novelraw Chapter 859 - 814: Difficult to Handle (First Update)
Chapter 859 - 814: Difficult to Handle (First Update)
A bout of autumn rain impeded the Song family’s return to the Capital from their two houses.
In the main bedroom, an elderly doctor was taking Granny Song’s pulse as a cold towel lay across her forehead.
Old Song, Song Erlang, and Wen Wan were watching anxiously from the side.
The Second Lang’s wife was still in her own room, in a deep sleep.
Jinbao, Qi Bao, and Duobao, the three little ones, were confined to the East Wing and not allowed to come out.
Song Wei stood in the courtyard with an umbrella, asking Yuanbao’s attendant student, Duan Yan, "Has someone been sent to urge the young master?"
Duan Yan nodded quickly, "They’ve already gone. The county school might be a bit far from here, but don’t worry, sir, the young master will return."
Yuanbao had also left early in the morning to meet some old classmates, taking Ye Ling with him, wishing her to see his native Pingjiang County.
Song Wei frowned slightly, "Please take a trip to Upper River Village and ask the Clan Leader to quickly gather the clansmen. I will then go to the ancestral shrine."
Since immediate departure was impossible, it was best to attend to the important matters first.
Taking orders, Duan Yan donned a raincoat, hurried out to catch a carriage heading towards Upper River Village.
At this time, a murmur of voices came from outside, and before long, Yuanbao and Ye Ling appeared at the main entrance.
Circumventing the shadow wall, they saw Song Wei standing in the courtyard with an umbrella, his expression profoundly grave.
The servant who had gone to urge them did not relay anything, so Yuanbao assumed Song Wei was displeased with his extended absence and stepped forward to explain, "The gathering ended early, and I took Ah Yao for a stroll."
Ye Ling felt awkward, unable to bow due to holding an umbrella, so she simply lowered her head and softly called, "Father."
Song Wei remained silent for a long time before saying, "Go inside and see Grandma."
These words, no matter how one listened, sounded ominous.
Yuanbao’s heart skipped a beat, his complexion changing immediately, "What’s wrong with Grandma?"
Song Wei did not explain; he heard Qi Bao crying in the East Wing, turned around, and went to comfort the child.
Yuanbao and Ye Ling exchanged a glance, noticing Ye Ling’s reddened eyes, Yuanbao gently said, "Baby, don’t be afraid, nothing will happen."
Saying this, he clasped her slightly cold hand.
The couple approached the doorway, put the umbrella away, and lifted the curtain to see Yun Xia Linglong and a few other young girls secretly wiping tears.
Yuanbao’s face turned grimmer. Without asking anything, he quickened his pace and headed straight inside.
The elderly doctor had just finished taking the pulse, furrowing his brows as he said that Granny was troubled by anger, needing warmth, rest, no jolting or exhaustion, and absolutely no further agitation.
Yuanbao listened, full of doubts, "Who upset Grandma so much?"
Old Song gave a glance to the young couple soaked in rain and dew, sighed without uttering a word.
Old Song remained silent, and Song Erlang dared not speak more, his mind restless, only lamenting the great distance between Ningzhou and the Capital, fearing by the time they returned to the Capital, Jiaojiao would have already been laid to rest.
Though Yuanbao typically appeared carefree, his mind was not careless. Noticing everyone’s reddened eyes in the room, he finally locked his gaze on Wen Wan, approached her, and softly asked, "Mother, what exactly happened?"
Wen Wan glanced at her mother-in-law lying with eyes shut on the bed, dared not mention Song Jiao in her presence, only gestured to the young couple with her eyes, then turned and went outside, standing by the door.
Yuanbao and Ye Ling quickly followed her out.
Yuanbao had never seen the family’s atmosphere so heavy and solemn, a sense of panic arose within him, his voice trembled slightly, "Mother..."
"Your eldest sister is gone." Wen Wan did not know what courage it took to say that, "Your uncle Xie Zheng wrote a letter. See for yourself."
She truly was unable to explain further, handing Xie Zheng’s letter to Yuanbao to read.
After reading, Yuanbao clenched his fists, teeth gnashing audibly, "That little..."
He originally intended to curse "little wench," but remembering he was in the presence of elders, held his tongue, "When I return to the Capital, I will not spare her!"
Ye Ling, worried, said, "I previously saw that Grandma was quite ill; perhaps it won’t be possible to set out for a while."
Wen Wan’s eyes gradually moistened, her nails digging fiercely into her palms, knowing the difficulties were far from limited to this incident; if Grandma returned to the Capital...
A premonition flashed in her mind when she was in her mother-in-law’s room earlier, only feeling a stabbing pain in her chest, as if a knife had been driven into her heart.
Sniffling to calm herself, Wen Wan asked Yuanbao, "Where’s your father?"
"Father went to the East Wing." Yuanbao pointed, "Earlier, Qi Bao seemed to be crying."
