Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 115 - Temptation

The deal was struck.

Song Hongtao was overjoyed.

Some matters were very complex. Even though he was the head of the Duke Song's mansion, he couldn't decide who to pass the position of Heir Apparent to with just a single word. It often involved the struggles of various factions, for example, the wife's maternal family.

But if he could get Emperor Ninghe to directly issue an edict of enfeoffment, things would be much simpler.

Even though imperial power had declined now, those people wouldn't dare to directly defy an imperial edict. That would be equivalent to directly giving their opponents a chance to eliminate them.

Of course, the imperial edict was just the first step. Those people would absolutely not be resigned to it. They would have other methods, for example, getting rid of the newly enfeoffed infant.

In that case, a new heir would have to be chosen again. As the head of the family, Song Hongtao naturally understood how filthy and dangerous this was. Once upon a time, the status of 'eldest legitimate son' had brought him countless troubles.

Song Hongtao let out a breath. He didn't know what he was thinking. He waved his hand, and immediately those household guards, one by one, carried the chests away. These guards were all martial artists of considerable strength, but they still felt it was a bit of a struggle when carrying the chests. Deep footprints were left on the ground.

Outside the gate were carriages that had been prepared long ago, which would deliver this silver to the Luo Mansion.

To take out two hundred thousand taels at once, Song Hongtao still felt the pinch a little. The annual income from all the shops and manors under the Duke's mansion, added together, wasn't this much. But thinking of what Yang Miaoqing had hidden away, his heart immediately didn't hurt as much.

The Duke's mansion now was barely breaking even. Sometimes, the income even couldn't cover the expenses, and their days were tight. But after Yang Miaoqing died and he searched her bedroom, Song Hongtao discovered that Yang Miaoqing had actually dug out a secret room under her bedroom.

In the secret room were stored many letters between Yang Miaoqing and the Yang family.

From these letters, he could tell that Yang Miaoqing had been sending a large amount of silver to the Yang family every year, in the tens of thousands. The accumulation over these twenty or thirty years was probably over a million.

Song Hongtao was so depressed he was about to vomit blood.

The Duke's mansion was living a hard life, and it turned out that all the money had been taken by Yang Miaoqing to subsidize her maternal family.

In addition to that, there were also bank notes of various sizes totaling over five hundred thousand. This silver was also saved up by Yang Miaoqing bit by bit, and was the capital left for Song Zhen to compete for the position of Heir Apparent.

That bitch.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but fiercely curse the long-dead Yang Miaoqing again in his heart.

The last chest was also loaded onto the carriage.

"Father, it's late. I should be going back," Song Yan said, giving a salute to Song Hongtao.

Song Hongtao broke free from his own world. He forced a smile onto his face and patted Song Yan's shoulder again.

"Then go back early. Be careful on the road."

Song Yan nodded and didn't say much. When he passed by the main gate, the gatekeeper's face was completely pale, as if a chill like the arrival of a vicious ghost was sweeping through his body. His body trembled nonstop.

A baleful star.

This time he's killed two more concubines.

This is too exaggerated.

If I continue to be a gatekeeper at the Duke's mansion, will I be the one to die sooner or later?

Song Yan went straight onto the carriage. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, one sat in the carriage box, the other acted as the driver. With a "Giddy-up!", the sound of horse hooves began to echo in the silent night sky.

They hadn't gone far when, with a "Whoa!" from Zhang Long, the carriage came to a stop.

"Young Master-in-law, someone is blocking the road."

Inside the carriage, Song Yan frowned. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu hadn't drawn their sabers, which meant there was no danger. He poked his head out of the carriage window and looked forward. There was indeed a figure in front of the carriage.

Although it was late at night, the bright moonlight scattered down, so it wasn't particularly dark.

It was a woman, petite in stature, her curvaceous figure accentuated by a beige long dress.

Her black hair was coiled up behind her head, giving her a bit of elegance and dignity.

But it was unknown if it was intentional or accidental; the collar of her dress was pulled very low, revealing an alluring patch of creamy white skin under the hazy moonlight.

This attire was even more exaggerated than that of the prostitutes in the brothels.

Looking closely, the face was also somewhat familiar. Who else could it be but that Lin Xiangwan?

