Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 422 Mother-in-Law's Approval (5500 words)

Wolf head tattoo.

One could even clearly see the sharp fangs in the wolf's open jaws, as if it wanted to devour someone. The whip in his hand was already raised high, and in the terrified eyes of the woman on the bed, the whip lashed down forcefully.

Snapped!
A bright red welt immediately appeared on the woman's body.

The warhorse had thick skin and could withstand a whipping without much harm, but the woman's skin was delicate. A single lash tore her clothes apart, leaving scarlet marks on the tattered fabric, indicating that her skin had been cracked.

The woman's body convulsed and writhed violently on the bed. Muffled sounds escaped from her gagged mouth. The excruciating pain turned her face deathly pale, large beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks; she nearly fainted.

Even so, the young man still felt it wasn't enough. He glanced at the middle-aged man who was sitting quietly in a chair, leisurely sipping tea. It was all the old man's fault for insisting that this was Pingyang Prefecture and that the Marquis of Champion, Song Yan, was not someone to be trifled with. If the commotion got too loud and reached Song Yan's ears, it might lead to his death. That's why he gagged the woman. But not being able to hear screams made him feel like he had lost some of the fun.

The young man scoffed.

What champion?

Shit.

They only defeated the weak Jurchens, do they really think they're so great? Do they think they're some kind of Mei Wu from decades ago?
Muttering to himself, he swung the whip harder and harder, seeking thrills in other ways if he couldn't hear screams.

Snapped.

Snapped.

Snapped.

The whip lashed right to the flesh.

The woman was in so much pain that she was almost fainting.

The young man seemed to have finally gotten excited. His eyes were gleaming green, and he was breathing heavily. With a suppressed growl, he pounced on the blood-covered woman. His dirty claws grabbed the red-stained skirt and ripped it to shreds.

The middle-aged man sat quietly in his chair the whole time, leisurely sipping his fragrant tea. Occasionally, his gaze would sweep over to the young man, who seemed to be acting crazy and was constantly fidgeting. He would curl his lip in disdain: "He's just a barbarian from beyond the Great Wall after all. He's really quite rude."

I knew this person had a twisted personality, but I didn't know it was this twisted. I wonder if Gao Yang will be treated the same way after marrying him.

That's a princess from Ningguo, a woman of noble birth.

The middle-aged man took a sip of hot tea, pursed his lips, and then suppressed the thought in his mind. After all, he was just a gofer, and such things were not his concern.

As for the woman's painful, desperate groans and pleading eyes, they were completely ignored. Although this woman was from Ningguo and was being humiliated in front of a barbarian from another race... so what? It wasn't his own daughter anyway.

He doesn't feel bad.

After about fifteen minutes, the young man got up, satisfied.

While straightening his clothes, he glanced casually at the woman and then clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

His chest did not rise or fall at all.

Dead again.

"Hey, when are we going to pick them up?" After straightening his clothes, the young man looked at the middle-aged man who had been watching from the side. He looked down on the man even more. The women of this country had been tormented to death by him, and this man hadn't even reacted. What a coward.

"Tomorrow night." The middle-aged man smiled. "There's just one more thing. Please keep it a secret for now regarding your being her fiancé. You can temporarily call yourself a guard. Miss has a strong personality. If she's suddenly forced into a marriage, she certainly won't agree, and most likely she won't leave with us peacefully."

The young man grinned: "What a hassle."

Even so, she reluctantly agreed.

"This woman is dead. Go find me another one, a beautiful one."

The middle-aged man pursed his lips, said nothing, but bowed to the young man before turning and leaving the room.

……

Governor's Mansion.

In front of Gao Yang's bedroom door.

What's that saying again? There's always gossip around a widow's door.

Although Gao Yang had volunteered to come and handle a letter, her identity was special—she was his wife's cousin and a widow who had just lost her husband. If someone saw him loitering in front of her door, who knew what kind of rumors would spread? Then he looked down at himself; his hesitation in front of Gao Yang's door only made him more suspicious.

Shaking his head, Song Yan stopped thinking about these messy things, pushed open the door, and strode inside, but did not close the door.

A quick glance revealed that the entire bedroom had a fresh and elegant style.

The room was tidy and clean.

The furnishings were minimal: a wardrobe, a desk, and a bed—that was all.

The quilt was neatly folded and placed inside the bed. The wardrobe was closed, and there were many books on the desk, mostly collections of poems and essays.

Gao Yang hadn't specified where the letter was, but the desk was the most likely place. Right in front of it was a small booklet. After opening it and glancing at it, Song Yan noticed that the ink was fresh and it must have been some notes Gao Yang had made himself, with neat handwriting. As she flipped through the pages, Song Yan's expression became somewhat strange.

