He Yui naturally did not believe that Song Wei could guess so accurately without investigating anything, "Since you already know that my husband is a descendant of Mr. Liu, why did you just watch his brothers die?"
Song Wei said, "Soone killed them off for a painting, but that cannot justify their evil acts. I am an official, and they are bandits. It is only right for to capture them."
He Yui still held onto a shred of hope, but hearing Song Wei’s words, she felt absolute despair from the bottom of her heart, "Song Wei, don’t you really want to know what secret the painting holds?"
Song Wei was not threatened, "The fact that soone is searching for it shows that there are others in the world who know the secret of the painting. I don’t need to risk releasing a tiger back to the mountain for a secret that will be unveiled sooner or later. Besides, this case is already settled. We are at the execution ground now, do you think it’s possible for to let you go?"
He Yui closed her eyes and said resolutely, "Fine, I just hope that in the future you won’t regret leaving us to die today."
"Hmm." Song Wei responded, "When back then, your husband killed my brother and sister-in-law, and you all stood by and did nothing, doesn’t that count as leaving them to die? It’s been thirteen years, and you have not regretted it. I caught you and watched you pay the price for your evils of the past with my own eyes. Not to ntion thirteen years, even if it took thirty more, you all deserve it. I have no reason to regret."
The marriage proposal back then was an arrangent between the parents, and He Yui never really understood what kind of person Song Wei was.
The events on Black Wind Mountain and today together counted as their formal contact, even though short, He Yui was able to see how fierce Song Wei’s personality was, a person who wouldn’t easily bow his head. Once he decided on sothing, he’d only move forward, never looking back.
Taking a deep breath, He Yui was relieved, "I’m glad I didn’t marry you back then."
He laughed, "In that case, I thank He the King for the kindness of not marrying."
...
In the end, Song Wei still "left them to die." He personally witnessed He Yui’s head fall to the ground, and the blood that splattered out reminded him of the scene of his brother and sister-in-law’s tragic death thirteen years ago, also a shocking red.
——
He Yui’s death truly avenged the Da Lang couple.
When Song Wei returned, he had Mrs. Jin prepare a brazier in the backyard, along with paper money, incense sticks, and a pot of burnt wine.
When offering sacrifices to his brother and sister-in-law, Song Wei’s deanor was unspeakably somber.
Wen Wan ca to the backyard to fetch sothing and unintentionally saw Song Wei offering sacrifices. She stopped at the doorway, didn’t proceed further, and was about to leave quietly without disturbing him when she heard the man’s calm voice, "Wanwan, go call Yuanbao over."
"Okay, I will go now."
Wen Wan turned around and walked briskly toward the main hall.
Yuanbao had co back from school with Wen Wan, hadn’t even made it to the study room, and was drinking water in the main hall.
Upon entering, Wen Wan told him that Song Wei was calling for him.
Yuanbao was a bit puzzled, "What does Dad want with ?"
Wen Wan couldn’t say too much and just said, "You’ll know when you go."
Yuanbao nodded, set down his cup, and went directly to the backyard.
Song Wei heard the noise and already knew who it was without turning around.
"Dad, you were looking for ?" Song Yuanbao looked at Song Wei’s half-squatted back with confusion.
"Yuanbao, co over."
After his father spoke, Yuanbao had to comply. He went to Song Wei’s side and glanced at the brazier.
In the brazier were the paper money burned to black ashes, with the flas burning brightly.
"Dad, are you offering sacrifices to Uncle?"
The term "Uncle" caused a montary stiffness in Song Wei’s spine, but he then placed a handful of paper money in Yuanbao’s hands, "You do it too."
Yuanbao squatted down and heard Song Wei say, "Once we move into the new house, I will take both of their morial tablets inside. Whenever you have ti, light so incense and honor them often."
Song Yuanbao made an "Oh" sound, lowered his head, and quietly burned the paper money.
Song Wei watched him quietly.
It wasn’t Yuanbao’s first ti offering sacrifices to his biological parents, but in his impression, he had never asked about anything regarding the Da Lang couple.
Song Wei squinted his eyes, could it be that Yuanbao had known all along and deliberately avoided asking?
"Yuanbao..."
"Dad, I’m done. The scholar assigned a lot of howork today, and I have to go. Otherwise, I definitely won’t finish it."
After saying this, he stood up briskly and quickly ran off.
——
In July, the repairs on the new house were completely finished, and Granny Song picked a good day for the family to relocate.
Xie Zheng specifically took leave to accompany his parents and brothers to help with the move.
The five-entry courtyard of the new house was previously occupied by a high-ranking official who befell misfortune due to corruption. During the confiscation, they only took the silver and delicate utensils, leaving all other furnishings untouched. This ant that there’s no need to move tables and chairs this ti, only so light and soft items, and with many people, there’s hardly any need for busywork.
The freight wagon led the way, and Song Wei hired two additional covered wagons to transport both families to the new house for a al.
Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Jin had gone to the new house early in the morning to buy ingredients. They left the other places alone and made sure the kitchen was ready to cook for the masters.
When the two families arrived, the aroma of at was already wafting from the kitchen.
Aunt Xie was incessantly amazed at the grandeur of the house’s interior decorations and the lined-up rockeries and stones outside, "Our Third Son sure has made sothing of himself. Such a big house was bestowed by the emperor, and just as we entered, my eldest said that the red door signifies sothing specific. I didn’t understand what he said, but it basically ans the house is extraordinary."
She cast an envious glance towards Granny Song, "Second sister-in-law, years ago you sent Third Son to school, and those few taels of silver were truly worth it."
While Song Wei and Xie Zheng were speaking outside, Granny Song said, "That was a fluke. I sent Third Son to school only intending for him to recognize a few more words so he would have fewer misfortunes in the future. As for what happened later, you all saw that. Even with schooling, wasn’t he quite unfortunate? Especially after the Da Lang couple passed, he didn’t even get close to the exam halls. If it weren’t for the Third Lang’s wife persuading him after she joined the family, he’d probably still be idling in the countryside!"
Aunt Xie laughed, "So by that reasoning, Third Son’s success today is all thanks to his wife?"
Indeed, thought Granny Song to herself.
In the past, without knowing, she thought it was really her son who brought good luck upon himself. In fact, Third Son indeed changed his fortune, but it was given by his wife. Therefore, moving forward, no matter who she might scold or slight, towards Third Lang’s wife, she must be kind and good!
Otherwise, if Third Lang’s wife got upset, packed her things and left, what would Third Son do then?
Reviews
All reviews (0)