Chapter 130 Taking a Concubine
Xiao Yongjing readily agreed and stood under the umbrella, side by side with her:
“Fu Langxing was already interested in your sister. Even without today’s incident, the chances of them getting together would have been extremely high. You… don’t need to be sad over someone who is not a good match.”
Song Yiqiu met his gaze, but didn't reply, instead changing the subject:
"Speaking of this matter, I must thank Your Highness. If you hadn't sent people to spread the rumors about Ruoling throughout the city, I'm afraid Lord Shenyan would still be reluctant to release her, and my mother wouldn't be so eager to push Song Sangyu, this precious gem, out for marriage today. Your actions have been just in time."
Xiao Yongjing raised an eyebrow slightly, not at all surprised that she could see through his handiwork, and chuckled softly:
"Rumors? Miss Song, the help I've given you goes far beyond these trivial matters."
He turned his head to look at her, a dark undercurrent surging in his eyes:
"For example, are you aware that your upright adjutant Zhang has recently been engaged to a woman from a military family, arranged by his elders?"
Song Yiqiu was taken aback. Princess Xingrong had declared that she would take him as her male concubine, and things had been much quieter lately. She had been busy with other things and hadn't paid attention.
Xiao Yongjing continued casually:
“A few days ago, Xingrong trampled and injured civilians with her horse and killed the victim. The Censorate impeached her, and the Emperor was furious and punished her by confining her to the Imperial Clan Court for half a year to reflect on her mistakes.”
"I was just doing it casually, telling Zhang's family to hurry up and get the marriage done within the next six months. By the time Xingrong comes out, it will be a done deal. After all, she is a royal princess; she can't lower herself to become a concubine of a subject, can she?"
These words startled Song Yiqiu. She knew how difficult Princess Xingrong was to deal with, and she also understood how cleanly and efficiently Zhang, the adjutant, had resolved the matter.
This cannot be summarized by the word "spontaneous"; it requires precise timing and skillful use of the political situation to relieve her people of any worries.
She looked at Xiao Yongjing, deliberately making jokes to hide the complex emotions in her eyes:
"Your Highness's help makes me feel uneasy. What is there to be sad about? My future husband is the Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor. He has cleared obstacles for me. My dear sister would be so envious if she knew."
However, Xiao Yongjing showed no joy on his face. He looked at her and clearly saw that deep in her eyes, there was no romantic feeling for him whatsoever; there was only calmness and calculation.
This made him feel inexplicably depressed.
"Then why..."
He frowned and asked.
Song Yiqiu interrupted him, her gaze fixed on the deep bamboo forest:
"I wonder, why are women born like tools?"
"Whether it's Song Sangyu, Song Ruoling, Ruan Jiawen, or He Jianren, they are all like bricks, moved wherever they are needed to fill the holes in the family."
“My brothers have a long history of bad deeds. In terms of their behavior, Song Sangyu is not even one ten-thousandth as bad as them. Yet, for their future, she is willing to sacrifice her own marriage and even resort to such means.”
She paused, then laughed self-deprecatingly:
"What about our future? Is being a good wife and mother the only path we can take?"
Xiao Yongjing stared at her profile. She seemed thinner and more tired than when he first met her.
Song Yiqiu sighed softly, her smile bitter:
"It's ironic that I criticize marriage as a transaction, yet I myself am forced to enter into a transactional marriage to achieve my goals. In essence, how am I any different from them?"
Xiao Yongjing frowned, the strange feeling in his heart growing stronger.
He paused for a moment, then took a stack of files from his sleeve and handed them over.
"Take a look at this. You're not making a deal; you're orchestrating a scheme."
Song Yiqiu took it with a puzzled look and looked down to read it.
However, after just one glance, her expression changed drastically, and her fingers loosened, causing the stack of papers to slip from her hand and scatter all over the floor.
She looked up at Xiao Yongjing in disbelief:
"Song Sangyu...she...she's actually my father's biological daughter?"
Xiao Yongjing nodded:
"Do you know why your mother ultimately chose Song Qingming? It was because your mother, Shen, harbored a deep resentment towards your grandmother, Shen Zhaohua."
"I have not yet fully ascertained the specific reasons, but what I do know is that your grandmother arranged a marriage between your mother and General Fu Xuelin, and Fu Xuelin was also deeply in love with your mother."
"But for some reason, your mother, in a fit of pique, chose a scholar named Song Qingming, who, like her father Zhao Wusi, seemed honest and upright."
"Your father, Song Qingming, already had a mistress before marrying your mother. Over the years, they had a daughter, Song Sangyu."
Song Yiqiu was struck dumb, standing there as if by lightning.
She never imagined that her seemingly mediocre and weak father had kept a mistress before marriage and had even fathered a child with her.
No wonder... no wonder her father always unconditionally doted on and favored Song Sangyu.
She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and tentatively asked:
"Does my mother...know about this?"
Xiao Yongjing shook his head:
“Song Qingming is not as simple as he seems on the surface; he is involved in many things. Your mother… may or may not know.”
"But what is certain is that she severed her mother-daughter relationship with your grandmother, Shen Zhaohua, many years ago. And that Mid-Autumn Festival reunion night was organized by your father, Song Qingming."
"He even brought a so-called cousin from next door, Zhao Xuan, into the mansion. After that night, Zhao Xuan completely disappeared."
Zhao Xuan...
A sudden realization dawned on Song Yiqiu; she finally understood who the traitor within her own ranks was.
After a long silence, the mountain breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.
After a long while, she slowly raised her head:
"It's time for reckoning."
"Struggling in the mire for too long will inevitably leave you filthy. I want to... completely sever ties with the Song family."
...
Three days later.
When Fu Langxing and his mother, Fu Yangshi, arrived at the door, the betrothal gifts they brought in were not meager, but their scale and quantity clearly indicated that it was a ceremony for taking a concubine rather than a ceremony for marrying a wife.
Song Sangyu was already dressed in her finest attire and waiting. Upon seeing the betrothal gifts, she couldn't suppress her pride.
She glanced at Song Yiqiu, who was standing quietly to the side, and deliberately raised her voice, speaking loudly:
“Sister, you see, things in this world are ultimately predestined. Some people scheme and plot, but what is meant for them will eventually end up in someone else’s hands. In the end, I still won.”
Song Yiqiu didn't even glance at her, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the pile of betrothal gifts, a cold smile playing on her lips.
The scale and the formalities are unlike a wedding ceremony; it's more like being given a...thing.
In the front hall, Madam Song greeted Madam Fu, whose face was icy cold, with a forced smile and led her to the seat of honor.
The maidservant served tea, but Madam Fu Yang didn't even touch it, only coldly speaking:
“Madam Song, you surely know why you have come today. My Fu family is a family that keeps its promises; once we have made a promise, we will fulfill it. Today, we have come to take Miss Song Sangyu as our concubine.”
"Taking a concubine?!"
The smile on Song Shenshi's face froze instantly.
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