Chapter 501: Chapter 468: Can We Have a Little Shame?
No matter how I tried to persuade, Su Yaoqi just wouldnât relent. The Duchess once again broke into tears, "Little Four, if you truly become a monk, what will your mother do?"
Before going to Fahua Temple, he promised to come back and visit when he had time, but he had left home such a long time ago and hadnât returned. The Duchess could only visit him under the guise of going for incense worship, and each time she had so many things to say, thinking her son would at least listen to her.
Who would have thought after just a short time not seeing him, he would decide on his own to shave his head and become a monk.
Facing his parentsâ heartache and dismay, Su Yaoqi could only kowtow, "Itâs unfilial of me."
Heâs accepted his fault but absolutely wonât turn back.
Duke Su, looking at him, frowned deeply. Even though he didnât participate in state affairs, he paid a lot of attention to the movements of the Song family.
Thinking of the spiesâ report that after Su Yaoqi became a monk, Song Wei and his wife had gone up Mile Mountain several times, he was momentarily furious and glared at his son, "Little Four, tell your father the truth, did someone force you?"
Mrs. Wen, knowing Little Four was fond of her, deliberately took men to Fahua Temple, surely to provoke his son. Little Four, with a pure heart, couldnât bear to compete with others, could only shave his head and become a monk to set his mind.
Duke Su thought quite far ahead, within moments dumping a huge blame on Song Wei and his wife.
Su Yaoqi felt quite frustrated, why did his father always think someone wanted to harm him?
With the Empressâs support, Su Yaoqi stood up and said that shaving his head was entirely his own idea and had nothing to do with anyone.
Duke Su waved his big hand, "No need to cover for Mrs. Wen, Iâm going to find her to settle this account."
"Father!"
Su Yaoqi wanted to stop him, but his father moved with imposing anger, took a few strides out of the Kunning Palace gates, mounted a fast horse after leaving the palace, and headed directly to the Song family.
The two elders took their little golden grandson to the manor house, Song Wei was at the government office, leaving only Wen Wan, Song Jiao, and the Second Langâs wife who had come to deliver wedding dress materials to her daughter.
The three were in the room pondering the wedding dressâs embroidery design when Linglong ran in saying, "Madam, somethingâs wrong. Thereâs a fierce old gentleman outside saying he wants to see you."
Song Jiaoâs eyebrows twitched, "Fierce?"
"Yes." Linglong nodded, "He started scolding people outside as soon as he arrived, scolding so fiercely that even the neighbors came out."
Song Jiaoâs face soured, looking at Wen Wan.
Having anticipated this, Wen Wan appeared unruffled, set down the materials, and smiled at the Second Langâs wife, "Letâs go have a look."
The Second Langâs wife was puzzled, "Who would be so shameless, coming to run someone down at their home?"
"Letâs see and find out."
Wen Wan held the armrest of the round chair and slowly got up.
The Second Langâs wife followed her out, about to head outside, and thought Wen Wan was pregnant, so she said, "Perhaps you better not go out, who knows maybe the other party is a lunatic, and itâd be terrible to be touched by him."
Wen Wan shook her head, "With my in-laws not here, Third Son went to the government office too, thereâs no one else at home, Iâm the hostess, itâs only natural not to let Second Sister-in-law, our guest, face the situation instead."
This made sense, and the Second Langâs wife couldnât refute it, so she had to let her.
As the few walked outside the main gate, from afar they saw a middle-aged man in a light brown brocade robe standing angrily by the stone lion.
Upon seeing Wen Wan, he didnât even bother with greetings and started shouting directly, "Mrs. Wen, donât go overboard, my son was infatuated with you at first, that was his blindness, now that heâs disheartened and become a monk, you still went to provoke him and made him shave his head, do you Song family members have any shame?"
This Duke Su is different from the heads of other families, he doesnât understand shame, scolding people worse than a shrew.
For his shamelessness, Wen Wan had experienced it when accompanying Song Wei to Ningzhou for an investigation years ago. Now, being berated by him, she showed no signs of anger.
Second Langâs wife listened to the manâs scolding and looked at Wen Wan, puzzled, "What nonsense is he spouting?"
Wen Wan explained quietly, "Heâs Duke Jing, has a younger son, years ago, when I was studying at the Hongwen Academy, he admired me, later due to various reasons, he became a monk, but was only practicing with hair. Some days ago, this young master suddenly shaved his head to become a genuine monk, Lord Duke couldnât bear it, assuming that when I took Third Son to Fahua Temple, I provoked his son, and so his son became disheartened, thus thoroughly entering into monastic life."
"..." Second Langâs wife: "Blaming the Kitchen God for stomachache, why canât he just stand it?"
Although the opponent is an Imperial Uncle, he stoops to learn how to scold like a shrew. The Second Langâs wife naturally wasnât shy, pointing to the man by the stone lion, "Hey, talking to you, looking at what? For a dignified gentleman to come and berate a pregnant woman, you think itâs reasonable?"
Duke Su thundered, "Having the face to criticize me? Why donât you ask Mrs. Wen, what indecent things has she done?"
"Donât spew filth, did Song family members dig up your ancestral grave?"
"It was Mrs. Wen who caused my son to shave his head, donât be a coward, come down, letâs face this in the public hall!"
