter, grabbing Song Dujuan's shoulder: "We're rich! Our Song family is rich! Either she'll be the Princess Zhenguo, or she'll be Song Ruier. One will be a favorite of the Emperor, and the other will become a high-ranking official. What do we have to worry about or be afraid of?"
Song Dujuan was still pondering what the stranger had said earlier.
“What that brother said earlier is right. We can’t afford to offend Princess Zhenguo right now. It would be safer to go to Song Ruier. A person who is about to be appointed to an official position is most afraid of his hometown people. If his relatives say bad things about him, his reputation will be affected. We can use this to restrain him.”
“Well, since we can’t see Qiao Lian’er anyway, why not get on the good side of things by establishing a relationship with Song Rui’er first, so we can have a backup plan, and then get more benefits from Qiao Lian’er. That way, our Song family can continue to rise to prominence.” Song Qijin thought he was very clever, nodding as he spoke.
The two returned to the courtyard house first.
When Song Dujuan recounted the story, the Song family was deeply shocked.
The first person to appear and help them turned out to be Song Ruier, who had disappeared for several years. He didn't genuinely want to help them; he just wanted to get rid of them as a burden.
Immediately, anger welled up in their hearts.
"That brat is no good at all. He's our son, the heir of the Song family. He should be more united with us and help us, but instead he wants to get rid of us. He's a heartless bastard!" Song Guangtian cursed.
That's what the Song family all thinks.
Song Guangdi chimed in, "This brat passed three exams in a row, but didn't even write a letter home to share the good news. He wants to enjoy the benefits all by himself. He even changed his surname and name. Isn't he just afraid we'll come knocking on his door one day? How despicable, truly despicable."
The Song family members cursed and swore, their spittle filling the courtyard.
They resented Song Ruier more than Qiao Lian'er.
Firstly, given Qiao Lian'er's current status, they dared not offend her too much. Secondly, she had long since returned to the Qiao family, and everyone in the village tacitly accepted her as a member of the Qiao family. Another important reason was that Song Rui'er was just starting out, and they could easily pull him down, destroying all his previous efforts and hard work, so they acted with impunity.
Song Fusheng lit his pipe again and puffed on it.
“How unfilial! He is truly unfilial. My elder brother only has this one grandson, who is practically my own grandson. I am his grandfather, yet he doesn’t even want to care about us. He treats us like outsiders and makes a fool of us.”
Song Fusheng slapped his thigh, coughing from the choking sensation, his face and neck turning red.
Considering Qiao Lian'er's status as a princess who protects the country, coupled with the fiefdom and army she possesses, it seems as if there are several mountains between them.
However, they did not have this psychological pressure when facing Song Ruier.
"Grandpa, what should we do now?" asked Song Qimu, the second son of the eldest son's family.
"Hmph, what to do?" Song Fusheng sneered.
"If we can't see Princess Zhenguo now, won't we at least see Song Ruier?"
"The imperial examination is in half a month. If he doesn't take responsibility for us, we'll make sure he can't even take the exam."
Song Fusheng stood up: "Let's go, let's go see Song Ruier as a family."
As soon as they stepped out, a large group of soldiers arrived at the gate and surrounded them.
"Lord Ji has instructed that since you do not have any proof of kinship, you cannot stay here. Please move out now."
The Song family's expressions changed.
“Why can’t we stay? We are relatives of Princess Zhenguo, and this old man is her great-uncle, her grandfather’s younger brother,” Song Guangtian protested.
"Words are no proof. Has Princess Zhenguo recognized you as relatives? This is the government's property. There's no reason for us to stay here for free. Let's go, let's go, let's leave now."
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