Chapter 84 Wives and Concubines
Song Jin sat on the couch, her head resting on a book, lost in thought.
The protagonist of the book, Li Fan, is an orphan.
He had no parents, but his background was complicated.
When his master found him, he was being held hostage. Those people wanted to kill his master to silence him, but he was killed in self-defense.
But since the person was killed, and a child was left behind, it was impossible to abandon him or leave him unattended, so the master adopted Li Fan.
His master had raised him since he was a child, subjecting him to harsh conditions and rigorous training every day without ever letting up.
I'm afraid that one day those people will find him and he won't be able to resist.
This continued day after day until his master passed away, after which Li Fan began his life of wandering the martial world.
When he first entered the world of martial arts, he was just a ten-year-old boy. He stumbled and struggled, being cheated, robbed, swindled, slandered, and hunted down...
His reflections are few and far between in the book, but the events he encountered were so interesting that the book has attracted some readers.
Song brocade is one of them.
She was someone who loved to travel around, but because of Niu Tielan's health, she hadn't left Si'an County during those years, only seeing glimpses of the outside world through books.
She hadn't thought much of it before, just watching for the fun, but when she discovered the protagonist of the story was someone she knew, she felt a strange unease.
She stared intently at the four-word table of contents, her eyes practically popping out of their sockets, but still didn't turn to the next page.
She closed the tattered book, tossed it aside, and came out of the room again.
Niu Tielan has come out.
The rain outside started to drizzle, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard were blown into a mess.
She stood under the eaves, staring blankly at the broken sapling in the yard.
Song Jin's irritation vanished instantly. She ran inside, grabbed a cloak, and draped it over the girl's shoulders, complaining, "Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
There are only eleven days left until I start practicing Gu cultivation. Maintaining good health during this time is very important.
Niu Tielan was actually alright. Although the weather was cold, the Gu worms in her body had made her less weak than before.
She looked at the broken branches and leaves, thought of her dilapidated home, turned to look at her chubby-cheeked daughter, and reached out to pat her head.
"Is there anywhere around the capital you'd like to go? Mother will go with you."
Song Jin gently slapped her hand away, glaring at her: "Come on, come on, come on, am I a child? You're a patient now, so take good care of yourself and get treatment. We'll go out and play when you're better. I'll go with you to see Grandpa and look for Grandma. Maybe she's still alive."
There are always clues to what has been done. Her grandmother was kidnapped and taken away, and she's only in her early fifties now; it's highly likely she's still alive.
Looking at Song Jin's resolute expression, Niu Tielan reached out and stroked her eyebrows, whispering, "You'll come with me to look for her, but remember, you can only go with me."
Song Jin felt a heaviness in her chest, pursed her lips, and said stiffly, "I will definitely go with you."
Niu Tielan just smiled and didn't say anything too certain.
The practice of Gu poison is inherently a matter of seeking survival against all odds.
Niu Tielan wasn't so certain that he could do it.
She naturally missed her parents and hoped they were alive and well so she could see them again, but that was her own wish.
She didn't want Song Jin to be bound by it either.
Twenty years have passed. If her mother were still alive, she might have other children and grandchildren. Children grow up and have their own lives; she didn't want Song Jin to be tied down by these trivial matters.
Her daughter should be free and happy, not forced to back down step by step due to social conventions and past relationships.
Looking into her gentle gaze, Song Jin felt even more suffocated. She took a step back, kicked aside the chair next to her, and cursed under her breath.
"Who put this chair here? What if someone falls and gets hurt? It's so annoying! Oh, Mom, wait for me!"
Suddenly remembering something, Song Jin ran back to her room and searched frantically until she found the torn book.
She ran out, grinning, "Mom, look!"
Niu Tielan scoffed, "What a piece of junk!"
Song Jin picked up the chair she had just kicked over, pulled her mother to sit on it, straightened her cloak, squatted down beside her, opened a book, and began to read in a serious tone.
"This is His Highness Prince Qi's masterpiece. Come, Mother, let's read it and see his unfortunate, hmm, magnificent experiences."
Hearing this, Niu Tielan was somewhat surprised. She looked down at the crumpled book, almost torn in two, and fell silent again.
"Didn't Xiaomei say that Prince Qi is here? Aren't you going to go play with him?"
Song Jin forced a smile: "What's so fun about him and me?"
She was already giving him, a prince, a lot of face by braving the rain to lead him around, and she still wanted to play with him?
