Chapter Forty: Rumors

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As long as the silver and the message were delivered together, someone trustworthy would pass the news on to her elder brother.

Song Xirui smiled and nodded. “Then I shall sit back and wait to see what your brother can do!”

“Don’t worry!” Hongdou replied, cocking her little mouth. “My brother is formidable now. If he proves useless, I’ll scold him on your behalf!”

—

The following day.

Fresh rumors began circulating throughout the city.

“I tell you, that new top scholar is truly despicable!” a woman selling radishes shouted to the old woman running the stall beside hers.

“Who could deny it? What kind of man keeps a mistress right under his lawful wife’s nose? That Scholar Su was never a good man to begin with!” the other woman said as she handed vegetables to a customer.

“Oh, I’m not talking about that! The Su family has run out of money! He’s forcing his lawful wife to subsidize the household! Didn’t the Su family sell off a batch of belongings a few days ago? That was because the poor legitimate wife had been driven to desperation!”

“My goodness! He looks so refined and elegant, yet he’s actually trying to live off a woman. The Marquis certainly misjudged him!”

The two women exchanged words as though they were merely chatting without a care.

Yet everyone knew that while the speaker might be thoughtless, the listener was not. Those words spread like leaves scattered by the wind, falling everywhere.

By the time Su Yun learned of it, more than half the capital already knew.

—

The Song Residence.

Cold sweat poured from Su Yun as he looked timidly at Song Jing across from him. His voice trembled. “Father-in-law, I truly never made things difficult for my wife. The rumors outside are nothing but lies!”

Before coming here, the Third Prince had repeatedly warned him.

He had cautioned Su Yun never to lose the goodwill of the Song family. Only then did Su Yun belatedly realize that a considerable part of the other party’s willingness to extend him an olive branch was because he was the son-in-law of a marquis.

He, Lady Li, and Luo Yuner had even congratulated themselves, thinking they could finally suppress Song Xirui. Little had they known that he was the one borrowing the tiger’s might to intimidate others.

“Hmph! Spare me your deceit!” Song Jing glared at him and sneered coldly. “It seems I mistook rubble for jade.”

After hearing the rumors circulating outside, Song Jing had been so furious he could nearly burst a blood vessel. He had immediately summoned Song Xirui and ordered her to bring Su Yun home so that this wretched boy could be properly disciplined.

“Father-in-law, I truly am innocent and deeply wronged! Heaven and earth can testify to my feelings for Xirui. From this day forth, if I ever wrong her in the slightest, may I die a horrible death!” Su Yun pointed toward the heavens and swore.

At that moment, Madam Song promptly undermined him. “A man’s mouth is the mouth of a lying ghost!”

Song Jing, sitting beside her, fell silent.

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He did not contradict her.

Seeing this, Su Yun could only turn to Song Xirui and ingratiate himself. “My wife, what happened a few days ago was my fault. I apologize to you here and now. If anything displeases you in the future, do not endure it in silence.”

Song Jing felt increasingly irritated at the sight of him.

This boy must have deceived his daughter in precisely this manner!

Song Xirui caught her father’s eye and gave him a subtle signal.

Then she said gently, “Father, Mother, my husband is an upright and honorable man. How could he be as the rumors outside claim? I believe there must be some misunderstanding.”

“Xirui, you—” Madam Song had just begun to speak when Song Jing lightly nudged her leg beneath the table.

The scornful words on the tip of her tongue abruptly stopped. Reluctantly, Madam Song nodded.

“Since you trust him so deeply, your mother will say no more. But remember this: if your father and I discover that you have suffered any grievance in the Su household, we will bring you home at once!”

Though Madam Song appeared to be advising her daughter, every word was really meant for Su Yun.

Su Yun cast Song Xirui a grateful glance and hurriedly assured them both, “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, rest assured. From now on, I will never let my wife shed a single tear.”

Only then did Song Jing nod.

By the time the two of them left the Song Residence, most of Su Yun’s clothes were soaked through with sweat.

The carriage rolled slowly onward. The two sat facing each other in silence, but Song Xirui knew that after this incident, Su Yun would no longer dare to provoke her recklessly.

Sure enough, after they returned to the Su Residence, Su Yun took the initiative to visit Begonia Court and attempt to placate her.

“Madam, I owe you thanks for helping me out of trouble before your father today,” Su Yun said gently.

He was elegant and refined, with the bearing of a cultivated gentleman.

If Song Xirui had not seen the hideous face beneath his mask, she would never have believed that such a mild and gracious exterior concealed the face of a demon.

Song Xirui had Red Bean serve tea before taking her seat. “What are you saying, Husband? As husband and wife, we are one. We ought to support each other.”

Then, as though the thought had only just occurred to her, she added, “As for the rumors outside, I suppose some malicious person is trying to harm you. You should be more careful, Husband. If you catch anyone spreading such nonsense, do not hesitate to punish them severely.”

Su Yun would never dare to search for the culprit.

Everything he had done was disgraceful. If the matter were brought before a magistrate, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

Sure enough, Su Yun shook his head as soon as he heard this. “The innocent need no defense. Where would I find the time to entangle myself with such people? Still, I thank you for your concern, Madam.”

He had initially assumed that Song Xirui was behind the entire affair. But after hearing her words, he began to feel that she had nothing to do with it.

Most of his suspicions vanished.

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He spoke gently. “You have worked hard these past few days. From now on, you shall have the final say in every household matter.”

If he wanted Song Xirui’s heart to return to him, naturally he had to curry favor with her.

The authority over household affairs had always belonged to Song Xirui, though Lady Li and Luo Yuner had often criticized her decisions. His words now were merely intended to please her.

Thus, when Song Xirui heard this, she smiled. “Husband is truly kind to me! Then from now on, I need not hold myself back anymore. I may act as I please?”

What a foolish woman. She was so easy to deceive.

Su Yun mocked her inwardly, then said aloud, “Naturally. That is precisely how it should be.”

—

The following day.

Su Yun went to court for the morning assembly.

Song Xirui went straight to Luo Yuner’s courtyard with several servants in tow.

Luo Yuner had been wondering how to seek trouble with Song Xirui.

When she saw her arrival, she was startled. She immediately went out into the courtyard and put on a fragile, aggrieved expression. “Cousin Sister-in-law, have I done something to displease you? Why have you brought so many people into my courtyard? You are frightening me.”

Song Xirui sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard and smiled faintly. “Cousin, do not misunderstand me. I did not come here to deal with you. I am here to punish a few sharp-tongued servants.”

Luo Yuner stiffened. She immediately understood that Song Xirui intended to deal with the people in her courtyard and hurriedly said, “Wait! This matter should be discussed after my husband returns!”

“Hmph!” Song Xirui cast her a cold glance, her eyes growing colder. “If I wait for my husband to return, will my word as the young madam still count?”

Then she shouted, “Listen carefully! Nanny Wang, Cuilian, Xiaoping, and Hu Chun have all been spreading malicious gossip about me behind my back. According to the household rules, sell them off!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the servants beside her moved to seize them.

Luo Yuner’s expression changed. “Let me see which of you dares lay a hand on them!”

The words had barely left her mouth when the servants, without even sparing her a glance, continued with what they were doing.

Luo Yuner’s face turned livid.

Damn it! These people actually weren’t afraid of her!