Song Linzhi was utterly disdainful of Xi Qingyue’s decision to open a teahouse. He even ordered the steward, “Send a few people over to the teahouse and take a look. I’d like to see how many customers will actually go to that wretched place.”
“Yes, Family Head. This old servant will make the arrangements at once.”
The Orchid Courtyard was where Song Linzhi’s wife, Xie Lenghui, lived.
At that moment, she was sitting leisurely in the bright main hall, drinking tea. Two youths sat beside her—her son and daughter.
“Mother, that woman has even brought her child to live in our home. I’ve seen some of the clan elders address her as Madam Mei. Father is determined to keep that mother and son here.”
The slightly older youth was furious. He was one of the youths who had visited Shifang Teahouse that day. His name was Song Kuo, Xie Lenghui’s eldest son. The other, a girl in red, was his younger sister, Song Haitang.
Her face was filled with worry as well. “Yes, Mother. Father’s attitude is so firm—it’s clear how much he favors that mother and son. And those detestable clan elders are deliberately humiliating you. What if they let that child inherit the Song family fortune in the future?”
Xie Lenghui gave a mocking laugh. “He can barely save himself. The Song family is on the verge of collapse, so what fortune is there to inherit?”
“Mother, what do you mean?” Song Haitang asked, her face full of confusion.
Song Kuo was equally puzzled. “Yes, Mother. You’ve argued with Father several times. If the Song family is truly about to fall apart, why are you still arguing with him?”
Xie Lenghui glanced at her two children and smiled faintly. “Why argue? Of course, I’m only doing it for fun. If I didn’t quarrel with him a few times, he’d think I was easy to bully. Back then, he relied on the support of my Xie family to secure his position as family head and rise to where he is today. I never expected him to tear down the bridge after crossing the river.”
She had originally intended to teach Song Linzhi a lesson, but she had never expected him to bring about his own destruction.
The Song family’s recent actions had been tantamount to dancing on the brink of death. But what did that have to do with her?
Since he had betrayed her, there was no need for her to keep this husband.
As for the Song family, if it managed to survive, it could be considered a chance to rebuild after breaking down—just enough to purge the rotten elements within. If the Song family truly perished, she would take her two children back to the Xie family before its destruction.
She explained her thoughts to them, then looked at both children seriously. “You both bear the Song name. I want to know what you think.”
Song Kuo was stunned. “Mother, the Song family is doing perfectly well. How could anyone destroy it? If something really happens, we won’t be able to escape either.”
Xie Lenghui shook her head as she looked at him. “Kuo’er, New An City is now entirely under the control of Commandery Princess Cenyue. You’ve already seen how she conducts herself. Since she returned the excess taxes, do you really think she had too much money and nothing better to do?”
Song Haitang quickly answered, “Mother, I know. The princess is showing consideration for the common people. I heard that our Song family also refunded quite a bit of money. She must want everything in New An City to return to normal. Prices were far too outrageous before.”
Xie Lenghui nodded approvingly. “That’s right, Haitang. You understand something so simple, yet your father insists on opposing the princess. His brain must have been kicked by a donkey. Keeping the prices in the shops so high is practically courting death. What do you think will happen to the Song family?”
Song Kuo frowned slightly. “Then we’ll be implicated too. We’re members of the Song family. The princess won’t let us off.”
Xie Lenghui shook her head with a smile. “Not necessarily. The princess killed many people at the county office, but she spared some as well. As long as they haven’t committed evil deeds and don’t oppose her, she won’t slaughter people indiscriminately.”
She was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xie family, and her hands were stained with blood as well. She understood people like Xi Qingyue to some extent. Only a fool like Song Linzhi would fail to see the situation clearly.
Song Kuo thought for a moment before saying, “Mother, should we try to persuade Father? He should stop while the princess hasn’t lost her temper yet. If he waits any longer, the Song family will truly be finished.”
Xie Lenghui gave him a long look but did not stop him. “All right. Go, then. I’m heading to the estate outside the city later. I plan to stay there for a while. If you want to come, you can find me anytime.”
Upon hearing this, Song Haitang quickly spoke up. “Mother, I’ll go with you. The atmosphere at home has been unbearable lately. It feels awful staying there.”
Xie Lenghui nodded. She was going to her own estate, not one belonging to the Song family. Even if something happened to the Song family, no one would be able to implicate her.
She truly could not be bothered to manage the Song family anymore. Over the years, many of the clan elders and younger members had used their power to bully others. Now that Xi Qingyue’s people had exposed them, those debts would be settled sooner or later.
Song Kuo looked at his mother and sister with a gentle smile. “Mother, Little Sister, go and enjoy yourselves for a few days. I’ll go speak with Father. The Song family is a centuries-old clan. Father wouldn’t treat the family’s fate as a joke.”
Xie Lenghui sighed inwardly and said no more. She had already explained the consequences to Song Linzhi, but unfortunately, he believed that the Song family was a centuries-old aristocratic clan. He even claimed that they were merely running their shops as usual and had not harmed anyone.
The man was simply too arrogant.
If this had happened in the past, she would certainly have found a way to help. But now, she would not concern herself with Song Linzhi’s life or death, nor would she follow him into ruin.
Everything happening within the Song family was under Xi Qingyue’s control. Her guards were far more capable than those of the Song family, and no one had noticed their presence.
When Xi Qingyue received the report from the Song family, she was rather surprised. “Song Linzhi actually managed to marry such an intelligent wife. He really is determined to bring about his own death. A legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family values her reputation above all else. He promised never to take a concubine, yet he kept another woman hidden for so many years and even had a child who’s already more than ten years old. Isn’t that a slap in the face to the Xie family?”
Mu Jin nodded repeatedly beside her. “The princess is right. I heard that the legitimate daughter of the Xie family was renowned for both her beauty and talent back then. I wonder how Song Linzhi managed to deceive her. Princess, when will we move against the Song family? Many of them have lives on their hands, and there are still plenty of living witnesses. They’ll have no way to deny their crimes.”
Xi Qingyue was very pleased. “Don’t act yet. For now, gather the witnesses together and protect them, in case the Song family realizes what’s happening and silences them.”
“Rest assured, Princess. We’ve brought them all to a residence. They hate the Song family to the bone. The only ones to blame are the Song family members themselves—they were far too arrogant in the way they did things. They killed people, tossed over a few scraps of silver, and even threatened to harm the victims’ families. They’re not human.”
Xi Qingyue thought for a moment before continuing, “There are also the Qiao and Pei families. Once we’ve gathered all the evidence of their crimes, we’ll take all of them to the execution grounds and deal with them together.”
Since they wanted to oppose her and monopolize the goods in the city at exorbitant prices, they would have to pay the price. Their lives would serve as a warning and establish the rules for New An City.
She and Lan’er had the power to do so, but they had never wantonly bullied anyone.
Her city would not tolerate people who preyed on the weak.
Afterward, Xi Qingyue turned to Nan Yun. “By the way, stop the porridge distribution outside the city after tomorrow. If people receive something for nothing for too long, they’ll start to think it’s only natural. I don’t want to support a group of idlers.”
“Yes, Princess. What should we do if they cause trouble?”
Xi Qingyue let out a cold laugh. “Make a fuss? If they have the energy to make a fuss, then they don’t need my help. We still have an academy to build in the city, and the walls need reinforcing. Anyone who wants to eat must work. Those who refuse to work and only want to sit around waiting to be fed can get lost.”