"Linjiangxian"!
Turn the page again.
"The Depths of Strategic Maneuvering"!
Flip again,

"Green Jade Table - Lantern Festival"!
However, these are the few poems he left behind.

He continued flipping through the pages; the thick booklet was densely covered with writing, almost entirely repetitions of the three poems, especially "Linjiang Xian" and "Qingyu An." Song Yan was somewhat exasperated; having copied them so many times, it seemed Gao Yang really liked these two poems he had written.

He casually closed the booklet and carefully examined the surface of his desk, even flipping through each book and shaking it, but found nothing hidden inside. He opened a drawer, where several more booklets were inside. He looked through them one by one, and almost all of them were about "Qing Yu An" and "Lin Jiang Xian". For some reason, Song Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

My back felt a little cold.

What is this?
Illegitimate meal?
Or is it more serious?

Surely Gao Yang isn't a yandere.

With a tremor in his hand, Song Yan quickly put the booklet back in its original position.

He rummaged through the drawer again and finally found a yellow envelope at the very back. The envelope was unsigned, and he didn't know if it was the one Gao Yang had asked him to handle, nor had Gao Yang explained how to deal with it. Song Yan didn't know the contents of the letter either, and for a moment, he was at a loss.

But then she thought about what Gao Yang had said when they parted: "You can help me with this."

Song Yan raised an eyebrow. Could it be that the contents of the letter were rather complicated, and Gao Yang was unsure of what to do, so she wanted him to take a look and help her make a decision?
After a brief hesitation, Song Yan opened the envelope.

The neatly folded Xuan paper was also covered with tiny characters. The contents of the letter were relatively normal at first, inquiring about how Gao Yang was doing here, whether she was well-fed and clothed, and whether she had been bullied. It also told Gao Yang not to worry too much about Fang Jun's matter, and that she and Prince Fu would handle anything that happened.

It was basically the tone of a mother concerned about her daughter. She then briefly mentioned her life on her end, telling Gao Yang not to worry.

Then, the content became somewhat strange.

Basically, it means that Gao Yang is now officially dead and it's not appropriate for him to appear in public, lest his identity be recognized and it would be difficult to explain to the Fang family. It's a warning to Gao Yang to be careful in everything and to avoid showing his face unless absolutely necessary.

She also told Gao Yang that even though she had disappeared, she was still nominally the Fang family's daughter-in-law. What she would do in the future, whether she remained a widow or remarried, was a matter for the Fang family to decide, and even the Prince of Fu could not interfere.

She was just a 21-year-old girl, in the prime of her life. It was too pitiful for her to live such a lonely and helpless life. Whenever they thought of this, their parents felt heartbroken and cried their eyes out.

Then, she shifted her tone, subtly suggesting that it wasn't entirely appropriate for Gao Yang to continue living in Pingyang. Her presence was also a burden on Luo Yuheng; if her identity were exposed, Luo Yuheng wouldn't know how to explain it to the Fang family. Moreover, it was improper for a widow to live in her cousin-in-law's house year-round. A short time would be fine, but in the long run, who knew what kind of gossip would arise, damaging her reputation and perhaps even affecting the relationship between Song Yan and Tian Xuan.

Upon seeing this, Song Yan couldn't help but scratch his head, never expecting that he was involved in this...

Continuing on, the story continues with Prince Fu and Kong Nianhan informing Gao Yang that they have found a good place for him. Although it is a bit remote, it is still a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains. There are no traveling merchants or peddlers around, so there is no need to worry about his identity being exposed.

The tone suggested that he viewed this place as a tourist destination to relax and unwind, allowing Gao Yang to calm down and think carefully about what he should do in the future.

Even if she wanted to remarry, Prince Fu would arrange everything.

At the end of the letter, she specifically mentioned that Prince Fu and Kong Nianhan had arranged for people to pick her up in Pingyang. If she agreed, she could leave Pingyang. If she disagreed, she should at least send a message back, so as not to keep people waiting... Of course, because of her special status, whether she went or not, this matter should not be known to others to avoid unnecessary trouble. Song Yan checked the time; the final deadline was tomorrow night.

Rubbing his forehead, Song Yan slowly put down the letter in his hand.

The timeline is very clear.

Gao Yang first received a letter from his mother, and was undecided for a while. Just then, Xinhou County needed someone to help, so Luo Yuheng asked Gao Yang for help... After a lot of busy work, a long time passed, and Gao Yang hurriedly returned to Pingyang at the last minute.