Pooh
Niu Tielan looked at her hypocritical face without saying a word, but instead looked down at the messy books, found the worst spot, and opened it.
Rainy Night Beauty
She raised an eyebrow, glanced at her daughter grinding her teeth beside her, and said, "Prince Qi is already twenty this year. After so many years of wandering the martial world, it's normal for him to have had a beautiful woman in his arms."
Song Jin gave a forced smile: "Is that normal? He puts on this old-fashioned, gentlemanly act, constantly talking about how men and women shouldn't touch each other. Bah, pretentious, hypocritical."
Niu Tielan gently stroked her chin, a smile appearing in her almond-shaped eyes, and said softly, "Really? Speaking of which, Yan Sheng and Shu Haocheng are both seventeen or eighteen. I wonder how they did in the prefectural examination this time, and whether they've been bothered by any young ladies."
Song Jin curled his lip, saying nonchalantly, "Who knows? It's their good fortune if a young lady takes a liking to them. What does it have to do with us?"
Niu Tielan reached out and poked Song Jin's forehead, chuckling, "What does that Prince Qi have to do with you?"
Song Jin glared: "Mother, whose side are you on? Can't I even say a few words about whether it's related or not? Is he acting all high and mighty?"
Niu Tielan felt both helpless and gratified that Song Jin was only halfway to understanding. She gently touched Song Jin's forehead and opened the book.
"Alright, alright, you can talk, let's see what kind of beauty he has."
Song Jin pouted and turned her head away, not wanting to look.
Niu Tielan ignored her, turned the page directly, and then softly read aloud: "Late at night, moonless, pitch black, I met a woman, and took her into the house."
Song Jin remained expressionless, and the chair armrest she was holding quietly cracked.
Niu Tielan paused, then said, "Listen to her soft murmurs, and help her change her clothes."
With a crack, his hand shattered.
Niu Tielan's lips twitched. He glanced at the chair that wouldn't tip over, and continued, "So she was buried in the ground."
Song Jin's inexplicable pent-up anger dissipated, like a fog spreading through her mind, causing her to completely shut down.
"ha?"
What's with all the preface and postscript? There's way too much omission!
Song Jin came to her senses, peeked over, and quickly fell silent, pursing her lips.
That rainy night, twelve-year-old Qi Zheng encountered a woman in her thirties. Her hair was gray, and she looked extremely old, appearing more like a fifty-year-old woman at first glance.
She was covered in blood, holding a coarse cloth, and had attempted suicide by the roadside. He rescued her, sheltered her from the rain, and told her story.
She was sold as a child and worked tirelessly every day as a child bride. At thirteen, she was officially married, but her health was poor, and she couldn't raise several children. She finally had a daughter, but when she was ten, her gambling husband sold her to a landlord's family, where she later became a concubine.
When the news of her death arrived that day, she couldn't believe it. After much effort, she dug up the grave and saw her daughter's gruesome death, her flesh completely mutilated.
She sneaked into the landlord's mansion, poured out a handful of poison, and wiped out most of the people inside. She then returned home to find her wicked mother-in-law and incompetent husband, and in the dead of night, she committed suicide.
After hearing her story, Qi Zheng made no comment, only telling her to rest well.
After the rain, only her cold body was found; she had taken poison long before hanging herself.
At the end of the story, he only gave a one-word evaluation.
Courage
The story is somewhat fragmented. Five or six years later, he encounters another woman in a tragic situation. She elopes for love and marries him against all odds. Later, her husband conspires with others to kill her father-in-law's entire family. Overwhelmed with remorse, the woman drowns herself in a river.
He wrote: Good
...
The story features beauties ranging from young girls of twelve or thirteen to elderly women of fifty or sixty, each with a tragic backstory.
But they have different personalities.
Some rose up in resistance, some endured it cowardly, some blamed fate, and some shirked responsibility...
They were both beauties in the past, and will remain beauties in the future, but their encounters are always fraught with misfortune.
For the dead, he dug a hole and buried them.
He left some money for those who were alive.
Some wanted to go with him, but he refused, stating in his book that he was not afraid to wander the world with a homeless stranger.
When he wrote about those women, he mainly described the events in detail, and his evaluations were only a word or two, mostly positive.
However, if Song Jin were to judge, most of those beauties were quite foolish, preoccupied with what they cared about, and in the end, they had nothing.
