The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 669 - 668: When Parents Love Their Child, They Plan Far Ahead

Chapter 669: Chapter 668: When Parents Love Their Child, They Plan Far Ahead

Wang Yongzhu blinked her eyes innocently and turned to look at Song Chongjin, "Brother Song, after you and your father recognize each other, you will be going separate ways, won’t you? Does that make you sad?"

Song Chongjin didn’t even lift his head, "Not sad."

Wang Yongzhu looked at Song Hong with innocence, "You see, Brother Song is not sad."

Song Hong...

"Maid, look, I’ve been struggling outside for most of my life, and only then have I earned such a large estate. Not to mention anything else, my Duke Weiguo Residence now holds some standing in the eyes of the Emperor in Capital City. Why do you think I did this? Isn’t it for my descendants? The only people I have wronged in this life are Chongjin’s mother and him alone, and now that we have finally recognized each other, I truly wish to make some amends. I’ll also set things straight for you, if you come back to Capital City with me and find yourselves tired of living in the mansion, I have some manors and a large house outside. You can pick any one you prefer to live in without feeling confined by the rules of the mansion, how about that?"

As soon as the words fell, Song Chongjin’s hand, peeling sunflower seeds, paused.

Wang Yongzhu’s face also grew serious; she had originally intended to go along with Song Hong’s remarks, to listen to more of what shameless things he could say.

But this arrangement, while claiming to care for Song Chongjin and giving him preferential treatment, in reality still treats him as an illegitimate child who is not presentable in public, not even allowed to enter Duke’s Mansion. What kind of recognition is this, to which family does he belong? Is this to go to Capital City just to become a laughingstock for others?

"Lord Duke, I have a question that I really don’t understand," Wang Yongzhu didn’t beat around the bush. It seemed with someone like Song Hong, unless she spoke plainly, he would keep feigning ignorance.

"What question?" Song Hong looked at Wang Yongzhu.

"Is Brother Song really your biological son? Are you truly Brother Song’s real father?" Wang Yongzhu asked earnestly as she looked at Song Hong’s face.

Song Hong was startled, "What do you mean by this? Do you think I’m an impostor? As a noble Duke, would I need to falsely claim someone else’s child?"

It seemed that these words had stung Song Hong, for the first time a chilling murderous aura characteristic of a war-hardened general emanated from him.

Song Chongjin stood up abruptly, placing Wang Yongzhu behind him, warily watching Song Hong.

Song Hong, upon seeing the look in Song Chongjin’s eyes, could not help but subdue some of his imposing aura, wanting to say something, yet feeling his prestige falter, he hesitated for a moment before saying sternly, "You can eat recklessly, but you must not speak recklessly! With your unbridled tongue, how will you manage household affairs for Chongjin in the future? Won’t you just be making enemies for him everywhere?"

"That’s exactly what I wanted to tell Lord Duke! Since you claim to be Brother Song’s father, and repeatedly say you are considering his feelings, wanting to compensate him! Yet, I’ve not seen the slightest sincerity from Lord Duke, all I have seen is the lure of glory and riches, stemming from an innate disdain," said Wang Yongzhu, her keen senses feeling the murderous intent even more strongly than Song Chongjin did.

Any ordinary person would likely be so frightened by this aura that their legs would go weak and they’d kneel on the ground.

Wang Yongzhu herself felt her breath being held for a moment, but reflexively, the Physical Enhancement Technique she had learned began circulating within her body, slightly shifting her posture into a defensive stance.

The force of the murderous aura and its impact on her immediately lessened.

If Song Hong were to notice, with his battle-field honed perception, he’d probably realize something was amiss right away.

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Fortunately, Song Chongjin stood in front of her, and Song Hong’s attention was immediately drawn away by Song Chongjin.

Wang Yongzhu took a deep breath and spoke bluntly, she had realized that this Song Hong was an extremely arrogant person. Perhaps it was because of the heavy authority accumulated over the years as Lord Duke, and his stationing at the borders made him unchallenged.

The decisions he made, the so-called good he did for others, were actually all based on his own perceptions and feelings.

"You, a peasant girl, what do you understand? How do I lack sincerity? I personally take him back, he is my son, what is wrong with him enjoying wealth and honor? How do I look down upon him? You better give me a clear explanation today, otherwise—" Song Hong finally revealed the cold and ruthless side of a power-entrenched official that had been cultivated over the years.

"Well then, if parents love their child, they should plan for his long-term future. That is something Lord Duke surely doesn’t need me to explain, right? My deceased mother-in-law, why did she give up wealth and honor and escape while she was pregnant with Brother Song? For what reason? It was just to avoid her child being born as an illegitimate child! What is an illegitimate child? Does Lord Duke not know?" Wang Yongzhu scoffed, and since Song Hong still wanted to maintain his facade of a loving father, she wouldn’t be blamed for tearing down his dignity.

"You—" Song Hong’s face flushed red with anger, and he tried to say something, but looking at Song Chongjin’s indifferent expression, he was rendered speechless.

"From what Brother Song told me, Lord Duke himself said that my mother-in-law had been a lady from a reputable family, who never stepped outside the main gate or crossed the threshold of the inner gate. Yet while pregnant, she easily escaped from Lord Duke’s secondary residence, and even when Lord Duke ordered a complete search, nobody found her!"

"It is said that the Duke Weiguo Residence was founded on military merits, and generation after generation many were military generals. Yet, they could not find a pregnant woman, weak with child. Lord Duke, should I suspect that my late mother-in-law was a martial arts master, or should I suspect that you never sent anyone, rather letting her wander the world?" Wang Yongzhu’s words were cold.

Song Hong instinctively started to reply immediately, "Of course I sent people to look for her—" but he stopped in the middle of his sentence, his face suddenly turning ugly.

"What else is there—" It took a long while before Song Hong was able to squeeze out a voice between clenched teeth.

Song Chongjin looked at Wang Yongzhu and shook his head, signaling her not to say any more. In his view, Wang Yongzhu’s words were tantamount to slapping Song Hong’s face.

He could pretend to be confused before, but now that the veil had been torn away, it made his so-called love for Qi Huan and his guilt towards himself look so pale and laughable. How could he, as a Lord Duke, save face?

Even if he could pretend to bear it right now, there was a fear that if he held a grudge against Yongzhu behind the scenes, it would be unpredictable and undefendable.

He knew that Yongzhu wanted to stand up for herself, but for him, Song Hong was just a stranger without emotional ties, so he naturally did not feel aggrieved or unjust.

Wang Yongzhu originally had a whole bellyful of accusations, but seeing Song Chongjin shaking his head, she just smiled it off and remained silent.

Song Hong, noticing the unspoken exchange between the two, and seeing Song Chongjin’s indifferent face, realized there might be a rift in his heart, which made him both anxious and angry.

Slamming the table, he said, "I told you to speak, so speak! How is it that you had such courage before, and now you’re playing dumb?"

Song Chongjin stepped forward, "If you are angry, direct it at me! Yongzhu is timid and can’t withstand such intimidation from you! Moreover, you are Lord Duke, and if she happened to say something unintentionally offensive to you, and your subordinates harbored resentment in their hearts—"

There was no need to state it too clearly; Song Hong understood immediately.

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