Chapter 858: Chapter 813: Two Lives Lost
The letter said, after Wen Wan and the others left Ningzhou, Song Qi kept going to the Liang Family every day. No one knew what he said in front of Song Jiao, but she got so angry that she gave birth prematurely and then had a difficult labor. Neither the mother nor the child survived. Now the Liang Family is arranging a funeral, and Liang Jun wants to report it to the government and have Song Qi arrested. Song Qi is hiding at the Xie Family, too scared to leave despite any persuasion.
Wen Wan clutched the letter, her vision turning black.
That was the girl she raised as her own daughter. She had been married for just over a year and hadnât even gotten to enjoy the happiness she deserved, and now she was gone!
Tears fell in large drops, and Wen Wan did not know how she made it back to the house.
In the main hall, the Second Langâs wife and Yun Xia were teasing the old lady, mixed in with the childish voices of Duobao and Qi Bao.
Hearing the laughter, Wen Wan stopped outside the hall and, like a walking corpse, planned to return to the East Wing to be alone for a while.
Just then, Second Langâs wife happened to lift the curtain and come out. Seeing Wen Wanâs unusual expression, she quickly asked, "Sister-in-law, whatâs wrong?"
Inside, the old lady heard the commotion and asked Yun Xia to come out to see.
As soon as Yun Xia came out, she saw Wen Wanâs tear-streaked face and red eyes, and her heart tightened, "Madam, did something happen?"
She then looked at Linglong, who was following behind.
Linglong was also bewildered. Earlier, she had gone with Wen Wan to look at the house, but Wen Wan read the letter alone when it arrived and hadnât told her what was written. All she saw was her lady crying after reading it, and on the way back, no matter how much she asked, Wen Wan wouldnât speak.
Second Langâs wife walked down the stone steps to pull her, "Sister-in-law, if thereâs something on your mind, tell us. There are so many people here, surely someone can come up with a solution. Keeping it bottled up inside isnât good either."
"Iâm fine." Wen Wan shook her head, "I just visited my foster father, and Iâm a bit emotional."
Second Langâs wife sighed, "I know youâve had a rough life, but your biological parents and foster father are all alive and well. Isnât that something to be happy about? Thereâs no need to cry. Stop crying and come inside with me. The old lady is teaching Qi Bao to talk, and the little girl is learning so well. You should come and see."
"Second sister-in-law, Iâm not in a good mood today. Could you please watch over Qi Bao more? Iâm going back to my room to rest." Wen Wan gently pushed aside Second Langâs wifeâs hand and turned back to the East Wing.
Second Langâs wife muttered softly, "Since when did she become so sentimental?"
Linglongâs eyes flickered. In the entire house, only she knew that Wen Wan hadnât gone to the Wen Family today, and that all of this was because of that letter.
But she didnât dare to speak, only telling Second Langâs wife, "Please take care of our lady, Second Madam. I will go back to watch over the Mistress."
"Go on, donât let her cry too much." Second Langâs wife waved her hand.
Linglong went inside and faintly heard Wen Wan sobbing from the inner room. She quickened her pace and went in, only to see Wen Wan lying on her side on the bed, her shoulders shaking with grief, overwhelmed with sorrow.
Seeing her like this, Linglong felt uncomfortable, "Mistress, what on earth happened? Can you tell me? Although I might not be knowledgeable, I might be able to offer some advice."
Wen Wan did not respond; she simply couldnât speak at the moment. Her throat hurt like it was pricked by fish bones, and she wished she could sprout wings and fly back to the Capital right away to see that poor girl one last time.
Just then, a servantâs voice came from outside, "Master is back!"
Song Wei had gone to visit his old mentor that morning and had just returned.
Linglong was about to go out to greet him when Song Wei already lifted the curtain and came in, sensing that something was amiss. He stepped into the inner room.
When he saw Wen Wan lying on her side, crying on the bed and Linglong standing there at a loss, Song Weiâs expression darkened, and he asked Linglong, "Whatâs wrong with the Mistress?"
Linglong shook her head. She couldnât tell Second Madam, but she didnât dare hide it from the Master. She finally admitted, "I accompanied the Mistress to see the house today, and soon after we bought it, she received a letter from the Capital. And then... then she became like this."
Song Weiâs temples throbbed, and he motioned Linglong to leave.
Once the room was empty but for the two of them, Song Wei pulled a round stool up to the bed, gently placing a hand on Wen Wanâs shoulder, his voice soft, "Wanwan, whatâs happened?"
Upon hearing her husbandâs voice, Wen Wanâs sobbing paused, she turned to look at him, her eyes misty with tears, her lips trembling twice, yet no sound emerged.
