Chapter 328 - Song Yuan’s Visit

Song Yixiao was prepared to be the scapegoat for Wei Mengying, and then she went to the drawing room to greet Song Yuan, “Father, why are you free to come today?”

To her surprise, Song Yuan did not scowl or speak coldly when he saw her, but said gently, “I heard that Qingyue is ill? Is it serious?”

“Thanks for your concern. The fever has gone down yesterday, and Aunt Yun says that as long as she recuperates for two more days, she will be fine.” Song Yixiao had never seen her own father treat her with kindness since Wei Mengying had remarried, so instead of feeling flattered, she was wary, wondering what her father was up to.

When Song Yuan saw that she had no intention of bringing Jian Qingyue over, let alone inviting him in to see his granddaughter, his eyes showed disappointment. But he also knew that the gap between he and his daughter was too wide to be bridged with just a few words.

So he didn’t mention it, but just said, “You seem to have lost a lot of weight. Is it because you’re tired from looking after the baby these two days?”

“Father, you haven’t seen me for a long time. So, you must forget what I look like.” Song Yixiao smiled lightly, “Unlike the previous two years, I’ve gained some weight!”

Song Yuan turned his head a little awkwardly and looked at the famous paintings hanging on the wall. Then he said, “It’s good that you live a good life.”

Song Yixiao was thinking if there was any other meaning in his words, and pondering the purpose of his visit today. But Song Yuan had already stood up and said, “I’m leaving.”

“Father, you rarely come here, won’t you stay longer?” Song Yixiao was relieved after hearing this, but out of politeness, she said, “Two days ago, the servant sent some seasonal fruits from the manor, I’ll get some for you to try.”

She was just being polite, but Song Yuan nodded, “That’s fine.”

Seeing him sitting back down, Song Yixiao felt so remorseful that she wanted to slap herself twice. If she had known it, she might as well have just sent him away!

But since Song Yuan wasn’t planning to leave, she had no choice but to hold back her remorseful emotion and order someone to fetch the seasonal fruits.

She expected her father to finish eating quickly and leave, but Song Yuan didn’t move much and only hesitated to talk to her. The father and daughter had never sat down to talk for years. How could they have anything to talk about now?

In the end, Song Yuan said, “I heard that after Dowager Consort of Hengshan passed away, she left a fortune to you. But you gave it all to Lu Guanlun, who had been adopted.”

“Where did you hear that?” Song Yixiao thought to herself whether this was the reason for his visit today. She was surprised and asked.

She thought that she had done this very discreetly, and the people involved were not those who could not keep secrets. How did Song Yuan know about it?

Although Song Yixiao was surprised, she had nothing to fear. She did nothing wrong. If this spread, it would only help her gain good reputation. She wouldn’t be harmed.

Song Yuan said, “Marquis Boling told me.”

“Marquis Boling?” Song Yixiao was confused, and after a quick thought, she decided to ask, “I wonder why he told you about this?”

“He wanted to buy a few manors from me for his sister, and he happened to talk about it when we were negotiating the price.” Song Yuan could see that she didn’t seem to want to mention it, so he didn’t talk more about it. He said, “Although that estate is not much, your dowry back then was not much. You gave it all to Lu Guanlun. I’m afraid the fortune left for your children won’t be much.”

Song Yixiao did not care, “It is enough for them to be well clothed and fed. Besides, the duke’s mansion also has some properties.”

Speaking of this, she remembered the property that her stepmother, Madam Lu, had brought her. She asked Song Yuan, “Father, you asked Mother to bring me those things. I wonder if she took them by mistake?”

“There is no mistake.” Song Yuan’s face changed. Then he said, “Didn’t Jian Xiuhuang go to ask about it?”

He paused, and then took out a brocade box from his sleeve, “In fact, I have come over today to give something to my granddaughter.”

Song Yixiao looked at the box with some suspicion and said, “Father is really regarding me as an outsider. Why do you be so polite to your own family? Besides, Qingyue is still too young. She won’t understand if you give her something!”

“If she doesn’t understand, just keep it for her, and give it to her when she grows up.” Song Yuan was silent for a moment, and then suddenly became a little agitated. He impatiently put the box down on the table and got up, “You can throw it away if you really find it annoying!”

With that, he walked out!

Seeing this, Song Yixiao had to follow him and said, “What are you saying, Father? If that’s the case, I’ll thank you for Qingyue!”

