Chapter 156: Settling the Score

Chapter 156

Settling the Score

Once the children had called out to their father, the familiarity returned. The three of them were so delighted by their mother’s applause that they wouldn’t stop calling out Father until the carriage was filled with their voices, reminiscent of frogs croaking in a field during the rainy season. The carriage was full of laughter and clapping, and Song Qilin couldn’t stop smiling as he looked at his wife and children.

Bao Bao, having stopped crying, returned to his usual cheerful self. He crawled down from his father’s lap to fetch a couple of clay horse figurines from a pile of toys in the corner and proudly showed them off. Being generous, Bao Bao handed one of the horses to his father. Just as he was about to start playing, Xiao Hua Hua saw the horse in her brother’s hand and pointed, wanting to play with it too.

“Horse...horse...want.”

But Da Ge pretended not to hear. His mother had always taught him that, as the older brother, he should know how to share with his siblings. However, Bao Bao didn’t want to be the older brother this time.

Xiao Hua Hua tugged at her brother’s arm as he was absorbed in making his horse gallop.

“Bao Bao...please.”

Then, she smiled sweetly. Da Ge couldn’t resist his sister’s cute grin and handed over the horse. Xiao Hua Hua, now happily holding the toy, beamed with delight while Bao Bao looked on longingly. Nie Shuang, seeing Bao Bao’s expression, stifled a smile and praised him.

“Bao Bao is so kind to share with his sister.”

Bao Bao’s round face lit up with a proud smile as he clapped for himself. Song Qilin, finding his son even more endearing, patted his head and handed him back the horse in his hand.

“I don’t know how to play yet. Can Bao Bao show me?”

Grinning, Bao Bao took the horse from his father and continued to play. Meanwhile, Bei Bei crawled over to rest on his father’s lap. Normally reserved, Bei Bei now looked up at his father with wide eyes, as if he were a curious little puppy. Song Qilin lifted him onto his lap, and Bei Bei, fascinated, began running his hands over the hard armor his father still wore. As Bao Bao played, he decided it would be even more fun if the horses could crash into each other. He made his horse collide with Xiao Hua Hua’s horse, which she had been pushing along the floor of the carriage. Being a strong boy, Bao Bao’s horse hit with such force that it flew from his sister’s hands. Hurt and frustrated, Xiao Hua Hua began to pout.

Just as Nie Shuang was about to pick her up to comfort her, Xiao Hua Hua reached out with her tiny hands and pinched her older brother’s face. Bao Bao winced in pain and soon started crying. Xiao Hua Hua’s nails were sharp, leaving marks on Bao Bao’s face. As Bao Bao cried, Xiao Hua Hua followed suit, and soon the carriage was in chaos. Bei Bei, trying to find a comfortable spot, shifted around but found his father’s body too stiff, so he crawled back to his mother, snuggling into her chest and promptly falling asleep. Bei Bei remained the serene second young master, removed from the turmoil around him.

By the time they arrived home, the carriage had returned to peace as the three little ones had fallen asleep. Bao Bao and Xiao Hua Hua had cried themselves to exhaustion and drifted off. The couple carefully handed their sleeping children to the wet nurses, as it was now their usual bedtime.

Song Qilin then supported his wife as they walked back to Xu Yang Quarters. As he noticed his wife’s and children’s belongings scattered in the corners of the quarters, he smiled with contentment. Though he had lived in this quarters since childhood, it was only now that it truly felt like a home.

They were both utterly exhausted. Song Qilin had just returned to the capital without any rest, and Nie Shuang had been at the banquet since morning, dealing with unsettling matters. Now, she was completely drained. Once they arrived at their residence, Nie Shuang had Xiao San help her change before immediately lying down to rest.

She hadn’t even fallen asleep yet when her husband slipped into bed beside her. He gently pulled her into his embrace and kissed her softly on the forehead.

“I missed you so much...”

Nie Shuang, her eyelids heavy, could only respond with her eyes closed,

“I missed you too.”

Song Qilin reached over and lightly placed his hand on her belly. A little life was soon to enter the world. Even though he was already the father of three children, he couldn’t help but feel excited all over again. Nie Shuang wanted to open her eyes and talk to him, to tell him all about what had happened in his absence—how mischievous Da Ge was, how attentive Bei Bei had become, often sharing his treats with her, and how Xiao Hua Hua was the darling of the household, adored by both her grandparents. But before she could share her stories, she had already fallen asleep.

Song Qilin held his wife for a long time, but then carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake her. He summoned Xiao San and Xiao Tong to ask what had happened while he was away. Xiao San, who had been by Nie Shuang’s side the entire time, recounted everything in detail, from how Young Miss Chen had slandered Nie Shuang at the Hou Manor to the rumors circulating in the capital. The more Song Qilin listened, the more his jaw clenched. His eyes seemed to blaze with fire. If it weren’t for the fact that Chen Yuelan was currently gravely injured, he might have gone to settle the score again at her house.

Xiao Tong added more to the story, explaining how, during a visit to her natal home, Gao Shi, consumed with jealousy, had secretly pinched Young Miss Hua Hua. Upon hearing this, Song Qilin slammed the table so hard that both maids flinched.

