Elderly people often like to be stubborn. The First Lady exchanged a knowing gnce with Nanny Huang, then sighed and urged Old Lady Song, "Every parent has a heart for their children; what kind of parents would ever hold grudges against their offspring? You know Linng's temperament better than anyone. If she had even the slightest way to solve her problems, she wouldn't have written home asking for help... She must be facing some truly dire situation... Why act like a child throwing a tantrum with your own daughter?"

  Song Linng is Old Lady Song's only daughter. If Old Lady Song were truly willing to let go, she wouldn't have been so concerned all this time, often sending people to inquire about her. The First Lady, having been Old Lady Song's daughter-in-w for many years, felt she understood her thoughts quite well.

  Old Lady Song spat in frustration, tears welling up in her eyes. "Hmph! Even if we want to give her our hearts and souls, she has to appreciate it... If only she had listened to me, would things have gotten this far?"

  The First Lady understood that Old Lady Song felt helpless about Song Linng. She sighed in response, "But she is your daughter after all. How can you hold so much against her?"

  Of course, Old Lady Song couldn't truly ignore the life and death of her own daughter. Moreover, this was the first time Song Linng had written home for help since her marriage, and no matter how much anger Old Lady Song held inside, she never considered turning a blind eye.

  Outside, the sound of the wind gusted, and the howling gale smmed against the windows with loud rattling. As the curtain lightly swayed, Song Chengru entered the room cloaked in wind and snow alongside Eldest Master Song.

  "Has there been a letter from Qingzhou?" Old Master Song removed his cloak himself, asking urgently, "What does it say? How is Linng...?"

  Eldest Master Song's face was full of concern, and when he noticed a few pieces of paper scattered on the floor, he guessed that Old Lady Song had thrown them in anger. He quickly picked them up and handed them to Old Master Song.

  As Old Master Song read, his brows furrowed almost to a point.

  "Outrageous!" he excimed, unable to suppress his anger, smming his hand on the table beside him and breathing heavily. "This Xiang Yunchang truly considers himself untouchable!"

  Old Lady Song also sneered inwardly, letting out a mocking hum and, in an unusually scornful tone, said, "Doesn't he just? If he didn't see himself as some grand figure, would he dare to abandon his wife for his concubine like this?"

  Abandoning one's wife for a concubine?! The First Lady had not expected the situation to be this severe; she was stunned, momentarily unable to react. In the Great Zhou dynasty, abandoning one's wife for a concubine was illegal. Could Xiang Yunchang truly be willing to throw his future away?

  The Eldest Master quickly stepped forward and took the letter from Old Master Song's hand. After a single gnce, he was nearly boiling with rage. Known for his calm nature, he couldn't hold back his curses at Xiang Yunchang. "That heartless beast in human clothing! Does he really think that being far from the capital means no one will discover his actions? To treat my sister and her daughter so ruthlessly!"

  First Lady took the letter, gasping at its contents. It reported that Xiang Yunchang's eldest illegitimate son had fallen severely ill, and a local shaman decred it was due to Xiang Linng's daughter, Mingzi's supposed curse. According to the shaman, Mingzi was destined to bring misfortune, not only to her brother but to her father as well, even predicting that she would curse Xiang Yunchang to death. Astonishingly, Xiang Yunchang believed this and decided to disown his daughter and expel her from the family.

  Outrageous and absurd! The First Lady couldn't bear to read any further. She smmed the letter on the table in fury, exciming, "This is too much! Does he truly believe our noble family has no one to stand up for it?"

  For four or five years, he had not even sent seasonal or New Year's gifts. If he truly respected the noble family, how could he act like this?

  Just as Song Chuyi entered, she heard the First Lady's outburst. With a quick look at everyone's expressions, she immediately understood that something must have happened to Song Linng in Qingzhou.

  Her brother-in-w truly had audaciously disregarded the influence of the powerful Song family, his wife's retives.

  Old Lady Song signaled for the First Lady to hand the letter to Song Chuyi, sneering, "That foolish girl Linng! I originally had no intention of meddling in her affairs. But not a single thing Xiang Yunchang does resembles the actions of a decent human! Mingzi is his own flesh and blood, yet he could bear to be so ruthless!"

  Old Master Song gred at the letter with a cold sneer and turned to look at Song Chuyi. "Chuyi, would you like to pay your dear brother-in-w a visit?"

  After saying this, he looked at Old Lady Song, saying decisively, "If he is unkind, then we won't be merciful either. I am about to depart for Jiangnan and cannot go myself. You, along with Chuyi and Third Son, will personally go to Qingzhou to arrange for them to divorce."

  Third Master Song was on leave and should be arriving in the capital any day now.

  Song Chuyi understood what Old Master Song meant—he not only wanted Linng to divorce from the Xiang family but was also likely pnning to ruin Xiang's family.

  The Eldest Master hesitated, "But Mother is getting on in years, so... perhaps I should go instead."

  "No!" Old Master Song shook his head coldly, looking at Old Lady Song and saying with a tone that allowed no refusal, "Mingying, you will go personally. And while you're there, ask your daughter what she truly wants. If she agrees to return, that's well and good; we will support her and her daughter. But if she stubbornly refuses, like before, then tell her that from now on, her life or death will no longer concern our Song family."

  Song Chuyi lowered her head, nearly sighing. In her past life, no matter how much she loved Shen Qingrang, her passion eventually faded after seeing his true nature. But why was Song Linng so persistently attached?

  She wondered if, after what happened to Xiang Mingzi, Song Linng might finally see Xiang Yunchang for who he truly was. People often say that motherhood makes one strong, but if she disregards her daughter... then Old Master Song's words may indeed be justified. No one can manage the life and death of someone like that.

  Having been married to Old Master Song for so many years, Old Lady Song understood well that he was genuinely enraged this time. His anger was not only directed at Xiang Yunchang's cruelty but also at his daughter's foolishness and ck of spirit.

  "I heard Yunshang brought the letter to the capital. She's been with Linng for years. Once she's had some rest, I'll ask her about it," Old Lady Song responded, sidestepping Old Master Song's words. "This has gone too far, and if we do nothing, the Xiang family may truly think no one in the Song family will act. Since you've said so, I'll wait for Third Son, and then I'll personally go to Qingzhou."