Chapter Thirty-One: He Has a Secret Room
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Madam He watched Mu Ziyu with a gloomy expression, unable to determine what had actually happened.
Seeing Song Tang’s utterly righteous bearing, Mu Ziyu himself was eager to know the truth—how exactly had he come under the influence of the aphrodisiac?
He roared, “Then investigate it thoroughly and find out who is scheming behind the scenes!”
“Mother.” Song Wei suddenly spoke. Her conscience was troubled, and she feared that Qiuling had not properly disposed of the medicine and that it might be discovered.
In a soft voice, she said, “Let it go. Family scandals should not be made public. If the heir truly favors the maid from Elder Sister’s household, I don’t think it is anything serious. Since he likes her, perhaps you and Elder Sister could speak with her and give Qiuling to the heir.”
Song Wei finished with tears shimmering in her eyes, as though she had suffered some great injustice.
Looking at her, Mu Ziyu’s guilt deepened at once. Song Wei was so gentle and virtuous. It was bad enough that he could not offer her the finest betrothal gifts; yet before their wedding, he had committed such a disgraceful act. He truly should not have done it.
“Good child, you have not even entered the household, and already there is a concubine involved. What kind of propriety is this?” Madam He said, her heart aching for her daughter. The heir’s conduct was utterly disgraceful—not only had he caused such a scandal in Song Tang’s courtyard, he had even made excuses by claiming that someone had drugged him!
Madam He felt that Song Wei was right. With both daughters’ weddings approaching, neither the Song family nor the Mu family could afford to lose face if this matter became known.
“Heir, this matter truly must not be made public, but we cannot simply let it pass either. What do you think should be done?”
Mu Ziyu genuinely could not figure out how he had fallen victim to the scheme, so he could only resign himself to bearing the blame.
“I wronged Wei’er first. I will certainly treat her well from now on and never allow such a thing to happen again. As for Qiuling, if she is willing, I can give her a formal status. But if she is unwilling, I will not force her.” Mu Ziyu appeared to be taking full responsibility.
Qiuling had been kneeling on the floor in silence, not daring to make a sound. The moment she heard that he was willing to give her a formal status, she immediately kowtowed.
“My lord, this servant is willing! This servant is willing!”
Hearing this, Song Wei was so enraged that she nearly fainted again.
Madam He shot Qiuling a fierce glare, displeased but unable to say much. After all, Mu Ziyu was the heir, and the deed had already been done.
Besides, the wedding was only a few days away. This matter could not be dealt with openly.
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The Mu Residence
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When Mu Changxiao heard Wan Xing recounting with great excitement how Mu Ziyu had suffered at Song Tang’s hands, a shadow crossed his face.
“She is all right, isn’t she?”
Wan Xing naturally knew whom his lord was asking about. He answered excitedly, “My lord, the eldest Miss Song is both intelligent and courageous. She is completely unharmed.”
Mu Changxiao gave a slight nod and said in a deep voice, “Keep a close watch over things these next few days. Nothing must happen right under our noses again. If that woman still refuses to behave, deal with her directly.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Wan Xing continued, “My lord, as you instructed, on the day of the wedding banquet, the seating for Mu Ziyu and his party has been completely separated from ours. Their banquet will be held in the Western Garden, with cooks hired from outside. Ours will be prepared by cooks from the imperial palace.”
“Very well. Do not forget to lock the gates between the Western Garden and our quarters that day. No one is to enter or leave through them.” Mu Changxiao did not raise his head. He was studying the blank sheet of drawing paper on the table.
“Yes.”
Wan Xing bowed and withdrew.
After Wan Xing closed the door, the brush in Mu Changxiao’s hand began to move swiftly across the paper. Before long, the portrait of an exquisitely beautiful woman emerged.
Her brows and eyes were as delicate as a painting, and a trace of stubbornness showed in her expression. She looked exactly like Song Tang.
Once the painting had dried, he carefully rolled it up and placed it inside the secret chamber of his study.
Meanwhile, Song Tang’s wedding gown had been completed. Caidie carried the embroidered gown into her mistress’s room. As Song Tang gazed at the auspicious scarlet fabric and the golden mandarin ducks stitched upon it, she remembered how she had felt in her previous life when she married Mu Ziyu.
Back then, her heart had been filled with joy. She had believed that she and Mu Ziyu would spend their entire lives together and grow old side by side.
She had never imagined that she had mistaken a false heart for a true one, only to end up abandoned and kicked to death.
She hated him for his faithlessness and cruelty. She hated Song Wei for her vicious heart. She hated her family for standing by with cold indifference. She hated her elder brother for striking when she was down. Most of all, she hated herself for being ignorant, incapable, and utterly foolish.
In this life, she would never again be the helpless fish upon the chopping block, waiting for others to carve her apart.
Seeing that Song Tang’s expression had changed, Caidie asked softly, “Miss, what is wrong? Is the wedding gown not pretty?”
Song Tang came back to herself and smiled faintly. “No, the gown is beautiful. I was merely feeling a little emotional.”
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Seeing that Song Tang was fine, Caidie relaxed. “I am glad you like it, Miss. I have inspected it carefully, and there is nothing wrong with the gown.”
Song Tang nodded slightly. The wedding gown was naturally flawless, but the human heart was difficult to fathom.
She did not know whether Song Wei would resort to some new scheme, but she was prepared. She would meet soldiers with generals and floods with earth. She would see what kind of trouble Song Wei could still stir up.
Song Tang looked at Caidie and said gently, “Caidie, I know you are loyal. The Marquis’s residence is a den of wolves and tigers, and I have only a handful of people I can trust. Are you willing to accompany me there after I marry?”
Caidie nodded without hesitation. “Miss, of course I am willing. Ever since we returned from the Zhang residence, I have secretly sworn that, whether in life or death, I will always belong to you.”
Song Tang was touched. “Good. With you by my side, I will feel much more at ease.”
“Miss, you can set your heart completely at rest. I will stay with you always and remain loyal to you forever.” Caidie’s eyes grew slightly red.
Song Tang reached out and wiped away the tears on Caidie’s face, smiling as she said, “Why are you crying? You have loved to cry since you were little.”
At this, Caidie burst into laughter and said shyly, “Miss, you are teasing me again. That was all when I was a child.” Then she grew serious once more. “Miss, do not be afraid. Once we reach the Marquis’s residence, I will certainly protect you.”
Song Tang gently patted her hand. “I will protect you all as well. Oh, and remember to remind Zishuang again to wait until nightfall before taking Qiuling away.”
“Do not worry, Miss. Everything has been arranged properly.” Ca idie nodded.
After that incident, Qiuling temporarily remained in the Heavenly Forest Court. She was clever enough to know that she would meet with no good outcome whether she went to Madam He or Song Wei.
It was better to stay with Song Tang. No matter what Song Tang did, she would never take her life.
Thus, on the day Mu Ziyu said that he could not take her away yet, Qiuling had immediately pleaded with him in front of Madam He, saying that she wished to remain and continue serving Song Tang. She had also made a show of being frightened of both Song Wei and Madam He.
Mu Ziyu had no reason to refuse, so he agreed at once.
Afterward, Madam He came to ask Song Tang for Qiuling twice, but Song Tang dismissed her both times on the grounds that she would be unable to explain Qiuling’s absence to the heir.
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