Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 328 Killing Wife and Child (12,000 words)

The room was very quiet.

The slightly slanted sun cast some sunlight through the door. Looking up, one could clearly see that under the rays of sunlight, dust motes swirled in the air, resembling fine gold dust.

Zhao Gaizhi sat quietly in his seat, without moving.

His fingers were trembling uncontrollably, and even the teacup he was pretending to hold was unsteady and shaky.

Could he have been cheated on as well?
This question has been lingering in my mind.

He desperately wanted to tell himself that Zhao Feng was his biological son, but his instincts told him that things weren't so simple. His lips parted uncontrollably: "Nephew, what else did Yang Miaoqing do? Tell me."

"Hmm." Song Yan took a sip of tea: "Actually, there's nothing special about it. It's just the sordid stuff that happens in wealthy families. Several of my father's concubines were punished by Yang Miaoqing with caning for the slightest mistake, and ended up being beaten to death. Other concubines died in childbirth."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gaizhi's heart skipped a beat.

If he had heard before that someone's wife had died in childbirth, he would have just sighed, since all three of his concubines had died in childbirth, so it was inevitable that he would feel sad. But now, hearing this, he couldn't help but think more deeply.

Could it be that there are some special considerations involved in this difficult childbirth?
"Did Yang Miaoqing mistreat these concubines?" Zhao Gaizhi asked casually.

"No, that's not true. The concubines who died in childbirth were all very close to Yang Miaoqing." Song Yan chuckled. "When these concubines were pregnant, Yang Miaoqing took them very seriously. She treated them well, providing them with the best food and drink, and never shortchanged them in the slightest. Almost every meal consisted of large amounts of meat and fish. If they couldn't eat, Yang Miaoqing would hold their hands and gently persuade them to eat more for the sake of the baby in their womb, because only in this way would the baby be born healthy."

Before coming, Song Yan had inquired with Fang Hai about Yang Shuxuan, who was known as a virtuous woman in Dongling City and treated Zhao Gaizhi's concubines very well.

Zhao Gaizhi swallowed hard: "If that's the case, then why is there a difficult birth?"

Song Yan sighed, "That's what makes Yang Miaoqing so ruthless."

"People only know that pregnant women should eat more so that the fetus can be healthy, but they don't know that everything has its limits. If too many highly nutritious foods are consumed, the fetus will grow too fast and become too big, which will lead to a difficult delivery."

Even in modern society, a balanced diet is important. Pregnant women can eat more, but in moderation, to avoid the fetus becoming too large. However, modern society has cesarean sections, so even if the fetus is too large, it's not a problem. But in this era, cesarean sections were naturally impossible. Women married too young, and their first pregnancy was often around sixteen years old, when their bodies were not fully developed. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were going through a life-or-death situation. If the fetus was too large to be delivered naturally, it would mean the death of both mother and child.

It can be said that the mortality rate was extremely high.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gaizhi trembled violently, his face turned pale, and his fingers clenched unconsciously.

He couldn't help but recall how Yang Shuxuan treated his three concubines well every day, providing them with all kinds of tonics such as ginseng and deer antler, without considering the cost. Everyone said that Yang Shuxuan was virtuous, and even the three concubines were grateful to Yang Shuxuan.

But who could have known that this woman harbored malicious intentions?

At this point, Zhao Gaizhi had largely come to believe what Song Yan had said.

He couldn't help but have more doubts about Yang Shuxuan and Zhao Feng.

He took a deep breath: "And then?"

Song Yan cleared his throat: "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. In addition, my father had many concubines, so some children were still born. However, most of these children met tragic ends. They either got lost, died of illness, or died inexplicably from a fall. I was just lucky and barely survived."

"How did Song Hongtao discover the relationship between Yang Miaoqing and her cousin Yang Zhen?"

"It was still from Song Zhen that I noticed something unusual. Actually, I had some suspicions when he was a child, but at that time, some people said that it was normal for a nephew to resemble his uncle, so my father did not suspect anything. As Song Zhen grew older, the resemblance became more and more pronounced, and my father finally felt that something was wrong, so he began to investigate."