She thought that this time she would be able to send her guest off successfully.

Song Yuan had already walked for a while, then he thought about it and stopped. He turned his head to ask, “I haven’t met Qingyue yet. May I go and see her?”

Song Yixiao suddenly looked wary. She thought that Song Yuan’s behavior today was very different from usual. Did he go around in such a big circle just to harm Jian Qingyue?

But when her biological grandfather mentioned to visit his granddaughter in front of the subordinates, she couldn’t reject directly. After a quick thought, Song Yixiao gave Jinxun a wink and ordered her to invite Aunt Yun, while trying to find an excuse, “Qingyue just recovered a couple of days ago, so I’m afraid you’ll be affected. How about I bring her to see you in a couple of days?”

As for whether or not she would take her daughter to the Song Family’s residence in a couple of days, naturally, only God would know!

Song Yuan obviously figured out what she was thinking, and shook his head, “Didn’t you just say that she’s fine? How can I still be affected? Besides, I’m in my prime. If you can look after her, why can’t I go and see her?”

Seeing this, Song Yixiao had no choice but to reluctantly guide him towards the back.

Luckily, when they got to Jian Qingyue’s room, Aunt Yun was already there.

Song Yuan did not know Aunt Yun, but he had heard that there was such a doctor in the mansion of Duke of Yan. He saw that she was dressed differently from the subordinates, and he could smell the faint scent of medicine from a distance. How could he not know in his heart?

He could not help but smile bitterly. He knew that his eldest daughter was not close to him, but he had never imagined that she was not close to him to this extent. Even when he wanted to see his granddaughter, she was afraid that he would do something to her so that she had to call the female doctor to keep a close eye on him!

It could be imagined how Song Yuan felt in his heart. But he knew he was in the wrong and had nothing to say. He just stared at Jian Qingyue for a while and took off a jade pendant as the greeting present. With Song Yixiao’s urges, he could only left unwillingly.

When he left, Song Yixiao naturally had to see him off.

Standing within the threshold, she watched him walk away. When he reached the far end, he seemed to look back, raising his sleeve for a while, not knowing whether it was to shield himself from the sun or to wipe away the occasional fallen leaves. It couldn’t be to wipe away his tears, could it?

Song Yixiao’s heart suddenly felt empty for no apparent reason, as if something were about to happen.

“It seems that these two days of looking after Qingyue was indeed too tiring.” She thought to herself, “Father doesn’t pick a right time, but inexplicably shows today. It causes me to think too much!”

She didn’t pay any attention to Song Yuan and turned around to go back to the back hall and ordered the servant to close the door.

She didn’t know that Song Yuan’s eyes were red when he returned to his residence. Even though he avoided the servants all the way, Madam Lu soon got the news.

Madam Lu hurriedly addressed the matter at hand and rushed to the study to ask what was going on. But when she entered the atrium outside the study, she heard a delicate voice coming from behind the green window screen, “Master…”

It was Concubine Liu who had arrived first.

Madam Lu’s face darkened. She wanted to leave but she was concerned about Song Yuan. She wanted to stay but she was afraid that Concubine Liu would flirt with Song Yuan on purpose like before. Song Yuan didn’t react to it but he also didn’t refuse her. At that time, she didn’t know whether she should watch it or not. She was too embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

As she was hesitating, she heard a heavy thud from behind the green window screen, followed by Song Yuan’s cold rebuke, “Get out!”

Madam Lu was taken aback. Before she could react to what was going on, she heard Liu Zhijin say with a sobbing voice, “Master, what is wrong with…you?”

Song Yuan did not answer. But a moment later, Liu Zhijin who was disheveled was pushed out of the study with her bun of hair pulled. Song Yuan probably did not see Madam Lu standing outside, and directly fiercely closed the door. According to the sound of the movement, he was sitting back behind the book case.

Liu Zhijin was apologizing with sobbing, hoping that Song Yuan would show mercy for her. But when she saw Madam Lu, she stopped. She wiped her face with her sleeve casually and tidied her make-up and clothes slightly, and then walked past Madam Lu with her head held high. As she walked past, she saw Madam Lu staring at her. Perhaps she felt humiliated, so she said with a sneer, “Are you laughing at me, Madam? But I am only serving people now, so it is natural that I am occasionally reprimanded by Master. On the other hand, Madam, you are his official wife, yet you don’t even dare to enter the study? Ha!”

