Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 112 - The True Green Hat Saintly Physique

In the eyes of the servants and gatekeepers of the Duke's mansion, the current Song Yan carried bad luck with him at all times.

Ever since Song Yan was engaged to Luo Tianxuan, every time he returned to the Duke's mansion, someone would be unlucky.

Xiao Cui.

Zhang Xiaoshan.

Song Zhen.

The only exception was probably the time nearly a month ago.

That time, after Song Yan returned to the Duke's mansion, he didn't interact with anyone else, and only spoke with Yang Siyao for a long time. It didn't lead to anyone's death.

No, that's not right. It seems that just after Song Yan left, twenty to thirty handmaidens and servants inexplicably disappeared from the Duke's mansion the next day.

Could it be that this was also jinxed by Song Yan?

With this thought, the gatekeeper's expression became even uglier.

Hearing the footsteps gradually approaching, even though he was terrified to the extreme, he still forced a smile onto his face:

"Ninth Young Master, the Old Master is already waiting in the study."

Song Yan nodded but didn't reply.

Seeing Song Yan's back gradually disappear, the gatekeeper finally let out a heavy breath. His eyes stung, and only then did he realize that the sweat from his forehead had rolled into his eyes at some point.

Entering the Duke's mansion, the handmaidens he encountered along the way all saluted properly. Looking closely, one could even see that many people's bodies were shivering. The situation of being bullied by everyone in the Duke's mansion, as it was in the past, would ultimately never happen again.

From afar, Song Yan could see that the lights in the study were still on. There were many figures inside, looking quite lively. From time to time, he could even hear the sound of orioles and swallows. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on Nove1Fire.net

As for Butler Wang, he was standing guard outside the door.

This strange scene made a slight doubt rise in Song Yan's heart. Could it be that this Song Hongtao was fooling around with his little concubines in the study himself, and had Butler Wang stand guard at the door?

Butler Wang is so old. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?

With a strange feeling, he walked over. Butler Wang just nodded at Song Yan and didn't say much. He turned and pushed open the door, and the situation inside the study was exposed before Song Yan's eyes.

There were indeed many women in the study, to the point that the fragrance of cosmetics was extremely strong. Song Yan felt his nose itch and had the urge to sneeze.

Of course, the scene had not yet degenerated to an irredeemable point.

Most of these women were standing. Lin Xiangwan, whom he had met once before, was standing behind Song Hongtao, her fingers gently kneading his shoulders.

It could be seen that her technique was not bad.

Song Hongtao's face was full of a relaxed and comfortable expression.

Besides Song Hongtao, there were two other women sitting in the study, their faces showing a bit of smugness.

Seven women, all probably around their late twenties or early thirties. Their figures were mostly curvaceous, their looks could only be considered average. After all, Song Hongtao was already so old. What he valued was these women's ability to bear children. Figure and appearance were secondary.

Hearing the noise, everyone's gazes, including Song Hongtao's, turned over in unison.

"The Ninth Young Master has arrived. Quick, sit, sit." Lin Xiangwan was a tactful person. A smile blossomed on her gentle face, and she moved a chair.

"Has the Ninth Young Master had supper yet? I'll have the kitchen prepare something."

Song Yan shook his head: "Thank you, Concubine, but there's no need."

The other concubines came over one by one to give a salute, and even the two who had been sitting were no exception.

Song Hongtao also sat up straight, his face full of joy. The slight suspicion in his heart had already been suppressed by him.

He had already come to terms with it. In this day and age, if you want to get by, sometimes it's better to be a little muddle-headed. As long as Song Yan's existence could bring benefits to him and the Song family, whether he was his biological son or not was no longer that important.

"Yan'er is back. You won't blame Father for finding a few more concubines, will you?" Song Hongtao said with a chuckle.

Song Yan also smiled: "Since ancient times, there have only been the commands of parents. Where is there a case of children interfering with their parents? That would be unfilial."