Second Langâs wife stood with hands on hips, "I wonât come down, what can you do? And caused your son, just what kind of divine treasure is your son? Look at yourself, appearing dignified and put-together, yet in reality filled with filth, biting anyone like a dog, opening your mouth wide to turn white into black. Let me tell you, when it comes to arguing, I fear no one!"
"..."
Duke Su was so angry his face turned green. He had cursed countless people in his life, but this was the first time he was defeated by a country woman.
Pointing at Second Langâs wife, Duke Suâs finger trembled slightly, "Shrew, shrew!"
Second Langâs wife rolled her eyes at him.
"A family of shrews!"
Duke Su glared at Wen Wan and left with gritted teeth and a wave of his sleeve.
Song Jiao watched the old manâs retreating figure and felt speechless, "This Capital is truly full of hidden talents. I thought those who become Dukes were genteel and well-mannered folks. Even if they were sanctimonious, theyâd at least pretend for appearances. Who knew, he could actually let loose and argue with mother. Truly eye-opening."
Wen Wan turned her gaze back, "This is nothing. Once youâre familiar with the Capital, youâll see all sorts of people."
Second Langâs wife snorted lightly, "If this sort of person comes again, Iâll chase him out with a broom."
Wen Wan covered her mouth and laughed, "Second sister-in-law sure learned the knack of cursing from mother-in-law over the years."
Second Langâs wife seemed to realize her cursing style earlier was exactly like her mother-in-lawâs, and said awkwardly, "Isnât it so? Every time I canât even say three words to her before she starts cursing. Even if I donât want to learn, just listening teaches me."
After speaking, thinking about the other partyâs distinguished identity, Second Langâs wife became worried again, "You think that Duke, after being cursed by me, will he come back for revenge later?"
Duke Su wasnât someone who would easily let things go. He came to curse people today just to vent, but his real moves were yet to come. However, Wen Wan didnât foresee them for now, "Second sister-in-law, donât worry. Third Son is a trusted person by the Emperor. Even if Duke Su hates our family, he wouldnât dare act openly, otherwise he wouldnât have come alone to curse someone today but would have hired some assassin."
Second Langâs wife lamented, "Why did mother-in-law have to go to the countryside at such a time? If she were here, she definitely would have cursed Duke Su until he was smoking from all seven orifices."
This comment made Song Jiao laugh.
Wen Wan laughed too, but Second sister-in-law wasnât wrong. Mother-in-law was superb at cursing, capable of cursing for an entire hour without repeating herself. If Duke Su really went against her, it would be a wonder if he didnât cough up blood.
...
The incident of Duke Su shouting insults at the Song familyâs doorstep spread in just half a day.
Emperor Guangxi and Empress Su received the news consecutively.
From Emperor Guangxiâs side, it was reported by officials who stated in their memorials that Duke Su, as the Imperial Uncle, disregarded his image and went to curse pregnant women at the Song family, damaging the image of the Imperial Family.
But Duke Su was no longer in politics; if he didnât care about his reputation, what could Emperor Guangxi do? He could only discuss it with Empress Su, asking her to advise her brother to be more reserved and not curse at just anyone.
Empress Su felt speechless and immediately summoned Duke Su to the palace to inform him about the officialsâ criticism, asking him to be mindful of his status.
Duke Su didnât seem to care at all, "I was only seeking justice for my son. I neither cursed filthily nor involved her ancestors. Those old fools at the Imperial Supervision Office must have too much time on their hands. Are they idle enough to keep an eye on me all day?"
After speaking, he asked Empress Su what the Emperor said.
Empress Su massaged her temples, "Now that youâve disregarded your reputation, what can he say? He asked you to be more cautious. Song Wei is currently the Minister of the Divine Soldier Bureau and trusted by the Emperor. Your disruption embarrasses him; how could the Emperor be happy?"
Duke Su snorted coldly, "He turned my son into a monk; whatâs wrong with me challenging him? And speaking of cursing, their family shrew cursed even worse; all the neighbors heard it."
Empress Suâs mouth twitched, "After all, you are still a Duke, a person of stature, canât you preserve some dignity?"
...
This incident had already reached Song Wei at the Divine Soldier Bureau, where someone informed him that the master of the most shameless family in the Capital had come to their house to curse.
Song Wei, upon hearing, only smiled faintly.
Colleague asked what he was smiling about.
Song Wei said it wasnât easy, Duke Su turned into a shrew for his son, bringing himself to be cursed was quite the effort.
Colleague: "..."
Returning home in the evening, Song Wei hadnât even asked, but Song Jiao brought it up voluntarily, her words full of indignation, "Iâve never seen such an unreasonable old man in my life."
Song Wei said, "Duke Suâs notorious reputation for being shrewd existed years ago, but back then, he was Prime Minister and with an Empress securely seated in the Central Palace, holding all power, few dared gossip about him. Now that heâs no longer political, whenever thereâs slight disturbance, everyone wants to step over him."
Alas, Duke Su was the type of hard nut that wouldnât be crushed, both sinister and shameless.
Who can really touch him?
Seeing both uncle and auntâs indifferent reactions, Song Jiao became worried, "What if he comes again tomorrow?"
Wen Wan laughed, "Donât worry. Being cursed by your mother with smoking nostrils today, he wonât come again."