The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 861 - 816: Demanding an Explanation

That night, at the Liang Mansion.

Since Song Jiao’s death, Liang Jun hadn’t gone to the Hanlin Academy. He had stayed locked in his room, sitting on the floor, repeatedly touching the little cotton clothes, pants, and tiger-head shoes Song Jiao had made for the child. Looking at the half-embroidered baby bellyband with the words "long life" in the sewing basket, he was consumed with deep longing and pain.

After a while, Yun Duo lifted the curtain and came in with a food box in her hand. She skillfully found the candlestick’s location and lit the lamp.

Turning her head, she saw the lunch food on the table, untouched, and her eyes immediately reddened. "Master, at least take a bite. The lady is already buried; if she sees you like this from the heavens, she would feel heartbroken."

Hearing this, Liang Jun slightly tilted his head. Perhaps he had stayed in the dark for so long that he was somewhat unaccustomed to the sudden light, so he raised his hand to shield his eyes. When he lowered his arm, he looked disheveled with stubble, a shadow of his former elegant self.

"I’m not hungry." Liang Jun waved his hand, his voice sounding as if it had been ground by sand. "You should leave, and don’t bother me unless it’s urgent."

The lady encountered such a disaster for no reason, which made Yun Duo’s heart unspeakably uncomfortable. She wanted to cry too, but seeing the master like this, if she didn’t hold up and take care, this family would truly fall apart.

She served a bowl of black-bone chicken soup and brought it over, half-squatting down to hand it to Liang Jun, "The lady loved black-bone chicken soup when she was still here. Since she can’t have it now, Master, please drink it on her behalf. Let her be at peace in the afterlife."

Liang Jun stared blankly at the bowl in Yun Duo’s hand, then suddenly reached out to take it and brought it close to his lips. Yet with each sip, he felt a prick in his throat, the pain making it hard to swallow.

After finally finishing the bowl of soup, he sat on the floor, half his body seemingly boneless, leaning against the long table. He began to fiddle with the tiger-head shoes in the sewing basket, carefully stroking the patterns on them again.

The lady had made them stitch by stitch, and each stitch carried her hopes for the child.

Yun Duo suddenly choked up. She initially intended to help Liang Jun up, but now she couldn’t be bothered and turned around to run out.

Just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Old Mrs. Liang coming over with two maids, her face ominous.

Yun Duo immediately stopped, murmuring, "Old Lady..."

Old Mrs. Liang had a naturally stern look; whenever she was unhappy, she appeared especially intimidating.

Yun Duo had been with Song Jiao at the Liang Family for over a year. Though she had never heard a harsh word from the old lady, she never felt comfortable.

"Second Master?" Old Mrs. Liang looked at Yun Duo.

"Inside." Yun Duo said, "Second Master couldn’t eat, and I just brought him some soup."

Old Mrs. Liang took a deep breath, "A bowl of soup is better than not eating anything at all."

She instructed the two maids to wait outside the door and stepped inside herself.

Liang Jun hadn’t washed for many days; his disheveled appearance didn’t make people feel he was sloppy but rather invoked a sense of pity.

Seeing her son like this, Old Mrs. Liang recalled the scene of Song Jiao dying in childbirth, her expression darkened, but then she collected herself, her face softening, "Brother Jun, why are you sitting on the floor?"

As she spoke, she reached out to pull him up.

Liang Jun didn’t raise his head nor get up, his voice low and deep, "Mother, I’m fine. I’ll be okay after sitting for a bit."

"You’ve been sitting for days now; when will it end?"

The daughter-in-law lost in childbirth, making Old Mrs. Liang feel blocked up too, but life had to go on.

"The Song Family will return from Ningzhou soon." Seeing her son unwilling to get up, Old Mrs. Liang stopped persuading him and pulled up a small stool to sit, "Old Mrs. Song is a strong person; her granddaughter dying in our home, she won’t let it go easily."

Seeing no reaction from Liang Jun, she continued, "The best plan is to insist that your wife’s death is entirely caused by that second girl from the Song Family. We have to go to them on the day they return to demand an explanation. Otherwise, if they come to us demanding an explanation, we won’t be able to justify our side."

"Mr. Song is my mentor." Liang Jun suddenly spoke, "If he indiscriminately assigns the blame to the Liang Family, he can take my life. Without Jiaojiao, living itself holds no meaning for me."

"You foolish child!" Old Mrs. Liang tapped him, "What nonsense are you talking about? Life and death, your wife wasn’t one to be unreasonable. She didn’t have the fortune to enjoy life with you, so you must support yourself well and live on for her."

