Chapter Fifty: Resentful Energy

  In the conversation between Wang Yu and Song Que, the alliance between the two parties was settled. The marriage was just a bonus, an insurance policy for the alliance. Song Que attached great importance to this nominal title, and although Wang Yu thought it didn't matter, since Song Que was willing to give him a beautiful woman, Wang Yu wouldn't refuse. Song Yuzhi was also a top-notch beauty. If it were someone like Feng Jie, Wang Yu would pinch his nose... Okay, for the sake of Song Que, Wang Yu might not necessarily reject her either.

  As for Song Yu's thoughts, no one cares. At least Song Que won't care. For the people of Lingnan, Song Que is a good leader. With Song Que around, Lingnan avoided the flames of war and the people were able to live in peace and prosperity. But for the Song family, Song Que was just an overbearing patriarch.

  No one is perfect, and Song Que wasn't a good husband or father. He had an unclear relationship with Fang Qinghui back then, but later on, he wisely cut off that emotional entanglement and returned to the Song family. In order to focus on his research of knife techniques, Song Que married an ugly woman, allowing himself to concentrate on martial arts without indulging in romantic pleasures. This behavior, however, made Wang Yu feel extremely ridiculous.

  It was very normal for Song Que to have no feelings towards his wife, but only regarded her as a tool for carrying on the family line. Song Que's wife also fulfilled this mission well, and after giving birth to one son and two daughters, she left the world.

  As a father, Song Que is forever majestic in the eyes of his children. Reverence far surpasses affection. The decisions made by Song Que cannot be changed by anyone in the Song family, nor does anyone dare to resist. In the original work, Song Shidao is infatuated with Fu Junan, but dares not express himself due to Song Que's insistence on Han Chinese orthodoxy. Song Yuhua does not like Xie Wenyuan, but dares not resist Song Que's decision. And Song Yuqi is successively engaged to Li Tianfan, son of Li Mi, and Kou Zhong, all at the behest of Song Que.

  Song Que's behavior is very common in this society, but his children may not necessarily feel happy about it. It's a tragedy, and Wang Yu decides to save them. Well, Song Shidao can forget it, but the two sisters Song Yuhua and Song Yuzhi still need to be saved. Leaving the sea of suffering, the imperial palace is their destination. Hmm, that's a delightful decision.

  "I don't know what status Your Highness plans to give to Yu Zhi?" Song Que asked. This question was very important, as Wang Yu was going to be the emperor, and the emperor nominally had three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two consorts, with a big difference in status among them. Since Song Que had bet on Wang Yu, he naturally hoped that Wang Yu would make Song Yu Zhi the empress.

  Wang Yu was silent for a moment, this question is not easy to answer. Wang Yu understood Song Que's meaning, but he was not prepared to satisfy Song Que on this issue.

  "I want to establish four palaces, all as empresses, with equal status. What do you think of Yu Zhi being the West Palace Empress?" Wang Yu was entangled in this place for a long time. Wang Yu was destined to have many women, and arranging so many women was a big problem. After deliberating for a long time, not establishing an empress would be unreasonable, so he might as well establish several more. The more peaches there are, the better they can be divided."

  Song Que frowned, somewhat displeased, and said: "Although the four palaces are not reasonable, they can also be passed. But why is Yu Zhi only the Western Palace Concubine?" Although Wang Yu said that the status of the four palace concubines was equal, Song Que would not believe it. From the title alone, it can be seen that the Eastern Palace Concubine was the most important one.

  "Eastern Palace, I am prepared to leave for Yunyun. Yunyun is the contemporary holy girl of the Yin Gu sect, and we have grown up together since childhood with deep feelings. My governing philosophy does not align with that of the Yin Gu sect, and it will inevitably harm their interests. Not to mention the existence of the evil king. The Yin Gu sect has a favor for me, I must appease them. Especially my master, I owe her."

  Song Que listened to Wang Yu's explanation, frowned for a moment, and accepted the explanation. What Wang Yu said was reasonable, the Yin Gu faction was the first to bet on Wang Yu, and Song Que was only the second, and it was Wang Yu who took the initiative to come to the door. Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather, Song Que is not a person who doesn't talk about reason. Moreover, based on what Wang Yu said earlier, the Yin Gu faction will definitely suffer a blow in the future, and it's hard to say that they won't collapse, posing no threat to Song Que.

  Song Que smiled and said, "Your Highness has come from afar as a guest, why not stay at the Song residence for a few more days? Also meet Yu Zhi and cultivate some feelings. I know Your Highness still needs to rush to Bashu, but Yu Hua will be getting married in Bashu in a few days, so why don't you wait until then and go together?" This is cultivating feelings after all. The people of the Song family had little contact with Wang Yu before. Since they decided to bet on Wang Yu, Song Que wanted the Song family members to get familiar with Wang Yu, laying a good foundation for future cooperation.

  "It's better to obey than to be polite." Wang Yu responded with a bow. At the same time, he secretly thought: "This is what you invited me and Song Yuhua to do together. If anything really happens, don't blame me, haha."

  Poor Song Que didn't know that this decision would cost him his daughter and lose soldiers, but Wang Yu took advantage of the situation. Song Que still couldn't see clearly that under Wang Yu's hypocritical appearance was a heart so lewd.

  ……

  The core members of the Song family were sitting in a small pavilion on a hillside, drinking tea and chatting leisurely. The sound of running water was ringing, the fragrance of flowers and birdsong filled the air, it was extremely relaxing.

  A long-legged beauty said: "Big brother, what does this prince want to do with our Song family?"

  Song Shidao smiled upon hearing this, but didn't say a word. Instead, Song Lu laughed and said: "Yuzhi, I think the young master is here to propose marriage. Don't worry, your third uncle has already checked him out for you, and he's absolutely a talented and handsome young man, with impressive martial arts skills at such a young age. He's definitely a good match for you."

  The long-legged beauty is naturally Song Yu Zhi. Song Yu Zhi heard this and stomped her foot, saying: "Third Uncle, you're teasing me again. Eldest sister isn't even married yet, what's the hurry for me?"

  Another beautiful woman who looked similar to Song Yuzhi said, "Little sister, I'm getting married soon. You won't be able to use me as a shield for much longer." This beauty and Song Yuzhi were together, making it clear at a glance that they were sisters. Without the younger sister's youth and vitality, she had an added air of warmth and... melancholy.

  "Little sister, Third Uncle didn't deceive you. The prince is superior to me in both appearance and martial arts. Especially his martial arts, it's simply unfathomable. I'm guessing the prince has come this time to seek Father's support. Father will likely be moved by the prince's words, and there's a 90% chance he'll agree to an alliance through marriage. Eldest sister is already engaged, so this time it's probably going to be you who gets married off." Song Shidao's intelligence wasn't low, and she had enough sensitivity towards the outside world. If not for her easy-going personality that avoided conflict with others, she would truly be a formidable opponent.

  "Father only knows about alliances and doesn't care about our feelings at all. Elder sister and Xie Wenlong clearly have no feelings for each other, but Father still insists on marrying elder sister off to Xie Wenlong. It's been making elder sister cry her eyes out these past few days. And now he wants me to be just like my sister, humph."

  Upon hearing Song Yu's words, Song Yuhua's face darkened, and Song Shidao and Song Lu and Song Zhi exchanged a glance, simultaneously sighing.