Chapter 55: Learning the Truth

Chapter 55

Learning the Truth

Kang Wang, having received news that Lady Boss was involved in a court case, immediately stood up in concern. But when he heard that her husband had appeared, he nearly staggered. Still, he hurried to the courthouse. His heart felt bitter—she was married, and her husband was not dead. His chest tightened, and his eyes burned with sorrow. Before, even if he couldn’t have her, at least she was there, speaking to him, smiling freely. But now her husband had appeared, shattering his dreams.

The crowd outside the courthouse parted as Kang Wang walked through. He wore an elegant azure robe, looking as graceful as a spring breeze. As he entered, he saw Nie Shuang standing in the center, as beautiful as ever. Ding Tao was groveling on the floor, while the man standing beside her had his back turned to Kang Wang. That figure seemed strangely familiar, tall and steady as a cliff. The aura of power emanating from him was undeniable.

"Lady Boss,"

Kang Wang called, his voice unsteady. Nie Shuang bowed in greeting, and the man slowly turned around. Kang Wang’s eyes widened in shock.

"Qilin! What are you doing here?!"

Startled, Kang Wang momentarily lost his composure, calling out General Song’s name with familiarity, forgetting they were in public.

Song Qilin raised his hand in a formal salute.

"Greetings, Kang Wang."

Kang Wang regained his composure, returning the greeting, and then sat in the chair hastily brought for him by the court officials. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the courtroom, he addressed Master He.

"I’m merely here to observe. Please continue with the trial, don’t mind me."

He had rushed over, worried that Nie Shuang might be at a disadvantage, but it seemed unnecessary now. Ding Tao was sprawled pathetically on the floor, utterly defeated...

Her husband was none other than his dear friend, Song Qilin...

Kang Wang couldn’t believe his eyes. Didn’t Song Qilin tell him that his wife was at the border...?

But as he thought it over, the pieces began to fall into place. Lady Boss had come to Huangjing just a few months after Song Qilin’s marriage. There were also rumors that he planned to marry Chen Yuelan as his another principal wife.

Kang Wang furrowed his brows, deep in thought, barely listening to the ongoing trial.

Of course! Because Song Qilin was planning to marry another, she had fled! Even though that marriage didn’t happen, Lady Boss must have been unable to accept it. She had been pregnant with Song Qilin’s child when she fled. That must be the truth behind everything.

In the end, Ding Tao was found guilty and ordered to pay compensation to Lady Boss in the amount she had requested. Furthermore, an announcement was made allowing anyone who had been wronged or deceived by Ding Tao’s manipulative tactics to come forward and file claims for compensation. Should Ding Tao refuse to pay, the Yong An Hou Manor would take a lead on behalf of Lady Boss in filing additional charges against him.

As the people began to leave the courthouse, Master He approached and respectfully bowed to Kang Wang and General Song. Seeing their stern faces, he made a quick excuse to leave. Now, only the three of them remained. For a long while, no one spoke, and the atmosphere grew heavy with awkward tension.

"It’s already noon. Let’s go get something to eat,"

Nie Shuang broke the tension, but the two men seemed as though they had something to discuss.

"You go ahead. I’ll follow shortly,"

Song Qilin said to his wife, though his gaze remained fixed on Kang Wang. Kang Wang didn’t say a word.

Nie Shuang climbed into the carriage to return to the mansion, a little worried about the two men.

Once she had left, Song Qilin was the first to break the silence.

"I didn’t mean to lie to you. I only just found out she had run away to here."

Kang Wang’s expression remained indifferent.

"When did you find out?"

"When I saw Bao Bao at the pavilion, I started to suspect. At first, I thought it was too much of a coincidence. I’ve been searching for her for a year, and I never imagined I’d find her here."

Kang Wang recalled that Song Qilin had indeed acted strangely at the time.

"Qilin..." Kang Wang said in a serious tone. "If you’re going to marry Yuelan, I will take her into my palace."

"She is my wife!"

Song Qilin couldn’t contain his emotions, shouting loud enough that Kang Wang’s attendants quickly shut the courthouse doors to prevent the matter from getting out.

