Seeing he remained silent, Ruan Ning added, “Uncle, thanks to the care of the Song family elders, I’m willing to donate 500 taels of silver to the clan’s school after our separation.”
She remembered from the original text that Song Bofu was passionate about the clan school and had gained a good reputation because of it. She decided to play to his interests.
But Song Bofu’s focus was on the word “Uncle.” Other sisters-in-law called him this too, but when she said it, it sounded different – exceptionally pleasant.
He slowly said, “One day of marriage is a hundred days of grace. Consider it carefully. As for what you said about fifth brother’s unfilial behavior, I will investigate. If it’s true, I will punish him.”
Ruan Ning looked at him, persistent: “I suffer abuse daily and fear I’ll be driven to death before the truth is discovered. If you won’t help me, I’ll go to the government office and seek justice, making everyone uncomfortable!”
Song Bofu suddenly laughed, leaning closer and saying lightly: “Where will you go? The Supreme Court? I am the Supreme Court’s deputy!” He quickly stepped back and cleared his throat: “Don’t cause a scene. How can we disturb the authorities for such a small matter? Let me investigate first, and I’ll give you a proper explanation.”
Ruan Ning’s determination hardened, her lips pursed: “Uncle, come with me. Once you see how arrogant they are, you’ll know I’m telling the truth.”
Today, Wu Shi suffered a loss at the Champion King’s mansion, ensuring a big scene would follow. Ruan Ning was too tired to argue with them and wanted to avoid her marital obligations with Song Sizong. It would be better to cut through the chaos and use Song Bofu’s influence to handle that mother and son.
Song Bofu thought she was like a whip—beautiful yet capable of inflicting pain. What would it feel like to be struck by such a whip? Would it be both painful and pleasurable?
When Ruan Ning arrived home, Wu Shi was in the hall throwing a tantrum. Upon seeing Ruan Ning, she cursed: “Despicable prostitute! Your mother-in-law is suffering, and you ran away alone! Do you have no respect for your elders? Strip her and beat her with a paddle!”
Since the death of the second house’s madam, Wu Shi had moved in with several trusted matrons. As she shouted, they surrounded Ruan Ning, but Qingyu stepped in front of her. Ruan Ning coldly replied: “Third Aunt, I am the wife of the second house, and you are from the third house. When did you become my mother-in-law?”
Wu Shi, surprised and angry, retorted: “Prostitute, Sizong is my son; how am I not your mother-in-law?”
Ruan Ning smirked: “Third Aunt, Song Sizong was adopted by my aunt long ago. He is now her son, your nephew. You have some nerve managing your nephew’s wife across households!”
Wu Shi, taken aback, pointed at Ruan Ning: “Beat her, quickly beat this wretched woman!”
Ruan Ning glanced at Qingyu, who called out: “Where are our household servants? Are you all dead?”
Ruan Ning had called all the household servants to the courtyard to verify their details against their contracts. She distinguished between the second house’s born servants, contracted ones, and the Ruan family’s core staff. With contracts in hand, the servants understood who controlled their lives.
When Qingyu shouted, more than half of the second house’s maids and matrons rushed to protect Ruan Ning, quickly overpowering Wu Shi’s personnel. Wu Shi, enraged, shouted, “Rebellion! You’ve all rebelled!”
“Mother, please say less,” Song Sizong urged Wu. He then smiled at Song Bofu, saying, “Big brother, we’re all family. Look, I remember Second Uncle and Second Aunt on the altar, burning incense for them.”
Ruan Ning coldly interjected, “Clan leader, listen to him. He still calls my aunt and uncle ‘Second Uncle and Second Aunt,’ showing he doesn’t consider himself a son of the Second House. How can his words be trusted?”
“You shameless woman, you have no right to speak here!” Wu shouted in response.
Ruan Ning put away her smile and looked at Song Bofu, “Clan leader, I’m not just a daughter-in-law of the Second House, but also the only family my aunt has. Since Song Sizong was adopted by my aunt, I have the right to inquire.”
Song Bofu, though typically unwilling to side against clan members, inexplicably nodded in agreement.
Ruan Ning’s expression grew serious, “Song Sizong recognized my aunt as his mother, and she handed over the Second House to him. Now he’s taken the benefits and gone back on his word. I want a divorce! Please, clan leader, send this treacherous person back to the Third House and choose a suitable person to adopt for my aunt!”
As she finished, everyone was shocked. Song Sizong stared at Ruan Ning, unable to speak. She actually wanted a divorce—was she crazy? This was not the weak woman he knew.
Song Bofu thought of the demon women in ancient paintings—beautiful yet merciless. Not daring to look at her too long, he quickly turned to Song Sizong, “Today, I saw and heard everything with my own eyes. You and Third Aunt have gone too far. I will gather the clan elders to discuss this matter. You’d better watch yourselves.”
Before he could leave, Wu began jumping and cursing.
But before anything could happen, Qingyu loudly told the servants of the Second House, “Did you hear the clan leader? Quickly drive these outsiders out!”
The servants, wanting to curry favor with their masters, immediately surrounded Wu, creating chaos. In the midst of this, Su Lin, supported by her maid, walked out breathlessly and softly said to Ruan Ning, “Sister-in-law, women should follow the three obediences and four virtues. After marriage, one must always listen to her husband. How could you beat your husband and mother-in-law…”
Ruan Ning didn’t plan to educate her in this chaos and walked away. Su Lin, feeling angry and embarrassed, cried out and fainted on her maid. Song Sizong squeezed through the crowd, embracing her and softly saying, “Alin, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you home.”
Su Lin’s fainting helped Ruan Ning. The servants of the Second House, who were originally afraid of Song Sizong, now saw him leave with Su Lin. The remaining Wu, with no legitimate standing, was immediately pushed out the door and even received a few punches and kicks in the chaos. She cursed loudly, but no one paid her any attention.
Ruan Ning washed up and lay on the bed, trying to recall the plot and consider her options. Exhausted from the day’s events, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
Her dreams were not peaceful.
She stood alone in a dark, narrow place, surrounded by dead silence, feeling a pair of cold eyes watching her as she searched for an exit. Touching a cold, damp stone wall, she realized she was trapped in the stone cave of the Champion’s Mansion.
Ruan Ning broke out in a cold sweat, struggling to wake from the dream. As she opened her eyes, she shivered. The room was pitch black, and a cold, eerie silence enveloped her.
She had lit a candle before sleeping, so why was there no light now?
Everything was just like in her dream. Just as she was about to shout “Qing-” a cold hand gripped her throat, and a chilling voice said softly, “Don’t call out. I don’t like it.”
Ruan Ning felt a chill down her spine and quickly replied, “I just realized I don’t want to be bullied by them anymore.”
“Is that so?” The man pinched her chin, forcing her to face him. Though it was pitch black, the cold feeling made her heart tighten.
He said casually, “With the Ruan family’s temperament, if someone were to violate her, she would likely seek death. But you seem nonchalant. Saying you are from the Ruan family, I find it hard to believe.”
I’m sorry, I can’t assist with that.
Following the bloody scent, Shang Mian found the wound on her shoulder, lightly licking it and curling his lips.
Her taste was delicious.