Prince Fu and Kong Nianhan are Gao Yang's biological parents. In addition, she is the type who doesn't like to cause trouble for others. Therefore, Gao Yang's choice is already very clear.

At this moment, an accident happened.

Song Yan told Gao Yang that the person who had plotted against Luo Caiyi was Kong Nianhan... Even though Gao Yang didn't want to believe it, she understood to some extent that her mother was probably not as simple as she thought.

Perhaps subconsciously, she thought of the letter her mother had sent and began to re-examine its contents.

The letter was sincere and filled with warmth and concern for her daughter. It didn't force Gao Yang to do anything; instead, it offered her alternative options, using a consultative tone. Whether or not Gao Yang accepted the arrangements made by Prince Fu and Kong Nianhan was entirely up to her, demonstrating considerable respect for her.

Anyone who reads this letter can see the affection that Prince Fu and Kong Nianhan have for Gao Yang.

However, something is not right.

"Whether you go or not, don't let anyone else know about this."

At first glance, it seems normal. After all, Gao Yang's identity is special, and if it becomes public knowledge, it would not be a good thing for Gao Yang.

But Luo Yuheng is the eldest sister of Prince Fu and the aunt of Gao Yang. She has had a good relationship with Gao Yang since childhood and they have a deep affection for each other. It would be too much to keep it from Luo Yuheng. Moreover, Gao Yang's disappearance without reason would only cause Luo Yuheng to worry for no reason.

Song Yan tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her mind racing. Perhaps it was this slight incongruity that made Gao Yang suspicious. She didn't know what choice to make, so she hoped that Gao Yang could see the letter and make the decision for her.
Does she really trust herself that much?

Moreover, wouldn't it be better to sit down and discuss things face-to-face? Why use such a subtle approach?

Could it be that there's something wrong with the people around her...? Is it that Granny Gui?
Various thoughts quickly surfaced in Song Yan's mind... Something's not right. How could someone doubt their own mother based on a single comment from someone else? Unless, the relationship between mother and daughter isn't as harmonious as outsiders think.

Things suddenly seemed much more complicated.

Silently folding the letter and tucking it into his sleeve, Song Yan frowned, pondering how to handle this matter... Unlike the Jurchens or Japanese pirates, this matter couldn't be resolved by simply killing them. Ultimately, it was a matter concerning the Prince of Fu's family, and it would be unjust for an outsider like him to interfere.

Just as she was pondering this, she heard footsteps outside the door. Looking up, she saw Luo Yuheng.

They probably saw that Gao Yang's bedroom door was open and assumed that Gao Yang had returned, so they came over to take a look. Who would have thought that they would actually see their own son-in-law?

Luo Yuheng's expression turned somewhat strange. A hot-blooded sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy inexplicably appearing in a widow's bedroom—who knows what kind of rumors would spread if others saw this? Even though Luo Yuheng was a rebellious person, he still felt somewhat helpless at this moment. There were just too many things to worry about for this family.

She gently raised her hand and rubbed her temples; her head ached.

Just by looking at Luo Yuheng's expression, Song Yan knew what she was thinking. He smiled and said, "Mother, Cousin Gao Yang has returned to Pingyang City. I've temporarily settled her with the Zhang family. It's inconvenient for her to return to the governor's mansion, so she asked me to take care of some things. By the way, Mother, is there something you need?"

Luo Yuheng's expression softened slightly. Since it was Gao Yang's request, he said that his son-in-law was not the kind of child who didn't know any better. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face: "I was looking for you anyway. This morning, Tianxuan and I discussed it, and we both agreed to your relationship with Tianyi."

Song Yan's face lit up with joy.

Does this mean I've gained my mother-in-law's approval?
"but……"

Upon hearing those two words, Song Yan's heart skipped a beat; no matter the time, those two words were probably the most frightening.

“Although Tianyi is my daughter and Tianxuan’s sister, we cannot favor one over the other because of this relationship.” Luo Yuheng smiled and explained the matter she and Tianxuan had discussed: “Our point is that since we are getting married, Lianyue, Banxia, ​​Siyao, and Nahetuya should all be included.”

"These women have been with you for a while now, so you should give them a proper status no matter what."

"Tianxuan suggested that we have a bigger wedding together, but I don't think that's appropriate."

A woman.

Most of them are quite emotional.

A wedding holds a special, almost sacred meaning in a woman's heart.

However, Song Yan already has a wife, so even if they were to get married, it would only be taking a concubine, and the wedding would not be too grand.

