Song Mingjian choked, temporarily unable to speak.
Indeed, this matter had been dragging on for a month now. To avoid conflict, he had been dodging Yun Feiwan for a full month as well. Let alone when Yun Feiwan sent someone to invite him, even if she had come personally, he would have avoided meeting her.
"Wan'er misunderstood. I didn't mean that. It's just that I've been too busy lately and haven't had the time to attend to it."
Yun Feiwan did not expose the fact that he was so busy he hadn't even spoken a word about their son's marriage. She only asked in surprise, "Misunderstood? Does Husband mean that Husband actually does not agree to this marriage?"
Now that it had come to this, and Song Jingcheng was not around, Song Mingjian stopped hiding and evading: "Of course I don't agree. This marriage is completely mismatched in social status. If that courtesan enters the estate and becomes Chenger's primary wife, I will lose all face and be unable to hold my ground in the imperial court. I'm afraid the Song family would become the laughingstock of the entire Capital."
"Then... what can be done? I already promised Chenger, but... Husband does not agree."
"That's easy. You just need to explain the reasons to Chenger. Tell him that after much thought, you still feel it is inappropriate, and call off the marriage."
Hearing him speak with such casual indifference, Yun Feiwan felt a flash of coldness in her eyes.
She put on a troubled expression: "But I already promised Chenger, and Chenger likes her so much. I simply cannot go back on my word. Husband clearly disagrees yet kept it to himself, which is why things have reached this point. Since I have already spoken, I will not take it back. If Husband disagrees, then Husband can go and tell Chenger."
Looking somewhat petulant, Yun Feiwan turned her face away.
Hearing these words, Song Mingjian knitted his brows.
How could Yun Feiwan throw such a childish temper tantrum over such a major matter? Yet he found it hard to refute her.
"It is my fault as the husband for not handling this well, but that courtesan must never be allowed to cross the threshold of the Song family. The affairs of the inner courtyard have always been managed by you, so you should resolve this together."
Yun Feiwan refused to yield: "Chenger is your only legitimate son; this cannot be considered a mere inner courtyard matter. It is entirely reasonable and proper for you to go and speak to him. In any case, I will not go."
Seeing Yun Feiwan's attitude, Song Mingjian grew somewhat angry: "In the past, I always trusted you, which is why I handed all the affairs of the estate over to you. Now, when it comes to our son's matter, you make all sorts of excuses and shirk responsibility. It is truly disappointing."
Seeing his shameless expression, the corners of Yun Feiwan's mouth curled up in utter sarcasm.
She squeezed out a tear in her eyes: "I promised Chenger. If I go back on my word now, who knows how Chenger will view me? It is rare for him to like someone this much. No matter what, I will not go and tell him."
With a displeased look on his face, Song Mingjian lost his patience: "As the mistress of the house, this is naturally your bounden duty. You ought to handle it properly."
"And now that I have handled it, you are dissatisfied."
"How can you call this handled? This is called being irresponsible."
"You are Chenger's father, shouldn't you bear some responsibility as well?"
"You..." Song Mingjian was momentarily speechless, and the room fell silent for a long moment.
"Anyway, no matter what, this marriage absolutely cannot happen. I don't care what method you use, you must make Chenger give up this notion. That courtesan won't even be allowed to enter the doors of the Song family as a concubine or a maid, let alone as Chenger's primary wife..."
Song Mingjian raised his voice, revealing his anger.
In the small alcove of the side room, Song Jingcheng furrowed his brows tightly.
He had always thought his mother was strict and his father was the easiest to talk to. Now he realized that he had been entirely mistaken.
Thinking back now, every time his mother disagreed with something in the past and he went to ask his father, his father would always avoid him and remain silent. It turned out it wasn't that his father had nothing to say, but rather that he wanted to force his mother to be the bad guy.
In his heart, he held his father's behavior in utter contempt. Not daring to voice his own disagreement, his father had forced his own wife to speak instead—it was truly utterly lacking in backbone.
Previously, he had misunderstood his mother far too deeply.
