I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Nanzhen returned to the mansion under the cover of night. He summoned his personal aide to ask about the Baozhuang Building, and upon hearing the rumors circulating outside, he knew his daughter had made her move.

The Emperor had ordered the Ministry of Revenue to prepare grain and fodder, keeping him so busy his feet barely touched the ground. Despite this, he had also managed to investigate the matter concerning the Tao Family. He gave a few quiet instructions, and his aide nodded eagerly. "Marquis, rest assured. I will see to it that this is handled properly."

"Don’t let anyone discover where the information came from."

"Yes, my lord. I’ll take a stroll through South Street first thing tomorrow morning. I guarantee I’ll leave no trace."

South Street was a district in the Capital City where people from all walks of life mingled, and countless rumors spread from there every day. Scandalous tidbits like the Tao Family’s affairs were always the most popular.

Song Nanzhen waved him away and let out a long breath. He prepared to go over the Ministry of Revenue’s affairs once more. Procuring provisions required silver. While the Ministry had some funds, there would still be a shortfall if the Emperor decided to wage war. He needed to come up with a solution.

Aunt Che, carrying a pot of soup, quietly made her way to the front courtyard, avoiding the people from the main courtyard. When she reached the study, she smiled and exchanged a few words with the servant boy guarding the door. The boy nodded, went inside, and quickly returned to open the door and let her enter.

As soon as Aunt Che entered, she curtsied. "Greetings, my lord."

Song Nanzhen gestured for her to rise, his expression gentle. "What brings you here so late?"

Aunt Che walked to the desk, presented the soup, and said softly, "My lord, you are busy with official duties all day, but you must also take care of your health. I had the kitchen prepare this nourishing soup for you. Please have it while it’s hot."

Only then did Song Nanzhen realize he was a bit hungry. He took Aunt Che’s hand and led her to sit at the table. "You sit, too."

Aunt Che sat down obediently, her face etched with concern. "My lord, you’ve lost weight recently. Jinxuan and Bo Ming wrote and specifically reminded me to take good care of you. How can I possibly answer to them if you are like this?"

"The two children wrote?" Song Nanzhen asked with a smile. "Did they say anything else?"

Aunt Che’s expression softened as she spoke of her children. "They are all doing well. Our son-in-law, the eldest young master, and the second young master are all studying diligently and plan to take the provincial examinations this time. Jinxuan is about to give birth, too. It’s just that she has to take care of her husband and look after her brothers, so it must be quite tiring for her..."

’Of course, Aunt Che’s visit was not so simple. My children may be away from home, but I can’t let their father forget about them.’ She had to bring up her son and daughter in front of the Marquis from time to time.

Now that the family had a title, Mrs. Cai was guarding against her as if she were a wolf. ’She’s afraid my son will get ideas about the title,’ Aunt Che knew.

Pah!

’Of course I want it, but for now, it’s just a thought. With that formidable Ming Fei in the palace, I wouldn’t dare make a reckless move.’

’I may not dare to fight for the title, but the Marquis must compensate my children in other ways. I can’t let Mrs. Cai hoard all the advantages.’

At this thought, Aunt Che’s eyes darted. She looked at the Marquis and sighed again. "I heard the Eldest Miss came home again today. It seems she had a fight with her husband. My lord, if she is truly being wronged at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, you should do something about it."

Song Nanzhen’s expression darkened the moment Aunt Che mentioned his eldest daughter. He finished his soup, then looked at her and said, "You need not concern yourself with these matters. Go back and get some rest."

Aunt Che rose with a troubled expression, gathering the soup bowl. "I have misspoken, my lord. Please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health over my words."

Song Nanzhen patted her hand. "It’s not because of you. Go on back."

Still feigning uneasiness, Aunt Che curtsied once more before leaving. Her expression finally relaxed once she was out of the study’s courtyard.

’If his anger wasn’t because of me, then it must have been because of Song Qinghan.’

’I knew it. Song Qinghan is really regressing. Last time, she had a golden opportunity to escape the quagmire of the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, but she was foolish enough to jump right back in.’

’Last time, she even provoked Mrs. Cai into coming after me. Her own life is a mess, yet she still has the energy to scheme against me. If I don’t cause a little trouble for her, it would be an insult to all the thought she’s put into it.’

’The Marquis already declared that since Song Qinghan refused to leave the Marquis Wuxin Mansion, our family would no longer involve itself in her affairs. But Mrs. Cai is still helping her behind his back, so she can’t blame me for making a move.’

Song Nanzhen was indeed in a foul mood. He took several deep breaths to suppress the anger rising in his chest.

’I just don’t understand,’ he thought. ’I have two legitimate daughters. How can they be as different as night and day?’

He was utterly disappointed in his eldest daughter. It wasn’t that he hadn’t given her a chance; she was the one who insisted on jumping into that pit of fire. And now she still dared to ask the family for help. At a critical time like this, she couldn’t blame him for being a ruthless father.

Song Nanzhen summoned the steward and ordered, "From now on, if the Eldest Miss returns, do not allow her inside."

"My lord?" the steward exclaimed in shock. "But the Mistress..."

"If the Mistress asks, tell her it was my order." Song Nanzhen had no more energy to spare for the affairs of the Marquis Wuxin Mansion. The last incident had caused such a huge scene. He had already fulfilled his duties as a father. He had so many other children to look after; he couldn’t spend his life cleaning up his eldest daughter’s messes.

"Yes, my lord." Seeing the Marquis’s dark expression, the steward didn’t dare say another word. He simply nodded, bowed, and retreated.

Needless to say, Song Qinghan caused a huge scene when she was denied entry to her maternal home, providing Aunt Che with quite a spectacle. Aunt Che seized the opportunity to fan the flames, which threw Mrs. Cai into a state of confusion. Then, someone sent for the first madam, and Mrs. Cai received a harsh scolding from her eldest sister-in-law. Aunt Che was thoroughly pleased.

’So, Song Qinghan wants to make trouble for my children? She should learn to take care of herself first.’

When Song Yunzhao heard about the farce at the Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion, she only had to think for a moment to understand Aunt Che’s role in it. She couldn’t help but smile. ’Song Qinghan must have done something to really get under Aunt Che’s skin, otherwise she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to deal with her.’

Sometimes, Song Yunzhao didn’t understand Song Qinghan’s methods. It was as if she were brainless. ’No, not brainless,’ she corrected herself, ’more like she loses all sense when it comes to certain matters.’

Tsk. ’Her own life is a mess, and she could have escaped the pit of fire, but she insists on sinking deeper. And as for Xu Anxing... you could call him a scumbag, but he’s utterly devoted to the maid who grew up with him. He not only let her bear his children one after another but also protects her with everything he has.’

’But then again, you can’t say he’s *not* a scumbag, because he tramples his officially wedded wife under his heel.’

’You can only say that Song Qinghan was unlucky. She wasn’t the apple of Xu Anxing’s eye. To continue wasting her life on a man like that, she’s either foolish or just plain stupid. Then again, not many families would support their daughter getting a divorce.’

Thinking of the Marquis Wuxin Mansion...

Song Yunzhao’s thoughts turned to Xu Mingying. That Noble Lady Xu was quite active in the palace. Recalling the information about the Tao Brothers that her eldest aunt had passed along, she suddenly had an idea.

’The Marquis Wuxin Mansion isn’t completely useless, after all. Since Song Qinghan enjoys making trouble for others so much, it’s time she had a taste of her own medicine.’