Stupid, cowardly, and selfish, he harmed his family and even committed suicide? Didn't he know to report it to the authorities? Didn't he know to fight back?
But it seems that's just how it is; people are different, their likes and dislikes differ, and they make different choices when faced with the same situation.
Song Jin pursed her lips and looked at her mother.
Just like Hou Qiaohe's case
If Song Jin had come herself, she would never have let this matter pass so easily. But Niu Tielan, having obtained the information she wanted, was simply saying to let it go.
That's it?
Thinking of the suffering her mother had endured over the years, Song Jin really wanted to grab the person and torture them. Who knew if that person might still have something they were hiding?
In situations like these, torture is the most effective.
Moreover, who knows if Hou Qiaohe has been in contact with those people, or if she will take any further action against her mother...
Song Jin was very unwilling
Niu Tielan, the person directly involved, was much calmer. She reached out and touched the ink stains on the tree, as if she could see through the words to the person inside.
She said softly, "Jinjin, in this world, life is already so hard for women. Going back further, they barely survived. Dignity and kindness are insignificant. In my case, Hou Qiaohe is just a tiny pawn; her presence or absence makes no difference."
Song Jin pursed her lips: "That doesn't mean she's innocent."
Niu Tielan: "When did you start caring about whether it's a crime or not?"
Song Jin fell silent.
Niu Tielan took Song Jin's hand, placed the crumpled and messy book in her palm, gently stroked her head, and changed the subject.
"Prince Qi has been through a lot since childhood, he is upright, loyal, and steady, but he doesn't understand many things, so don't bully him."
Song Jin protested, "How did I bully him again? Mother, why do you always side with him?"
Niu Tielan reached out and poked her head: "Because he has a good temper."
"I have a pretty good temper," Song Jin said, pouting, adding a caveat, "if no one provokes me."
Despite saying that, she still carefully put away the tattered book in her hands.
This craftsman isn't very famous, and he doesn't publish many books. This one was only found by Shu Chenghao, the young master of the bookstore. Once it's lost, it'll be hard to find a new one.
Niu Tielan smiled gently at her contradictory expression, then looked out from under the eaves and said, "The rain has stopped, and it's dinnertime. Xiaomei, go ask her how we're having dinner today, whether we'll eat separately or together."
Xiao Mei smiled and said, "Reporting to Madam, I already sent someone to inquire with the eldest young master, and he said they would be dining together. However, His Highness Prince Qi will also be there, and he specifically instructed Madam and Miss to dress more formally."
Song Jin rolled her eyes: "In such a large mansion, he's the most fussy one."
Niu Tielan sighed softly
It's not that Song Xingzhi is the most particular; it's that everyone else spoils her.
...
Dinner was very lavish.
The banquet used expensive and luxurious ingredients, and most prominent families would prepare for it well in advance, but the Song family didn't care.
With the largest restaurant in the capital as their backing, the Song family's preparations were quite simple.
In just one afternoon, a lavish feast was laid out.
Song Qingzhi stared into the green eyes: "Prince Qi, you should definitely try it!"
He remembered that Qi Zheng had said he wouldn't go to their restaurant because it was too expensive.
Although this sounds absurd, upon closer examination, Qi Zheng has indeed rarely engaged in extravagant spending since returning to Yong'an City.
The items in his mansion were either gifts from the Emperor or presents from others, and what he gave away was not bad, but rather unremarkable.
They had previously speculated that he was just low-key, but now it seems he's very frugal.
The brothers sized up the man.
Qi Zheng's expression remained completely unchanged, as calm as if he were in his own residence, showing no particular reaction.
But this involved delivering things, coming to the door, and even sitting together.
The Song brothers looked at him, then at Song Jin beside him, their expressions clearly doubtful.
There's something wrong with both of these.
Their only son, the sole heir of the Song family, had only been found a few months ago. They couldn't possibly let some wild boy from outside take him away, pot and all.
Song Xingzhi glanced at Song Shenzhi.
Hurry up and speak up! Didn't we agree that you'd be a live-in son-in-law?
Song Shenzhi's face was still swollen. He subconsciously touched it, and it hurt like he'd been pricked with a needle. Although he wouldn't dare dig up the flowers in his yard himself, he couldn't just stand by and watch others do it.
He smirked: "How did Prince Qi and my little sister meet?"
Qi Zheng looked up at his brothers, hesitated for a moment, and said, "During our trip to Si'an County, we happened to inspect their tea plantation, and coincidentally, we also witnessed the beating of Prefect Song."
