Chapter 163: The End of Matter

Chapter 163

The End of Matter

That evening, when Song Qilin returned home, he saw his wife waiting for him. She had the children taken out of the room and turned to him, appearing as though she had something to discuss. However, the children were unwilling to leave. They had missed their father all day, and the moment they saw him, they broke away from the wet nurses and rushed to him. Song Qilin, delighted by his children’s affection, knelt down and opened his arms to embrace them. The three little dumplings nestled against his chest, chattering happily. He kissed each of them on the head before lifting them all up into his arms.

"Shuang Shuang, is there something you wish to discuss with me?"

He turned to smile at her warmly.

"I received your letter. I’ve left the matter of your stepmother to the authorities. Don’t worry, your father agreed as well,"

He reassured her, making it clear that there was no conflict between him and his father-in-law. Nie Shuang nodded in relief. Song Qilin sat down beside her on the daybed.

“You’re close to giving birth, so I didn’t want to trouble you with this. That maid didn’t bother you, did she?”

“No, not at all. I wasn’t really concerned about it. Nie Qing pleaded with me, and though we aren’t close, we’re still siblings. It’s better to show some kindness so that there’s no resentment between us in the future.”

Song Qilin nodded in agreement, admiring her thoughtful nature.

"You probably already know about everything that Gao Shi did to you and your mother."

The children, who had been sitting on their father’s lap for a while, began to feel restless. Their father kept talking to their mother and didn’t play with them at all, so they struggled to get down to run around. This time, when the wet nurses came to take them away, they didn’t resist. With the children gone, the couple could speak more freely.

“There are things about the past I didn’t even know, like how my younger brother died at birth. My mother never told me. Even the poisoning on our wedding night—I’ve only just learned of it.”

Song Qilin held her close, feeling a wave of fear wash over him. If something had happened to her that night, they wouldn’t be together now. He silently thanked the heavens for their mercy.

"You wiped off that ointment, didn’t you? It’s such a luck."

He rested his chin on her soft hair and whispered.

“I don’t even know. I can’t remember anymore.”

Nie Shuang answered honestly. She truly didn’t know the details of what had happened, only that she had suddenly found herself in this body, unexpectedly becoming his wife.

"You must have been busy these past few days. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and Xiao Hua Hua, Husband."

Song Qilin tightened his embrace, finding his wife more endearing than ever. As her due date approached, her gentle, delicate nature made her all the more precious to him. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly.

Nie Shuang did not resist, and the two of them shared a moment of love and intimacy.

The following morning, Feng Ying, Song Qilin’s trusted aide, came to report. Gao Shi had been taken into custody at the court the previous day. This morning, the guards found that she had hanged herself in the cell. She was not young and had status in the elite circles of the capital. Except for her husband’s love and affection, her life was perfect in every way. She had the position of principal wife and was the mistress of the household, so she couldn’t bear the hardship of imprisonment in the dark, damp, and foul-smelling jail with no end in sight, feeling shame and fear. The guards said she had spent the night sobbing uncontrollably. Near dawn, her cries had ceased, and the guards assumed she had finally fallen asleep, so they paid her no mind. It wasn’t until they brought her breakfast that they discovered her lifeless body.

"She used her sash to hang herself from the prison bars,"

Feng Ying reported. Song Qilin lowered his gaze in contemplation. His wife seemed concerned about her father. If this news spread, it could tarnish his father-in-law’s reputation and might even affect his wife’s standing. The General gave his orders.

"Since she’s dead, let this matter end here. Inform the Da Li Court to keep this incident confidential, and don’t forget to offer them a token of appreciation for their discretion."

Feng Ying acknowledged the order and left to carry it out.

When Song Qilin relayed the news to his wife, she didn’t seem surprised.

"You already expected this, didn’t you?"

He asked. Nie Shuang met his gaze and responded with a question of her own.

"What kind of personality do you think someone who bullied a child like Xiao Hua Hua would have? She wasn’t a strong person, nor was she brave; she only bullied those weaker than herself. People like that, when faced with problems, are unlikely to handle them calmly and wisely. It’s not surprising she chose the easiest way out."

"The letter you sent me yesterday—was that just for show?"

He asked, smiling in admiration at his wife’s sharpness.

"Though Father may not have loved her, they lived together for many years. There must have been some attachment. I wasn’t sure how he’d feel, but I was worried that if you acted too harshly, it would trouble him. Plus, Nie Qing came to ask for help. Not taking any action might have left her with lingering resentment. While getting rid of Gao Shi solves one problem, there’s no need to make unnecessary enemies. Even if the Yong An Hou Manor is powerful now, that doesn’t mean the ship can never spring a leak, right?"

Song Qilin laughed.

"I’m just a military man. I can’t match you in these strategic matters. My wife is truly formidable. I’m only good at confronting my enemies head-on, which is why I’ve made so many in the royal court. If I had you as my advisor, my career would be unstoppable."

Nie Shuang playfully pinched her husband’s cheek.

"You would have reached this point on your own, with or without me. Everyone has their own suitable plans. I may be weak in physical strength, so I use my wits. You, on the other hand, are strong—so use your muscles."

Her words made Song Qilin laugh heartily once again. He felt incredibly lucky to have such a remarkable wife.

The Nie family mansion announced that Gao Shi had died of an illness. Song Qilin forbade Nie Shuang from attending the funeral, as she was close to giving birth, and he didn’t want her exposed to any ill omens. He attended in her place as the son-in-law. Nie Ran appeared shaken, though not from grief over Gao Shi’s death. Rather, he was pained by his failure to manage his household, which had led to the loss of so many of his children. Even Nie Shuang had nearly lost her life.

"Thank you, General. If it weren’t for you investigating what was happening in the inner quarters, I would have never known how wicked she truly was. When I was younger, I traveled often for business and rarely came home. I had no idea what she was doing. Everyone in the household was under her control."

"Father-in-law, don’t dwell on it. No one can be perfect in everything. At the very least, you’ve been successful in your trade, providing well for your family. Everyone in the household depends on you."

Song Qilin lit incense to pay his respects to Gao Shi’s spirit. In truth, he had never feared ghosts or spirits. After all, he had seen death on the battlefield many times and had grown numb to it. He lit the incense today to send a message to Gao Shi—even in death, she should never think of harming his wife or children again. If she did, he wouldn’t hesitate to deal with her, even as a spirit.If Gao Shi’s spirit truly existed, she would be trembling by now, terrified that the General might pursue her to the afterlife to settle the score.