I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Chapter 139: Chapter 65: Delivering Silver (Part 2)

Forcing down her fury, Mrs. Cai could only say through clenched teeth, "The Noble Consort has her own good fortune. She has no need for alternative paths."

Hearing Mrs. Cai’s resentful flattery, Song Yunzhao felt it wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted to tear that mask right off Mrs. Cai’s face. ’For over a decade, I had to live under her control, on edge at every single moment.’

Thinking of those days, Song Yunzhao felt a true sense of injustice. ’We were both legitimate daughters. Why did I have to live so wretchedly while Song Qinghan never had to?’

At this thought, the smile on Song Yunzhao’s face vanished. She looked at Mrs. Cai and said mockingly, "I suppose you never expected I’d have a day like this, did you, Madam? All these years you’ve been cruel and hateful towards me, wishing I’d never been born. In your heart, there was only Song Qinghan. I imagine even now you wish it were Song Qinghan sitting here instead. A pity that your own conduct is so improper; the daughter you raised is nothing special, either."

"You..." Mrs. Cai instinctively started to scold her, but the First Madam beside her gave her a gentle push. She immediately snapped back to her senses and said through clenched teeth, "Naturally, whatever the Noble Consort says is true. I have nothing to say."

Song Yunzhao gave a short laugh. "Yes, to the victor go the spoils. Even if you have something to say, you can only keep your mouth shut. I just wonder if my dear maternal family regrets it now. For so many years, I never even existed as a granddaughter in their eyes. Now I’ve had a meteoric rise, but what a pity—they can’t benefit from it."

Mrs. Cai was so angry her vision went black. On the day Song Yunzhao was named a concubine, she had been called back to her maiden home and berated by her brother, then endlessly blamed by her mother. ’But after all these years,’ she fumed, ’hadn’t they also failed to take the initiative to see Song Yunzhao?’

"Don’t take it too far, Noble Consort," Mrs. Cai said through her teeth. "You should know that even after being named a Noble Consort, you will still need your family’s support."

Song Yunzhao laughed at this. "That’s right, I do need my family’s support. I have Father. What does that have to do with you? You’ve always seen me as an eyesore. In the future, I naturally won’t be helping anyone I consider an eyesore." frёewebηovel.cѳm

Mrs. Cai’s heart skipped a beat. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Father is getting older, after all. You will still need the support of your siblings in the future."

"Are you referring to Song Bu Yue, Madam? What does he have to do with me? During all the years you and your daughter bullied me, where was he? Did he ever speak a single word of justice for me? Since I couldn’t count on him in the past, I certainly won’t be counting on him in the future. Besides, other than Song Bu Yue, I also have a younger brother, Song Buming, and two cousins, Song Buran and Song Buchang."

The First Madam subconsciously straightened her spine.

Mrs. Cai was truly starting to panic now. She had never really taken Song Yunzhao’s hatred for her and Song Qinghan to heart. At the end of the day, Song Yunzhao would need the support of a brother, and her son was naturally first in line.

As long as Song Yunzhao had a use for Bu Yue, she had nothing to fear.

But what had Song Yunzhao just said?

Song Buming?

That illegitimate son raised by Aunt Che?

’Song Yunzhao is doing this just to humiliate me!’

Mrs. Cai was truly on the verge of losing her composure. ’How could Song Buming possibly compare to Bu Yue?’

Seeing Mrs. Cai gasping for breath, Song Yunzhao sneered, then ignored her, turning to look at Song Jinxuan. "Second Sister, are Aunt Che and our younger brother doing well?"

Facing Mrs. Cai’s murderous gaze, Song Jinxuan took a deep breath and said, "My mother is doing all right, but a few days ago she somehow displeased the Madam and was punished to kneel for half a day. Her knees were injured, and she’s still in bed, unable to get up. But the doctor said she’ll be able to walk slowly after another half-month’s rest. Bo Ming is studying hard, trying to pass the exam to become a Scholar, so my mother and I don’t dare disturb his studies."

Song Yunzhao hadn’t expected Song Jinxuan to dare complain right in front of Mrs. Cai. It was clear Aunt Che no longer felt intimidated in her struggles against Mrs. Cai. ’If Song Buming becomes a Scholar this time,’ Song Yunzhao mused, ’then the foundation for his mother and sister will be much more stable. Plus, my relationship with Song Jinxuan is quite good, so I can lend them some help.’

Song Yunzhao knew Aunt Che was an ambitious woman. She couldn’t nurture that ambition to the point of shattering the family’s stable foundation. Minor squabbles were fine, but anything bigger was out of the question.

She looked at Song Jinxuan and said with pointed meaning, "Have our younger brother focus on his studies so he can make a name for himself one day. A grown man should have his own ambitions, not be confined by the walls of the rear courtyard."

Song Jinxuan’s heart jumped. She said at once, "Please rest assured, Noble Consort. I will be sure to carefully relay your instructions to our younger brother when I return."

Song Yunzhao then turned to Xie Linlang. "It’s been a long time, Cousin. I truly missed you, which is why I specifically asked you to make this trip. Seeing you looking so well now, I can finally rest easy."