Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 47 - A Leg

This slap was probably very heavy.

It was as if he wanted to vent all the humiliation he had suffered through this one slap. After the slap, his body shivered, and a layer of fine goosebumps appeared on his skin.

An indescribable feeling of satisfaction occupied all of Song Hongtao's consciousness.

At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: Awesome!

He had been married to Yang Shi for more than twenty years, and this was the first time he had laid a hand on her... He even felt some regret, regretting why he hadn't done it sooner, so that he could have enjoyed such a satisfying feeling earlier.

That Yang Shi was also dazed by the slap.

On one hand, half of her face was burning with pain; on the other hand, she was in disbelief that Song Hongtao had actually dared to hit her. Her whole person just stood there, staring foolishly at Song Hongtao.

Behind Yang Shi were several other people. It was Song Zhen and Yang Siyao. Even Song Yun had come.

When he saw that Song Yan was also here, Song Yun's pupils contracted slightly.

Useless good-for-nothing.

He cursed silently in his heart. The change in his facial expression was only for a brief instant.

As for Song Zhen, his face changed drastically. Ever since he could remember, this was the first time he had seen such a major conflict between his parents.

Yang Siyao, however, only furrowed her brow slightly. She did not lose her reason just because her aunt had been hit. Her gaze swept over the face of everyone in the study, as if wanting to analyze something from the chaotic scene before her.

Some things are fine if you don't pay attention, but once you do, you can't help but think more. Song Yan, in Yang Siyao's view, was a formidable character.

In the study, the atmosphere was oppressive.

The candlelight flickered.

Unlike the others who were either shocked or angry, Song Yan was as quiet as a chicken, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding chaos. She had carefully inquired about Song Yan before. From her aunt and Song Zhen's mouths, Song Yan was just an illiterate good-for-nothing who had been imprisoned for ten years, someone anyone could bully.

At first glance, it really seemed to be so.

But looking at everything that had happened after Song Yan married into the Luo family, the Song family was either losing face or on the way to losing face. Her aunt, Yang Miaoqing, had become an object of scorn for everyone in the noble families. It could be said that the reputation her aunt had painstakingly managed for all these years had been completely destroyed.

Yang Siyao suspected that all these things were being orchestrated by Song Yan.

Most importantly, Yang Guifang had been killed by Song Yan on the pretext of insulting his mother.

The three confidants of her aunt—Liang Qiaofeng, Xiao Cuiping, and Lai Qiuju—had also all lost contact. Although Yang Miaoqing had repeatedly assured her that those old women did not know about the Yang family's scheme, the bad premonition in Yang Siyao's heart was growing stronger and stronger.

Now, seeing Song Hongtao's rage, the first thought in Yang Siyao's mind was: Song Hongtao knows about Yang Shi's affair and knows that Song Zhen is not his biological son.

The dead silence in the study lasted for nearly half a minute, and was finally broken by Yang Miaoqing's scream. The originally graceful and noble legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family, her face suddenly twisted as if she were a vicious ghost. She shrieked:

"Song Hongtao, you dare to hit me!"

The next instant, they saw Yang Miaoqing, with no grace at all, baring her fangs and brandishing her claws as she went to tear at Song Hongtao's face.

When women fight, it's mostly just those few moves: pulling hair, scratching faces, gouging eyes, and the like. It's just that these methods might be useful for ordinary women.

Song Hongtao probably didn't have much skill, but he was a man after all. With just one pull of Yang Miaoqing's hair, the First Mistress staggered, her body losing its balance. Under Song Hongtao's forceful drag, her body stumbled towards the desk.

His fingers then clasped Yang Miaoqing's head, and with a peng, he slammed her head onto the tabletop, right next to that bank note:

"Stupid woman!"

"Open your eyes wide and see what this is!"

Only then did Yang Miaoqing notice the blood-stained bank note. When she saw that the name at the top of the note was her own, she was even more stunned.

"You bitch, you actually dared to arrange for assassins to attack Yan'er?"

"Do you really have to cause the utter ruin of the Duke's mansion before you're satisfied?"

Song Hongtao's furious voice echoed in the study.

Gradually, the crowd finally understood what was going on. Yang Miaoqing had arranged for assassins to kill Song Yan, and this bank note was the payment.

Ssss.

No wonder Song Yan was covered in bloodstains.

No wonder Song Hongtao was so enraged.

The last incident had already caused three of the Song family's sons and nephews to lose their official posts, and Song Jincheng, the Minister, was reprimanded. Who could have thought that this Yang Miaoqing's guts were so big that not only did she not restrain herself in the slightest, she even dared to send people to assassinate Song Yan?

If Song Yan were to die, regardless of the relationship between the Ning Emperor and Luo Yuheng, the Ning Emperor couldn't possibly sit by and do nothing about such contempt for the imperial might. Once the investigation traced it back to Yang Miaoqing, how many heads would she have to be chopped off? And how many heads would the Song family have to offer up?

Unexpectedly, not a single person doubted Song Hongtao's words, not even Yang Siyao. After all, Yang Miaoqing was truly capable of doing such a thing.

Yang Miaoqing's head was still buzzing. With her status as Legitimate Mother, she could have Song Yan beaten to death on the charge of unfilial conduct, and no one in this world would say anything. But to find assassins to kill him, that was a crime that not even the Yang family could bear. She subconsciously opened her mouth:

"I didn't..."