"In this world, some things, once done, will always leave traces."

Zhao Gaizhi remained silent, his face ashen.

Does the nephew resemble his uncle?
He seemed to have heard Yang Shuxuan's old woman say the same thing.

Ha ha.

This is really treating him like a dog.

Song Yan lowered his eyelids, let out a heavy breath, and stood up: "My lord, it's getting late, it's time for me to go back."

“I have some conflicts with the Marquis of Anning’s mansion, so… it’s acceptable to pin some things on me.”

Nodding to Zhao Gaizhi, Song Yan then gave the time to this pathetic man. From Zhao Gaizhi's expression, Song Yan could guess some things.

Silently watching Song Yan leave, Zhao Gaizhi neither tried to stop him nor rose to see him off. He simply sat there quietly, motionless, like a puppet, until after a long while, Zhao Gaizhi suddenly sprang to his feet and kicked the tea table far away. Hearing this commotion, the maids and servants outside all looked puzzled. It seemed that the conversation between the Earl of Pingyang and their own Marquis had gone terribly, as they were both so angry.

Then she saw her master angrily leave the guest room and head straight to the backyard. He chased away all the maids and, after confirming that no one was around, went to Yang Shuxuan's bedroom.

Yang Shuxuan is not at home today.

They said they were going to Jiuxiang Temple to offer incense and pray for the family's safety and well-being.

temple?

Thinking of what Song Yan had just said—that Yang Miaoqing often met with Yang Zhen in the temple—his expression became even more unpleasant.

Yang Shuxuan's bedroom was locked. Zhao Gaizhi frowned and kicked it open. To be honest, he didn't go into Yang Shuxuan's bedroom very often.

On the one hand, he and Yang Shuxuan didn't have a deep affection for each other; on the other hand, Yang Shuxuan often advised him to be more lenient with his concubines. Therefore, a separate residence was arranged for Zhao Gaizhi within the Marquis's mansion. If he wished to favor a particular concubine, he would summon her to his room. Since the deaths of all three concubines, Zhao Gaizhi had mostly lived alone. Everything in the room even felt somewhat unfamiliar to him.

His lips trembled slightly as Zhao Gaizhi began searching the bedroom. Song Yan had said that some things, once done, would leave traces. About half an hour later, Zhao Gaizhi left Yang Shuxuan's bedroom with a detached expression, his face full of mockery—a mockery of Yang Shuxuan, and also of himself. He held several sheets of paper in his hand, likely letters or something similar, cleverly hidden, even sewn into the quilt.

He waved to a trusted aide, gave him some instructions, and then left.

The Marquis's residence had a physician, but Zhao Gaizhi went directly to Huichun Hall and consulted a senior doctor in detail. It was almost dark when Zhao Gaizhi left Huichun Hall. When Zhao Gaizhi returned to the Marquis's residence, he saw a carriage parked at the gate. Madam Yang Shuxuan, supported by a maid, stepped out of the carriage. Inside the carriage was another person, Zhao Feng.

We must have met on the road.

This unfilial son must have done something terrible today; he was covered in dust, and there was a bloody scratch on his face. Upon seeing Zhao Gaizhi, Yang Shuxuan smiled gently: "Master, you're back too."

To be fair, Yang Shuxuan is the epitome of a well-bred young lady. She exudes an air of nobility, with beautiful features. Although she is over thirty, she still retains her charm. She speaks softly, as if afraid of startling others.

Zhao Gaizhi nodded, his face still grim. He glanced at Zhao Feng, then raised his foot and kicked Zhao Feng hard in the stomach: "You unfilial son, kneel down now!"

This sudden kick startled everyone.

Zhao Feng was kicked to the ground, his face full of astonishment. Yang Shuxuan was even more stunned. After a few breaths, she suddenly screamed and rushed to Zhao Feng. She glared angrily at Zhao Gaizhi, and the fierceness hidden deep in her eyes even made Zhao Gaizhi feel a chill down his spine.