"Mother." At this point, any mention of Song Jiao was unbearable for Liang Jun; even a slight mention twisted his heart with pain. "Do you think I still resemble a living person?"

"Mother knows it’s hard for you since she passed, but this pain is only temporary. As time passes, it will naturally fade. Brother Jun, you are the only Advanced Scholar from generations of the Liang Family; you are the pillar of the family and must not fall!"

...

After leaving Song Jiao’s courtyard, Yun Duo had already departed, and the two matriarchs were still standing outside the moon gate.

Old Mrs. Liang asked while walking, "What did the Xie family say?"

Mrs. Zhong shook her head, "The Xie family still refuses to hand her over." She looked at Old Mrs. Liang, "I heard that the Song family’s Old Mrs. Song will soon return from ancestor worship. Should we continue to demand her from the Xie family?"

"Of course we should. Why wouldn’t we?" Old Mrs. Liang’s eyes turned cold, "Song’s death was not my son’s fault. If we remain silent, it looks as if we’re guilty and afraid to show our faces. That little wretch, I felt something was wrong when she used to frequently visit our mansion. Such a young age, and she caused her own sister’s death along with her child. She shows no remorse, instead hiding with relatives, claiming it has nothing to do with her. This anger, can I swallow it? Can my daughter-in-law and my grandson, who have not yet cooled in the grave, swallow it? Poor child, never even got to meet his father before following his mother."

At this point, Old Mrs. Liang pressed a handkerchief to her eyes.

The two matriarchs also started to feel overwhelmed with emotion. Second Lang’s wife had a good nature, always treating others kindly and never putting on airs. Who would have thought, just as the family was happily anticipating her adding a new member, she met such a misfortune, perishing at the hands of her own younger sister. What an unfortunate fate!

...

The day the Song family entered the capital coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It was supposed to be a holiday for family reunion, yet no one was in the mood to celebrate.

Granny Song was eager to return home, constantly urging to speed up the journey. She couldn’t rest properly along the way, and her illness repeatedly flared up. Even after entering the capital, she hadn’t fully recovered.

After being brought to Rong’an Hall, Wen Wan and Ye Ling attended to her by her side.

Second Lang’s wife fainted from crying as soon as they passed the city gates, and was carried back to the West Courtyard by the maids to call for the household doctor.

Song Erlang kept his anger bottled up throughout the journey. Once in the mansion, he said nothing, grabbed a whip, mounted a horse, and headed straight for the Xie family. The young servants couldn’t stop him and could only report to Song Wei.

Song Wei rubbed his temple, "You guys quickly follow and see. We mustn’t let Second Master cause any fatalities."

The young servants hurriedly drove a carriage to chase after Song Erlang.

Meanwhile, Old Song, Song Wei, and Song Yuanbao sat in the front hall.

Old Song looked worried, "As the grandfather, it’s not appropriate for me to step forward. Someone has to be arranged to go to the Liang family to see what the situation is."

Song Yuanbao volunteered, "How about I go?"

Song Wei stopped him, "Jiaojiao is from the second branch, it’s not suitable for you to go."

"But Second Aunt can’t go in her current state!" Song Yuanbao said anxiously, "And Second Uncle is even less able, he’s probably only thinking about killing that troublemaker Song Qi right now."

"Let’s wait a bit longer," Song Wei said, "once your grandmother’s condition improves, I’ll send Wanwan."

Usually, such matters should be handled by Song Jiao’s biological parents. But after thinking it over, Song Wei deemed it inappropriate. They speak without moderation; if they get emotional and stir up trouble with the Liang family, it’s hard to resolve. It’s more suitable for Wanwan to go, as Jiaojiao was a girl raised by her for several years and sent out personally. Her stepping in would leave the Liang family with no room to find fault.

Unexpectedly, before Song Wei could arrange for Wen Wan to visit the Liang family, a servant came to report that Old Mrs. Liang had arrived.

Song Wei was a bit surprised but quickly calmed down, instructing the servant, "Pass the message to the matrons at the second gate, tell them to report it to the inner courtyard."

Rong’an Hall.

Wen Wan had just finished feeding Granny Song medicine when Yun Xia came in to report, "Madam, the matrons at the second gate just reported that Old Mrs. Liang has come."

"So soon?"

Wen Wan had anticipated the Liang family would come to demand an explanation but hadn’t expected them to time it so precisely. With the Song family just entering the capital, they hurried over—clearly, they were very angry.

Setting down the medicine bowl, Wen Wan went to the basin to wash her hands before instructing Yun Xia, "Escort them to my Qingteng Residence."

Old Mrs. Liang was clearly coming in anger; with her mother-in-law in such poor health, it was not appropriate for them to meet.