The originally plain woman now had a bit of an alluring charm.

This woman, what is she trying to do?

A question mark appeared in Song Yan's mind. He regretted it a little. Perhaps he should have chosen that Concubine Zhang. Stupid is stupid, but at least her thoughts weren't so hard to guess.

After a brief hesitation, he finally pulled open the carriage curtain and stepped out. At close range, his nostrils could even smell a faint fragrance on Lin Xiangwan. The scent gave off a sticky feeling. For some reason, Song Yan felt a slight heat come from his lower abdomen.

I'm afraid it has some aphrodisiac components.

It's just that the effect was truly inferior. The ‘Hundred Treasures Compendium’ was not just a simple dual cultivation secret manual. When cultivated to a certain level, one could even control one's own desires at will.

The internal force just circulated once through his body, and the original slight heat completely disappeared.

Song Yan's gaze gradually lowered: "Is there something?"

His voice was cold.

Originally, Song Yan didn't have much ill will towards this Lin Xiangwan. Although her purpose for entering the Duke's mansion was not pure, this didn't have much to do with him, and Song Yan couldn't be bothered to care.

She hadn't provoked him in any way, and her attitude had been pretty good. The reason he chose Lin Xiangwan instead of Concubine Zhang before was not without this factor.

But now, she was actually trying to use drugs to arouse his passion. This kind of tactic was already considered an attack by Song Yan.

If not for the fact that this Lin Xiangwan was still of some use, Song Yan was afraid he would have directly taken off her head.

Lin Xiangwan's eyelids drooped, putting on a shy and timid appearance. She didn't notice the change in Song Yan's expression. On the contrary, she even puffed out her chest to make her figure appear even more alluring.

"Ninth Young Master, this is not a place to talk. Why don't we go over there..."

As she spoke, Lin Xiangwan pointed to the small grove over there.

Lin Xiangwan was very confident.

Perhaps she wasn't born very beautiful, but she was very good at using her own advantages.

As for the drug, it was something she had obtained from a quack doctor at a high price. The reason Song Hongtao was so infatuated with her body was because of these things. Even an old hand like Song Hongtao had fallen for it.

Lin Xiangwan didn't believe that a virgin who had been imprisoned for ten years and then became a live-in son-in-law, who had probably never tasted a woman in his life, could resist such a temptation.

Song Yan might have gotten a hold over her, but once the two of them entered the little grove, she would also have a hold over Song Yan. She could even make Song Yan become infatuated with her body and make him do her bidding.

Thinking this, she couldn't help but feel a little smug.

Just then, Lin Xiangwan seemed to feel something reaching towards her. Under the moonlight, she could see the shadow of fingers.

A smug smile appeared on the corners of Lin Xiangwan's mouth.

A virgin is a virgin. Is he this impatient? He's not even willing to go into the little grove?

And there's still a driver watching. Could it be that this Song Yan likes this kind of thing? He's not old, but his tastes are quite something.

Lin Xiangwan lifted her head a little, looking up into Song Yan's eyes. Her eyes were glistening. This angle was the one that most easily moved a man's heart. She had originally wanted to tease him a little more with her gaze, but who would have thought that the moment her gaze met Song Yan's, Lin Xiangwan's body shivered, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

So cold.

That pair of eyes had not the slightest bit of warmth, let alone passion.

The gaze he directed at her was like looking at a dead person.

Only the corners of his mouth were curled in a mocking arc. That hand also finally reached her, but the target of his fingers was not her chest, but her slender neck.

The next instant, his five fingers applied a little force.

Creek, creek!

The sound of bones grinding drilled into her ears.

Such great strength. Lin Xiangwan felt her body was like a pitiful little chick, completely unable to bear it. She was directly lifted off the ground by Song Yan. Her two legs thrashed about wildly, and her two hands desperately tried to pry off Song Yan's fingers, but those fingers were like iron pincers. No matter how hard Lin Xiangwan tried, it was of no use.

The feeling of suffocation inevitably washed over her, and her face turned a morbid purplish-red.

Why was it like this? Why did her seduction have no effect on Song Yan?

Lin Xiangwan didn't understand. In her heart, only one last thought remained: she was going to die, she was going to be strangled to death by this man.