That was a madness completely different from her usual gentle and virtuous demeanor.

She disregarded all pretense of being a lady of high birth and the dignity of a marquis's wife, spreading her arms to block Zhao Feng's way, and glaring fiercely at Zhao Gaizhi: "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing? Ask this unfilial son what he did!" Zhao Gaizhi shouted in a deep voice, his chest heaving rapidly, as if he had accumulated an intense rage: "Damn bastard, how have you been raised? An earl, a marquis, a prince consort, and the eldest son of the Fang family, how many heads do you, Zhao Feng, have that you would actually try to kill them both?"

"If you don't want to live anymore, you can choose between arsenic or a white silk ribbon. Just don't drag the entire Marquis's mansion down with you."

Zhao Feng, who had initially been somewhat stubborn, immediately became dejected and dared not argue. Then, somewhat unwilling, he quietly raised his head and asked, "Father, how did you know?"

"How would I know? Song Yan came knocking on our door, how would I know?"

Zhao Feng immediately cursed Song Yan in his heart for being despicable and shameless. He had clearly said he wouldn't hold it against her, but he still went and told her parents behind her back. He had no shame at all.

Yang Shuxuan was still a little confused. After Zhao Gaizhi explained it to her, she understood what had happened. Zhao Feng had indeed caused trouble this time, but no matter what, he was still her son, and she couldn't let an outsider teach him a lesson.

Therefore, Yang Shuxuan still stood in front of her son.

Seeing this, Zhao Gaizhi had no choice but to let it go as usual.

After dinner, Zhao Gaizhi kept reminding Zhao Feng not to provoke Song Yan again. Zhao Feng behaved more obediently than ever before, simply nodding to indicate that he understood.

Seeing Zhao Feng's appearance, Zhao Gaizhi's expression softened slightly.

At the same time, he asked Zhao Feng why he went to cause trouble for Song Yan. Zhao Feng then cursed and listed Song Zhe's faults. The bastard only said that he had been bullied when he was in Ningping County. Since the two were cousins, Zhao Feng decided to stand up for his cousin. He asked about the man's appearance and learned that the man had just entered the city. So, he drove the carriage there as planned. He never expected that the two men's identities were so exaggerated.

Knowing that Song Zhe had deliberately tricked him, Zhao Feng was furious and stormed to the Minister of Works' residence, where he grabbed Song Zhe and gave him a sound beating. Although Zhao Feng was a spoiled brat, he was no match for a spineless scholar, and he was badly beaten, losing an arm in the process. Song Zhe was also an annoying fellow; his two cousins ​​watched from the sidelines without offering any help.

After dinner, it was completely dark.

Zhao Feng and Yang Shuxuan also returned to their respective bedrooms to rest.

Yang Shuxuan's bedroom was still the same as when he left. There was a brass lock on the door, and Yang Shuxuan felt that the lock was shinier than usual, whether it was her imagination or not.

I was quite tired from going to Jiuxiang Temple to offer incense that day, so I didn't pay much attention to it. I took out my key, unlocked the door, and went inside. I lay down on the bed, exhausted, and fell asleep in no time.

It was late at night, and there was no wind.

Deathly silence.

Only the silvery moonlight bathed the ground.

A figure appeared silently.

He slipped into Yang Shuxuan's residence like a ghost, without making a sound. There were two maids on night watch inside, as it was the inner quarters and men were not allowed to leave.

I thought of the old doctor's answer from Bai Ri Hui Chun Tang.

The thought of my childhood sweetheart being murdered like this fills me with a sense of loss.

I thought of the three children who never had a chance to be born.

Thinking of the nauseatingly sentimental content in that letter, and that line: "I will raise our child well so that he will inherit the Marquis's mansion in the future..."

Zhao Gaizhi's body shuddered slightly.

His eyes were bloodshot; he had never wanted to kill anyone as much as he did now.

Tonight, he will…

He murdered his wife!
Kill your son!
(End of this chapter)