He paused again, seemingly hesitating whether to continue.
Song Xingzhi's expression changed instantly. He raised his wine cup and changed the subject: "Yes, there were many things to do in Si'an County. Thanks to Prince Qi and my little sister's superb martial arts, otherwise, not only would we have captured most of the Liang family's men, but we would have also implicated the common people, not to mention today's promotion. I toast you both."
Song Jin didn't think much of it, and raising her glass as well, she raised an eyebrow: "At least you have some self-awareness."
She downed a glass of wine with obvious gusto.
Seeing that she didn't mention being beaten, Song Xingzhi breathed a huge sigh of relief. He then glanced at Qi Zheng, who was also raising his glass, and gave a completely fake smile.
"King Qi, drink first."
He was certain, absolutely certain, that the person did it on purpose.
Qi Zheng raised his wine glass and nodded: "You're too kind. This trip to Si'an was also thanks to Prefect Song, who was able to avert a major disaster."
The Liang family had been plotting in Qingjun Prefecture for a long time, with people spread throughout various industries and multiple hideouts and tunnels, hiding all kinds of gold, silver, weapons and food. Their intention to rebel was obvious.
This surprise attack caught them completely off guard and uprooted their foundation.
It's a pity that the head of the Liang family reacted too quickly and decisively. Knowing they had been exposed, he immediately left and has not been seen since.
But at the very least, with Qingjun Prefecture's actions, the Liang family will be unable to recover for at least ten years, and will be unable to rebuild their current power, making them no longer a threat.
To achieve this, Song Xingzhi went to great lengths in Qingjun Prefecture, killing many people, displaying a style characteristic of Song merchants.
Song Shenzhi went to Qingjun Prefecture first after returning from the border, also out of fear that he might act too ruthlessly and cause trouble.
After all, Song Xingzhi was a member of the Song family of Lingnan. The entire family had died because of the Liang family, leaving him as the sole heir.
His first posting was also to Lingnan, where he almost caused trouble because he acted too ruthlessly. It was only after Song Shang arrived that the matter was resolved.
Thinking of the past, Song Shenzhi took a small sip of wine, and instantly, his face burned even more. His expression remained unchanged as he took another sip.
So what if it hurts? At least he can be sure his dad is really alright.
Compared to those two people with their own agendas, Song Shunzhi, Song Anzhi, and Song Qingzhi's thoughts were much simpler.
One reason is that they don't hold high positions and don't have much exposure to many things.
Another point is that they act openly and honestly, unlike these two who like to court death.
The three of them exchanged glances, said nothing, and simply reached for their wine glasses.
"Your Highness, I offer you a toast."
They're going to get everyone drunk today.
Qi Zheng was fearless, downing glass after glass of baijiu without changing his expression; he remained the same before and after drinking.
Song Jin sat to the side, smiling as she sipped her fruit tea, occasionally putting food on Niu Tielan's plate, and whispering, "A bunch of fools. With Prince Qi's profound inner strength, how could they possibly get him drunk?"
Niu Tielan glanced at her: "Drink less."
Song Jin's eyebrows shot up: "I'm even less likely to get drunk."
Back then, the old man was either too incompetent or he was so angry with her that he didn't teach her anything except for lightness skills, which is why she only now realizes that internal energy has so many uses.
Niu Tielan picked up a piece of vegetable leaf for her: "Don't be so smug, you still need to be careful in your actions."
Song Jin frowned as she chewed on a leaf: "Am I that amazing?"
Niu Tielan chuckled: "This isn't the first or second time the horse has stumbled."
Song Jin: ...
Those were all accidents.
However, he definitely needs more practice; the world is still a complex place.
She continued chewing her food, then turned back to see Qi Zheng with a calm expression, while the five Song brothers were all blushing, seemingly quite dizzy, and their words were becoming increasingly unrestrained.
Song Xingzhi, holding a folding fan, smiled and said, "Prince Qi has been wandering the martial world for so many years, surely he must have had his share of beautiful women? Now that you've been back in Yong'an City for almost a year, haven't you thought about bringing them back? Not to mention a principal wife, His Majesty would surely agree to any concubines or secondary wives."
This question is full of traps.
Song Jin raised her head, a vegetable leaf still in her mouth.
Qi Zheng remained expressionless and replied without hesitation, "Not as popular as Prefect Song. I've been dull-witted since childhood and have no fixed abode. When I'm out and about, people are considered brave if they don't run away when they see me. A female confidante? I've never heard of such a thing."