Her vision went black in waves. Just as she was about to really die, Song Yan's fingers suddenly loosened. With a thud, Lin Xiangwan fell to the ground. The next second was filled with the sound of violent, wheezing gasps. The flush on her face receded like a tide, replaced by a morbid pallor.

A pair of bright eyes looked at Song Yan, their gaze full of terror, as if the handsome youth was some vicious ghost or evil spirit.

Chivalrous towards a fair lady?

It didn't exist.

Lin Xiangwan could feel that he had really wanted to kill her just now.

This person was even more dangerous than she had imagined, absolutely not an existence she could provoke.

"If what happened today happens again, I will not show mercy."

"On a daily basis, record Song Hongtao's words and actions, who he meets with, and what he says. If there are any special matters, notify me in a timely manner."

Song Yan's voice was as cold as ever.

"If your performance can satisfy me, you can get everything you want."

"Even the wealth and title of the Duke's mansion, nothing is off the table!"

The ice-cold voice echoed in Lin Xiangwan's ears. Her face felt a little dry. She had just taken a stroll before the gates of hell. Was this still showing mercy?

Returning to the Luo Mansion.

Luo Yuheng was still guarding the door. She seemed to really like doing this, always having to see everyone return home before she could be at ease.

She patted Song Yan's head, and only then returned to her own bedroom.

She really liked to pat Song Yan's head. In Luo Yuheng's words, Song Yan was at the age where he was still growing. If she didn't take the chance to pat him a couple more times now, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to reach in the future.

Dozens of chests were placed in the courtyard. I have to say, the trip to the Duke's mansion today had been quite fruitful. With these two hundred thousand taels of silver, it should be able to cover the expenses for weapons and armor for several years.

The people from the Duke's mansion were moving the silver to the warehouse. Song Yan, on the other hand, hurriedly returned to his bedroom.

Gu Banxia had already made the bed in the bedroom. Her body was lying on the table, as if she had already fallen asleep. Her sexy and fiery upper body was squashed flat. Peeking at her collar, how could that bit of charm be compared to a woman like Lin Xiangwan?

The two were simply not on the same level.

Hearing the sound of Song Yan pushing the door, she immediately opened her eyes. A faint smile appeared on her face.

"The Young Master-in-law is back." Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI-Fire.ɴet

"I'll go get water for the Young Master-in-law to wash his feet."

"Wait a minute. First, help me prepare some brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone," Song Yan said.

Although she had doubts in her heart, Gu Banxia was still very obedient and prepared all these things. Picking up a writing brush, Song Yan began to write on a sheet of white paper. The cover page was, strikingly—’Vajra Arhat Art’.

The Song family's heirloom martial art, in the end, had been memorized by Song Yan.

Before he went to the Duke's mansion, Butler Wang had already sent someone to reveal Song Hongtao's bottom line. He was prepared to use either the ‘Vajra Arhat Art’ or two hundred thousand taels of silver to win him over. It's just that Song Yan was even greedier than Song Hongtao had estimated.

He wanted it all.

An super memory. He had only flipped through it three times, and he had memorized it.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second. When the last character was written, Song Yan finally let out a heavy breath.

Looking at the paper filled with words before him, a smug smile appeared on the corners of his lips. From now on, the ‘Vajra Arhat Art’ in his hands would be the only authentic version.

Someone beside him was helping to tidy up.

"Banxia."

Habitually, Song Yan called out Gu Banxia's name. But when he turned his head to look, he was a little surprised. Gu Banxia was no longer in the bedroom. Beside him was, strikingly, a woman with a slender figure.

Her figure was somewhat familiar, but that face was a bit strange.

After staring blankly for a few seconds, Song Yan finally spoke: "Siyao?"

"I thought you wouldn't recognize me." Her slender, fair hands had already stacked the papers whose ink had dried. Noticing Song Yan's gaze, she smiled gently.

"There are some things I need to discuss with you, so Sister Banxia left first. It's just that, seeing you were busy the whole time, I didn't wake you."

Song Yan was shocked. Good heavens, it really was Yang Siyao.

He knew that Yang Siyao wore heavy makeup, but he had never thought that there would be such a huge difference after she removed it.

