The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Niu Pan’er, a martial arts practitioner, wasn’t really hurt by such a swing, especially when Song Ci was just putting on an act. The backscratcher, when it fell, was more like scratching an itch.

Now seeing Song Zhiyu looking so anxious, her heart warmed, and she asked softly, ”Are you not mad anymore?”

Song Zhiyu was still thinking about pulling up her sleeve to check. Hearing this, his hand paused, and he let go of the sleeve, giving a heavy snort.

Niu Pan’er tugged on his sleeve, saying, ”Don’t be mad. It’s all my fault, okay?”

”I wouldn’t dare. Mother would beat me to death.” Song Zhiyu glanced at Song Ci.

Niu Pan’er immediately said, ”I’ll take the hit for you. I’m thick-skinned and not afraid of being beaten.”

Song Zhiyu: ”...”

This should have been my line. With you saying it, I don’t even know how to respond.

Song Ci almost burst out laughing and coughed once, looking at the two sideways, saying, ”Are you both done fooling around? If so, sit down and talk. What’s this fuss about?”

Song Zhiyu said, ”You finally ask. Isn’t it her? She wants to abandon husband and child.”

Everyone: ”...”

Song Ci looked at Niu Pan’er in surprise and said, ”Pan’er, you’re looking down on this lad and want to find new love? Which family’s boy is it? Is he more capable? Is he good-looking?”

Song Zhiyu hearing the implication in these words, his face turned green, and he shouted, ”Mother, it’s not what you’re saying.”

”Then why did you make it sound so serious? Abandoning husband and child is something done when you want to leave your husband and seek new love, isn’t it?”

Song Zhiyu slapped his own mouth. His mistake.

”It’s she who wants to petition the Emperor to return to the Northeast for garrison duty, leaving us father and son behind. Isn’t that abandoning husband and child? Can our father and son duo go back to the Northeast with her?”

How could the Emperor possibly permit that?

Song Ci was shocked, going back to the Northeast?

She looked at Niu Pan’er. This wasn’t a small matter.

”What’s going on? Are the battles in the Northeast very severe? Do you need to go back and hold the fort?”

Niu Pan’er: ”Before every winter, small skirmishes always arise, and this year is no exception. Foreign tribes invading the borders is also normal. I wanted to petition because Father went to the battlefield this year and was injured by a stray arrow. The arrow was poisoned, and although he was treated in time, it triggered an old ailment and now he’s bedridden.”

Song Ci was startled: ”Prince Dingbei is injured? Is his life at risk?”

Niu Pan’er shook her head: ”No, it’s not life-threatening, but he is getting on in years, and the Northeast is cold. He has numerous old injuries and ailments. I am just concerned and want to petition to return to the Northeast to guard the borders and serve him a bit, perhaps even exchange places with Father and have him return to the capital to recuperate.”

Song Ci heard this and pointed at Song Zhiyu: ”This is where you’re wrong. Your father-in-law is injured and lying in bed. Holding back the Commandery Princess from fulfilling her filial duty is wrong. You are practically like a son to him. Not serving him personally is already your mistake, and you dare quarrel with her?”

Song Zhiyu pursed his lips and said: ”I’d love to serve him personally at his bedside, but Father didn’t request it. She wants to petition. We’ll see if the Emperor allows it or not. Besides, if she goes back, what about us father and son? Mother, even I know that as a family, we can’t all go back to the Northeast, especially little Honghong. He’s so young, how could we separate him from his mother? Can you really bear that?”

He looked at his young, innocent son; his eyes full of helplessness.

Song Ci coughed: ”Silang, be cautious in your words.”

Niu Pan’er also realized the sensitivity of the topic, so she smiled and said: ”I merely had the thought. Nothing’s been done yet. Don’t be mad. I won’t petition, okay?”