Chapter 148: Heartless
Song Qiao and Song Bai looked at each other in surprise and said, "Is it Yuxia?"
Song Lin has two children. The eldest is a daughter named Song Yuxia, who is about 27 or 28 years old this year. She married into the Yin family during the previous dynasty. Later, when the prosperous dynasty fell, the Yin family, a noble family, was expelled from the capital, and she left with her husband's family.
Song Qiao and Song Bai had sent people to look for her, but there was no news. Unexpectedly, she came back on her own.
Song Yumin's face changed. He called his two aunts to send the bride back to the room, and he followed his second and third uncles to the main entrance.
The three of them arrived at the gate and saw from a distance a shabby-dressed woman shouting, "Yumin, I'm your elder sister, don't you recognize me?"
The servant at the door stopped her and wouldn't let her go in. Today was the master's wedding day and there were many distinguished guests inside, so they didn't dare let her in casually.
Song Bai said, "Yumin, is that your eldest sister?" Yuxia was only eight or nine years old when Song Lin brought her to Beijing. Although she had returned to her hometown several times during the journey, she had changed so much over the years that she was a little unrecognizable at first.
Song Yumin nodded. Even though they had not seen each other for almost ten years, he recognized at a glance that the person in front of him was Song Yuxia.
Song Bai said: "Let someone in quickly!"
The servant let go of the obstruction, and Song Yuxia and two strange men ran in. She grabbed Song Yumin's hand and said, "Brother, I finally found you! Are you getting married today? You've grown up so much..."
Song Yumin pulled his hand back and said coldly, "Eldest sister chose to sever ties with us back then, why did you come looking for her today?"
Song Bai and Song Qiao were stunned, not knowing what had happened, but they didn't want to let people watch the fun on such a happy day.
Song Qiao said, "Yumin, why don't you ask your sister to go to the next room and talk?"
"There's nothing to say, just go."
Song Yuxia suddenly started crying: "I know you are still blaming me, but I had only been married to the Yin family for two years. How could I be qualified to beg for mercy after encountering such a thing?"
"So you're going to shut your parents out just to protect yourself?!"
Song Bai pulled Song Yumin and said, "Don't be angry, let's talk inside." Many people had already gathered around.
The group came to the side hall, Song Yuxia was still sobbing softly, and the other two men, a young boy lowered his head and said nothing, and the other had a flattering smile on his face.
Song Qiao said: "Yuxia, do you still recognize us?"
Song Yuxia was only focused on her brother just now, and only then did she notice her second and third uncles standing beside her. She quickly knelt down and saluted: "Niece greets second and third uncles."
"Get up quickly." The two of them reached out and helped her up at the same time.
"Where have you been these past few years? We've been looking for you."
Song Yuxia choked up and said, "I... our family was implicated by the previous dynasty and was driven out of the capital, so my husband took us back to our hometown in Zhengzhou."
Yin Shiming, who was standing next to him, smiled flatteringly and called out, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle."
Song Bai and Song Qiao looked him up and down and saw that he looked dusty and dirty. They thought that he must have had a hard time in the past few years.
The Yin family was a criminal family, and when the tree fell, the monkeys scatter. When they returned to their hometown, the family land had been divided up by the people below them. When my mother-in-law returned, she fell seriously ill and died soon because she had no money for treatment.
The brothers of the Yin family also had a falling out over money and divided the family property to live separately. Song Yuxia knew about herbs, so she took her husband and son to the mountains to collect herbs for a living.
Later, when she heard that the current emperor was named Song Yuzhu and came from Xuzhou, Song Yuxia thought about going to Beijing to see if he was her cousin.
After saving money for several years, he came to Shangjing, but he didn't expect to see Yumin getting married as soon as he entered the city.
From a distance, she looked at the tall boy on the horse and her heart was shocked. She couldn't believe that it was her brother, and she ran all the way after the wedding procession.
Song Bai asked, "Yumin, what's the matter with you saying that Yuxia broke off the relationship with you?"
Song Yuxia's face turned pale and she was about to explain when she was interrupted by a voice outside.
