The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Zhiyuan’s casual words almost embarrassed Song Zhiqing.

When he was young, he mostly stayed at the Academy to study hard, returning home to reunite with family only during holidays. After he passed his examinations and married Lu Shi, under Song Zhiyuan’s arrangement, he flew away like a bird spreading its wings, full of ambition.

Song Zhiyuan was right; he didn’t spend much time at home, thus he barely knew his stepmother.

Especially after being posted elsewhere for several years, he was even more unaware of Song Ci’s changes, so now, showing great concern for Song Ci seemed somewhat affected and hypocritical.

Song Zhiqing forced a smile: ”I just thought of when I was young, my mother was stern and not very expressive, which is very different from now. It’s quite emotional.”

”Don’t you know, the year I became Prime Minister, Mother had a brush with death’s door?” Song Zhiyuan said meaningfully, ”It’s often said that after going through life and death, a person’s temperament undergoes significant change, and one becomes more transparent. Haven’t you deeply felt this?”

As he spoke, he glanced at the wheelchair he was seated in.

Song Zhiqing’s face showed a hint of rigidity, and he tightly gripped the fishing rod.

He took a deep breath and said, ”Speaking of which, I’ve recently read many miscellaneous books, such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the likes about mountain spirits and wild beasts, which are quite interesting.” He then looked at Song Zhiyuan with interest and said, ”Oh, and there’s the whimsical historical tale of resurrection. Brother, do you believe there’s someone in the world who can be resurrected?”

Song Zhiyuan held the fishing rod and glanced back at him upon hearing this, with a look that seemed to say, ”Your legs are wasted, has your brain crippled too?”

Song Zhiqing: ”...”

”Despite being a teacher in the clan school, you should select books that benefit the mind and broaden your horizons. It’s better to avoid contact with mysticism. You’ve read Saintly Books for many years; were they teaching you to spread such nonsense about resurrection?” Song Zhiyuan said expressionlessly, ”If you don’t want to be a teacher in the clan school and wish to pursue the Dao, you may resign anytime. I’ve always said you can go to the Daoist Temple whenever you want. You don’t need to worry about Zhou’er and his brothers; as their uncle, I certainly won’t delay their studies.”

Song Zhiqing smiled and said, ”It seems Brother doesn’t believe.”

Song Zhiyuan replied, ”In ’Analects·Yong Ye,’ Fan Chi asked about wisdom, and Confucius said, ’Seek the righteousness of the people and respect the spirits and gods, keeping them at a distance, and that can be considered wisdom.’ Brother feels you need to dissect the meaning deeply.”

Song Zhiqing met his gaze, and after a long while, grinned and said, ”Brother’s teachings are true, I wholeheartedly agree.”

Song Zhiyuan diverted his gaze, coincidentally, his fishing rod moved, and he immediately lifted it, a small golden fish struggled and swung in the sunlight at the hook.

Song Zhiqing glanced over, his pupils slightly constricted, he actually caught one.

Song Zhiyuan carefully removed the little fish from the hook and flicked its body slightly, saying, ”You are also a little thing oblivious and gluttonous, biting the hook indiscriminately, not knowing whether this hook might claim your life. Today, I spare your life, go on, remember this lesson and don’t risk yourself again; next time, you might not have such good fortune.”

With that, he tossed the fish back into the water, watching it swim into the lake until it disappeared, then smiled at Song Zhiqing, ”Who would’ve thought there really are such foolish little fish. What do you think, Third Brother?”

This smile carried an unmistakable chill.

Song Zhiqing felt a shiver down his back and weakly said, ”It was unfortunate to encounter Brother’s hook.”

”Indeed, unfortunate,” Song Zhiyuan said meaningfully, ”If it were fortunate, it wouldn’t have been so reckless.”

Song Zhiqing forced a smile.