The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 47 - Shattered

The weather in Qingzhou was much milder than the damp chill of Changsha or the fierce winds of the capital. Overnight, the plum blossoms in the rear courtyard of the prefectural residence bloomed in full, adorning the entire area like a celestial paradise.

Xiang Yunzhang stood at the main courtyard entrance as he always did, with a face twisted in numb rage and gritted teeth. He lifted his leg and kicked the door hard.

It was always the same. Every time he returned, Song Linlang would shut the door to the main courtyard, sometimes even before he'd reached the hallway, as if he were some loathsome beast, unworthy of even a single glance.

But what had he done wrong? Who was it that constantly complained about his mother's faults and harshness, driving a wedge between him and his mother? Who, after years of marriage without bearing any children, continued to put on airs as if she were some highborn lady, looking at him as if he were a pitiful, tail-wagging dog?

All he'd done was take a few concubines to produce heirs, just so he'd have an answer for his ancestors and parents after he was gone.

He had even knelt before Song Linlang, pleading with tears in his eyes, explaining his helplessness and difficulties, yet she always dismissed him with  "Do as you please..."

Was he any happier without a legitimate son? But Song Linlang never spared a thought for him, always concerned only with some lofty promises and declarations of undying love.

Could those promises sustain their daily lives? Could they silence the relatives and friends who mocked him for being sonless? Could they bring comfort to his aging mother and ease her worries?

He had tried his best to treat Song Linlang as she desired, but she hadn't made even the smallest change for his sake! She couldn't even tolerate his son!

Just because Xiang Lian was the eldest born of a concubine, he was a thorn in her side. Whether his mother insulted him in front of her, sought her favor humbly, or even when he himself pleaded with her, she remained unyielding, refusing to adopt him as her own.

And if she wouldn't raise him, that was one thing, but Xiang Lian had fallen ill and couldn't get out of bed, and still, she wouldn't lift a finger to help him...

Old grievances and fresh anger surged within him, making the veins on his forehead pulse violently. He finally broke, choking as he shouted toward the door, "Song Linlang! Open the door!"

His hands and feet trembled, his shoulders shook uncontrollably, and after his outburst, his head felt like it was buzzing.

But inside, there was only silence.

It was as if his anger was nothing more than a clownish display, unworthy of even a hint of reaction from Song Linlang.

The long-suppressed frustration and fury finally snapped something in him. He took a few steps back, looking coldly at the two yamen runners behind him, and commanded icily, "Break it down! Smash it to pieces!"

The shaman had already warned that if Xiang Mingzi, this "calamitous star," wasn't dealt with, not only could Xiang Lian die, but the entire Xiang family might face ruin.

Song Linlang might not care about the Xiang family, but he couldn't afford to be so indifferent. Since she was so heartless, she couldn't blame him for taking drastic measures.

A mix of ferocity and inner struggle flickered across his face, but as he remembered Xiang Lian's pale face and the ceaseless tears of his concubines, he steeled his resolve, as if fearing he might change his mind, and repeated firmly, "Smash it! Break it to pieces!"

If Song Linlang refused to show him, her husband, any respect, then why should he respect her? At worst, they could die together and meet in the afterlife—it would be a release, freeing him from the endless torment in this world.

But in the end, he didn't manage to have the door broken. Concubine Bai, elegant and graceful as a little bird, appeared beside him, gently dabbing his cold-sweated brow with a handkerchief while sighing and choking up, "Master! Are you really trying to push Sister to her death? She's a mother too. If it were me, I couldn't bear to sacrifice my daughter to save someone else... Can't you find some sympathy for her?"

Concubine Bai's words sapped Xiang Yunzhang's anger. Remembering how she had nearly cried herself blind over Xiang Lian's illness in recent days, he felt so guilty that he almost wished for death.

The lover he had cherished so passionately in his youth had never shown him a kind face, never sympathized with his struggles. Yet this concubine, whom Song Linlang dismissed as conniving, always spared him from any difficulty and considered his feelings in everything. Though her heart burned with worry for Xiang Lian, she kept urging him to find another way.

Seeing his silence, Concubine Bai stifled a sob and gently led him away.

Pregnant and frail enough to be blown over by a gust of wind, Xiang Yunzhang didn't dare to resist her. After she led him a ways, he sighed and stopped.

"You're not well; why come and trouble yourself?" He tenderly brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "If someone from her courtyard spots you, they'll surely say something hurtful."

Concubine Bai's beautiful, tearful eyes glistened, yet she held back the tears. "I was just afraid you'd get too upset and argue with the mistress... After all, she's your first wife and has been by your side for many years. Don't keep offending her for our sake."

The more virtuous Concubine Bai seemed, the angrier Xiang Yunzhang felt, finally managing to murmur, "You don't need to worry about this; focus on taking good care of Lian'er."

Xiang Lian was still bedridden, unable to get up.

Concubine Bai sighed, fidgeting with her sleeve as she cautiously pulled a letter from her pocket, offering it to him with hesitation, "It's a letter from my mother. She says... she says that people from the mistress's family will be coming soon... Please, restrain yourself and try not to provoke her."

Xiang Yunzhang swiftly took the letter and scanned it, his eyes quickly turning blood-red with fury.

No wonder Song Linlang's arrogance had grown recently—it was because her backers were showing up again. Having her nephew arrive at the start of the year wasn't enough; now she was even calling in her mother from the Marquis Residence.

Clearly, she thought lowly of the Xiang family's status and had come to bully them.

After all these years of marriage, this was the first time Xiang Yunzhang felt true disgust toward Song Linlang and the first time he regretted marrying into a powerful family.

"It's understandable for the mistress to be upset," Concubine Bai continued gently. "After all, Mingzi is her daughter. For Lian'er's sake, you're planning to give her to the shaman... If I were in her position, I'd be anxious too."

Unable to contain his rage, Xiang Yunzhang shoved Concubine Bai aside, shouting furiously, "What have I done wrong?! That harbinger of doom has cursed her siblings and parents! Was I wrong to vent about wanting her removed from the family? She dares to live under the same roof as such a jinx; I don't! I cherish my life!"

Since Song Linlang cared nothing for his dignity or their marriage, preferring to rely on her family, they might as well go down fighting!

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Author's Note: Don't worry, the inner conflicts are unfolding on two fronts, with everything proceeding simultaneously. The outcome will be clear soon!