Wen Wan no longer paid attention to the two and didn’t use an umbrella. She walked in the rain for a while and saw Song Wei coming out just as she reached the door of the East Wing.
Seeing she was somewhat soaked, Song Wei pressed his lips, "Why didn’t you use an umbrella?"
Wen Wan lowered her head and didn’t answer. After a while, she said, "Husband, let’s leave mother in Ningzhou. We should return to the Capital on our own."
Song Wei noticed something was wrong and turned to open the curtain for her, "Let’s talk inside."
Wen Wan followed him inside. Qi Bao, exhausted from crying, was asleep on the small couch. Jinbao and Duobao sat quietly in the inner room, probably sensing the tense atmosphere and not daring to make a fuss.
Wen Wan sat at the round table in the outer room. Her voice was indescribably painful, almost bursting forth with tears, "I have a bad feeling. If mother follows us back to the Capital, Song Qi will literally anger her to death."
Aware that Song Wei might not withstand the news, she dared not mention that if her mother-in-law died, Song Wei would have to resign and return to Ningzhou for three years of mourning.
Chu Country prioritizes filial piety. It has a rule that whenever a civil servant’s parents pass away, they must resign and return to their ancestral home for mourning, called "Ding You."
Moreover, during these three years, the court cannot force him to handle any government affairs, nor can they appoint him at will, otherwise, it’s called "Duo Qing."
Song Wei’s handsome face turned slightly pale.
Wen Wan continued, "Jiaojiao’s death left mother deeply guilty, and she must hate Song Qi right now, so..."
"This is a difficult matter." Song Wei rarely showed such a troubled expression.
No one knows their own mother’s temperament better than him. She won’t stand idly by in this matter, nor would she quietly stay in Ningzhou. If anyone tries to force her to stay, trouble will certainly arise.
Sure enough, as soon as Song Wei finished speaking, Yun Xia ran to the East Wing from the main house because there was no maid guarding outside. She had to shout across the door, "Are the master and lady inside?"
Wen Wan responded, "Yes, come in!"
Yun Xia lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling to greet the two.
Wen Wan asked, "Has the doctor left?"
"Gone," Yun Xia nodded, "Linglong and the others are currently brewing medicine."
"Then why have you come over?"
Yun Xia’s expression showed some struggle, and after a long time, she said, "The old lady asked me to inquire when the master and lady plan to start the journey back to the Capital."
Upon hearing this, Wen Wan looked at Song Wei.
Perhaps holding back a thought, even though anger consumed her to the point of spitting blood, the old lady’s eyes were still open.
Since she was awake, she definitely heard the doctor’s words earlier. Having heard them, she still insisted on returning to the Capital, showing she was beyond furious and only personally handling Song Qi would appease her.
Seeing Song Wei silent, Yun Xia suddenly burst into tears, "Master, Lady, the old lady is in a very poor condition. If you return to the Capital now, something bad might happen. You must think of a way; we must wait for her recovery before leaving!"
Song Wei stood up, "I’ll go see her."
Yun Xia breathed a sigh of relief and followed Song Wei out of the East Wing towards the old lady’s room.
Seeing Song Wei entering, Granny Song closed her eyes as if calming her emotions, then asked, "Are all preparations done?"
Song Wei said, "It’s raining outside, not suitable for traveling."
"If we don’t leave now, I won’t even see my granddaughter’s remains!" Granny Song suddenly became agitated, her eyes widened, "Is it the rain that makes it impossible to travel or are you leaving me here while you leave yourself?"
"Mother, the clan temple matters have just been settled and the formal ancestral rites haven’t been conducted yet. I cannot leave."
Song Wei sat by the bed, reaching out to tuck her blankets.
"If you can’t leave, I’ll go!" Granny Song’s chest heaved heavily, her breathing turned short.
"Ningzhou is far from the Capital; even if urgent, we can’t reach there overnight." Song Wei tried to soothe her, "Let’s wait until tonight is over and the rain stops, and you’re feeling better. We’ll set out early tomorrow morning."
Granny Song listened to his words, finally calming down, giving a cold snort, "Don’t think I don’t know what you two are planning. I won’t leave it at this; I must return to the Capital. That rogue Song Qi, I’ll handle her personally. If you dare stop me, it’s just pushing me to die in Ningzhou!"
Song Wei took a deep breath; he knew it would come to this. His mother had been strong all her life, even sick she wouldn’t give in. Moreover, the situation had escalated so dramatically, she was unbearably angry. Not letting her leave might truly cause her to pass away from fury in Ningzhou.
"No one will stop you," Song Wei said. "Rest well, take your medicine on time. If you feel better tomorrow, we’ll leave early."
Having given his instructions, he left the room.
As the sky darkened, Duan Yan returned from Upper River Village, saying the Clan Leader had begun notifying each household, asking Song Wei when he would come for the ancestral rites.
Song Wei’s handsome face was shrouded in unprecedented solemnity as he responded with just two words, "Right away."