Chapter 64: Nipping the Problem in the Bud

Chapter 64

Nipping the Problem in the Bud

Initially, Kang Wang had intended to speak on behalf of Master Wang, given their familiarity. However, after hearing Song Qilin’s words, he realized that intervening would only reinforce the elitism of the nobility. If it were an ordinary citizen, they wouldn’t be able to beg for mercy from anyone. Wang Furen’s actions today showed no regard for Nie Shuang, and she deserved the lesson Song Qilin was about to deliver. Master Wang had enjoyed the privileges of nobility for a long time, amassing a large fortune. Even if he were dismissed from his post, his family wouldn’t face hardship. Despite Master Wang’s pleading looks, Kang Wang remained indifferent.

Wang Furen fainted, and Wang Sulie hurried to support her mother. This time, she truly cried without any hint of pretense. Her sorrow was evident. Nie Shuang was about to ask Song Qilin to let this family go, but the man spoke first to Young Master Wang, the eldest son.

"Considering that you’ve bravely accepted responsibility, I won’t destroy your future. Your family will be allowed to take the civil service exams, but there’s a condition."

Master Wang, who had seemed utterly hopeless a moment before, was now filled with new hope upon hearing that his son’s future was being discussed. Song Qilin pointed to Wang Sulie, who was kneeling and crying. Master Wang’s heart swelled with pride, thinking that General Song wasn’t so different from other men. He must have found his daughter beautiful and was likely going to take her as a concubine in exchange for sparing the family. All the anger and punishment so far must have been to create an excuse to possess his daughter. As he prepared to agree, he was completely thrown by the next sentence.

"She must shave her head in exchange for your chance to take the exams."

What?! Did he hear that correctly?! Master Wang questioned himself, but the shocked look on his daughter’s face confirmed that this was no joke.

Why did Wang Sulie have to shave her head?!

As mentioned, Song Qilin was a soldier and only knew decisive methods. Military discipline was strict, unlike civil officials who often sought compromise. As he was about to leave for a distant post, he couldn’t help but worry about Shuang Shuang. Even though Kang Wang would be around to look after her, he feared these women might continue to harass her. The reason they targeted her, aside from looking down on her status as a merchant, was because these women coveted him. Song Qilin wasn’t naive; he could easily tell from their behavior. They coveted him and viewed Shuang Shuang as a huge obstacle, and by hurting her, they hoped to remove that obstacle.

If anyone thought they could replace her, he would make it clear that it was impossible! Even if Wang Sulie was a beauty, he had no qualms about forcing her to shave her head. Let’s see if anyone would dare set their sights on him in the future!

Master Wang was stunned for a while—he was surprised, confused, and struggling to make a decision.

Of course, in his eyes, his son’s future was more important than his daughter’s. Even though there was no certainty that his eldest son would pass the civil service examinations, having his daughter shave her head was a definite choice.

How cruel! Nie Shuang looked at him with disapproval, but Song Qilin remained unfazed. He was doing this for her. These women were skilled at backstabbing, and if he didn’t scare them now, they would never stop with their foolish schemes. Wang Sulie trembled, tears and snot streaming down her face. If she shaved her head, she’d have no hope of marriage. What man would want to marry a woman who was bald like a nun? It would take two or three years for her hair to grow back.

The punishment dealt to the Wang family was undeniably harsh, sending shockwaves through the civil officials who had never witnessed such severity. In the military, even execution was considered trivial, but now they understood why Song Qilin was called the Jade-faced Reaper. Any thoughts of messing with this husband and wife duo quickly dissipated. No woman dared offer herself to General Song anymore, and no one dared to cross Lady Boss again.

The two women of the He family trembled in fear. Whether for better or worse, the He and Wang families had long been both allies and rivals. He Xiyou might have felt a secret satisfaction at seeing her competitor, Wang Sulie, removed from the picture, but witnessing her tragic fate also filled her with pity. From now on, Wang Sulie was no longer the nobleman’s daughter who was her peer; instead, she would have to shave her head like a nun. It was uncertain if, in two years’ time, she would even be able to find a good marriage prospect. The entire future of the Wang family now rested on the eldest son, Young Master Wang. The two He women silently thanked Buddha for their narrow escape. Had Master He not previously presided over the case of Ding Tao, they wouldn’t have known how ruthless this husband and wife duo could be. With their usual cunning, the mother-daughter duo would likely have tried to torment the merchant woman, but now they realized that today’s tragedy—stripping from the position and shaving head—could have easily been the He family instead.

The banquet ended with a mix of emotions. The noble families began to feel uneasy. Kang Wang had not intervened at all as Song Qilin issued his punishments. In this province, Kang Wang was the ruler and his word was law, but it was clear that both he and General Song favored the Lady Boss. They couldn’t fathom what qualities she possessed to earn the support of these two powerful men. Meanwhile, the merchant and farming families were elated. They already saw Nie Shuang as a goddess of fortune, and now they felt even more strongly that she was on their side.

Before leaving, Kang Wang pulled Nie Shuang aside and said,

"Shuang Shuang...Qilin loves you deeply. He has changed so much. He was never like this before."

"I know...I’ve seen that side of him before,"

Nie Shuang replied with a smile. How could she not know? Song Qilin, like many of the upper class, had once been proud and stubborn. When they first met, he had been so cruel to her, taking out his anger toward Nie Ran on her, always seeking to make her suffer. She wasn’t sure when exactly their feelings for each other had begun to change.Kang Wang had spent the evening watching the couple display their affection and couldn’t help but feel sorrowful. He forced a smile as he said goodnight to Nie Shuang, watching as she returned to Song Qilin’s side until she disappeared from sight. Even though he longed to reach out to her, he knew it was hopeless.