Seeing that Yun Feiwan still refused to change her stance, Song Mingjian was consumed by rage and warned: "The courtesan must never be allowed to enter this house."
Hearing this, Song Jingcheng could no longer contain himself in the side room. Not only would his father refuse, but he would also create a thousand obstacles. Just as he was about to rush out, the voice of a maid sounded from outside:
"Madam Yun has arrived."
He instantly relaxed. His eldest aunt had just said that as long as his mother agreed, she would not oppose it. His father also held his eldest aunt in high regard and often exhorted him to show filial piety to her.
Now that his eldest aunt had arrived, there would surely be a turning point.
He set his mind at ease; with his mother and his eldest aunt standing on his side, they would definitely be able to persuade his father.
Hearing this announcement, Yun Feiwan lifted her eyes and looked toward the entrance.
Yao Yun'er was the wife of Song Mingjian's deceased elder brother. Logically speaking, the servants of the estate should address her as First Madam, but at some point unknown, that title had changed to Madam Yun.
Ah, what a fitting Madam Yun.
As soon as Yao Yun'er stepped into the room, she sensed the tense atmosphere.
Song Jingcheng was not present.
Looking at Yun Feiwan with the demeanor of an elder, she said, "What is the matter with my sister-in-law? Have you and the second brother had a falling out? Family members should talk things over calmly; why are things so tense and hostile?"
Yun Feiwan looked at her and forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Sister-in-law is here at this hour. Is there something you need?"
"No... nothing at all. I was just passing by and came in to take a look. Seeing that you two husband and wife seemed to be arguing, I thought I'd come in and offer some persuasion. It's naturally best for a family to live in harmony."
Yao Yun'er had not expected Yun Feiwan to ask like that, and out of a guilty conscience, she instinctively wanted to cover up the fact that Song Mingjian had gone to Yulan Courtyard.
In her heart, she cursed herself for being too hasty, rushing right over the moment she heard there was trouble here without even pausing to think of an excuse first.
"I wasn't aware that Sister-in-law was so enthusiastic. In the past, whenever my husband and I had any disagreements, Sister-in-law would stay far away even if she caught sight of us. Today is quite a rarity—you're proactively stepping forward. This hardly looks like you came to mediate; it looks much more like you came to watch the show."
In the side room, Song Jingcheng frowned. It was true—whenever his father and mother had any conflicts in the past, he had never once heard of his eldest aunt coming to mediate.
In fact, there were even a couple of times when he wanted to step forward to persuade them, but his eldest aunt had stopped him.
Truly, she could hardly be called enthusiastic.
Yao Yun'er was rendered speechless for a moment, and her gaze shifted to Song Mingjian.
How could Song Mingjian bear to see Yao Yun'er suffer such a grievance? He immediately stepped in to protect her, saying to Yun Feiwan: "What is wrong with you today? Sister-in-law kindly came to mediate, yet your words are loaded with barbs and needles. It's a waste of how I usually find you to be understanding, gentle, and easy to talk to."
Nanny Qu felt a deep pang of heartache for Yun Feiwan and lowered her eyes, terrified that she would betray her emotions.
Acting as if she didn't see a thing, Yun Feiwan said to Yao Yun'er: "If Sister-in-law has nothing else, please leave. Matters between us husband and wife will be resolved by the two of us alone."
Yao Yun'er choked, unable to force out a single word of what was stuck in her throat.
She cast a troubled look at Song Mingjian. That gaze, falling into Nanny Qu's eyes, made her wish she could rush forward right then and there and tear this pair of adulterers to pieces.
Before, she had only heard Yun Feiwan speak of it, but seeing it with her own eyes now, the visual impact was immense.
With his mind entirely focused on Yao Yun'er, Song Mingjian naturally failed to notice Nanny Qu's gaze.
"Since Sister-in-law is here, you should listen to her as well."
Furrowing her brows deeply into an expression of guarding against family scandal airing in public, Yun Feiwan looked at Song Mingjian and, after a pause, finally spoke: "Very well. Since Sister-in-law has come, I will listen to Sister-in-law's thoughts."