The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1562 - 1559: Times Have Changed

Song Hong laughed.

Seeing that it was still early, he simply sat at the head of the table, ignoring Little Lady Hou and Song Chongzhao, and first looked at Wang Yongzhu: "Since you’ve given to the Madam and others, where’s mine?"

Wang Yongzhu saluted silently and waved her hand.

The maid behind her brought forward several trays and presented the items.

Song Hong saw the curved knife, though inlaid with gold and jade, when unsheathed, it was indeed a shimmering divine weapon.

He weighed it in his hand a few times and nodded indifferently.

Then he looked at what Wang Yongzhu had prepared for several sons, all similar playful instruments, clearly products of the palace, impartial and balanced, all looking about the same.

Instantly, he understood.

Over there, Little Lady Hou was still sobbing, and everyone in the room dared not make a sound, only sneaking glances at Song Hong to see what he would say.

Song Hong, however, leisurely toyed with the knife in his hand. After a while, he scoffed: "If they don’t want to save face, why keep it? Good things require discernment; encountering someone oblivious, is one supposed to force it on them? When did you become so generous?"

As soon as this was said, the room fell silent.

Little Lady Hou even stopped crying, looking at Song Hong in disbelief.

Without lifting his eyelids, Song Hong said coldly: "Laosan, what are you waiting for? Hurry and take your shallow-eyed wife back to her quarters. Don’t let her embarrass herself out here!"

Little Lady Hou’s face turned pale, her body wavering. She hadn’t expected Song Hong would side with that country girl and give her, the third son’s wife, no face at all.

After all, she was a new bride, with the Hou family’s reputation, not to mention it’s the first day of the New Year. Whatever the matter, as elders, shouldn’t they just smile and let it pass?

This was the plan of Little Lady Hou and Song Chongzhao, thinking since they were the younger generation, causing a fuss with some tears, the elders on such a festive day would surely be lenient. How could they truly hold a grudge?

Who could have imagined that Song Hong would disdain her so openly in front of the entire family?

Even Lady Gao, as the legitimate mother, had to bear some consideration. Truly mistreating the young couple could easily lead to gossip about parental unkindness.

But this was her true father-in-law, and his attitude likely meant that by tomorrow, everyone in the clan would know their branch had been spurned by Lord Duke.

What could be done about this?

Not only was Little Lady Hou stunned, Song Chongzhao hadn’t expected it either and stood there blankly: "Father—"

Song Hong looked over.

Gritting his teeth, Song Chongzhao knelt before Song Hong: "Father, today is still part of the New Year celebration, and the whole family is gathered together. Even if Hou has done something wrong, considering me, could you be more lenient—"

If it was before, Song Hong might have casually waved it off.

A family, after all, didn’t need to escalate matters like this.

But these times were different. Attempting to divorce his son’s wife earlier had already offended Wang Yongzhu.

From his understanding of Wang Yongzhu, this girl held grudges harshly and might have noted down several on her mental record already.

He could see that, despite giving gifts today, she hadn’t even wanted to speak to him.

Song Hong might be stifling his frustration, but he also knew that if he didn’t mediate between them and ease relations with Wang Yongzhu, when his son, far away in Chicheng County, learned of it and caused an uproar, it wouldn’t merely be about divorce but severing father-son ties.

Over the past month, whether it was Song Wu or Song Shiliu or several trusted staff officers, they had taken turns advising him, analyzing the gains and losses.

Though he had several sons, the only one capable of upholding the household was Song Chongjin.

Song Chongjin had a distant relationship with him as a father, and not only he could see it, but other close aides were clearly aware as well.

Yet none could find fault with Song Chongjin; after all, his exterior etiquette was flawless.

But as one wave pushes the next, Song Hong, once a Military General, had countless latent injuries from his years on the frontier. Especially back then, he was ambushed, a slash diagonally across his back nearly split him in two.

It was also his youth, strong survival instinct, and sheer luck that a traveling doctor saved his life.

At that time, the doctor had predicted that though he survived, such injuries would bring suffering in old age, even if not evident in youth.

Back then, young and ambitious Song Hong paid it no heed, considering it just passing words.

As long as he was alive, he aimed to achieve merit and rise in rank, dealing with old age when it arrived.

Only in recent years did he realize the truth in that traveling doctor’s words.

Since the year before, during seasonal transitions, his body couldn’t handle it. The old injuries caused unbearable pain, his entire body feeling like ants gnawing at him, keeping him up many restless nights.

Summoning an Imperial Physician for diagnosis, they concluded it was old injuries flaring up, manageable only with medication.

He couldn’t afford to catch cold, and he had to endure until after winter and spring, where relief came with summer and autumn.

Unfortunately, despite rounds of prescribed decoctions, they served little help.

Even an iron man like Song Hong couldn’t withstand such excruciating pain.

He petitioned the Emperor and requested Du Zhongjing to examine him during a visit to the palace.

Du Zhongjing, after checking his pulse, concealed nothing and spoke honestly.

In essence, the gist was more precise.

Du Zhongjing noted Song Hong’s severe injuries, being alive was already fortunate.

His generally good health and robust qi and blood in middle age masked his condition over the years.

Song Hong himself hadn’t taken care, and over these years, as his health peaked and declined, these latent injuries surfaced.

If he continued enduring, his vitality would be exhausted, and by then, his body might not cope, collapsing entirely.

With luck, he would lie bedridden through spring and winter, constantly medicated.

Without luck, he would be bedridden year-round, a useless wreck.

Neither Song Hong nor the Emperor anticipated the severity of his condition.

After all, he was a national hero, and without Song Hong’s efforts, the frontier wouldn’t have been stable for years.

Seeing the once gallant General fall to this state was something even he couldn’t bear to witness.

The Emperor ordered Du Zhongjing to prepare a regimen for Song Hong to maintain his health, relieving pain if needed.

Du Zhongjing, albeit initially vexed by Song Hong’s attitude toward Wang Yongzhu, had softened recalling Song Hong’s achievements at the frontier, where he was deserving of merit.

Sighing inwardly, he earnestly treated Song Hong.

Du Zhongjing, well-schooled by Old Doctor Du, successfully alleviated the pain.

Long-term recuperation, with his effort over the years, managed only to prevent further deterioration.

Song Hong’s health situation was ordered confidential by the Emperor.

The Imperial Physician involved earlier was bound by a gag order.

Only three or four people were privy to his condition.