Song Xingzhi smiled and said, "I see."
Qi Zheng nodded and continued, "As for the principal wife and concubines, I have wandered the world since childhood. During my travels, I have seen too many lovers turn against each other, wives and concubines plot against each other, and scheme against each other. Naturally, I cannot follow in their footsteps. I think Father will understand me on this point."
Song Xingzhi, whose backyard was full: ...
Call him again?
However, those who have experienced the issue of wives and concubines have their own insights.
Song Shunzhi, who had also drunk quite a bit, said softly, "What Prince Qi said makes sense. My mother used to be a concubine and suffered greatly at the hands of the mistress. Later, she poisoned the mistress and my father, then drowned, and I was banished to the estate."
She ran away and ran into Song Shang, who somehow took a liking to her and adopted her.
Therefore, he felt deeply about the conflicts between wives and concubines.
Song Shunzhi downed another sip of wine, his face flushed, and he smirked, "Once my fiancée enters the family, I'll make sure she's all I need."
Song Anzhi and Song Qingzhi slammed their fists on the table and began shouting orders.
Song Anzhi: "Soon, soon. I think it'll be next year. My second sister-in-law should be back in two months."
Song Qingzhi also shouted, "Get ready! I'll go back and have people prepare the betrothal gifts. Our family's first wedding must be a grand affair, a spectacular and lively celebration!"
The two of them then began discussing wedding arrangements and preparations. Song Shunzhi's face flushed, but she still nodded from time to time.
He naturally wanted to give his future wife the best wedding.
When this topic came up, Song Xingzhi really couldn't get a word in edgewise. Watching the three brothers excitedly discussing it, he thought about the people in his backyard...
At that time, none of them gave any reaction.
Wives and concubines are indeed very different.
Song Xingzhi lowered his eyes, raised his wine cup, and drank it down in one gulp.
The brothers chatted amongst themselves, completely forgetting about Qi Zheng standing to the side.
Song Jin listened with great interest; she had never attended a wedding of someone close to her before, and it sounded very interesting.
Is it pretty?
As I listened, Qi Zheng's voice reached my ears.
Song Jin looked over
He added: "Books"
Song Jin rolled her eyes and complained to his face, "It looks terrible, it's so frustrating!"
Qi Zheng turned his head, his features sharp yet smooth, quite handsome, his eyes dark and serene. He said softly, "You feel aggrieved, but many scholars who saw it at the time were furious and cursing him to death."
Song Jin scoffed, "A bunch of good-for-nothings. They think they're something special just because they've read a couple of books. If those kinds of people became officials, they'd be corrupt officials anyway."
Qi Zheng nodded: "I think so too."
Those people have seen so much, do they really think they can travel thousands of miles just because they've read a couple of books?
No discernment whatsoever
Song Jin's mood improved, and she dragged a chair over to them, asking in a low voice, "Were you just fooling them or were you being sincere?"
Qi Zheng retorted, "Why would I try to fool them? What benefit would it bring me?"
No, not at all. He's just a prince.
Song Jin's eyebrows lifted even higher as she patted his shoulder and raised her glass: "I think you're a pretty good person."
Qi Zheng looked down at the person who was practically clinging to him, and gently raised his glass to clink against her bright eyes.
You are fine too.
...
The banquet was very enjoyable, and everyone drank some alcohol.
Niu Tielan was no exception; she was preoccupied with something and even drank a bit too much.
The wine tasted good, but it got a little intoxicating afterwards, which actually helped her sleep well despite the painful memories.
The door was knocked loudly the next day.
Niu Tielan opened her eyes, her almond-shaped eyes slightly red, and her head felt a little dizzy. She gently rubbed them and walked unsteadily to the door.
Outside the door was Xiaomei's anxious face.
Niu Tielan was mostly awake, frowning: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Xiao Mei cried out urgently, "Madam, it's yesterday's madam, she, she, she, she!"
Niu Tielan's heart sank: "What's wrong with her?"
Xiao Mei managed to utter with difficulty: "Dead."
Niu Tielan's expression changed, and she gritted her teeth as she ran to the next room. She gently pushed the door open, only to find it empty.
Her heart sank completely. Her hands trembled as she gripped the door tightly, trying to steady herself, a complete panic settling in her chest.
That brat
No way, please don't think it is!
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