"Where is Yumin? Why is the groom not here?" Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiaogang had just arrived from the palace and were brought to the side room by a servant.
"Dad, Second Uncle, you are all here, happy wedding, Yumin!"
Song Yumin walked over and said, "Third brother, you're here!"
"Something happened in the palace and delayed me. Now that you have paid your respects to heaven and earth, why don't you go and greet the guests?"
Song Yuzhu saw the woman next to him and asked, "Who is that?"
Song Yuxia stared at Song Yuzhu blankly. She didn't expect that her cousin actually became the emperor!
After a while, she finally reacted, pulled her husband and son to kneel down and said, "The commoner Song Yuxia pays respect to the emperor!"
Song Yuzhu asked, "Song Yuxia... is she my uncle's cousin?"
Song Yuxia nodded.
"Then get up quickly." Song Yuzhu's face did not have much of a friendly expression, but instead had an aura of majesty without even getting angry.
The Yin family father and son stood up tremblingly, not even daring to raise their heads.
Song Bai said: "Yuxia, please continue to talk. What happened back then?"
Only then did Song Yuxia stammer and tell the story of the past.
Back then, Song Lin knew that he would not be able to escape death, so he wanted to entrust his wife and son to the care of his eldest daughter who married into a noble family. With the protection of the Yin family, the court would not dare to make things difficult for him.
Who would have thought that Song Yuxia was afraid of being implicated, so she flatly refused her father's request and kicked them out of the house.
In order to protect herself, she wrote a letter of severance in her own handwriting, breaking off ties with the Song family and having no further contact with them from then on.
When the couple received the letter of severance, they were heartbroken. This was their daughter, whom they had spoiled like the apple of their eye, but she turned out to be so heartless when something happened.
Finally, Song Lin had no other choice but to risk his life to send his wife and children to his hometown in Xuzhou. However, Yang could not bear the double blow and eventually hanged herself.
Song Yumin said with red eyes: "You may have forgotten these things, but I can't. The severance letter is still under my father's spirit tablet. If you don't recognize me, take it out and read it to everyone."
Song Yuxia slumped on the ground: "I... admit it. I have regretted it so much over the years. I know you hate me, but I can't do anything about it. I am a married woman, and such a big thing happened in my family. I can't protect myself, and my parents are forcing me. What would you do if it were you?"
"Amin, call my mother out. I will kowtow to her and apologize in person."
"Mom has already gone with Dad!"
"What?!" Song Yuxia was stunned, as if she didn't believe it.
She climbed up frantically and grabbed Song Yumin's clothes and said, "How could mother die? When did she die?" She always thought that Song Yumin and his mother had returned to their hometown, and even if she didn't care about them, they had relatives to take care of them. But she never thought that her mother had passed away.
Song Bai stepped forward and held her back, saying, "Xia girl, don't get excited. Your mother fell ill after returning to her hometown..."
"Mom committed suicide by hanging herself! Are you happy?" Song Yumin clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.
This is the deepest scar in his heart, which is more difficult for him to accept than his father's death. He even went insane because he couldn't accept his mother's sudden death. If his cousin hadn't saved him, there would be no Song Yumin today.
The room instantly became quiet. Zhao Xiao walked over to Song Yumin, patted him on the back and said, "Okay, it's all over. Today is a happy day. Don't mention these things anymore."
Song Yuzhu took out a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to him: "Leave it to me. Get yourself together and go outside to entertain the guests. Don't let the bride worry."
"Yeah." Song Yumin agreed with sobs.
Song Bai and Song Qiao also followed them out. They couldn't do anything about this matter, so they let the younger generations solve it themselves.
After everyone left, Song Yuzhu walked over to the chair and sat down and asked, "Which child of the Yin family are you?"
Yin Shiming kowtowed quickly and said, "I am the third child in my family."
"I remember that I ordered the expulsion of the noble families and that they were no longer allowed to enter Shangjing. Why are you back now?"
Yin Shiming's face turned pale and he was shaking with fear. Song Yuxia quickly explained, "It was my fault. I asked them to send me back."
