The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 66 - Revenge

She still remembered the day Song Linlang was born; it was just like today, a bright, clear day after the snowfall, with an air of renewal filling the world. The ornaments on the antique shelves sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight...

She also recalled the look in Song Linlang's eyes when she came to seek their help—filled with nervousness and barely contained joy.

As the legitimate eldest daughter of the family, Song Linlang was a representation of the family's honor. They had never expected her to marry into a family of equal standing; they only wished for her to live with dignity, according to her own wishes.

Yet, even this simple wish couldn't come true. The daughter they had cherished as a precious gem for half her life hadn't even lived to see thirty. She died far from home, unable to see her mother or father one last time...

Old Lady Song gripped the armrest beside her tightly, her knuckles standing out sharply.

Outside, the Third Master Song, Song Ci, greeted respectfully, and upon receiving Old Lady Song's permission, he entered the room, too breathless to even take a sip of tea before saying, "It was a physician from Hechun Hall who saw her, but now that physician has been detained—supposedly for prescribing the wrong treatment and causing harm."

How could one not suspect there was more to it?

Third Master paused before continuing, "How could it be so coincidental? He saw Linlang just days ago, and now he's been taken away."

Old Lady Song nodded with a stern expression, resting her chin on her hand as she pondered for a while. Suddenly, she said, "Ci'er, send a letter to the Provincial Governor of Shandong, Lord Li Yu..."

If Xiang Yunzhi thought he could bully the Song family without consequence, he was sorely mistaken. She would show him what it meant to truly wield influence.

By evening, neither Song Linlang's dowry nor her attendants had arrived, nor was there any sign of Xiang Mingzi.

It wasn't that Xiang Yunzhi didn't want to send them—he simply couldn't. Nanny Zheng, Nanny Wang, and the others had already been secretly sold off to brokers dealing in human trafficking. Those who handled officials' dirty work knew exactly how to make such people disappear. None of them would ever reappear before Old Lady Song or the Xiang family.

As for Xiang Mingzi, she too knew of the arsenic incident, making it impossible to send her back.

The whole matter had him so anxious that his lips were blistered. Despite his resolve to stand up to the Songs and go through with the divorce if necessary, deep down, he still feared what the Song family might do if truly provoked.

Old Lady Xiang couldn't bear seeing him so frantic and restless. She frowned and said, "Can't you just say she's unwell? Can't you even come up with a simple excuse?"

Xiang Yunzhi sighed, thinking his mother was oversimplifying things. "Mother, that would be too coincidental. Why would she suddenly fall ill now? And after all, Old Lady Song is Mingzi's maternal grandmother; it's only natural for her to want to see her. If we keep blocking it like this, what will people think of us?"

As an official, he still had to be mindful of his reputation.

Old Lady Xiang had thought of this too and, after a moment of contemplation, let out a cold laugh. "Others might find it too coincidental, but Mingzi has a sickly mother, so it would be understandable for her to be a bit frail as well. Why don't you invite the shaman over later?"

After all, the shaman had already declared Xiang Mingzi to be a reincarnated misfortune, and now, with Song Linlang's death coinciding, they might as well cement the reputation of her being a cursed star.

After some thought, Xiang Yunzhi realized he had no other options. He sent one group to fetch the shaman, and another to the Song family's residence in town to inform them that they wouldn't be able to meet tonight.

Concubine Bai, distressed by his anxiety, came to Old Lady Xiang and wept quietly. She dared not cry too loudly, as Old Lady Xiang found excessive weeping to be an omen, disliking anyone who seemed to curse her early death.

Old Lady Xiang had no particular aversion to this gentle and obedient concubine, especially as she was currently pregnant. She gave her a cold look and said, "Your master and I are still alive; the sky isn't falling. What's there to cry about?"

Concubine Bai wiped the corners of her eyes and stopped crying as instructed. With a sigh and a slight shiver, she said, "Old Lady, the Marquis family is powerful. How can we possibly confront them head-on?"

She paused, and though she tried to hold back, tears filled her eyes again as she looked at Old Lady Xiang. "I swear, I would never dare to poison the mistress... With all due respect, even if the madam hadn't faced any misfortune, she didn't seem like she'd live long. Why would I be foolish enough to poison her at this point? But the physician from Hechun Hall claimed that she was poisoned with arsenic... and the mistress even called me over to speak with her alone, which had never happened before. Could it be that...?"

Old Lady Xiang's wrinkled face hardened with an even sharper expression as she turned to look at Concubine Bai, her voice icy. "Are you saying she poisoned herself?"

She couldn't believe Song Linlang would want to die. After all, hadn't she been protecting Xiang Mingzi until the very end? If she were dead, wouldn't she fear that Xiang Yunzhi would hand Xiang Mingzi over to the shaman to be burned?

Considering this, Old Lady Xiang couldn't help but think it more likely that Concubine Bai was the one responsible. Otherwise, why had she been so restless lately, looking guilty and practically trembling in the presence of the Song family?

But despite her suspicions, she wouldn't expose Concubine Bai over this. At the very least, Concubine Bai had given Xiang Yunzhi both sons and daughters and was currently pregnant with another.

Besides, Old Lady Xiang had never wanted in-laws like the Song family in the first place.

Concubine Bai shivered suddenly, hugging herself in fear as she nodded. "I really feel the mistress was trying to spite us... Her death has stirred up the Song family. Just look at how they've forced the master into such a difficult situation..."

But if that's the case, then Song Linlang is truly terrifying. This wasn't just a petty quarrel with Xiang Yunzhi; she genuinely intended for his ruin. If the matter of a concubine poisoning the mistress were to come to light, Xiang Yunzhi would inevitably be branded with the charge of favoring a concubine and neglecting his wife. With the Song family's connections, even if Xiang Yunzhi didn't die, he would be stripped down to his bones...

Old Lady Xiang, her face stern, scolded her, "Enough! Everything has its limit. The woman is dead, and all your gossip here won't bring her back to reveal who poisoned her. I don't care who did it, but as long as you behave yourself and give me a healthy grandson, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

Concubine Bai dared not contradict Old Lady Xiang. Though she felt she hadn't fully explained herself, she knew better than to continue, especially after the old lady's words. She forced a smile, rose respectfully, and poured a cup of tea for her.