The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 110 - Song Yi

And just like that, Song Chuning was no longer in this world. Since she had passed away unmarried, despite the Song family's aristocratic status and their attention to appearances, they would do no more than hold a memorial ceremony. With the Song family having upheld their reputation, not even a sliver of gossip managed to arise.

Old Master Song had initially planned to return to the capital within half a month, but an unexpected matter cropped up—there was a significant issue with the weaving bureau in Jiangnan. A batch of inferior-quality Songjiang cloth had been sent to the palace. The Department of Internal Affairs could not let it go, and the matter escalated layer by layer until it finally reached the emperor.

Emperor Jianzhang had always abhorred corruption, especially when the weaving bureau's audacity had reached such a lawless extent that even palace supplies were being substituted with substandard goods. Upon hearing of it, he immediately ordered Fang Xiaoru and Song Chengru to delay their return to the capital and investigate the matter thoroughly before coming back.

Old Lady Song, hearing this, couldn't help but sigh, "I had hoped he would return to name his great-grandson, but now, we'll have to send him a message to choose a name from afar. But with such a matter coming to light, it could take a year or two—how will he manage to come back soon?"

Fortunately, there was good news regarding Song Yi. Just as April passed, Cen Biliang concluded the case. With Huang Yuanwai's confession implicating Lady Fang and Second Master Li, it was proven that Song Yi had been wronged. He was set to be released from the Ministry of Justice's prison the very next day.

Elder Master Song and Song Jue personally went to bring him home. After stepping over a fire basin at the gate, the First Lady had prepared a large basin of pomelo water early on, instructing Song Yi to bathe with it. After he washed and changed into clean clothes, the family was finally able to reunite.

When Song Yi heard in the courtroom that Second Master Li had framed him, his expression darkened immediately. Others might not understand, but he knew well that if Song Chuning hadn't pleaded with him, the Li family, with whom he'd already severed ties, wouldn't have gone out of their way to set him up. He was filled with resentment, frustration, and remorse, hardly knowing how he'd managed to endure the past two or three months. Now, seeing Old Lady Song, his eyes reddened instantly. He dropped to his knees before her, tears streaming down his face as he said, "It's all my fault. I let greed cloud my judgment and repeatedly broke my parents' hearts. Now, looking back, I'm no better than a beast..."

Down below, Xiang Mingzi, Song Chubin, and Song Chuyi quickly excused themselves. Early summer had arrived, and they had replaced their winter coats with thin spring robes, making their graceful figures even more striking. The two tutors from the palace now oversaw their lessons, and the three of them attended school together every day.

From the room, waves of crying sounds could be heard. Yushu came out to inform them, bowing as she said they could return at lunchtime.

Old Lady Song held Song Yi as they cried together, but after a while, her frustration got the better of her. She looked at her son's pitiful expression and, feeling both anger and pity, patted his back, her tears flowing again. "You wretched boy! I spoiled you rotten since childhood. Your father wasn't wrong when he said my kindness would ruin you. If I'd been more vigilant back then and informed your father of this sooner, would Li Shi have ever stepped foot into this house? If that woman had never entered our home, you, a good scholar and prefect, would never have ended up in prison like some vagabond!"

Song Yi was equally tormented, his heart heavy with regret. He could only bow his head in remorse, saying, "It's all my fault for being unfilial. If only I'd heeded the words of my parents and older brother two years ago, I wouldn't be in this mess today." He knew that since he, the Prefect of Changsha, had committed an offense, the Ministry of Personnel had promptly appointed someone to replace him. If he wanted to return to office, he'd have to start anew, while even his younger brother, Song Ci, would likely have advanced by then.

Losing his position, however, was the least of his worries; what pained him most was his inability to comprehend how the once pure-hearted Li family mother and daughter could harbor such black souls. He used to dismiss Old Lady Song's warnings as mere partiality toward the children of the Cui family, but after experiencing it himself, he realized she'd spoken nothing but the truth.

He had cherished Song Chuning dearly in Changsha, yet she'd turned around and conspired against him just to reach the capital! What was worse was discovering that the two plots of land gifted by Mr. Huang of Yongzhou had been given to him in his first year in Changsha, meaning Song Chuning had planned his downfall since then.

After crying his heart out, he asked Old Lady Song about her trip to Qingzhou, saying, "How is my sister?"

While he was in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Eldest Master Song and Song Jue had briefly mentioned Song Linlang's situation to him, but at the time, he was in such a daze that he hadn't fully understood. Now, having been released and seeing his niece, he finally recalled the matter.

At the mention of this, Old Lady Song's tears flowed even more intensely, and she covered her face with a handkerchief, unable to stop crying. The First Lady and the eldest daughter-in-law quickly stepped forward to comfort her, fearing she might fall ill from grief.

Eldest Master Song patted Song Yi's shoulder with a heavy expression, shaking his head solemnly. "She didn't make it; in Qingzhou... After we had a scholar inscribe her name tablet, we placed it in our family's ancestral hall."

Song Yi felt a roaring in his head, and his expression became even more desolate. He could hardly believe that even with Old Lady Song going personally, they hadn't been able to save her, and he couldn't hold back his tears. He was no heartless man, after all. This only sister of his had always been cherished dearly by her four elder brothers.

Years had passed since they last saw each other, and now he hadn't even been able to see her one last time. On top of everything else, he had lost his position, his wife, and his daughter; the burdens in his heart were overwhelming, and he suddenly fainted on the spot.

Chaos ensued in Ningde Courtyard. Eldest Master Song immediately ordered Song Jue to fetch the imperial physician, had someone bring in a long couch to settle Song Yi on, and returned to comfort Old Lady Song alongside his wife. "Mother, don't worry. It's only a shock causing his blood flow to disrupt temporarily. With some rest, he'll recover."

The First Lady promptly prepared two cooling oil patches, gently applying them to Old Lady Song's temples, while speaking about other matters to shift her focus. "The Eldest Master is right. Second Brother has always been healthy; he's simply overwhelmed by sorrow, causing his blood flow to temporarily falter. Please don't worry, Mother." After a pause, she brought up the matter of the Cui family. "A few days ago, we escorted the Lady of the Guo family, and soon Brother Cui will be setting off for Shaanxi. We should begin preparations for that."

The matter of the Cui family couldn't be delayed, especially with Cui Shaoting's important appointment. Hearing this, Old Lady Song nodded quickly, gathering herself and discussing the gift arrangements with her daughter-in-law.