If the original Yang Siyao was just plain, then the current one was at the very least a gentle beauty, a proper young lady, a delectable sight.

What's more, Yang Siyao cultivated seduction arts. Paired with this pretty face, her original flaws were compensated for, and her allure rose in a straight line. Even Song Yan couldn't help but take a couple more glances.

Song Yan understood that when Yang Siyao no longer continued her disguise, it was the time for her to lay her cards on the table with him.

He pointed to the chair beside him: "So, what is it?”

"My younger sister is still alive."

The corners of Yang Siyao's mouth curled into a smile. She pushed a wrinkled piece of paper in her hand in front of Song Yan.

Song Yan looked at it. The handwriting was crooked. In the entire Luo family, only Luo Tianyi's calligraphy could be compared to it.

"Thank you for arranging for people to go to Langya. I'll be counting on you for my sister," Yang Siyao said again.

Sent people to Langya?

Me?

When did that happen?

Although he felt it was a little strange, he didn't show it.

It must have been some master arranged by Luo Yuheng.

There was no problem with it being attributed to him.

Thinking this, Song Yan shamelessly took the credit. He lowered his head and glanced at the letter again, his brow furrowing.

"Are you sure this is your sister's letter?"

Yang Siyao nodded her little head: "Very sure. This is my sister's handwriting."

Song Yan's brow furrowed even tighter: "When did you start being unable to see your sister?"

Yang Siyao thought for a moment.

"The beginning of last year. I was going to Dongling to carry out a mission. Before the mission began, I requested to see my sister. This mission was very important. Normally, before such a mission, the Yang family side would agree to any of my requests. But this time, the Yang family refused. From then on, I haven't seen my sister again, and can only know of her situation through letters."

"This year, before entering the Ningping Duke's mansion, I also made a request once, and was still refused."

"From last year until now, how many letters have there been?"

"Five."

"Can you bring the letters for me to see?"

Yang Siyao's body trembled slightly, but in the end, she did not refuse.

About half a quarter-hour passed. Yang Siyao returned again, holding a small box. The box was full of letters, arranged neatly in order.

Song Yan drew out the top five sheets of paper and divided the letters into two parts.

He looked at them carefully, one by one. His face grew darker and darker. Seeing that expression, even Yang Siyao became inexplicably flustered.

After a long while, Song Yan finally finished reading all the letters. He slowly put them down:

"Yang Siyao, I'm very sorry... but these last five letters were all ghostwritten."

Boom... Crack!

Yang Siyao's body trembled violently. Her pretty little face instantly turned deathly pale. Her pupils trembled violently, her lips twitched slightly, and her snow-white, shell-like teeth bit down hard on her lower lip, ultimately stopping herself from crying out.

Seeing Yang Siyao's attitude, Song Yan already understood that she had actually had her suspicions in her heart all along. She just had been unwilling to believe a certain fact.

"Why?"

A very long time passed before Yang Siyao's voice finally sounded. It was like a murmur. If the night hadn't been so quiet, Song Yan was afraid he wouldn't have been able to hear it.

Letting out a breath, Song Yan pointed to the letters on both sides.

"Your sister is mentally deficient. I imagine her control over her limbs should also not reach the level of a normal person."

Yang Siyao nodded.

"Therefore, although she has learned to write, the characters she writes are all crooked. She can't control the writing brush well, so there will always be some meaningless lines on the letter paper, and sometimes even blotches of ink."

"But these five letters are different. Although the handwriting is also crooked, like a child's, the paper is clean."

The ghostwriter probably never thought that Yang Siyao would keep all the letters. They only focused on imitating the handwriting and didn't pay attention to other details.

Seeing Yang Siyao's face turn paler and paler, Song Yan was also a little helpless:

"Sorry. Although I also want to give you some hope, you still have to be prepared."

"Your younger sister might... no longer be with us."

Very cruel.

But this is reality.

Song Yan couldn't let Yang Siyao continue to live in that false illusion. If she were to remain immersed in her own world, when the day the truth was revealed came, she would go mad.

Her younger sister was the pillar that had supported Yang Siyao until now.

But now, this pillar was on the verge of collapse.

As if by instinct, Yang Siyao's hands wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably. Her pair of eyes were full of pleading, and also... despair.