Binding Spring Love

Song Wan panicked upon hearing this.

She dared not and could not disobey her father.

"It's alright, I've got everything covered."

Song Fu gently comforted Song Wan, and the two got up and went outside to greet Song Lan'an.

"I have met the clan elders and my father."

"Wan'er greets the clan elders and her father."

Madam Song stood quietly behind the group, her eyes lowered.

"This house is nice; Fu'er has excellent taste."

With a single, gentle compliment, Song Lan'an strode into the main hall without even glancing at Song Wan. The two elderly clan elders, their expressions grave, followed Song Lan'an and sat down.

Madam Song smiled and said, "Wan'er is dressed very festively today, and looks much healthier than when she was at the Marquis's residence."

Upon hearing this, Song Lan'an snorted coldly, while Song Wan lowered her head and remained silent.

"The greatest virtues of a woman are respect and obedience. You first harmed your husband and then secretly ran away from the mansion. Such unchaste and immoral behavior has truly ruined the reputation of the Song family."

"Elder, please calm down."

Madam Song went to call Hengzhi and Hengwu to bring tea, and then said with a smile, "Elder, don't be angry. That day in the capital, when things were in chaos, the Marquis of Chengyang was probably worried about Wan'er's safety, which is why he sent her here. Besides, didn't the Marquis of Chengyang say before that he would come to pick Wan'er up and take her back to the manor once he recovered?"

"Wan'er, the Marquis of Chengyang is seriously injured. You shouldn't hide here alone. Come with your mother to get ready today, and your father and I will take you back to the Marquis's residence later."

Madam Song spoke gently, appearing very graceful.

Song Lan'an picked up the teacup, gently stirred the foam, and silently began to savor the tea.

"Wan'er has severed all ties with Jiang Xingjian. The elders of the clan have come at the right time. Song Fu asks the two of you to be witnesses and cancel this marriage."

"presumptuous."

The elder of the clan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly shouted: "Our Song clan has never divorced a woman in a hundred years. This precedent must not be set."

"Such an act that defies the laws of Heaven and disobeys her husband and father is absolutely intolerable to the Song family. If she does not repent, she will either have to go to the Marquis's family temple to keep company with the ancient Buddha and the lamp, or I will have her beaten to death with the clan's law."

Madam Song frowned, concealing the contempt in her eyes.

Song Wan's face turned pale, but she couldn't utter a single word in her defense.

If she were to openly deny it, she would be branded with the crimes of infidelity, filial impiety, and utter shamelessness.

"The Marquis's mansion first humiliated my Song family daughter, and then injured Qianbai. Moreover, everyone in the capital knows that Jiang Xingjian favors his concubine over his wife. I don't care whether Song family divorced or not, but my sister's pride must not be broken by the Marquis's mansion of Chengyang and Jiang Xingjian."

"Regardless of whether the clan supports her or not, my own sister, Song Fu's sister, has already severed all ties with Marquis Jiang Xingjian of Chengyang."

"If anyone tries to send Wan'er back to the Marquis's mansion, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Song Fu, you dare!"

The two elders stood up unsteadily. Song Lan'an put down her teacup and said quietly, "How dare you speak to the elders like that?"

"I wouldn't dare."

"Hmph, let's see if you dare."

The furious old men all looked at Song Lan'an, intending to have him teach Song Fu a lesson, but to their surprise, Song Fu picked up his tea and started drinking it again.

Song Wan pursed her lips, her eyes stinging with tears.

Her father probably felt sorry for her too.

Previously, she had to endure it for the sake of the clan's reputation, but now that things have escalated to this point, what difference is there between going back to the Marquis of Chengyang's mansion and offering herself up for humiliation?

She knew that as the clan leader, her father had to put on certain airs even if he didn't want to.

Looking at her silent father and Song Fu, who stood firmly in front of her, Song Wan forced back the tears welling up in her eyes.

She now understood why her brother had brought up the Crown Prince earlier. If her father and his clan had indeed decided to support the Fifth Prince's ascension to the throne, she would have to return to the Marquis's residence in the future.

