Chapter 32: The Song Woman

With the support of the common people, Lady An gained a surge of courage.

"How dare you hit my mother?!" A little girl in a pink butterfly dress shoved aside a crowd of elderly servants and maids, rushing toward Lady An and raising her right hand.

Startled, Lady An instinctively recoiled.

Standing nearby, Tang Ming stepped forward and firmly seized the girl's slender wrist. No matter how she struggled, he refused to let go.

"No wonder illegitimate children are collectively handed over to the legal mother for upbringing. Look, Concubine, Third Miss is a fine lady of a noble house, yet not only is she acting like a wild animal without any decorum, she actually dares to strike her legal mother!"

"Such behavior truly brings shame upon the face of our Duke of Wei's Manor."

"Since Third Miss has been raised by Concubine to be like this, does Concubine still intend to stubbornly refuse to enter the manor?"

Having finished his reprimand, Tang Ming suddenly released his grip. Caught off guard while pulling with all her might, the girl fell backward onto the maids and servants due to her own momentum.

"Wan'er!" Song Qingyan helped her daughter up. Seeing her daughter's reddened wrist, she retorted sharply, "The Second Miss certainly carries herself with great airs. Those unaware would think the Second Miss is the true legitimate daughter!"

"If the Eldest Miss were here today to teach my sister a lesson, I would have nothing to say," she looked at Tang Ming with disdain, "but Second Miss, you should save your breath!"

It was true her daughter was a child of an unofficial mistress, but Tang Ming was, after all, merely a daughter of a concubine. Who was more noble than whom?

Sitting in a simple carriage watching the spectacle, Tang Zhao thought: *Why is everyone using me as a shield?*

*I specifically went out of my way to avoid them!*

Having her weak point exposed, Tang Ming's face instantly turned cold. "Men, escort Third Miss and Concubine Song back to the manor!"

"Yes!" The guards, dressed as manservants, swarmed forward.

Guards standing behind Song Qingyan and her daughter rushed out from the gates, and the two sides faced off before the entrance.

The surrounding onlookers gasped. This—this was about to turn into a fight!

But it was such juicy drama!

"Stop!" A sharp shout rang out. Everyone turned to look and saw two large, powerful horses galloping at full speed, arriving before the crowd in an instant.

A tall, upright man in armor arrived, followed by a youth in martial attire. The two pulled their horses to a halt, leapt down, and strode quickly into the center of the vortex.

Lady An: "The Duke!"

Tang Ming took a step back, lowering his eyes in greeting: "Father."

The Duke of Wei did not even glance at the mother and daughter. He strode straight to Song Qingyan, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Still feeling uneasy, he asked, "Are you mother and daughter alright?"

Tears streamed down Song Qingyan's face. "Master! You are finally back."

Song Wan threw herself directly into the Duke's arms and began to sob loudly.

Song Shi gripped her whip and turned to shield her mother and sister behind her.

Lady An was stung by the scene before her, and Tang Ming's face turned pale as well. "Father..."

The Duke of Wei gently patted his daughter's tender shoulder in his arms before handing her over to Song Qingyan. He turned around and asked with an authoritative tone, "What is all this commotion about?"

His favoritism was laid bare at this moment. Her only ally was Tang Zhao. Realizing this, Tang Ming explained the cause and effect impartially, then asked with feigned doubt, "Father, Concubine Song says she dares not enter the manor because of her cousin's death. May your daughter ask—is Concubine Song's cousin the biological mother of the Eldest Miss, Lady Song, the legal mother?"

The Duke of Wei faltered at the question, his anger subsiding significantly. Just as he was about to gloss over it with a few words, the weeping Song Wan jumped out and said proudly, "That's right! My mother is the cousin of Father's original wife, and the great-granddaughter of the Protector General!"

A flash of joy crossed Tang Ming's heart, though he maintained a skeptical expression as he questioned, "Father, is what Third Miss says true?"

The Duke of Wei had not intended to admit it. The Song clan had been laid to rest ten years ago, and he did not wish to disturb the peace of the dead. However, seeing the faces of Song Qingyan and her children, his heart softened.

In any case, it was the truth.

"It is."

Tang Ming was completely at ease, while Lady An could only shake her head incessantly. "Song... it's the Songs again."

Was she destined to lose her entire life to the women of the Song clan?

The Duke of Wei looked at Lady An. This woman was his cousin and had been married to him for nearly twenty years. Had she not been truly excessive today, he would have intended to let her save some face. "Do you not wish to welcome Lady Song into the manor? I shall welcome her myself! But not as a concubine, but as a side consort."

The smile on Song Qingyan's face froze.

"Lady An has become erratic following childbirth. From this day forth, she is to remain confined to her quarters to recover. Do not leave the house until your health improves," the Duke continued. "The management of the household affairs shall be handed over to Side Consort Song."

The smile on Song Qingyan's face naturally smoothed out.

The onlookers, having witnessed the entire ordeal, marveled and pointed. They had seen favoritism, but never such blatant bias. They whispered that the mistress might be a fox spirit reincarnated, seeing how the Duke was so infatuated!

To humiliate his own wife in front of so many people—how could Lady An ever show her face in public again?

The murmurs and sympathy of the commoners reached Lady An's ears.

Her vision went dark, and she fainted.

While Tang Ming arranged for people to settle his mother, he looked around anxiously: *Why hasn't Tang Zhao come out yet?*

*She hasn't fallen into Tang Zhao's trap, has she?*

The Duke of Wei ordered his subordinates to disperse the crowd.

The "tea" had been spilled, and the commoners were preparing to head home to share the news with their relatives when a crisp female voice rang out: "Wait a moment!"

The surrounding crowd:!

There was more!

Some sharp-eyed citizens recognized the newcomer. "Isn't that the County Mistress of Zhaoshan?"

Tang Zhao gave them an appreciative glance and walked slowly through the single-person path cleared by the crowd, making sure everyone could see clearly who the protagonist was.

Standing on the steps, the Duke of Wei fixed his eagle eyes on the composed woman.

Even after ten years, he recognized her instantly.

The daughter born of the Song woman looked even more like the Song woman than her cousin, Song Qingyan.

Song Qingyan also recognized her. She instinctively turned her head toward the Duke, and her heart sank.

Tang Zhao bowed. "Father!"

Seeing his daughter's polite conduct, the Duke's expression improved significantly. "Why have you come?"

"I have stayed at the manor for ten years and have had enough of the solitude. I heard it was quite lively here, so I came to take a look."

Tang Zhao suppressed her smile and sighed. "I didn't expect this 'liveliness' to be caused by my own family."

"I have already settled this matter. Your health is not good; return to the manor as soon as possible," the Duke said, looking at Tang Zhao's face and thinking of the Song woman, eager to send her away.

"Father is mistaken. The Duke of Wei's manor's matter is settled, but my own is not," Tang Zhao spoke up to stay. "I heard that Father personally affirmed that this Song mistress is my mother's cousin? And the great-granddaughter of my maternal grandfather?"

The Duke's heart skipped a beat. He keenly sensed a hint of ill intent, but no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't find anything wrong with her statement.

Thus, he admitted, "Yes. You should call Qingyan 'Aunt'."

For the first time today, Song Qingyan felt truly elated. She walked down quickly, took Tang Zhao's hand, and said while wiping away tears, "So this must be Zhaozhao. I am your maternal aunt!"