"Hehe, as long as Yan'er doesn't mind." Song Hongtao cleared his throat and spoke again.

"When we were outside Songzhou city, Yan'er could tell that your Concubine Lin was pregnant. Since you're back, why don't you check the other concubines as well? Would that be alright?"

Song Yan did not reply, but his gaze swept over the faces of these women.

He could tell at a glance that the two concubines who were sitting were also pregnant. Otherwise, it wouldn't be just the two of them sitting. Song Hongtao must have had the mansion's physician check them immediately after he returned.

Tsk.

I had originally thought that Song Hongtao had been cuckolded again, but who would have thought it was actually three times?

This is the true congenital green hat saintly physique. Compared to Song Hongtao, even Fang Jun has to step aside. This fellow is either already wearing a green hat, or on the way to wearing a green hat.

For so many years, the green on his head has never faded.

Thinking this, Song Yan's gaze towards Song Hongtao became a little pitiful.

Regardless, Song Yan still checked the concubines one by one.

"Yan'er, did you find anything?" Song Hongtao asked, rubbing his hands, an irrepressible excitement in his eyes.

Lin Xiangwan had already brought the tea. Song Yan took a sip and raised his hand to point at one of the sitting women: "This Concubine..."

"Her surname is Zhang. Just call her Concubine Zhang," Song Hongtao said hurriedly.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, when did Father find Concubine Zhang?" Song Yan asked, blinking his eyes.

Song Hongtao thought for a moment: "About twenty days ago."

"And before that, had Father performed the rites of husband and wife with Concubine Zhang?"

This question was a bit improper, but Song Yan clearly didn't care. Song Hongtao also vaguely felt that something was wrong. His brow furrowed:

"Absolutely not. Yan'er, what exactly is the matter?"

Song Yan blew on the steam rising from his teacup.

"In another eight months, she should be able to give birth to a big, fat baby boy."

With a swish, Song Hongtao's face darkened. His fingers, which had been resting on the armrest, couldn't help but clench tight. His knuckles turned white, and his nails seemed to scrape against the chair, making a creaking sound.

His slightly plump body trembled.

He was not very smart, but he was definitely not an idiot. How could he not understand the meaning behind Song Yan's words?

For a moment, his gaze towards that Concubine Zhang was full of ferocity and venom. The anger and hatred from being fooled by Yang Miaoqing surged into his brain in an instant.

That Concubine Zhang's body trembled, and her face also instantly turned deathly pale.

Even Lin Xiangwan and the other concubine surnamed Zhao had flickering eyes and stiff faces, a trace of fear showing in their eyes.

Everyone knew that Song Yan understood medicine, but no one could have thought that he could even tell the month of the pregnancy. This was too scary.

Benevolence and compassion had long since been worn away when he was imprisoned.

As for the other few women, their eyes were full of schadenfreude.

"Of course, my medical skills might still be a little lacking. Father might as well find a few old physicians from the prefectural city. They should be able to tell the approximate time," Song Yan said in a warm voice. Even when a single sentence could decide a person's life or death, his tone was as calm as ever.

That Concubine Zhang seemed to have finally been startled awake by these words. With a thud, she knelt on the ground.

"Old Master, don't listen to his nonsense! Ever since I followed you, I have never let another man touch my body. This child is definitely yours!"

Her crying was extremely shrill.

But once Song Hongtao's suspicious nature was aroused, no one could stop it.

"Butler Wang, take her down first. Later, invite a few physicians back from the prefectural city," Song Hongtao said in a deep voice, letting out a heavy breath.

Two household guards walked straight in. Each grabbed an arm and began to drag Concubine Zhang out of the study. That Concubine Zhang was clearly not a scheming person. She panicked at once:

"Old Master, Old Master, save me! This might be the seed from before I divorced my husband... I really have never betrayed you, Old Master. If it really comes to it, just let this concubine give birth to the child. Then won't it be fine if he takes the surname Song..."