"I will not pursue this matter this time. Yin Shiming, take your wife and children back. Don't come here again in the future. Otherwise, you will be tattooed and exiled to the border according to the criminal law."
"I admit my mistake, thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!" Yin Shiming kowtowed quickly to express his gratitude.
Song Yuxia still refused to give up and wanted to say something, but was dragged away from the Song Mansion by her husband and son.
This incident did not cause much commotion, and the hall was still full of guests. Only Song Yumin was reminded of the sad past.
Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiao came out of the side room. Song Bai came over and asked worriedly, "Just let her go like this?"
"Dad, is there anything else?"
"It's okay. I see her clothes are shabby and I'm afraid she's not living a good life..." Song Bai wanted to give her some silver.
"Just do whatever you think is appropriate." The old man felt sorry for the younger generation, and Song Yuzhu could understand. No matter what was wrong with Song Yuxia, she was still Song Lin's daughter and Song Bai's niece. It was impossible for him to watch her suffer like this.
After the wedding, Song Yuzhu talked to Yumin alone and said, "Don't think about the past anymore. You have to look forward. Even if she took you in, your life in the Yin family might not have been easy."
Song Yumin nodded: "I understand."
"Good boy, take good care of your wife and live a good life."
"Um!"
Although Song Yuzhu is only one year older than Song Yumin, she has experienced two lifetimes and protects him like her own son or nephew.
After coming out of Song's house, Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiaogang were about to go to the stadium.
Although the stadium is not far from the military camp, Zhao Xiao has never had the time to go and see it. Today he happens to have some time to go and take a look.
After leaving the city, the carriage headed all the way to the western suburbs. The gymnasium was located just west of Shangjing, five miles away from the military camp.
The stadium covers an area of 570 acres, is 70 feet high and about 350 feet wide, and is an oval-shaped building.
As the carriage got closer, the two finally saw its appearance clearly.
Zhao Xiao stared at the stadium in astonishment, and it took him a while to find his voice: "This, this place looks like the arena we went to when Anton Tepu was there!"
"This place was indeed built with reference to the Colosseum. Most of the stadiums in later generations were built based on the Colosseum to maximize the use of space. Let's go in and take a look."
The two men got off the carriage and walked over. There were people guarding the construction area and ordinary people were not allowed to approach without permission.
The accompanying guard handed Zhao Xiao his badge, and the official in charge of the Ministry of Works immediately ran over to greet him.
"Your humble servant greets General Zhao, greets..."
"This is the Emperor."
"Ah! Your Majesty, please forgive me for my sins. I was blind and did not recognize the great man. Long live your Majesty!"
"Get up, ignorance is not a crime, lead us in and take a look."
"Yes, sir." The official got up from the ground with weak legs. He did not expect the emperor to come today, and he did not make any preparations in advance.
When Song Yuzhu entered the stadium from the entrance, he was also surprised. He didn't expect that they could build this place so well.
Yuanwailang said: "The surrounding stands have all been built, which can accommodate 5,000 people to watch the game at the same time. The center field will be completed in another ten days."
Song Yuzhu originally planned to build a rubber track, but it was a waste to use the rubber shipped from Johor for paving the ground, so in the end only a cement track was used. It is planned to transform it after the rubber industry develops in the future.
There are polo and cuju competition fields in the middle of the stadium, and there are areas for high jump and long jump next to it. It looks no different from the gymnasiums of later generations.
The two climbed the stairs to the top and had a clear view of the entire stadium.
Zhao Xiao sighed: "Compared with our stadium, the Western arena is nothing." One can imagine the grand scene of this place being packed with people in the future!
Song Yuzhu smiled and nodded, but suddenly her expression changed.
Zhao Xiao keenly noticed his abnormality: "What's wrong?"
"The system has sounded an alarm. The last time an alarm was sounded was when Johor was occupied!"
Song Yuzhu quickly opened the map and saw a red light flashing near Shuzhou. This was different from the last prompt. When he clicked it, he was dizzy by the violent shaking.
"It's a dragon turning over! Run! The dragon turning over!" The local people screamed and ran away.
(End of this chapter)
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