"Clearly, she doesn’t want you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have run away. Lady Boss is smart. Even without you, she wouldn’t suffer. If she stays here, I’ll take care of her myself."

"Wuqian! Have you lost your mind!? To think this way about a friend’s wife!"

Song Qilin grabbed his friend by the collar, but Kang Wang pushed him back and punched him in the face.

"Song Qilin! She has a life here, and she’s not going back to you. Huangjing is her home. She intends to stay and run her business here."

Kang Wang yelled, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by anger. Song Qilin didn’t care about the bruise on his face, but he looked at his friend with deep sorrow. They had known each other long enough to understand each other’s feelings.

"Wuqian...I’m sorry, but she is my wife. That’s a fact that won’t change. You need to accept that...Even if I weren’t in the picture...you couldn’t make her your primary consort. At best...she would only be a concubine in your palace."

Kang Wang didn’t deny it. Everything Song Qilin said was true. His mother, Xian Fei, would never accept Nie Shuang. And knowing Lady Boss’s personality, there was no way she would allow herself to be confined in the Wang’s palace, waiting for his affection.

Kang Wang clenched his fists tightly, lifting his face to hold back the tears. He had been lying to himself all along, pretending she was alone. As long as he could see her, it was enough for him.

"I never intended to marry Yuelan. It was my father’s idea. In truth, I had planned to run away with her. But she...left me first...You have no idea how difficult it’s been for me this past year, searching for her. The day I saw Bao Bao, the moment I realized I was their father, all the pain of the past year disappeared."

"Just go,"

Kang Wang muttered, walking away. Song Qilin knew his friend wasn’t ready to face him, so he returned to his wife’s mansion, feeling utterly defeated.

Nie Shuang had prepared lunch for him. Seeing the dark expression on his face, she immediately took his hand and led him to the table, her behavior full of tenderness. She didn’t ask any questions or comment on the bruises on his face, instead quietly serving him food with care. Song Qilin felt warmth flood his heart at her gentle actions and pulled her into an embrace.

"Shuang Shuang...You’re so wonderful."

Nie Shuang smiled, thinking how this fool of hers always returned looking like a neglected puppy, only to become clingy like a child as soon as she took care of him. He was so adorable. She gently pushed his chest away and reached up to stroke his cheek.

"Don’t worry. It’ll get better soon."

His hands still lingered around her waist as the three little dumplings crawled and played nearby. When Bao Bao noticed the man hugging his mother, he crawled over. Nie Shuang extended her hand toward her son.

"Bao Bao, come here."

But Bao Bao ignored her and crawled straight to Song Qilin. Surprised, Nie Shuang raised her eyebrows. Could the bond between father and son be that strong already? They had only just met, yet they seemed so close.

Song Qilin narrowed his eyes at the baby who looked just like him, as if they were twins. The expression on the little boy’s face seemed mischievous. Song Qilin tried to shake off the thought—surely, he was overthinking it. How could a baby, only a few months old, have any devious plans? Bao Bao looked up at him with big, round, innocent eyes, smiling wide to reveal his pink gums. His plump cheeks were as rosy as peaches, and Song Qilin’s heart melted.

S...So adorable, this little one.

When the baby reached his arms up for him to hold, the doting father quickly let go of his wife and scooped him up into his arms. Da Ge’s body was soft and chubby, a perfect fit in his embrace. Bao Bao snuggled into his father’s shoulder affectionately, his tiny hands reaching out to grasp Song Qilin’s face. The touch of those soft, pudgy hands nearly brought tears to the father’s eyes, his heart swelling with love.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Those small hands slapped his bruised and handsome face...

Spit, spit, spit, spit.

Bao Bao spat a mouthful of drool all over his face...

No, no...he’s just playing, Song Qilin reassured himself, and then...

Splashhhhhhhhhhh.

"Bao Bao!"

Song Qilin’s face scrunched up as he lifted his son up, locking eyes with the little boy in a serious stare.

Bao Bao smiled back innocently, then stretched his arms out toward his mother.Meanwhile, Nie Shuang, who had been watching the heartwarming father-son moment unfold from the beginning, was already doubled over in laughter!