In more particular families, there are no formal betrothal letters, gift certificates, or wedding invitations. Instead, there are no formalities like betrothal ceremonies, name inquiries, auspicious date selections, gift presentations, wedding dates, or the wedding ceremony itself. The traditional "three letters and six betrothal gifts" are simply omitted. Basically, the principal wife's consent and the parents' approval are required. A document for taking a concubine is issued, and payment is made for the concubine. Then, a small sedan chair in blue is carried into the mansion through a side gate or corner gate. That's roughly how it works.

That's right. In ancient times, there were no betrothal gifts or dowries for taking a concubine. All you had to do was pay a sum of money to buy the concubine. To put it bluntly, it was similar to the woman's family selling their daughter.

Even if the wedding isn't too grand, most of these women still hope to have a wedding that is uniquely their own, rather than one with other women.

Moreover, the situations of these women are somewhat complicated, and they cannot be simply governed by etiquette.

Song Yan felt slightly relieved; it turned out that what his mother-in-law meant by "but" was actually this. It must be said that although this mother-in-law could occasionally be a little temperamental and seemed immature, she had weathered many storms and experienced a lot, making her much more thoughtful. In comparison, Luo Tianxuan only cared about Song Yan and probably didn't care much about others; some of her decisions inevitably caused these women to suffer.

The two left Gao Yang's bedroom, closed the doors and windows, and found a pavilion in the courtyard to sit down. A maid brought them fragrant tea, and Luo Yuheng moistened her throat.
"Tianxuan and I have discussed this carefully and we think that Hua Lianyue should be the first to be arranged, while the matter of Tianyi can be put on hold for later."

Firstly, Hua Lianyue is older.

"Secondly, Hua Lianyue is, after all, the sect leader of a branch of the Hehuan Sect, and also a grandmaster-level expert, so we can't afford to neglect her."

That reason is indeed realistic.

However, it's understandable. A grandmaster-level expert is like a fat man and a little boy, a nuclear warhead-level existence. Even someone as carefree as Luo Yuheng has to treat them with caution.

"Furthermore, the wedding cannot be conducted as a concubine's marriage. You are the Marquis of Champion, and Tianxuan and I believe that we should follow the standard for a marquis to marry his principal wife. What do you think, Yan'er?"

"Mother can arrange everything." Song Yan nodded. The arrangement was very appropriate. On the one hand, it did not rise to the standards of the royal family, thus maintaining the dignity of Luo Tianxuan as the legal wife. On the other hand, it also took into account the standards for marriages of marquises and nobles, and also considered Hua Lianyue's dignity.

She truly lives up to her title as the eldest princess of the royal family.

Song Yan could find no fault with any of the arrangements. He could never have done it this way if he had taken charge himself.

Luo Yuheng smiled again and nodded in satisfaction: "In that case, I will go and discuss the specific details with Hua Lianyue. This is an important matter, and she will probably have some relatives and friends coming over."

"However, her family is from the Chu Kingdom, so traveling back and forth is somewhat inconvenient and takes a long time. Therefore, the wedding date has to be postponed. I heard that Hua Lianyue has several disciples and has a very good relationship with them. One of her disciples is even a general from the Chu Kingdom, so he will most likely be coming."

A general of the Chu state?
Song Yan raised an eyebrow slightly; Hua Lianyue's disciples were all women.

Throughout history, there have been very few women who have served as generals. In the four kingdoms of the Central Plains today, there seems to be only one famous female general, who once led the Chu army to capture two cities of Ning, forcing Ning to cede territory and pay reparations every year.

Could it be that female general?

If she were to arrive in Ningguo, well, that would be quite a show.

Song Yan didn't really have any impression of that female general.

I vaguely remember that his name contained the character "snow," which was somewhat similar to the name of his missing sister, Song Xue. That was all.

Previously, Song Yan hadn't thought much about it, but now, Song Lu's words suddenly popped into her mind... Her sister, Song Xue, had been assigned by Yang Miaoqing to be sold by an old woman to five bachelor brothers in a remote mountain village as a shared wife. On the way, they encountered a merchant caravan, and the caravan manager, seeing Song Xue's cleverness and cuteness, bought her. The old woman couldn't quite remember what kind of caravan it was, but judging from the people's attire, they seemed to be from the Chu Kingdom.

Therefore, if the elder sister is still alive, she most likely returned to the State of Chu with the caravan.

Chu State.

The name contains the character for snow.

Could it be that my sister and that female general are...? This thought suddenly popped into Song Yan's mind, and he couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart and his chest pound.

After a few breaths, he couldn't help but chuckle again.

That's insane! How could there be such a coincidence in this world?
(End of this chapter)