Chapter Nine: Taking It Out on Her

Despite the biting cold of midwinter, beads of cold sweat trickled down Mu Ziyu’s forehead.

He knew his third uncle, Mu Changxiao, well. Song Tang had saved Mu Changxiao’s life, so naturally, he would protect her. However, this time, it was truly Song Tang who had insisted on breaking off the engagement; it had nothing to do with him.

"Third Uncle, I did suggest it previously, but I changed my mind later. I felt that the engagement to Song Tang was still viable. This time, it was Song Tang who demanded the annulment; I did not force her. If she regrets it now, I have no objections. If we set a date, I am still willing to marry her."

Mu Changxiao cast a deep, inscrutable glance at Mu Ziyu and remained silent, twirling the jade thumb ring on his hand with a mysterious expression.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the study grew increasingly stifling. Mu Ziyu had never suffered much hardship or spent time kneeling in the ancestral hall since childhood. His knees were aching intensely, but he dared not show it and could only grit his teeth and endure.

"Marquis, dinner is served," Wan Xing reminded him softly from outside the door.

Mu Changxiao slowly lifted his head and said indifferently, "Bring it in."

Wan Xing set the meal on the desk, and the scent of food instantly filled the room. Mu Changxiao picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly. Mu Ziyu remained kneeling on the floor, inhaling the aroma. His hunger grew sharper, but he dared not move without permission and continued to suffer in silence.

Once Mu Changxiao finished his meal, he finally spoke. "Ziyu, why did you want to break the engagement initially and then change your mind? Tell me about it."

Mu Ziyu swallowed nervously. "It was because Third Uncle promised to give me that large estate on the outskirts of the capital."

The estate on the outskirts was Mu Changxiao’s personal property, not part of the family inheritance. When the family assets were eventually divided, that estate would not be included. Furthermore, it generated at least a hundred thousand taels of silver in annual revenue. Mu Ziyu had known this, which was why he had been tempted in the first place.

Mu Changxiao narrowed his eyes slightly. "Song Tang saved my life, and that estate was my gift of gratitude to her. As long as you follow her wishes, the estate will remain yours; I will not take it back. However! Your breaking off the engagement has caused significant damage to her personal reputation. You must find a way to make amends."

Mu Ziyu finally understood: he could keep the estate and still annul the engagement. His uncle’s only requirement was that Song Tang’s reputation remain untarnished. A heavy stone lifted from his heart; he could not bear to lose that estate with its hundred-thousand-tael annual income.

"Third Uncle, I understand. I will find a way to preserve Song Tang’s reputation." Mu Ziyu’s face broke into a relieved smile.

Mu Changxiao sipped his tea. "You don't need to think about it; I have already thought of a plan for you."

"What?" Mu Ziyu looked up in surprise, a flash of confusion in his eyes.

"Yesterday, at the Song residence, you defended that woman named Song Wei in front of everyone. Do you have feelings for her?"

Mu Ziyu was stunned. He had not expected his uncle to bring this up; he had intended to wait for the current situation to settle before asking for permission to marry Song Wei. He admitted it readily. "Song Wei is gentle and kind, and I do have feelings for her."

"You want to take her as your wife?"

"Yes."

"Have you thought it through?"

"It is just that she is not Lady He’s biological daughter, and I fear my mother will not approve."

"Don't worry about that for now. I only ask: do you want to marry her?"

"Yes," Mu Ziyu replied firmly.

Mu Changxiao looked at him meaningfully, his expression unreadable. "Very well. I can agree to your marriage with Song Wei, but on the condition that you go to the Song residence in person to offer a formal apology to Song Tang. You must publicly declare that you and Song Wei had long been in love and that you were the one who failed Song Tang. Furthermore, you must provide an additional two hundred thousand taels from your private assets as compensation to Song Tang for the annulment."

"Two hundred thousand taels?" Mu Ziyu’s jaw dropped. The annual income from the estate was not even two hundred thousand taels; he hadn't even had a chance to enjoy the money before it was to be handed over to Song Tang.

"Are you reluctant?" Mu Changxiao frowned slightly, staring coldly at him.

Mu Ziyu felt a sharp sting of pain in his heart, but then he reasoned that since the estate brought in over a hundred thousand taels every year, the compensation wasn't entirely unreasonable. "I am willing, I am willing! But, Third Uncle, can you truly ensure I can marry Song Wei?" Mu Ziyu was still concerned about his mother’s opposition. Although he felt slightly bothered that Song Wei was not the legitimate daughter of the Earl’s mansion, her late biological father had been a newly appointed top-ranking scholar, which was not entirely disgraceful.

"As long as you do as I say, I can ensure you marry Song Wei smoothly." Mu Changxiao’s tone was indifferent, though his expression had grown colder.

Mu Ziyu was overcome with excitement. He was desperate to rescue Song Wei from her plight. Song Wei had once told him that while everyone said Lady He and the Earl of Song treated her like their own, she knew their true intentions. She only felt familial affection for the two brothers, Song An and Song Chao, not romantic love. At the time, seeing Song Wei weeping, Mu Ziyu had been determined to marry her, but he had been constrained by his engagement to Song Tang and had kept his feelings hidden.

Now, a golden opportunity lay before him, and he had to seize it! He would marry Song Wei and make Song Tang regret her choices. After all, he was the heir to the Marquis’s estate; without him, Song Tang would never find a better match.

"Third Uncle, I agree," Mu Ziyu declared resolutely. "As long as I can marry Song Wei, I am willing to do anything."

Mu Changxiao gave him a cold look. "Leave."

Mu Ziyu felt as if he had been granted an amnesty. He stood up immediately, though his legs were numb from kneeling for so long. He struggled to find his balance before slowly backing out of the study. He was filled with joy, eager to share the good news with Song Wei.

"Marquis, you promised the heir he could marry the second young lady of the Song family. The mistress of the first branch likely won't let it go easily," Wan Xing whispered as Mu Ziyu retreated.

Mu Changxiao smiled scornfully. "If she dares to interfere, I have ways to make her keep her mouth shut."

"Is it worth offending the mistress of the first branch just to let the heir marry the second young lady of the Song family?" Wan Xing asked, feeling sorry for his master. Mu Changxiao’s position as Marquis had not been easy to attain, and the first branch had always been watching like tigers, waiting for him to die so the heir could inherit the title. If the first branch realized that Mu Changxiao had deliberately foisted a non-biological daughter of the Song family onto their son as his primary wife, it could lead to trouble.

Mu Changxiao said calmly, "There is no question of worth. Since her son, Mu Ziyu, wants to marry her, I shall grant his wish."

That year, just after he had finished his military campaign, he had received a message via carrier pigeon that his eldest brother, Mu Changming, was dying. He had ridden at top speed to return to the Mu mansion, only to see Mu Changming one last time. On his deathbed, Mu Changming had told him the true cause of his worsening illness, knowing that his son was not yet capable of holding the title and that his life would be in constant danger.