Chapter Sixteen: What a Grand Performance

Wan Xing honestly replied, “The Marquis instructed us to wait outside the door; I did not overhear their conversation.”

“How did Third Uncle look when Song Tang left?” Mu Changxiao pressed further.

Wan Xing hesitated briefly. The Marquis had appeared weary upon returning, but at the moment he opened the door, Wan Xing thought he glimpsed a faint smile on his face—though this was not something he dared to tell Mu Ziyu.

Carefully, he said, “Young Lord, you should settle the matter of canceling the engagement with Miss Song as soon as possible. The Marquis is busy with military affairs and has many pressing matters to attend to.”

From Wan Xing’s words, Mu Ziyu suddenly realized that perhaps Song Tang had wanted to back out just now but was refused by Third Uncle.

Third Uncle was likely annoyed; after all, a life-saving debt should not be used as a bargaining chip—first canceling the engagement, then trying to reverse it. He must have found Song Tang too willful and reckless.

Song Tang must still care for and love him, but feeling hurt and acting out of spite, she used the life-saving debt to ask Third Uncle to cancel the engagement. Having already invoked it once, trying to use it again was something Third Uncle would never indulge.

There was no way to mend things now. So when Song Tang saw him earlier, she deliberately spoke coldly to mask the pain in her heart.

Back at Tianlin Garden, Song Tang felt a flutter of apprehension; she was about to cast her net and catch her prey.

Mu Changxiao had originally intended for her to do nothing but wait to marry him. Then, he would ensure she entered the marriage with grandeur, and he would handle any rumors quietly.

But Song Tang was unwilling. She wanted Song Wei to marry Mu Ziyu first, and only then would she proudly become the Marquis’s wife.

Letting her rivals gloat would steel her resolve to trample them harder.

But ultimately, this was Song Tang’s selfishness. She feared risking everything. If Song Wei knew she would marry Mu Changxiao, she might secretly sabotage her marriage.

Their bond was never deep. If Song Wei used the same tricks on Mu Changxiao as she had on Mu Ziyu, Mu Changxiao might be equally bewitched.

Then Song Wei would once again steal what was hers. Mu Changxiao was a powerful ally—if she did not marry him, she could not allow Song Wei to use schemes to wed him.

This could never be allowed. Song Tang had to plan carefully, step by step, ensuring every move was under her control.

Yet, as often happens, the unexpected still came.

Madam Sun firmly refused Mu Ziyu marrying Song Wei, insisting that Song Wei’s status was unworthy of the heir’s wife, no matter how highly the Song family regarded her.

At the Mu family residence, Madam Sun’s tears, tantrums, and threats to hang herself caused such a scene that it nearly spun out of control.

She had never favored Song Tang, seeing her as merely the daughter of a count’s household. Knowing her son’s limitations, she wanted him to marry into a higher status family and had long sought to cancel the engagement, but Mu Changxiao’s pressure kept her silent.

Now, Song Tang’s willingness to cancel the engagement should have been a blessing, but her son turning around to marry Song Tang’s cousin, Song Wei, was unbearable.

Orphaned young, Song Wei had been adopted by the Song family to secure a better marriage alliance—an absurdity Madam Sun could not accept.

Mu Ziyu pleaded several times with Mu Changxiao, but the latter remained cold and indifferent.

Originally, Mu Changxiao had wanted the cancellation announced publicly the next day, but Mu Ziyu had confided in his mother first.

Thinking he was clever, Mu Ziyu wanted to cause a stir and then have Mu Changxiao resolve it, so that neither he nor Song Wei would carry a bad reputation, and he could marry Song Wei as he wished.

But he never anticipated Madam Sun’s resolute opposition, even threatening death, while Mu Changxiao, their Third Uncle, refused to intervene.

Now Mu Ziyu was at a loss, calling on heaven and earth in vain. The scheme was Song Wei’s idea; though annoyed, Mu Ziyu could not bring himself to blame her, especially when recalling her pitifully charming face.

Song Wei, of course, was aware of Madam Sun’s stance. But knowing her disdain did not deter her; the position of heir’s wife at the Mu household was hers to claim.

Even if she had to humble herself for a few years, either winning Madam Sun’s favor or outlasting her to remove obstacles, one day she would become the true mistress of the Mu estate.

Determined not to wait passively, Song Wei’s machinations led to Song Tang being summoned before Song Congzhi and Madam He.

Upon entering, Song Tang saw Song Wei wiping tears, while Song Congzhi and Madam He wore worried expressions, clearly troubled by Song Wei’s predicament.

“Father, mother, greetings,” Song Tang bowed slightly, her mind clear. She understood their purpose in summoning her.

Madam He’s eyes were red, as if freshly weeping, but she forced a smile and said softly, “Tang’er, you’re here. Please sit.”

Song Tang took the vacant seat and sat slowly.

Song Congzhi’s face was stern as he looked at Song Tang but said nothing.

Madam He spoke first, her tone earnest: “Tang’er, we called you today on account of your sister’s marriage to the heir.”

“What concern is their marriage to me?” Song Tang replied calmly, glancing at Song Wei.

Song Wei’s tear-filled eyes curved slightly at the corners, seemingly pleased by Song Tang’s indifferent tone.

“You shameless girl! How can their marriage be unrelated to you? If you hadn’t unilaterally canceled your engagement with the heir, why would Wei’er agree to marry in your stead?” Song Congzhi could no longer hold back his anger.

Madam He hastily tugged his sleeve, urging him to calm down, then turned to Song Tang, speaking earnestly: “Tang’er, as the Song family’s eldest daughter, you must bear responsibility. You initiated the breakup, so you cannot ignore this matter.”

“You must know what has been happening at the Mu estate these past days. This situation has become difficult to resolve. Your sister is young and naive; as her elder sister, you must support her more.”

Song Tang cast a faint glance at Song Wei. “Mother, what do you mean by support?”

“Of course, you must find a way to have the Mu family accept this marriage. You owe the Marquis a life debt; he will surely grant you some favor,” Madam He said with a hint of hope.

Song Tang lowered her eyes, contemplating, silent for a moment.

“Crack!” The teacup in Song Congzhi’s hand shattered with a sharp sound. “Song Tang, what do you mean by this?”

“Father, please don’t trouble my sister,” Song Wei sobbed softly, choking on her tears.

One played the stern role; another, the angry one; and a third, the tearful and pitiful—what a grand performance!

Song Tang looked up calmly at Song Congzhi. “Father, I am thinking of a solution.”

Though still dark-faced, Song Congzhi’s anger lessened somewhat upon hearing this.

“What kind of solution? You could simply go to the Marquis and speak with him directly.”