The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1564 - 1561: Dislocated

"I’ve been curious to see if you could stir up some accomplishments, but after two or three years, what have you done besides marrying a wife who can’t even show her face?"

"As the son of Lord Duke Weiguo, relying on the reputation of your father, how many noblewomen are out of your reach? Yet, you insist on marrying a girl from the Hou Family! And you are even proud, thinking you’ve taken advantage of Eldest Brother! Don’t you know they’re laughing at you behind your back?"

"You’ve lost all of your father’s face! The Hou Family shamelessly calls us in-laws, making your father feel utterly embarrassed!"

"Say nothing of others, in today’s situation, if it were any random girl from the Capital City, could they incite their husband to do such a thing? If you had even a speck of this idea, you’d receive earnest advice, explaining the rights and wrongs in this matter."

"Unlike your wife, who is so shallow, hasn’t seen many good things, and upon hearing that something nice was awarded to your sister-in-law by the palace, became envious and greedy. You are worthless as well, a grown man married yet controlled by your wife, receiving only Five Taels of Silver a month, useless, not daring to ask your wife for money, even going so far as to steal from home to pawn!"

"If this gets out, people would laugh their heads off! The dignified son of Duke Weiguo, reduced to pawning things to entertain guests! Are you just losing your own face? You’ve rubbed the face of your father and Duke’s Mansion in the dirt!"

Song Hong’s explosion, though rare, was shocking!

Not just Song Chongzhao and his spouse, even everyone in the room was dumbfounded.

They all looked at Song Chongzhao as if he were a fool; is there really such a way to operate?

Lady Gao finally came back to her senses after a long while, her first reaction was to plead: "Lord, it is all my fault, for such an oversight—"

Song Hong interrupted Lady Gao’s plea: "What does it have to do with you? He’s married, according to the rules, the monthly stipend hasn’t been reduced, what more does he want? You’re not even his biological mother; his biological mother doesn’t care, so why is it your responsibility?"

With these words, Maternal Aunt Hou suddenly became the target of public criticism.

Especially Maternal Aunt Dong, who had always been at odds with her, covered her mouth and laughed: "Sister Hou, this isn’t right. No matter what, Third Young Master is your own son. How can a mother not care when her son is strapped for cash? From your private stash, couldn’t you casually pull out a couple for Third Young Master to spare him the need to pawn things?"

"How disgraceful it would be if such news spread out, people would think our Duke’s Mansion can’t even cover the expenses for a young master outside!"

The other concubines also offered seemingly kind advice to Maternal Aunt Hou, with underlying hints of ridicule.

Maternal Aunt Hou’s face turned beet red, and she glanced around the room, seeing faces with smiles, but eyes filled with mockery and disdain.

Her only two sons, Song Chongjun had a look of indifference, cuddling with Maternal Aunt Zhenzhu in a corner in flirtation.

Listening to Maternal Aunt Dong, Song Chongzhao felt a surge of suppressed resentment towards Maternal Aunt Hou.

Maternal Aunt Dong was right, Maternal Aunt Hou only had his elder brother and him, the elder brother was long useless, he was the only hope.

For his own good, shouldn’t she fully support him?

But she favored the elder brother since childhood, could she be planning to leave her private stash for him?

Thinking deeper, if it weren’t for her tight-handedness, not giving him money, he wouldn’t have been poor enough to plot for Wang Yongzhu’s rewards, right?

With this thought, Song Chongzhao transferred all his resentment onto Maternal Aunt Hou.

He thought, it was all due to Maternal Aunt Hou holding him back. If she could be worthy, becoming Father’s lawful wife instead of a concubine, wouldn’t he be the legitimate son by right? To inherit the Duke’s Mansion would come naturally, without all these scheming efforts!

The vengeful look in Song Chongzhao’s eyes did not escape Maternal Aunt Hou, causing her to feel as if struck by lightning.

She never imagined that just a few remarks from that vile Lady Dong would sway her own son.

He should remember, before he got married, when had he ever been short of spending money in this mansion? Every month his allowance plus extra funds for outdoor activities were enough for him.

It was his own lack of ability, being bewitched by Little Lady Hou, handing over all his funds to her, who could he blame?

Even if she, as a concubine, had a private stock, shouldn’t she save it for her old age?

Instantly feeling a cold heart, she thought of Song Chongzhao as a good child, now tainted likely by Little Lady Hou, that vile woman.

How foolish of her to treat Little Lady Hou kindly, considering they were relatives, assuming they were on the same side, truly regarding her as family!

Unexpectedly, she turned out to be a vixen spirit!

Growing more infuriated by the thought, Maternal Aunt Hou couldn’t help but burst into an outburst upon seeing Little Lady Hou: "You are the troublemaker! Before you married in, our family’s Laosan was never short of Silver. But marrying you, a stingy thing who treats Silver like life, clutching all the money, squeezing your own husband; you have a cruel heart!"

"Such a wife is intolerable! Laosan, if you still care for your aunt, divorce this troublemaker! Then let Lord Duke find you a well-bred and sensible wife from a prominent family; wouldn’t she be better than this troublemaker?"

Upon hearing this, Little Lady Hou panicked.

She jumped up immediately: "I was properly married to Third Master with the right ceremonies, he has not said to divorce me, Lord Duke and Madam have not said a word, who are you, a mere concubine, to say I should be divorced?"

"Third Master! You have to stand up for me! Are you going to let them bully me like this? I can’t live like this—"

She might not excel at much else, but crying and creating a scene was a skill well mastered by Little Lady Hou.

She immediately clung to Song Chongzhao, crying and making a fuss relentlessly.

On the other side, hearing this, Maternal Aunt Hou couldn’t maintain face.

Though a concubine, she was a concubine of the Duke’s Mansion; had it not been for her marrying Lord Duke, would the Hou Family have the status they do today?

Having risen by stepping on her, now they look down on her?

Good or otherwise, she is Song Chongzhao’s own aunt, her own mother-in-law, and she dares speak like this?

Seeing the unhidden mocking glances from the other concubines, Maternal Aunt Hou was so enraged her head swelled.

She took a step forward, pulling Little Lady Hou over, giving her a slap, then tugging at Song Chongzhao: "Laosan, only one of us can remain today, her or me!"

Song Chongzhao found himself pulled by two women, each yanking at an arm, both terrified he might choose the other, each exerting all their strength to pull him into their embrace.

He only felt like his arms were about to be torn off, grimacing in pain, he kept shouting: "Let go, let go—"

But the two women, their eyes now red with emotion, felt that if they let go, their husband (or son!) would stand with the other side!

At such a crucial moment, one must not lose, certainly not the momentum!

They exerted all their strength, giving every ounce of energy.

Although they appeared as seemingly frail women of the household, unable to watch animals being slaughtered, unable to carry wares or shoulder burdens, at this critical moment, their strength roared formidable as if they could tear a person apart barehanded.

Then came the sound of "crack, crack—" and Song Chongzhao’s howl echoed throughout the courtyard.

Frightened, Maternal Aunt Hou and Little Lady Hou let go, seeing Song Chongzhao’s arms just hang loosely on his sides.

Dislocated—