Song Wei took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears, "Donât be afraid. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
Wen Wan sat up and threw herself into his arms, crying again. It was a long while before she could speak, "Husband, letâs go back to the Capital tomorrow!"
"What happened?" Song Wei held her slender shoulders, feeling her tremble.
He wondered if the news from the Northern Border about his father-in-law was bad, feeling his own mood grow heavy.
Wen Wan took several deep breaths before she could get the words out, "Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao is gone, mother and child both dead."
Hearing this, Song Wei, who was always calm and composed, was utterly shocked.
The situation on the Liang Familyâs side he always knew, though Liang Junâs mother, Fan Family, has a sharp face, she has never spoken ill of Song Jiao, never pointed fingers at her, especially after she became pregnant, the Liang Family has treated her like a treasure, and Song Jiao herself has been extremely cautious, usually does not go outside unless necessary.
In such conditions, no accident should have happened, "What exactly is going on?"
Song Weiâs tone carried urgency.
Wen Wan already regained some composure, and she handed the letter written by Xie Zheng to him.
After reading it, Song Wei fell into silence.
Wen Wan gritted her teeth in hatred, "If I had known earlier sheâd harm Jiaojiao like this, I would have brought her to Ningzhou."
"Saying this now is of no use." Song Wei sighed, his face very serious.
He knows Wanwanâs affection for the eldest niece, and even for himself, having raised her all these years, he is quite concerned; but who would have thought, the girl joyfully sent to her husbandâs home would suffer such a calamity within a year.
"Iâll go out now to arrange for things, we must set out for the Capital immediately." He then asked Wen Wan, "Do Mother and Second Sister-in-law know about this matter?"
Wen Wan shook her head, "I donât know how to tell them."
"While thereâs still time, you should rest for a while." Song Wei gently advised, then walked out from the East Wing to the main hall.
In the main hall, laughter continued, Qi Bao was babbling awkwardly, provoking everyoneâs laughter.
Song Weiâs steps paused at the door, yet he still pulled the curtain and entered.
Once Granny Song saw him, her smile deepened, "Third son, did you see your mentor?"
Song Wei nodded, "I saw them, previously invited them for a meal in the tavern."
Granny Song thought of what happened earlier and said: "Your wife went out today to see the house, I donât know what happened, she returned with something off, youâd better go check the East Wing, donât let anything happen at this critical moment."
Song Wei lowered his lashes, "I just came from the East Wing, already asked her."
"So what did she say?"
Granny Song finished asking, Second Langâs wife also looked at Song Wei.
Song Weiâs prominent Adamâs apple bobbed as if hesitating.
Granny Song saw his reaction, feeling uneasy.
Third Sonâs wife, with her foresight, could it be something serious is truly about to happen?
Second Langâs wife grew anxious, "Third Son, donât keep us in suspense, quickly tell us, what happened to Third Sonâs wife?"
Song Wei took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and looked sequentially at Granny Song and Second Langâs wife, "Mother, Second Sister-in-law, Jiaojiao is gone, the letter from the Capital just arrived, two lives lost."
"What?!"
Second Langâs wife was stunned, "Third Son, youâre not joking, right?"
Granny Songâs face turned ashen.
"The letter written by Xie Zheng was received by Wanwan." Song Wei slowly said, "He mentioned in the letter, after we left the Capital, Qi Qi frequently went to the Liang Family, later spoke something that angered Jiaojiao, leading to premature labor, encountered a difficult labor, couldnât be saved, now the Liang Family is mourning, Liang Jun, in his anger, wants to report to let the government capture Qi Qi, Qi Qi, terrified, is now hiding in the Xie Family unwilling to come out."
"Oh my goodness!" Second Langâs wife screamed, her eyes shut as she fainted.
Granny Song could guess with her toe what Song Qi was up to in the Liang Family, she sat stiffly on the couch, saying nothing, Song Wei called her several times without response, he couldnât help but worry, quickly sent people to invite the doctor.
...
There were still some loose ends to tidy up regarding the ancestral hall construction, Song Erlang accompanied Old Song out, upon returning in the evening only then did he hear the news of Song Jiaoâs death.
Song Erlang immediately turned red with anger, "Song Qi, that wretch, when I return to the Capital, I must beat her to death!"
"Enough!" Old Song shouted angrily, "One has already died, another one dies, and you get imprisoned to eat prison food, let wife and children drink the Northwest wind?"
"Father..." Song Erlang sat down, crying loudly, "My Jiaojiao was so obedient, she didnât deserve to die, shouldnât have died! I hate it so much, how could I have given birth to such a rebellious daughter, making the household restless and uneasy."
At this moment, Yun Xia hurriedly came over, full of urgency, "Old Master, Second Master, the old lady has fallen ill and developed a fever, doesnât seem like she can go anytime soon, what should we do?"