With a flick of her sleeve, she went away with a flourish.

Madam Lu didn’t want to be angry with her. After she had gone, Madam Lu stood in the atrium for a while before walking to the study and knocking gently on the door.

“Is that Lyu?” Song Yuan didn’t get angry this time, but only said wearily, “Come in!”

Madam Lu’s name was Lyulian.

Hearing that, she pushed the door open and walked in. She walked to the back of the bookshelf, and saw Song Yuan supported his forehead, sitting behind the bookcase, looking exhausted.

“What is the matter?” Madam Lu walked over to rub his temples. Neither the husband nor the wife spoke. After a moment, she asked in a soft voice, “Is it because you are too worried about your official duties?”

“I went to see Yixiao’s daughter today.” Song Yuan didn’t move, but said in a hoarse voice, “That child doesn’t look like Yixiao at all, but like Jian Xiuhuang a lot.”

Madam Lu was stunned for a while. She knew that her husband didn’t like his eldest daughter. And after Wei Mengying’s instigation, she even suspected that he didn’t really like his daughters at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have helped her ask Elder Lady Pang for his third daughter?

She never expected him to go to see Song Yixiao’s daughter. Madam Lu couldn’t guess what he was thinking, so she subconsciously said, “Daughters are always like their fathers, so when she gives birth to her first son, he should look like her.”

Speaking of this, she thought of his behavior against Liu Zhijin, and suspected that there had been an argument between the father and daughter and that Song Yixiao must have said something to stimulate Song Yuan. So she said gently, “I heard that Qingyue had a bad fever two days ago, and that Yixiao was so anxious. Although Qingyue has gotten better in the past two days, I think she still can’t feel relieved as a mother. When people have problems in their hearts, they will inevitably be more impatient in their words and actions. Do you agree?”

Song Yuan understood the meaning of her words, but smiled miserably and said, “You still don’t know about Yixiao? She is the smartest. The more she hates me, the more she refuses to reveal it. I suddenly feel that I have done many things wrong over the years!”

“What are you saying, Master?” Actually, Madam Lu also felt that Song Yuan had treated Song Yixiao shabbily. Even though Wei Mengying had abandoned Song Yuan and brought shame to the whole Song Family, Song Yixiao was innocent and she was Song Yuan’s child. It was unreasonable to be angry with her.

However, as she looked at Song Yuan’s gloomy face, she felt distressed and comforted him, “it is said that parents always have their good reasons. Yixiao is most understanding and generous. We can talk with her about it gradually in the future. She will understand it.”

But Song Yuan shook his head and said bitterly, “It’s too late.”

“How can that be?” Madam Lu thought he was saying that it was too late to resume the relationship with Song Yixiao and said, “Although Yixiao has already become a mother, she is still young and her husband is in his prime, so there is ample time ahead. Besides, one can truly understand the intentions of her parents and understand her parents after she becomes a mother!”

As he listened to his step-wife’s gentle words of advice, and thought of the moments with Madam Lu since she married into his family, water stains unexpectedly appeared on the table in front of Song Yuan. He murmured, ““It would be nice if you are my original partner.”

Madam Lu didn’t expect that and was surprised at first, then felt a huge wave of sweetness rushing through her heart. She was so happy that her heart thumped, and even her hands pressing the corner of his forehead stopped for a while before she could hold back her joy and said, “The past is past. After all, we are now a couple, aren’t we?”

But Song Yuan only smiled a little and did not say anything.

The kind-hearted and caring Madam Lu was right beside him, but the person who he was thinking of at this moment was the one who had left so cruelly. He had often heard the elders say that Jiangnan Hall prone is easy to come out of love, but he had never thought so. At this time, he couldn’t lie to himself and he didn’t want to do so.

He moved away Madam Lu’s hands, wiped the corners of his eyes and looked up, “Madam Liu is becoming more and more unruly. She has been spoiled by Mother and is behaving in a way that is out of line with our family rules. You ask her to pack up her things later. I have already promised to send her to the subordinate.”

This sudden decision surprised and puzzled Madam Lu, but Song Yuan’s words were not yet finished, “As for Yijiao, it’s not good for Mother to keep taking care of her. Mother is old after all. I’ll go to Mother’s place later and bring her back. I can only bother you to look after her along with Yiyao.”