After spending so quality family ti with the children, Song Zhiqing sent them away, for he also thought of his other young children and was anxious to see them.
"Xin Niang, about Madam Bai..." he couldn’t help but soften his tone.
Madam Lu sneered inwardly and said, "You’ve already brought her back, what can I do? It’s not like I’ll abdicate my position for her."
"That’s impossible!" Song Zhiqing thickened his skin to hold her hand, "You are my wife, that will never change."
Madam Lu struggled a bit, took a deep breath, and said, "I don’t want to compete with you over this, Brother Qing. Everything I do is for the children. There’s only so much affection to go around, how can it be spread thin? Originally, it was just Zhou’er and the others, so I could let it be. But now you have new little ones, I must think for him."
Song Zhiqing frowned, instinctively feeling that her next words wouldn’t be pleasant.
"I can accept letting Madam Bai into the house, drinking the tea she serves as her greeting, but you must promise that ninety percent of our household’s inheritance goes to Zhou’er." Madam Lu gritted her teeth.
Song Zhiqing’s face turned dark.
Ninety percent, why not just rob it?
Besides, how old are the children, how old is he, to be talking about inheritance now, is she cursing herself to an early death?
Song Zhiqing said displeased, "Xin Niang, we’re still young, and the children are still little. Isn’t it too hasty to discuss the inheritance now?"
But Madam Lu replied, "If it were just Zhou’er alone, I’d never be in a hurry, even till death. But it’s not just him. Besides, it’s only fair, to speak honestly. Isn’t this how the Song Family will divide things in the future?"
She never believed that a concubine’s child would receive the sa share of the inheritance as a legitimate child. Even getting ten percent would be generous. In so families, concubine’s children wouldn’t receive any inheritance at all.
Madam Lu’s words undoubtedly pierced Song Zhiqing’s heart and lungs. He hated his own background the most, yet now he created another son with the sa background.
Song Zhiqing felt an indescribable bitterness.
"Don’t you trust ?" he said with difficulty, clearly feeling her words were coercive.
Madam Lu looked at him, tears rolling down her face, "I trust you, but what have you brought in the end? Nothing but a charming Concubine and a pair of twins, all without my knowledge. Song Zhiqing, how can you expect to trust you?"
Song Zhiqing felt sowhat at fault.
"Am I asking for these for myself? It’s only for Zhou’er and his sister. My deep affection has been betrayed, and that doesn’t matter, I’ll swallow my bitterness and pain. But for my children, I don’t want them to suffer from favoritism in the future."
Song Zhiqing said awkwardly, "Why are you saying these things? I’m not refusing to divide. The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate is clear. Letting ninety percent go to the legitimate heir is also proper." He thought, maybe he could privately give Yi’er and the others so support later on.
Madam Lu silently shed tears.
"We’ll divide it as you say." Song Zhiqing said, "Shall we have Madam Bai co tomorrow to serve you tea?"
Madam Lu saw him agree and didn’t argue further, simply saying tiredly, "As you say. How could I possibly chase her and her children out?"
Song Zhiqing flattered her a bit, "I know you wouldn’t, you are always the most virtuous and considerate." He paused and added, "But how co I hear that the courtyard she’s staying in is the South Guest House?"
Madam Lu sneered inwardly and said indifferently, "Brother Qing, elder brother and sister-in-law are intent on transforming the Song Family, and they emphasize rules and etiquette imnsely. Madam Bai has yet to be officially introduced by the Lady, staying in the guest quarters is only proper. Would it be right to put her in our manor? If word got out, they would say that our third household lacks decorum, that you, husband, don’t handle matters according to propriety, and would that be a nice reputation?"
Song Zhiqing stiffened.
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