When she returned to the Marquis's mansion, she was no longer the virtuous and exemplary widow who had lived there for six years, but rather the shameless and immoral woman who had once secretly run away from the mansion.

Without a good reputation to protect her, her situation will only get worse.

Therefore, when my elder brother mentions the Crown Prince, he probably has the intention of switching allegiance to the Crown Prince.

All of my brother's plans were for her.

She couldn't help her father and brothers at all, but instead caused them trouble in every way, which made her feel really bad.

"The child is at fault."

"What's wrong with it?"

Song Fu said expressionlessly, "My mistake was speaking to an elder of the same clan in such a way."

"It's good that you know."

After Song Lan'an finished speaking, he quietly sipped his tea again, and only then did the two elders understand his attitude.

Although they were furious, they were helpless.

After all, the entire Song clan now relies on Song Lan'an's support. Although Song Lan'an usually respects the clan, if he really decides to support Song Wan's departure from the Marquis's mansion, they dare not force him to bow down.

Even so, the thought that the Song family had produced such a despicable woman as Song Wan still made them feel extremely ashamed.

If outsiders find out, they will only say that the Song family has not disciplined their daughters properly, which will surely affect the marriage prospects of all men and women in the family.

The clan elder thought for a moment and said coldly, "It's not that the clan is forcing an ignorant woman, but that the Song family's century-old reputation cannot be ruined by you alone. If you are determined not to return to the Marquis's mansion, then go and seek a clean reputation for yourself."

"Where to?"

Song Lan'an glanced at Song Wan, and Song Wan's thoughts suddenly vanished.

Song Fuyi glared at the clan elder, his eyes filled with anger.

Seeing the situation reach a stalemate, Madam Song said, "Master has an appointment with Lord Chen of the Hanlin Academy this afternoon, and it's almost time."

Song Lan'an stood up, still not glancing at Song Wan, and strode out.

Upon seeing this, the two elders of the Song clan turned ashen-faced and followed them out.

As they left Song Wan's residence, one of them said in a grim tone, "It seems the clan leader is intentionally favoring his own eldest daughter? How will you expect to gain respect from the people after you act out of personal favoritism for your daughter today?"

"It's not that I, Song Lan'an, am biased towards that girl, but the elders don't know. It's just that Song Fu has become too powerful, and I can't do anything about him. If you have a way, please let Song Fu ask to take Wan'er back to the Marquis's mansion. I will have no objections. As for me, I would never dare to offend the Grand Princess."

After saying this, Song Lan'an bowed and boarded the carriage.

Sitting in the carriage, Madam Song pondered for a long time before finally saying, "Has my husband thought about the future of Yao'er and Nian'er?"

"How about rocking a child and picking a child together?"

Madam Song pursed her lips and remained silent. Song Lan'an remained silent for a long time before lowering her eyes and saying, "If Jiang Xingjian is in love with Wan'er, then Wan'er will be of some use in the Marquis's mansion. Since Jiang Xingjian has no feelings for Wan'er, why should I, Song Lan'an, send my fine daughter to him to suffer?"

"If we can't restrain Jiang Xingjian, Wan'er will be like a useless son. It's better to give Fu'er some face so that he won't look down on me, his father, every day."

"The master is right."

Madam Song clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her heart filled with resentment.

What's all this talk about restraining Song Fu? Isn't it all because they value these two legitimate children? If it were her own children, Yao'er and Nian'er, who had run away from the manor today, they would probably have been beaten to death on the spot to protect the Song family's reputation.

Madam Song turned her head away and stopped looking at Song Lan'an.

"Wan'er, don't be afraid. Just stay here and don't worry about anything else."

"I've caused you trouble, brother."

"What are you saying?"

Song Fu raised his hand and gently stroked her head, feeling comforted as he looked at his healthy and well-behaved sister.

"Brother, why don't you stay for a meal? I'll make you some tea."

"it is good."

Seeing Song Wan busy preparing the food, Song Fu asked, "Are you and Jiang Yan quite familiar with each other?"