“What!? She pinched Xiao Hua Hua?!”

Xiao Tong’s face turned pale, and she stammered,

“Yes, General. She asked to hold the young miss and took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention to pinch her. The young miss cried pitifully. At first, no one realized it was her doing, but since the young miss rarely cries so loudly, Young Furen took off her clothes to check her over and found nail marks under her armpit.”

Song Qilin was furious upon hearing this.

“Outrageous! And how was the matter resolved?”

“Young Furen exposed Nie Furen and made her apologize to the young miss.”

Song Qilin felt that this wasn’t nearly enough. Xiao Hua Hua had done nothing wrong, yet she had been bullied by a petty, jealous woman. He couldn’t accept it. He figured that since Gao Shi was his father-in-law’s principal wife, Nie Shuang likely let the matter slide out of respect for her father.

“As for the rumors slandering Young Furen, they likely originated from her as well. Before you arrived, General, Young Miss Chen mentioned at the banquet that Nie Furen had personally told her about it.”

“Excellent!”

Song Qilin growled. If they dared to harm his wife and children, they clearly had no regard for their own lives. He turned to Xiao San and Xiao Tong.

“Don’t mention to Young Furen that I asked about this. After all, she is my father-in-law’s daughter. If Nie Shuang acted against her, it might be seen as unfilial. But I, as a son-in-law, am an outsider. If I handle it with a heavy hand, it won’t be seen as too improper.”

Xiao San and Xiao Tong were pleased to hear that General Song would handle the situation. Nie Furen had long despised both Xiao Yi Niang and the Young Furen, constantly scheming behind Nie Patriarch’s back to cause trouble. Xiao Yi Niang had always seen these actions as minor and chose to overlook them. However, it seemed the General was serious this time. They had witnessed how he dealt with Ding Tao and Young Miss Wang Sulie before. They didn’t know what would happen to Nie Furen, but just thinking about it stirred a sense of pity.

Before Chen Yuelan lost consciousness, she had seen Brother Qilin supporting Nie Shuang, walking away without a second glance at her. Her chest tightened so much that she coughed up blood. The next time she awoke, she found herself lying on her bed in her own room. When she tried to sit up, pain surged through her body, causing her to groan. Her mother, who had been slumped beside her bed, quickly got up in concern. Seeing her daughter awake, she was overjoyed and immediately called for a servant to fetch the doctor.

The doctor checked Chen Yuelan’s pulse and his furrowed brow slowly relaxed. With a more relaxed expression, he turned to Chen Furen.

"She is out of danger. From now on, give her the prescribed medicine after each meal. Right now, she shouldn’t move much. I’ll come by daily to check on her condition."

Upon hearing this, Chen Furen was so relieved that tears streamed down her face as she thanked the doctor profusely. After the doctor left the room, she turned and gently stroked her daughter’s head with affection.

"A’Lan, you’re safe now. Just don’t move too much..."

"Mother, what happened to me?"

Even speaking left her out of breath, with sharp pain radiating through her chest. Her mother lowered her eyes before answering in a trembling voice,

"Your ribs are broken, and your internal organs are bruised. But don’t worry, the doctor will ensure you recover."

Hearing her mother’s words, Chen Yuelan felt a pang of sorrow. How much force must Brother Qilin have used to leave her with such severe injuries? She held back her tears and softly asked her mother,

"Mother, may I be alone for a while?"

Her mother, understanding her daughter’s thoughts, lovingly stroked Chen Yuelan’s head in worry before leaving with a parting word,

"Don’t dwell on it too much. I’m always here for you."

As soon as her mother left, tears flowed freely, soaking the pillow. Chen Yuelan reflected on the past.

She had once been so happy—how had her life turned out like this...?

Her parents had her late in life. By the time she was born, her father already held a high-ranking position and was well-established. Her mother was a kind-hearted woman, but after marrying her father for many years without bearing children, she had almost lost hope. When Chen Furen saw the baby girl, she loved her with all her heart. Whatever Chen Yuelan wanted, her mother provided. Moreover, because her father was close with the Hou Manor, she often had the opportunity to be near Song Qilin.

He had always treated her like a little sister. As children, they were close, and even as they grew up, Song Qilin continued to show her affection. When he first left for battle, she cried for days. Every time she heard that he had returned, she would accompany her father to visit him at the Hou Manor. During that time, she was considered important among her peers. Though she wasn’t the most remarkable, everyone treated her with respect. Her closeness with Song Qilin made others envious, so even those who didn’t like her dared not cross her. They thought that one day, if she became the Young Furen of the Hou Manor, they could rely on her. Chen Yuelan had grown up spoiled by her family and surrounded by a shallow society of sycophants hoping to benefit from her.

But ever since Nie Shuang appeared, Chen Yuelan was no longer the respected Young Miss Chen that people once deferred to. Nie Shuang not only took Brother Qilin away but also repeatedly made Chen Yuelan look like a fool. No matter what happened, Chen Yuelan could never reconcile with that woman.The incident at the Wen family manor was a mistake. Chen Yuelan was stubborn. Let others mock her all they wanted, but she would never kneel before an enemy like Nie Shuang. It might be seen as foolish pride by others, but to her, it was the only dignity she had left.