High-class maid

"Go and investigate the young master's whereabouts to see if he is really in the capital," Song Yanjiang instructed his bodyguard upon returning to his study.

"Yes." The guard cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.

"By the way, if you can't find him, try looking here." Song Yanjiang wrote down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to the guard.

He understood Song Wenyang; the child was grown up and he couldn't control him anymore. Perhaps he had already sensed some things, which was why he wouldn't return to the manor.

As expected, the secret guards found Song Wenyang at the address written by Song Yanjiang.

"Young master, the master has ordered you to return to the manor," the guard said.

“Okay.” Song Wenyang said frankly, as if he knew the guards would come to find him.

“Young Master…” Uncle He stood anxiously in the courtyard. The Song family mansion was a tiger’s den, easy to enter but hard to leave! And that vicious Lin Shi, he really didn’t trust his young master.

"Why don't I go with you?" Uncle He asked worriedly.

"Master only sees the young master, not anyone else." Before Song Wenyang could refuse, the guard said first.

He Bo ignored what the guards said and looked at Song Wenyang expectantly, wanting to see what he would say.

“Uncle He, your legs aren’t feeling well, so you should rest at home. I’ll be right back.” After saying that, she patted Uncle He on the shoulder to reassure him.

Song Mansion, study.

Looking at his adopted son, who was even a little taller than him, Song Yanjiang was at a loss for words.

"When did you return to the capital? Why didn't you come back to your residence?" Song Yanjiang asked. The two of them didn't seem like father and son, but more like two old friends who had never met before.

"I went back to the capital with the Second Prince before the New Year to handle some business, and I've been busy ever since, which is why I haven't been able to come back to the residence and bother you," Song Wenyang said.

"Is it about Duan Laohu? The Second Prince has done a great service this time, and I didn't expect you to help as well. What about your studies? This year's imperial examination?" Song Yanjiang asked.

"I will participate in the spring examination as usual, and I am confident," Song Wenyang said.

"That's fine, that's fine."

Then came a long silence, with neither father nor son speaking. Finally, Song Yanjiang couldn't help but ask.

"You've done the Second Prince such a great favor, how did he express his gratitude?"

"He spoke well of me to the Emperor, and the Emperor secretly met with me."

Upon hearing this, Song Yanjiang's heart skipped a beat. Was the truth from many years ago about to be revealed again?

"Did he say anything else to you?" Song Yanjiang asked, trembling.

“I know everything,” Song Wenyang said.

Song Yanjiang felt a moment of relief. He no longer needed to hide it. The secret he had kept buried for over a decade was like a mountain, always weighing him down and making it hard to breathe when he woke up in the middle of the night. Now, he finally didn't have to hide it anymore.

"Don't blame your mother. You don't know her temper. It would be absolutely impossible for her to be a concubine. I haven't mistreated her either. It's just a pity that your mother was beautiful but died young..."

The first thing Song Yanjiang did wasn't to ask him what he thought, but to defend his mother, who had been dead for many years.

Song Wenyang gave a mocking smile and said, "Why don't you ask me how I've been these past few days since I learned the truth? Why don't you ask me how I've been in Jinling? Why don't you ask me if I've had a good night's sleep? You really don't know what your dear wife did to me? Well, you're not my father, so why should I make such demands of you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't I treat you like a son? I provide you with food and clothing, and you can spend your money as you please without any questions asked. How dare you say I'm not your father?"

"Then how exactly did my mother die?!" Song Wenyang roared.

Song Yanjiang instantly lost his temper. His lips trembled, and his beard shook as he asked, "What...what do you mean?"

“I’m under a spell. I can’t sleep well day and night and I have nightmares. If I’m not mistaken, my symptoms are the same as my mother’s back then!” Song Wenyang asked.

"You...who said that? You're under a spell?!" Song Yanjiang blurted out, his voice filled with shock and anger.

"You clearly know there are suspicious points about my mother's death, so why don't you ever investigate? Or is it that the person who killed my mother is someone more important than my mother?" Song Wenyang pressed on, saying things that Song Yanjiang couldn't handle.

Song Yanjiang was shocked by his words and took a step back. The child had indeed grown up and was no longer as easy to coax as before.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your mother clearly had a difficult childbirth when she gave birth to you, which damaged her health and left her with chronic illnesses. It's already a miracle that she survived for five years."

"Didn't you love her? You were willing to be someone else's father for her, and now that she's dead, you treat her only son like this?! That's right, you all have someone who loves you, but I don't. I'm just a joke!"

Then he said...

"You say I'm your son, but you've never celebrated my birthday with me, never taken me to the street. Grandmother says she loves me, so why does she never see me? Why does she never speak to me when it's just the two of us? Your so-called love is just for show!"

Song Wenyan had never been so vulnerable before. In Song Yanjiang's memory, he had never cried. Song Wenyan had been sleeping alone since he was three, going to school by himself since he was five, and going to Jinling since he was ten. When had he ever been so unreasonable?

"What are you being unreasonable about?" Song Yanjiang was speechless because of what he said, but his long-standing prestige did not allow him to admit his mistake. So, after a long while, he only said these few words.

"I'm being unreasonable? Heh, from today onwards, you are no longer my father. Consider this money as repayment for the food you gave me when I was a child!" Song Wenyang slammed a bag of silver on the table and turned to leave.

"You? You unfilial son!" Song Yanjiang roared angrily from behind.

"By the way, I will change my mother's grave to a more auspicious one. I think she wouldn't rest in peace knowing that her husband was protecting a murderer."

Song Yanjiang watched him leave, the impact of today was too great for him, and he needed to recover.

"By the way, whoever the murderer is, I will definitely avenge my mother!" After saying that, Song Wenyang got up and left without any further hesitation.

Song Yanjiang watched him disappear over the rooftop and muttered to himself: When did he learn light-body skills? Does he no longer even use the main gate?

After leaving the Song residence, the stubborn Song Wenyang finally dropped his pretense. He went to the tavern alone, ordered two jars of wine and a plate of beef, and drank heartily.

Some people schemed against him, some criticized him, and some advised him to be magnanimous, but no one knew that today was his birthday, and no one wished him a happy birthday.

Yes, he has never celebrated his birthday since he was a child. People have told him since he was a child that his mother was sick because of giving birth to him, so he hates his birthday. But is that really the truth? Why should a little boy have to bear so much?