Chapter 43: Chapter 39: A Hero? He’s Not Worthy
Thus, after giving birth to her daughter, Song Yunzhao, Mrs. Cai’s immense disappointment caused her to transfer all her anger and disgust onto the child, both physically and mentally.
Extending her loathing and desire for revenge against Aunt Che to Song Yunzhao was a subtle form of catharsis.
Once such behavior becomes an addiction, it’s very difficult to change.
That was why, for so many years, she had been disgusted by the mere sight of Song Yunzhao. She didn’t want her to have a good life and even harbored a secret wish for her daughter’s life to get progressively worse. All of it stemmed from this.
Song Yunzhao, having come from a future era, could understand this mentality to some extent. But understanding didn’t mean she could forgive it. ’Why should I?’
’Am I supposed to forgive Mrs. Cai for her twisted nature?’
’It’s not like I run the Holy Mother Mary College.’
Song Yunzhao might understand, but Third Master Song did not. He knew nothing of psychology. He only saw that Mrs. Cai was growing increasingly obsessive and hostile toward their younger daughter. He recalled the time she had attacked Yun Zhao with a teacup, nearly disfiguring her. Countless small incidents had piled up, reaching a tipping point at this very moment.
Seeing that he couldn’t reason with his wife, Third Master Song couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words. He said to her directly, "I’ve told you before that you needn’t concern yourself with Yun Zhao’s affairs. Obviously, you didn’t take that to heart. Since you despise her so much, then from now on, I, her father, will be the one to manage her life."
Mrs. Cai’s face drained of color. "What do you mean by that, my lord? I carried her for ten months. She is my daughter, so naturally, she is mine to manage."
She was so shocked that her voice became sharp and strained, and a harsh look settled on her face.
Third Master Song’s face flushed with anger.
’This is getting complicated,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’But that’s just how it is in the ancient world.’ She’d heard stories of officials losing their posts because their own mothers accused them of being unfilial. That one concept, filial piety, could be weaponized in countless ways.
That’s why Song Yunzhao had been holding her nose and just trying to survive in the Song family. She used Third Master Song’s protection to maneuver around Mrs. Cai, careful not to have a complete falling out. She wasn’t strong enough to confront her mother directly, so her only option was to keep her in check.
However, with the conflict of interest sparked by the upcoming selection, it was clear Mrs. Cai no longer wanted to maintain that balance.
’Sigh. This is why it’s so complicated.’
As a member of the younger generation, Song Yunzhao remained silent, standing by Third Master Song’s side. All she needed to do was put on an expression of helplessness, sorrow, and utter despair. That was enough.
Sure enough, after seeing his daughter’s expression, the anger that Third Master Song had been suppressing flared up again.
’The child has suffered for so many years,’ he thought. ’As her father, why can’t I stand up for her?’
’In this world, he was the only one who could fight to secure her future.’
If his parents were still alive, Third Master Song could have asked the elders to step in and restrain his wife. But unfortunately, they had long since passed away.
He still had his eldest brother and sister-in-law, but since the households had been formally divided, even his sister-in-law couldn’t meddle too deeply in his affairs.
The more Third Master Song thought about it, the more he felt the injustice his daughter had endured for years. He felt it was his own failure as a father. He knew she was suffering, yet for the sake of household harmony, he had expected her to bear it.
When he looked at his daughter’s expression—one that showed she had long grown accustomed to this torment—his loving, fatherly heart felt like it was being scorched over a fire.
"Zhaozhao may be your birth daughter, but she is a daughter of the Song Family!" Third Master Song took a deep breath and looked up at his wife. "If you refuse to see reason and insist on degrading my daughter, then I will have no choice but to go to your parents’ home, kowtow to them, and beg them to take you back."
Song Yunzhao’s jaw dropped in shock.
’To put it nicely, he was asking them to "take her back." To put it bluntly, it meant, "If you don’t start listening, I’ll divorce you!"’
’Whoa.’ At that moment, her father’s stature seemed to grow immensely in her eyes.
The little grievances she once held against him sprouted tiny wings and fluttered away.
"You... what did you just say?" For years, Mrs. Cai’s greatest reliance had been her maiden family. She came from a good background, while the Song Family was in decline. She had always considered herself to have married beneath her station and never worried that her husband would actually do anything to her.
"Father, how could you say such a thing!" Song Qinghan burst into the room. Beside her was Song Bu Yue, and trailing behind him was Song Buming, who was doing his best to be inconspicuous.
Behind Song Buming, Song Jinxuan peeked out from the doorway. Song Yunzhao could also faintly make out the floral pattern of Aunt Che’s dress.
It was just...
’What was supposed to be a tragedy was on the verge of being turned into a farce by Aunt Che and her cohort.’
"Father, Mother has done nothing grievously wrong. You cannot do this." Song Bu Yue stepped in front of his mother, looking his father in the eye and forcing himself to stand tall.