Before she could finish, her mouth was gagged.

In the end, she was too noisy, which was displeasing.

Song Hongtao's face became even uglier. Those words just now were pretty much a confession without being pressed.

The thought that all eight of Yang Miaoqing's sons were not his, and now he had taken a new concubine, and the concubine's child was not his either, made Song Hongtao feel as uncomfortable as if he had eaten two pounds of fly shit.

Yang Miaoqing was one thing; at least she had the Yang family as her backer. But you, Zhang-shi*, a woman from an ordinary commoner family, what guts do you have to scheme against the Duke's mansion?

[TL/N: Shi (氏): This is a formal suffix added to a married woman's maiden surname. It identifies her as "the woman from the [Surname] family." Unlike in many Western cultures, women in ancient China did not take their husband's surname.

Zhang-shi: Her maiden name is Zhang, so "Zhang-shi" refers to "the woman from the Zhang family.]

He shot a look at the two household guards. The two guards instantly understood Song Hongtao's meaning. This meant she was to be disposed of. Involuntarily, they both secretly glanced at Song Yan.

He really causes a death every time he comes back. How terrifying.

Originally, when Song Hongtao learned that three concubines were pregnant, he was still a little smug, feeling that his treasured sword was not yet old, and that he could still get a woman pregnant at his age, which made him quite proud.

But however proud he was before, that's how miserable he was now.

The repeated humiliation almost drove Song Hongtao mad. He panted heavily, his gaze falling on Concubine Zhao's body. Just looking at Concubine Zhao's pale face, a bad premonition had already arisen in his heart.

“Yan'er, are there more?"

This question sounded a bit problematic, as if he were expecting something. But he couldn't be bothered with that now. He had already raised eight sons for other people; he really didn't want to raise children for others again.

"Concubine Zhao, you're a bit too much." Song Yan let out a breath and looked at the other woman, speechless.

"It's been three or four months, right? Your belly is already showing, right? I'm curious what excuse you were planning to use in the future. Premature birth? Which family's child is born three or four months premature?"

"You probably use cloth strips and the like to bind it tightly on a daily basis."

"Aren't you afraid the child's bones will be deformed after it's born?"

Concubine Zhao, whose body was already trembling nonstop, felt her vision go black upon hearing these words, and she collapsed to the ground.

If Concubine Zhang still had a little room for argument, then she didn't have the slightest chance.

Song Hongtao took a heavy breath, desperately suppressing the agitation and madness in his heart. He waved his hand, and another two people came over and also took Concubine Zhao away.

Song Hongtao was a bit helpless. Could it be that I was born with a face that makes women cheat?

One by one, do they all take me for a fool?

"Butler Wang, give the order. Handle it cleanly."

Since they dared to fool him, then they couldn't blame him for being ruthless.

The study, which originally had a peaceful atmosphere, was now as silent as a winter cicada. One by one, their faces were pale. They knew very well what Song Hongtao meant. That was... fatal.

It wasn't until this moment that they finally understood that this Old Master, who seemed very easy to fool and was simple and honest, was also extremely terrifying when he flew into a rage. The little schemes in the hearts of some of the concubines were also completely scattered at this time.

Song Hongtao slowly raised his head and looked at the last pregnant concubine by his side, Lin Xiangwan.

His eyes narrowed to a slit, and his gaze seemed to carry killing intent.

The instant his gaze landed on Lin Xiangwan, Lin Xiangwan felt her body tremble. Not a trace of blood could be seen on her delicate and pretty face. Even her pair of eyes were full of despair.

Subconsciously, Lin Xiangwan looked at Song Yan opposite her, and then she saw Song Yan give her a strange smile.

Lin Xiangwan's heart skipped a beat. It's over. He's seen through it.

Just then, a voice drilled into the ears of everyone in the study.

"Concubine Lin..."

"Is newly pregnant."

The last hat, Song Yan did not take it off. Instead... he straightened it.