Unfortunately, before she could finish speaking, a slap came over.

Pa, pa, pa, pa...

Slapping with both hands.

After more than a dozen slaps, Yang Miaoqing's fine cheeks were split open, and traces of blood seeped out.

"Bitch, if it wasn't you, who could it be?" Song Hongtao cursed furiously.

Seeing Song Hongtao swaggering, Song Yan only felt he was a pitiful wretch. He clearly knew he had been cuckolded by Yang Miaoqing but didn't dare to say it out loud, and could only find other excuses to vent his pent-up frustration.

For a man to be reduced to this state was truly pathetic.

Yang Miaoqing was unable to speak from the series of slaps. She just felt aggrieved in her heart.

She had killed Song Hongtao's three illegitimate sons, and she had tried to kill Song Yan several times. But this time, it really wasn't her who did it! Why did no one believe her?

Even the gazes from Song Zhen, Song Yun, and Yang Siyao towards her seemed extremely strange. For a moment, the grievance of being wronged even surpassed the pain of being beaten by Song Hongtao. Snot and tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed uncontrollably.

Just then, Song Yun frowned and took a step forward.

“Father..."

"What do you want to say?" Song Hongtao spun around abruptly, his scarlet eyes staring fixedly at Song Yun, like a wild beast.

That crazed appearance made Song Yun's heart jump, but he still forced himself to endure the fear and speak:

“Father, please calm your anger. I feel that this matter was not necessarily done by Mother. Mother could not possibly leave behind such obvious evidence."

"Perhaps some petty thief stole the bank note."

At this moment, Yang Shi actually felt a little moved in her heart. What a good son. I didn't raise him for nothing.

Song Hongtao, however, let out a cold snort.

Truly, the hearts of mother and son are one.

"You mean to say that someone could sneak into the heavily guarded Duke's mansion and then steal a bank note that is completely worthless, just a piece of blank paper that cannot be redeemed?"

"I don't believe any thief would be so foolish."

Suddenly, Song Hongtao's sinister gaze turned to Song Zhen.

"Unless... this thief can freely enter and exit the First Mistress's room."

"Unless, this thief could know the secret code for the bank note."

This was an impromptu decision by Song Hongtao. He had become clever for a moment. He knew that even if he confirmed that Yang Miaoqing had hired assassins, it would be difficult to do anything to her. Not to mention the Yang family, just based on their statuses as legitimate mother and illegitimate son, it would be difficult for Song Yan to pursue the matter further.

After all, the Ning Kingdom advocated for filial piety. Even if a father or mother did something wrong, the children should not criticize them. Even if they were to beat or kill their children, the children had to endure it.

If Song Yan insisted on pursuing the legitimate mother's responsibility, he would lose the moral high ground and would be condemned by everyone wherever he went.

This was his most filial son, and very possibly his only biological son. Song Hongtao naturally had to protect his own son's reputation.

As for Song Zhen, that didn't matter. For a father to punish a son, who else could say anything?

Song Yan glanced at Song Hongtao with some surprise. The 'filial piety' card was played brilliantly. He had originally wanted to drag Song Zhen into this, but he hadn't expected Song Hongtao to be so cooperative. It saved him a lot of trouble.

That gaze made Song Zhen's body tremble. He also hadn't expected the fire to suddenly turn on him.

"Father, I didn't! I've been grounded at home this whole time and haven't gone anywhere! How could I..."

"Speaking of which, the Fifth Young Master met with a few people the day before yesterday."

Just then, Wang Qingshan's old and hoarse voice came slowly:

“I wonder what business the Fifth Young Master had with those people?"

Song Hongtao's eyes narrowed: "Is this true?"

"Yes, Old Master. Those people did not look like good people, they seemed to be ruffians and scoundrels. This old slave took the liberty of driving those people away. Many people saw it at the time."

The corners of Song Yan's mouth also curled into an arc: "The leader of those people, he wouldn't happen to have two intersecting scars on his face, would he?"

These people were arranged by Song Yun. This so-called seventh brother was also meticulous in his work. With this meeting, Song Zhen was now like 'yellow mud in his crotch—even if it's not shit, it's shit.'

It's just that Song Yun didn't know that all the people he had arranged were being closely monitored by Zhao Hu.

"That is indeed the case," Wang Qingshan nodded slightly.

Song Zhen panicked. He was not a smart person to begin with. At this moment, facing the questioning gazes from all directions, he had no idea how to explain.

"I... I was just cooped up in the mansion for too long and asked these friends to help me find some women, I didn't..."

"Shut up," Song Hongtao shouted sternly.

"You dare to do it but don't dare to admit it? How could I, Song Hongtao, have such a spineless son?"

Song Zhen was about to cry. He really didn't do it! Admit what?

He had only asked these people to help him find a few prostitutes. Who could have thought these people would go and try to kill Song Yan?

Even now, his mind was in a state of chaos. He still hadn't figured out what was going on.

"The dignified legitimate son of a Duke's mansion actually hired assassins to murder his younger brother. A crime for which even death is not enough."

Song Hongtao's expression grew even grimmer.

"Fortunately, it did not lead to a great disaster, otherwise I would have definitely made you pay with your life."

Song Zhen immediately let out a sigh of relief, but Song Hongtao's next sentence made his scalp tingle again.

"However, while the death penalty may be avoided, a living punishment cannot be escaped."

"Then use one of your legs to atone to Yan'er.”